Now is the time to sign up as a member of the teaching team slated to visit San Esteban and Pisaflores Cosponsored by the Orthodox Church in America and the Orthodox Christian Mission Center with the blessing of His Eminence, Archbishop Alejo of Mexico City, the team will expand upon earlier outreach efforts in these remote villages of indigenous Aztec Orthodox Christians northwest of Mexico City.  [See related story.] Team members will teach the Orthodox Christian faith to the local population—including basic “catechism” and crafts for children in a Vacation Bible School format and similar sessions for adults—while worshipping and offering encouragement and fellowship to the local community “This is a unique opportunity to share your Faith and be a part of an Orthodox Christian witness in a beautiful remote and safe region of Mexico,” said Archpriest Theodore Pisarchuk of Jacksonville team coordinator.  “Participants with experience in youth ministry and adult catechism are especially urged to apply.  Participants must be fluent or near fluent in Spanish.” Potential team members are strongly advised to register early.  Team members are responsible for the $700.00 registration fee which covers all expenses while in Mexico including local transportation excursions and materials.  They also are responsible for their own round-trip travel expenses to Mexico City.  Typically team members solicit pledges and financial support from their parishes and deaneries as well as sponsorships in their local communities To register as a team member or to obtain additional information '&#'));while (--j >= 0)if (el[j].getAttribute('data-eeEncEmail_XKHUaPqBVM'))el[j].innerHTML = out;/*]]>*/ or 904-880-7671 San Esteban is a village with a population of one-thousand souls.  It is surrounded by a dozen other remote Orthodox Christian villages many of which are accessible only by foot or burro.  The local inhabitants maintain a sustenance lifestyle growing their own corn and black beans and living in homes of simple concrete block construction with corrugated metal roofs.  Horses and burros are the main forms of transportation.  Hieromonk Serafin “makes his rounds” ministering to the villagers The history of the Orthodox Church in Mexico is a colorful tapestry of indigenous Mexicans seeking the Orthodox faith coupled with ethnic migrations from “traditional” Orthodox lands.  The last few decades of the 1800’s brought an influx of Orthodox immigrants to Mexico who established communities which then faced a lack of clergy and the dominance of the Roman Catholic Church.  After independence from Spain the power of the Catholic Church was limited and an independent “Mexican Apostolic National Church” was created.  In 1970 a portion of this group embraced Orthodox Christianity and was received into the Orthodox Church in America.  His Eminence the late Archbishop Dmitri of Dallas and the South was most instrumental in nurturing the fledgling Mexican Diocese which today includes nine parishes and and numerous missions.  A large percentage of the faithful are of Aztec origin The Mission of The Orthodox Church in America (OCA) the local autocephalous Orthodox Christian Church is to be faithful in fulfilling the commandment of Christ to “Go into all the world and make disciples of all nations and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit…” Founded in 1794 — Granted Autocephaly in 1970 Copyright The Orthodox Church in America™ (OCA™)© 1996–2025 The Orthodox Church in America, in partnership with the Florida-based Orthodox Christian Mission Center will be hosting a mission teaching team to San Esteban and Pisaflores in the OCA Diocese of Mexico June 20-27 “Both Pisaflores and San Esteban are villages of native Aztec Orthodox Christians nine hours northwest of Mexico City,” said Archpriest Ted Pisarchuk.  “In both villages the homes are of simple concrete block construction with corrugated metal roofs and do not have running water or indoor bathroom facilities.  Horses and burros are main forms of transportation “The Mexican Church is very similar to the Alaskan church,” Father Ted continued.  “Both are made up of indigenous people.  Both speak a national language and local dialect.  Both share a beautiful simplicity and beauty of life.  And both lack clergy for similar reasons Even though a great distance exists between Mexico and Alaska where they will be hosted by the clergy and faithful of Ascension Cathedral and participate in an orientation session.  On Sunday following the Liturgy the team will travel to Pisaflores.  On Monday morning some team members will continue on to San Esteban The cost for participation is $675.00.  Upon acceptance a team member will be required to remit a $100.00 deposit.  Travel costs to and from Mexico City are not included in the cost which covers expenses in the field.  Team members are encouraged to solicit sponsors to help fund their trip.  In addition they must obtain a recommendation from an Orthodox priest.  Fluency or near fluency in Spanish is required and potential team members will be tested for language proficiency '&#'));while (--j >= 0)if (el[j].getAttribute('data-eeEncEmail_WTRKHTiwEn'))el[j].innerHTML = out;/*]]>*/ or 904-880-7671 during normal office hours During the week of March 26-April 2, 2016, the Mexico Mission Team cosponsored by the Orthodox Church in America and the Orthodox Christian Mission Center visited the indigenous Orthodox Christian Aztec communities in San Esteban