The Orthodox Church in America has entered into a purchase agreement for the Westwood Property, the location that has housed the Chancery of the OCA over the last several decades. The agreement, authorized by the Metropolitan Council and unanimously confirmed by the Holy Synod of Bishops, is another step toward the final resolution of the former Chancery property and securing a permanent location in greater Washington, DC.
The decision to proceed with the purchase agreement was made during a special session of the Metropolitan Council by teleconference on January 24, 2024, under the presidency of His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon, and which authorized Archpriest Alexander Rentel, Chancellor of the OCA, to sign the contract on behalf of the OCA. This decision was then approved by the Holy Synod convened via teleconference on Wednesday, February 28.
The agreement details a purchase price of $4.25 million. The anticipated timeline for closing is estimated to be within 24-36 months to allow for the New York state and local regulatory processes.
]]>The Office of Pastoral Life is honored to announce that Dr. Sofie Azmy will be the guest speaker at our Spring 2024 Synaxis OCA Clergy online conference on Tuesday, March 26, from 2-4pm ET. Dr. Azmy will speak on the topic of “Freedom to Change our Habits” and discuss how to unhook from behaviors and thoughts that hold us back from the choices we want and need to make. Come and listen to Dr. Azmy and be ready to discuss with your brother clergy in small breakout rooms ways to move in the right direction during the challenging time of Lent. Click on the one-minute video link below to listen to a brief word from Dr. Azmy on the topic. The registration link is also below.
Dr. Sofie Azmy is a licensed clinical psychologist, who enjoys offering her expertise in integrating faith into the therapeutic process to facilitate healing and growth. She has taught undergraduate and graduate psychology and counseling courses. Dr. Sofie has a passion for serving and training; she enjoys leading workshops and speaking on a variety of mental health and parenting topics in addition to her active service in her church community. Dr. Sofie is also a clergy wife; she is married to Fr. Samuel and they have three daughters.
Although the conference begins at 2pm ET, the Zoom meeting will open for fellowship at 1:30pm ET. After the keynote presentation, registered participants will be divided into groups of four to six clergy and sent into breakout rooms to further discuss the topic as it relates to the participants. The breakout session will last just under 90 minutes with a facilitator in each breakout room. The breakout session is based on the Peer Learning model where the interaction and relationship of the participants form a community of learning focused on priestly and pastoral ministry.
Whether you have enjoyed past Synaxis events or look forward to your first experience, please invite a clergy friend. Registration emails with the Zoom link have been sent to all emails listed in the OCA clergy directory. Once you register, you will receive an email with a unique link to join the meeting. You will need to then join the meeting with the email account with which you registered.
The Synaxis OCA clergy online conferences are intended to nurture spiritual brotherhood by offering a meeting place for our clergy to learn from one another, to support one another, and to be strengthened by their contact with one another, so that they may all be empowered to fight the good fight of faith. To find out more about the Office of Pastoral Life and its programs for clergy, please email secretary@opl.oca.org.
We look forward to seeing you online at the Spring 2024 Clergy Synaxis on Tuesday, March 26!
]]>With the blessing of His Eminence Archbishop Daniel of Chicago and the Midwest, the Diocese of the Midwest is pleased to announce the commemorative celebration of the return of the Tikhvin Icon of the Mother of God on June 25 and June 26. 2024 marks the 20th anniversary of the return of the wonderworking icon from Chicago, IL to Tikhvin, Russia.
The celebration will take place at the historic Holy Trinity Cathedral, Chicago, IL where the icon was protected during her time in America. On Holy Spirit Monday, June 24, the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy will be celebrated by Archbishop Daniel and visiting clergy at 9:30 AM. Later that evening their will be an outdoor viewing of the movie, “The Return of the Icon”, which is a film that documented the icons last days in Chicago, and her triumphant return to Russia. This will take place in the newly renovated courtyard of the Cathedral.
On Tuesday, June 25, hierarchs, clergy, and faithful will gather for the All Night Vigil at 6:00 PM. Responses will be sung by the Chicago Deanery Male Choir under the direction of Reader Philip Sokolov.
The feast of the Tikhvin Icon, Wednesday, June 26, the Hierarchical Liturgy will begin at 9:30 AM The liturgy will be served by hierarchs and clergy from throughout the country. Responses will be sung by the St. Romanos Choir under the direction of Reader Peter Jermihov, who directed the choir 20 years ago for her last Liturgy in Chicago. At the conclusion of the Liturgy, a Cross Procession will be held with the Chicago Tikhvin Mother of God from Holy Trinity Cathedral to St. George Cathedral. This .08-mile procession will take pilgrims to the Cathedral on Wood Street where a Molieben will be held in the Cathedral and then a festive meal in the grand hall of the parish.
