Our History
Serving Orthodox College Students for 60 Years
For six decades, Orthodox Christian Fellowship has helped college students remain connected to Christ, His Church, and one another during one of life’s most formative seasons. What began as small groups gathering on campus has grown into a nationwide ministry serving thousands of students. While the ministry has evolved over the years, its mission has remained the same: helping students encounter Christ, deepen their faith, and build lasting connections to the Church.
Explore the milestones, programs, and people that have shaped Orthodox Christian Fellowship since 1965.
Late
1940s – 1950s
Columbia University
Individual campus groups were formed at various universities, including Columbia, McGill, and Penn State
Orthodox Student Fellowships Begin Forming
Orthodox college students across the United States begin gathering informally on campuses for prayer, fellowship, and connection to the Church.
1965
Late 1950s Meeting of Orthodox Bishops
At the center, L-R, are Metropolitan Antony Bashir, Archbishop Michael Konstantinides (in front of the US flag, and holding a white object), and Metropolitan Leonty Turkevich.
SCOBA Establishes the Campus Commission
The Standing Conference of Canonical Orthodox Bishops in the Americas (SCOBA) formally creates the Campus Commission to support and coordinate Orthodox campus ministry nationwide.
Late
1960s
Early
1970s
Metropolitan Dimitrios of Xanthos
National Growth Across Campuses
Under the leadership of James Couchell (later Metropolitan Dimitrios of Xanthos, of blessed memory), Orthodox Christian Fellowship expands rapidly throughout the United States.
Early
1970s
Youngstown State University
OCF Reaches More Than 100 Campuses
Orthodox Christian Fellowship chapters are active on more than 100 college campuses nationwide.
December
2000
Website screen capture from 2000s
Orthodox Christian Fellowship Officially Re-established
SCOBA formally relaunches OCF as the official pan-Orthodox campus ministry of the Church in the United States.
Early
2000s
One of the first OCF Student Boards
National Ministry Rebuilds
OCF begins rebuilding its national chapter network, first based in Berkeley, California, and later relocating to Brookline, Massachusetts on the campus of Hellenic College Holy Cross.
2000s
College Conference 2002 at the Antiochian Village
Major National Programs Expand
Programs including College Conference, Real Break, College Student Sunday, Day of Prayer, and leadership initiatives expand nationally.
2010
OCF Celebrates Milestones
Bishop Dimitrios with the Board of Directors, Regional Chaplains and Student Advisory Board Members
Assembly of Bishops Formed
SCOBA transitions into the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the United States of America, under whose oversight OCF continues its ministry.
2011-2019
Texas A&M Graduation
Season of Strengthening & Infrastructure Growth
OCF focuses on strengthening leadership structures, stewardship, spiritual advisor support, student formation, and chapter health throughout the country.
2020
OCF Welcome Kit
OCF Responds During the COVID-19 Pandemic
OCF rapidly transitions to virtual Bible studies, retreats, online gatherings, and a fully digital Summer Leadership Institute to remain connected with students nationwide.
2022
OCF Campus Missionary at Texas A&M
Campus Missionary Initiative Launches
OCF launches the Campus Missionary Initiative at Texas A&M University, placing a full-time missionary directly within the university community for mentorship, discipleship, and campus outreach.
2023
OCF Campus Missionary Atlanta
The Campus Missionary Initiative Expands
CMI expands to Atlanta serving the campuses of Emory University and Georgia Tech.
Today
Upstream Conference 2026
Serving Thousands of Students Nationwide
The Campus Missionary Initiative continues to grow, with a planned launch at Penn State in Fall 2026 and additional campus expansion already underway. Today, OCF serves students across the country through local chapters, conferences, retreats, digital resources, campus missionaries, and partnerships with clergy, alumni, parishes, and organizations.
