With the blessing of the Holy Synod of Bishops, and at the invitation of His Eminence Archbishop Daniel of Chicago and the Diocese of the Midwest, the Diaconal Vocations Program of the Orthodox Church in America (OCA) is pleased to announce that we will be offering a second Diaconal Liturgical Practicum this Summer: August 25-28, 2026, on the campus of Holy Trinity Church, Parma, OH.

The five-day program (two full days and two half days) will offer intense practical liturgical training for deacons and lay diaconal candidates. In addition to liturgical practice, sessions will also cover chanting and vocal technique and address teaching about the Orthodox faith.

This 20th annual Practicum is put on by the Orthodox Church in America’s Diaconal Vocations Program (DVP) and is highly recommended by the Holy Synod for participants in the Church’s program and other diaconal formation programs.

The Practicum is highly recommended for participants in the Church’s diaconal formation programs by the Holy Synod and is offered at the invitation of His Eminence, Archbishop Daniel, and with the blessing of His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon, with oversight by the Board of Theological Education of the Orthodox Church in America. This second session is being held in Parma, OH.  Liturgical workshops are delivered by an experienced faculty, including Archpriest Kirill Sokolov, director of the Diaconal and Late Vocations of the Orthodox Church in America, Archpriest Gregory Ealy, and Subdeacon Dimitri Pletz.

Course Description

Practical liturgical training for deacons and lay diaconal candidates will be centered on serving the Divine Liturgy and other services. Intensive workshops aim to provide participants with the skills needed to serve effectively in the Orthodox Church as an attentive server, deacon, or priest. Attention will be given to the liturgical patterns of movement that inform the entire rite of the Church. Participants will also receive guidance on concelebrations and hierarchical celebrations so that they can effectively prepare for such occasions. In addition to practicums, focused presentations by faculty will augment the deacon’s understanding of his place in the liturgical life of the Church and the deacon’s broader vocation as a symbol to the faithful of the diakonia of Christ our Lord. Instruction in speaking about the faith and vocal technique when chanting will also be offered.

Schedule

A welcome BBQ, prayer, and an opening session will launch the Practicum at 5 PM on Tuesday, August 25. The Practicum will conclude on Friday, August 28. Participants can plan on leaving around 1 PM to take flights from Cleveland in the afternoon.

Registration and Fee

The cost to register for the Ohio 2026 Diaconal Practicum is $450 and includes all meals throughout the practicum, but does not include transportation and/or lodging.  Payment should be made upon completion of registration via the form below.

Setting

Parma, Ohio: Located just south of Cleveland, Parma offers visitors convenient access to one of the Midwest’s major metropolitan regions while retaining the character of a close-knit suburban community. Greater Cleveland is home to a rich cultural and religious heritage, with museums, parks, historic neighborhoods, and Lake Erie all within easy reach. Visitors traveling to Parma are served by Cleveland Hopkins International Airport (CLE), located approximately 15 miles from Holy Trinity Orthodox Church, with daily non-stop service from major domestic carriers. Parma’s central location and accessibility make it an ideal setting for fellowship, worship, and study in the heart of Northeast Ohio.

Holy Trinity Orthodox Church: Founded in 1963, Holy Trinity Orthodox Church of the Orthodox Church in America has long been known as a vibrant English-language Orthodox parish with a strong commitment to liturgical life, theological education, and hospitality. Situated on a spacious campus in Parma, the parish grew from the vision of six founding families and today serves a diverse and growing community from across Greater Cleveland. The church temple is beautifully adorned with traditional Orthodox iconography and provides a setting well suited for prayerful worship and rigorous liturgical training. Holy Trinity’s clergy and faithful are widely recognized for their dedication to Orthodox Christian outreach, sacred music, and education, making the parish an ideal host for gatherings focused on worship, learning, and fellowship. More information: Holy Trinity Orthodox Church

Accommodations

Room blocks have been secured at Embassy Suites by Hilton Cleveland Rockside at an event rate of $139/night. Participants are welcome to stay elsewhere as preferred.

