Saturday, August 24, 2013
St. Peter the Aleut Camp 2013: Conclusion of One Unforgettable Week
On the final day (August 11/24) of a week-long St. Peter the Aleut Orthodox Youth Camp in the Sunopee Lake Region, NH, an island in the local Baptist Pond was dedicated to St. Herman of Alaska, the Enlightener of America.
The whole camp rowed to the island in boats and canoes, where a small supplicatory service was chanted to St. Herman, St. Peter the Aleut and to St. Juvenaly of Alaska, followed by the blessing of the island with holy water.
Fr. Peter Farnsworth had brought with him a small stone from the Kodiak Island, which he had picked up during his pilgrimage to St. Herman's grave. We left the stone behind on the newly-dedicated island of our Holy Father Herman. May his prayers be always with us. Amen.
This and other activities of the Camp can be viewed here:
Thursday, August 22, 2013
Ordination at Holy Transfiguration Monastery
On the Feast of Transfiguration of our Savior, the patronal feast of our Monastery in Boston, Fr. Lazarus was ordained to the holy deaconate.
May our Lord strengthen the newly-ordained Hierodeacon Lazarus in his service to the Church and the monastery of his obedience. AXIOS!
Tuesday, August 13, 2013
Abbess installed at St. Mary Magdalene Convent
This year, the Convent St. Mary Magdalene in Catlett, Virginia, had a very special patronal feast. On Sunday, July 22/August 4, the feast day of St. Mary Magdalene, Mother Irene was installed as the Abbess of the Convent. The joy of the feast was doubled by the fact that on the same day, novice Elizabeth was tonsured into the Holy and Angelic Schema as nun Raphaela.
Through the intercessions of St. Mary Magdalene, may our Savior grant strength to Abbess Irene and bless her sisterhood. Amen.
On the photo (left to right): Fr. James Bockman, Fr. Abbot Isaac, Fr. Rodion Laskowski, Abbes Irene, Mother Raphaela, Mother Evdokia.
Through the intercessions of St. Mary Magdalene, may our Savior grant strength to Abbess Irene and bless her sisterhood. Amen.
Saturday, August 10, 2013
Opening of St. Haralampus Mission Parish in Florida
On Sunday, July 8/21, 2013, the inaugural Divine Liturgy was served at the newly-formed parish of St. Haralampus in Orlando, Florida, by His Grace Bishop Gregory of Brookline. Approximately 25 to 30 persons were in attendance.
A parish has been desperately needed in Florida for several reasons. Many faithful often travel to Florida to visit family, take business trips or vacations, and need a place to attend the church. In addition, there are faithful who reside in Florida who have been conducting Reader’s services in their homes and had no local parish home.
Several faithful from New Hampshire, who often travel to the Orlando area to visit family, desired to show their families, some non-Orthodox and some new calendar Orthodox, our true and holy Orthodox faith by means of example. So, with the help of Father Isaac and the Holy Transfiguration Monastery, a building was secured for the parish.
A foreclosed home located just north of the Orlando International Airport was acquired six months ago. Much of the interior of the home was knocked to the studs to make it habitable. The cinder-block wall between the garage and living room was knocked down to form the altar and the iconostasis and royal doors. The church also serves as the trapeza. In addition, the home has a small kitchen. There are two bedrooms, still undergoing renovation, and two bathrooms as well. There is a sizable backyard with lush green grass which has great potential.
When Bishop Gregory arrived, he busily got to work hanging the icons and preparing the altar and the church for services. Peter Masterjohn of Ipswich, MA, used his amazing woodworking skills to build a cleros and other liturgical tables for the church. He also chanted during Vespers and the Divine Liturgy.
God provided many helpers, including some non-Orthodox, who painted, cleaned, and helped with the final touches, preparing the church for services.
It will be only fair to say, however, that none of this would have been possible without the initiative and diligence of George Mylonakis and his family, through whose tireless efforts, an old, unkept house was transformed into a beautiful Orthodox chapel. May our Savior bless them for the zeal that they have shown for the Church.
Glory to God for all things!
Friday, August 9, 2013
New Deacon for the Church of St. Anna - Axios!
On the feast of St. Anna (July 25/August 7), Fr. Savvas Papadopoulos was ordained to the diaconate at the church of St. Anna in Roslindale, Boston. It was a jubilant patronal feast for the whole parish, especially for Fr. Savva's family.
May our Savior grant to the newly-ordain Deacon Savvas, many years of faithful service to the Church. Amen!
May our Savior grant to the newly-ordain Deacon Savvas, many years of faithful service to the Church. Amen!
On the photo: Fr. Savvas and Diaconissa Maria with little Irene and Christina; Fr. Savvas' parents - Christo and Eleni; Metropolitan Ephraim, Bishop Gregroy, Fr. Dimitry Kukunov and Fr. Isaac (by the the iconostasis).
Thursday, August 1, 2013
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