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Memory Eternal! + Fr. Theodore Mikovich

On May 5th, 2016 the Very Rev. Archpriest Theodore J. Mikovich, formerly of St. Paul Church in Emmaus, Pennsylvania, reposed in the Lord. May his memory be eternal!

From the St. Paul Church website:

The Very Rev. Archpriest Theodore J. Mikovich (affectionately known as “Fr. Ted”) was born on September 18, 1945, to Orthodox parents, John and Anna (Goida) Mikovich in Nesquehoning, Pennsylvania, with two sisters, Helen (Berezniak) and Dorothy (Macenka). He was baptized by the Rev. John Zeliniak in St. John’s American Russian Orthodox Church (American Carpatho-Russian Orthodox Diocese) in Nesquehoning. It was in this church that as a young boy he served as an acolyte. It was also at St. John’s that he began a life long career in teaching when he became a student religious education teacher. There he received the Boy Scouts of America “God and Country” Award, known in the Orthodox Church as the Alpha Omega Award.

Becoming Truly Human Webinar Update: Second Session is May 18

Webinar link

Christ is risen! Last week's webinar about the Becoming Truly Human program presented some technical difficulties for some who wished to watch, so we decided to move the hosting of our webinar for May 18th at 1 PM Eastern to a new software company. 

The webinar works in all browsers and also works on all smartphones. If you use a desktop computer, such as PC or Mac, you will be prompted to install a small plugin to view the webinar. No registration is required, to make it easier on our viewers.

Also, we will be joined by Nathan Jacobs, who was not on the previous webinar because he was in the middle of filming the new feature film on the Orthodox Church. 

Thank you for your continued prayers and support, and we acknowledge with gratitude the guidance of our Metropolitan in this fruitful ministry.

Announcing the 2016 Western Rite Vicariate Conference

August 9 -12, 2016 
St. Patrick Orthodox Church,
 Bealeton, Virginia
westernriteconference2016.wordpress.com

Registration Form (PDF)
Hotel Information (PDF)

The biennial conference of the Western Rite Vicariate will be held Tuesday, August 9 through Friday, August 12, 2016 at St. Patrick Orthodox Church in Bealeton, Virginia.

The theme for this year's conference will be based on these words from the Canon of the Mass:

"Remember, O Lord, ... all here present, whose faith and devotion are known and manifest unto thee: for whom we offer, or who them­selves offer to thee, this sacrifice of praise."

Presentations will focus on participating in and assisting at the Mass.

Bishop John (Abdalah), Vicar Bishop for the Western Rite Vicariate, will preside at all liturgical services, and will be one of the presenters. He will also address the clergy and laity on various Vicariate matters. Other presenters will include the V. Rev. Michael Keiser, the V. Rev. John Mangels, the V. Rev. John W. Fenton, and V. Rev. Edward Hughes, Vicar General for the Vicariate.

Photos from Metropolitan Joseph's Pascha Celebration

On April 30 and May 1, 2016, His Eminence Metropolitan Joseph presided over the Paschal Services at St. Nicholas Cathedral in Brooklyn, New York. Concelebrating with him were Cathedral Dean, the Very Rev. Thomas Zain; the Rev. Adrian Budica; and Deacon Andre El Hajj.

Memory Eternal! + Khouria Mary Ellen Braun

Memory Eternal! Khouria Mary Ellen Braun
September 8, 1931—April 29, 2016 (Holy Friday)

Mary Ellen was born to Ernest and Mabel Risell on September 8, 1931 in Turlock, CA, the second of four children. After graduating from Turlock High School in 1949, she attended Modesto Junior College and then San Jose State University, from which she graduated in 1953 with a degree in Elementary Education.

In 1951 Mary Ellen met her future husband, the Very Reverend Jon Braun, at Mt. Herman Christian Conference Center, located in the Santa Cruz mountains, where they were both on the summer staff. They were married in 1953 in San Jose, CA. From 1954 to 1970, they labored together in Christian youth ministry in Pasadena, Chicago, Minneapolis, Miami, Atlanta, Lake Arrowhead, CA and Leavenworth, WA as a result of their strong commitment to Christian service.

Metropolitan Joseph Offers Prayers After Tragic Cathedral Fire

Interior of St. Sava Cathedral after fireInterior of St. Sava Cathedral after fireChrist is Risen!

