Dear Beloved Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

I greet you with joy and love in the Name of our Incarnate Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Let us give thanks to Almighty God, by whose grace we have been given the opportunity to celebrate the Birth of His Son.

If we look around, we find hatred, mistrust, suffering, and the absence of peace and love in our homes, neighborhoods, cities, country, and in fact the whole world. This reality in life makes us cry out for God’s help, assistance, and intervention.

My beloved ones, despite all the suffering, sorrow and injustice in our world, today joy and hope comes to us once more. That’s why at this blessed time of the year we look forward to the arrival of the new born King.

Therefore let us celebrate the miracle of His Birth. Let kindness come with every gift. Let compassion, forgiveness and love come with every greeting. Let our hearts be filled with prayer, charity, and reconciliation for one another.

JOHNSTOWN, PA -- [Diocesan Chancery] -- Christ is born, glorify Him. Christ is from heaven, go to meet Him. Christ is on earth, be ye lifted up. Sing to the Lord, all the earth. Sing out with gladness, all ye people. For He is glorified (First Ode of the Christmas Canon).

His Eminence, Metropolitan Gregory of Nyssa, the Diocesan Chancery Staff, The Diocesan Board of Trustees and the Faculty and Staff of Christ the Saviour Seminary extend their heartfelt greetings to the faithful and friends of the Diocese for a blessed Feast of The Nativity of Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

JOHNSTOWN [Christ the Saviour Cathedral] -- The Divine Services of Nativity and Theophany of our Lord at Christ the Saviour Cathedral will be live-streamed on the internet.

The broadcast schedule is as follows:

Nativity Eve: Great Compline - Sunday January 6, 2019 - 8:00 pm

Hierarchical Divine Liturgy - Sunday January 6, 2019 - 9:00 pm

JOHNSTOWN, PA -- [Diocesan Chancery] Our Diocese is pleased to announce a series of Parenting Workshops designed to help parents raise their children in the Faith. The title of the series is “Raising Believing Children” and will focus on the ways parents can help their children stay faithful to Christ and His Church in a world that is filled with doubt and most often works against their Faith. The Workshops are for parents of any age – you’re never too old to be a son or daughter, and likewise you’re never too old to be a parent! This series of Parenting Workshops will be hosted by different Churches and Deaneries around our Diocese starting in March 2019. The first Workshop in the Series will be hosted by Sts. Peter and Paul Church in Rockaway, NJ on March 2, 2019. The first will feature His Eminence Metropolitan Gregory of Nyssa and Very Rev. Stephen Loposky as presenters and workshop facilitators. Each workshop will be broadcast live online and will be archived for later viewing as well, and will include both presentations and small group moderated discussions to allow participants to help each other in their lives as parents.

Our Diocese is pleased to announce its seventh annual Family Camp at Camp Nazareth this year in conjunction with Family Day. The event is exactly what it sounds like. Families “camping” together in the Camp cabins and participating in a weekend of services, games, discussions, activities and challenges that are all designed to help families deepen their relationship with God and with one another.

Family Camp is scheduled for Friday, May 31 – Sunday, June 2, 2019.

Each year we have a wonderful time together and we are looking forward to being together again this year. A variety of events and activities have been planned that will allow families to learn, have fun and pray together, and simply be together in the peaceful environment of the Camp.

JOHNSTOWN, PA -- [Diocesan Chancery] Our Diocese is pleased to announce a series of Parenting Workshops designed to help parents raise their children in the Faith. The title of the series is “Raising Believing Children” and will focus on the ways parents can help their children stay faithful to Christ and His Church in a world that is filled with doubt and most often works against their Faith. The Workshops are for parents of any age – you’re never too old to be a son or daughter, and likewise you’re never too old to be a parent! This series of Parenting Workshops will be hosted by different Churches and Deaneries around our Diocese starting in March 2019. The first Workshop in the Series will be hosted by Sts. Peter and Paul Church in Rockaway, NJ on March 2, 2019. The first will feature His Eminence Metropolitan Gregory of Nyssa and Very Rev. Stephen Loposky as presenters and workshop facilitators. Each workshop will be broadcast live online and will be archived for later viewing as well, and will include both presentations and small group moderated discussions to allow participants to help each other in their lives as parents.

JOHNSTOWN, PA [Diocesan Chancery] -- In an Archpastoral Letter released today, November 1, 2018, His Eminence, Metropolitan Gregory has enthusiastically endorsed a new initiative of the National American Carpatho-Russian Orthodox Youth Organization, its inaugaral Annual Stewardship Drive, to benefit charitable activities both within and outside of the Diocese. He has called upon all parishes of the Diocese to support this philanthropic endeavor of the National ACRY during the season of the Nativity Fast (Advent) which will soon begin.

JOHNSTOWN, PA -- [Diocesan Chancery] With great joy, the Diocesan Chancery has learned that the Holy and Sacred Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople at its monthly meeting on August 29, 2018 voted to elevate His Grace, Bishop Gregory to the rank of Metropolitan.

His Grace, Bishop Gregory, in announcing the decision of the Holy and Sacred Synod to the Clergy and Faithful of the Diocese in a special Archpastoral Letter, expressed his gratitude in writing ... His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew and the Holy and Sacred Synod have honored all of us. I am truly greatly humbled.

JOHNSTOWN, PA -- For the past six years, a weekly on-line scripture study has been broadcast live from St. Nicholas Orthodox Church in Warren, Ohio. Taught by the Very Rev. Protopresbyter Kenneth Bachofsky, Professor of Scripture at Christ the Saviour Seminary, the participants have studied the Gospels of St. Matthew and St. John, the Book of Revelation and the Acts of the Apostles. These weekly lectures, which are delivered in a clear and concise manner, drawing on the patristic voice of the Fathers of the Church

My beloved Faithful Clergy and Laity of our God-Protected Diocese:

As we begin Holy and Great Lent this year on February 19th, 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.

