OCF Illinois – NIKA House
At the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
“Since 1983, Orthodox Christian Fellowship (OCF) at the University of Illinois has been the largest OCF organization in the United States. Students meet on campus at the NIKA House, the only permanent meeting facility for Orthodox college students in the America. With over 4,000 square feet of space, the NIKA House is open every day for OCF members from 8 AM to midnight with amenities such as: ping pong table, Nintendo Switch, board games, basketball hoop, two 75-inch TV’s, a music room, a library, kitchen, multiple study rooms, and a chapel! The NIKA House has a bus stop right in front of the building which makes it easy for students to get to weekly meetings. The University of Illinois is a world-class university, and for Orthodox college students, OCF Illinois allows them to grow in their faith away from home. Every week we set up religious and social events for our members, starting on Sunday with carpooling to church.
Each Sunday, OCF students attend Three Hierarchs Greek Orthodox Church in Champaign through an OCF carpool system. You can expect to see around 40 students attending Sunday liturgy, helping with Sunday School, serving in the altar, and cooking in the church’s kitchen. OCF meets at the NIKA House every Tuesday at 6 PM for their weekly meeting. OCF provides free meal thanks to Merry Ann’s Diner. Students then lead a discussion with our Spiritual Advisor, Fr. Michael Condos, Priest at Three Hierarchs. On Wednesday OCF participates in intramurals, playing soccer, basketball, volleyball, flag football, etc. OCF reimburses students on their intramural memberships so students play with OCF for free! On Thursday OCF holds a Bible Study at the NIKA House as well. Social events at the NIKA house range from Girls Nights, Movie Nights, sporting event watch parties, study sessions, bonfires, playing Quiplash with Metropolitan Nathaniel, and more. OCF students go kayaking and canoeing, take road trips to Chicago, St. Louis, Wisconsin Dells, visit local monasteries in the Midwest, and the Saint Iakovos Retreat Center. Every Illinois Football home game we host a tailgate in Lot 31, attend Illinois basketball games together, and organize OCF Dad’s weekend, OCF Mom’s weekend, and OCF Illinois Homecoming events!
If you have a son or daughter that is looking to enrich their Orthodox faith with others, look no further than the University of Illinois. The University of Illinois, established in 1867, is consistently ranked as one of the best universities in the world, also having the largest OCF in the country, and the only university with an OCF meeting facility. OCF Illinois also has the Orthodox Christian Alumni Association in Action (OCAA) Board, that is a 501(c)(3) organization, overseeing the organization. Their sole focus is to make sure OCF Illinois and the NIKA House lives on for generations to come. No other college in America offers what OCF Illinois at the University of Illinois offers for students, we are truly one of one. Since OCF Illinois was established, there has been a pipeline of Orthodox students from the Chicagoland and St. Louis metro area to the University of Illinois. Our OCF alumni get involved in YAL Chicago, local parish councils, and even become Greek Orthodox priests. OCF Illinois hosts multiple priests from the Metropolis of Chicago each year to lead discussion at the NIKA House. OCF Illinois will give your son or daughter a safe space to grow. They will easily form friendships from a large pool of Orthodox students coming in, and be part of a club that will keep them connected and entertained with many religious and social events.
Check out our Instagram: @ocfillinois, and Facebook: Orthodox Christian Fellowship – the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign to see what the hype is all about! All of the links to the social media pages and website are listed below. Contact us at any of numbers below and we will quickly get you in touch with current OCF Illinois members at the University of Illinois. If you are looking to tour the NIKA House call or text (217) 766-9050 or direct message us on Instagram at @ocfillinois.
Contacts
(217) 766-9050 – Yianni Laros | OCAA Board Member
(217) 766-3104 – Foti Kutil | Manager of the NIKA House and OCAA Board Member
(217) 714-0758 – Fr. Michael Condos | OCF Spiritual Advisor and Priest at Three Hierarchs Greek Orthodox Church, Champaign, Illinois”
… or direct message us on Instagram
OCF Illinois at the University of Illinois | NIKA House 810 W Oregon St, Urbana Illinois, 61801