JOHNSTOWN, PA - [Diocesan Chancery] -- With profound sadness the Diocesan Chancery announces that +Very Rev. Protopresbyter George Hutnyan, Pastor Emeritus of St. Michael Orthodox Church in Youngstown, Ohio, reposed in the Lord on Tuesday, May 12, 2020.

Funeral arrangements are as follows:

Friday, May 15th – 11 AM Funeral Service for a Priest - St. Michael Church, Youngstown, OH

(Due to Covid-19, the Service is private and there is no visitation at the Church)

JOHNSTOWN, PA - [Diocesan Chancery] -- With profound sadness the Diocesan Chancery announces that Pani Patsy Joseph, the wife of Fr. Tony Josephi, reposed in the Lord on Thursday May 14, 2020. 

Funeral Divine Liturgy will take place at Sts Peter and Paul Orthodox Church in Windber, PA  on Saturday May 16th at 10:00 am Burial will follow in the Sts Peter and Paul Parish Cemetery in Windber..  There will be no visitation prior to the service.  There will be a limit of 25 persons including clergy at the Funeral due to  because of Covid 19 regulations. Clergy will be limited to the Johnstown, Deanery. 

JOHNSTOWN, PA  [Diocesan Chancery] --  As previously announced,  the Diocesan Summer Camping Program will be offered this year in a virtual format due to the Corona Virus. 

An important message from Metropolitan Gregory and Camp Nazareth about our CN2020 Camping Weeks is now posted.    

JOHNSTOWN, PA  [Diocesan Chancery] --  As previously announced,  the Annual Young Women's Encounter and Diocesan Altarboy Retreat will be offered this year in a virtual format due to the Corona Virus. 

 Video messages from the Directors of the Diocesan Young Women's Encounter and Altarboy Retreat are now posted.    

May 8, 2020

Protocol No. 24/2020

Christos Voskrese! Christ is Risen! Christos Anesti!

Dear Reverend Clergy and Faithful of the Diocese,

Today I am writing to summarize how we got to where we are in dealing with Coronavirus and to let you know the process for the re-opening of our churches.

Prior to this Protocol, you received five Protocols from me dealing with the pandemic known as Covid-19 or Coronavirus starting with Protocol No. 7/2020 on March 12, 2020. When Protocol No. 7/2020 was sent out, it was still early in the pandemic and so less was known about the virus than now.  These are some of the items mentioned in the Protocol:

May 8, 2020

Protocol No. 22/2020

Christos Voskrese! Christ is Risen! Christos Anesti!

Dear Very Reverend Protopresbyters, Very Reverend, and Reverend Fathers and Diocesan Faithful,

Today I am writing to inform all of you that due to the current circumstances regarding the Coronavirus, I (hearing the advice of many) have made the decision that the following Diocesan Summer Youth Events will not take place onsite this year, but virtually:

The Altar Boy Retreat June 28 – July 1, 2020 The Young Women’s Encounter June 28 – July 1, 2020 The Camp Nazareth Summer Camping Weeks July 19 – August 8, 2020 The Camp Nazareth Science and Nature Week August 9 – 15, 2020

Diocesan families are cordially invited to submit via email with one photo of their observance of Holy Week and Pascha for inclusion in a special photo gallery, Pascha throughout the Diocese In The Little Church. Photos may include scenes from praying during live stream, following along the service,  processions, blessing food,  family pictures sharing a paschal meal or their holy corners, etc. 

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 normally do. The world has been turned upside down 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 Chancery]  The Orthodox Youth Directors in North America,  a blessed working committee of individuals who serve as the departmental heads of the youth, college and young adult ministry departments of the different Orthodox churches represented in the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the United States,  has issued a letter of encouragement, today, to all Orthodox Youth Workers in America.  The text of the message is as follows:

Dear Fellow Youth Workers in Christ,

While we are trying to profit our Youth in a time of challenge to our ministry, while we are working hard to keep them connected to Christ and His Church when their faith is threatened in a new way, we are all, like the Apostles, following our Lord in amazement as He makes His way to Jerusalem and through His Passion.  We know what is to come.  The Apostles did not. The apostles were clearly told by our Lord what was to come!  They may have chosen to not fully accept – but our Lord told them clearly.

