St Matthew Orthodox Church is a parish of the Orthodox Church in America (OCA), within the OCA Diocese of the Midwest. Our parish serves Orthodox Christians and inquirers living within a widespread region around Green Bay, including the Fox Valley, Door County, Manitowoc, Waupaca, the Northwoods, and even the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. We are a diverse community and always seek to bring the Gospel of Jesus Christ to more and more through our divine worship and witness as Orthodox Christians.

The Orthodox Church is the continuation of the apostolic church, founded on the Day of Pentecost, and for 2,000 years has made known to men, women, and children of all nations the path to salvation through repentance and faith in Christ. Our life is rooted in our weekly celebration every Sunday of the Divine Liturgy and in the reception of the Eucharist, the Body and Blood of Christ, in which we remember the sacrifice of Christ in his love for humanity, and thus are filled with the Holy Spirit to be his loving presence in the world today, to the best of our ability, by his grace.

For a basic explanation of Orthodox Christian belief, please consult "The Orthodox Faith" on the Orthodox Church in America's website.

Guests and new members are always warmly welcomed at our services. Non-Orthodox may participate in every way, except for Sacramental life; if you would like to become Orthodox, please speak to the parish priest! 

The activities of the Church, in addition to our worship schedule, include: Sunday School for grades prek-12; a young adult group; individualized instruction and preparation for Baptism and Chrismation; group Catechism classes starting every January; pastoral counseling; participation in local, national and international ministries; an annual parish picnic; fund raising activities including our fall festival, and the annual St Matthew Dinner.

1981

Regular services began in the crypt chapel of St. Norbert's Abbey in De Pere, just south of Green Bay. Fr Hilary Madison, a priestmonk who assisted the bishop's administration in Chicago, commuted by rail and bus to Green Bay, at first only monthly or biweekly, and later, weekly, for the small mission community.

1992

Fr Michael Herrick, PhD, a priest and professional psychologist, was appointed as the first resident priest, beginning July 1, 1992. This was made possible by a 3-year grant from the Diocesan Department of Missions. While limited by the rented space and its use by others as well, more of the Liturgical Year began to be celebrated. The attendance at the worship services began to increase, and new people began to hear, learn about and be converted to the Orthodox Faith.

1994

As part of the growth picture, in October of 1994, a building on Redwood Drive, on the west side of Green Bay, was purchased and provided space for both a temple and church hall. Now, at last, the Church Year could be celebrated appropriately, and this alone was a major change in the nature and functioning of the St Matthew Community. 

2003

In 2003 Fr John Wehling moved to Green Bay to serve the parish. A former protestant pastor, Fr John attended St Tikhon’s Orthodox Theological Seminary before being ordained to the holy priesthood on the Sunday of Orthodoxy in 2003. Fr John was the first full-time priest at St Matthew's, and now with the combination of a permanent building and a full-time priest, the community began to grow.

2011

In June of 2011, Fr John Wehling accepted a position at a parish in Michigan, and Fr Maximus Cabey was assigned in July 2011 as the new Rector for St Matthew Orthodox Church. Fr Maximus had graduated from St Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary in May of 2011, having an extensive background in church ministry and in the business world.

2014

On Wednesday April 30th, 2014 St. Matthew Orthodox Church purchased a former Presbyterian Church building at 607 Ravenswood Drive in Green Bay. We moved in the week of May 11th, 2014 and had our first services in our new building on Saturday May 17th, 2014. The Lord continues to bless and grow the Orthodox Church in Green Bay.

Fr Michael Herrick, who had remained in Green Bay in his retirement, reposed March 29, 2015.

2016

In September, Bishop Paul assigned Father Eugene Wozniak to our parish. Father Eugene, his wife Antonia and their two daughters, Elizabeth and Sophia arrived in Green Bay in October. Father Eugene is a graduate of St. Vladimir's Seminary, who then served for many years as a military chaplain at Camp Lejeune NC, Oceana VA and Juneau AK, and also in Iraq, Afghanistan and other countries in the Middle East and Europe.

Green Bay, Wisconsin  -  The congregation of Saint Matthew Orthodox church in East Green Bay has completed tthe first two phases of a three phase iconography project that is being done by the Russian born artist Dmitry Shkolnik. The icons were started by Dmitry at his studio in California and have now been installed in the Altar at St Matthew. This phase of the beautification project took about two weeks for installation. Orthodox churches are traditionally beautified by hand painted Iconography which ‘is an essential expression of beauty and revelation in worship and faith’ says Father Eugene Wozniak, the priest at St. Matthew. Phase II was completed under the direction of Father John Thetford. This phase which was installed on the side walls of the church focused on the Saints of North America and Saints that are remembered in our weekly services. Phase III is planned for completion in the summer of 2024. This phase will focus on the large wall spaces on each side of the church directly above the Iconography of the Saints. The plan is to have Iconography of our Lords Reserecution on one side with the Lords Nativity adorning the other side of the church.

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