JOHNSTOWN, PA The Diocesan Chancery has learned that Fr. Matthew Baker, former Christ the Saviour seminarian and parishioner of Nativity of Our Lord Parish in Manassas, Virginia, and Pastor of Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church of Norwich, CT, was tragically killed in a car accident on March 1, 2015 during an evening snow storm, while on the way home from celebrating the Triumph of Orthodoxy Vespers. His children who were traveling in the car with Fr. Matthew were thankfully not injured.

JOHNSTOWN, PA -- With the blessing of His Grace, Bishop Gregory, the National Junior ACRY, as in previous years, has taken it upon itself to aid the Diocesan ministry of Saint John the Compassionate, located in the inner city of Toronto, Ontario. The National Junior ACRY has renewed its ongoing effort to assist in the work of Saint John the Compassionate. This renewed commitment was affirmed at the National Convention in Chicago this past summer. One again members of the Junior ACRY had the opportunity to visit the Mission this past summer and experience the labors of love that take place there each and everyday.

His Grace, Bishop Gregory has issued the following Archpastoral Message regarding the upcoming Family Camp: Our Diocese is pleased to offer our third annual Family Camp at Camp Nazareth this year in conjunction with Family Day. The event is exactly what it sounds like. Families “camping” together in the Camp cabins and participating in a weekend of services, games, discussions, activities and challenges that are all designed to help families deepen their relationship with God and with one another. Encourage them to come, and, if you are able, come yourselves with your families. Last year we had 10 Families and a total of 36 participants. We had a wonderful time together and look forward to being together again this year.

JOHNSTOWN, PA -- With the setting of the sun and the celebration of Forgiveness Vespers this evening, the season of The Great Fast has been ushered in throughout our God-Saved Diocese and the entire Orthodox Church. This Holy Season, as His Grace, Bishop Gregory has reminded us in his Lenten Archpastoral Letter, " is a time for self-examination and self-denial. We must take control of our lives and bodies with fasting in order to gain a greater awareness of our dependence on and relationship with God." To assist the faithful in making the most of this holy season, additional resources have been added to our Diocesan Website.

My beloved Faithful Clergy and Laity of our God-Protected Diocese: As we begin Great Lent this year on February 23rd, I want to share with you a few thoughts so that we may journey through this reflective period and arrive at the Great Feast of Pascha spiritually uplifted to receive the Resurrected Christ. This journey is a time for self-examination and self-denial. We must take control of our lives and bodies with fasting in order to gain a greater awareness of our dependence on and relationship with God. In addition, this journey gives greater time for doing those things that Christ mentioned in Matthew 25: 31-46. He instructed us to feed the hungry,

JOHNSTOWN, PA - The Chancery has been informed learned that Pani Isabelle Sopoliga fell-asleep in the Lord on February 16th, 2015. The funeral arrangements for Pani Isabelle Sopoliga are as follows: Friday, February 20, 2015 6-8 PM Visitation in St. John's Church, Nesquehoning, PA. 7 PM Panachida. Saturday, February 21, 2015 9-10 AM Viewing, 10 AM Funeral Liturgy.

JOHNSTOWN, PA [Diocesan Apostolate For Information Technology and Communications] In a continuing effort to provide greater outreach to the elderly and infirm who are not able to attend Divine Services in their home parish, with the Blessing of His Grace, Bishop Gregory, all weekday Holy Day Divine Liturgies and Friday Presanctified Liturgies will be live streamed from Christ the Saviour Cathedral.

JOHNSTOWN, PA - The Chancery has learned that + ROSE GOLIO, the mother of Pani Joanne Allard, fell asleep in the Lord on Friday, February 13, 2015. The Funeral will take place in Minneapolis, MN. Diocesan Clergy and faithful are asked to remember + Rose in their prayers.

