News & Events

JOHNSTOWN, PA - Plans are underway for the Annual Altar Boy Retreat which will take place from Monday evening, June 29th until Wednesday, July 1st, 2020. As we are all aware, the Covid-19 pandemic has brought about many changes to the things that we are used to. The Altar Boy Retreat is one of those. The Retreat will be virtual this year, on Facebook and Zoom and perhaps other platforms. However, this is the still a time for our faithful Altar Servers to join other Altar Boys from all over our Diocese for fun and fellowship. Read more...

JOHNSTOWN, PA - [Diocesan Chancery] -- With profound sadness the Diocesan Chancery announces that +Very Rev. Protopresbyter George Hutnyan, Pastor Emeritus of St. Michael Orthodox Church in Youngstown, Ohio, reposed in the Lord on Tuesday, May 12, 2020.

Funeral arrangements are as follows:

Friday, May 15th – 11 AM Funeral Service for a Priest - St. Michael Church, Youngstown, OH

(Due to Covid-19, the Service is private and there is no visitation at the Church) Read more...

JOHNSTOWN, PA - [Diocesan Chancery] -- With profound sadness the Diocesan Chancery announces that Pani Patsy Joseph, the wife of Fr. Tony Josephi, reposed in the Lord on Thursday May 14, 2020. 

Funeral Divine Liturgy will take place at Sts Peter and Paul Orthodox Church in Windber, PA  on Saturday May 16th at 10:00 am Burial will follow in the Sts Peter and Paul Parish Cemetery in Windber..  There will be no visitation prior to the service.  There will be a limit of 25 persons including clergy at the Funeral due to  because of Covid 19 regulations. Clergy will be limited to the Johnstown, Deanery.  Read more...

JOHNSTOWN, PA  [Diocesan Chancery] --  As previously announced,  the Diocesan Summer Camping Program will be offered this year in a virtual format due to the Corona Virus. 

An important message from Metropolitan Gregory and Camp Nazareth about our CN2020 Camping Weeks is now posted.     Read more...

May 8, 2020

Protocol No. 24/2020

Christos Voskrese! Christ is Risen! Christos Anesti!

Dear Reverend Clergy and Faithful of the Diocese,

Today I am writing to summarize how we got to where we are in dealing with Coronavirus and to let you know the process for the re-opening of our churches.

Prior to this Protocol, you received five Protocols from me dealing with the pandemic known as Covid-19 or Coronavirus starting with Protocol No. 7/2020 on March 12, 2020. When Protocol No. 7/2020 was sent out, it was still early in the pandemic and so less was known about the virus than now.  These are some of the items mentioned in the Protocol: Read more...

May 8, 2020

Protocol No. 22/2020

Christos Voskrese! Christ is Risen! Christos Anesti!

Dear Very Reverend Protopresbyters, Very Reverend, and Reverend Fathers and Diocesan Faithful,

Today I am writing to inform all of you that due to the current circumstances regarding the Coronavirus, I (hearing the advice of many) have made the decision that the following Diocesan Summer Youth Events will not take place onsite this year, but virtually:

The Altar Boy Retreat June 28 – July 1, 2020 The Young Women’s Encounter June 28 – July 1, 2020 The Camp Nazareth Summer Camping Weeks July 19 – August 8, 2020 The Camp Nazareth Science and Nature Week August 9 – 15, 2020 Read more...

Diocesan families are cordially invited to submit via email with one photo of their observance of Holy Week and Pascha for inclusion in a special photo gallery, Pascha throughout the Diocese In The Little Church. Photos may include scenes from praying during live stream, following along the service,  processions, blessing food,  family pictures sharing a paschal meal or their holy corners, etc.  Read more...

Today 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!

This year we have experienced a different Great Lent, Holy Week and Pascha from that which we normally do. The world has been turned upside down with the arrival of the Coronavirus known as Covid-19. This invisible entity has attacked us in a vicious way. Millions of people have been exposed to the virus showing no symptoms. Read more...

JOHNSTOWN, PA -- [Diocesan Chancery]  The Orthodox Youth Directors in North America,  a blessed working committee of individuals who serve as the departmental heads of the youth, college and young adult ministry departments of the different Orthodox churches represented in the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the United States,  has issued a letter of encouragement, today, to all Orthodox Youth Workers in America.  The text of the message is as follows:

Dear Fellow Youth Workers in Christ,

While we are trying to profit our Youth in a time of challenge to our ministry, while we are working hard to keep them connected to Christ and His Church when their faith is threatened in a new way, we are all, like the Apostles, following our Lord in amazement as He makes His way to Jerusalem and through His Passion.  We know what is to come.  The Apostles did not. The apostles were clearly told by our Lord what was to come!  They may have chosen to not fully accept – but our Lord told them clearly. Read more...

Today I am writing to you with additional details concerning the remainder of Great Lent, Holy Week and Pascha, specifically for our Diocese.  These are in addition to Protocol No. 11/2020 dated April 3, which included the Statement of the American Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the USA.  Read more...