Our History

All Saints Orthodox Mission was founded in November 2021 by Priest Elijah Drake (Wu) and Matushka Genevieve, along with a handful of converts who came home to the Orthodox Church after sojourning as Anglicans for a number of years.

Timeline of Events

We will update this history as our Mission grows. Be sure to check out our photo page for a chronology in pictures. Glory to God for all things!

Sept. 25, 2024

Today, Father Elijah performed an emergency baptism of Martha and her identical twin sister Mary (our Catechumen Tina) in Paso Robles, CA. Martha is in hospice and preparing to transition from this earthly life to the heavenly one. Saints Martha of Bethany and Mary Magdalene, pray to God for our beloved sisters, who came into this world together, have now entered the Church through the sacrament of Baptism together, and will have to part for a little while. Glory to God for all things.

Sept. 14, 2024

On Church New Year, Old Calendar September 1st (New Calendar Sept. 14) we are officially received into the Eastern Rite by His Eminence, the Most Reverend KYRILL, Archbishop of San Francisco & Western America.
We do not disdain our Western Rite roots, because they brought us to where we are today--into the fullness of the One True Church. We are grateful to God for all of His amazing blessings! From a tiny garage mission that allowed us to learn the "how-to's" of Orthodoxy, to remodeling a dog parlor into a now comfortably packed and unexpectedly beautiful worship space, adorned with numerous icons and many holy relics of the saints. As Monk Ignatius of blessed memory used to say: Our Mission is a miracle! Glory to God.

August 4, 2024

Today we welcome Antonio as a new Catechumen in the Orthodox Church. He will be taking Saint John of Shanghai & San Francisco as his patron saint. Antonio will be known as "John Anthony" because we have so many people in our parish now who are choosing saints named "John". Glory to God! Saint John and all Saints, pray to God for our 22 Catechumens, that they would grow strong in the Faith.

May 4, 2024

At the Holy Saturday Vigil, just a few minutes before midnight, Father Elijah baptizes Anthony, Cristiana, and Juan into the Holy Orthodox Church. Our Mission now has 22 Baptized members and 21 Catechumens. Glory to God! Saint Anthony the Great, Saint Christina the Martyr, and Saint John of Shanghai and San Francisco, pray to God for the newly illumined servants of the Lord and intercede for us all!

Apr. 28, 2024

On Palm Sunday, the Feast of the Entry of the Lord into Jerusalem, we welcome the Zhang Family: David, Lily, Grace, and Daniel, as new Catechumens in the Orthodox Church. Our Mission has grown to 19 Baptized members and 24 Catechumens. Glory to God for all things!

Feb. 18, 2024

Today we welcome Malik, Paraskeva (Nariah), and Mary (Tina) as new Catechumens. Our little Mission family now has 19 Baptized members and 20 Catechumens. Glory to God! Blessed Paraskeva and blessed Mary Magdalene and all saints, pray to God for our Catechumens!

Jan. 7, 2024

On Nativity morning, Father Elijah baptizes Jason and Nicholas into the Holy Orthodox Church. We now have 19 Baptized members and 17* Catechumens. Glory to God! Saint Jason the Apostle and Saint Nicholas of Japan, pray to God for the newly Illumined servants of the Lord and intercede for us all! *One catechumen was released to a parish in another state.

Oct. 1, 2023

Today we welcome nine new Catechumens: Mallory, Roland, Elowyn, and Caspian; Nick, Ryan, Elijah, Shane, and Robert. We now have 17 Baptized members and 20 Catechumens. Glory to God! Please pray for our Catechumens as they grow in the Orthodox faith.

Sept. 28, 2023

Recently Baptized parishioner Gabriella (Nancy Grace) reposes in the Lord. May her memory be eternal.

Sept. 18, 2023

On the feast day of the Holy Prophet Zacharias and Righteous Elizabeth, the parents of St. John the Forerunner, Father Elijah baptized long-time parishioner Gabriella, formerly known as Nancy Grace, who took St. Gabriel (Urgebadze) the Confessor as her patron saint. We now have 18 Baptized members and 11 Catechumens. Glory to God for all things!

August 27, 2023

On the Sunday before the end of the Dormition fast, we welcome Seraphim (Joey) and Christina (Grace) as new Catechumens. Joined by friends and family from other parishes, we also celebrate Father Elijah’s 40th birthday. May God grant him many years! We now have 17 Baptized members and 11 Catechumens. Glory to God for all things!

