- 1520 GREEN ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94123
- 415-567-WEST(9378)
- webmaster@dowoca.org
His Eminence, Archbishop Benjamin, opened the West Coast Walk for Life in San Francisco on January 26 with prayer. He then led the numerous Orthodox Christians in attendance in supporting life in all forms. Thanks to Subdeacon Johann Morse for pictures.
In brief, the pan-Orthodox molieben is at 11:30 AM in the Civic Center near the corner of Grove and Polk. The Rally commences at 12:30 PM with His Eminence Archbishop Benjamin, Archbishop of the Diocese of San Francisco and the West of the Orthodox Church in America delivering the opening prayer. We are so grateful to His Eminence, and your coming out to support him is so appreciated!
Here is the link to the blog post by the Walk for Life announcing that His Eminence will be giving the Invocation and how they feel honored by this:
On Monday, December 25, 2017, His Eminence, Archbishop Benjamin celebrated the Divine Liturgy for the Nativity of Our Lord at Holy Trinity Cathedral in San Francisco. During the Divine Liturgy, Priest Peter Fermeglia was received into the communion of the Holy Orthodox Church by vesting. Father Peter began attending services at Holy Trinity Cathedral two years ago and is currently attending a one-year special course of study at St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary.
Fr. Peter was born Charles Sergio and is a native of Queens, New York. The son of Sergio and Margherita Fermeglia, immigrants from Italy, Charles was raised in the Roman Catholic faith. He studied for the Diocese of Brooklyn, beginning seminary at Cathedral Preparatory Seminary in Elmhurst, then on to Cathedral College of the Immaculate Conception to receive a B.A. in Philosophy. Fr. Charles was ordained to the diaconate May 1, 1988 in the seminary chapel after completing an M.Div. at the Seminary of the Immaculate Conception, Huntington, Long Island. On May 28, 1988, he was ordained priest at St. James Cathedral, Brooklyn by His Excellency, Bishop Francis J. Mugavero, D.D. His ministry has included parish work, hospital chaplaincy, and music directorship. The search for beauty, truth, and authentic Christianity has led him to embrace Orthodoxy.
Link to photographs (courtesy of Matushka Sophia Sokolov): https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1799331786744829.1073741864.120603821284309&type=1&l=4eedfe8b81
Monastery of Saint John and the OCA Diaconal Vocations Program present:
The Revelation of St. John: An Icon of Liturgy
Join Fr. George Gray as he helps us unlock some of the doors of the mystical and fascinating biblical icon of the Liturgy — the Book of Revelation. Despite the fact that the Book of Revelation is never appointed as a Reading at any of our Divine Services, much of our liturgical language and ritual is embedded in the Johannine Apocalypse. Whether it is the worship of the Tabernacle in the Wilderness and the Temple in Jerusalem or the Christian liturgy from the first century through twenty-first century, "The Revelation to John” has many doors that await opening…
NATIVITY OF THE LORD 2017
To the Reverend Clergy and Faithful of the Diocese of the West
Dearly beloved:
Christ is Born! Glorify Him!
[Jesus] assumed a body capable of death, in order that it, through belonging to the Word Who is above all, might become in dying a sufficient exchange for all, and, itself remaining incorruptible through His indwelling, might thereafter put an end to corruption for all others as well, by the grace of the resurrection. It was by surrendering to death the body which He had taken, as an offering and sacrifice free from every stain, that He forthwith abolished death for His human brethren by the offering of the equivalent. For naturally, since the Word of God was above all, when He offered His own temple and bodily instrument as a substitute for the life of all, He fulfilled in death all that was required. Naturally also, through this union of the immortal Son of God with our human nature, all men were clothed with incorruption in the promise of the resurrection.
(St. Athansius, On the Incarnation)
As we gather once more to joyously celebrate the Lord’s Incarnation — His taking upon Himself human flesh — we are left to ponder God’s infinite love for us. Were any of us given the gift of acting as God, it is abundantly clear that we would not have dealt with the Fall, Death and corruption in the wondrous manner God chose. No, we would probably choose some sort of divine infliction of “power” — some type of coming in glory, maybe with thunder and lightning, striking fear in all of creation.
Link to photographs:
The Archangel Gabriel Orthodox Church in Ashland, Oregon recently announced that a very generous benefactor has offered to match any gifts toward their building fund, up to $11,600! This will bring us to our targeted goal of $150,000 toward the completion of the Design Development Phase of our building project! If you have been thinking about donating toward the new church building, now is a good time. Every dollar you give will essentially be doubled from now until New Years Day (January 1, 2018)!
If you would like to donate, you can send us a check made out to “Archangel Gabriel Orthodox Church,” with “Building Fund” in the memo line. This gift is fully tax-deductible. Send the check to: Archangel Gabriel Orthodox Church, PO Box 823, Ashland, OR 97520.
