Colorado Prison Ministry

When we hear our Lords words in Matthew 25, “I was in prison, and you came to Me,” we don’t imagine ourselves finding a prison with a large population of Orthodox Christians to visit. Well, that is exactly what Fr. John Armstrong, rector of St. Herman Orthodox Church in Littleton, CO found. Hidden in the farm fields of eastern Colorado, yet accessible to the Denver Airport, the Hudson Correctional Facility is part of the Alaska Department of Corrections. With almost 1000 prisoners it is estimated that as many as 250 of them grew up in an Orthodox Church.  

Fr. John has been visiting the prisoners at Hudson for the past year. Chaplain Patrick Tutella, Executive Director of Orthodox Christian Prison Ministry www.ocpm-scoba.org, told me about Fr. John’s ministry at Hudson and encouraged me to offer my assistance. I went through “Orientation” and was approved as a prison volunteer in January 2011 (others are following).

These words of Fr. Emmanuel Mantzouris (OCPM Board member and prison chaplain) describe well the work Fr. John is doing: “As we go to the inmates in prison, we represent the Church – members of the Body of Christ. We are called to minister to those who are incarcerated – nourishing and cherishing them – “as if in prison with them.” To the inmate, we represent an extension of the Body of Christ, an answer to prayer, to help erase the shame of sin, so that they do not feel like an abandoned sheep that has gone astray. Remember those in prison as if you were their fellow prisoners and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering (Hebrews 13:3). In the parable of the sheep and the goats the Lord clearly depicts Himself in the person of the inmate: “I was in prison, and you visited to Me.”

Fr. John had a vision to bring the Holy Mysteries to these men and I had the privilege of assisting him twice this Lent in a Pre-Sanctified Liturgy for these Orthodox men in prison. I was so moved by the first experience that afterward I wrote Fr. John the following:

I want to express my deepest gratitude to you for being available for the Orthodox prisoners at Hudson Correctional Facility.  

I believe that yesterday’s Presanctified Liturgy was a momentous occasion in many ways and I wanted to share my observations with you as well as report them to those interested in this prison ministry:

1. The fact that God went before us in getting us through the security. The Chaplain met us in the parking lot and helped us get the boxes through security. They never questioned the communion elements which had been an issue previously.
2. I had forgotten my wallet at home and didn’t have the required photo ID. I thought they would send me home, and somehow God distracted the guard from that issue.
3. The turnout was incredible — 18 inmates for the Presanctified Liturgy, many (most, I think) received Communion.
4. You were able to hear 6 to 8 confessions before Liturgy which took well over an hour
    a. Most of the men waited patiently in the hallway – a few went back to their pods when the guards hassled us for standing outside (we would have had 20+ for Liturgy).
5. While you were hearing confessions several of the prisoners spoke with me and expressed their gratitude for your service to them.  
a. One man told me he had not seen an Orthodox priest in well over 15 years, even though he had repeatedly requested one.
    b. Another expressed how healing it was to do confession.
c. Several mentioned that in the 8 years they were in the AZ prison previous to being moved to CO, they had never seen an Orthodox priest or had any Orthodox service, again, even though they had repeatedly requested one.
6. The prisoners were amazed at seeing the vestments, the chalice, the candle, the incense, etc. They asked, "How did you get all that in here?  We have never seen this in prison."
7. The service seemed to give the prisoners something that was theirs; very meaningful and very personal.  It was their heritage, their traditions and they were pleased to be there and participate.  
8. The non-Orthodox participants were very "moved" with the service and thought it was so unique they wanted to help you promote it to the other prisoners.

I know it was a lot of work for you to transport “the church” to the prison, but I believe your efforts to transform those concrete walls into the "house of God" were effective and transformed those who attended in the process.

May God reward you for your sacrificial service to His children in prison.

With love and gratitude,
Chris Finger
Orthodox Christian Prison Ministry- Colorado
(Volunteer and OCPM board member)