JOHNSTOWN, PA --  [Diocesan Chancery]   The schedule of His Eminence, Metropolitan Gregory of Nyssa  for January and February 2024 has been released by the Diocesan Chancery and is as follows:

As we celebrate this joyous Feast of the Nativity in the flesh of our Lord, God and Saviour Jesus Christ, I wish to share with you one of my favorite Christmas homilies from the Church Fathers concerning this day. St.  John Chrysostom. spoke on the Incarnation with these words:

I behold a new and wondrous mystery! My ears resound to the shepherd's song, piping no soft melody, but loudly chanting a heavenly hymn!

JOHNSTOWN, PA - [Diocesan Chancery] -- With profound sadness the Diocesan Chancery announces that Pani Helen Shutack, 96, of Phoenixville, PA, passed away peacefully on Saturday December 16, 2023 with family at her side.

Pani Helen was born in Scranton, Pennsylvania on March 17, 1927, to George and Anna Selepetz. She was a long-time resident of Scranton, Phoenixville, PA and Stratford CT. She served as Pani at the Holy Ghost Orthodox Church from 1951 to 1975 and she continued to serve as Pani at St. John’s Orthodox Church in Stratford from 1978 to 2006.

JOHNSTOWN, PA - [Diocesan Chancery] -- With profound sadness the Diocesan Chancery announces that Very Rev. Fr. Robert Lucas, pastor of Saint Paul the Apostle Orthodox Church in Freehold, NJ,  after over 64 years of service in the active priesthood, reposed in the Lord peacefully on Wed December 6, 2023 at the age of 86.

The Very Reverend Robert E Lucas was born to Anna (Rjabec) and John Lucas (Lukacs) on December 2, 1937, in Scranton, PA. From his very early childhood, he felt a calling to the priesthood and committed his young life to his budding vocation by first serving Our Lord on the altar as an acolyte at Saint Nicholas Church, his home parish. Fr. John worked for many years as a plant manager for Orgo-Thermit, Inc. metal manufacturing in Manchester Township and was a member of the local Rotary Club

JOHNSTOWN, PA --  [Diocesan Chancery]   The schedule of His Eminence, Metropolitan Gregory of Nyssa  for December 2023 has been released by the Diocesan Chancery and is as follows:

JOHNSTOWN, PA -- With gratitude to Almighty God, the clergy and the faithful of the American Carpatho-Russian Orthodox Diocese extend their heartfelt congratulations and best wishes, today - November 27, 2023 to His Eminence, Metropolitan Gregory of Nyssa on the Eleventh anniversary of his Consecration and Enthronement as Ruling Diocesan Bishop. Today is also His Eminence's Name's Day, St Gregory Palamas, as celebrated on the Julian Calendar.

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, invisible, incomprehensible, ever existing yet ever the same, You and Your only-begotten Son and Your Holy Spirit. You brought us out of non-existence into being and, when we had fallen, You raised us up again, and left nothing undone to lead us to heaven and to bestow upon us Your future kingdom. For all this we give thanks to You and to Your only-begotten Son and Your Holy Spirit, for all that we know and do not know

JOHNSTOWN, PA --  [Diocesan Chancery]   The schedule of His Eminence, Metropolitan Gregory of Nyssa  for November 2023 has been released by the Diocesan Chancery and is as follows:

JOHNSTOWN, PA - [Diocesan Chancery] -- With profound sadness the Diocesan Chancery announces that Pani Mary Jaczina Buletza, 96, of Point Pleasant Beach, passed away peacefully on Sunday, October 8, 2023 in the comfort of her home where she retired 23 years ago.

Born in Fords, NJ, Pani Mary resided in Rankin, PA for 30 years before retirement. Pani Mary was a dedicated and loving wife for 64 years. During that time, she was the consummate Orthodox Christian priest’s wife in public life, the right-hand woman supporting her husband in all facets of parish life. She taught Sunday School, baked for bake sales, arranged altar flowers, hand crafted vestments and winding sheets, removed wax from altar covers, baked Prosfora, replaced vigil lights, delivered flowers and meals to shut-ins, visited hospital bound parishioners and friends, took thousands of messages, attended hundreds of church banquets, folded bulletins, counseled parishioners, and on and on.

JOHNSTOWN, PA  --- [Diocesan Chancery]  The National Junior ACRY is thrilled to announce the upcoming youth retreat, the Fall Encounter, set to take place at beautiful Camp Nazareth from November 10th to November 12th, over the Veterans Day weekend. This spiritually enriching event promises a mini Camp Nazareth experience, providing a special opportunity for young individuals to grow in their faith, engage in fellowship, and have a memorable, fall-themed adventure.

The Fall Encounter is open to all youth interested in exploring their Orthodox Faith and building lasting relationships in Christ.

JOHNSTOWN, PA --  [Diocesan Chancery]   The schedule of His Eminence, Metropolitan Gregory of Nyssa  for September - October 2023 has been released by the Diocesan Chancery and is as follows:

JOHNSTOWN, PA [Diocesan Chancery] --- The Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the USA has appointed Sunday, August 27, 2023, as the NEW College Student Sunday for all parishes. As the official campus ministry of the Assembly, OCF is grateful for the designation of this important day, when all Orthodox Christians are called to recognize, offer support, and unite in prayer for college students.

Please consider one of the following opportunities to support OCF and college students:

Become an OCF Parish Partner - Offer a $1,000 contribution to OCF
Become an OCF Parish Supporter - Offer a $500 contribution to OCF
Take a collection on August 27 in support of OCF’s work for college students (or another Sunday in the weeks following if it is not a good date for your parish)

JOHNSTOWN, PA -- [National Sr. ACRY] The National Sr. ACRY is pleased to announce that it is now possible to register online for the 2023 National Sr. ACRY Convention to be hosted by Holy Resurrection Orthodox Church and ACRY Chapter of Potomac, MD on Labor Day Weekend (Sept 1-4, 2023)  Hilton Washington DC/Rockville Hotel & Executive Meeting Center located at 1750 Rockville Pike,  Rockville, MD 20852 has been selected as the 2023 Convention Headquarters, with a special Convention nightly room rate of $119 plus tax per room.

JOHNSTOWN, PA --  [Diocesan Chancery]   The schedule of His Eminence, Metropolitan Gregory of Nyssa  for June - August 2023 has been released by the Diocesan Chancery and is as follows:

JOHNSTOWN, PA - Plans are underway for the Annual Altar Boy Retreat which will take place from Sunday evening, June 26th (Registration is from 6pm till 8 p.m.) until Wednesday, June 29, 2022.

The Retreat will once again take place at Christ the Savior Seminary, Cathedral and Education Center in Johnstown and at Sts. Peter and Paul Church in Windber, PA. This year's outing will be a visit to the Flight 93 Memorial where we will perform a Panachida and have lunch, before proceeding to Caddie Shak adventure park for the rest of the afternoon.. This is the time and place for our faithful Altar Servers to join other Altar Boys from all over our Diocese.