The Latest News in the Diocese
Bishop’s Travelogue Day 1
Day One - August 25, 2011
The first part of the official delegation of the Orthodox Church in America to the Orthodox Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia arrived in Prague this afternoon. Bishop BENJAMIN, Archpriest Eric George Tosi, Secretary of the Orthodox Church in America, and Mr. Barry Migyanko, the Administrative Assistant of the Diocese of the West were greeted by His Eminence Archbishop George (Juraj) of Michalovce and Kosice and three priests.
Rocky Mountain Youth Camp
The last time I was at a youth summer camp I was fifteen. As the time drew near to depart for the Rocky Mountain Orthodox Youth Camp I honestly was second guessing my initial resolve to go. I am fresh out of seminary, newly assigned (still very much getting my 'sea legs' regarding parish life), why did I decide to trek off on a youth camp for almost four days? But committed as I was, I left with a small group of youth from our Church.
LA Iconographer Helps Restore Church in Russia
A parishioner of Holy Virgin Mary Cathedral in Los Angeles named Marina Smetanina has been engaged to write icons for Saint Seraphim Church near Moscow. The church is located in the village of Uvarovka in the western part of the Moscow region, not far from the site of the famous Battle of Borodino against Napoleon in 1812. Until several years ago the poor village did not have a single Orthodox church. Once begun, construction of the temple encountered many difficulties. Twice work was begun on it, and twice thieves and vandals burned the wooden structure down. With God's help, however, Uvarovka’s persistent villagers then decided to build in stone. Although construction is still ongoing, the temple has now become secure and divine services are already in their third year.
Four Corners Orthodox Mission Links Needed
We continue to labor for the establishment of a mission in Durango, CO. We are planning two to three years out to have a priest placed there, and presently have some interested persons from the seminaries.
We have tried ads in the paper, flyers around town... and have discovered what you already know, that the internet is the single most utilized tool in finding an Orthodox church to attend!
Please post a link to the "Four Corners Orthodox Mission" on your respective parish websites, if at all possible. This action "optimizes" search engine capabilities of Google, Yahoo, etc. that folks may discover the presence of our mission in Durango, CO.
Thank you for so considering this action on behalf of the faithful of Southwest Colorado. It has been a slow, but steady process.
LINK to the mission's website.
Calendar of Events Available
A very useful and valuable resource is now available for the faithful of the Diocese. Orthodox Calendar of Events in all states are now searchable in Google Calendars. Click your state to see upcoming events:
Arizona
California
Colorado
Hawai'i
Nevada
Oregon
Washington
Wyoming
We do not have listings for any other state in our diocese.
Alhambra “Diocesan Days”
All the clergy and faithful of the Diocese of the West, especially those in the Los Angeles area, have been graciously invited to join our brothers and sisters of the Serbian Orthodox Church in their 15th annual "Diocesan Day" celebration, September 2-4, 2011.
The celebration will take place at St. Stephen's Cathedral in Alhambra. Guest speaker for the event will be Archimandrite Vasieilos of the Iveron Monastery on Mount Athos.
For detailed information, please see the Diocesan Days website here.
Diocesan Council
The Diocesan Council of the Diocese of the West met on June 14 at Christ the Savior Cathedral in San Francisco.The council meets quarterly to conduct the administrative matters of the diocese and provide council to His Grace, Bishop Benjamin, who presides.
Outreach in Las Vegas
Faithful from St. Paul's Church in Las Vegas, Nevada, have begun a regular outreach program to the homeless. On Saturday, June 4th, a group of about 20 met and put together 120 bag lunches...
Restored Icon Blessed in SF
On June 12, Pentecost Sunday, during the festal procession, Bishop Benjamin blessed the newly restored icon of Christ “Not Made By Hands,” for Holy Trinity Cathedral in San Francisco
Michael von Meyer, who wrote the original icon sometime in the 1960s, was born in Odessa, Russia on June 10, 1894.
Thanks from the Orthodox Church in Japan
Two letters of thanks from His Eminence, Metropolitan Daniel of Tokyo and All Japan were received for the generous donations from the Diocese of West.