His Eminence Metropolitan Joseph, along with the bishops, clergy, Archdiocese Board of Trustees, and faithful of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America, share our prayers and love with His Grace Bishop Mitrophan and all the faithful of the Serbian Orthodox Archdiocese as they deal with the tragedy of the fire that destroyed St. Sava Serbian Orthodox Cathedral in New York City. As we just finished celebrating the Holy Fire of the empty tomb of our risen Lord and Savior, a different, terrible fire was destroying this historic cathedral in Manhattan. May our risen Lord and Savior grant peace and healing to the Cathedral community as they move forward and begin anew.

For more information, visit the St. Sava Cathedral website.

 

Vocations Day for East Coast Teens and Young Adults + May 14

from OCA.org:

“Exploring Ministry: A Day in NYC to Discover How You Can Serve the Church” will be the focus of a gathering for Orthodox Christian teens and young adults interested in exploring the many opportunities available to serve the Church at Holy Virgin Protection Cathedral, 59 East Second Street, New York, NY on Saturday, May 14, 2016.

Sponsored by the Orthodox Church in America’s Diocese of New York and New Jersey and funded by a grant from the Forum for Theological Education, the day will begin at 10:00 a.m. with prayers and opening remarks by His Eminence, Archbishop Michael, followed by a panel discussion and question-and-answer session on vocations.  Panelists who will share their stories and field questions include men and women currently serving the Church in a variety of ways as hospital and military chaplains, parish priests, deacons, choir directors, and theology professors.

Metropolitan Joseph honors Fr. Paul Doyle and Fr. George Aquaro

Following Bridegroom Orthros on Holy Monday night at St. Matthew Church in Torrance, California, His Eminence Metropolitan Joseph surprised two faithful priests of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America with special honors for their service to Christ’s holy Church. As Protopsaltis Kenneth Woolsey put it, “It was like the joy of Pascha came early.”

Sayidna Joseph bestowed upon the Very Rev. Paul Doyle the high honor of the Gold Order of St. Raphael for his more than four decades of priestly ministry in a variety of capacities. To name but a few: founding pastor of St. Matthew Church, dean of the Southern California Deanery, and Protosyngellos of the Archdiocese. Father Paul has retired from those ministries, but he remains an active and trusted spiritual father to countless clergy and laity. He received his award with his typical humility. Sayidna Joseph remarked that Fr. Paul’s sole agenda has always been to serve the Lord and His people.

Metropolitan Joseph Honors Archdeacon George Shishim on His Fortieth Anniversary in the Diaconate

Palm Sunday of 2016 marked a special day for the senior-most deacon of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America: the fortieth anniversary of the ordination of Archdeacon George Shishim to the holy diaconate. His Eminence Metropolitan Joseph led a special celebration after the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy at St. Nicholas Cathedral in Los Angeles, where Archdeacon George has faithfully served for all four decades of his ministry. (View the St. Nicholas Cathedral photo gallery)

Since his ordination on Palm Sunday in 1976 by Bishop Elia Saliba (now Metropolitan of Hama, Syria), “Arch” – as Sayidna Joseph calls him – has trained dozens of men to serve at the holy altar. Many of them started as altar boys and would later become lay leaders, subdeacons, deacons and priests.

Joint Prayer Service Held for Aleppo Bishops

On Thursday, April 21, 2016, a joint prayer service was held at St. Gabriel Syriac Orthodox Church in Haworth, NJ, on the occasion of the third anniversary of the kidnapping of Metropolitan Paul of Aleppo and Archbishop Youhanna of Aleppo. The event, sponsored by the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the United States of America, and the Standing Conference of Oriental Orthodox Churches (SCOOCH), was well attended by faithful from the surrounding area.

Special speakers included His Eminence Metropolitan Joseph, who serves as First Vice-Chairman of the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops; His Eminence Archbishop Mor Dionysius Jean Kawak, Patriarchal Delegate, Syriac Orthodox Archdiocese of the Eastern USA; His Eminence Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Chairman of SCOOCH and Primate of the Diocese of the Armenian Church; and His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios, Chairman of the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops and Primate of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America. After the prayer service a Lenten meal was served in the fellowship hall.

AV Bookstore Announces Pascha Sale

The Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese Publications Center & AV Bookstore announces a sale, in time for Pascha purchasing.

Sale items include:

  • The Myrrh-bearing Women icon, 10 x 8 photo print on wood (commissioned in memory of Kh. Joanne Abdalah by the Antiochian Women)
  • Wood budded Cross, with inset 3-bar cross; Laser cut detail, 8” tall, 6.75” wide
  • And more!

