Devout men from all over the country have gathered on HCHC’s campus every summer since 2005 for the Diaconate Program–until this summer, when the COVID pandemic made that impossible. However, the reimagined online version actually drew a record number of 42 participants and proved to be a richly rewarding experience for all. The program is…

After a second day of productive deliberations, the Assembly of Bishops agreed on a Common Vision that commits themselves to work together toward Orthodox Christian Unity and Outreach, Common Orthodox Witness, Ministries and Initiatives, and Organizational Excellence. Read the full document here. The collaborative process, initiated by the Executive Committee, acknowledges the spiritual needs of the…

PDF Version We, the Members of the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the United States of America, gathering for our first digital meeting on October 6-7, 2020, offer the perennial message of Christian hope and spiritual encouragement to our clergy and faithful, and all persons of good will, in these unprecedented times of the…

Closing Remarks by His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros to the October 2020 Meeting of the Assembly of Bishops October 7, 2020 Your Eminences and Graces, My Beloved Brothers in the Lord, We have now concluded this tenth anniversary meeting of the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops in the USA. I believe we can say, with the Psalmist,…

A strong majority, thirty-eight, of the fifty-one canonical Orthodox Bishops in the United States of America began their two-day meeting today to discuss Orthodox Christian Unity in the country. The meeting, which took place online due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, was the first since the transition of the chairmanship to Archbishop Elpidophoros. In his opening…

His Eminence Metropolitan Methodios announced the appointment of Cassandra Garibaldi as the new Director of the Metropolitan’s Office and Religious Education effective October 1. At the same time, the Metropolitan expressed the gratitude and appreciation of clergy and laity alike to Eleni Kalioras who is transitioning out of her current role at the Metropolis to…

The Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia, Ilia II has met with Ambassador of Azerbaijan to Georgia Faig Guliyev today, the Georgian Patriarchate reported. The Catholicos-Patriarch congratulated Mr Faig on his appointment as an Ambassador and once again expressed his concern over the hostilities in Nagorno-Karabakh. “There is nothing more precious than the truth. We should seek…

Catholicos Patriarch of All Georgia, His Holiness and Beatitude Ilia II met with Armenian Ambassador to Georgia. The meeting took place at the initiative of the Armenian Ambassador and was focused around the military hostilities and the difficult situation in the breakaway region of Nagorno-Karabakh. According to the Patriarchate, Patriarch of Georgia expressed deep sorrow…

The Metropolitan of Austria and Exarch of Hungary & Central Europe, His Eminence Arsenios, this week visited an under-construction cathedral of the Romanian Orthodox Church in Vienna. The Metropolitan was greeted by the parish priest, Fr. Emmanuel, who provided a guided tour. The Metropolitan also toured a nearby housing complex where 46 Romanian families reside.