The Metropolitan Council of the Orthodox Church in America met for its Regular Fall 2026 Session from October 14–15 in Springfield, VA, under the presidency of His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon. Meetings were held at the Hotel Belvoir, with the Council also gathering at Saint Nicholas Orthodox Cathedral in Washington, DC, for the celebration of the Divine Liturgy.

His Beatitude opened the Council session on Wednesday, October 14, with a Molieben. After the call to order, agenda review, and roll call, the Council approved the minutes of the Regular Spring 2026 Session and special sessions held earlier in the year. The Council then heard the report of the Metropolitan.

In his report, His Beatitude welcomed newer diocesan representatives to the Metropolitan Council and remembered clergy, monastics, and faithful who had fallen asleep in the Lord since the Council last gathered. He then reflected on what he described as an overarching season of growth and expansion in the life of the Orthodox Church in America, highlighting the Church’s work in mission planting, liturgical music, youth ministry, and the support of clergy and their families. He also reflected on the opportunities and challenges experienced throughout the dioceses of the Orthodox Church in America in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

His Beatitude devoted particular attention to the recently acquired property in Washington, DC, which will serve as the permanent residence of the Metropolitan and the new home of the Chancery Offices. He expressed gratitude to the ever-memorable servants of God Joseph and Theresa Domanick, whose generosity made the acquisition possible, and described the new property as a significant step toward integrating the Chancery more fully within the Archdiocese of Washington and establishing a permanent home for the central administration of the Church near the Primatial Cathedral.

Looking to the broader mission of the Church, His Beatitude reflected on the responsibility entrusted to the Orthodox Church in America as a local autocephalous Church and on the importance of maintaining communion and working toward greater Orthodox unity on this continent. He concluded by reminding the Council that the growth presently being witnessed in the Church is God’s gift and that every program, institution, and initiative must remain grounded in Jesus Christ and serve the unity of His Church.

Following His Beatitude’s report, Archpriest Alessandro Margheritino, Chancellor of the Orthodox Church in America, offered his report to the Council. In his report, Fr. Alessandro reflected on the ongoing work of the Chancery and the opportunities presented by the continued growth of the Orthodox Church in America. He highlighted several important initiatives, including the expansion of missionary support. Fr. Alessandro devoted particular attention to the relocation of the Chancery, including the anticipated sale of the former Chancery property on Long Island and the recent acquisition of the new Metropolitan’s residence and Chancery in Washington, DC. He emphasized the significance of this transition, which brings the residence of the Primate, the central administration of the Church, and Saint Nicholas Cathedral into close proximity, strengthening their connection and providing new opportunities for the Church’s mission and ministry.

Archpriest David Bozeman, Secretary of the Orthodox Church in America, reported on the administrative and operational work of the Chancery, including personnel transitions, records management, information technology, and communications. He also highlighted the relocation of the Church’s archival materials to Saint Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary and the submission of a $5 million grant proposal to the Lilly Endowment’s New Churches Initiative, intended to strengthen the Church’s capacity for missionary expansion.

Archpriest Nicholas Solak then presented the report of the Office of Pastoral Life, and Archpriest Justin Patterson offered a report on the work of the Departments of the Orthodox Church in America and presented candidates for the Church Planting Grant and the new Growing Spaces Grant.

Mr. Andrew Smith, Treasurer of the Orthodox Church in America, presented his report on the Church’s finances, highlighting its sound financial position and continued commitment to responsible stewardship and transparency. The report reflected the Church’s financial stability and its ability to support ongoing ministries and future initiatives. Following the Treasurer’s presentation and discussion, the Metropolitan Council approved the proposed 2027 budget. The day’s meetings concluded with remarks from His Beatitude and prayer. The Council members then participated in an orientation session led by the Chancellor, the Secretary, and Council member Mr. David Lane, Esq.

On Thursday, October 15, the members of the Metropolitan Council traveled to Saint Nicholas Orthodox Cathedral in Washington, DC, where His Beatitude presided at the celebration of the Divine Liturgy. Concelebrating with His Beatitude were Fr. David Bozeman, Archpriest Timothy Sawchak, and Deacon Matthew Prentice.

Following the Divine Liturgy and brunch, the members of the Metropolitan Council had an opportunity to visit the newly acquired Metropolitan’s residence and Chancery Offices. The Council then returned to Springfield and reconvened for its final meeting.

