JOHNSTOWN, PA -- [Diocesan Chancery] - His Grace Bishop Gregory will take part in a Synaxis (Assembly) of the Hierarchy of the Ecumenical Throne from around the world at the Ecumenical Patriarchate from August 28- September 2, 2015 convened upon the invitation and under the presidency of His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew. On September 1, following the Divine Liturgy at the Patriarchal Church of St. George, His All Holiness, followed by all the hierarchs, in keeping with an impressive and centuries old tradition, will sign the Act of the New Indiction marking the beginning of the Ecclesiastical New Year. In addition, the day also has been set aside by the Ecumenical Patriarchate as one of prayers for the preservation and protection of the natural environment which is observed by all sister Orthodox Churches in the world.

The schedule of His Grace, Bishop Gregory of Nyssa for September 2015, has been released by the Diocesan Chancery.

JOHNSTOWN, PA [National ACRY] -- The deadline for reservations for the 2015 National ACRY Convention Banquet, to be held on Sunday September 6, 2015 a the Double Tree Hilton in Binghamton, NY has been extended to Monday, August 31st.

JOHNSTOWN, PA - The Chancery has learned of the passing in blessed repose on August 4 of + Julia Worobey, mother of Protodeacon Theodore Worobey. Arrangements are as follows:

JOHNSTOWN, PA - The Chancery has learned that +JOSEPH LOPOSKY, the father of Very Rev. Fr. Stephen Loposky, fell asleep in the Lord, yesterday, August 3, 2015 after a long illness. He was a communicant of St. Mary's Church in Endicott, NY.

MERCER, PA [Camp Nazareth] - His Grace, Bishop Gregory, Fr. Stephen Loposky, Camp Director and the Staff of Camp Nazareth, eagerly await the arrival of the first Diocesan Campers of 2015, tommorow, July 19, 2015. The entire staff has been preparing for weeks and months for this year's camping program which promises to be truly epic, with many, new activities awaiting our campers. Our Diocesan faithful are encouraged to follow along each of the three camping weeks on-line. This year the camp's daily multi-media offerings will be greatly expanded. In addition to the daily photo galleries, thanks to our new "Go-Pro" and Aerial Drone video cameras, there will be frequent, if not daily, videos of camp life posted on the camp website.

JOHNSTOWN, PA [Diocesan Chancery] -- This morning, July 11, 2015, the Orthodox Youth Mission Team (OYMT) left for a week- long mission trip to participate in the Appalachian Service Project (ASP) in Martin County, KY. The group, led by Fr. Luke Mihaly of Holy Trinity Church Danbury, CT along with Fr. David Cochran of St. John’s Church , Bridgeport, CT and Fr. Michael Chendorain of St. John’s Church, Perth Amboy, NJ, consists of 23 high school youth and 14 adult leaders. The group represents 7 parishes from the American Carpatho Russian Orthodox Diocese, the Orthodox Church in America, and the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese. The Orthodox Youth Mission Team will be working with families in some of the most impoverished areas of our country, helping to make their homes “warmer, safer, and drier”—which is ASP’s mission. The group has trained for the last 6 months participating in scripture study, sensitivity instruction, and construction and safety skills training to prepare for this opportunity to put their faith to work serving others. The OYMT left from Holy Trinity in Danbury, CT this morning and will travel to Salem, VA tonight and then on to Warfield, KY on Sunday. Tommorow they will be visiting St. Mary’s in Bluefield, WV to celebrate liturgy with Fr. Mark Tyson and his parish. T

NEW YORK – The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America announces the elevation of Bishop Philotheos of Meloa, the sole surviving Consecrating Bishop of +Metropolitan Nicholas, to the rank of Metropolitan of Meloa, according to an official announcement of July 9, from the Ecumenical Patriarchate. The announcement states that the Holy and Sacred Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, following a recommendation by His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, elevated His Grace Bishop Philotheos of Meloa to active Metropolitan of Meloa. His Eminence Metropolitan Philotheos came to the United States in 1960, as a deacon, on the invitation of Archbishop Iakovos and was ordained a priest in 1961. He was assigned to the Greek Orthodox Church of the Annunciation in Scranton. Pa., where he served until 1965. He was then transferred to the Greek Orthodox Church of St. Eleftherios in Manhattan. He was elected to the episcopacy on April 29, 1971 by the Holy and Sacred Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, and ordained bishop on June 6, 1971 by Archbishop Iakovos, in the Archdiocesan Cathedral

