In this world where darkness unceasingly prowls and is ever ready to overtake and consume any goodness which may exist, we must remain steadfast in our faith and allow Christ’s Light to shine through us, transforming us into beacons of hope for the entire world.

During the beautiful service of the Resurrection, waiting in a darkened church, anticipating the Light, we should be mindful of what we are about to experience and its significance. The Resurrection is a real event. It is happening right now for all of us.

MERCER, PA [Camp Nazareth] -- Our Diocese is pleased to announce its first annual Camp Nazareth Alumni Day to be held on Saturday, May 20, 2017 on the grounds of the Camp. All former Campers, Staff, Volunteers and Clergy alumni, and their families, are invited to attend the event. This includes the alumni from the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Pittsburgh and the Episcopal Diocese of Northwest Pennsylvania, both long-time user groups of the Camp. This first Alumni Day will include prayer services, fellowship time, dancing performances, a barbeque lunch, tours, presentations, of course a Camp craft!, slideshows, a special “Remember When” segment of the day, and a whole lot more as we continue to celebrate Camp Nazareth’s 40th Anniversary!! Alumni will have the opportunity to see their old Camp friends, share their fond memories of Camp, and meet other members of the Camp Nazareth family.

JOHNSTOWN, PA ---The Very Rev. Protopresbyter Robert Buczak has announced today that scheduled Divine Services for Holy Week at Christ the Saviour Cathedral will be live streamed. Holy Friday Vespers, Resurrection Matins and the Paschal Divine Liturgy will be archived for on-demand viewing.

June 9-11,2017

Our Diocese is pleased to announce its fifth 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.

This year’s theme – “Your Family’s Sacred Story”. Jesus and His family fled to Egypt. Noah and his family entered the ark. Abraham and his family left their home. Lot and his family fled Sodom. Stories of faith and God’s mercy are part of every family’s Sacred Story.

JOHNSTOWN, PA -- The schedule of His Grace, Bishop Gregory of Nyssa for April 2017 has been released by the Diocesan Chancery.

MERCER, PA -- [Camp Nazareth] On Sunday, March 19, at Camp Nazareth, following the Divine Liturgy which was the conclusion of the Young Adult Retreat at the Camp, a special presentation was made to Bishop Gregory by Kassi Tofani, a member of our diocesan parish of St. John’s in Hermitage. Kassi attended the Liturgy together with her parents, Gino and MaryAnn Tofani. She presented His Grace with a sketch she drew of the Camp Church which will be framed and placed in the Business Wing of the Camp. The sketch is tremendously detailed and tremendously beautiful!

MERCER, PA -- [Camp Nazareth] From Friday, March 17 – Sunday, March 19 nearly 30 young adults ages 18-35, from 6 different Orthodox jurisdictions, gathered at Camp Nazareth for a Retreat. The Retreat was co-sponsored by the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Pittsburgh and the American Carpatho-Russian Orthodox Diocese. The theme of the event was “Navigating Life Using Your Spiritual Compass”. Keynote addresses were delivered by Fr. Ed Pehanich and Mr. Nick Lionas. The keynote addresses also included time for break-out groups (smaller discussion groups) and activities that reinforced the topics main ideas. In addition to learning more about their Faith, the young adults celebrated services together, enjoyed some late night fire-side fellowship each night, spent some time hiking the Camp’s trails, had some fun doing ice-breakers as well as playing some games, and were able to relax and decompress from their daily routines. It was a first-time event for both the Metropolis and Diocese, but will become a semi-Annual event with Retreats being held in the Fall and Spring of each year for our Church’s young adults. Next Retreat is scheduled for October 20-22, 2017!!

BROOKLINE, MA — Orthodox Christian Fellowship (OCF) is officially accepting resumes from interested candidates for the position of Executive Director.

OCF is an agency of the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the United States and serves as the official campus ministry for the twelve (12) Orthodox Christian jurisdictions that the Assembly represents. Its mission is to transform the lives of college students in the United States and Canada by guiding them along the path to Jesus Christ through His Church, cultivating a campus community of worship, witness, service, fellowship, and education.

Headquartered on the campus of Hellenic College Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology in Brookline, Massachusetts, and with a network of more than 400 chapters that stretches across the United States and Canada, OCF is seeking a motivated individual who can champion Orthodox campus ministry and oversee the operations of OCF’s regional and national programs.

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 Orthodox Church throughout the world.

This Holy Season, as His Grace, Bishop Gregory has pointed out in his Lenten Archpastoral Letter " is a truly beautiful period of time filled with moments in which we can focus our hearts and our minds on the grace of God. Through daily prayer, fasting, worship, and giving to others, and by the grace of God our lives will continue to be transformed by Him and our souls will be drawn closer and closer to our Lord Jesus Christ. The primary goal of the Lenten season and all the disciplines of our Orthodox faith is to lead us to Christ."

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 February 27th, 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.

Holy and Great Lent is a truly beautiful period of time filled with moments in which we can focus our hearts and our minds on the grace of God. Through daily prayer, fasting, worship, and giving to others, and by the grace of God our lives will continue to be transformed by Him and our souls will be drawn closer and closer to our Lord Jesus Christ.

The primary goal of the Lenten season and all the disciplines of our Orthodox faith is to lead us to Christ.