We greet each other today with the greatest and deepest of words: "Christ is Born!". And we respond with "Glorify Him!". It is the only possible response that wells up from the hearts of those who can hear the glory of the angels and the peace that God has given to earth. It is meet and right, today, on this bright morning, to be overwhelmed by the light of the Bethlehem Star. That light is the joy of hearing the news that should always surprise, that should always be new and unexpected. We should never grow over-familiar with the Gospel of the Nativity. It should always come as news almost too good to be true. We should always rub our eyes and wonder if it's all a dream when we hear that God has become flesh and has made His dwelling with us on the earth of His Own making. Read more...

Near a village in Pennsylvania called Paradise, there is now an empty parcel of land. Next spring it will be carpeted with green alfalfa as pasture for the flocks. Formerly it held a simple, white wooden schoolhouse. That parcel was the West Nickel Mines Amish Schoolhouse. On Thursday, October 12 the schoolhouse was razed. Undoubtedly you understand why this had to be. On a horrible morning on October 2, a young man crazed with anger and shame invaded a defenseless group of children and teachers. By the time the shooting and the screams were over, ten little girls had been shot. Of these, five perished, mainly because a demonized young man wanted to add homicide to his suicide. Read more...

June floods in the Southern Tier region brought extensive damage to properties of hundreds and hundreds of homeowners. Losses are now estimated to exceed $250 million dollars. At least 10 families of St. Michael's Church in Binghamton have suffered different degrees of loss, varying from extensive basement flooding to total loss of homes and possessions. Under the direction of Father James Dutko and the Parish Board of Officers, immediate action was taken to support those suffering losses. Some relief has come, but more is needed. Read more...

Global news coverage of the recent, unfathomable rampage of a gunman that was dealt to Amish schoolchildren in the Lancaster County Pennsylvania town of Nickel Mines has reached everyone everywhere. Of significance to us as a Christian community is how the Amish are dealing with this horrific act of violence. Not only is their community taking care of their own and supporting the families of the victims, but they have displayed love and heartfelt forgiveness towards the family of the gunman! What may at first appear to be strange is actually the command of our Lord to forgive our enemies seventy times seven and without end. Read more...

CHICAGO, IL - The Standing Conference of the Canonical Orthodox Bishops in the Americas concluded a four-day conference today by issuing an official communiqué reaffirming the statement of 2001 of the need to bear public witness together on matters of spiritual and moral concerns. Read more...