JOHNSTOWN, PA -- The revised schedule of His Eminence, Metropolitan Gregory of Nyssa for June and July 20121 has been released by the Diocesan Chancery.

Today I greet you with great love and joy in the Name of our Lord, God and Saviour Jesus Christ following His glorious Resurrection. On Great and Holy Pascha, we behold the triumph of Christ, as He rose from death to life, from darkness of the tomb into the Light. With the Resurrection of Christ, all Creation is filled with a new Light of life and joy. On this Feast of Feasts, this Holy Day of Holy Days, we all proclaim the only truth that matters, the Truth that Christ is Risen!

This year we have experienced a different Great Lent, Holy Week and Pascha from that which we did last year with the arrival of the Coronavirus known as Covid-19.  This invisible entity has attacked us in a vicious way. Millions of people have been exposed to the virus showing no symptoms.

JOHNSTOWN, PA -- Diocesan Parishes are cordially invited to submit via email up to 3 photos of this year's Holy week and Paschal services for inclusion in a special photo gallery, "Pascha throughout the Diocese".

It is asked that parishes avoid sending low resolution cell phone camera quality photos as they may also be included in The Church Messenger

Please email photos to media@acrod.org Please put in the body of the e-mail the name of the parish, and a brief captions describing the photos. Please do not send captions as attached document files.

BROOKLINE, MA, April 8, 2021–Orthodox Christian Fellowship (OCF) is seeking qualified candidates to apply for two full-time positions as part of their national ministry team: a Communications Manager and a Ministry Coordinator. Candidates should be Orthodox Christians in good standing with their parish/jurisdiction who are interested in furthering the mission of OCF to provide opportunities for college students to encounter Christ. Full job descriptions and applications can be found at www.ocf.net/join-our-team. Inquiries about these positions or recommendations can be directed to Executive Director, Dn. Marek Simon at marek@ocf.net. 

JOHNSTOWN, PA - [Diocesan Chancery] -- With profound sadness the Diocesan Chancery announces that Maxym Lysack, the father of Protopresbyter Maxym Lysack, reposed in the Lord on Wednesday April 14, 2021.. 

The Funeral Service will be celebrated on Friday evening at Christ the Saviour Church in Ottawa, with private burial on Saturday. 

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 Eminence, Metropolitan Gregory has reminded us in his Lenten  Archpastoral Letter,  is a time for increased "... self-examination, reflection and confession.... Great Lent is not just about what we eat, but more importantly how we live."

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 Holy and Great Lent this year on March 15th, I wanted to share with you a few  thoughts so that we may journey through the season and arrive safely at the Great Feast of Feasts, Holy Pascha with the proper frame of mind.

It has been over a year now that we have been dealing with the global Covid-19 pandemic and all of its effects including tragically the loss of over 50 individuals in our Diocese. May their memories be eternal! The pandemic greatly impacted our lives including the practicing of our faith, especially our attendance at church services. Virtual attendance via live-streaming and other measures work in emergency situations, but eventually lose their effectiveness.

JOHNSTOWN, PA  [DIocesan Chancery] -- The National ACRY Scholarship Committee is pleased to announce that the 2021 ACRY Scholarship Application is now available on ACRY.org. There are several new, exciting changes to the application process! First, the application is now a fillable .pdf format which should allow all applicants to complete it digitally without the need to print and mail completed documents. Second, the website now has the capability to accept uploaded files which will be sent directly to the Scholarship Committee. We strongly urge all applicants, and those writing letters of recommendation, to use this new feature to better streamline the application process.

JOHNSTOWN, PA - [Diocesan Chancery] -- Each year, our Diocese, through the stewardship of the National Sr. ACRY,  has offered opportunities for our faithful  to gather together in Spiritual Retreat, during Great Lent at various regional locations. They have been well received and appreciated by those who participated.

This year, however with the continuing reality of the Covid-19 Pandemic, it is not possible for us to offer our Annual Retreat Program as we have in the past. However,  we will be able to do so in another format.

On Saturday April 3, 2021, a Diocesan-Wide Lenten Retreat for adults and teenagers will take place using the online Zoom Platform. It will begin at noon and will be 90 minutes in duration.

JOHNSTOWN, PA -- [Diocesan Chancery] -- We are pleased to announce that SPF50 Family Scripture Reading Ministry has just released the fifth edition of SPF50. The reading schedule will begin on January 10, 2021.

We are excited for the NEW reading program in the fifth edition!! The NEW reading program will highlight many ESSENTIAL Biblical Stories like Creation, Noah and the Ark, the Exodus, the call of the Prophet Samuel, and many others throughout the Old and New Testaments.

Dear Beloved Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Christmas is a time of great joy, hope and love. Two thousand years ago, quietly, almost secretly, without a great deal of fanfare, Jesus Christ, the "King of Kings" was born in a cave in the town of Bethlehem. No earthly creature in their wildest imaginings could have foreseen the impact of this humble event: a God-Man, born of a woman, who would change the course of history forever. This God- Man spoke and touched the hearts and minds of everyone who had ears to hear Him. This God- Man's words and actions have comforted, given hope and transformed the lives of millions throughout time. This is the God-Man that we worship. This is the God-Man that we praise. The miraculous mystery of our Lord's birth should remain first and foremost in all our hearts and minds during this brilliant season. We should never forget that Christmas is about Christ and His birth.

JOHNSTOWN, PA -- [Diocesan Chancery] -- Christ is born, glorify Him. Christ is from heaven, go to meet Him. Christ is on earth, be ye lifted up. Sing to the Lord, all the earth. Sing out with gladness, all ye people. For He is glorified (First Ode of the Christmas Canon).

His Eminence, Metropolitan Gregory of Nyssa, the Diocesan Chancery Staff, The Diocesan Board of Trustees and the Faculty and Staff of Christ the Saviour Seminary extend their heartfelt greetings to the faithful and friends of the Diocese for a blessed Feast of The Nativity of Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.