Our next installment of Five Questions features Soren, co-owner of the Trinity House Cafe + Market in Leesburg, Virginia. Trinity House is a Best of Loudoun 2026 winner, and it's easy to see why. Great coffee, delicious food, gifts, (of course) books, and such a welcoming atmosphere right in the heart of downtown Leesburg. Soren and his wife have created a space where visitors, regulars, friends, and families are welcomed with unmatched hospitality.
In fact, I used to meet at the Trinity House Cafe for moms' groups when my children were young, and I can personally attest to its charm.
In this week's Five Questions, Soren shares the stories that stay with him, favorite rituals, and what's next for Trinity House.
Pour a cup of coffee, pull up a chair, and enjoy!
1. What book has stayed with you the longest?
Dostoevsky’s The Brothers Karamazov. Elder Zosima, Alyosha Karamazov…these and other characters leapt off the page at me when I first read it as a teen, and have stayed in my heart ever since. During a study abroad year in St. Petersburg, Russia, I happened to live just a few blocks from the cemetery where Dostoevsky was buried. Whenever I’d stop by, I’d find his grave covered with fresh flowers, notes, and mementoes left by readers—a reminder of the enduring gift of his writing in the lives of so many.
2. What do you hope people discover when they visit Trinity House Café + Market?
Ever and I founded Trinity House Café + Market in 2014, following a call that we sensed to bring the joy of faith—a “little taste of heaven”—to the heart of our public square, literally at the “corner of Church & Market.” More specifically, our hope has been that guests will experience a sense of peace, welcome, beauty, a kind of accessible “front porch” to the gift of faith, and the environment of a loving home. And for those not interested in faith, we hope they’ll just feel welcomed and enjoy the food and drink at Loudoun's 2026 Best Coffee Shop, as recognized in Best of Loudoun! One of our favorite fun facts is that we know of at least four couples who first met at the café and later married. We’re so proud of our talented, hard-working, and welcoming Café + Market team, who make the Trinity House experience possible on a daily basis.
"... a Swallowtail butterfly suddenly began flying along next to me…and accompanied me for the equivalent of several blocks. In the span of that minute, I went from stressed and lost in my thoughts to outright wonder and stillness..."
3. What ordinary moment has inspired you lately?
I like to jog, and on a longer run down a country gravel road near our home a few weeks ago, a Swallowtail butterfly suddenly began flying along next to me…and accompanied me for the equivalent of several blocks. In the span of that minute, I went from stressed and lost in my thoughts to outright wonder and stillness, standing motionless on the road. Beauty and grace broke through, once again.
4. What is your favorite daily ritual?
I like to wake up early, get my first cup of coffee, and spend time in prayer, meditation, and reflecting on scripture. Jesus lovingly chided Martha for her constant and frenetic activity, and he praised Mary’s ability to just “be” with him. Each day brims with "Martha-like" opportunities to serve, listen, welcome, and give, but as the saying goes, “You can’t give what you don’t have,” and this morning ritual is my time to lean into Mary's way of receiving God's abundant love.
5. What are you looking forward to?
Today’s families are so often overscheduled, overwhelmed, distracted, and facing strong headwinds when it comes to giving their children the joy of faith. To reach and equip these families, the Trinity House Community ministry that Ever and I co-founded—and which owns Trinity House Café + Market—has created a plug-and-play ministry model (“Heaven in Your Home Gatherings”) for individual congregations to bring families together for food, fellowship, and formation. We launched it three years ago, and it's now being used by more than 60 parishes across 15 states. Alongside strengthening Trinity House Café + Market as a go-to place for our amazing Loudoun community, our team is looking forward to expanding the Heaven in Your Home Gatherings to families in all 50 states by the early 2030s.
On Soren's Nightstand
About Soren
With his wife, Ever, Soren Johnson is co-founder and co-director of Trinity House Community and the award-winning Trinity House Cafe + Market. He holds a B.S. in Foreign Service from Georgetown University, and an M.A. in Theology from St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary. He has lived abroad in Russia, the Czech Republic and Israel, and his writing has been published in many outlets, including the Washington Post, Richmond Times-Dispatch, Chicago Tribune, and the Arlington Catholic Herald. With Ever, he is co-author of Heaven in Your Home Letters & Guide: Inspiration & Tools for Building a Trinity House.
Read Along with Soren
Curious about the books Soren mentioned? We've gathered the books mentioned here in one convenient Bookshop.org list.
(Purchases made through Bookshop.org support independent bookstores, and Poplar & Prose may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you.)
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Five Questions is a recurring interview series featuring readers, writers, artists, booksellers, entrepreneurs, and members of our little corner of the literary and local communities. Every conversation offers a glimpse into the guest's own reading life, experiences, and perspective.
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