Orthodox MontaNika was formed by Fr. Deacon Ananias in August, 2021 to officially announce the launch his Orthodox Online Ministry known as Patristic Faith, as well as showing people the beauties of Montana and the potential for Orthodox growth and missions within this amazing state. The first conference was held at Carroll College in Helena, MT, where Deacon Ananias is a professor, and consisted of several speakers from the newly launched Patristic Faith website. Although the first Orthodox MontaNika conference was small (approximately 50-60 people), it was an enormous success and proved to be spiritually and educationally edifying for all who attended. In fact, the first conference was such a success that the following year it was moved to a larger venue to accommodate the increased interest and desire to attend Orthodox MontaNika. In June of 2022, the conference was moved to Butte, MT, where Holy Trinity Serbian Orthodox Church co-sponsored and hosted the three day event under the blessing of Bishop Maxim. The 2022 Orthodox MontaNika conference was even more successful than the first, with the number of attendees increasing over double the amount from the previous year and focused on Orthodox Missions and Apologetics. It included speakers such as Metropolitan Jonah and Abbot Tryphon (just to name a few), more events, more tours, additional services (including a Hierarchical Liturgy and Vespers), more meals, better food, and greater fellowship. The demand to have another Orthodox MontaNika for 2023 was so great that the conference organizers not only decided to continue the yearly conference, but they have committed themselves to make this year’s conference even better.

Fr. Russell Radoicich (parish priest of Holy Trinity), the priests of Montana, Fr. Deacon Ananias, the conference organizers, together with the local Orthodox parishioners from across the state all agreed to continue this wonderful conference and agreed to keep it in the beautiful state of Montana. This is because, together with His Grace, Bishop Maxim, we all truly believe that there is no other state the possess the unique combination of beauty, natural community suitable for Orthodox values and living, riches of nature and the large expanse of land that makes it perfect for Orthodox growth and missions. We therefore invite people to explore the wonders, beauties, and potential of Orthodox Montana at our conference so as to provide the faithful with a better idea of what Orthodox life in Montana can be for those interested in moving to Montana and making a life here, where one can help build and grow Orthodoxy in this lovely state and across the nation. We believe that the freedom to grow Orthodoxy in Montana is a template for the rest of the nation.

This year’s conference theme is “Seek First the Kingdom of God,” which is designed to help attendees better understand what it means to prioritize the holy things in one’s life and how to live an Orthodox life of fellowship, communication, cohesion, camaraderie, coordination, and unity in Christ amidst the challenges of life. We have an even more amazing line up of speakers this year, including our own Bishop Maxim as this year’s key note speaker. Each speaker will be presenting talks on what it means to “seek first the kingdom of God.”