 

Spring 2016 Issue of DIAKONIA Available Online

The Spring 2016 issue of DIAKONIA is now available online. This issue highlights the Diocese of Los Angeles and the West, and the Diocese of Eagle River and the Northwest. The issue contains:

  • Pastoral Message from His Eminence Metropolitan Joseph
  • Photos and first person stories
  • Profiles of diocesan officers

...and more! Download (PDF) here.

Metropolitan Joseph Meets with CAMECT (Christian Arab and Middle Eastern Churches Together)

On Monday, April 4, 2016, His Eminence, Metropolitan Joseph attended a meeting of CAMECT (Christian Arab and Middle Eastern Churches Together) at the Armenian Orthodox Prelacy in New York. His Eminence was accompanied by the Archdiocese Vicar General, Archpriest Thomas Zain. Nearly all of the various churches with their roots in the Middle East were represented by their respective hierarchs or a representative.

There were two main items on the agenda for the spring meeting. The first was a dialogue with the New York Police Department (NYPD) Commissioner, William Bratten. This was a very welcomed and enlightening dialogue as it was the first time such a meeting has taken place with the leaders of the NYPD and the New York Middle Eastern Christian community. Both sides agreed to further the dialogue in the months to come. Other representatives of the NYPD from the Arab-American community were present and gave their input on how both groups can work together to help build bridges and keep our neighborhoods safe.

Memory Eternal! + Nassif Elias Abdallah Saliba

Memory Eternal! + Nassif Elias Abdallah Saliba
(Former mayor of Abu Mezan)

Nassif Elias Abdallah Saliba fell asleep in the Lord in Lebanon on Wednesday, March 30, 2016 at age 94. Beloved husband of the late Adma Saliba, he was also the cherished father of five girls: Najat (Nick Nicola) of Danville, California; late Daad (Fayez Chalhoub) of Nakach, Lebanon; Dr. Amal (Dr. Gregory Dalack) of Ann Arbor, Michigan; Bahaa (Gabriel Nasr) of Bickfaya, Lebanon and Attorney Ghada (Nassif Malouf) of San Francisco; Beloved brother of the late Metropolitan Philip Saliba of Thrice-Blessed Memory; Dr. Najib (Elaine) Saliba of Worcester, MA, and the late Chaheed Saliba and Nazira Ibrahim Kfouree. He was loving Jiddo of 13 grandchildren, and great grandfather of two great-grandchildren.

Nassif, most tender of hearts, loved his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren so dearly. He
had a great relationship with many patriarchs, metropolitans, and clergy of the Antiochian Patriarchate, and defended the church and his Orthodox Faith on many occasions. The Funeral Service will be on Saturday
April 2 at 4:00 pm at St. Nicholas church, Shreen, Lebanon. The Saliba family will receive relatives and friends on Friday and Sunday, April 1 and 3, 2016, between 10:00 am, and 7:00pm at their home in Shreen and on Saturday, April 2, at the hall of St. Nicholas in Shreen.

 

Syrian Relief Gathering to Benefit IOCC's Middle East Outreach

On Sunday, April 17, 2016 the IOCC Pittsburgh Metropolitan Committee plans to hold a prayer service and fund raising dinner that will benefit our Syrian brothers and sisters. This "Syrian Relief" gathering will be held at St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Pittsburgh, PA. We would like to cordially invite your Parish to attend, and support IOCC's aid efforts in Syria. The recent conflict has been devastating. It has resulted in the displacement of a substantial percentage of the population which is now hungry, homeless, and lacking essential items. (Please see below)

Last year Archbishop Melchisedek, Metropolitan Savas, Bishop Thomas, Bishop Dr. Mitrophan, Bishop Daniel and Metropolitan Theodosius (retired) lead our Syrian Relief gathering. This year we are hoping to more fully engage all of the Orthodox jurisdictions and faithful in this Orthodox offering of love, prayer, and mercy. Please join us!

Eastern and Oriental Orthodox Churches to Hold Common Prayer Service

Wednesday, March 23, 2016
Public Invited to Gathering on Evening of Thursday, April 21, in Haworth, N.J.

The Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the United States of America and the Standing Conference of Oriental Orthodox Churches in America (SCOOCH) are pleased to announce that a “Common Prayer Service” will be held on the evening of Thursday, April 21, 2016, at St. Gabriel Syriac Orthodox Church (750 Sunset Avenue) in Haworth, N.J.  The service will begin at 7:00 p.m.

