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Official Minutes of OCL Board Meeting, Spring 2013, Franklin, TN

By Webmaster on June 28, 2013 OCL News, Orthodox Christian Laity

St Ignatius Orthodox Church Cultural Center April 10-12, 2013 Wednesday Evening, April 10, OCL Board Members attended the Lenten Pre-Sanctified Liturgy at the new Sanctuary of St Ignatius and following the Liturgy participated in a fellowship pot-luck dinner. Father Stephen Rogers greeted His Eminence Archbishop Nathaniel and the OCL Board. The 25th Anniversary video was shown to the group and a short introduction to the work of OCL was presented by President Susan Haikalis. A highlight of the Lenten Pre-Sanctified Liturgy was sharing the service with many families and their children of all ages. Formal Board meeting convened at the…

Minutes of OCL Board Meeting and 25th Anniversary Meeting October 24-27, 2012

By Webmaster on June 28, 2013 OCL News, Orthodox Christian Laity

Approved Minutes [WASHINGTON, D.C.] Wednesday, October 24 at 6:30 pm dinner meeting begins at Savoy Hotel. Those present included: George Karcazes, Andy Kartalis, His Eminence Archbishop Nathaniel, His Grace Bishop Mark, Alice Kopan, Chis Xeros, Peter Marudas, Bill Souvall, Peter J Petkas, George Pontikes, George Matsoukas, Guest was Joel Kalvesmaki, a member of the web oversight committee. The first item of discussion was about the revised web site. Alice Kopan started discussion by stating that the purpose of the web site overhaul is to attract youth. Who is our audience? How will we measure this objective? A history of the…

Moving Ahead in Unity

By Webmaster on June 21, 2013 Governance & Unity Essays, Governance & Unity News, Uncategorized

Pentecost 2013 As we take leave of the Paschal Liturgical Cycle of Lent through Pentecost, I want to take this opportunity to reflect upon a book I re-read during this period: Christ in Our Midst by Father Theodore Stylianopoulos. The book was written in 1980, and I was familiar with it when I was putting together the Chapter on “Spiritual Renewal” in the OCL publication “Project for Orthodox Renewal”. You can read this work online on our website. The discussion and insights presented in Christ In Our Midst, which was written by Father Ted as he worked on the Commission…

Anastasia Tsotsoura Fallen Asleep in the Lord

By Webmaster on May 28, 2013 OCL News, Orthodox Christian Laity

Anastasia Tsotsoura suddenly fell asleep in the Lord on Tuesday, May 21, 2013. We learned of her passing on the day of her funeral, May 25, which took place at Holy Cross Orthodox Church in Whitestone, New York. She is resting next to her beloved husband Soterios in Flushing Cemetery. They were both devoted Orthodox Christians and founding members of Orthodox Christian Laity. Her passions were her family, her faith and painting. She touched so many of us with her example of being pure in heart – a woman of noble character. She personifies the example of a wife and…

A Reflection: Orthodox Christian Unity is Proper Response for Global and Fragmented World

By Webmaster on May 21, 2013 Governance & Unity Essays, Governance & Unity News

by George Matsoukas, Executive Director of Orthodox Christian Laity The Orthodox Christian Church is in the Paschal Season. Having attended the many services of preparation for the Resurrection of Christ and as we await Pentecost, we know that the Holy Spirit is present everywhere and that brothers and sisters must dwell together in unity, which is the Christian norm. During this season, we must continue to pray that the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops finds the humility to move ahead with their work of developing the blueprint and foundation for a unified Church in the United States. We must pray…

OCL Board of Directors Meeting in Franklin TN on April 10-12, 2013

By Webmaster on April 8, 2013 OCL News, Orthodox Christian Laity

The OCL Board of Directors will be meeting in Franklin, Tennessee on April 10-12, 2013. They will be attending the Pre-sanctified Liturgy on Wednesday Evening, April 10, at the new St. Ignatius Church and will discuss the work of OCL and the Progress of the Assembly of Bishops at the fellowship supper. The board will conduct its business meeting Thursday and Friday. President Susan Haikalis is presiding. Franklin TN is the home parish of Advisory Board Member Father Gordon Walker, and it will be an honor to be with him in his home community. OCL’s focus this year is helping the faithful understand that…

Henry says: “Support Orthodox Unity”

By Webmaster on March 11, 2013 OCL News, Orthodox Christian Laity

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St Photini, The Samaritan Woman – Patron Saint of OCL

By Webmaster on February 26, 2013 Orthodox News, Orthodox News Top Stories

Commemorated February 26 St. Photini’s Life The New Testament describes the familiar account of the “woman at the well” (John 4:5-42), who was a Samaritan. Up to that point she had led a sinful life, one which resulted in a rebuke from Jesus Christ. However, she responded to Christ’s stern admonition with genuine repentance, was forgiven her sinful ways, and became a convert to the Christian Faith – taking the name ‘Photini’ at Baptism, which literally means “the enlightened one”. A significant figure in the Johannine community, the Samaritan Woman, like many other women, contributed to the spread of Christianity.…

OCL has a new look with a new logo. What does this logo represent?

By Webmaster on February 13, 2013 OCL News, Orthodox Christian Laity

Our Logo CHRIST CENTERED At the center of the logo is a cross. It represents OCL’s commitment to keep the gospel of Christ and His Church at the center of the organization’s ministry efforts. The cross is the compass for the organization, steering it toward ministry opportunities that elevate the gospel and strengthen the Church. UNITY The silhouette of the circle reiterates that the church is and must be one, just as Christ has one body, undivided. The concept of oneness permeates every part of the organization’s mission and ministry. Most explicitly, the organization’s promotion of jurisdictional unity in North…

Year End Summary: What’s up with OCL?

By Webmaster on December 20, 2012 OCL News, Orthodox Christian Laity

As the year comes to an end, we wish you a Blessed and Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! The December Issue of Estiator “The Restaurateur” Magazine (www.estiator.com), an excellent monthly trade publication of the Greek-American Food Industry, published and edited by Peter S. Makrias and designed and produced by Vicky Tsavalias, carries an article (“Orthodox Christian Laity Celebrates 25 Years of Service”) summarizing the outstanding Program celebrated at the end of October in honor of Orthodox Christian Laity’s 25th Anniversary. The high point of the Anniversary Year is the “Gramota” (Official Certificate of Merit) signed by the Synod of Bishops…

Gramota Presented to OCL by Holy Synod of Bishops of the Orthodox Church in America

By Webmaster on November 29, 2012 OCL News, Orthodox Christian Laity

Click on the image to the left to view the Gramota given by the Holy Synod of Bishops of the Orthodox Church in America to Orthodox Christian Laity in recognition of OCL’s 25th Anniversary. The text of the Gramota reads: By the Grace of God, We wish to express our Archpastoral Love and Gratitude by invoking God’s blessings upon the founders, officers and members of Orthodox Christian Laity Organization in recognition of twenty five years of dedicated service to Christ’s Church in North America. Presented October 27, 2012. Signed: +NATHANIEL, Archbishop of Detroit and the Romanian Episcopate; +NIKON, Archbishop of…