About Orthodox Christian Fellowship

Orthodox Christian Fellowship (OCF) is the official collegiate campus ministry program under the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the United States of America.

Learn More About OCF Learn About the Student Leadership Board

Our Mission

OCF transforms the lives of college students by guiding them along the path to Jesus Christ through His Church, cultivating a campus community of worship, witness, service, fellowship, and education.

Our Vision

– to be the loving presence of Christ and the Orthodox
Christian Church on college campuses

– to be an integral part of students’ spiritual formation
by challenging them to explore the Faith

– to inspire students to commit to living an Orthodox
Christian way of life daily

Connecting College Students to their Faith

Our goal is to actualize the Orthodox Christian life in the hearts, minds, and souls of college students by facilitating unified campus ministry efforts—reaching Orthodox college students on campuses throughout North America.

OCF does this by working continuously to improve in the areas of leadership training, high school to college transition, and college to parish transition through new and innovative programs as well as partnerships with other organizations in the Orthodox world.

OCF’s programs and partnerships offer an environment for students interested in deeper spiritual experiences. Every year, Real Break, College Conference, and similar events are hosted to enrich the spiritual lives of students These programs stand apart as premier service and educational opportunities available to any college student.

Most importantly, OCF continues to provide a home for students on college campuses across the continent

Learn more about OCF's History

Want to learn more about the ministry of OCF? Read “2020 – A Year in Review” to learn how we advanced our mission to college students, despite the challenges of an unprecedented year for Orthodox Christian campus ministry.

View “2020 - A Year in Review”

Our Beliefs

Our beliefs are defined in our Statement of Faith- the Nicene Creed. The Nicene Creed was established during the First and Second Ecumenical Councils of the Church.

Nicene Creed

I believe in one God, Father Almighty, Creator of
heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible.

And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of
God, begotten of the Father before all ages;

Light of Light, true God of true God, begotten,
not created, of one essence with the Father
through Whom all things were made.

Who for us men and for our salvation
came down from heaven and was incarnate
of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary and became man.

He was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate,
and suffered and was buried;

And He rose on the third day,
according to the Scriptures.

He ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the Father;

And He will come again with glory to judge the living
and dead. His kingdom shall have no end.

And in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the Creator of life,
Who proceeds from the Father, Who together with the
Father and the Son is worshipped and glorified, Who
spoke through the prophets.

In one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church.

I confess one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.

I look for the resurrection of the dead,
and the life of the age to come.

Learn more about Orthodoxy

Saint Katherine the Great – Our Patron Saint

In 2002, the OCF Student Advisory Board was challenged to find out who was to be the patron saint of our beloved OCF, to watch over the work of our ministry, as well as our beloved students. After much prayer, reflection and discussion, it was revealed to the SAB that OCF’s patron saint would be St. Katherine. The students were moved by prayer and discernment that she was the ideal role model for college-aged young adults. She herself was in her late-teens to early-twenties when she was martyred. She was highly educated and used her knowledge of the Orthodox Christian faith to defend the Orthodox faith, often to those who were much older and considered more educated than she. St. Katherine held firm to the truth of the Orthodox Church through the substance of her convictions. Her firm conviction in the faith, revealed by her words and deeds, converted many to the faith. Thus, it has been revealed that St.Katherine was to be the patron saint of OCF.

Learn More about St. Katherine Here

Four Pillars of OCF

Student life with OCF Consists of four different Pillars.

Fellowship

Gather together to share in the adventures of college with other Orthodox Christians on campus who share your worldview and values. Your OCF chapter is your home away from home—a community where you will find friends who become family and where you can discover yourtrue identity in Christ.

Education

Learn more about the vibrant Tradition of our Church what it means to live an Orthodox Christian life. Share with others the richness and fullness of the Orthodox Faith as you explore the many facets of Orthodoxy with your OCF chapter.

Worship

Give thanks for the many blessings of your life, call out to God in times of need, and receive the healing sacraments of the Church through prayer and liturgy in your personal life, in your chapter, and in your local parish.

Service

Discover Christ in others by reaching out to the forgotten, the marginalized, and the suffering on campus, in your community, and in the world. Learn how to humbly express
Christ’s sacrificial love.

Download the Four Elements of OCF Life flyer to share at your parish or school.

Who We Are

The Student Leadership Board

Every year, OCF is led by a team of talented students who take on leadership positions in Orthodox campus ministry. The Student Leadership Board works with staff and clergy volunteers to implement the programs of OCF, advise and inspire their peers on campuses, and develop new resources and programs for Orthodox college students.

Interested in Joining the Board?

Elias Anderson

Chairman

Ruby Pendergraft

South Student Leader

Katie Smith

Northeast Student Leader

Anastasia Friesen

Midwest Student Leader

Niko Solak

College Conference East Student Leader

Maria Tsarnas

Great Lakes Student Leader

Sam Dutschmann

College Conference Midwest Student Leader

Maggie Conjelko

Mid-Atlantic Student Leader

Alexis Friesen

Real Break Student Leader

Jordan Tsigas

Discord Student Leader

Fr. Panagiotis Boznos

Spiritual Advisor to the Student Leadership Board

Who We Are

The OCF Board of Directors

The OCF Board of Directors serves as the governing authority of the Orthodox Christian Fellowship. Its purpose, on behalf of Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the United States, is to administer OCF with an emphasis on biblically-based integrity and truthfulness, outward vision, strategic leadership, and conciliarity.