Clergy Wives:
Connect, Encourage, Support

The Clergy Wives serves as a program of the Office of Pastoral Life, dedicated to connecting, encouraging and supporting clergy wives across the Orthodox Church in America.

Saint George Albanian Orthodox Cathedral, South Boston, MA

St. Matushka Olga

St. Matushka Olga (Feb. 3, 1916 – November 8, 1979) was a Yup’ik Eskimo woman who lived in Kwethluk, Alaska. She served as a clergy wife, a midwife and a confidante in her village, caring especially for women. In love and prayer, she supported the spread of Orthodox Christianity. The Orthodox Church in America proclaimed her glorification on November 8, 2023.

Holy Matushka Olga, pray for us.

Learn more about the Glorification of St. Olga.

St. Xenia

Saint Xenia lived during the eighteenth century, but little is known of her life or of her family. She passed most of her life in Petersburg during the reigns of the empresses Elizabeth and Catherine II.

Xenia Grigorievna Petrova was the wife of an army officer, Major Andrew Petrov. After the wedding, the couple lived in Saint Petersburg. Saint Xenia became a widow at the age of twenty-six when her husband suddenly died at a party. She grieved for the loss of her husband, and especially because he died without Confession or Holy Communion…

To continue to learn more about St. Xenia, click here.

Projects

Newsletters

Directories

Clergy Wives Prayer List

Diocesan Point People (DPP)

Retreats & Workshops

Clergy Widows

History of Clergy Wives

In July 2020, following the first clergy-wives online retreat, His Grace Bishop Alexei encouraged the retreat facilitators to form a group representing the voice of OCA clergy wives. With the blessing of Bishop Alexei, eight women volunteered to initiate this group, committing to meet every other week to lay a firm foundation for a new and meaningful initiative within the church.

Mission

Our mission is to provide relevant, Christ-centered, spiritually-nourishing, and feedback-based programs to connect, encourage, and support clergy wives of the Orthodox Church in America in order to champion their gifts in serving the Orthodox Church.

Purpose

Our purpose is to facilitate programming for clergy wives and to communicate with the administration of the Orthodox Church in America and the other initiatives of the Office of Pastoral Life on the needs and unique challenges of clergy wives.

Vision

Our vision is to be a support to every clergy wife in the Orthodox Church of America.

Empowering Spiritual Caregivers

Upcoming Events

Stay Connected and Engaged with Our Calendar of Events. Explore Workshops, Retreats, and Community Gatherings Tailored to Support Your Spiritual Journey and Professional Development.

Abp. Alexander offers a deeply spiritual reflection on the meaning of pain and suffering in our lives, sharing insights for clergy wives who offer support and care within their families and communities.
Sat, December 14, 2024,  01:00 PM - 02:00 PM
Mark your calendars for this insightful event. Speakers and topics will be announced soon.
Sat, February 8, 2025,  01:00 PM - 02:00 PM
/ Clergy Wives Events
Clergy Wives May 2025 Event
Stay tuned for another enriching session. Details about speakers and topics will be shared soon.
Sat, May 17, 2025,  01:00 PM - 02:00 PM
/ Clergy Wives Events
Clergy Wives August 2025 Event
An opportunity to gather and learn awaits. More information on the speakers and topics will be provided as the date approaches.
Sat, August 16, 2025,  01:00 PM - 02:00 PM
Save the date for this special event. Speakers and topics will be confirmed closer to the event.
Sat, November 15, 2025,  01:00 PM - 02:00 PM

Connect With Us

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Join our contact list to receive notices of events, newsletters, prayer lists, and other relevant communications. We promise not to flood your inbox!

We’d love to have a more complete contact list of clergy wives in the Orthodox Church in America. If you haven’t received communications from us, please submit/update your contact information here: