Browsing: OCL News

On this, the first anniversary of the Falling Asleep in the Lord of Roy Snyder, we remember him in prayer and with fond memories. He served on the board of directors of Orthodox Christian Laity for five years. He was active in community life in suburban St. Louis, MO. He was a member of the board of his local Orthodox Christian Church. Roy had a distinguished business career as the owner of Vising Angels of Greater St. Charles, Missouri, providing in-home living assistance services to seniors. He established this business with his wife, Judith, who has a nursing background. He…

Source: Orthodox Christian Laity Click here to view the PDF Orthodox Christian Laity (OCL) has been an advocate of dialogue in preserving and promoting the Orthodox Faith since its inception in 1987. This newsletter highlights OCL’s recent events in defending and strengthening Orthodox unity and continuity for future generations. 36th Annual Meeting and Conference On the weekend of October 20-22, 2023, Orthodox Christian Laity held its 36th Annual Meeting and Conference (read highlights online here: https://bit.ly/OCL36) at Saints Peter and Paul Greek Orthodox Church, Glenview, Illinois. The OCL Board met on Friday, October 20, in the library of Saints Peter…

Source: Cosmos Philly North Wildwood, NJ  – In a heartfelt celebration, St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church in North Wildwood, New Jersey, paid tribute to the remarkable quarter-century ministry of Father Steven Vlahos on Saturday, November 4. The occasion, set against the backdrop of the St. Demetrios feast day dinner dance, was marked by a myriad of festivities, including the dedication of a portrait of Father Steven in recognition of his unwavering commitment. The event, attended by parishioners and community members alike, was a testament to the parish’s love and appreciation for Father Steven. The evening commenced with speeches from prominent…

Source: Orthodox Christian Laity The 36th Annual Meeting of the Orthodox Christian Laity (OCL) took place on October 20, 2023, in the beautiful Library of Saints Peter and Paul Greek Orthodox Church in Glenview, IL. The 3-hour meeting, presided over by President Bill Souvall, covered a range of important topics, including Orthodox Christian unity, financial reports, and board development. Here’s a summary of the key points from the meeting: Prayer for Orthodox Unity: The meeting began with a prayer for Orthodox Unity in America, emphasizing the importance of the unity of the Orthodox Christian community in America, spiritually and administratively.…

Source: Orthodox Christian Laity (West Palm Beach, FL) On September 22, 2023, The Hellenic Foundation of Chicago notified Orthodox Christian Laity (OCL) that it awarded a grant of up to $37,500 to fund the DePaul University Special Collections – OCL Archival Project. The project aims to update OCL’s archive collection housed at DePaul University. The John T. Richardson Library Special Collections has housed the OCL Archive since 2006. This work will make OCL’s archive collection more accessible to scholars and patrons worldwide by arranging and describing the archives, digitizing obsolete content, and preserving website and digital media. OCL developed the…

Source: Orthodox Christian Laity View the PDF of the Letter here Orthodox Christian Laity (OCL) launched several important initiatives in 2023. “Orthodoxy In Action” Presentations OCL sponsored four Orthodoxy In Action presentations via Zoom which may be viewed on OCL’s YouTube Channel (https://bit.ly/OCL-Youtube). (1) At the first presentation on January 29, George Matsoukas (OCL Executive Director Emeritus and Board Member) represented OCL and related his experiences at the International Orthodox Theological Association (IOTA) Mega Conference held in Volos, Greece, from January 12-14, 2023. (2) On February 26, Ken Liu, Executive Director of Orthodox Youth and Young Adult Ministries (OYM)(https://theoym.org/), focused…

Source: Legacy.com You could not keep up with Lyn Coupounas. She was a gifted multitasker, and you never felt rushed. She made you feel comfortable. She accomplished and balanced so many aspects of life in each day. She always picked up just where you left off the last time you talked to her. Wow! We now learn that she was a trailblazer in the field of hematology. She was a researcher and scholar. She was an accomplished professional. We knew she was a respected teacher, mentor, and leader. But we did not know and understand what a difference she made…

Source: Orthodox Christian Laity Orthodox Christian Laity features a presentation by Ken Liu, Executive Director of Orthodox Youth and Young Adult Ministries (OYM), on its monthly Orthodoxy in Action Call (click here to sign up for notifications of future presentations). OYM (https://theoym.org/) is the official youth agency of the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the United States of America. OYM empowers, partners, and walks with parents and lay and ordained ministry leaders – at a jurisdictional, regional, and local level – as they seek to bring young people into an ever-deepening sense of who they are in Christ. Join OYM’s…

Source: Orthodox Christian Laity During OCL’s Orthodoxy in Action Call on January 29, 2023, George Matsoukas (OCL Executive Director Emeritus & Board Member) relates his experience during the International Orthodox Theological Association (IOTA) Mega Conference held in Volos, Greece from January 12-14, 2023. Dr Teva Regule and George Nassos, who also participated in the Conference, offered their perspectives also. NOTES FROM GEORGE MATSOUKAS Basic Overview IOTA International Orthodox Theological Association Conference January 11-15, 2023 Volos, Greece Major Supporters and Co-Laborers sponsored the conference. The mission of IOTA is a community of scholars and professionals dedicated to the worldwide exchange of…

Source: International Orthodox Theological Association (IOTA) On January 11, 2023, the second Mega-Conference of the International Orthodox Theological Association (IOTA) held its formal opening at the Volos Academy for Theological Studies. His Eminence Metropolitan Ignatius (Georgakopoulos) of Demetrias presided over Vespers at the Saints Constantine and Helen Church. In his welcome to the conference participants, he said he was grateful that each day would begin with prayer, a sign of the ecclesial significance of the conference. Following Vespers, the approximately 400 participants traveled to the Academy and filled its Great Hall for the opening ceremony. There, the audience received a…

Source: Orthodox Christian Laity 2022 YEAR-END LETTER Pan-Orthodox Unity in Action: Orthodox Christian Laity Concludes Annual Conference in Atlanta Your contributions, whether spiritual or financial, continue to make OCL’s activities possible. We appreciate your year-end, tax-deductible donation. Orthodox Christian Laity successfully completed its first in-person annual board meeting and conference since the beginning of the pandemic, in the Atlanta metropolitan area on October 14-15, 2022. This 35th Annual Conference brought together board members, presenters and participants from New Jersey, Texas, Utah, Illinois, Florida, Virginia, Michigan, Ohio, California and Georgia. Thursday, October 13 Board members arrived in Atlanta on Thursday evening,…

Source: Orthodox Christian Laity Orthodox Christian Laity successfully completed its first in-person annual board meeting and conference, since the beginning of the pandemic, in the Atlanta metropolitan area on October 14-15, 2022. This 35th Annual Conference brought together board members, presenters and participants from New Jersey, Texas, Utah, Illinois, Florida, Virginia, Michigan, Ohio, California and Georgia. Thursday, October 13 Board members arrived in Atlanta on Thursday evening, October 13, and enjoyed an evening dinner together prior to the annual program. With the blessing of His Eminence, Archbishop Nathaniel, an OCL Advisory Board Member, the Sts. Constantine & Helen Romanian Orthodox…