On weekend of Thomas Sunday the Holy Resurrection/Holy Trinity Parish of Tacoma, Washington hosted a practicum for subdeacons and deacons. Participants came from throughout the diocese, but most were from the Pacific Northwest. Archdeacon Kirill Sokolov, the director of the Diaconal Vocations Program of the Orthodox Church in America, offered two days of instruction along with the able assistance of Subdeacon Dimitri Pletz.

Two hierarchical liturgies were served over the weekend with six deacons serving at each. On Bright Saturday, Subdeacon Joseph Ramos was ordained to the Holy Diaconate and Deacon Luke Fordice was awarded the double orarion.

We are grateful for the opportunity to work on serving skills and for the gracious hospitality of the Tacoma community.

Today, Hell cries out groaning:
“My power has been trampled down.
The Shepherd is crucified and Adam is raised.
I have been deprived of those whom I ruled.
Those whom I swallowed in my strength I have given up.
He Who was crucified has emptied the tombs.
The power of death has been vanquished.”
Glory to Your Cross and Resurrection, O Lord!

Lord I Call Stichera, Vespers of the Feast

HOLY PASCHA 2013

To the Reverend Clergy and Faithful of the Diocese of the West

Dearly beloved:

Christ is risen! Indeed He is risen!

What a glorious paradox we witness in the celebration of Resurrection. Hell was caught completely unaware of this paradox. It swallowed, in seeming victory, the crucified Shepherd, but instead of victory began to choke and suffocate in the attempt to contain Him. The demons struck the Shepherd down, but the sheep have been raised. Hell held man captive but its rule was overthrown and the captives are freed. The crucified, broken, bloody Victim has turned out to be the Victor.

How wonderful that you and I are not just witnesses to this paradox, but participants. Hell indeed groaned just before it was shattered. We are the sheep that have been raised. We are the captives that have been freed. We are those who benefit from and share in the Victory. Christ is risen and we have been given a new life. We have been given the power to be new creatures in the presence not only of the Creator, but of the Redeemer, lifted up from the valley of death and corruption which is life without the risen Christ. How much He loves us!

May the risen Son of God shine brightly in the heart of each one of you, my diocesan family! May we return the love of the risen Savior by living resurrected lives ourselves! And I say to you all again:

Christ is risen! Indeed He is risen!

Yours in the risen Christ,

†Benjamin
Archbishop of San Francisco and the Diocese of the West

Dear Friends,

We are happy to announce that St. Juvenaly Mission, located on the Big Island of Hawaii, closed on the purchase of a new chapel building on April 24th.

The chapel is located in Honomu (close to Akaka Falls), on the East side of the island, about 11 miles north of Hilo.

This is a major step toward serving the Orthodox faithful on the East side of the island, and marks the first enduring physical presence of the Orthodox church on the Big Island of Hawaii. It is also the first permanent OCA location in Hawaii. This new outreach of the mission will be called "Holy Ascension Chapel."

The Mission was able to obtain full financing for the purchase through the SICA Foundation, and have received about $20,000 in donations - THANK YOU. (We are still grateful for donations to help with repair and beautification expenses.)

St. Juvenaly Mission is based in Kailua-Kona, on the West side of the island, about a two-hour drive from Honomu. Regular services will continue in Kona in the current location, where the Mission holds month-to-month lease.