About Us
What is the OCF at UMBC?The Orthodox Christian Fellowship at UMBC is a dynamic community of students, faculty and staff of different backgrounds, who share a common desire to come together for worship, fellowship and service.
Our mission will be two fold: to be place for spiritual progress, devotion and service and to bear witness to the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the campus.
This mission will be fulfilled through regular meetings of worship, discussion, Bible studies, retreats, and creating opportunities to share the Gospel with the campus community.
What is the Orthodox Church?The people of God gathered in His name who share a common faith and hope based on the love of God, affirm the truth of their faith, belief and experience of God, and proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ to the world.
The Orthodox Church is evangelical, but not Protestant, Orthodox, but not Jewish, is Catholic, but not Roman, it isn't a denomination or non-denominational, but the very Church Christ founded. It has believed, taught, preserved, defended, and died for the Faith of the Apostles since Pentecost 2000 years ago.
Orthodox Christianity is about nothing else but Jesus Christ Himself, and the healing of our souls and bodies, and the reconciliation of humanity and God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit that comes through the Death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Spiritual Advisor
The Very Reverend Father Gregory Mathewes-Green
Archpriest, Holy Cross Antiochian Orthodox Church
info@holycrossonline.org
Staff Worker
Greg Coogan
OCF Staff Worker
100 Hilltop Circle
Baltimore MD 21250
e-mail:umbcocf@gmail.com
Greg Coogan is the Chaplain for the Orthodox Christian Fellowship. An alumnus of UMBC, Greg now works full time at the Social Security
Administration and part time at UMBC as the Chaplain for OCF. He is enjoying being back at his Alma Mater serving the campus community. Originally from upstate New York, Greg has been living in Maryland most of his life and thinks it not too bad of a state! Greg
loves to cook, travel, go to the beach, hang out with friends, play Civilization, and talk with people about all sorts of topics. You can contact him at umbcocf@gmail.com with any questions. His office is at the Interfaith Center on campus, in the temporary buildings between Chesapeake and Susquehanna dorms. Greg's patron saint is the holy Apostle Andrew, the first called. If you want to know more about Christ and His Church, Greg extends the same invitation to you that Andrew gave to Nathaniel: "Come and See!"
The 2009-2010 Academic Year OCF officers are as follows:
President
Slaven Sikirica - PICTURE AND BIO TO COME!
Vice President Michelle Birky
Hailing from western Maryland, Michelle Birky is a junior majoring in English. She likes to read, write, and otherwise be nerdy. She'll actually be studying abroad at Lancaster University in England during the fall semester, but can still be reached at birky1@umbc.edu. Her patron saint is St. Michael the Archangel, as he is her namesake.
Secretary Michael Maryon
Michael Maryon, a UMBC freshman, was born and raised in Maryland. He seeks to major in either mathematics or chemistry and enjoys hiking, reading, hunting, and running.
Treasurer and Webmaster Corey Kegerreis
Corey Kegerreis, an Iraq-veteran-turned-student, is from Columbus, Georgia though he is happy to call Maryland his new home. He enjoys rock climbing, running, and travelling. He is a transfer student studying computer engineering and has no idea how long it will take to graduate. He does not yet have a parton saint as he is a catechumen (one who is in the process of becoming an Orthodox Christian).