“This is a very exciting and significant event,” said Priest Alexander Koranda, Dean of Holy Trinity Cathedral. “This icon which started from the blessed hand of the Apostle Luke has appeared and been venerated throughout the various parts of the world. Our Holy Mother, through this icon came to America, Chicago specifically, and sanctified us with her holy presence for over five decades. This celebration is not only a historical commemoration, but also a spiritual one as many of us remember praying before that icon, and still feel the support of the Theokotos’ prayers. This celebration is a way to honor her and gives thanks.”
In addition to the special commemoration, the Diocese of the Midwest will also be hosting “Chicago 2024 – An International Orthodox Youth Encounter”, where youth will be attending and participating in various events.
The Archbishop has been encouraging his clergy and faithful throughout the diocese to attend the upcoming celebration, “we see how the Mother of God brings us all together, not just in the city of Chicago, or even the Diocese, but in this celebration she will be bring her children from all over the world together to join in prayer glorifying her Son”.
A resource page has been created by the Diocese of the Midwest with more information and with updates as they become available.
]]>The Orthodox Church in America has received another Loss Control bonus for the OCA Group Program. The check from GuideOne Insurance Co. was in the amount of $42,741. This is the seventh time a Loss Control bonus has been earned since its inception. With this check, participating parishes in the OCA have had more than a quarter million dollars returned. As done previously, the funds will be distributed back to member parishes relative to the annual premiums.
The OCA partnered with Insurance Systems Group, Inc. in 2006 to establish the OCA Group Affiliation Program (GAP). Underwritten through GuideOne Insurance, the GAP Program offers unique benefits, including excess property protection for catastrophic losses and potential to earn loss control bonus (premium return) when the Group is profitable.
Insurance Systems Group, Inc. is a broker of property and casualty insurance to Orthodox churches of all jurisdictions in the U.S. GuideOne Insurance of West Des Moines, IA, is the one of the largest writers of churches and related institutions in the country.
]]>As part of its ongoing mission to see its clergy families healthy and thriving in ministry, the OCA Office of Pastoral Life hosted a three-day meeting to bring together stakeholders from across the church to discuss ways to help address the unique economic challenges its clergy families face.
“Financial struggles are common to so many of our clergy and their families,” said His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon. “I am pleased that The Office of Pastoral Life of the Orthodox Church in America continues to explore ways to expand our programs to help clergy families navigate the economic challenges that often come hand-in-hand with their ministry.”
From Monday, February 19, to Wednesday, February 21, Hierarchs, Central Administration staff, Diocescan Chancellors, clergy wives, advisors, and OCA Office of Pastoral Life staff gathered to better understand the economic challenges facing pastoral leaders in the OCA and how the church might respond.
Economic Challenges Stakeholders Meeting participants included His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon, OCA Office of Pastoral Life Episcopal Liaison His Grace Bishop Nikodhim, OCA Chancellor Archpriest Alexander Rentel, OCA Secretary Archpriest Alessandro Margheritino, Director of the Office of Pastoral Life Archpriest Nicholas Solak, Diocese of the Midwest Chancellor Archpriest Paul Jannakos, Diocese of Eastern Pennsylvania Chancellor Archpriest Raymond Browne, Diocese of the South Chancellor Archpriest Marcus Burch, and Diocese of the West Chancellor Archpriest Kirill Sokolov.
In 2023, The OCA Office of Pastoral Life was invited to submit a proposal for the Lilly Endowment’s National Economic Challenges Initiative for pastoral leaders. A confidential survey was sent out across the OCA by a third-party professional researcher, Dr. Robert Saler who also attended the meetings. Participants at the Stakeholders Meeting reviewed an aggregated and anonymized summary of the survey results and presented questions to Dr. Saler to better understand the landscape of economic realities faced by priests and their families. The Office of Pastoral Life plans to submit its proposal to the Lilly Endowment in April 2024 and expects to receive a response in August 2024.
Director of the Office of Pastoral Life Archpriest Nicholas Solak concludes:
“Under His Beatitude’s primatial leadership the OCA continues to advance the health and well being of its pastoral leaders through a portfolio of clergy family-focused programs, including Thriving in Ministry, Synaxis, the National Clergy Retreat, and the Clergy Wives Advisory Group. In addition, we continue to explore potential ways to help clergy families address economic challenges. A grant from the Lilly Endowment would further our mission-critical work in this area.”
]]>His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon will be presiding at the Rite of Consecration of Preparation of Holy Chrism during the Vesperal Divine Liturgy of Great and Holy Thursday, May 2, 2024 at St. Tikhon’s Monastery. This rite is reserved for Primates of autocephalous Orthodox Churches. The last time Holy Chrism was consecrated for the Orthodox Church in America was in 2017 and marks the second time His Beatitude has presided at the rite.
