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Saint Nicholas Orthodox Church

Russian Orthodox Church (Patriarchal Parishes in the USA) · Chester, PA 19013 · also known as St. Nicholas Russian Orthodox Church

Info coverage: Low Its website covers 1 of the 5 key areas we look for (beliefs). This is about how much the church’s own website shares, not a judgment of the church. What this means

Last checked Oct 17, 2026 · Suggest a correction (we review every correction before changing a listing)

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About / Welcome

“Храни Вас Господь!”

From the church’s website · English page ('God keep you!') (st-nicholas-chester.org/EnglishF.html) · checked Oct 17, 2026 · Church website

What We Believe

“Христос Бог и Господь!”

“крестной смертью поправ грех открыть каждому дорогу ко спасению”

From the church’s website · Home (post of January 6, 2026) (st-nicholas-chester.org) · checked Oct 17, 2026 · Church website
ChurchCompass translation (not the church’s own wording):

'Christ is God and Lord!' … '[He comes] by His death on the cross, trampling down sin, to open to everyone the way to salvation.' (Scout translation.)

Denomination’s beliefs: mospatusa.com/clergydirectory.html · Denomination directory

Ratings DRAFT

These ratings are a draft for review. They are assessments based only on what this church and its denomination publish online, not official reviews or endorsements.

Gospel Clarity
3/5 · OK Provisional
A January 2026 post says 'Христос Бог и Господь!' (Christ is God and Lord!). It says He comes to save and to restore humanity's broken spiritual wholeness, and that by 'крестной смертью поправ грех' (His death on the cross, trampling down sin) He opens to everyone the way to salvation. Three elements (who He is, the need, what He has done); how a person responds isn't stated. Seasonal post, not a beliefs page. No newcomer pathway. (Rubric per ChurchCompass, 2026-10-17) source 1 · Church website
Elements found: 3 of 4 (who Jesus is, what people need saving from, what Jesus has done); newcomer pathway: not found
Provisional: the church’s website blocked our reader, so we read it another way; based on our own translation of the church’s website.
Scripture & Teaching
2/5 · Weak Provisional
No Bible study or teaching described. source 1 · Church website; source 2 · Church website
Provisional: the church’s website blocked our reader, so we read it another way; based on our own translation of the church’s website.
Core Orthodoxy
3/5 · OK Provisional
Parish of the Russian Orthodox Church's Patriarchal Parishes in the USA. Its posts confess Christ as God and Lord and mark Trinity Sunday and Pascha, but there's no statement of faith, so the church's own Orthodox faith applies. source 1 · Denomination directory; source 2 · Church website
Provisional: the church’s website blocked our reader, so we read it another way; based on our own translation of the church’s website.
Welcome & Community
2/5 · Weak Provisional
Invites questions about baptism and memorial services. No visitor information, and mostly in Russian. source 1 · Church website; source 2 · Church website
Provisional: the church’s website blocked our reader, so we read it another way; based on our own translation of the church’s website.
Discipleship Path
Not enough public info Provisional
Nothing found. source 1 · Church website; source 2 · Church website; source 3 · Church website
Provisional: the church’s website blocked our reader, so we read it another way; based on our own translation of the church’s website.
Transparency
2/5 · Weak Provisional
Rector named with contact and the jurisdiction is confirmed by the denomination directory. No schedule, and the English content is out of date. source 1 · Church website; source 2 · Church website; source 3 · Denomination directory
Provisional: the church’s website blocked our reader, so we read it another way; based on our own translation of the church’s website.
Worship style Orthodox Divine Liturgy (named in posts) (source · Church website) (a description, not a rating)

Ratings are DRAFT assessments based on public information. How ratings work

Practical details

Address
2513 West 4th, Chester, PA, 19013 (source · Church website)
Municipality
Chester city
Denomination
Russian Orthodox Church (Patriarchal Parishes in the USA) (source · Denomination directory)
The Patriarchal Parishes clergy directory lists Archpriest Alexey Bocharnikov, 2513 West Fourth Street, Chester, as 'Rector of St. Nicholas Church in Chester, PA'.
Service times
Not listed on the church’s website
Worship style
Orthodox Divine Liturgy (named in posts) (No regular schedule given.)
Language
Russian (news posts); the English page is a 2009 newsletter (source · Church website)
Kids & youth
Not listed on the church’s website
Accessibility
Not listed on the church’s website
Phone
(267) 242-7400
Website
st-nicholas-chester.org

What to expect on a first visit

From the church’s website. Always confirm with the church before you go.

Not listed on the church’s website

Next steps to grow or serve

Location

Map pin: US Census Geocoder location for the church's address.

Sources and last-checked dates

All facts on this page were checked on Oct 17, 2026 against these pages: