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Alaska: Diocese of the West announces pilgrimage to Alaska marking 50th Anniversaries of Autocephaly and Glorification of St. Herman in 2020
The Orthodox Church in America’s Diocese of the West invites the faithful to participate in a pilgrimage to Alaska marking the celebration of the 50th Anniversaries of the OCA’s autocephaly and the glorification of Saint Herman July 8-14, 2020.
According to His Eminence, Archbishop Benjamin of San Francisco and the West, there will be weekly trips to Alaska throughout the summer of 2020, each sponsored by one of the OCA’s dioceses. The pilgrimages are especially designed to highlight these important events in the life of the Church.
The core package for the Diocese of the West’s trip includes seven days/six nights accommodations, round trip air fare to Kodiak from Anchorage, an excursion to Spruce Island, visits to many sites associated with Orthodox Christianity’s presence in Alaska, and all tours and sightseeing as listed in the itinerary. A pilgrimage brochure with detailed information is available online. Specific enquiriers may be directed to Culturally Creative Travel at 713-688-6793.
Ellwood City, PA: Monastery of the Transfiguration holds Clergy Appreciation Day
The sisterhood of the Monastery of the Transfiguration hosted area clergy on Clergy Appreciation Day, which coincided with the celebration of the Feast of the Three Hierarchs on January 30, 2019.
“Due to the severe cold, weather and health issues, a number of clergy had to cancel their participation,” said Mother Christophora, Abbess. “But those who attended experienced a gathering of prayer and fellowship for our beloved clergy and the opportunity for them to serve together and discuss common areas of interest, as well as the needs and challenges for churches in our area.”
The day opened with the celebration of the Divine Liturgy, at which Archpriest Andrew D. Nelko, Campbell, OH, who was celebrating the 31st anniversary of his ordination to the priesthood, presided. Concelebrating were Archpriests Gregory Kevin Long, New Castle, PA and Paisius McGrath, Lyndora, PA, and Priests John Schmidt, Ellwood City, PA; Seraphim Moslener, Beaver Falls, PA, who delivered the homily; and Andrew P. Nelko, Weirton, WV.
At the conclusion of the Liturgy, a Memorial Service was celebrated for Matushka Juliana Schmemann on the second anniversary of her repose. She was remembered, along with her husband, Protopresbyter Alexander, on the anniversary of their wedding.
A luncheon prepared by the sisterhood was enjoyed after the Liturgy. The clergy also received gifts from the sisters in appreciation for their ministries and assistance to the monastery.
“Following the luncheon, a profitable and interesting discussion took place among the clergy and the sisters as we looked at ways to better serve our area population—ways to minister both to those who attend our churches and to those who are yet unfamiliar with Orthodoxy,” said Mother Christophora. “We also discussed involving youth in parish service and shared ways to widen the social and spiritual horizons of our local parish communities. We observe and experience a general sense of defeat in our geographical area, and we discussed how this effects our parishes as well.”
The clergy deeply appreciated the gathering and the hospitality of the sisterhood and look forward to their next opportunity to be together at the monastery.
A photo gallery of the day is available on the monastery web site.
New York, NY: 2019-2020 undergraduate, graduate scholarships available from the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America
Orthodox Christian students who are members of parishes affiliated with the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the United States of America are invited to apply for two scholarships administered by the Department of Philanthropy of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America.
The Malta Scholarship is for undergraduate studies, while the Paleologos Scholarship is awarded for graduate work of a non-theological nature. Each of these scholarships was established through generous gifts from dedicated Greek Orthodox Christians who want to provide financial assistance towards the education of young people from the Orthodox Christian community.
Applications may be downloaded online. For more information, please send an email to scholarships@goarch.org or call 212-774-0283. The deadline for submitting an application for these scholarships is May 3, 2019.
South Canaan, PA: Penn State OCF visits St. Tikhon’s Seminary and Monastery
On Monday January 21, 2019 Saint Tikhon’s Orthodox Theological Seminary [STOTS] and Saint Tikhon’s Monastery hosted a group of undergraduate and graduate students from the Penn State University Orthodox Christian Fellowship [OCF] for a pilgrimage and vocations’ visit.
The group was led by Deacon Alex Cadman of Holy Trinity Church, State College, PA, which cosponsored the outing.
Saint Tikhon’s welcomes all OCF chapters and young adult groups to “come and see” all that the monastery and seminary have to offer. To schedule a visit, please contact STOTS Administrative Assistant Marshall M. Goodge at mgoodge@stots.edu.
Tempe, AZ: Fr. John Behr to speak at St. John the Evangelist Church February 22
Archpriest John Behr, Director of the Master of Theology Program and The Father Georges Florovsky Distinguished Professorship of Patristics at Saint Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary [SVOTS], Yonkers, NY, and the Distinguished Lecturer in Patristics at Fordham University, New York, NY, will speak at Saint John the Evangelist Church, Tempe, AZ on Friday, February 22, 2019.
Father John will share insights into his soon-to-be-released book, John the Theologian and His Paschal Gospel. A Prologue to Theology.
The program will begin at 5:00 p.m. with a “meet and greet” and refreshments. Father John’s lecture will follow at 6:00 p.m. There is no charge to attend. His talk also will be live-streamed. Advanced online registration is recommended.
Father John will explore the origins of Pascha and its connections with John the Theologian and his Gospel. The annual celebration of Pascha was, at least initially, held only by those who looked back to John as the high priest who established the feast and its date. Reading the Gospel in this light we can see how John presents Christ in his Gospel as the completion of the true Temple and the true human being, and also how our liturgical year and theology itself is grounded in this event.