After the Chrism has been consecrated it will be distributed for parish use across North America for the Holy Mystery of Chrismation.
Holy Chrism is distinct from other blessed oils in Orthodox Christian rites and undergoes careful preparation, incorporating various ingredients such as olive oil, aromatic incenses, and fragrant oils. The process, overseen this year by Protodeacon Peter Ilchuk, will begin on Great and Holy Monday, April 29, and will conclude on Great and Holy Wednesday, May 1, with continuous stirring and readings from the Holy Gospels.
Clergy are invited to participate in the rite. A sign up sheet will be made available on the OCA website in coming weeks. Shifts reading the Gospel and stirring the Chrism are expected to be two-hours in length.
Hotel accommodations will be based on availability at the following locations at prevailing rates:
Monastery Schedule of Services:
Holy Monday
8am Hours and Presanctified Liturgy
430pm Bridegroom Matins
Holy Tuesday
8am Hours and Presanctified Liturgy
430pm Bridegroom Matins
Holy Wednesday:
8am Hours and Presanctified Liturgy
430pm Bridegroom Matins
Holy Thursday
8am Hours and Vesperal Liturgy with Consecration of Holy Chrism
6pm Matins of Holy Friday
Please see St. Tikhon’s Monastery Website for the complete schedule of services.
]]>What is it like to be a parish clergy wife in a country outside the US? How are things different from the way they are here, and what is much the same?
On Saturday March 9 at 1:00 PM EST, the Clergy Wives Advisory Group (CWAG) will offer an online retreat for clergy wives entitled “International Clergy Wives Speak” at which clergy wives will tell about their service in Norway, Ghana, Japan and Albania, and possibly a few more countries.
Our chancellor, Father Alexander Rentel, will open the retreat with prayer. Then the clergy wives will speak (some in recorded interviews) after which there will be time for reflection and questions. The retreat will end by 3:00 PM.
Please join us by registering with the link below by March 8. That evening you will receive the link to join the ZOOM on Saturday.
]]>Saint Tikhon’s Monastery is now accepting applications for their forthcoming 2024-2025 music residency program!
Calling Orthodox musicians!..... Are you looking for a place to grow as a church musician? Are you desiring to dig deeper into your love for sacred music and strengthen your technical skills?
The Saint Tikhon’s Music Program is currently in its third year, offering a one-of-a-kind, 9 month, on-site learning experience for Orthodox musicians. The program is hosting 4 music residents currently, and is now welcoming applications for its forthcoming year beginning September 2024. Each year music residents complete a capstone composition project that culminates in conducting and performing their work during Saint Tikhon’s annual Memorial Day pilgrimage.
Through group and individual instruction, customized assignments and experiential learning, students expand their music skills and knowledge, while enjoying the beautiful and rich liturgical life of St. Tikhon’s Monastery in rural northeast Pennsylvania.
Music residents are given the opportunity to:
The feedback from recent students includes:
“The freedom to attend services on a daily basis helped to mold my heart for serving in the world and my education from the instructors provided me with a foundation I have been blessed to offer my current parish.”
“To those who are called to devote a substantial portion of their life to Orthodox music, I highly recommend considering the residency program. “
“Being immersed in music and the life of the monastery for nine months was one of the most transformative experiences of my life.”
Visit sttikhonsmusicprogram.com to learn more about the music program audition process, see a sample weekly schedule and read what music residents are saying about their time at Saint Tikhon’s.
]]>On February 5-6, 2024, the Preconciliar Commission met under the presidency of His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon in Phoenix, AZ, the location of the upcoming 21st All-American Council, July 14-18, 2025. Other PCC members present at the meeting included Archpriest Alexander Rentel, OCA Chancellor, Archpriest Andrew Jarmus, Archpriest Kirill Sokolov, Protodeacon Peter Ilchuk, Council Manager, and Ms. Lynnell McFarland.
His Beatitude and the PCC spent the morning of February 6 receiving a tour of the Arizona Grand Resort where the Council is going to be held. The Committee reported they were satisfied the resort will be an excellent fit for the various needs of the AAC, its delegates, and vendors.
That afternoon, discussions were held with the property representative where they reviewed issues such as food services, security and safety, and the exhibition hall. Time was given to speak on potential themes for the 21st AAC and other practical concerns like the scheduling and structure of the Council.
His Beatitude and the PCC also visited Saint John the Evangelist Church in Tempe, AZ, where it had a productive meeting with local clergy and lay leadership. The meeting addressed initial questions around the many committees necessary for an All-American Council to be a success. The PCC did not form any committees at the meeting, but built a sense of excitement and anticipation about the AAC’s upcoming work.
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