On Bright Monday, we joyfully celebrated the Divine Liturgy with Fr. Gary Breton presiding for the first time at Christ the Savior, marking a blessed and memorable occasion for our parish. The festal joy continued after the service with the much-anticipated annual Bright Monday Snowball Massacre, where parishioners of all ages gathered in laughter and friendly competition, extending the radiant celebration of Pascha in a spirit of fellowship, delight, and shared resurrectional joy.

On Sunday, April 12, 2026, the faithful gathered for the Midnight service, celebrating the Feast of Feast, Holy Pascha, which commemorates the Resurrection of our Lord God and Savior Jesus Christ. Nearly 300 people gathered for the celebration of the liturgical services which were followed by the blessing of foods and a festive meal in the hall and rectory. We greet you all with the joyous exclamation, "Christ is risen! Indeed He is risen!"

From April 5-11, 2026, the faithful gathered at Christ the Savior to celebrate the solemn liturgical services of Great and Holy Week, which commemorate the Lord's voluntary Passion, Cross, Death and Burial.

On Great and Holy Wednesday, April 8, 2026, the faithful gathered for the Mystery of Holy Unction, the anointing with holy oil for the healing of soul and body. The Church’s practice of Holy Unction dates back to Apostolic times, see James 5:14.

On Palm Sunday, April 5, 2026 over 200 faithful gathered to celebrate the Lord's Entrance into Jerusalem. A procession around the church was made while the faithful bore in their hands palms in honor of the festive occasion. Following the beautiful divine services, a traditional fish meal was offered for all present. Glory be to God for all things!

On Palm Sunday, April 5, 2026, we were pleased to welcome Cheryl Werner Sharp into the catechumenate during the Divine Liturgy. We humbly ask the Lord's continued blessing upon her as she prepares herself for sacramental reception into the Orthodox Church!

On Lazarus Saturday, April 4, 2026, we welcomed 10 new members into the Orthodox Church through Holy Baptism and Chrismation: Mark Christensen, Nicholas (Dismas) Muir, Robert (Michael) Vera, Stephen and Cassidy (Cassia) Barr, Roy (John) Bendfeldt, Andrew Joseph and Rebecca Gabriel, Zhanna (Sophia) Guite, and Alan (Gabriel) Rodriguez. We congratulate them, their families, their friends, and all who attended this special event.  May the Lord grant the newly-illumined servants of God health, strength, salvation, a furtherance in every good thing and many blessed years!

On Sunday, March 22, 2026, parishioners and friends took part in a Cornhole Tournament during the fellowship hour after Divine Liturgy. The 20 teams with 40 total players competed in a March Madness-styled, bracketed tournament which resulted in a good time had by all. We thank the Lord for a beautiful day and all the participants as well as those who put on the event. Glory to God for all things!

On Sunday, March 22, 2026, we had the baptism of Brendan Patrick Fannon Jr., son of Brendan and Ginger Fannon. We extend our congratulations to the entire family, as well as the sponsors, Thomas and Georgianne Mathews. May the Lord grant them all health, strength, salvation, a furtherance in every good thing, and many blessed years!

On Sunday, March 15, 2026, Christ the Savior Orthodox Church joyfully welcomed Archpriest Gary Breton and Matushka Mary Breton, who have recently retired to Millsboro, Delaware from Holy Annunciation Orthodox Church in Brick, New Jersey.

We will have a Cornhole Tournament following the Divine Liturgy on Sunday, March 22, 2026.  Teams of two will compete in the bracket-style tournament with a trophy being bestowed upon the winning team.  If you would like to enter the tournament, please sign-up at the usher stand in the back of the church or submit your team(s) on our website.

Nearly twenty parishioners of Christ the Savior Orthodox Church gathered on Saturday, March 14, to help clean up the church grounds after the recent blizzard caused significant tree damage. Coordinated by our Junior Warden, Justin DeArmitt, volunteers arrived ready to work, bringing chainsaws, extension saws, and plenty of energy. The effort was led by parishioner Joe Dunbar, owner of Out On A Limb Tree Service, who brought his truck equipped with a powerful crane arm capable of lifting and removing massive logs. Working together, the team cut damaged trees, cleared debris, and hauled away heavy timber, making tremendous progress restoring the church property.

On March 9, 2025, we celebrated the Sunday of Orthodoxy with a procession of icons to the Archway at our roadside entrance during the Divine Liturgy. There we had a reading of the ancient Synodicon, the affirmation of the Orthodox Faith that our salvation is proclaimed in both words and images, and the faithful recited the Nicene Creed. We congratulate all who celebrate on this day!

During Clean Week, the faithful gathered for the reading of the Great Canon of Repentance by St. Andrew of Crete. Through its powerful scriptural reflections, we were called to deeper self-examination and renewed commitment to Christ. On Friday evening, we celebrated the Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts, where we were pleased to welcome Archpriest Gary Breton, recently retired to Millsboro, Delaware. Receiving strength for the Lenten journey, the week concluded with a Lenten potluck, where fellowship and simple fare reflected the quiet joy of beginning Great Lent together.

