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Recently Fr. Damiam Kuolt was interviewed by the Bend Bulletin. Here is the article: (Agia Sophia Opens in Bend)
From its 1984 opening, The Open Book in Bend had been a mainstay for book lovers needing a fix of Kurt Vonnegut, Barbara Kingsolver, John D. MacDonald or any of thousands of other authors.
When fans of the 2,400-square-foot used bookstore learned via Facebook last year that the longstanding shop was up for sale, one commented that the thought of it closing filled him with anxiety: “For crying out loud, somebody save this place and keep it looking the same, for my sanity,” he wrote.
Father Damian Kuolt of St. Jacob Orthodox Christian Church in Bend has saved it, but it no longer looks the same: In its place stands Agia Sophia Coffeehouse and Bookstore. The shop remained open through the last several months of considerable remodeling and will have its soft opening Dec. 6 if everything goes according to plan.
The front half of the store will now house a cafe serving coffee from Farewell Coffee Roasters along with food and other drinks.
Bookshelves line the east wall, with alternating shelves and tables in the center of the room. Large framed nature photography by Oregon photographer Christopher Burkett hangs on the walls of the cafe. The store’s back room will likely serve as space for book clubs and other groups, along with storage for overstock, said Kuolt (pronounced “Colt”).
The Open Book will live on through the store’s many used books, but Kuolt stressed the fact that it would be a well-curated version.
“Our goal was to keep the best of Open Book going, because (it) was going to shut down altogether,” Kuolt said. “We’re curating all of the vintage, all the best literature. Our philosophy, history, culture, world religions and ancient Christianity is our focus for our collection. And we’re going to keep the most popular mass-market mysteries and Westerns for that clientele.”
Agia Sophia’s specialty is affordable used books, and Kuolt encourages people to go with good books to trade them in for credit toward new purchases.
“We want to keep that cycle going. We want to keep recycling the good books. Make them inexpensive so a lot of people will read,” he said. “We get a lot of young people, the under-30 crowd, the in-college crowd, who love to come in and find good philosophy and literature.”
Maintaining so many pocket-sized paperbacks wasn’t part of the original plan, “but once I got used to the idea of having pulp fiction, I realized that just like we eat healthy at home and we go to the coffeeshop for pastries and a latte, it’s sort of like those are the dessert of the mind,” Kuolt said.
“It’s surprising, the number of people who come in and they read voraciously. And it’s a thrill, because every day somebody comes in and they can’t find a book (elsewhere). Yesterday we had two great finds in our classic literature.”
The Bend Agia Sophia is actually the third loosely affiliated Agia Sophia location, with others in Philadelphia and Colorado Springs, Colorado.
“In each case, Orthodox priests opened them,” Kuolt said. “We kind of kept the brand because it worked out so nicely.”
Much of the refrigeration equipment, menu boards and furniture in the Bend location comes from the Colorado store, which was extremely popular during its 12 years in existence, although, according to Kuolt it was “a lot more coffeehouse and less books.”
“They were voted ‘Best of the Springs’ seven years,” he said. “They ended up closing down because they lost their lease. … We got a big start with their help.”Kuolt has handled much of the remodeling himself, with help from contractors who donated services and materials at their cost. The wood paneling in the cafe area “was all donated. I got it off of job sites; this is leftovers from a luxury home,” Kuolt said.
Along with selling books and coffee, Agia Sophia will hold events such as readings and lectures by Burkett, Kuolt and others.
Kuolt and his wife, Joanna, have four adult children and moved to Bend to help develop the St. Jacob Orthodox Christian Church.
“We decided to drop anchor here, my wife and I, after living almost three years in an Airstream, traveling around the Diocese,” Kuolt said. After assignments of three months to one year in Washington, California and Montana, “We decided to stay here and try to build a permanent parish that would survive us,” he said.
Located at 1900 NE Division St. in Bend, St. Jacob has about 35 members.
“It’s a Byzantine chapel … it’s a little miniature version in a strip mall,” he said. “We’re outgrowing it.”
Agia Sophia, whose name means “Holy Wisdom” in Greek, is a nonprofit. “To get launched it’s part of an extension of our parish, but we’re going to run this as an unrelated business,” Kuolt said. “It will be a business to serve the community.”