This service is meant to bring people together as they pray for the safety of two Syrian hierarchs held in captivity—Syriac Orthodox Archbishop John Ibrahim, and Antiochian (Greek) Orthodox Metropolitan Paul Yazigi—and for all suffering calamities in the Middle East. This gesture of solidarity between the Assembly of Bishops and SCOOCH also marks the commencement of the organizations’ shared work.

The distinguished speakers during the service will include His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios, Chairman of the Assembly of Bishops and Exarch of the Ecumenical Patriarchate; His Eminence Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Diocese of the Eastern Armenian Church of America and Chairman of SCOOCH; His Eminence Metropolitan Joseph, Metropolitan of the Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese; and Archbishop Mor Dionysius Jean Kawak, Patriarchal Delegate of the Syriac Orthodox Archdiocese of the Eastern U.S.A.

The Assembly of Bishops and SCOOCH invite all residents and visitors of the Tri-State Area to join our communities in prayer on the evening of April 21st.

Media Contacts:

Armenian Diocese – Mr. Chris Zakian
chrisz@armeniandiocese.org  (212-686-0710) 

Memory Eternal! + Khouria Marguerite Shaheen

Memory Eternal! Khouria Marguerite Shaheen, wife of Archpriest George F. Shaheen (reposed), fell asleep in the Lord on Sunday March 20, 2016, surrounded by her family. 

Service information is as follows:

  • Tuesday, March 22 - Visitation and Trisagion prayers at St. George Orthodox Church in Cedar Rapids  5:00-7:00 pm
  • Thursday, March 24 - Visitation at the Cathedral of St. George in Toledo 2:00-4:00 pm; and 5:00-7:00 pm with Trisagion prayers at 7:00 pm
  • Friday, March 25 - Visitation at 10:00 am; Funeral Service at 11:00 am at the Cathedral of St. George Antiochian Orthodox Cathedral; Entombment at Toledo Memorial Park and Mercy Meal following.

If any clergy would like to serve at the funeral, they should contact Fr. Michael Shaheen, Dean of the Cathedral, at frmich@gmail.com.

Marguerite was born July 21, 1933 in Montreal Quebec, Canada. She married Fred Shaheen on November 15, 1959. With her husband they served parishes in Montreal, Toledo, Charleston, West Virginia, Syracuse, Louisville, Cambridge, Worcester as well as several Mission Parishes.

Letter From Metropolitan Joseph Regarding the Second Anniversary of Metropolitan Philip's Repose

March 16, 2016

Beloved Hierarchs and Clergy of this God-protected Archdiocese:

Greetings and Blessings during this First Week of the Great Fast!

Saturday March 19, 2016 will mark the second anniversary of the repose of our beloved Metropolitan Philip of thrice-blessed memory. As such, all of the parishes and missions of this Archdiocese are directed to do the following on Sunday March 20, 2016, the Sunday of Orthodoxy:

1. During the Proskomedia, the priest shall commemorate His Eminence Metropolitan Philip of thrice-blessed memory as the first among the departed.

2. During the Great Entrance, the priest shall commemorate His Eminence Metropolitan Philip of thrice-blessed memory as the first among the departed.

May his memory be eternal and may your journey through the Great Fast be spiritually rewarding.

+Joseph
Archbishop of New York and Metropolitan of All North America
Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America

Orthodox Center at Eastern University Announces New Summer Program

Advanced High School students and recent graduates can earn college credit while studying Orthodox literature
July 7-14, 2016
Application deadline: May 2, 2016
Program website
Download Brochure (PDF)

March 14, 2016 (St. Davids, Pa.) — What do Fyodor Dostoevsky, Nikolai Gogol, and Alexandros Papadiamantis all have in common?

They are some of the celebrated Orthodox Christian authors whose works students will read and discuss during a new honors program offered this July at Eastern University in suburban Philadelphia.

The Summer Program for Young Orthodox Scholars, sponsored by the Center for Orthodox Thought and Culture, will provide promising High School and transfer students the opportunity to earn college credit while challenging themselves intellectually and spiritually. Participants will live in residence on the university's campus from July 7th to the 14th with a select group of peers, engaged in rigorous coursework and discussion of Great Books by Orthodox Christian literary figures.

Teen SOYO Day of Service is Saturday, March 19

SOYO Day of Service is set for this Saturday March 19, 2016.  Teens are asked across the Archdiocese to plan and carry out service activities in their local communities on Saturday March 19th, and then to share photos and comments on their SOYO service activities on Social Media that day, utilizing the tag @NACSOYO and hashtag #SOYOservice on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Teen SOYO Members are also asked to share their Lenten Journey in words and in photos on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram using the hashtag #JourneytoPascha, as a way our sharing their journey and encouraging other teens to do the same.