May 28, 2023

On Sunday after the Ascension we welcome Ian, Anthony, Justin, and Remi as new Catechumens in the Orthodox Church. We now have 17 Baptized members and nine Catechumens. Glory to God!

April 16, 2023

On Pascha morning, John () is Baptized into the Holy Orthodox Church. We now have 17 Baptized members and five Catechumens. Holy Saint John the Theologian () and all Saints, pray for the newly Illumined John! May God grant him many years!

Feb. 26, 2023

On Forgiveness Sunday before the start of Great Lent, we welcome Tesa, Doug, Jason, and Sean as new Catechumens in the Orthodox Church. We now have 16 Baptized members and six Catechumens. Holy Evangelist Philip and all Saints, pray to God for our Catechumens!

Jan. 7, 2023

Mark* and Joseph** are baptized into the Holy Orthodox Church by Father Elijah on Nativity morning. Since our founding with seven Baptized members just a little over a year ago, we now have more than doubled our membership, with 16 Baptized believers and two Catechumens at the Mission. Glory to God for all things!
*the Ascetic **the Betrothed

Oct. 16, 2022

We welcome Julian as a new Catechumen in the Orthodox Church. We now have 14 Baptized members and four Catechumens. Holy Evangelist Philip and all Saints, pray to God for our Catechumens!

August 14, 2022

John*, Matrona, David, John**, and Lydia from All Saints Mission, and Bridget from Brookings, Oregon, are Baptized into the Holy Orthodox Church by Father Elijah. We now have 14 Baptized members and three Catechumens. Glory to God!
*the Wonderworker **the Silent

July 31, 2022

We hold the first official Divine Liturgy & Grand Opening Celebration at our Mission's new home at 1319 West Lockeford Street in Lodi. In addition to a worship space, it features a bookstore, icons for sale, and a place to hang out and talk to the Priest. Glory to God for His provision and protection!

July 12, 2022

Archpriest Paul (Volmensky) Baptizes Father Elijah's and Matushka Genevieve's new daughter, Maria, into the Orthodox Church at Holy Ascension Russian Orthodox Church, on the Feast of the Apostles Peter and Paul, and in the presence of the Myrrh-streaming Wonderworking Iveron Icon visiting from Hawaii this week. We now have nine Baptized members and eight Catechumens. Thanks be to God!

July 3, 2022

With much joy we welcome Bob as a new Catechumen just before the start of our first Divine Liturgy at our new location. (It's a "soft" opening as many items for the Nave are still under construction!) We now have eight Baptized members and eight Catechumens, in addition to several regular visitors.

June 11, 2022

Renovations begin at our Mission's future home on West Lockeford Street in Lodi. Major tasks include removing walls, re-plastering and texturing, painting, and installing new floors and baseboards. Later we will add curtains, shelves for the bookstore, and a countertop. We are also building much of our own furniture (chant stands, benches, altar panels). It's a labor of love!

May 5, 2022

Five new Catechumens are received: John, Melissa, Peyton, Cooper, and Lydia. We now have eight Baptized members and seven Catechumens, plus inquirers and several regular visitors who are exploring Orthodoxy at our Mission.

Apr. 23, 2022

On Holy Saturday, Arthmael is Baptized into the Orthodox Church by Father Elijah at Holy Ascension Russian Orthodox Church in Sacramento. All Saints Orthodox Mission now has eight Baptized members and two Catechumens.

Mar. 12, 2022

All Saints Orthodox Mission starts holding Vespers services on Saturdays where we are frequently joined by "Ortho-curious" visitors.

Mar. 6, 2022

Two new Catechumens, Steve and Mark, are received. We now have seven Baptized members and three Catechumens.

Nov. 14, 2021

All Saints Orthodox Mission starts holding Sunday Matins and Divine Liturgy at Father Elijah’s home in Stockton, California. This is our humble "Garage Chapel" beginning, with seven Baptized members, one Catechumen, and a few regular visitors.

Nov. 7, 2021

Father Elijah Baptizes the first new members of our Mission, Raphael and Nina, and receives one new Catechumen, Chaz, at a Baptismal service held at Saint Andrew Orthodox Church in Carson City, Nevada.

Oct. 14, 2021

Father Elijah is ordained into the Orthodox Priesthood by Metropolitan Jonah of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, at Holy Transfiguration Orthodox Church in Mountain Home, Arkansas.