Kuolt said the bookstore and cafe dovetail with his theological work.
“Our purpose is, to quote Christ, love your neighbor as yourself,” he said. “And my neighbor is every person that I meet. And if I have a little hidden chapel behind the building over at the Whistle Stop (Business Center), I’m not going to meet anybody. We’re here to serve. The life of a Christian is meant to serve the people around them. And we just thought it was a great way to serve the community — keep the bookstore open.”
Deacon Gregory Eric Jewett, 43, fell asleep in the Lord here on Friday, November 29, 2019. He was attached to the Church of the Holy Theophany, Colorado Springs, Colorado.
Born March, 3 1976 in Sterling, IL, Deacon Gregory was a graduate of Greenville College, Greenville, Illinois, where he earned a Bachelor Degree in Business Management. In 2016, he completed the Orthodox Church in America’s Diaconal Vocation Program. Deacon Gregory was ordained to the Holy Diaconate by His Eminence Archbishop Benjamin on the Feast of Holy Theophany in 2017.
Deacon Gregory married his wife Carrie Mary Jewett in 1997. She survives him, as do their four children, Wyatt, Sophia, Emmy, and Maximus.
His Eminence Archbishop Benjamin of San Francisco and the West will preside at the funeral services for Deacon Gregory. Service times are as follows: Sunday, December 1, 7:00pm Panikhida; Monday December 2, 8:00am Divine Liturgy; 10:00am Funeral Service. All services will be at the Church of the Holy Theophany, Colorado Springs, Colorado. Interment will follow at the Protection of the Holy Virgin Monastery, Lake George, Colorado.
May Gregory’s memory be eternal. May God give comfort to his wife Carrie Mary, his children and family.
Today, November 16th, 2019, marks the 65th birthday of our beloved auxiliary bishop and diocesan chancellor, Bishop DANIEL (Brum). May God grant him peace, health, salvation, and furtherance in every good thing as he complete 65 years of life, over five years as a bishop, and over one year as chancellor of the Diocese of the West. Feliz Aniversário!
Bishop DANIEL's biography can be found by clicking here
Orthodox Liturgical singing workshop with Benedict & Maria Sheehan will take place on March 7th, Saturday, 2020.
Location: Church of the Annunciation, Milwaukie Oregon
www.annunciationorthodoxchurch.org, 503-659-3646
Registration form will be posted on www.annunciationorthodoxchurch.org in a few days.
Benedict & Maria Sheehan bring their uniquely complementary skill sets to a weekend workshop tailored to your choir’s needs and integrated into your church’s liturgical schedule. In intensive sessions they help church musicians of all abilities reach new levels of mastery, with emphasis on how to retain these skills and employ them in an everyday setting. They particularly emphasize the spiritual work of the sacred choral musician, and its connections to ensemble blend, musicianship, expressiveness, attentiveness, and a prayerful ethos.
FOR THE SINGER
Develop and strengthen your individual voice
Maintain healthy technique in a choral setting
Increase your endurance and prevent vocal damage
Learn to warm-up and practice more effectively
FOR THE CONDUCTOR
Improve your conducting technique
Lead rehearsals in a more effective and engaging way
Deepen your knowledge of liturgical music
Diagnose and solve problems in your ensemble
FOR THE CHOIR
Convey sacred text with clarity and depth
Unify and develop your ensemble sound
Sing longer and stronger with less fatigue
Enhance ensemble “community” and connection
Saturday:
8:30 am - Registration, coffee/refreshments
9:30-12:00—Group Vocal Technique
12:00-1:00 - Lunch
1:00-2:30— Repertoire with full ensemble
3:00-4:30— Ensemble technique/Conducting lessons
4:30-5:30 - Dinner
5:30-6:45 - Rehearsal
7:00-7:45pm - Vespers
For more info contact: irena.burkett@gmail.com
San Francisco, CA: His Eminence, Archbishop Benjamin reports the community of the Holy Assumption Monastery in Calistoga, CA remains under an evacuation advisory. So far, the monastery has not been given notice to evacuate and it is expected the advisory will be lifted some time on Thursday. Several families from the St. Seraphim Cathedral parish in Santa Rosa, CA have been evacuated as the fires have threatened communities to the north and west of Santa Rosa. You may remember Santa Rosa itself experienced devastating fires two years ago and the area is still recovering from that blaze. No word has reached His Eminence that anyone has lost their home so far.
