Chapel's Slava celebrated

Mars, PA - A total of fourteen priests and three deacons were in attendance for the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy. Mother Ana and Sister Anastasia were present from Monastery Marcha. An additional priest was among those present for the Vigil served by His Grace on the eve of the Slava.

All four Deaneries of the Diocese were represented. Attendees came from Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, North Carolina and Washington D.C.

In his homily, His Grace emphasized the strong connection between the St.Nikodim Chapel and the monasteries and churches of the Serbian Orthodox Church throughout the world and throughout the centuries.

Decisions and Actions Taken by the OCA Holy Synod - September 4, 2008

SYOSSET, NY [OCA Communications] - On Thursday, September 4, 2008, the Holy Synod of Bishops of the Orthodox Church in America issued the following statement.

"On September 4, 2008, the Holy Synod of Bishops of The Orthodox Church in America elected Archimandrite Jonah (Paffhausen) to be Bishop of Fort Worth, and Auxiliary Bishop of the Diocese of the South.

San Diego Church to Hold Serbian Cultural Festival on Saturday, September 13th, 2008

St. George Serbian Orthodox Church celebrates its annual Serbian Festival, on Saturday, September 13, 2008 from 11 a.m. until 11 p.m. The festival provides an inexpensive and conveniently local fun-filled day for the entire family. Entrance fee is a $3 donation with children 12 and under free.

A symposium presentation will occur at 12:30pm with the topic: Healing Power of Forgiveness given by The Very Reverend Father Bratso Krsic. This symposium will highlight Orthodox understanding of the healing of the soul through the sacraments.

Source: St. George Serbian Orthodox Church

Metropolitan Kirill to consecrate an Orthodox church in Tokyo

A new Russian Orthodox church of St. Alexander of Neva was built in the district of Meguro in Tokyo. "The church has a new iconostasis and is being prepared for the consecration which is to take place on September 12 on the patronal festival," the secretariat for inter-Orthodox relations of the Moscow Patriarchate Department for External Church Relations told Interfax-Religion.

New ordination in Western America

The feasday of the Assumption of the Holy Theotokos was celebrated most festively at the Church of the Assumption, on the occasion of their Church Slava on Thursday August 28, 2008. His Grace Bishop Maxim of Western America officiated together with special guest His Grace Bishop Joanikije of Budim and Niksic who had just arrived to the diocese for the occasion of their annual Diocesan Days celebration. Ten priests assisted the hierarchs at the liturgy and the reponses were sung by the Belgrade Theological Student Choir, also visiting the Western Diocese for the diocesan celebration.

The Belgrade Theological School Choir sang at the Russian Cathedral

The Belgrade Theological School Choir sang on Sunday evening at the Russian Cathedral of the Mother of God "Joy of All Who Sorrow" in San Francisco. Present at the concert of Orthodox music "O Wonderous Glory" were Archbishop Kyrill of San Francisco and Western America of the Russian Orthodox Church, Bishop Joanikije of Budim and Niksic, Bishop Benjamin of San Francisco and Western America of the Orthodox Church in America and the Serbian Orthodox Bishop of Western America, Maxim. Also in attendance were His Royal Highness Crown Prince Aleksandar II and Princess Catherine.

Source: http://www.serborth.org/