September is National Preparedness Month
You are your family’s first responder, and in many ways you are your neighbor’s first responder. All of us as participants in our communities and members of our families need to take concrete steps to proactively prepare for emergencies and disasters. Local, state, and national authorities are going to help, but they may not be able to get to you right away.
Sept. 12th is National Back to Church Sunday!
Everyone is Invited and Welcome Back to Church on September 12, 2010! Are you one of those people who “used to go” to church, but just don’t anymore? Are you tired of trying to figure out life yourself? What about the Bible? What about things like faith, salvation, discipleship, grace, and most of all – forgiveness? If you are like most Americans, you know quite a few, or maybe you are one of them yourself. According to the book American Church in Crisis by [Read more...]
Patriarch Celebrates Historic Liturgy in Ancient Monastery
Orthodox Christians held the first Divine Liturgy in almost 90 years at an ancient monastery on the side of a Turkish mountain Sunday, after the government allowed worship there in a gesture toward religious minorities. At least 1,500 pilgrims, including from Greece and Russia, traveled to the Byzantine-era monastery of Sumela for the service led by Patriarch Bartholomew I, the spiritual leader of the world’s Orthodox Christians. The Islamic-oriented government, which is aiming to expand freedoms as part of its bid to join [Read more...]
The Perils of ‘Wannabe Cool’ Christianity
I can say with confidence that when it comes to church, we don’t want cool as much as we want real.
Miss Universe 2002: “Spiritual Help Only in Orthodoxy”
Miss Universe Winner Says She Got Real Spiritual Help Only In Orthodoxy June 30, 2010 Interfax The renowned TV anchor who once won the Miss Universe title believes that only the Orthodox faith has helped her in life and brought her consolation. “When I was young, I tried various religious trends. But I managed to find consolation and real spiritual help only in Orthodoxy,” Oxana Fyodorova was quoted as saying by the Radonezh website. However, her way to the Orthodox Church was not [Read more...]
700 Children Baptized In One Service in Georgia
700 Children are baptized during a mass baptism ceremony in the town of Mtskheta outside Tbilisi, July 13, 2010. About 700 children were baptized by the Georgian Orthodox church during the 12th mass baptism ceremony led by Patriarch Ilia II. Georgia had a big declining birth rate until Patriarch Iliya said he would personally bless each baby, so now the birthrate is increasing and they are getting blessings and baptisms from the Patriarch! That’s a missionary spirit. God bless the Church in [Read more...]
It’s Hot Out There
It’s not really news, especially in Arizona, that the summer is hot. Even at the mile high elevation in Prescott. At St. George, we want you to feel as safe and comfortable as possible. With that in mind, please dress modestly but appropriately for the weather!
Celebrating 110 Years of Korean Orthodoxy
Korean Orthodox Church On 29-30 May 2010 celebrations dedicated to 110 anniversary of Orthodoxy in Korea were held in Seoul. The festivities were organized by the Korean metropolia of the Constantinopolitan Patriarchate. With the blessing of His Holiness Kirill, Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia, a delegation from Russian Orthodox Church headed by the Archbishop Veniamin of Vladivostok and Primorye [Coastland] came to participate in the festivities. The delegation also included Hierodeacon Juvenaly (Lapshin) a cleric of Vladivostok Diocese of the Russian Orthodox [Read more...]
Liturgy at Hagia Sophia on Sept. 17, 2010
By Kleo Mavridis Members of the “International Congregation of Agia Sophia” will make a pilgrimage to Agia Sofia in Istanbul in order to conduct divine liturgy on September 17, the day the Orthodox Church celebrates the holy feast day of Sophia, Faith, Hope and Love. During a press conference in Thessaloniki, the President of the International Congregation, Chris Spirou, said that the Prime Minister of Turkey, Tayyip Erdoğan, has already been informed in writing. “The purpose of our Congregation’s visit is to conduct [Read more...]
Digital Natives Embrace Ancient Church
Twentysomethings captivated by Orthodoxy Tim Flinders will graduate from Grand Valley State University next month. Raised Lutheran, he also explored fundamentalist Baptism, Roman Catholicism and even Messianic Judaism before converting to Orthodox Christianity this year. “Orthodoxy has completely transformed me already,” he said. “I feel like the first time in my life I’m growing spiritually.” Flinders, 22, like many other young people converting to Eastern Orthodoxy, was looking for authenticity and historical accuracy in his Christian faith. “I had so many different questions [Read more...]
