SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

On the Christian Feast of Pentecost, the fiftieth day after the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit descended upon the Mother of God and the Apostles who were gathered together in the Upper Room. John the Baptist once predicted that Christ would baptize with the Holy Spirit and with fire (Luke 3.16): at Pentecost, at nine o'clock in the morning, the prophecy of the Forerunner came true in the fullness of divine power and joy.

From Tuesday, May 6, through Thursday, May 8, the Orthodox Christian Mission Center held its 2008 Spring Board of Directors Meeting in Troy, Michigan. The meeting was hosted by St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church, under the auspices of the Metropolis of Detroit with the blessing of His Eminence Metropolitan Nicholas.

JOHNSTOWN, PA - His Eminence, Metropolitan Nicholas has announced today, that plans are underway for the Annual Altarboy's Retreat which will take place from June 29-July 22, 2008 at Christ the Saviour Seminary and Cathedral. The Very Rev. David Cochran has been appointed director of this year's retreat.

JOHNSTOWN, PA - On Bright Friday, May 2, 2008, His Eminence, Metropolitan will be honored on the occasion of his Silver Jubilee of Consecration to the Episcopacy at Christ the Savior Cathedral in Johnstown, PA. Joining His Eminence will be hierarchs and dignitaries from throughout the U.S.A. and Europe as well as the priests and faithful of our diocese. The Chancery Staff along with clergy and faithful of the Diocese extend our heartfelt best wishes and congratulations to His Eminence on this milestone in his service as shepherd of our God-Saved Diocese. May Almighty God Grant His Eminence, Good Health, Peace and Salvation and Many More Years of Service in the Vineyard of our Lord. Eis Polla Eti Despota!

Please be advised that the Bright Week Liturgy at Camp Nazareth which has been celebrated over the years on Bright Friday, has been changed this year to Bright Tuesday. Matins is celebrated at 9 AM, and Liturgy at 10 AM. Services will be followed by a Paschal luncheon in the Main Lodge.

We rejoice because we have entered into that bright joy of the Resurrection Day. The Lord Jesus Christ was adored by the crowds on Palm Sunday and crucified on Good Friday. This same Lord cleansed the lepers, gave sight to the blind, bestowed hearing to the deaf, and strengthened the lame and weary. This same Lord opened the Scripture and revealed the majestic Wisdom of the Holy Trinity. This same Lord brought life to the dying and hopeless, was the same Lord Who was taken down from the Holy Cross, and was received into the heartbroken arms of His Mother, the Theotokos. This same Lord Who created the stars, the sun, the wind and the sea and the solid earth was sealed into a tomb of heavy, gray and lifeless stone.

I rejoice that His All-Holiness, the Ecumenical Patriarch BARTHOLOMEW, designated 2008 as a year-long commemoration of St. Paul the Apostle. Along with the Church of Rome, the Orthodox Church is celebrating the life, the leadership, and the legacy of this Great Apostle to the Gentiles, the Apostle Paul.

We are about to enter into the Season of the year when the Lord draws our hearts close to Him and His Church. We are about to refrain from certain foods and entertainments for a time. We are about to attend Divine Services more often. We are about to give more charity to the poor, to be kinder to our neighbors, to care for the sad and the grieving around us.

I greet all of you with the words of the Archangel: "Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord" (Luke 2:10-11). And I invite you to sing with the Angelic Choir: "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men" (Luke 2:14).