Administration
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Current Administration
His Beatitude, Metropolitan Tikhon
His Beatitude, Metropolitan Tikhon
His Beatitude, Metropolitan Tikhon
His Eminence, Archbishop Benjamin
His Eminence, Archbishop Benjamin
His Eminence, Archbishop Benjamin
Our Hierarchs

St. Herman of Alaska Orthodox Church is a parish under the jurisdiction of the Autocephalous Orthodox Church in America (OCA), which has as its Primate His Beatitude, The Most Blessed Tikhon, Archbishop of Washington, Metropolitan of All America and Canada (pictures above in white). As a parish located in the OCA’s Diocese of the West (DOW), St. Herman’s is guided by His Eminence, The Most Revereand Benjamin, Archbishop of San Francisco and the West (pictured above in red). 

Rev. Benjamin Garcia, Acting Rector

Fr. Benjamin was assigned to St. Herman of Alaska Orthodox Church in July of 2024, having completed his seminary education at St. Tikhon's Orthodox Theological Seminary in South Canaan, Pennsylvania, earning his Master's in Divinity, and receiving ordination to the Holy Priesthood earlier in 2024. Having been born in California, his assignment to the parish was a return home. He was accompanied by his wife, Matushka Marina ("Matushka" being a term of endearment meaning "Mother" used to refer to a priest's wife in the Orthodox Church) and his two children. 

V. Rev. Matthew Tate, Dean, Mission Deanery

Fr. Mathew Tate is the Dean of the of the Mission Deanery of the Diocese of the West and is the current Rector of St. Herman of Alaska.

Past Administration

1974-1977: Priest Dennis Dorko served as the first assigned priest at St. Herman’s, marking the beginning of the parish's ministry to the people of Oxnard, CA. He ended his time serving St. Herman's to pursue service as a military chaplain.

1979-1983: Priest Michael Regan was the first priest to serve at the 142 W. Wooley Road property upon completion of needed renovations to make the building suitable for use as a Church, as it was originally a house. He was joined by his wife, Matushka Lila.

1983-1988: Priest Luke Hill served St. Herman's first on a temporary basis, but within only a few months requested to become assigned to St. Herman's officially until his retirement in 1988. He remained an attached priest at St. Herman's in his retirement until his repose in the Lord on Monday, January 14, 2002.

1989-1995: Archpriest Andrew Harrison was asked to serve St. Herman's temporarily upon Fr. Luke's retirement, but was later blessed to be St. Herman's assigned priest, and was joined by his wife, Matushka Patricia. He is currently serving as the pastor emeritus at St. John of Chicago Orthodox Chapel in New Lenox, IL in his retirement. 

1995-2022: Archpriest Paul Waisanen served St. Herman's dutifully, bringing the parish into the 21st century. He was joined by wife, Matushka Judy. He is currnetly attached to St. Maximus the Confessor Orthodox Church in Denton, TX in his retirement.

2003-2011: Deacon Michael Savko served St. Herman's in addition to his other assigned parishes until 2005, when he was blessed to serve St. Herman's solely. He retired in early 2011, though he remained attached to the parish until his repose during Great Lent of that same year after battling with cancer.

2017-2024: Priest John Robinson first came to St. Herman's as a deacon, but was blessed with ordination to the Holy Priesthood in December of 2018, and began serving the parish as assistant priest. Upon Fr. Paul's retirement, Fr. John was tasked with serving the parish, under the direction of Fr. Matthew Tate, Dean of the Mission Deanery. Fr. John completed his assignment to the parish upon the assignment of Fr. Benjamin in the summer of 2024, and entered into his retirement, continuing his priestly duties as a retired priest attached to St. John of Damascus in Poway, CA.

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St. Herman Orthodox Church
142 W Wooley Rd
Oxnard, California 93030
‪(805) 330-1054


  • Sat
    15Feb

    5:30-6:30pm Great Vespers
  • Sun
    16Feb

    9:40 Hours
    10:00 Divine Liturgy
  • Sat
    22Feb

    5:30-6:30pm Great Vespers
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St. Herman Orthodox Church
142 W Wooley Rd; Oxnard, CA 93030
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