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At its recent meeting, the Executive Board of the Fellowship of Orthodox Christians in America made the difficult decision to officially cancel the 94th National Convention slated to take place July 24 – July 27, 2020, in Minneapolis, MN. Pandemic-related restrictions, currently mandated by the state of Minnesota, prohibit gatherings of more than 10 people. “The inability to safely and lawfully gather delegates and our members and guests for the Divine Liturgy and Great Vespers, as well as the business plenary sessions and the social activities, makes holding the annual convention impossible,” said executive board member Archpriest Nicholas Wyslutsky.
The fellowship looks forward to gathering, in person, next year for their 95th National Convention in Baltimore, MD, and the possibility of returning to Minneapolis for a convention in the near future.
In a separate announcement, the fellowship launched their annual “Celebration of Faith” creative arts contest. This annual creative arts contest is open to all Orthodox youth, nationwide, you do not need to be a member to participate. Submissions are accepted in literature, musical composition, photography and visual arts. The theme for the 2020 competition is “But the Lord stood with me and gave me strength” (2 Timothy 4:17).
“The Celebration of Faith arts contest is a wonderful opportunity for our youth to think more deeply about their faith in Jesus Christ, and to use their God-given talents to find new and creative ways to express and share that faith,” said Metropolitan Tikhon. “I encourage all of our youth to participate, and I look forward to seeing their good work.”
All entries must be postmarked July 17, 2020, to be considered. Entries can be submitted by email to Rebecca Kozak at rebecca.m.kozak@gmail.com, or by mail to 34 Suffolk Avenue, Maplewood, NJ 07040. A detailed list of rules for each category and an entry form is available on FOCA’s website.
