"O Lord, I have loved the beauty of thine house"
                                                                     - Psalm 26:8 (25 LXX)

On 9/15/2020, His Eminence Metropolitan Hilarion  of Eastern America and New York issued a decree  (Protocol No. 9-14/20) establishing a new mission in Sanford, Maine dedicated to Saint Polycarp (AD 69-155), the early Christian martyr and second bishop of Smyrna.  St. Polycarp has one epistle extant, as well as a "forceful" second-century hagiography, recognized by most scholars as one of the first authentic accounts of Christian martyrdom outside the New Testament.

The Rev Photius Zelinski (Corey Zelinski) has been assigned as the first rector of the new mission. We are currently meeting at 13 Hewey Street in Sanford, but since we'll be building a new chapel from the ground up, this fundraiser is intended to offset some of the costs of church supplies and building work.

Priest Photius, the faithful and several of our catechumens have already begun work on beautifying the "church temple" for our humble mission chapel, but honestly, we still have a lot to do.  We've probably already spent over half the goal amount, but we still need several items and construction materials.

Here's a short list of some of the more important furnishings and supplies we're looking to purchase in the next couple months:

- Iconostasis / church templon

- Candle stands

- Vigil lamps

- Altar server sticharia

- Piscina or "sacrarium" (holy sink)

- Altar clothes, table covers, analogia, etc.

- Oil (or Kerosene/K-1) and heater parts

- Suspended ceiling tiles (and related construction supplies)

- Additional floor tiles (and related supplies)

- Menaion, Octoechos, Pentecostarion, and other liturgical books

- Building materials for a sacristy

- Iconography/wall frescoes

- Paint and related supplies

- Electrical equipment


From time to time, we intend to share photographs with donors both here and via Facebook to show our progress.  In time, we will also disclose a list of major expenditures (once the fundraiser gets rolling).

Most importantly, and whether or not you choose to support this work financially, please take a moment to remember St. Polycarp's in your prayers, as well as to tell others who may be interested in this Orthodox mission which is uniquely positioned to serve greater New Hampshire and Southern Maine.

May our merciful God bless you through His grace and love for mankind!


With love in Christ,

Fr. Photius Corey Zelinski, and the congregation of
         St. Polycarp Orthodox Christian Mission
                                  Sanford, Maine USA