Embassy Suites
5800 Rockside Woods Blvd N
Independence OH 44131

You can book your room here: hilton.com/en/attend-my-event/holytrinityorthodoxchurchroomblock

Group Name: Holy Trinity Orthodox Church
Group Code: XHT
Cutoff Date: July 28, 2026
Central Reservations Number: 1-800-315-1185

Important Notes:

The link should be copied and pasted into the browser as sometimes just clicking on the link can cause it to bring up an error page.

All reservations must be booked no later than July 28, 2026, in order to receive the negotiated rate.

There is a Top Golf right next door if anyone wants to bring clubs.

FAQs

We often receive questions from potential participants regarding ways to prepare for our Diaconal Liturgical Practicum. This section seeks to answer some of these “Frequently Asked Questions.”

I already registered for the Practicum in Santa Rosa this summer?  Can I switch to the Ohio Practicum?

Yes!  Simply request a refund from the Diocese of the West at chancery@dowoca.org and register (again) for this one.

I’m just entering the Diaconal Vocations Program. Should I attend?

The Holy Synod believes that everyone studying for the Diaconate should study and practice liturgics in a regular, organic fashion. Attending an annual summer program with experienced faculty and other DVP participants is a very effective aid in preparation for the Diaconate. You will “get something” from the program every year you attend, whether you are new, returning, or already ordained. Those who wish to serve as Deacons in the Orthodox Church in America are required to attend two Practicums.

I’ve been a deacon for some time.  Is this for me?

Every deacon can benefit from participating in the fellowship, conciliar service, and indeed, a refresher course in liturgical practice. Experienced participants can be a great encouragement to those just beginning their journey to the diaconate. Past participants have described their diaconate as being refreshed after attending. If you are not sure whether you ought to register for the program, please e-mail Archpriest Kirill to discuss at dvp@oca.org.

How can I make myself ready for this Practicum?

Everyone comes to our program from different parishes and with different experiences. With that in mind, our practical training seeks to start at a level where everyone can participate and grow. Already-ordained deacons and future candidates are trained in ways appropriate to their experience. Participants can have the best experience by preparing in the following ways:

• Seek the guidance of your parish priest and the director of your vocations program.
• Experience worship actively.
• Pay attention to the Divine Liturgy and other services of the Church in your parish.
• Without getting “bogged down” in a book, follow the outline of the services in service books.
• Try to anticipate the liturgical actions of the priest, deacon, and servers before they occur. Are there discernible patterns?
• If you are not already a deacon, your priest may invite you to participate in the services as an altar server, reader, or choir member. Be obedient in these matters to your parish priest and try to grow in your abilities under his direction.
• You may wish to seek the guidance of a skilled musician, such as your parish’s choir director, if you are inexperienced in church reading.
• Above all, prayerful preparation by faithful participation in the divine services is key.
• Come to the Practicum physically rested and mentally alert for a program that will be challenging but, we pray, rewarding.

Should I bring my own vestments?

We ask that deacons bring a complete set of gold vestments (stikharion, orarion, and cuffs) to ensure a good fit for serving. It is our practice that deacons vest fully for the reception of Holy Communion in the altar. We will provide vestments for those participants serving as subdeacons and servers but you may bring gold vestments if you prefer.

The Office of Pastoral Life of the Orthodox Church in America has announced registration is now open for its 2026 Pastoral Retreat, to be held September 29 through October 2, 2026, at the University of Saint Mary of the Lake in Mundelein, IL.

This in-person gathering establishes a shared rhythm of prayer, collaborative learning, and meaningful conversation. These rhythms are often difficult to sustain amid the growing pace and activity of parish life today.

Set within a dedicated retreat environment, clergy are invited to slow down, listen carefully, and engage deeply with one another in a way that supports clarity, renewal, and perspective in priestly work.