In recognition of the unique role of Saint Nicholas Cathedral as the Primatial Cathedral of the Orthodox Church in America, the Metropolitan Council approved a one-time contribution toward the Cathedral’s ongoing renovation and improvement campaign, including improvements to its parking facilities. With the relocation of the Metropolitan’s residence and Chancery to Washington, DC, Saint Nicholas Cathedral is assuming a more prominent role in the life of the entire Church, serving as a principal setting for primatial liturgical celebrations, ecclesiastical gatherings, and the welcoming of hierarchs, dignitaries, and visitors. The Council recognized that these improvements will help the Cathedral more fully carry out its responsibilities not only to its local community, but also to the Metropolitan and the Orthodox Church in America as a whole.

The Council heard the report of the Pension Board, presented by its Chair, Archpriest John Dresko, and the Plan Administrator, Mr. Michael Steiglitz, followed by the Legal Report offered by Mr. Mark Hamilton, General Counsel of the Orthodox Church in America, who joined the session via teleconference. Mr. Greg Honshul then presented the Property Committee report. The Council also discussed plans for its 2027 sessions, expressing its preference to return to two in-person meetings, which was the practice prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.

His Beatitude concluded the meetings by expressing his gratitude to the members of the Metropolitan Council for their service to the Church. The Regular Fall 2026 Session of the Metropolitan Council was then adjourned and concluded with prayer.

Minutes from the Regular Fall 2026 Session of the Metropolitan Council will be posted on the Orthodox Church in America website as they become available.

At the invitation of His Holiness Patriarch Shio, Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia, His Grace Bishop Vasily traveled to the Republic of Georgia to represent His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon, Primate of the Orthodox Church in America, at the celebrations marking the 1,700th anniversary of the proclamation of Christianity as the state religion of Georgia.

His Grace arrived in Georgia on Tuesday, October 13, 2026, and participated in the commemorative celebrations held on Wednesday, October 14, alongside hierarchs and delegations representing all the autocephalous Orthodox Churches.

The principal celebration took place at the historic Svetitskhoveli Patriarchal Cathedral in Mtskheta, where His Holiness Patriarch Shio presided at the festal Divine Liturgy, concelebrated by His Beatitude Metropolitan Rastislav of the Czech Lands and Slovakia, members of the Holy Synod of the Georgian Orthodox Church, and visiting Orthodox hierarchs. The celebration coincided with the feast of Svetitskhovloba, which commemorates the Robe of our Lord Jesus Christ and the Life-Giving Pillar, both closely associated with the Christian heritage of Georgia.

On this occasion, Bishop Vasily conveyed the personal greetings and congratulations of Metropolitan Tikhon in a letter addressed to His Holiness Patriarch Shio. Writing on behalf of the Holy Synod of Bishops, clergy, monastics, and faithful of the Orthodox Church in America, His Beatitude offered heartfelt congratulations to the Georgian Orthodox Church on this historic anniversary.

In his letter, Metropolitan Tikhon reflected on the extraordinary witness of the Georgian Church throughout seventeen centuries, beginning with the apostolic labors of Saint Nino, Equal-to-the-Apostles, and continuing through the generations of hierarchs, monastics, martyrs, confessors, and faithful who preserved the Orthodox faith through times of both prosperity and suffering. Recalling the words of the Lord, “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden” (Matthew 5:14), His Beatitude praised the Georgian Church’s steadfast witness to Christ and its rich spiritual inheritance, expressed through sacred chant, iconography, monastic life, and theological tradition.

His Beatitude also emphasized the bonds of fraternal love and communion that unite the Orthodox Church in America and the Georgian Orthodox Church. Despite the geographical distance separating the two Churches, he noted that they remain united in the one Orthodox faith, in the Eucharistic Chalice, and in their common calling to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Expressing regret that he could not participate personally in the celebrations, Metropolitan Tikhon conveyed through Bishop Vasily his prayers, personal greetings, and the love of the entire Orthodox Church in America.

The anniversary commemorates the establishment of Christianity as the state religion of Georgia in the fourth century, traditionally associated with the missionary labors of Saint Nino and the conversion of King Mirian and Queen Nana. The celebrations offered an occasion for thanksgiving for the enduring Christian heritage of the Georgian people and for the witness of the Georgian Orthodox Church throughout its history.

