Welcome!
The Society of St. John Chrysostom – Western Region is an ecumenical organization of laity and clergy of the Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, Assyrian Church of the East, and the Eastern Catholic and Roman Catholic Churches.
We work to make known the history, worship, spirituality, discipline and theology of Eastern Christianity, and for the fullness of unity desired by our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
We invite you to look over our website to learn more about our mission, activities, and upcoming events.
Searchable map of SoCal parishes
The Society of St. John Chrysostom - Western Region is now hosting a map of all parishes in the Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox, Assyrian Church of the East and Catholic Churches in our service area of Southern California. The map is organized into layers - by activating or deactivating layers, you can view only the parishes of a certain … More...
Message from SSJC-WR Chair Spring 2019
RESPECT, FORGIVENESS AND HUMILITY:PATHS TO UNITY Archpriest George Morelli PhD “Chaos” is defined as “a state of extreme confusion and disorder”[1] As we look at the world around us we see just such a state. Around the globe we see political, social and, very unfortunately, religious conflict. C.S. Lewis[1] tells us how the Evil One, … More...
Renewed Possibilities for the Apostolic Churches
SSJC-WR President's Message 2013 Summer Archpriest George Morelli, PhD A number of historically momentous events among the Apostolic Churches have occurred since the last Light of the East President's message. First and foremost was the papal resignation of Pope Benedict XVI, the first pontiff to resign since the resignation of Pope Gregory … More...
The Society of St John Chrysostom promotes greater appreciation of the spiritual, theological and liturgical traditions of Eastern Christendom, works and prays for the unity of the Churches of East and West, and encourages support for the Eastern Churches:
- the Byzantine and Oriental Catholic Churches in communion with the Apostolic See of Rome (especially in their contemporary calling to promote reconciliation and the recovery of union between Catholics and Orthodox)
- the Orthodox Church
- the Oriental Orthodox Churches and
- the Apostolic Church of the East.
In the United Kingdom and Europe the Society, founded in 1926, is a group of Catholics of the Latin and Eastern Churches, along with our friends in other traditions, promoting awareness and friendship in the Christian West for our fellow Christians of the East – through prayer and liturgy, conferences and lectures, pilgrimage and ecumenical encounters.
In 1998 the Society was also founded in the United States, where it runs the annual North American and international Orientale Lumen conferences.
And in 2000, a new chapter of the Society was established for Australasia, based at the Center for Early Christian Studies at the Catholic University of Australia.