JOHNSTOWN, PA [National ACRY] - The National Jr and Sr. ACRY will be hosting its annual Family and Friends Weekend in Cleveland, OH  over Memorial day weekend  May 22-25, 2026.  A great schedule of activities and events is being planned for all which include Bowling and enjoying the many wonderful attractions to be found in Cleveland, which include the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, The Cleveland Aquarium, Museum of Illusions and The Cleveland Museum of Art.

Deadline for Hotel reservation is April 24th and May 8th for meals, bowling etc.  

https://archons.org/patriarchal-encyclical-pascha-2026/

oday I greet you with great love and joy in the Name of our Lord, God and Saviour Jesus Christ following His glorious Resurrection. On Great and Holy Pascha, we behold the triumph of Christ, as He rose from death to life, from darkness of the tomb into the Light. With the Resurrection of Christ, all Creation is filled with a new Light of life and joy. On this Feast of Feasts, this Holy Day of Holy Days, we all proclaim the only truth that matters, the Truth that Christ is Risen!

We gather together as family and friends, in joy and in love, celebrating the presence of the Risen Lord in our midst, and singing with one voice the triumphant hymn "Christ is risen from the dead, trampling death by death, and to those in the tombs bestowing life."

JOHNSTOWN, PA --  Diocesan Parishes are cordially invited to submit via email up to 3 photos of  this year's Holy week and Paschal services for inclusion in a special photo gallery,  Pascha throughout the Diocese. 

It is asked that parishes avoid sending low resolution cell phone camera quality photos as they may also be included in The Church Messenger. 

JOHNSTOWN, PA -- The schedule of His Eminence, Metropolitan Gregory of Nyssa for April 2026 has been released by the Diocesan Chancery.

JOHNSTOWN, PA - [Diocesan Chancery] -- With profound sadness the Diocesan Chancery announces that + Very Rev. Protopresbyter Theodore Mozes, reposed in the Lord on March 9, 2026 at the age of 87. 

He was born on April 8, 1938, in Pennsylvania to his late parents Zolton and Ann Mozes. Father Theodore was raised in Duquesne, Pennsylvania, and graduated from Clairton High School. Upon graduation, he enlisted in the United States Army, serving three years of active duty and three years in the reserves. During his military service he received two letters of commendation in recognition of his dedication and exemplary service.

JOHNSTOWN, PA [Diocesan Chancery] — Today, March 13, 2026, marks the fifteenth anniversary of the repose of the soul of His Eminence, +Metropolitan Nicholas.

His Eminence, Metropolitan Nicholas, was consecrated as bishop on March 13, 1983—the Sunday of Orthodoxy—and reposed on March 13, 2011, also the Sunday of Orthodoxy, at 3:00 p.m., just as the Sunday of Orthodoxy Vespers were beginning in his home parish of St. John the Baptist in Perth Amboy, New Jersey.

On this day, when it scarcely seems possible that fifteen years have passed, the words of His Eminence in his final address to the Diocese on the occasion of his 75th birthday fittingly describe the significance of remembering milestones in our earthly and spiritual lives

JOHNSTOWN, PA,  [Diocesan Chancery] -- Our Diocese is pleased to announce its seventh annual Sts. Joachim and Anna Senior Retreat which will take place at Camp Nazareth Retreat and Conference Center in Mercer, PA from May 5-7, 2026.   The Retreat will feature keynote addresses, church services, time for fellowship, and great evening events.  His Eminence, Metropolitan Gregory, is inviting all our Diocesan Seniors, ages 55 and over, to join him for 2 days of fellowship, prayer, and learning.  The Theme of the Retreat – Living and Dying Orthodox in the 21st Century. 

MERCER, PA - [Diocesan Chancery] — The National Jr. A.C.R.Y. (American Carpatho-Russian Youth) will host its annual Lenten Spring Encounter at Camp Nazareth from Friday, March 20 through Sunday, March 22, 2026, inviting all youth ages 8–18 for a weekend of faith, fellowship, spiritual growth, and all the joys of spending the first days of Spring at beautiful Camp Nazareth!

Centered on the theme “Return to the Lord: Come Home to Christ this Lent!”, the weekend encourages young people to experience Great Lent not simply as a season of “doing more,” but as a joyful return to God like that of the Prodigal Son.

JOHNSTOWN, PA -- The schedule of His Eminence, Metropolitan Gregory of Nyssa for March 2026 has been released by the Diocesan Chancery.

My beloved Faithful Clergy and Laity (Young and Old) of our God-Protected Diocese:

As we begin Holy and Great Lent this year on February 23rd, 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 Church families, friends, neighbors, co-workers, and the society in general.      

JOHNSTOWN, PA  [Diocesan Chancery] -- The Diocesan Chancery is pleased to release the schedule of  this year's Diocesan Lenten Retreats for youth and adults, hosted in various regions of the Diocese.  The details are as follows:

Eastern Region Diocesan Adult and Youth Lenten Retreat -  Sat March 14, 2026   9:30 am– 5:00 pm   Holy Ghost Orthodox Church, Phoenixville PA.  Teen & Adults - Theme: Steadfast in the Storm: Keeping the Faith in Times of Turmoil -Speaker: Archpriest Timothy Hojnicki Youth Ages 6-12 - Theme Your First Liturgy : Finding Peace. Speaker: Fr. Andrew Wythe