Bishop Vasily’s participation on behalf of Metropolitan Tikhon reaffirmed the fraternal relations between the Orthodox Church in America and the Georgian Orthodox Church, as well as the bonds of unity shared by the Local Orthodox Churches.

Photo credit: Georgian Orthodox Church

Listings in the “Pastoral Changes” appear after they have been submitted to the OCA Chancery by their respective dioceses.

St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary

St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary began its 2026–2027 academic year on Monday, September 7, welcoming thirty-three new students. Twenty-four of the incoming students are enrolled in the Master of Divinity (M.Div.) program, seven in the Master of Arts (M.A.) program, and two as non-degree students.

The incoming class includes both single and married students and represents eight Eastern and Oriental Orthodox jurisdictions. Thirteen students are from the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America and ten from the Orthodox Church in America, with additional students from the Armenian Apostolic Church, Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, Moscow Patriarchate in the USA, American Carpatho-Russian Orthodox Diocese of North America, Syriac Orthodox Church of Antioch, Malankara Archdiocese, and Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church.

With the incoming class, St. Vladimir’s has a total student body of ninety-eight. An additional eight students have entered the Seminary’s Doctor of Ministry program, while many others are studying through the St. Vladimir’s Online School of Theology, including eighty-nine students enrolled this fall in its Catechist Certification Program.

Seminary Dean Dr. Ionuț-Alexandru Tudorie welcomed the new students and their families following a Moleben in Three Hierarchs Chapel and reflected on the changing pastoral needs facing the Orthodox Church in North America and the sacrifices made by seminarians and their families as they prepare for service in the Church.

The Seminary has also undertaken several initiatives in response to its growing student body and the needs of seminarians and their families. Construction is underway on three new apartments in the Seminary’s Bazil Building, expanding available housing particularly for the increasing number of married students and families.

St. Vladimir’s has also expanded its Spiritual Formation Program and Clinical Pastoral Education offerings. The program now includes peer learning groups, sessions with experienced pastoral leaders, youth ministry training, financial management, and programs focusing on relationships and communication. The St. Juliana Society is also being renewed to provide additional formation, fellowship, and support for student spouses and other women in the Seminary community.

Several new faculty and staff members have joined the Seminary for the academic year, including Archpriest David Alexander as Assistant Professor of Pastoral Care and Counseling, Bishop Vahan Hovhanessian as Assistant Professor of Biblical Studies, and Archpriest Philip LeMasters as Professor of Christian Ethics.

St. Tikhon’s Orthodox Theological Seminary

St. Tikhon’s Orthodox Theological Seminary began the 2026–2027 academic year by welcoming eighteen new seminarians to its residential program in South Canaan. The incoming class represents the Orthodox Church in America’s Dioceses of the Midwest, New England, New York and New Jersey, the South, and the West, as well as the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America and the Serbian Orthodox Diocese of Western America.

This fall also marks the beginning of St. Tikhon’s new Chicago M.Div. program, which opened with twelve seminarians from the OCA Diocese of the Midwest. With the incoming classes in South Canaan and Chicago, St. Tikhon’s begins the academic year with sixty seminarians.

Orientation Week began with an orientation for seminarians and their families, giving incoming spouses and children an opportunity to meet returning members of the Seminary community and learn about family life at St. Tikhon’s. Students were also introduced to the Seminary’s revised curriculum by Academic Dean Archpriest Paul Witek.

The Seminary also welcomed Professor Justin Smith as Assistant Professor of Church History and Historical Theology.

Orientation Week concluded on Friday, September 4, with a visit by His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon. His Beatitude blessed the cassocks of the incoming seminarians and offered words of encouragement as they began their studies and formation for service in the Church.

St. Herman’s Orthodox Theological Seminary

St. Herman’s Orthodox Theological Seminary welcomed new and returning seminarians to Kodiak in August for the beginning of the 2026–2027 academic year. The Seminary’s annual orientation provided an opportunity for students to prepare for the coming semester of study.