Holy and Great Lent is a truly beautiful period of time filled with moments in which we can focus our hearts and our minds on the grace of God. Through daily prayer, fasting, worship, and giving to others, and by the grace of God our lives will continue to be transformed by Him and our souls will be drawn closer and closer to our Lord Jesus Christ.

In the hymns and services of the Triodion period and at the entrance of this holy season of Great Lent, we are called to repentance.

Dear Beloved Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

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!

Dear Beloved Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

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!

On Monday November 27, 2017, our Diocesan Family gathered around our Archpastor, His Grace, Bishop Gregory of Nyssa to celebrate his fifth anniversary of Consecration to the Episcopacy.

The day began with a quiet celebration of Divine Liturgy at Christ the Saviour Cathedral where His Grace, assisted by the Cathedral Clergy, Seminarians and other clerics of the Diocese offered prayers of thanksgiving for the blessings of the past five years.

In the evening additional prayers of thanksgiving were offered, followed by a banquet at the Holiday Inn in Johnstown. A beautiful evening of thanksgiving and fellowship was enjoyed by His Grace and scores of Clergy and faithful from the Diocese. Special guests included His Grace's mother Antonia, sister Alexandra and nephew Nathan.

JOHNSTOWN, PA [Diocesan Chancery] -- With the Thanksgiving and Nativity Fast Season upon us, the Diocesan Chancery is pleased to provide you information regarding the Orthodox Christian Fellowship’s (“OCF”) Student Leadership Board’s 2017 Giving Tuesday Challenge. Giving Tuesday is November 28, 2017, which is less than a week away. As most of you know, OCF is our Orthodox Church’s campus ministry. You can visit OCF’s website at www.ocf.net to learn more about all of OCF’s programs and events.

Recently in 2017, I agreed to join OCF’s Board of Directors, the governing body of OCF. In addition to OCF’s Board of Directors, OCF has a Student Leadership Board. OCF’s student leaders comprise the Student Leadership Board and develop and plan leadership training, programs, regional and district retreats for our Orthodox college students. All across the United States and Canada, OCF, through its Student Leadership Board, hosts retreats for college students.

My beloved Faithful Clergy and Laity of our God-Protected Diocese:

It is hard to believe that this month marks the fifth anniversary of my Consecration and Enthronement as your Bishop. During my visits to the parishes you have heard me preaching on the state of affairs, locally and globally. Conflicts, wars and senseless violence continue to inflict pain and suffering and spill blood everywhere. I am deeply saddened that peace continues to elude us. Recent events continue to reveal that demonic forces are fighting us, that evil continues to exist in the world. So many innocent people killed and wounded at a concert in Las Vegas. So many innocent killed and wounded in a small church in Texas. Everyday people are dying needlessly in our towns and cities. For what? Can someone please explain it to me? This lack of peace is the direct result of increased selfishness and hatred throughout the world. Whatever we as inhabitants of this planet are doing it is not working, somehow it is not enough. Obviously we as humans cannot achieve peace on our own. We need the help of someone and that someone is the Lord.

JOHNSTOWN, PA [Diocesan Chancery] -- The Diocesan Chancery is pleased to announce that registration is now open for the 2018 CrossRoad program.

CrossRoad is a ten-day academic summer institute that prepares high school juniors and seniors to make big life decisions and invites them to connect with the Orthodox Christian theological and spiritual tradition. Participants from all over the country come together to experience daily worship, take theology classes from some of the best professors in the country, visit local parishes, serve their neighbor, tour the city, and even spend a day at the beach.

Historically, CrossRoad has been hosted solely on the campus of Hellenic College Holy Cross. This year, we are excited to announce that CrossRoad is expanding to Chicago!

BROOKLINE, MA [Orthodox Christian Fellowship] --- Are you new to campus ministry? Would you like to reach out to the students in your community? Whether you are a clergyman, a lay leader in your parish, a professor, or a concerned parent, join OCF on November 6, 2017 at 7:00 pm ET for a one-hour webinar on how to get started on campus. Learn what you can expect from campus activities offices, ways to find Orthodox students, and the basics of what makes an OCF chapter successful and sustainable.

JOHNSTOWN, PA [Diocesan Chancery] The words of the Holy Apostle and Evangelist John, "I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last" (Revelation 22:13) come to mind as His Grace, Bishop Gregory and the clergy and faithful of the Diocese mourn the passing to eternal life of both a junior and a senior priest of the Diocese within a twenty four hour period.

JOHNSTOWN, PA -- [Diocesan Chancery] Registration is now open ONLINE for the Annual Diocesan Altar Boy Retreat which will take place from Sunday, June 25th to Wednesday, June 28, 2017 at Christ the Saviour Seminary and Cathedral in Johnstown, PA.

This year's theme is the "The Mother of God..let us magnify her in song." The participants will be learning about the Feast Days of the Mother of God and also the traditional Plain Chant hymns that accompany each Feast.

[NEW YORK, NY ] The first ever, national study on evangelization and outreach in Orthodox parishes in the United States has been released by the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the USA. The report "Go and Make Disciples: Evangelization and Outreach in US Orthodox Parishes" explores the practices and strategies developed by some Orthodox parishes that can be viewed as "exemplary" in their missionary and outreach efforts. Examples of what the readers will find in the report include: The "secrets" of being a parish that attracts and welcomes new members; Eight good practices of welcoming first-time visitors and inquirers about the Faith; How do "exemplary" parishes achieve a high degree of involvement of their members in parish life; Four distinct features of religious education in the "exemplary" parishes;and Six "lessons" that Church leadership (bishops) can learn from the "exemplary" parishes.