Orthodox Christian Prison Ministry (OCPM) proclaims the love of Christ to men and women who are incarcerated. We do this primarily through our full-time Prison Spiritual Support Managers (PSSMs), who are committed to building relationships with a set caseload of Orthodox or inquiring people in prison for the duration of that person’s sentence and after his or her release. This means an Orthodox Christian in prison has a years-long relationship with someone from OCPM who is committed to maintaining their connection to the Church and helping their spiritual formation. The PSSMs not only connect with people personally through letters, emails, phone calls, and in-person visitation, but they also facilitate and coach Orthodox clergy and lay volunteers for face-to-face visitation.

As the national prison ministry of the Orthodox Church, we provide resources and training to local churches and clergy, enabling them to offer local solutions and fulfill Christ’s command to visit Him in prison. For those wishing to live an Orthodox way of life, we advocate on their behalf for correctional facilities around the country to recognize the Orthodox faith, so that priests can enter prison facilities and administer the Sacraments. Finally, OCPM publishes and provides newsletters, spiritual books, icons, catechisms, and study courses at no cost to men and women in prison.

As a result, families are reunited, marriages are healed, and thousands of incarcerated men and women have a new sense of peace and restored order in their lives.