During orientation, His Eminence Archbishop Alexei of Sitka and Alaska invited Deacon Andrei Mesak, Pavel Mesenbrink, Vasily Nicholai, and John Amik to reflect on their recent travels to Russia. The seminarians spoke about their encounters with Orthodox life there and considered how practices of prayer, preparation for the Holy Mysteries, attentiveness in worship, and the formation of children in the life of the Church might further strengthen Orthodox life in Alaska.

The beginning of the academic year also included the ordination of Pavel Mesenbrink to the subdiaconate by His Eminence. As part of his continuing formation, Mr. Mesenbrink is expected to travel to Unalaska for an introduction to the Aleutian Deanery and the possibility of future summer service among the faithful of the Aleutian Islands.

Among those beginning their studies at St. Herman’s this year are Sarjus Moonin of Nanwalek, Alaska, and Andrew Bramlett of Missouri. Sarjus was raised in the Orthodox Church in rural Alaska and hopes, God willing, that his formation at the Seminary will prepare him for future service to his home community. Andrew comes to Kodiak from the continental United States, drawn in part by the distinctive missionary and spiritual inheritance of Orthodoxy in Alaska, and hopes to serve the Church particularly through the formation of young Orthodox Christians.

Through its academic, liturgical, and pastoral formation, St. Herman’s Seminary continues the work of preparing faithful servants of the Church within the missionary tradition established in Alaska by St. Herman, St. Innocent, St. Jacob, and generations of Indigenous Orthodox Christians.

Support for Seminary Education

As the seminaries begin another year of forming men and women for service in the Church, the faithful of the Orthodox Church in America are reminded of the resolution of the 16th All-American Council, which called on every parish to designate 1% of its annual budget to support the work of the three OCA seminaries.

The faithful are also encouraged to pray for vocations and for the students, faculty, staff, and families whose lives are dedicated to theological education and formation for service in Christ’s Church.

For more information about the seminaries, their programs, and opportunities to support their work, please visit:

St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary: svots.edu
St. Herman’s Orthodox Theological Seminary: sthermanseminary.org
St. Tikhon’s Orthodox Theological Seminary: stots.edu

May the intercessions of St. Vladimir, St. Herman, St. Tikhon, and all the saints of North America support the seminarians, faculty, staff, donors, and their families at the start of the new academic year!

There is still time to donate and help the many Ukrainian refugees in Poland. Read His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon’s message below.

Beloved Clergy, Monastics, and Faithful of the Orthodox Church in America,

More than four years have passed since the outbreak of the devastating war in Ukraine. Although the world’s attention has increasingly turned elsewhere, the suffering of countless families has not ended. More than one million Ukrainian refugees remain in Poland, many of them women, children, and the elderly, who continue to face the daily challenges of displacement, uncertainty, and rebuilding their lives far from home.

From the very beginning of this tragedy, the Orthodox Church in America has sought to respond with Christian compassion. In the first weeks of the war, the generosity of our faithful made possible a large charitable collection, raising more than $720,000 for ELEOS, the humanitarian agency of the Polish Orthodox Church. Those funds provided immediate and tangible assistance to refugees seeking safety and shelter and have continued to bear fruit through programs that have helped thousands rebuild their lives. Our relationship with ELEOS has continued beyond that initial appeal, and earlier this year our Chancellor had the opportunity to visit the staff and ministries of ELEOS in Poland, witnessing firsthand the remarkable work being carried out by the Polish Orthodox Church on behalf of those who continue to suffer the consequences of this conflict.

As this terrible war continues, so too does our responsibility to stand with our suffering brothers and sisters. For this reason, I am grateful that the Orthodox Church in America is able once again to support this sacred work through our partnership with International Orthodox Christian Charities (IOCC). Working together with ELEOS, IOCC has provided compassionate and practical assistance to thousands of Ukrainian refugees in Poland. Through this partnership, vulnerable families have received emergency financial assistance to meet their most basic needs. Church-owned properties have been adapted to provide safe shelter for newly arrived refugees. Community Integration Centers have offered legal guidance, housing assistance, employment counseling, and access to a national refugee information service. Thousands of refugees have participated in Polish language classes, hundreds of children have received daycare services, and vocational training, together with small business grants, has enabled many families to begin rebuilding their livelihoods with dignity and hope.

Yet, despite these encouraging signs, the need remains great. Countless families continue to depend upon the generosity of the faithful as they strive to rebuild their lives after the trauma of war and displacement. Together with IOCC, we hope to raise $50,000 to continue providing the resources and opportunities that help Ukrainian refugees move from uncertainty toward stability and hope.