See more information, including online donation information here.
"Today (December 4th), following the celebration of the first feast day of the Monastery of St. Barbara in their new chapel, a fast moving fire driven by high winds broke out within a mile of the monastery. The nuns and their neighbors have been evacuated.
+Benjamin"
UPDATE (December 6th) -- As of this morning, the fire has changed direction and the monastery grounds are reported to be safe and undamaged
UPDATE (December 7th)
"I heard from Mother Victoria this morning and was told the monastery still stands but is not out of danger. The hillside behind the monastery is burned and the monastery lavender field charred. So, the fire has come very close. The nuns have not been able to return so far. We are all grateful to the firefighters for their efforts to put down this very dangerous fire at the risk of their own lives. St. Barbara is the fourth monastery of our diocese to have escaped the threat of fire in recent years. It would seem fire is to become a regular feature of our lives in California as the climate changes. We ask the clergy and faithful to continue praying for the nuns.
+Benjamin"
UPDATE (December 9th)
"I received word this morning from Mother Victoria who believes she and the sisters will be able to return to the monastery today. While there will be no running water or heat due to the lack of electricity, they are grateful the they and their buildings were spared the destruction others have faced. They expect there will be ash and other byproducts of the fire to clean up. And, there is still considerable smoke in the air for now.
I have not heard if any others from among the clergy and parishioners in So. Cal. have been forced to evacuate or if their homes were destroyed. The weather reports indicate the Santa Ana winds will continue to drive the various fires throughout the coming week.
+BENJAMIN"
The community of St Anthony Orthodox Church in Bozeman, MT, along with friends from Montana and beyond, celebrated a blessed graduation October 28/29. Along with deans Archpriest Matthew Tate and Archpriest Anthony Karbo, the church celebrated transitioning from being a "mission" to being a "parish". After beautiful services, the Greeks roasted a lamb and the community celebrated God's faithfulness that has led a community that began with just a few meeting in a living room in the 90s to now--a parish that owns over 7 acres and a great building, with 100 plus on Sundays, and plans for continued growth and expansion in the glorious mountains of SW Montana. Come and visit anytime! www.orthodoxbozeman.org
Submitted by Father David Morrison
Registration opens for 2018 Youth/Camp Workers’ Conference
Atlanta, GA – The 17th Annual Orthodox Christian Camp and Youth Workers Conference will take place at Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral, Atlanta, GA from Thursday, February 1 through Saturday, February 3, 2018. Online conference and hotel registration is now available.
“This is a great opportunity for anyone involved with or interested in camp and youth ministry to come together with like-minded people,” said David Lucs, Director of the Orthodox Church in America’s Department of Youth, Young Adult and Campus Ministry. “This annual event provides clergy, camp, and youth workers with opportunities for engaging conversation, making connections, and the sharing of ideas to help with their programs and specific needs in their home parishes.”
A number of OCA clergy and laity, including Father Daniel Hickman, Longwood, FL, Deacon Gabriel Aldridge, Atlanta, GA, and others, will be leading workshops and discussion groups. The OCA last hosted the 2016 gathering in Dallas, TX. The keynote address will be presented by Father Alexander Gousettis, Director of the Center for Family Care of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America.
“This year’s conference theme focuses on the place of gratitude in youth ministry,” said Natalie Nixon, Director of the Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministry of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA. “We encourage camp and youth workers from all Orthodox parishes across North America to join us for enriching presentations and discussions for their benefit and application in their home parishes and camps.”
The theme will help camp and youth workers discover a key element of ministry that often eludes us: the “gratitude of Saint Paul” who, while struggling to establish and maintain churches, was in fact thankful for everyone and everything. Conference organizers hope that the theme will provide the inspiration and spiritual nourishment for youth workers to “abound in thanksgiving” [Colossians 2:7] in the midst of the beautiful, but often difficult, field of youth work.
The two-day event is being co-hosted by the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA and the American Carpatho-Russian Orthodox Diocese of the USA, with the blessing of the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of North and Central America.
A discounted early bird registration rate is available until December 15, 2017, along with a discounted hotel rate. Detailed conference information is available online.
The Stewards of the Orthodox Church in America helps provide funding for the OCA Department of Youth, Young Adult and Campus Ministry. For additional information on the Stewards or to make a donation, please visit the OCA web site.
#orthodoxyouth #liveorthodoxy #iamorthodox #jesuschrist #training #campworkers #2018churchcamp #youthworkers #gratitude #youthwork #orthodoxcamp #orthodoxy #faithinaction #ycc2018
@ocayouth @ocaorg @goarch @orthodoxxcyouth
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.
