This post was originally published on this site
The Orthodox Church in America has published a new Service of Thanksgiving to Almighty God on the 250th Anniversary of the United States of America in response to the Holy Synod of Bishops’ Statement on the Occasion of the 250th Anniversary of the United States of America, issued during the Holy Synod’s Spring 2026 Session.
Prepared for use throughout the anniversary year, the service is offered to the dioceses, parishes, monasteries, seminaries, and institutions of the Orthodox Church in America as a means of giving thanks to Almighty God for His abundant blessings and providential care, while also praying for the continued well-being of the nation and all who dwell within it.
The service booklet includes the Holy Synod’s statement marking the 250th anniversary of the United States. In that statement, the Holy Synod called upon the faithful of the Orthodox Church in America to observe this historic milestone through prayer, gratitude, repentance, charitable works, and renewed dedication to the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
The text of the service itself has been adapted from a service published by the Orthodox Church in America in 1976 on the occasion of the bicentennial of the United States. Slightly revised, it preserves the spirit of thanksgiving that marked the Church’s observance of the nation’s 200th anniversary while addressing the present moment in the life of the Church and society.
The Holy Synod encourages clergy and faithful throughout the Orthodox Church in America to make use of this service in their parishes, monasteries, institutions, and homes during the anniversary year, joining together in thanksgiving to God for His many blessings and in prayer for the nation, its leaders, and all its people.
The service booklet is available as both a PDF for digital distribution and a print-ready file for those wishing to reproduce copies for their faithful.
