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.