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. Read more...

My Beloved Faithful Clergy and Laity of our God Protected Diocese:

As we begin Holy and Great Lent this year on March 15th, 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.

It has been over a year now that we have been dealing with the global Covid-19 pandemic and all of its effects including tragically the loss of over 50 individuals in our Diocese. May their memories be eternal! The pandemic greatly impacted our lives including the practicing of our faith, especially our attendance at church services. Virtual attendance via live-streaming and other measures work in emergency situations, but eventually lose their effectiveness. Read more...

JOHNSTOWN, PA  [DIocesan Chancery] -- The National ACRY Scholarship Committee is pleased to announce that the 2021 ACRY Scholarship Application is now available on ACRY.org. There are several new, exciting changes to the application process! First, the application is now a fillable .pdf format which should allow all applicants to complete it digitally without the need to print and mail completed documents. Second, the website now has the capability to accept uploaded files which will be sent directly to the Scholarship Committee. We strongly urge all applicants, and those writing letters of recommendation, to use this new feature to better streamline the application process. Read more...

JOHNSTOWN, PA - [Diocesan Chancery] -- Each year, our Diocese, through the stewardship of the National Sr. ACRY,  has offered opportunities for our faithful  to gather together in Spiritual Retreat, during Great Lent at various regional locations. They have been well received and appreciated by those who participated.

This year, however with the continuing reality of the Covid-19 Pandemic, it is not possible for us to offer our Annual Retreat Program as we have in the past. However,  we will be able to do so in another format.

On Saturday April 3, 2021, a Diocesan-Wide Lenten Retreat for adults and teenagers will take place using the online Zoom Platform. It will begin at noon and will be 90 minutes in duration. Read more...

JOHNSTOWN, PA -- [Diocesan Chancery] -- We are pleased to announce that SPF50 Family Scripture Reading Ministry has just released the fifth edition of SPF50. The reading schedule will begin on January 10, 2021.

We are excited for the NEW reading program in the fifth edition!! The NEW reading program will highlight many ESSENTIAL Biblical Stories like Creation, Noah and the Ark, the Exodus, the call of the Prophet Samuel, and many others throughout the Old and New Testaments. Read more...