Source: Orthodox Church in America SPRINGFIELD, VA [OCA] The Holy Synod of Bishops of the Orthodox Church in America met for its Regular Fall 2025 Session from November 10–14, 2025, under the presidency of His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon. The meetings were held at the Hotel Belvoir in Springfield, VA, and at St. Mark Orthodox Church in Bethesda, MD. The session opened on Tuesday, November 11, with a Molieben, followed by a retreat for the hierarchs facilitated by Archpriest Alexander Garklavs, former Chancellor of the Orthodox Church in America. After lunch, the Holy Synod convened its first meeting, beginning with the Report of the…
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Source: Orthodox Church in America SPRINGFIELD, VA [OCA] The Orthodox Church in America announces the reorganization and expansion of the Clergy Wives Ministry under the Office of Pastoral Life. This transition affirms the Church’s ongoing commitment to supporting clergy wives and their families. It also brings the Clergy Wives Ministry into alignment with the other established programs of the Office of Pastoral Life and consistent with the structure of other departments and offices of the Orthodox Church in America. In this way, the ministry is being elevated to a higher and more intentional level, ensuring that it will continue with the same seriousness…
Source: Orthodox Church in America SPRINGFIELD, VA [OCA] Links are now available to livestream the upcoming glorification services of the Righteous Olga of Kwethluk. The faithful of the Orthodox Church in America are invited to watch the services that mark an important occasion in the life of our Church. The following services will be broadcast live: Primatial All-Night Vigil for the Glorification of Saint Olga – Kwethluk, Alaska Date: Thursday, June 19 Time: 4:00 PM AKDT Livestream: https://youtube.com/live/iUpL1KWTgxc?feature=share Primatial Divine Liturgy for the Glorification of Saint Olga – Kwethluk, Alaska Date: Friday, June 20 Time: 9:00 AM AKDT Livestream: https://youtube.com/live/S53n8pgekLI?feature=share Primatial All-Night Vigil in Honor of…
Source: Orthodox Church in America In the second half of February, His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon appointed a delegation to visit three Orthodox autocephalous Churches. These visits—to the Ecumenical Patriarchate, the Bulgarian Orthodox Church, and the Serbian Orthodox Church—were primarily intended to maintain and further develop fraternal relationships. On February 19, 2025, Archpriest Alessandro Margheritino, Acting Chancellor and Secretary of the Orthodox Church in America, traveled with Archpriest Alexander Rentel, former Chancellor and COO at St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary, to Istanbul for a visit to the Ecumenical Patriarchate. While in Constantinople and at the Phanar, the delegation met with hierarchs and members of…
Source: Orthodox Church in America SPRINGFIELD, VA [OCA] OPL Leaders Gather at The Orthodox Monastery of the Transfiguration The well-being of our clergy is essential to the health of the Church. Strong, supported clergy lead vibrant, thriving parishes, creating communities where faith can flourish. The Office of Pastoral Life (OPL) exists to ensure that those who serve the Church—priests, clergy wives, and clergy families—receive the care, resources, and encouragement they need. On February 18-19, 2025, OPL leaders gathered for an in-person retreat at the Holy Transfiguration Monastery in Elwood City, PA. The retreat was a time for deep reflection, strategic planning, and…
Source: Orthodox Church in America SPRINGFIELD, VA [OCA] On November 4-7, 2024, the Holy Synod of Bishops of the Orthodox Church in America met for its Regular Fall 2024 Session in Springfield, VA, under the presidency of His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon. The meeting began on Tuesday, November 5, with an opening Molieben and introductory remarks from His Beatitude, followed by an overview of the Fall Session. The Holy Synod addressed various matters, including updates from Synodal Offices and Committees, discussions on the Canonization Commission — particularly the glorification of Matushka Olga. Dates surrounding her upcoming glorification were decided upon and will be made public…
Source: Orthodox Church in America On Saturday, October 12, 2024 at 1:00 PM (EST), the Office of Pastoral Life’s Clergy Wives will offer a Zoom retreat entitled “The Road to the Canonization of Blessed Matushka Olga of Alaska.” In this, the second retreat focusing on the preparations for the canonization, we will have as our speaker His Grace Bishop Alexei of the Diocese of Sitka and Alaska. He will tell us about the ongoing canonization preparations, his travels in Alaska speaking with people about Matushka Olga, and other aspects of this wonderful event. We will then have the chance to ask him questions. Please join…
Source: Orthodox Church in America [OCA] His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon and the delegation from the Orthodox Church in America visited Constantinople from June 7 to June 10, 2024. During their time in Constantinople and at the Phanar, the delegation met with hierarchs and members of the Patriarchal Court. Their discussions covered various topics, including their recent trips to Ukraine and Romania, as well as matters related to Orthodoxy in North America. The delegation was warmly received by the Patriarchate and invited to luncheons on both June 8 and 9. On June 8, they had lunch with His Eminence Metropolitan Emmanuel of Chalcedon, His Eminence…
Source: Orthodox Church in America SPRINGFIELD, VA [OCA] The documentary video “Recollections of Saintly Matushka Olga” is now available for viewing. This video gives an important window into the place Matushka Olga continues to hold in the lives of the Alaskan faithful. It also explains the decision of the Holy Synod of Bishops to keep her relics in her home village of Kwethluk, making it a place of pilgrimage for Orthodox peoples around the world. You can help the efforts of the faithful Orthodox people of Kwethluk and all of Alaska in setting up this pilgrimage center through your generous donations. They…
Source: Orthodox Church in America ROMANIA [OCA] The delegation of the Orthodox Church in America, led by His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon, visited Romania from June 4 to June 7, 2024. The delegation includes Archpriest Alexander Rentel, OCA Chancellor, Archpriest Nazari Polataiko, and Deacon Vitaly Permiakov. Their visit strengthened the OCA’s ties and friendship with the Romanian Orthodox Church and included engagements at the Putna Monastery and an audience at the Patriarchal Palace. Visit to Putna Monastery On Tuesday, June 4, His Beatitude arrived at Putna Monastery, where he was warmly welcomed by Archimandrite Melchisedec (Velnic), the abbot of Putna Monastery, the clergy…
Source: Orthodox Church in America SPRINGFIELD, VA [OCA] On April 2-4, 2024, the Holy Synod of Bishops of the Orthodox Church in America met for its Regular Spring 2024 Session in Springfield, VA, under the presidency of His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon. The meetings of the Synod were preceded by a special joint meeting in which the Bishops were joined by the Church Officers, the Diocesan Chancellors, the General Counsel, and representatives of the Pension Board. The joint meeting began on Monday, April 1, with an education session led by Mr. David Jarrett, FSA, EA, MAAA, FCA, Principal and Consulting Actuary. This presentation…
Source: Orthodox Church in America SOUTH CANAAN, PA [STOTS] Following a Comprehensive Site Visit by members of the Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada (ATS) in October 2023, the most recent biannual meeting of the ATS Board of Commissioners reaffirmed the accreditation of Saint Tikhon’s Orthodox Theological Seminary for a period of 10 years. In their letter to the Seminary’s Rector, His Eminence Archbishop Michael, the Commissioners praised the Seminary’s “laser sharp clarity of identity and mission”, “strong community of formation”, and its “committed faculty, talented leadership team, and dedicated students”. In addition to the extension of accreditation till…