Full details regarding the program, schedule, speakers, and registration information are available at the Office of Pastoral Life website.

The Diocese of the Midwest announced today that registration is now open for the 2026 Parish Development Forum. The Forum will be held from 1:00 PM on Thursday July 9 through noon on Saturday July 11 2026, at St. Luke’s Church in the Chicago suburb of Palos Hills IL. The Parish Development Forum is a clergy and laity conference dedicated to exploring the challenges facing contemporary Orthodox parishes, delivering actionable ideas and good practices valuable to parish leaders, and creating mutually supportive relationships among participants.

The American and Orthodox “Experiments”

“The 2026 Forum theme is “St. Tikhon’s Vision for the Church in America: An Experiment for Parish Life”, noted Archpriest Stephen Frase, Clergy Chairperson for the Forum. “This theme highlights the union of last year’s 100th anniversary of the repose of Saint Tikhon, Enlightener of North America, and this year’s 250th anniversary of the birth of the United States. Faithful to Orthodox Tradition, yet, adapted to a radically new social environment, St. Tikhon’s vision—an ecclesial experiment with similarities to the American experiment—emphasized English language worship, active lay ministry, conciliar parish and Church governance and leadership, a missional expansion of Orthodoxy through extensive parish planting, an emphasis on adult faith education and laying a foundation for a unified, local, self-governing Church in America. These principles continue to be significant for today’s American parishes.”

“The Parish Development Forum is a conference which encourages discussion of timely topics and discovery of practices used by healthy, vibrant Orthodox parishes,” said Joseph Kormos, Forum lay co-chairperson.  “This is the twelfth Parish Development Forum. Past Forums have drawn parish leaders from most OCA Dioceses, the Antiochian Archdiocese, the Greek Archdiocese, Ukrainian Orthodox parishes in the US and Canada and others.  The agenda will include keynote presentations, facilitated small group discussion, time to forge interparish connection and relationships and daily worship. Keynote contributors will include Prof. Scott Kenworthy, historian and author of a recent book on the life of St. Tikhon, Archpriest Alexander Rentel, former OCA Chancellor and Professor at St. Vladimir’s Seminary, Father Nicholas Anton of the Assembly of Orthodox Bishops in America and others.”

First Parish Development Forum in Chicago

Fr. Paul Jannakos, Rector of host parish St. Luke’s Orthodox Church said, “This is the first time the Parish Development Forum has been held in the Chicago area. Our parishioners are looking forward to welcoming Orthodox Christians from the throughout the Midwest, across the OCA and our friends in other Orthodox jurisdictions. Our parish facilities and location provide an excellent conference setting—only 22 minutes from Chicago’s Midway Airport and ten minutes from I- 294. Over half of the OCA’s parishes are within a manageable drive of our location.”

Conference Registration – Early Bird Discount and Parish Group Discount

Registration is open to clergy and laity from any Orthodox jurisdiction. An “early bird” registration discount of $40 per attendee is available until June 26. After June 26 the registration fee will be $140 per attendee.

Parishes sending four or more attendees can receive a rebate on all attendees. Registration must be done online and is available here. Registration payment can be made by credit card only. To maintain an intimate setting for thoughtful exchange among attendees, Forum attendance will be limited to 80 persons.

A block of hotel rooms has been reserved at and is accessible through the registration landing page site.

Questions and enquiries may be directed to Mr. Kormos at joekormos1@gmail.com  with the subject “Forum Questions”.

Founded in 2001, the Elsie Skvir Ganister Foundation Fund is a component fund of the First Community Foundation Partnership of Pennsylvania, located in Williamsport, PA. The foundation takes its name from the village of Ganister in Central Pennsylvania, where immigrants drawn there by jobs in the limestone quarry founded St. Mary’s Holy Assumption parish in 1916.

