Source: St. Phoebe’s Center for the Deaconess September 23, 2025 Dear Supporters of the St Phoebe Center, This report is an update following the Orthodox Church in America’s (OCA) 21st All American Council (AAC) held in Phoenix AZ in July of 2025. We offer this update in love for the Church and with our prayers for its flourishing in America and everywhere. Earlier this year, many of you who are members of the OCA provided the St. Phoebe Center with your responses to the Metropolitan’s solicitation for reflections on the life of the Church in advance of the AAC. Thank…
Browsing: All American Council
Source: Public Orthodoxy Sergei Chapnin Director of Communications at the OCSC of Fordham University and Chief Editor of The Gifts (Дары) Almanac As an Orthodox Christian witnessing the systematic persecution of clergy and faithful in Russia, I find myself compelled to break the deafening indifference within our American Orthodox communities. My heart grows heavier each day as friends—priests I’ve known for decades—suffer for their faithfulness to the Gospel of peace. Here, I must acknowledge that Ukrainians are dying daily under Russian aggression. At the same time, hundreds of pro-war priests from Russia actively support the war efforts in the occupied…
Source: Orthodox Church in America SPRINGFIELD, VA [OCA] The Orthodox Church in America invites exhibitors to participate in the 21st All-American Council (AAC), to be held from July 14-18, 2025, at the Arizona Grand Resort in Phoenix, AZ. This event provides an excellent opportunity for exhibitors to connect with clergy, lay delegates, and attendees from across the Orthodox Church in America to showcase products, services, and ministries that support the life of the Church. Exhibit Opportunities The AAC Exhibit Hall will be a focal point of activity throughout the Council, with opportunities for attendees to explore the exhibits during breaks, meals, and…
Source: Orthodox Church in America SPRINGFIELD, VA [OCA] In preparation for the upcoming 21st All-American Council in Phoenix, AZ, July 14-18, 2025, His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon is calling on all communities of the Orthodox Church in America—parishes, missions, seminaries, monasteries, and all institutions—to submit reflections on this moment in the life of the Church. A companion study guide has also been made available to help guide these discussions. And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. (Acts 2:1) In July 2025, the bishops, clergy, monastics, and faithful of the Orthodox Church in America will gather in…
Source: The Orthodox Church in America BALTIMORE, MD [OCA] Hundreds of delegates and visitors attending the 20th All-American Council held at the Hilton Inner Harbor Hotel in Baltimore, MD, were able to experience many of the Sacred Treasures of the Orthodox Church in America, housed at Saint Tikhon’s Monastery, South Canaan, PA. Presented by the Curator, Archpriest John J. Perich, The Exhibition featured numerous sacred and ecclesiastical items from over 225 years of the Church in North America, emphasizing the AAC theme, “Becoming Vessels of Grace”. Featured in conjunction with this Council Exhibition was a new online publication of the Department of…
Source: Orthodox Church in America SYOSSET, NY [OCA] On Wednesday, July 28, 2021, His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon was hosted by Archpriest Thomas Soroka for a live conversation in which His Beatitude formally announced the convening of the 20th All-American Council. The Council will take place at the Hilton Inner Harbor Hotel in Baltimore, MD on July 18–22, 2022. The conversation was live-streamed on YouTube and Facebook Live, and the recording is available on both platforms. His Beatitude pointed out that, as in the past, the Council will take place in conjunction with the National Convention of the Fellowship of Orthodox Christians in America (FOCA). Additionally, the…
Source: Orthodox Christian Laity Roy Snyder, George Matsoukas and George Karcazes at the OCL Display Booth. They attended the opening session of the 19th All American Council in St. Louis, Missouri on July 24, and were inspired by the tribute to Fr Alexander Schmemmen and the theme of the conference: “For the Life of the World”. Metropoliam Tihkon presented his vision of the Four Pillars as a guide for the future of the OCA.
Source: Orthodox Church in America SAINT LOUIS, MO [OCA] Members of the Preconcilar Commission [PCC] and the Local Committee, both of which are charged with planning the 19th All-American Council [AAC] of the Orthodox Church in America, held their final meeting at the Saint Louis Union Station Hotel during the last week of April 2018. The AAC will be held in Saint Louis, MO July 23-27, 2018. As widely announced, the theme of the 19th AAC—“For The Life Of The World”—is inspired by the classic book of the same name, written by the late Protopresbyter Alexander Schmemann, who for many years served…
Source: Orthodox Church in America SYOSSET, NY [OCA] The members of the Holy Synod of Bishops of the Orthodox Church in America, during the course of their Fall Session here October 18-21, 2016, gave their blessing to convene the 19th All-American Council at the Saint Louis Union Station Hotel, Saint Louis, MO, July 23-27, 2018. Nineteen US and Canadian cities had been considered in the extensive site search. “The venues were whittled down to three finalists, and the final selection was presented to the Metropolitan Council in September for their recommendation,” said Archpriest Eric G. Tosi, OCA Secretary. “The Metropolitan Council…
Source: Orthodox Church in America AAC delegates adopt Statute revision in 473-15 vote ATLANTA, GA [OCA] Delegates to the 18th All-American Council here overwhelmingly adopted proposed revisions to the Statute of the Orthodox Church in Americain a 473 to 15 vote during the AAC’s second plenary session on Tuesday morning, July 21, 2015. Members of the Statute Revision Task Force—His Eminence, Archbishop Nathaniel; His Grace, Bishop Daniel; and Archpriest Alexander Rentel and Judge E. R. Lanier—introduced the proposed revisions and outlined the Church-wide process that produced them. The resolution to adopt the revised Statute was made by Gregory Nescott, Allison…
Source: Orthodox Church in America Metropolitan Tikhon’s Address at the AAC opening plenary session ATLANTA, GA [OCA] His Beatitude, Metropolitan Tikhon, addressed hundreds of delegates and observers at the opening plenary session of the18th All-American Council of the Orthodox Church in America on Monday evening, July 20, 2015. Metropolitan Tikhon called the AAC to order after an opening Service of Intercession. In his address, Metropolitan Tikhon challenged the assembly to join him “in this ascetical journey to discern and develop our apostolic calling here in North America, through prayer, repentance and common work for the glory of God, always remembering…
Source: Orthodox Church in America Orthodox Church in America: 18th All-American Council Opens ATLANTA, GA [OCA] Hierarchs, clergy and faithful from across the US, Canada and Mexico began arriving in Atlanta over the weekend of July 18-19, 2015 for the 18th All-American Council of the Orthodox Church in America. They joined hundreds of participants in the Fellowship of Orthodox Christians of America’s 89th national convention, which was already underway. The convention is the first to be held in conjunction with an AAC.His Beatitude, Metropolitan Tikhon arrived on Saturday, July 18, at the Atlanta Hilton. where he was given a warm…