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On Sunday, April 29, His Grace, Bishop Benjamin celebrated the patronal feast of the Church of the Holy Myrrhbearers in West Sacramento, California. His Grace was warmly greeted by the new rector, Archpriest Matfey Ismailov, and the children of the parish.
West Sacramento is the home of a rather large Russian Community that includes a rather substantial Russian Baptist element. The Holy Myrrhbearers Church was founded in 1925 and has served the Russian-speaking Orthodox of the metropolitan Sacramento area since then.
A prayer service (molieben) with cross procession followed the Liturgy. His Grace was joined by the area dean, Archpriest Basil Rhodes. A wonderful banquet of Paschal Russian food was held in the parish hall. The young people of the parish made the celebration especially festive by performing Ukrainian dances.
(Updated 4/27) The publicity,
cover letter and registration materials for campers and staff for our
beloved St. Eugene’s Orthodox Youth Camp being held July 1-7 at St.
Nicholas Ranch in Dunlap, CA near Kings Canyon National Park are now
available.
This year we are trying to get the information out
earlier so that parents can make payments on their children’s tuition
over time, rather than having to send a check for the funds all at once.
We are also trying to recruit dedicated adults to get our staff in
place a bit earlier which will help with our planning.
Available is
• The color flyer for this year's camp. Please send to your youth and post in your parish.
• A cover letter from the Director which explains in detail many of the questions that some may have.
• 2-page Camper Application Form (to be sent to Kathy Pieracci, our Treasurer). The Camper’s Medical Forms, Policy Agreement and Packing List will be forthcoming closer to camp.
• Staff/Counselor Application Form
(to be sent to me, as Director). Cost for camp this year is $385.00
($335 + $50 registration) per camper with discounts for siblings (see
application for details). You must submit at least the $50
non-refundable deposit with your application. On the application you
will also notice that we have payment plan to ease the burden on
families. You can make payments toward your child’s tuition from now
until the beginning of camp.
A former star of the daytime show General Hospital who discovered Orthodoxy while making a film in Romania was recently interviewed on the Roads from Emmaus podcast of Ancient Faith Radio by Fr. Andrew Stephen Damick. A four-time Emmy award winning actor, Jonathan Jackson is also the lead singer and songwriter of a Christian band named Enation. He, his wife, and his three children are now catechumens at Holy Virgin Mary Cathedral in Los Angeles and are scheduled to be received into the Church on Holy Saturday of this year.
The podcast can be heard at through the following link: http://ancientfaith.com/podcasts/emmaus/general_hospital.
By Seraphima Karbo
Several weeks ago, I had the terrible urge to get hold of a kite from some place and fly it on the soccer field with the boys. I couldn’t tell you why – I was never the kite-flying type growing up – but I really wanted a kite to fly with the little guys. As with countless 7-10 year-old boys, anything that flies instantly constitutes as a smashing success for them.
On the Sunday of Orthodoxy a group of young adults and clergy gathered at Holy Virgin Mary Cathedral in Los Angeles to inaugurate a new ministry called Southern California Orthodox Young Adults, or SCOYA. Its formation has been blessed by ruling bishops on the west coast including His Eminence, Metropolitan Gerasimos, of the Greek Metropolis of San Francisco, His Eminence, Archbishop Joseph, of the Antiochian Diocese of Los Angeles and the West, His Grace, Bishop Maxim, of the Serbian Diocese of the Western United States, and His Grace, Bishop Benjamin, of our own Diocese of the West of the OCA. The mission of SCOYA is to bring young adults together from all Orthodox jurisdictions and parishes of the region for spiritual growth and sociability. It is the first time in the history of southern Californian Orthodoxy that such a ministry has existed.
(Reprinted with permission from the Winter 2012 issue of Jacob's Well, Diocese of New York and New Jersey.)
By Albert S. Rossi, PhD.
The current plague ravaging our culture, the fastest growing addiction in the US, is internet pornography. Our best defense is a potent offense. Our Lord said, “Blessed are the pure of heart for they shall see God.” The converse is implied, namely, those who are not pure of heart may not see God. That would be tragic because those who don’t know God don’t know themselves. We are made in God’s image and likeness. That is the template for knowing ourselves. Our potent offense is purity of heart, a gift from God that we cooperate in receiving. So, our challenge is to retain, sustain and cultivate “purity of heart.” The question is where do we start. Well, we pray and ask for guidance. We ask for strength and to be guarded. The current operational definition of guarding the heart is support. That means surrendering to the Lord and to another human being inside of, and outside of, confession. The key word is “and.” We need other humans to walk with us in our pursuit of “purity of heart.” We need to be accountable to the Lord and to other humans. We need to allow others to support us by prudently disclosing our inner and outer activities.
(Reprinted with permission from the website of the Antiochian Diocese of Los Angeles and the West)
By Subdeacon Peter Samore
Each year, Orthodox Christians around Southern California break from their routine of worshiping in the Divine Liturgy at their regular churches to witness something special on the first Sunday of Great Lent. The canonical Orthodox Christian Bishops of the West Coast began the tradition of celebrating the Divine Liturgy together on this day in 2008 at St. Sophia Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Los Angeles, California. In 2012, the tradition returned to its roots, as our hierarchs gathered here once again to celebrate the “Sunday of Orthodoxy”—the restoration of the holy icons to the Church once and for all in the ninth century.
A unique opportunity — a cruise and conference at sea — "Experiencing and Defending the Glory of Orthodox Christianity," will be held September 16-23, 2012. Planned with the blessing of His Grace, Bishop Benjamin, the cruise will explore Juneau and Sitka as well as Glacier Bay. Daily lectures and workshops will be offered by Father Meletios (Weber), Abbot of St. John's Monastery in Manton, CA and Father Laurent Cleenewerck, author and Academic Advisor at the Theological Institute of the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Mexico and Acting Rector of St. Innocent Church in Eureka, CA.
More information, including rates and agenda can be found here.
“Of all holy works, the education of children is the most holy”
St. Theophan the Recluse
Fifteen years ago two homeschooling families with 8 children total met with little more thought than field trips and classes on Orthodoxy. Those humble beginnings have blossomed into St. Herman of Alaska homeschool co-op with around 32 children and their parents. We meet twice/month to learn, pray and worship together. Our co-op meetings always begin with a modified “Molieben for the Instruction of Children”. “Classes” vary according to interest but center around the Orthodox faith – Saints, Old Testament, Feasts, etc., and then another subject for that semester – art, Colorado History and cooking are a few.
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.