Favor is given to proposals that address priority needs of the Orthodox Church in America, especially those that do so in catalytic ways. The selection process also weighs leadership experience, clarity of goals, the presence of a stable funding base, and faithfulness to the teachings and ministry of the OCA. Applicants must articulate how their undertaking will have a positive impact on a specific priority need, without duplicating other programs or projects already serving the Church.

Grants are modest in size and traditionally capped at $5,000. But, properly used, they have the potential to jump-start valuable initiatives that might not otherwise get off the ground. Examples of grants given over the years include:

• Fund a guest speaker program to help seminarians develop their pastoral skills
• Finance air conditioning and installation for a community “outreach bus”
• Translate invaluable music textbooks from Russian to English
• Purchase digital recorders to distribute Orthodox radio broadcasts world-wide
• Develop a mission “starter kit”
• Minister to new mothers by providing infant car seats
• Support the distribution of religious materials to prison inmates
• Cover the cost of new laundry equipment purchased to assist domestic violence survivors
• Contribute to canonization activities for the new saint Mother Olga of Alaska

Applicants must be qualifying 501c(3) entities as described under IRS Section 509(a)(1). Grants will not be considered for endowments, ongoing operational support, annual campaigns or event sponsorships, debt reduction, research grants, or support of individuals.

To apply, visit the First Community Foundation Partnership of Pennsylvania website. Applications will be reviewed and recommendations made by the Advisory Board of the Elsie Skvir Ganister Foundation Fund, a donor-advised component fund of the First Community Foundation Partnership of Pennsylvania.

Your Holiness, beloved brother and concelebrant in the Lord’s Mysteries,

I write to extend to Your Holiness my heartfelt congratulations on your election as Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia.

The Georgian Orthodox Church, with her ancient apostolic heritage and steadfast witness through centuries of trial and endurance, occupies a cherished place within the family of the Holy Orthodox Churches. At this important moment in the life of your Church, I pray that the Lord will grant Your Holiness wisdom, strength, peace, and abundant grace as you assume this sacred ministry.

Your election follows the blessed and remarkable ministry of His Holiness Patriarch Ilia II of thrice-blessed memory, whose faithfulness, pastoral love, and spiritual leadership inspired generations of Orthodox faithful both in Georgia and throughout the Orthodox world. I am confident that, strengthened by the prayers and example of your venerable predecessor, as well as by the intercessions of the holy saints of Georgia, Your Holiness will continue to guide the Georgian Church with steadfast faith and fatherly care.

Please be assured of my prayers for Your Holiness and for the clergy, monastics, and faithful of the Georgian Orthodox Church during this new chapter in her life. I also pray that the fraternal relations between the Georgian Orthodox Church and the Orthodox Church in America may continue to grow and strengthen in the years ahead for the building up of Christ’s Holy Church and the proclamation of the Gospel.

Once again, please accept my heartfelt congratulations and fraternal love. May the Lord grant Your Holiness many blessed years.

Your brother in Christ,

+Tikhon
Archbishop of Washington
Metropolitan of All America and Canada

Meeting under the presidency of His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon, the Holy Synod of Bishops of the Orthodox Church in America concluded their regular Spring Session held April 28 - 30, 2026 in Springfield, VA.

On Tuesday, April 28 the meeting began with an Opening Molieben and a report from His Beatitude where he highlighted the work of the Office of the Metropolitan. His Beatitude also presented His Eminence Archbishop Alexander’s request for retirement as ruling hierarch of the Diocese of the South. That request was approved by the Holy Synod. Throughout the spring session, the ruling hierarchs presented annual reports for each of the dioceses.

At the second meeting, the Holy Synod received and approved a report on the updated Social Media Guidelines for Clergy and Lay Leaders of the Orthodox Church in America. The Holy Synod then discussed the Synodal offices, committees, and commissions and their ongoing work.

