In Hawaii, more than 100 people converted to Orthodoxy at a parish of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia over the course of a year

The Orthodox parish dedicated to the Iveron Icon of the Mother of God of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia (ROCOR) in Kailua, Hawaii, has reported a significant increase in the number of believers: over the past 12 months, more than 100 people have joined the congregation through the sacrament of Baptism. In addition, more than 60 Americans are currently preparing for Baptism and studying the basics of the Orthodox faith.

According to OrthoChristian, the rector of the church and custodian of the miraculous, myrrh-streaming Hawaiian Iveron Icon of the Mother of God, Priest Nektarios Youngson, spoke about the parish’s record growth. According to him, in the first half of June 2026 alone, 15 people joined the church community: four were baptized, and another 11 officially became catechumens.

The priest noted that the people coming to the parish have diverse backgrounds and belong to different social strata, yet they are all united by their desire for the Orthodox faith. “Every soul that comes to Christ is a miracle,” emphasized Father Nektarios , calling these events a testament to the fact that the Holy Spirit continues to draw people to the Church.

Currently, the community ministers to more than 60 catechumens and people interested in Orthodoxy. According to the rector, about 12 people are preparing to be baptized in the coming weeks, which may continue the parish’s growth trend.

As a reminder, we previously reported that in Bend, Oregon, the St. James Parish of the Orthodox Church in America (OCA) held a mass baptism on the feast of Pentecost, during which new members, including adults and children, were received into the Church.