JOHNSTOWN, PA -- As a result of feedback provided from both on-site and on-line participants, the next topic for our Diocesan on-line Orthodox Scripture Study will be the Book of Revelation (The Apocalypse) The study is scheduled to begin on Saturday March 7, 2015 at 5:00 pm. This weekly on-line scripture study will be led by the Very Rev. Protopresbyter Kenneth Bachofsky, Professor of Sacred Scripture at Christ the Saviour Seminary and broadcast live from St. Nicholas Orthodox Church in Warren, Ohio. This study will draw on the patristic voice of the Fathers

JOHNSTOWN, PA -- The schedule of His Grace, Bishop Gregory of Nyssa for February and March 2015 has been released by the Diocesan Chancery.

JOHNSTOWN, PA -- His Grace, Bishop Gregory of Nyssa, in an Archpastoral Letter which has been released today, has requested that Diocesan clergy and faithful take part in a national study commissioned by the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the United States of America. This National study entitled “Exploring Orthodox Generosity: Giving in US Orthodox Parishes”. Both Clergy and Laity have been invited to participate in this unique project. The following are a few examples of questions that the study will explore: Why do people give or don’t give to parishes?

JOHNSTOWN, PA - The Diocesan Chancery is pleased to announce the schedule of the annual Diocesan Lenten Retreats, which are sponsored by the ACRY for the upcoming Lenten Season. These retreats are open to everyone and contain special programing for youth and adults of all ages. Bishop Gregory, along with other talented clergy of the Diocese will offer insightful and inspiring presentations designed to encourage and challenge the faithful to stay focused on the spiritual life as they continue their Lenten Journey to Pascha.

JOHNSTOWN, PA - The Chancery has learned that + George Hazuda Jr. (86) passed to life eternal on January 24. + George is the brother of Very Rev. Protopresbyter Ronald Hazuda and Pani Eleanor Polanichka. He was a member of St. John's Church in Nesquehoning where he served formerly as parish treasurer.

JOHNSTOWN, PA -- Clergy and faithful of the Diocese recently took part in two Pro-Life Marches marking the 42nd Anniversary of the Supreme Court Ruling Roe V. Wade which legalized abortion in all 50 states in the USA. On Sunday, January 18, 2015, Fr. Jonathan Bannon, of Christ the Saviour Orthodox Church of Rockford, IL along with faithful from the Chicago Deanery, joined the Orthodox Christian's For Life - Chicago at a Pro-life Rally at Federal Plaza in downtown Chicago.

JOHNSTOWN, PA [Christ the Saviour Cathedral] -- Divine Services for the Feast of Theophany will be live streamed on the internet to accomodate its growing audience of homebound viewers. The broadcasting schedule is as follows:Great Compline and The Blessing of Water - Sun January 18, 2015 - 7:00 pm. Divine Liturgy of Theophany - Monday January 19, 2015 - 9:00 am

JOHNSTOWN, PA - The Chancery has learned that +DOROTHY BROWN, the mother of Pani Bethany Mihaly, fell asleep in the Lord on Wednesday, January 14, 2015. The Funeral will take place on Wednesday, January 21, 2015 in Georgia.Diocesan Clergy and faithful are asked to remember + Dorothy in their prayers.

JOHNSTOWN, PA --- [Diocesan Chancery] This year, 12 of our Diocesan College Students were sponsored by an anonymous donation to attend the Orthodox Christian Fellowship College Conference East held at Antiochian Village in Bolivar, PA from December 27-30, 2014. As a Diocese we are grateful for this donation together with His Grace Bishop Gregory. His Grace attended the event as he did last year

WASHINGTON, DC -- Diocesan Clergy and Faithful, as they have for many years, will take part in the annual March for Life in the Nation's Capitol on Thursday January 22, 2015. The Annual March for Life takes place to mark the 41st Anniversary of the January 22, 1973 Supreme Court Decision, known as Roe V. Wade which legalized abortion.

JOHNSTOWN [Christ the Saviour Cathedral] -- The Divine Services of Christmas Eve and Christmas Day (January 6-7, 2015) at Christ the Saviour Cathedral will be live-streamed on the internet. The Christmas Eve broadcast will begin at 7:45 pm. The broadcast of the Christmas morning Divine Liturgy will begin at 9:00 am on Wednesday, January 7, 2015.

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