The Fellowship of St. Silas is a pan-orthodox ministry serving under the Antiochian Archdiocese of North America, which is headed by His Eminence Metropolitan Philip. Our goal is to work in a unified way on behalf of those who are behind prison walls. The many prisoners which we minister to across the country simply desire to pray, repent and be nurtured in their faith.

The Fellowship of St. Silas was established in 1991 under the auspices of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese, with Father Duane Pederson as founding director. Father Duane's thirty-eight years of experience ministering to hurting young people, both in prison and on the streets, uniquely qualified him to bring the message of repentance, confession, and salvation to prisoners seeking hope, encouragement, and caring. In 1993, the Holy Apostle Silas was named patron saint for the Fellowship of St. Silas.

In October 1996, the first Convocation for Orthodox Christian Prison Workers was held in St Augustine, Florida. The Convocation was blessed with the presence of Bishop Basil Essey of the Antiochian Archdiocese. In 1999, for reasons of health and exhaustion, Father Duane stepped down and Metropolitan Philip appointed Father David Ogan as the new director. Father Duane continued to serve as a consultant as needed.

At the request of Metropolitan Philip, Father Duane initiated a prisoner aftercare program. Though housing was not provided through this program, Father Duane ministered daily through spiritual and practical guidance, encouragement, friendship, and caring. He was in regular contact with many former prisoners and their families. Many contacted him daily for spiritual guidance and direction. In addition, Father Duane continued his weekly individual correspondence with many prisoners, with some of whom he has corresponded for more than thirty years.