Today I am writing to you with additional details concerning the remainder of Great Lent, Holy Week and Pascha, specifically for our Diocese.  These are in addition to Protocol No. 11/2020 dated April 3, which included the Statement of the American Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the USA. 

JOHNSTOWN, PA [Diocesan Chancery] -- With the blessing of His Eminence, Metropolitan Gregory the Diocese will be livestreaming the Moleben to St. Nectarios from 24 different Diocesan Parishes over the course of 12 hours beginning at 8 A.M. on Thursday morning April 9 on the ACROD Facebook. As His Eminence reminds us when watching these services online, if we are in good health we should reverently participate as we would in Church.

This is a beautiful opportunity for our Diocese to come together in prayer asking God to send comfort and strength to those suffering with the Coronavirus and medical doctors and nurses on the front lines battling it.

April 3, 2020

Protocol No. 11/2020

God is with us!

Dear Reverend Clergy and Faithful Laity of the Diocese,

I am writing today to update you on our plans for the remainder of Great Lent, Holy Week and Pascha. This morning the Executive Committee of the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the United States of America (of which I serve as Secretary) met for its weekly meeting to discuss ideas and options available to us on how to proceed in these most confusing, fearful and disturbing times.  We received and reviewed the most updated information from governmental, health, and scientific authorities. After much discussion and prayer, the Hierarchs came to the consensus of how we would celebrate this year.       

JOHNSTOWN, PA [Diocesan Chancery] - With the blessing of His Eminence, Metropolitan Gregory,  a booklet entitled “Holy Week From Home” has been created by Frs. William Bennett and Jonathan Bannon as an aid for all of our people who will be celebrating the services at home this year instead of in their churches.  This family friendly booklet even has icons at the back that can be cut out and used during the week.  

All Diocesan families young and old are encouraged to download and print up a copy of this excellent resource for use in their homes.

JOHNSTOWN, PA -- The updated schedule of His Eminence, Metropolitan Bishop Gregory
of Nyssa for April 2020 has been released by the Diocesan Chancery.

JOHNSTOWN, PA [Diocesan Chancery] -- With the blessing of His Eminence, Metropolitan Gregory the Diocese will be livestreaming the Moleben to the Mother of God from 24 different Diocesan Parishes over the course of 12 hours beginning at 8 A.M. on Thursday morning April 2 on the ACROD Facebook. As His Eminence reminded us in his homily on the Sunday of the Cross when watching these services online, if we are in good health we should reverently participate as we would in Church.

This is a beautiful opportunity for our Diocese to come together in prayer asking God to send comfort and strength to those suffering with the Coronavirus and medical doctors and nurses on the front lines battling it. Parish Priests will also be inserting the special prayers for the defeat of the coronavirus into the Litany at the conclusion of the service.

JOHNSTOWN, PA  [Diocesan Chancery] --  With the blessing of His Eminence, Metropolitan Gregory,  our Diocesan St. Nicholas of Myra Parish in New York City,  is appealing to the faithful of the Diocese to assist them in a special outreach project for the medical front line workers in the Coronavirus Pandemic at the City's hospitals.  The text of an appeal letter from Fr. William Bennett, Pastor of St. Nicholas  follows:

Glory to Jesus Christ! Slava Isusu Christu!

Brothers and sisters across the diocese, with the blessing of His Eminence, Metropolitan Gregory, we are appealing to all of you today for drawings and letters to share with the physicians, nurses, all the medical professionals and hospital staff who have put their lives on the line for the health and care of our community.

JOHNSTOWN, PA  [Diocesan Chancery] -- A one-of-a-kind, in-depth interview by His Eminence, Metropolitan Gregory will be aired on a very special 5th Sunday Stewardship Calling Program on Ancient Faith Radio on Sunday, March 29th at 8:00 p.m. Eastern (7 Central, 6 Mountain, 5 Pacific). 

In this extended interview Metropolitan Gregory will discuss the following: JOHNSTOWN, PA  [Diocesan Chancery] -- A one-of-a-kind, in-depth interview by His Eminence, Metropolitan Gregory will be aired on a very special 5th Sunday Stewardship Calling Program on Ancient Faith Radio on Sunday, March 29th at 8:00 p.m. Eastern (7 Central, 6 Mountain, 5 Pacific). 

