The Orthodox Church of the Annunciation to the Most-Holy Theotokos had its origin in the Russian community in St. Justin Martyr Orthodox Church, an English-language parish in Jacksonville under the jurisdiction of the Orthodox Church in America.

From the end of the 1990s to the early 2000s, a Russian-speaking priest would come once a month to this parish to minister to the Russian-speaking parishioners of the congregation. With time, the necessity for a permanent clergy presence became evident. In the autumn of 2007, Hieromonk Arkady (Migunov) was invited to relocate to Jacksonville for this purpose.

Regular services in Church Slavonic began, along with choir rehearsals, spiritual discussions about faith, social events, and everything that is included in the life of an Orthodox community in the church.  With the Russian community's energy and the participation of the English-speaking parishioners of the St. Justin Martyr parish, in 2010 and 2011 two Russian festivals were organized in Jacksonville.

At the beginning of 2012, a decision was made to organize a separate Russian-speaking parish based on the existing Russian community within the St. Justin parish. After searching properties for rent and resolving church and financial questions, the community received a blessing to open a new parish under the name, Annunciation to the Most-Holy Theotokos. On September 2, 2012, the first Liturgy was served at the newly rented facility at 8535 Baymeadows Rd., #45, Jacksonville, FL 32256.

You can familiarize yourself with the life of the parish here: (click on the link)

After a year, our parish began looking for a piece of property to build a permanent church facility.  At the end of 2017, a suitable property was identified at 4600 N. Francis Rd., St. Augustine, FL 32095. The decision to purchase this property was made after prolonged prayerful efforts and with consideration of such factors as the development and migration of the population of the city of Jacksonville and the parish community, proximity of other Orthodox churches (especially the Church of St. Justin, which is under the same jurisdiction) and many other factors.

At the present time (Winter 2020), government approval of plans for site development has been obtained. Design for the construction of a multipurpose building is underway, and funding sources are being pursued.  Once final plans and funding are in place, construction work lies ahead, which will result, by God’s Grace, in the community moving into its own facility on its own property.

You can acquaint yourself with the plans for construction here (click on link)