We ask your prayers for all those who have been evacuated and lost their homes be they members of our flock or not.
On the weekend of October 12th - 13th Archbishop Benjamin traveled to Spokane, Washington, where he visited St. Luke Orthodox Church https://spokaneorthodoxchurch. com/, a new mission of the Diocese of the West, and gave a lecture at Whitworth University. Events began on Saturday when Vladyka joined 20 people for an OCF brunch at the home of Fr. Timothy and Mka. Marie Wilkinson, where he spent an extended period answering questions posed by the students and guests. Saturday Vespers at St Luke’s was well attended and was followed by a dinner at the Wilkinson home. On Sunday, Thomas Schaeffer was ordained a subdeacon by Archbishop Benjamin in the presence of over 60 people, including several first-time visitors. Before becoming Orthodox in 2015, Subdeacon Thomas spent 30 years as an Assemblies of God minister.
The Burial Service for Non Orthodox for priests and choirs is now available on our website. Please download here.
In the company of His Eminence Benjamin, Archbishop of San Francisco and the West, this is an absolute trip of a lifetime - First Class all the way! Tour highlights that include; The Oberammergau Passion Play performed only every ten years, truly a world-class spiritual experience., day long cruise through the most scenic area of the Rhine River. See Germany's largest opera house, visit castles, fantastic museums, with city walking tours uncovering history, activities to experience the culture, food (and spectacular Cathedrals!) of this beautiful region. Download the flyer here.
by Cynthia Sweeney
Reprinted with permission by the Napa Valley Register
The date, Oct. 22 will mark 10 years that the Sisters of Holy Assumption Monastery have been an active part of the Calistoga community. Now, the sisters are looking for a little help from the community as they plan to replace The St. Nicholas House that “has seen better times.” The house was built on the Washington Street property in the 1970s, and was originally intended to be a handicap-accessible residence for elderly and infirm sisters. After adding an accessible bathroom several years ago, contractors found that the house was not built to high-quality standards, and replacing it is a better use of resources than continuing to renovate, or attempting to expand, said Mother Melania. “We have to think ahead. We’re stewards and caretakers of this property for the next generations, and to provide what the community will need,” said Mother Macrina.
Plans are already underway. Local general contractor Paul Coates, a generous friend of the monastery, and architect Thomas Stimpert, have committed to the project, donating planning input and guidance.
The sisters have begun a fundraising campaign with a goal of $1 million for the new St. Nicholas House. About $20,000 has been raised so far. Neither demolition nor construction can begin until the bulk of the money has been raised. Several factors contribute to the cost of the new building including elevation of the building due to the proximity to the Napa River, and the addition of a sprinkler system. (See details at https://www.holyassumptionmonastery.com/newsnhdetails.)
(View original article here)
Whitworth University is honored to host Archbishop Benjamin of the Orthodox Church in America. He will hold a discussion on Eastern Orthodox liturgy and liturgical books on Monday, Oct. 14, from 7-8:30 p.m. in Weyerhaeuser Hall, Room 111. The event is free and open to the public.
Archbishop Benjamin’s visit coincides with the “People of the Book” exhibit in the Whitworth library. It features rare liturgical books and historic items, including the prayer rope of Pyotr Stolypin, the third prime minister of Russia, who was assassinated in 1911. This exhibit will be featured in the library until the end of January 2020.
“Archbishop Benjamin’s ministry provides our students with a wonderful example of ministry and service,” says the Rev. Timothy Wilkinson, dean of Whitworth’s School of Business. “With his informal and personable style, he has used his musical and intellectual gifts to create and develop churches throughout the western U.S. He reminds us that that human beings should not be reduced to thinking of themselves as mere producers and consumers, but that we are meant to be liturgical beings, offering glory to God.”
The Diocese of the West is the geographical district of the Orthodox Church in America consisting of the Western United States. The diocese has active parishes in Montana, Colorado, Arizona, Nevada, Washington, Oregon, California and Hawaii. San Francisco is home to the diocese’s cathedral, Holy Trinity, as well as the Chancery offices. The diocese is led by His Grace Vasily, Bishop of San Francisco and the West.
