Holy Ascension Orthodox Church was founded on May 17, 2007. We are a parish of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad, under the omophorion of his Eminence Metropolitan Agafangel of Eastern America and New York, First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad (ROCA).
Our founder and spiritual father of blessed memory, the Most Reverend Bishop Joseph, was born Igor Hrebinka on July 6, 1932. After coming to America, he received a Bachelor of Theology from Holy Trinity Seminary in Jordanville, NY.
The future Bishop Joseph was ordained by Saint Philaret of New York into the diaconate in 1967 and into the priesthood in 1969. He served for 33 years as the rector of the Church of St. John of Kronstadt in Utica, NY, where he helped to build a new church and greatly enriched parish life before moving to Virginia and founding Holy Ascension.
At the Vth All-Diaspora Council, held in Nanuet, NY, on November 18-21, 2008, the ROCA Synod of Bishops elected to consecrate the then Fr. Igor to the episcopacy. He was tonsured and consecrated on November 20, 2008 and given the name Joseph in honor of the Holy New Martyr St. Joseph of Petrograd.
Bishop Joseph reposed on 18 Sept 2020, having faithfully served the Church for over 50 years.
As a parish, we seek to maintain the teachings and traditions of the Holy Orthodox Church, of the historic Orthodox Church of Russia, and of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad as exemplified by her founding hierarchs: Metropolitans Anthony, Anastasy, Philaret, and Vitaliy.
Our founder and spiritual father of blessed memory, the Most Reverend Bishop Joseph, was born Igor Hrebinka on July 6, 1932. After coming to America, he received a Bachelor of Theology from Holy Trinity Seminary in Jordanville, NY.
The future Bishop Joseph was ordained by Saint Philaret of New York into the diaconate in 1967 and into the priesthood in 1969. He served for 33 years as the rector of the Church of St. John of Kronstadt in Utica, NY, where he helped to build a new church and greatly enriched parish life before moving to Virginia and founding Holy Ascension.
At the Vth All-Diaspora Council, held in Nanuet, NY, on November 18-21, 2008, the ROCA Synod of Bishops elected to consecrate the then Fr. Igor to the episcopacy. He was tonsured and consecrated on November 20, 2008 and given the name Joseph in honor of the Holy New Martyr St. Joseph of Petrograd.
Bishop Joseph reposed on 18 Sept 2020, having faithfully served the Church for over 50 years.
As a parish, we seek to maintain the teachings and traditions of the Holy Orthodox Church, of the historic Orthodox Church of Russia, and of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad as exemplified by her founding hierarchs: Metropolitans Anthony, Anastasy, Philaret, and Vitaliy.