In this extended interview Metropolitan Gregory will discuss the following: 

1. His upbringing and the challenges he faced along his journey;
2. How our Orthodox Christian theology can be reconciled with the world of science;
3. An update on the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops;
4. The background and history of the American Carpatho Russian Orthodox Diocese of North America;
5. His official trip to Cuba as the representative of the Ecumenical Patriarch;
6. His critical focus on our youth and emerging adults ministries and his vision for American Orthodox churches.

JOHNSTOWN, PA [Diocesan Chancery] -- With the blessing of His Eminence, Metropolitan Gregory the Diocese will be livestreaming the Moleben to the Cross from 24 different Diocesan Parishes over the course of 12 hours beginning at 8 A.M. on Thursday morning March 26 on the ACROD Facebook. A PDF of the Moleben to the Cross Service is available to download below for the faithful to sing along and pray together throughout the day. As His Eminence reminded us in his homily on the Sunday of the Cross when watching these services online, if we are in good health we should reverently participate as we would in Church.

This is a beautiful opportunity for our Diocese to come together in prayer asking God to send comfort and strength to those suffering with the Coronavirus and medical doctors and nurses on the front lines battling it. Parish Priests will also be inserting the special prayers for the defeat of the coronavirus into the Litany at the conclusion of the service.

March 19, 2020

Protocol No. 9/2020

God is with us!

Dear Reverend Clergy and Faithful Laity of the Diocese,

          I am writing to you again within 24 hours as the very fluid situation with the Coronavirus pandemic continues to change for us.  The Patriarch has reversed the suspension of services directive that we all received yesterday specifically for his Churches in the United States.  Below is the letter from His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros to the Metropolitans concerning this decision. Your Eminence, It is with brotherly joy but also with much agony that I communicate with Your Eminence in these critical and unsettling times, when all of humanity is in turmoil over this sudden pandemic of COVID-19. As Exarch of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, I am informing you of the just-issued decision of the Holy and Sacred Synod concerning the pastoral measures which must be taken for the protection of the flock of the Mother Church throughout the world.

Having discussed the situation with the Sacred Center of Orthodoxy, at length, and having inquired specifically about the United States, I received His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew’s reply, namely, that we should allow for the divine services, including Divine Liturgies, to be celebrated in our Holy Churches behind closed doors, as is the case with the Monasteries.  In this way we may be able to keep our liturgical tradition alive, even in this minimal way, but also that we may broadcast through streaming and other means the aforementioned services for the spiritual benefit of our faithful.

Having duly conveyed the above to Your Eminence, I pray for continued strength and resolve as we face this unprecedented and disconcerting situation.

With undiminished love in the Lord, and esteem,

New York, March 18, 2020

+Archbishop Elpidophoros of America

March 18, 2020

Protocol No. 8/2020

God is with us!

Dear Reverend Clergy and Faithful Laity of the Diocese,

          As this Coronavirus crisis continues to spread and intensify on a global scale, the Ecumenical Patriarchate is monitoring the situation with an urgent sense of responsibility towards the faithful and all people without exception, and, following the Communique of 11 March 2020, upon deliberation of its Hierarchs in the City announces the following:

1) The Ecumenical Patriarchate emphatically reiterates its appeal to everyone to limit their outings and travels to what is necessary, remaining in their homes for their own safety and the protection of the general public.

2) It commends the spirit of self-sacrifice demonstrated by those working in the field of healthcare and expresses its gratitude for their extraordinary and exhaustive efforts to assist those in need, as well as for the danger they knowingly risk by coming in contact with those infected by Covid-19.

3) It underlines the need for everyone to follow the decisions and instructions of the responsible health authorities for the sake of the common good.

4) In light of the decisions already taken by some of the eparchies of the Ecumenical Throne, today we universally declare our ecclesiastical resolution and mandate to cease all divine services, events, and rites, with the exception of private prayer in church that will remain open, until the end of March. This restriction will be later reassessed, in accordance with the development of the pandemic caused by the virus.

5) All Patriarchal and Stavropegial Monasteries will continue to hold regular divine services for their monastic communities, but outside pilgrims and visitors will not be permitted entry.

6) In the same framework, the Patriarchal Offices at the Phanar will remain closed until further notice, while the Ecumenical Patriarch and clergy of the Patriarchal Court will perform the prescribed divine services and pray for the whole world and for its speedy relief from this trial.

From the Chief Secretariat of the Holy and Sacred Synod