Who We Are

Orthodox Christian Fellowship is the official campus ministry of the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops in the United States.

What We Do

We seek to offer college students rich community in Christ, inspiring a life-long love of God and neighbor.

Our Five Pillars

Our life on and around campus is rooted in:

Worship

Rooted in liturgical life of our local parishes, prayer, praise, and glorification of the Holy Trinity is the foundation of our community.

Education

As college students, we are dedicated to learning more about the Word of God through the study of Scripture, the teachings of the Church Fathers, and the lives of the saints.

Fellowship

In everything we do, we seek to build and develop authentic and deep friendships that strengthen us in our daily Christian struggle.

Philanthropy

Serving those in need is one of the central ways we seek to share the love and blessings gifted to us by the Lord.

Witness

We strive to live a life that reflects the light of Christ into the world, inviting others to know Him and His unending love.

On a Mission

Texas A&M’s chapter of OCF is the Orthodox Church’s first campus missionary location.

Our full-time staff member serves as a pastoral and evangelical presence on campus, helping students navigate the complexities of life in college and young adulthood.

Frequently Asked Questions

A full-time OCF staff member dedicated to fostering discipleship and rich community among students on a particular campus or in a particular city.

To increase the breadth and depth of the Church’s presence on college campuses, acting as a bridge between campus and parish life by ministering to Orthodox Christian students and performing outreach to the broader campus community.

Campus missionaries are able to offer the full-time presence to college students that priests and our parish leaders typically cannot. Their role is not to replace the role of the priest or parish but to serve as mentors that help students form healthy relationships with priests and parishes. Some campus missionaries have completed the same Master of Divinity program of most American clergy, while others have other levels of college/graduate education and receive additional theological and pastoral training after being hired by OCF.

Campus missionaries are hired by and report to the Director of Ministries at OCF, which is an agency of the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the United States. “In the field”, campus missionaries partner with parishes of all Orthodox Christian jurisdictions, respecting and honoring the pastoral leadership of the locally appointed clergy.

Working in collaboration with student leaders, campus missionaries create a deeper rhythm of Orthodox life on the campuses they serve through increased events, resources, and theologically-informed teaching. Their presence also affords students an accessible avenue for mentorship, connects them more intimately with parish life, and forms the foundation for a stronger witness to the Orthodox Christian faith on and around campus.

Campus missionaries intentionally build connections and strive to share the Gospel with the broader campus community. They also build up the local Orthodox community in a way that attracts students, faculty, and staff who are not Orthodox, and they empower Orthodox Christians to invite others into the fullness of life found in the Orthodox Church.

Our Patron Saint

Saint Katherine is the patron saint of our ministry.

As a highly educated young adult, Saint Katherine stood up to the pagan rulers of her day and defeated the Roman empire’s greatest thinkers in theological debates.

She suffered and was martyred for her faith in 305 A.D. Since then, she has been a guide and example for young Christians seeking knowledge and faith throughout the world.