Prison Ministry

“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

St. Dismas, whose icon is displayed one of the angel doors of Saint Nicholas Russian Orthodox Church in Fletcher, North Carolina met Christ on at least two occasions. The first encounter was during the flight into Egypt – Dismas and his band of highwaymen attacked the Holy Family with every intention of robbing them. The Virgin Mary held the swaddled Christ Child tight to her chest.  Perceiving that she was protecting their most precious possession, Dismas demanded to see what was in the bundle. When he saw the face of the Christ Child he was so moved that he told his men to let this party pass unharmed and their cargo, which contained the gold, frankincense, and myrrh they had received from the three kings, untouched. Mary thanked him and told him that her Son would someday repay his good deed.

That day came when Dismas hung on the cross at the right hand side of Our Lord.  A lifelong villain, Dismas defended Christ from the taunts of the other thief who hung to Christ’s left.  Dismas repented and asked Christ to remember him in His Kingdom.

The third bar on the three-bar cross is tilted upward in the right and downward on the left, representing the salvation of the repentant thief and the damnation of the unrepentant one. During every Liturgy, immediately before receiving the Holy Eucharist, the faithful repeat those words saying, “I will not give Thee a kiss as did Judas, but like the Thief do I confess Thee: Remember me,  O Lord , in Thy kingdom.”

Saint Nicholas Outreach

Since approximately 1998, the community of Saint Nicholas Russian Orthodox Church in Fletcher, North Carolina has quietly shared the love of God and the Orthodox faith with those in prison. Volunteers have corresponded with and visited with several inmates across the country. The community has also sent books, magazines, and monetary support (for toiletries, postage, etc.) to their incarcerated brothers and sisters. We also publish a bimonthly newsletter that strives bring hope to and uplift the imprisoned through stories of forgiveness and redemption from the lives of the saints and Holy Tradition.

Over the years, a handful of those touched by the ministry have been able to visit our parish, either on a pass from a local institution or upon release; two became catechumens.

In the United States, one in approximately every 33 people are either in prison or on some sort of probationary program, far more than in any other country in the world. If you know someone who would benefit from our outreach program please let us know and we will add them to our correspondence list. Your donations of time and money to this program are always welcome and put to good use. God will reward your generosity! To make a donation, simply click on the Paypal button. Please leave a note, “Prison Ministry”.


“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’
“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ ”The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’”
Matthew 25:34-40

Please contact us with any questions regarding the prison ministry. We will be happy to address any questions you have.