I therefore encourage all who are able to prayerfully consider making a generous contribution to IOCC’s ongoing ministry to Ukrainian refugees in Poland.

As we continue to pray for a just and lasting peace, let us also remember that our prayers find their fullest expression in works of mercy. In caring for those who have been displaced by war, we bear witness to the love of Christ Himself, who identifies with the stranger, the suffering, and the afflicted. May the Lord bless all who give generously to this worthy effort and strengthen those who labor to bring hope to our brothers and sisters in need.

With paternal love in Christ,

TIKHON
Archbishop of Washington
Metropolitan of All America and Canada

For four days, clergy from across the Orthodox Church in America set aside the ordinary demands of parish life to pray, listen, learn, and be renewed in fellowship with one another.

The 2026 Pastoral Retreat of the Orthodox Church in America’s Office of Pastoral Life was held September 29–October 2 at the University of Saint Mary of the Lake in Mundelein, IL. About 100 bishops, priests, and deacons participated in this year’s retreat. Clergy gathered around the theme “The Fields Are Ripe for the Harvest,” sharing in a dedicated time of prayer, reflection, conversation, and brotherhood.

His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon noted in his opening remarks: “Setting aside a time for prayer, reflection, and pastoral renewal is not an escape from our responsibilities as pastors. Rather, these moments of rest and renewal are necessary so that we might be strengthened and re-energized to return to our sacred ministries by nourishing our own souls and strengthening the spiritual brotherhood of the priesthood.”

The retreat featured presentations by Archpriest John Parker, Dean of Saint Tikhon’s Orthodox Theological Seminary in South Canaan, PA, and Mother Christophora, Abbess of Holy Transfiguration Monastery in Ellwood City, PA.

Father Parker spoke on “Radical Growth and a Return to the Roots of Discipleship,” inviting clergy to reflect on the pastoral implications of growth and the need to remain rooted in the fundamental work of forming disciples of Christ.

Mother Christophora offered a reflection entitled “The One who Endures to the End will be Saved: Clues from the Cloister,” drawing upon the wisdom and experience of monastic life to explore perseverance and faithful service.

The retreat also included optional workshops led by clergy and ministry leaders from across the Orthodox Church in America. Topics included preaching and spiritual hunger, ministry in established and aging parishes, cultivating a culture of hospitality, digital discernment, stewardship and parish growth, and discerning and preparing men for priestly vocations.

Prayer and worship remained at the heart of the Pastoral Retreat. The retreat included daily prayer, Great Vespers, and a Hierarchical Divine Liturgy for the Feast of the Protection of the Mother of God on Thursday, October 1, at New Gračanica Monastery in Third Lake, Illinois.

Alongside the formal sessions and services, clergy shared meals, conversation, fellowship, and time for rest. These less structured moments provided opportunities for clergy to strengthen existing relationships and build new ones.

The 2026 Pastoral Retreat continued the Office of Pastoral Life’s commitment to providing regular opportunities for clergy to step away from the demands of parish ministry and attend to the spiritual, pastoral, and fraternal dimensions of their vocation.

The next Office of Pastoral Life Pastoral Retreat will be held from October 19–22, 2027 at the University of Saint Mary of the Lake in Mundelein, IL.

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, who are foundational to parish life across North America. Believing that 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 generous donors, the Office of Pastoral Life helps create sustainable conditions in which priests, deacons and their families throughout the Orthodox Church in America can flourish spiritually, vocationally, and personally through every season of parish ministry.

On Wednesday evening, September 30, a fire destroyed the temple of All Saints Orthodox Church in Meadow Lake, SK, a parish of the Archdiocese of Canada. The cause of the fire has not yet been determined and remains under investigation. Nobody was hurt in the incident.

The church building had served the Orthodox faithful of Meadow Lake for nearly seventy years.

The parish community is now assessing the loss and considering its next steps. Services will not be held this coming weekend.

The faithful of the Orthodox Church in America are asked to keep the clergy and faithful of All Saints Church in their prayers during this time.

Additional information will be posted as it becomes available.

With profound thanksgiving to Almighty God, the Orthodox Church in America announces the acquisition of a new property in Washington, DC, which will serve as the residence of His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon and the new home of the Chancery of the Orthodox Church in America.

