JOHNSTOWN, PA - [Diocesan Chancery] Our Diocese is pleased to announce  two upcoming events,  the third annual Senior Retreat which will take place at Camp Nazareth Retreat and Conference Center in Mercer, PA from May 10-12, 2022.  and Family Camp and Family Day  June 3-5, 2022

The Senior Retreat will feature keynote addresses by Very Rev. Protopresbyter Kenneth Bachofsky.  His Eminence Metropolitan Gregory is inviting all our Diocesan Seniors, ages 55 and over, to join him for 2 days of fellowship, prayer, and fun.  The Theme of the Retreat – “Coping with Change:  Staying Faithful No Matter What!” will help our Seniors navigate the many challenges they face all while remaining focused on and committed to our Lord.  It will include worship, fellowship, learning, fun, time for reflection and relaxation, and time spent with our Diocesan Hierarch!

oday 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!

We gather together as family and friends, in joy and in love, celebrating the presence of the Risen Lord in our midst, and singing with one voice the triumphant hymn "Christ is risen from the dead, trampling death by death, and to those in the tombs bestowing life."

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 

JOHNSTOWN, PA -- [Diocesan Chancery] -- Registration is now open for the Annual Diocesan Young Women's Encounter which will take place from Sunday, June 26th to Wednesday, June 29th, 2022, at Saints Peter and Paul Church in Windber, PA. We encourage our young women, ages 12 to 18 to attend.

The YWE is a retreat created for our young women to have fellowship with their Orthodox sisters in Christ while having fun and growing in love of our Lord Jesus Christ. The YWE includes spiritual discussions, special events, and more!

Registration begins online and is open now!

JOHNSTOWN, PA - [Diocesan Chancery] -- With profound sadness the Diocesan Chancery announces that +Archon John Hrapchak. fell asleep in the Lord on Tuesday March 22, 2022. Prior to his retirement in Arizona, he was a faithful parishioner of Holy Resurrection Orthodox Church in Potmac, MD.

John was born in Central City to the late Charles and Anna (Smolen) Hrapchak. After high school, he attended Virginia Tech, graduating with a BS degree in architectural engineering. He fulfilled a four-year Air Force commitment at Williams Air Force Base in Arizona, eventually obtaining the rank of captain. Upon completing his military service, John joined Daniel International Corporation, a major engineering and construction firm headquartered in Greenville, S.C. He worked at construction sites in Carrolton, Ga., and at the Callaway Nuclear Plant in Fulton, Mo.

JOHNSTOWN, PA - [Diocesan Chancery] -- With profound sadness the Diocesan Chancery announces that Sally Ellis, the wife of Deacon Charles Ellis and the mother of Rev. Fathers George and Michael Ellis, peacefully reposed in the Lord on Wednesday March 16, 2022 with her family by her side.

Sally was born in Binghamton, NY on July 26th, 1940, and was predeceased by her infant son, Patrick M. Ellis, her parents, James and Norma Stevens, her stepfather, Burton Chamberlain and her siblings, Margaret Miller, Evelyn Lewis and James Stevens, Jr. She is survived by her loving and devoted husband, Fr. Deacon Charles Ellis, Sr., her children Charles E. Ellis, Jr. (Julie), Victoria M. Bennett, Cynthia A. Jones (Robert), Rebecca L. Cooper (Shawn), Fr. Michael J. Ellis (Jesica) & Fr. George E. Ellis (Sarah); along with 17 cherished grandchildren & 6 great-grandchildren, her beloved sister, Geraldine Allen and her dear best friends, Shirley Demick and Helen Campbell.

JOHNSTOWN, PA - [Diocesan Chancery] -- With profound sadness the Diocesan Chancery announces that Audrey Rumbold, the mother of Pani Yvonne Lysack, reposed in the Lord on Monday, March 14, 2022 after a brief illness.

Audrey was born in Ramsgate, Kent, England. As a young child, she was evacuated several times during WWII and never forgot the pain of being "abandoned" by her parents with only a name tag around her neck and of lining up so that reluctant host families could take their pick of children. She always understood, however, that her parents had made the wisest choice to keep her and her younger sister safe. After the war, as a young woman, Audrey trained as a florist. In the early years of their marriage, Audrey and Dave immigrated to Canada so that Dave could work on the famed Avro Arrow project, and after the latter was halted, Dave joined the Royal Canadian Air Force.

JOHNSTOWN, PA -- The schedule of His Eminence, Metropolitan Gregory of Nyssa for March - April 2022 has been released by the Diocesan Chancery.

JOHNSTOWN, PA [Diocesan Chancery] --The 2022 Virtual Pani Retreat took place on the morning of February 12th, opening with a prayer by his Eminence Metropolitan Gregory and some enjoyable catching up od the Panis with each other. The Pani sisterhood had the pleasure of hosting Dr. Vasiliki Tsigas-Fotinis, who was asked to speak to them on the book of Psalms. This was a lively and very timely topic as the Psalter is often read by faithful Orthodox Christians during Great Lent.

Vasiliki encouraged the Panis to practice praying, singing, and dancing the Psalms. Praying the Psalms perhaps comes most easily since we hear the Psalms prayed frequently during our services. Vasiliki shared that we can pray them by reading through or reciting the Psalms in sections, one Psalm or even one verse at a time.

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 7th, 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 Feasts, Pascha to receive the Resurrected Christ.

