NEW ORLEANS – It is with great pleasure that we welcome you all to the official opening of Symposium VIII, entitled “The Great Mississippi River”. This Symposium is in many ways both historical and unique.

JOHNSTOWN, PA -- (Diocesan Apostolate For Christian Education) The Orthodox Book Club, a new educational forum has begun, today, a discussion of the book Flames of Wisdom: Patristic Counsel For Contemporary Life.

WASHINGTON, DC --- On Saturday October 24, 2009 there will be a Pan-Orthodox Exhibit on Orthodox Iconography at Sts. Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Church, 4115 16th Street, N. W., Washington, D.C. from Noon to 5:00 PM and Sunday, October 25, 2009 after the Divine Liturgy to 5:00 PM.

PERTH AMBOY, NEW JERSEY – The newly formed Diocesan Missions Commission, established in response to renewed interest expressed at the XXI Diocesan Council to take the message of Holy Orthodoxy into areas without established Orthodox parishes, held their first meeting on Thursday, October 15th.

JOHNSTOWN, PA -- The Diocesan Apostolate For Christian Education is pleased to announce that a seven-week on-line introductory class on Orthodox Christianity, Orthodoxy 101, will begin on Monday November 16, 2009.

NEW YORK, NY [SCOBA] -- His All Holiness, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew gave an audience Tuesday, Oct. 27, to the Orthodox Primates of the USA

NEW YORK (Greek Orthodox Archdiocese Communications)- His All Holiness, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew will appear in a rare public television interview for an American audience tonight, Monday November 2nd, on the Charlie Rose Show. The Charlie Rose Show appears on most PBS stations around the country.

NEW YORK -- His Eminence, Metropolitan Nicholas was among the Orthodox Hierarchs of SCOBA at a special meeting with His All- Holiness, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I on Tuesday, October 27, 2009. His Eminence also participated in the Feast Day Liturgy of St. Demetrios

JOHNSON CITY, NY - The Chancery has been notified that + MARGARET Kadlec, mother of the Very Rev. Thomas Kadlec, fell-asleep in the Lord yesterday.

The Chancery has been notified that + ANDREW BENC, the father of Protodeacon Gregory Benc, has fallen-asleep-in-the-Lord.

NEW YORK, NY --- His All-Holiness, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew gave a rare interview on the PBS Charlie Rose Program, which aired yesterday. This interview gives a rare glimpse into the heart and soul of His-All Holiness and incredible exposure to the Orthodox Christian Faith.

JOHNSTOWN, PA -- The Diocesan Apostolate For Christian Education is pleased to report that there has been a favorable response to the announcement of a seven-week on-line introductory class on Orthodox Christianity, Orthodoxy 101, which will begin next Monday, November 16, 2009.

LIGONIER, PA -- Beautiful fall weather greeted approximately 70 wives of clergy from many jurisdictions on the weekend of November 5-7 at Antiochian Village in Ligonier, Pennsylvania for what was hopefully the 1st Annual Clergy Wives Weekend.

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.

BELGRADE, SERBIA -- His Holiness, Patriarch Pavel, the head of the Serbian Orthodox Church died today, Sunday Nov 15, 2009, in a Belgrade hospital after receiving Holy Communion, the church announced. He was 95.

JOHNSTOWN, PA -- The Diocesan Apostolate For Christian Education is pleased to report that the first of a seven part on-line introductory class on Orthodox Christianity, Orthodoxy 101, took place this evening, November 16, 2009.

JOHNSTOWN, PA --- The Rev. Fr. Stephen Loposky was installed today as the Administrator of Camp Nazareth by His Eminence, Metropolitan Nicholas at Christ the Saviour Cathedral.

JOHNSTOWN, PA / NEW YORK, NY --- His Eminence, Metropolitan Nicholas, once again used the newly created internet broadcasting medium to bridge the miles between the Johnstown cathedral and her sister diocesan parishes

JOHNSTOWN, PA -- It is proper and just to sing to You, to bless You, to praise You, to thank You, to worship You in every place of Your kingdom, for You are God, ineffable, inconceivable,

So now that Thanksgiving has passed and we come to the end of the traditional “eating weekend”, it does us good to meditate on why we are thankful. Let’s not make this a difficult academic exercise. Here is how basic, simple and easy it is. look in the Old Testament Book of Psalms. In the very first verse of psalm 107, this is what we believers are reminded to do: “Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good!”