Orthodoxy in Haiti emerged thanks to Anglican priest from New Jersey, Michael Graves, who converted to Orthodoxy in 1978. Seeking Eucharistic communion with the Orthodox world, he petitioned the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia (ROCOR). After verifying the mission's canonical status, the community was accepted into ROCOR.

New parishes were established: in honor of Blessed Augustine of Hippo in Jacmel, St. John of Shanghai in Le Cayes, St. Nicholas in Cap-Haïtien, and later Peter and Paul in Léogâne. Two chapels were also opened: in honor of St. Dorothea in Marine and St. Moses the Black in Fontamara at the house of Archpriest Grigory Williams.

Services in the parishes were conducted according to the Russian Orthodox rite. Archpriest Grigory organized educational seminars for the clergy and altar servers. In Jacmel, where baptisms are practiced on major holidays, a plot was purchased for the construction of a church and a school for elementary and middle classes. In Marine, two plots were bought: one for the church and another for the school and social housing.

According to Archpriest Viktor Potapov, executive director of the ROCOR Charity Fund, Orthodoxy in the Russian tradition turned out to be closer to Haitians than Greek Orthodoxy. They really enjoy our hymns and have found the lives of saints such as Seraphim of Sarov and the Optina Elders to be relatable.