Teens are also offered the #JourneyToPascha Social Media Exercise explained in this YouTube video. Other YouTube videos for preparation for Pascha may be found here.

Click here for the flyer and please share this with the teens of your parish.

 

Ancient Faith Ministries Launches Orthodox Christian Ebooks

Ancient Faith Ministries has announced the launch of Orthodox Christian Ebooks. The collaborative website features Orthodox ebooks from multiple publishers, all in one place.

"We are excited about this new web site which will provide a convenient online destination for the best in Orthodox ebooks," said John Maddex, CEO of Ancient Faith. "It will especially be helpful to international readers who are often discouraged by high shipping costs from the U.S."

Byzantine Menaion Project by Basil Kazan to be Made Available Online

The music for the Byzantine Menaion Project by Basil Kazan is now being made available in the Department of Sacred Music's PDF Library. Additions have begun with January (PDF), and will continue to be uploaded from there. Each month includes the music for the major feasts and saints of the month, for Vespers and Matins, and occasionally for the changeable parts in the Divine Liturgy.

PDFs will be offered in the Sacred Music Library's section M, for Menaion. The music is type-set, properly accented and barred, with ison, and rubrics and instructions added in, along with special melodies noted. The music was previously out of print, but is now available here in PDF format. May it help us all in our chanting of the liturgical services, as we praise our God and glorify His holy Name, honor His saints, and celebrate the Feasts of the Holy Orthodox Church!

Memory Eternal! + Chehade Zeidan Zeidan

Chehade Zeidan Zeidan fell asleep in the Lord in Lebanon on Saturday, February 20, 2016. Beloved husband of Georgette Wakim Zeidan, he was also the cherished father of Dimitri (Susanne Saikaly) of Ottawa; Rafic (Maha) of Montreal; Pierre (Connie Saikaly) and Regina Hurd (Michael) all of Roanoke, Virginia; Gihad (Marlene) and Therese all of Lebanon. He was loving Jiddo of Katya, Krista, Marcus, Elias, Jessica Dib (Jamil), Jean Paul, Dylan, Michael, Angelina, Elias, Jane, Joanne, Stephanie and Serena, and great grandfather to Michael and Mia Dib.

Chehade, most tender of hearts, loved his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren so dearly. The Zeidan family will receive relatives and friends on Tuesday and Wednesday, March 1 and 2, 2016 between 6:00 and 9:00pm at their home, 7009 Aldergrove Way, Greely, Ontario, Canada  K4P 1A4.

In Chehade's memory, a two week memorial service will be held on Sunday, March 13, 2016 at 10:00 am at St. Elias Antiochian Orthodox Cathedral, 2975 Riverside Dr., Ottawa, Ontario.

Just Released: God is Wonderful in His Saints, a Unique Collection of Akathist Hymns

Father Michael Shanbour, pastor of Three Hierarchs Orthodox Christian Mission in Wenatchee, WA, reports that their "small mission church in Wenatchee, WA is honored to offer a beautiful, new compilation containing Akathist Hymns to thirty beloved Orthodox saints, many published for the first time (see complete list below)." God is Wonderful in His Saints is a handsome 6" x 9" hard case volume with sewn binding printed by Thomson Shore (536 pages). Each Akathist is preceded by an icon and brief life of the saint. Instructions are also provided on how to pray an Akathist.

God is Wonderful in His Saints has the blessing of His Eminence Metropolitan Joseph. Bishop Basil of the Diocese of Wichita has also recommended this "very fine publication" to his Clergy Brotherhood.

Order online; shipping is free! 

A Lenten Opportunity: Second Annual NAC Teen SOYO Day of Service is March 19, 2016

(View a video about the 2015 Day of Service)

On Saturday, March 19, 2016, the second Annual NAC Teen SOYO Day of Service will be hosted by SOYO chapters across the United States and Canada.

In reverence to the fundamental virtue of love, NAC Teen SOYO has asked that its chapters across the country dedicate this common day to the service of their local communities. SOYO members are being encouraged to organize an event on this date that will enable you to show Christ-like charity to your neighbors. 

We want to see what you are doing, so tag @NACSOYO and use the hashtag #SOYOservice in your posts on social media! Enter your local SOYO in a contest to win a beautiful icon by simply including your parish's name in one of your posts.

View the flyer for more details