As Orthodox Christians we not only adore the Cross, but we see it as the very path which leads to our salvation. At the heart of the way of the Cross we walk is the Slavonic word podvig, which translates as struggle, but, it can also mean asceticism. The Cross of Christ which is the Cross we must also take up and bear is a podvig.

During the Great Fast, as we look forward to Great and Holy Week, we begin to turn our attention to Our Lord’s Passion. When thinking about the Passion, our focus is frequently on its physical characteristics: the nails, the spear, the crown of thorns, the scourging, and the fatigue of carrying the Cross.Without downplaying the intensity and significance of the physical suffering of Christ, we cannot overlook the mental, emotional and spiritual aspects of the Passion

JOHNSTOWN, PA -- The Diocesan Chancery is pleased to announce that a daily lives of the saints podcast, produced by the Diocesan Apostolate For Youth will debut on March 1, 2010.

In this season of the Great Fast, it is the duty of all Christians to enter into the Holy Mystery of Confession. It is not the only thing that we must do in Lent to prepare for the Feast of Pascha: but it is surely a necessary preparation for that Great and Holy Feast of Feasts.

Our most holy Orthodox Church today commemorates its own feast day, and – from this historical and martyric See of the Ecumenical Patriarchate – the Mother Church of Constantinople directs its blessing, love and concern to all of its faithful and dedicated spiritual children throughout the world, inviting them to concelebrate in prayer. Blessed be the name of the Lord! Those who endeavored over the ages to suppress the Church through various visible and invisible persecutions;

Beloved brothers and sisters, children in the Lord, Tomorrow, we enter the period of Holy and Great Lent. In the Lenten vespers of Forgiveness chanted this evening, we shall hear the sacred hymnographer urging us to "begin the time of fasting with joy, submitting ourselves to spiritual struggle" in preparing to welcome the great Passion and joyful Resurrection of our divine-human Lord

JOHNSTOWN, PA --- Great and Holy Lent is given to us by our Mother the Church to remind us, how personal sin causes us to be exiled from the Kingdom of Heaven. In the weeks immediately preceding the Fast, the Church prescribes the singing of a beautiful hymn, Psalm 135 at Sunday Matins.

JOHNSTOWN, PA -- All are invited to take part in a three week Pre-Lenten lecture series Growing in the Image and Likeness of God In particular, it will focus on the Christian vocation of growing in holiness, and becoming more Christ-like. The lectures will explore this topic on a liturgical, theological and pragmatic level.

JOHNSTOWN, PA -- The newly formed Diocesan Deaconate Program Commission held its first meeting today at the Diocesan Chancery in Johnstown, PA.

The long-awaited launch of the newly created website of the American Carpatho-Russian Orthodox Diocese of the USA has taken place today. It is by God's providence that its release has coincided with the Feast of The Transfiguration of Our Lord.

On Sunday May 31, 2009 two seminarians, Deacon Gaius Grohm and Subdeacon Matthew Stagon were honored in commencement exercises at Christ the Saviour Cathedral.

Seminarians Joseph Gingrich, Gregory Robel and Marc Wisnosky were ordained to the sub-deaconate by His Eminence, Metropolitan Nicholas at Christ the Saviour Cathedral, on Bright Monday, April 20, 2009.

By the authority invested in me by the Holy Synod of Constantinople, I solemnly proclaim the opening of the sixty-fifth academic year of Christ the Saviour Seminary. I attend to this event with great devotion, as should we all. The Lord has given this Diocese many gifts, of whose worth it is impossible to measure. But some from these many rise to prominence, even amidst such a rich array. And one such prominent gift is Christ the Saviour Seminary.

JOHNSTOWN, PA - His Eminence, Archbishop Demetrios, Primate of the Greek Orthodox Archdioces of America and Exarch of the Ecumenical Throne, will head a list of church and civil dignitaries who will gather in Johnstown on Tuesday, October 23 for the gala celebration marking the 50th Anniversary of Christ the Saviour Seminary in its present location. Prior to findiing a permanent home in Johnstown in 1951, our Diocesan Seminary held classes in New York City, Nicholson, PA and Bridgeport, CT.

JOHNSTOWN, PA -- The newly released academic catalog for Christ the Saviour Seminary is now available on-line.

JOHNSTOWN, PA -- On the weekend of November 6th through 8th, three students from Christ the Saviour Seminary—Subdeacon Joseph Gingrich, Subdeacon Gregory Robel and Reader David Mastroberte—represented our seminary at the Fall meeting of the Orthodox Inter-Seminary Movement (OISM) held at Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology in Brookline, MA.

ISTANBUL, TURKEY -- As part of the government’s “democratic initiative” to extend minority rights, Turkey’s Education Ministry has been working on two formulas to re-open the Greek Halki seminary on Heybeliada, one of the Princes’ Islands off Istanbul.

The Fall Term at Christ the Savour Seminary opened today. His Eminence, Metropolitan Nicholas joined the faculty and students at the seminary for the opening retreat and prayers.

JOHNSTOWN, PA -- The Ordination to the Holy Priesthood of Deacon Gaius (Andrew) Gromm to the Holy Priesthood will take place at Christ the Saviour Cathedral tomorrow morning (Oct 14, 2009) at the 9:00 am Hierarchical Divine Liturgy for the Feast of the Protection of the Mother of God.

JOHNSTOWN, PA -- The Ordination to the Holy Priesthood of Deacon Gaius (Andrew) Gromm to the Holy Priesthood took place during this morning'sl Divine Liturgy for the Feast of the Protection of the Mother of God at Christ the Saviour Cathedral.