On Wednesday, April 29, the Holy Synod gathered at St. Nicholas Cathedral for the celebration of the Divine Liturgy with His Grace Bishop Benedict presiding. The community provided a brunch and a time of fellowship for the hierarchs. Following the Divine Liturgy, the Holy Synod heard reports from Archpriest Alessandro Margheritino, Chancellor of the Orthodox Church in America, Priest David Bozeman, Secretary of the Orthodox Church in America, and Mr. Andrew Smith, Treasurer.

The Holy Synod also heard reports from Archpriest Nicholas Solak for the Office of Pastoral life, where he reported on the various programs under the OPL as well as the upcoming Clergy and Clergy Wives Retreats to be held later this year. Archpriest John Dresko, Chair of the Pension Board, presented his report followed by Dr. Alexander Tudorie, Dean of St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary, who reported seminary activities. The day concluded with additional diocesan reports.

On Thursday, April 30, His Beatitude and the Holy Synod heard reports from Archpriest Justin Patterson, Project Manager of the Departments of the Orthodox Church in America, the OCA’s General Counsel, Mr. Mark Hamilton, the Board of Theological Education, and Archpriest John Parker, Dean of St. Tikhon’s Orthodox Theological Seminary, who reported on seminary activities and provided an update on the new partnership program with the Diocese of the Midwest. The session concluded with the remaining diocesan reports.

At its Spring 2026 Session, the Holy Synod of Bishops of the Orthodox Church in America adopted updated “Social Media Guidelines for Clergy and Lay Leaders” for use throughout the life of the Church.

The revised guidelines apply to clergy, employees, and lay leaders serving in the dioceses, parishes, monasteries, seminaries, and institutions of the Orthodox Church in America. They are also commended to all who participate in the pastoral life and public witness of the Church, including clergy wives, monastics, parish council members, youth leaders, teachers, and others who represent the Church within their communities.

Recognizing the increasingly central role of digital communication in contemporary life, the guidelines seek to encourage responsible, charitable, and Christ-centered engagement on social media and other online platforms. The document emphasizes that Christian witness extends not only to what is said in person, but also to what is written, shared, and discussed online.

The guidelines are intended not primarily as restrictions, but as a pastoral and spiritual resource rooted in the Church’s longstanding understanding of speech, conduct, and Christian witness. Drawing upon the wisdom of the fathers, the document recalls the words of Abba Poemen: “I have often repented of having spoken, but never of having kept silence.”

In an age in which digital communication often rewards immediacy, reaction, and division, the Church is called to bear witness in a different manner: speaking the truth in love, exercising patience and restraint, and manifesting the peace of Christ even in online discourse.

The Holy Synod commends these guidelines to the faithful of the Orthodox Church in America with the hope that they will serve as a helpful tool for fostering thoughtful and respectful communication and a more faithful Christian witness in the digital sphere.

Registration is now open for the 2026 OCA-Wide Clergy Wives Retreat, hosted by the Office of Pastoral Life of the Orthodox Church in America.

The retreat will take place July 27–30, 2026, at the Antiochian Village Conference and Retreat Center in Bolivar, Pennsylvania. The theme for this year’s gathering is “Come Away and Rest.”

“This retreat marks the first OCA-wide gathering of its kind for clergy wives across the whole Church,” said Matushka Carrie Foley, program director of the Clergy Wives Ministry of the Office of Pastoral Life. “It will bring clergy wives and widows together for prayer, encouragement and connection. Set within the peaceful grounds of the Antiochian Village, the retreat will offer time to step away from the ordinary demands of parish life, build relationships, share wisdom and be strengthened for the life of ministry before them.”

The Office of Pastoral Life’s Clergy Wives Ministry, continues to develop intentional opportunities for clergy wives to gather, learn from one another, and support the health of clergy households and parish communities.

The retreat will include worship, presentations, small-group conversations, and time for rest and fellowship.

Parishes are encouraged to support the participation of their clergy’s wives by assisting with registration and reasonable travel expenses whenever possible. Healthy clergy households help strengthen parish life, and the participation of clergy wives in this retreat is a meaningful investment in the broader health of the Church.

