Source: Orthodox Church in America PHOENIX, AZ [OCA] On Wednesday, July 16, 2025, during the 21st All-American Council in Phoenix, AZ, the Diocese of the West convened a Special Diocesan Assembly under the presidency of His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon, Locum Tenens of the Diocese, to consider the nomination of a new bishop following the retirement of His Eminence Archbishop Benjamin on July 15. The Assembly nominated the Very Reverend Archimandrite Vasily (Permiakov) as their candidate for Bishop of San Francisco and the West. That same day, the Holy Synod of Bishops of the Orthodox Church in America, meeting in a Special Summer Session under the presidency of…
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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] At the upcoming 21st All-American Council, taking place July 14–18, 2025, in Phoenix, AZ, a new official icon of All Saints of North America will debut for the veneration of the faithful. In January 2024, His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon issued a call for proposals for a new icon of All Saints of North America. In response, His Beatitude’s Office received a number of proposals from iconographers around the world. After giving each entry due consideration, His Beatitude decided to commission the new icon from master iconographer Anton Daineko, instructor at the Icon School of St. Tikhon’s Art Institute in South Canaan,…
Source: Orthodox Church in America ANCHORAGE, AK [OCA] Following the canonization services for the Righteous Olga of Kwethluk in her home village, His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon and his delegation traveled to Anchorage over the weekend of June 21–22, 2025 to continue the celebration of St. Olga’s Glorification. Nearly one thousand faithful gathered at St. Innocent Cathedral to honor the newly glorified saint. Upon arrival at the cathedral for the All-Night Vigil on Saturday evening, His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon processed into the church bearing the relics of St. Olga. These were set out for veneration by the faithful. The veneration of the relics and anointing of the…
Source: Orthodox Church in America ANCHORAGE, AK [OCA] On June 18, 2025, His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon traveled to Alaska to preside at the services for the glorification of the Righteous Olga of Kwethluk, where hundreds of pilgrims gathered for the event from across Alaska and North America. His Beatitude and his delegation, which included Archpriest Alessandro Margheritino, Chancellor of the Orthodox Church in America and Deacon Alexander Woodill, were greeted at the Anchorage airport on Wednesday, June 18, by His Eminence Archbishop Alexei of Sitka and Alaska, along with diocesan clergy and faithful. On Thursday morning, June 19, His Beatitude, together with a delegation of…
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 SPOKANE, WA [OCA] ADF attorneys file suit on behalf of the Orthodox Church in America and Orthodox Churches, priests over state law that violates constitutional rights On behalf of Orthodox Churches and priests, Alliance Defending Freedom attorneys, with co-counsel Eric Kniffin and George Ahrend, filed a federal lawsuit on June 16, 2025, to challenge a Washington state law that targets priests by criminalizing their religious obligation to keep confessions confidential. “The First Amendment guarantees that governments cannot single out religious believers for worse treatment,” said ADF Senior Counsel and Vice President of Appellate Advocacy John…
Source: Orthodox Church in America SPRINGFIELD, VA [OCA] The services celebrating the canonization of Matushka Olga Michael of Kwethluk, AK, will take place June 19 -22, 2025, in Kwethluk and Anchorage, AK. In November 2023, Matushka Olga was numbered among the saints by act of the Holy Synod of Bishops of the Orthodox Church in America, making her the first North American woman and the first Yup’ik person to be glorified as a saint in the Orthodox Church. His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon will preside over the canonization services, concelebrating with other hierarchs and clergy of the Orthodox Church in America as well as delegations from other…
Source: Orthodox Church in America SPRINGFIELD, VA [OCA] During a special session held via teleconference on Wednesday, May 21, the Holy Synod of Bishops of the Orthodox Church in America confirmed His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon’s nomination of Archpriest Alessandro Margheritino as Chancellor of the Orthodox Church in America. Father Alessandro’s appointment was made in accordance with Article VI, Section 2 of the Statute of the Orthodox Church in America. His nomination was endorsed by the Metropolitan Council during a special session earlier the same day. He succeeds Archpriest Alexander Rentel, who served as Chancellor from 2019 to 2024, when he was appointed Rector of Three Hierarchs Chapel at St. Vladimir’s…
Source: Orthodox Church in America ROME, ITALY [OCA] With the blessing of His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon, a delegation of the Orthodox Church in America traveled to Rome to attend the inauguration of Pope Leo XIV on Sunday, May 18, 2025. The delegation, appointed by His Beatitude, consisted of His Grace Bishop Andrei of Cleveland, Auxiliary to the Romanian Orthodox Episcopate of America, and Archpriest Alessandro Margheritino, Acting Chancellor and Secretary of the Orthodox Church in America. Upon their arrival on May 17, His Grace and Father Alessandro were formally received by an official of the Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity. Representatives from all…
Source: Orthodox Church in America ROME, ITALY [OCA] With the blessing of His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon, a delegation of the Orthodox Church in America traveled to Rome to attend the funeral of Pope Francis, who reposed on April 21, 2025. The delegation, appointed by His Beatitude, was comprised of His Grace Bishop Andrei of Cleveland, Auxiliary to the Romanian Orthodox Episcopate of America, and Archpriest Alessandro Margheritino, Acting Chancellor and Secretary of the Orthodox Church in America. The funeral services took place on Saturday, April 26, in Saint Peter’s Square, where an estimated 400,000 people gathered. Upon their arrival on April 25,…
Source: Orthodox Church in America SPRINGFIELD, VA [OCA] To the clergy, monastics, and faithful of the Orthodox Church in America, beloved children in the Lord, This year, the Orthodox Church in America marks the 100th anniversary of the repose of Saint Tikhon, Patriarch of Moscow and Enlightener of North America. It is now a full century since this great missionary and churchman fell asleep in the Lord on the feast of the Annunciation (March 25/April 7, 1925), dying as a confessor for the faith under the Soviet yoke. In celebration of this centennial, the Holy Synod of the Orthodox Church in…