Source: Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America At a special meeting of the Board of Directors of FOCUS North America on Monday, September 9, 2023, the Board unanimously designated two new Centers: FOCUS Los Angeles and FOCUS Phoenix. This decision marks the launch of the tenth and eleventh FOCUS operating divisions. It follows the launch of FOCUS Atlanta and FOCUS Philadelphia, which the Board officially designated in June. ”I am excited and inspired by the enthusiasm we continue to see in Orthodox Communities across the United States for FOCUS’s mission and purpose,” said Brian Bullard, Chairman of FOCUS North America Board…
Browsing: Orthodox News
Source: Orthodox Christian Mission Center Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, Today, on behalf of the Board of Directors of the Orthodox Christian Mission Center, we announce the launch of an Executive Director search in support of the planned retirement of our beloved Father Martin Ritsi. It is with both heartfelt gratitude for his service and great optimism for the future that we embark on this new chapter. Fr. Martin’s unwavering dedication to Christ, to Orthodox missionary work, and to our organization has prepared us well for this moment. Beginning in 2020 and together with Fr. Martin, we established a…
Source: Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America FOCUS North America announces the appointment of Wadeed Fakhoury as the new Director of its national program, Youth Equipped to Serve (YES). YES is FOCUS’s national youth & young adult ministry. It invites individuals into experiences of relational growth and servant formation. YES offers these experiences for individuals and groups/parishes and is a crucial part of the new Center development process. Wadeed was born and raised in Springfield, VA, where he graduated from George Mason University with a degree in Mechanical Engineering. He is a Sub-Deacon at Saint George Antiochian Church in Washington D.C. and…
Source: Hartford Institute for Religion Research Hartford, CT — A new report examining the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Orthodox Christian churches in the United States reveals a unique approach to crisis management, characterized by adherence to traditional practices and resistance to change. The study, which draws on data from the Faith Communities Today (FACT) survey and two Exploring the Pandemic Impact on Congregations (EPIC) surveys, offers insights into how Orthodox churches fared compared to other U.S. religious congregations. Key findings include: Orthodox churches were more likely to maintain regular activities, particularly in-person services, despite pandemic restrictions. These churches showed greater…
Source: Orthodox Church in America Suprasl, Poland [SUPRASL] Fr Nilos offering a morning reflection, “Life as Gratitude”. For the third year in a row students and clergy of the Orthodox Church in America participated in the annual World Gathering of Orthodox Youth – Suprasl 2024 – organized by Suprasl: A World Fellowship of Orthodox Youth at the Monastery of the Annunciation and the Suprasl Academy in northeastern Poland from June 30 – July 8. Participating from the OCA were Father Nilos Nellis of Saint John in the Wilderness Orthodox Sanctuary, Birchdale, British Columbia; Caleb Hooper from Saint Nicholas Church, Mogadore, OH; and…
Source: St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary St Vladimir’s Seminary (SVS) Press is pleased to announce a new partnership with the Holy and Great Monastery of Vatopedi on Mount Athos. SVS Press will serve as the exclusive American distributor of books published by Vatopedi Monastery in the English language. To begin this partnership, Vatopedi Monastery’s “Holy Mountain Series” and other titles will be made available through the SVS Press Mount Athos Collection. The Holy Mountain Series shares the spiritual patrimony of the Holy Mountain with the English-speaking world, making the lives and teachings of recent Athonite saints and elders readily available and accessible. Vatopedi is…
Source: Orthodox Christian Laity OCL ANNOUCES NEW EXCITING MARKETING MISSION Mosaic of Orthodox Christianity in America OCL is developing a strategic marketing plan with an exciting campaign to mobilize our Orthodox Christian laity community in the United States of America. We believe this can be a powerful way to create positive change and greater unity. WHY?…..To Help Us to Connect and Spread Orthodoxy To make OCL the inspired forward-looking leader of Orthodox Christians in America to provide a common vehicle for the need to belong, regardless of ethnicity or cultural differences. OCL wants to advance and promote a feeling among…
Source: Orthodox History Originally published on May 29, 2024 by MATTHEW NAMEE As you may have seen, Ancient Faith recently published my book, Lost Histories: The Good, the Bad & the Strange in Early American Orthodoxy. If you like this website, you’re the target audience for the book. And while reading it should give you a good handle on the early history of Orthodoxy in America, I wrote it not just to educate but — hopefully — to amaze and surprise you (even if you’re a longtime reader of this website). With that in mind, here are fifteen random, amazing facts from…
Source: Public Orthodoxy VK McCarty Anglican Theologian and Lecturer at General Theological Seminary One of the aspects I’ve enjoyed in my faith pilgrimage in Orthodoxy has been the right-spirited acknowledgement of Mary Magdalene as the Apostle to the Apostles—Apostolorum Apostola—and the admirable regard the Orthodox Church holds for her. Witnessing to the Resurrection is a shining attribute, not only of Mary Magdalene, but of the Resurrection story as a whole. The Gospel stories we hear week after week during Pascha herald the joy and life-transformation we share with Mary Magdalene and all the other witnesses to the Resurrection of Jesus…
Source: Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America View the Adult Camp Vimeo Registration is open for Adult Camp at Antiochian Village, open to anyone over the age of 21 who wants to spend a weekend in the beautiful natural setting of Antiochian Village Camp and grow in the Orthodox Christian Faith. This year’s dates are Sept. 20 – 23, and the featured speaker is Fr. Raphael Daly, pastor of St. Luke Church in Erie, Colo. Whether you are 21, 51, or 101 years old, you’re never too old experience the joy of being a child again! Come and enjoy fellowship with each other: daily services, Christian…
Source: The Moscow Times Originally published on April 24, 2024 The Russian Orthodox Church has suspended a priest who led a memorial service for the late opposition figure Alexei Navalny last month, according to a ruling on the Moscow diocese website. Priest Dmitry Safronov performed a memorial service at Navalny’s gravesite in Moscow on March 26, 40 days after the Kremlin critic died in an Arctic prison. According to Orthodox tradition, memorial services for the dead are traditionally held on the 40th day after their death. An order signed by Russian Orthodox Church leader Patriarch Kirill bans Safronov from giving blessings, wearing the frock and…
Source: The National Herald By Rev. Dr. Georgios Lekkas, Special to TNH Christ stayed with His Disciples for forty days after His Resurrection to establish their faith in Him as the Son of God and the God-Man. And when their faith had been firmly established and the Lord Jesus Christ had ascended into Heaven, the Holy Spirit descended upon them and aroused their faith in Christ in such a way that they could now perform miracles and preach the Gospel to the whole world – most of them even gave their lives for Christ. The Holy Spirit united the Disciples…