Matushka Carrie emphasized that parish support is not only practical, but also a meaningful expression of love and gratitude. “Clergy wives pour out their lives for the church. They support their husbands’ ministries in a myriad of ways both seen and unseen. They do not seek acknowledgement, let alone awards, for what they do. We’re already seeing a deep desire to attend, and we want to make sure no one is turned away for financial reasons. When parishes and individuals help underwrite this retreat—whether by sponsoring a participant or contributing to scholarships—they become part of that care. It’s a beautiful, tangible way to honor their ‘little mothers’ who give so much. I’ve been deeply encouraged by the generosity we’ve already seen, and I’m hopeful others will join in making this possible for even more women.”

Individuals who wish to support this first OCA-wide Clergy Wives Retreat are invited to make a contribution toward the cost of the gathering. To garner support from the broader church, a Sponsorship Menu has been established. Gifts will help make the retreat more accessible and strengthen the Office of Pastoral Life’s growing work with clergy wives across the Church.

For more information, contact:
Office of Pastoral Life
Orthodox Church in America
clergywives@opl.oca.org

Who This Retreat Is For

• Wives of priests and deacons in the Orthodox Church in America
• Clergy widows
• Women new to clergy life
• Retired clergy wives

About the Office of Pastoral Life

The Orthodox Church in America’s Office of Pastoral Life supports the well-being of clergy and their families, the foundation of parish life across North America. Believing the health of the Church is inseparable from the health of her clergy, the Office offers programs that build resilience, connection and pastoral joy. Programs include Thriving in Ministry peer-learning groups, Financial Health Initiatives, quarterly Synaxis Gatherings, Retreats and Clergy Wives Ministry. In partnership with bishops, dioceses, parishes and our generous donors, the Office of Pastoral Life helps create sustainable conditions in which priests, deacons and their families of the Orthodox Church in America can flourish spiritually, vocationally and personally through every season of parish ministry.

On Monday, May 4, 2026, His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon received Deacon Marek Simon, Executive Director of the Orthodox Christian Fellowship (OCF), and Mr. Andrew Boyd, Chairman of the OCF Board of Directors, at the temporary Chancery of the Orthodox Church in America in Springfield, VA. Also present for the meeting was Archpriest Alessandro Margheritino, Chancellor of the Orthodox Church in America.

During their visit, Deacon Marek and Mr. Boyd provided an update on the ongoing work of OCF, highlighting the continued growth of this vital pan-Orthodox campus ministry throughout the United States. They spoke of the development of new chapters and campus centers, as well as the strengthening of existing ministries that serve Orthodox college students across the country.

Particular attention was given to OCF’s Campus Missionary Initiative, which seeks to establish a consistent Orthodox presence on college campuses through trained missionaries who support student leaders, foster community life, and facilitate connections between students and local parishes. This initiative continues to play an essential role in expanding the reach of Orthodox ministry to young adults and in nurturing their spiritual formation during their college years.

The conversation also included discussion of the upcoming Real Break 2026 pilgrimage to the country of Georgia, which will take place later this month under the leadership of His Grace Bishop Gerasim of Fort Worth. This program, which combines service, pilgrimage, and spiritual reflection, remains one of OCF’s most impactful offerings for Orthodox college students.

On behalf of the Orthodox Church in America, His Beatitude expressed his continued prayers, support, and gratitude for the work of OCF. He noted the importance of this growing ministry not only in supporting Orthodox students during their college years, but also as a powerful witness of the Orthodox faith on campuses, where many young people encounter the Church for the first time.

The Orthodox Christian Fellowship serves as the official campus ministry of the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the United States of America, working to support Orthodox students and connect them more deeply to the life of the Church. Through its programs and outreach, OCF continues to play a critical role in fostering the next generation of faithful Orthodox Christians.