We are reminded that there can be no true fast, no genuine repentance, no reconciliation with God, unless we at the same time reconcile with one another. In this holiest period of the ecclesiastical year, we should honestly examine our relationships with our families, our parish families, friends, neighbors, co-workers, and the Church in general.

JOHNSTOWN, PA  [Diocesan Chancery] -- His Eminence Metropolitan Gregory is pleased to announce that, this year,  we will resume our Diocesan in-person regional Lenten Retreat Program.  The dates and preliminary details for  the upcoming Lenten Retreats are as follows:

Central Lenten Regional Retreat - Sat March 19, 2022  - St. Nicholas Orthodox Church in Homestead, PA.  Adult Retreat Master is Fr. Stephen Loposky. Deadline for Registration is March 12, 2022. 

Eastern Regional Lenten Retreat (co-sponsored by the Ukrainian Orthodox Youth League) - Sat April 2, 2022 - St Francis Center For Renewal, Bethlehem, PA - Adult Retreat Master is Fr. Anthony Perkins.  Theme: Jesus Remember Me When You Come Into Your Kingdom: The Services of Holy Week.  Registration Deadline: March 22, 2022.

Western Region Retreat - Sat April 2, 2022 - Chicago Deanery.  More details to follow.

JOHNSTOWN, PA  [Diocesan Chancery] -- The American Carpatho-Russian Orthodox Diocese, the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Pittsburgh Y2AM and the Ukrainian Orthodox League invite Young Adults  ages 18-35 to come retreat to Camp Nazareth from March 25-27, 2022 for a weekend with other Orthodox Young Adults from all jurisdictions. 

The theme of the weekend event is  Forming Christ-Centered Relationships,   and it will feature presentations by Fr. Chris and Khouria Sophia Shadid.  The weekend event will be filled with learning, fun, fellowship, worship, and time for reflection and rejuvenation!

JOHNSTOWN, PA -- The schedule of His Eminence, Metropolitan Gregory of Nyssa for February 2022 has been released by the Diocesan Chancery.

JOHNSTOWN, PA - [Diocesan Chancery] -- With profound sadness the Diocesan Chancery announces that +Archon John Gidicsin Jr.  fell asleep in the Lord on Thursday February 3, 2022. He was a faithful parishioner of St. Nicholas of Myra Orthodox Church in New  York City.  

Archon John is predeceased by his wife Justine, by less than two years, and survived by his children Jamie, Justine and John Jr.Z

John worked tirelessly for St. Nicholas Church and served the Parish as President of the Church Council as well as holding other offices over a very long time.  

JOHNSTOWN, PA - [Diocesan Chancery] -- With profound sadness the Diocesan Chancery announces that Pani Mary Panchisin, the wife of the late +Very Rev Protopresbyter Charles Panchisin, reposed in the Lord on Wednesday February 2, 2022

Pani Mary was born in Wood, PA on Nov. 15, 1927 to Wasco and Pauline (Maksinchak) Mykut. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in Blessed Repose by her husband, The Very Reverend Protopresbyter Charles William Panchisin, infant son Michael, and siblings John, Sam, Mike, Emelia, Nick, Pete, Minnie Mykut and Anne Carpenter.

Pani Mary is survived by her children Mark, Paula, Matthew and John (Anna Katsoolias) Panchisin, two grandsons Luke and Charles Panchisin and her siblings Rosalie Mykut and Steve Mykut. She is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews fondly referring to her as "Aunt Mary".

JOHNSTOWN, PA - [Diocesan Chancery] -- With profound sadness the Diocesan Chancery announces that + Very Rev. Protopresbyter Michael Slovesko reposed in the Lord, on January 4, 2021.

Funeral arrangements are as follows: 

ALL SERVICES ARE AT SAINTS PETER AND PAUL CHURCH
                              141 Hoffman Farm Road
Windber, PA  15963

Sunday, January 9 – Vesting of Fr. Michael by Deanery priests in Taylor, PA

JOHNSTOWN, PA - [Diocesan Chancery] -- With profound sadness the Diocesan Chancery announces that + Very Rev. Protopresbyter Michael Polanichka reposed in the Lord, on December 20, 2021.

Born July 17,1936 in Scranton, PA to the late Nicholas and Susan (Chuvan) Polanichka.Proto. Michael entered the Diocesan Seminary of Christ the Savior in Johnstown, PA in September 1956 and graduated in June 1960.

On June 11, 1960 he married the former Eleanor Jean Hazuda in Nesquehoning, PA and they just celebrated their 61st Wedding anniversary in June 2021. His beloved wife, Pani Eleanor, who was his caregiver for the past 3 years passed away suddenly on November 21, 2021.

JOHNSTOWN, PA - [Diocesan Chancery] -- With profound sadness the Diocesan Chancery announces that + Very Rev. Fr. Michael Macura reposed in the Lord on Saturday December 18 at St. Vincent's Hospital in Bridgeport, CT.

Fr. Michael was born in Bridgeport on October 4, 1954, to the late John and Katherine (Bradac) Macura and was a longtime area resident. He was a graduate of St. Tikhon’s Orthodox Seminary and Marywood University. Fr. Michael was a Major in the United States Army for 20 years and served as a Chaplain. He was deployed to Operation Desert Storm and Desert Shield. Following his military service, he was the Rector of St. John the Baptist Orthodox Church in Silver Lane, Stratford, for 17 years.