On Clean Monday, a quiet snowfall descended upon Christ the Savior Orthodox Church in Berlin, wrapping the Parish Center and forest in white. As we began the Great Fast, the earth itself seemed to preach repentance. The prophet declares, “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow” (Isaiah 1:18). The fresh snow, untouched and radiant, became an icon of the mercy of God. Lent opens before us not as bleakness, but as promise. The Lord does not merely cover our sins; He makes all things new, pure, and bright by His divine grace and love for mankind.

On Sunday, February 22, 2026, following the Divine Liturgy, we had the beautiful and grace-filled Rite of Forgiveness before entering into the Holy Forty Days of the Great Fast. During this solemn ritual we ask and receive forgiveness from each other and the Lord, who says, “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your Heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive yours.” (Matthew 6:14)

On Sunday, February 15, 2026 with the blessing of our diocesan hierarch, Metropolitan Tikhon, the 2026 Parish Council members were installed into office. During the first meeting of the 2026 Council, Zachary Davidson was elected Senior Warden, Justin DeArmitt was elected Junior Warden, Ryan Harris was elected Treasurer. May the Lord bless them all!

On Sunday, February 8, 2026, Christ the Savior held its Annual Parish Meeting. The agenda, reports, budget, and draft minutes for the meeting are available below. A central focus of the meeting was continued progress toward building the new temple, including updates on permitting, fundraising milestones, and the launch of the Ambassadors’ Program to engage every household in the effort. Parishioners were encouraged to participate prayerfully and voluntarily as the community moves closer to the active construction phase. We thank all who attended, presented reports, and assisted with the minutes!

On Sunday, Feburary 8, 2026, we asked the Lord to bestow a blessing upon Taylor, Elisha, Arcadia, and Sybil Applegarth as they continue the ministry of candle-making for Christ the Savior. Using the traditional dipping method, they craft new candles from the remnants of those previously offered in worship, carefully layering wax until the desired diameter is reached. This invaluable ministry not only reduces the church’s need to purchase new candles but also ensures that every remnant of these sacred offerings is reverently repurposed. May the Lord abundantly bless the Applegarth family for their dedication, skill, and devotion to this holy work!

On Saturday, February 7, 2026 after Vespers, our parish gathered to offer prayers for Matthew Williams as he prepared to depart for bootcamp. Surrounded by the church community, including his mother Judy, we asked the Lord to bless and protect him in his training, to strengthen him in faith, and to comfort his loved ones during their time apart. As a token of our love and a reminder of God’s abiding presence, Matthew was presented with icons, a prayer book and a prayer rope. May Christ guide and guard him in body and soul, and may he always know the support and prayers of his parish family.

On Friday, January 23, 2026, parishioners from Christ the Savior joined other Orthodox Christians and countless people who gathered for the March For Life in Washington, DC. The march is a pro-life rally protesting abortion, held in the nation's capital near the anniversary of the infamous decision in the United States Supreme Court case Roe v. Wade, which was thankfully overturned in 2022. 

On Sunday, January 18, 2026, we were pleased to welcome Alyssa Marie into the catechumenate during the Divine Liturgy. We humbly ask the Lord's continued blessing upon her as she prepares herself for sacramental reception into the Orthodox Church!

You are invited to join Christ the Savior Orthodox Church for a group outing to opening night of Moses the Black on Friday, January 30, 2026 at 6:55 pm at Regal Salisbury (2322 North Salisbury Boulevard, Salisbury, MD 21801). Directed by Yelena Popovic, whose earlier film Man of God told the story of St. Nektarios, this powerful new movie is inspired by the life of Saint Moses the Black. The film explores violence, repentance, and radical transformation. Come experience this moving story together as a parish on opening night!

On Sunday, January 11, 2026 we were pleased to welcome John Rickman into the Orthodox Church through Holy Chrismation. John has taken St. John of San Francisco as his patron saint. We congratulate John and his brother, Jacob, who served as his sponsor. May the Lord grant them health, strength, salvation, a furtherance in every good thing, and many blessed years!

On Sunday, January 4, 2026, we kept the custom of St. Basil's Bread (The Vasilopeta).  May the Lord grant all the recipients of the coins many blessed years!

On Sunday, January 4, 2026 we were pleased to welcome Brendan (St. Brendan the Navigator) and Ginger (St. Mary Magdalene) Fannon into the Orthodox Church through Holy Chrismation. We congratulate them heartily. May the Lord grant them health, strength, salvation, a furtherance in every good thing, and many blessed years!

On Sunday, January 4, 2026, we were pleased to welcome Joshua McKelvey into the catechumenate during the Divine Liturgy. We humbly ask the Lord's continued blessing upon him as he prepares himself for sacramental reception into the Orthodox Church!