TORONTO, ON --- Nine young men and women from throughout the Diocese have arrived today at St. John The Compassionate Mission. This delegation of Diocesan Youth led by Very Rev. Miles Zdinak, National Junior ACRY Spiritual advisor and Josef Samilenko, National Jr ACRY President, have travelled to Canada to offer their assistance to the Mission for the next several days. Joining the team is Very Rev. Protopresbyter Peter Paproski, National Sr. ACRY Spiritual Advisor and Diocesan Webmaster. During their stay they will take part in the daily life of the Mission, serving meals, breaking bread with the mission's extended family from the streets of Toronto, participating in the daily liturgical services and assisting with various maintenance projects. In addition to their active participation in the life of the Mission, the team will present Fr. Roberto Ubertino, the priest in charge of the mission with the proceeds of the 2015 Diocesan Youth project, which was a huge success especially with the generosity of the Kulis Foundation which matched dollar for dollar what the youth raised.

JOHNSTOWN, PA [National ACRY] -- A.C.R.Y. Members and Diocesan Faithful are cordially invited to join us this Labor Day weekend, September 4-7th for the 2015 National Sr. and Jr. A.C.R.Y. Conventions. This year is especially meaningful to us as a son of St Michael's Church in Binghamton, Deacon William Bennett, grandson of our parish’s Deacon Charles Ellis and nephew of Father Michael Ellis will be ordained to Holy Priesthood at Sunday’s Divine Liturgy by His Grace, Bishop Gregory! St. Michael’s Church and Sr. and Jr. A.C.R.Y. Chapter 40, is pleased to be your hosts, and have worked hard to plan a weekend we hope everyone will enjoy. We will be headquartered in the heart of downtown Binghamton at the newly remodeled Doubletree by Hilton Hotel for this year’s Convention headquarters. Many of you no doubt have fond memories of past events in Binghamton, and we are working with the hotel staff to exceed your expectations again this year! You will find a ‘new look’ not only to the hotel, but to downtown itself which has changed dramatically as our Binghamton University has expanded into the downtown since 2009 when St Michael's hosted their last event bringing hundreds of student apartments, new restaurants, brew pubs, cafes and specialty shops into the area!

JOHNSTOWN, PA [Tribune-Democrat] - Sixty-seven altar boys from 13 states are in Johnstown this week for a retreat that mixes faith and fun. The three-day event brings together altar boys, who range in age from 8 to 18, and leaders of the American Carpatho-Russian Orthodox Diocese for education, prayer and fellowship. The retreat is being held at Christ the Saviour Cathedral on Garfield Street and this year focuses around the theme of “To Serve is to Love.” “I want you to not be just an altar boy, but be the best altar boy and be ready to service the Lord,” Bishop Gregory of Nyssa, bishop of the American Carpatho-Russian Diocese, said to the boys after celebrating Divine Liturgy with them on Tuesday. “Take the theme of this retreat and put it in your heart and love the Lord.” The retreat balances spiritual and fun activities and shows the boys that the priesthood is a viable and worthy vocation. Participants also have the opportunity to bond and learn how to be leaders. Bishop Gregory said the purpose of the retreat is to encourage the boys to pursue the priesthood. “Our priests are getting older and retiring, and we will need new priests, and if they aren’t coming from this group then where?” he said.

JOHNSTOWN, PA - The Chancery has been informed that Kerya Brisbane, the wife of Deacon Edward Brisbane of St. Nicholas Orthodox Church in Warren, Ohio, fell-asleep in the Lord on Saturday June 27, 2015. The funeral arrangements are as follow: On Monday, July 6th at Staton-Borowski Funeral Home - 962 North Road, N.E. Warren, Ohio - The Funeral Service will be served beginning at 4:30 p.m. On Tuesday, July 7th the Divine Liturgy will be served at 10:00 a.m. at the St. Nicholas Orthodox Church in Warren, Ohio.

JOHNSTOWN, PA [Diocesan Chancery] -- This evening more than 100 of our Diocesan youth arrived safely at Christ the Saviour Cathedral in Johnstown for the Annual Diocesan Altarboy Retreat, and at Sts Peter and Paul Church in Windber, PA for the Annual Young Women's Encounter. During the next three days, the altar boys and young women of our Diocese will have the opportunity in their own venue to spend time in prayer, learning, fellowship and service. Taking inspiration from the Scriptural verse, "Live as free men, yet without using your freedom as a pretext for evil; but live as servants of God." - 1 Peter 2:16, the theme of this year's altar boy retreat is “To Serve is to Love…” In addition to interactive discussions on the retreat theme, instruction in Plain Chant Singing,

JOHNSTOWN, PA -- [Diocesan Chancery] The Diocesan Chancery has been informed that Reader Andrew Talarovich, Jr. of St. Nicholas Orthodox Church in Homestead, PA, reposed in the Lord suddenly on Saturday, June 27, 2015. Andrew, age 52, was the son of the late Andrew Sr. and Katherine (Rethi) Talarovich; brother of Michael Joseph (Rachel) Talarovich of Pittsburgh, PA and Kathryn (James) Brackin of Indiana, PA; uncle of Heather (Brent) Blose; great uncle of Aiden Hill; also survived by aunts, uncles, cousins and many, many friends. Andrew was a former cantor at SS. Peter and Paul Orthodox Church in Homer City, and was the present cantor and choir director at St. Nicholas Orthodox Church in Homestead.

JOHNSTOWN, PA -- The schedule of His Grace, Bishop Gregory of Nyssa for June through August 2015, has been released by the Diocesan Chancery.

JOHNSTOWN, PA -- Helen Spanovich, celebrated choir director in the Greater Johnstown area for the past 75 years, retired with a testimonial banquet at Christ the Saviour Educational Center on Tuesday evening, May 26. Cathedral parishioners as well as priests and faithful from many areas attended. The Very Rev. Protopresbyter Robert Buczak, Cathedral Dean, was toastmaster. Protopresbyter Frank P. Miloro, Chancellor, welcomed everyone and offered a toast. Michael Fetsko, Cathedral Financial Secretary, made a presentation. Beautiful roses were sent by Attorney Nicholas Timko, choir director of St. Nicholas Church in New York City.

JOHNSTOWN, PA -- As the 2nd Young Women's Encounter approaches Bishop Gregory asks for the continued prayers of our Diocesan family for the young women of our Diocese and for this event to help them love Christ and live their Orthodox faith. The registration deadline is Monday, June 1st and as of today the Encounter is half way to its participant limit! All young women of the Diocese, age 11-18, are encouraged to register by sending in their registration form for the Young Women's Encounter. They can submit their forms by mail or email if they follow by mailing the originals. Parish priests are asked if any young women in their parish have let them know that they want to or plan to attend

JOHNSTOWN, PA -- [National ACRY] - It's hard to believe that the ACRY Bowling Tournament is less than a week away! Final plans are taking place and St John's Church Chapter 23 of Stratford, CT looks forward to seeing many Diocesan faithful over Memorial Day Weekend. Join in the fun Friday night at St. John's Church (600 Silver Lane, Stratford, CT) to relax and start the weekend off with fellowship, food, and a campfire with smores.

JOHNSTOWN, PA -- Today, May 15, 2015, marks the second anniversary of the repose of the faithful priest of the Diocese, the Very Rev. Protopresbyter Michael Rosco. Fr. Michael Fell-Asleep-In-The-Lord following injuries sustained in a serious car accident following his attendance at the Spring Meeting of the Diocesan Board of Trustees Meeting. A native of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Fr. Michael attended DChrist the Saviour Seminary in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Theology degree in 1972. That same year, he married the former Susan Hreha of Homestead, Pennsylvania

JOHNSTOWN, PA -- Graduation ceremonies were held for the three members of the Class of 2015 on Thursday evening, May14th at Christ the Saviour Cathedral in Johnstown, PA. Joining the three graduates, Deacon David Urban, a parish vocation of St. Nicholas Orthodox Church in Homestead, PA, and Seminarians George Ellis and William Bennett, parish vocations of St. Michael's Orthodox Church in Binghamton, NY were the Very Rev. Protopresbyter Frank Miloro, Seminary Dean