The acquisition represents a major milestone in the life of the Orthodox Church in America and brings to completion the relocation of the main Chancery offices from the former Chancery property in Oyster Bay Cove, New York, and the establishment of temporary offices in Springfield, Virginia, in 2022.

Located just a few steps from Saint Nicholas Orthodox Cathedral, the Primatial Cathedral of the Orthodox Church in America, the new property establishes the residence of the Primate and the central administrative offices of the Church in close proximity to the Primatial Cathedral. This proximity will strengthen the liturgical, pastoral, and administrative life of the Church and provide a fitting setting for the ministry of the Primate and the work of the Chancery officers.

Its location in the heart of Washington, DC, provides the Orthodox Church in America with an accessible and visible presence in the nation’s capital. The spacious property will also offer opportunities to welcome hierarchs, clergy, faithful, dignitaries, and other visitors, while facilitating the Church’s engagement with ecclesiastical, diplomatic, civic, and other institutions. In this way, the new location will support the Orthodox Church in America in carrying out its broader mission and witness on this continent.

The acquisition was made possible through the extraordinary generosity of two faithful members of the Orthodox Church in America, the late Joseph and Theresa Domanick, whose gift provided the means for the purchase of the property. Their generosity represents a remarkable and enduring offering to the Church and will continue to bear fruit in its ministry for generations to come.

Reflecting on the acquisition, His Beatitude offered thanksgiving to God and gratitude to all those who made it possible:

“We give thanks to Almighty God for His abundant mercy and for this remarkable blessing in the life of the Orthodox Church in America. I am especially grateful for the extraordinary generosity of the ever-memorable servants of God Joseph and Theresa Domanick, whose love for the Church made this acquisition possible. I also offer my heartfelt gratitude to the members of the Holy Synod, the Metropolitan Council, our officers, advisors, and all those who have devoted so much time and labor to bringing this undertaking to completion. May this new home serve the Church faithfully and strengthen her witness and ministry for many years to come.”

The acquisition received the unanimous support of both the Holy Synod of Bishops and the Metropolitan Council, reflecting a common vision for the future of the central administration of the Orthodox Church in America.

Archpriest Alessandro Margheritino, Chancellor of the Orthodox Church in America, described the acquisition as the culmination of a lengthy process and a significant new chapter in the life of the Church:

“This is a monumental step in the life of the Orthodox Church in America and the fulfillment of a process that has required an extraordinary amount of work, consultation, and cooperation. It represents much more than a geographic relocation. The establishment of the Metropolitan’s residence with Chancery offices just steps from our Primatial Cathedral brings together, in a meaningful and necessary way, the primatial, liturgical, pastoral, and administrative dimensions of the life of our Church. From the extraordinary generosity that made the purchase possible, to the remarkable location that became available, to the unanimous support of the Holy Synod and Metropolitan Council, there have been many moments throughout this process in which we could see the providence of God at work. Its successful completion is a cause for profound gratitude.”

Final preparations for His Beatitude’s move are currently underway, including furnishing the property and transferring materials from the temporary Chancery offices in Springfield and from the former Chancery in Oyster Bay Cove.

As the Orthodox Church in America enters this new chapter, the faithful are asked especially to remember in prayer the ever-memorable servants of God Joseph and Theresa Domanick, whose extraordinary generosity made this acquisition possible.

May their memory be eternal!

The OCA Department of Christian Education has released additional lessons at three grade levels in the “Blessed is the Kingdom” series, a school-age curriculum based on themes presented in the popular “Essential Orthodox Christian Beliefs,” assisting parishes and Church School teachers in the formation of Orthodox Christian students. The project’s goal is to provide 32 lessons, at five grade levels: preschool, kindergarten through second grade, third grade through fifth grade, and middle school. Eventually, the Department intends to include lessons for high school as well—all in alignment with the Essential Orthodox Christian Beliefs adult teaching series. The development of this school-age curriculum makes available a parish-wide coordinated educational program.

The series author, Kelly Potteiger, is creating this new series using the successful format of her previous occasional lessons, “All of Creation Rejoices,” and “Let Your Light So Shine,” often used for short series or Vacation Church School themes.

The newly released lessons (15 of 32) are on a variety of themes including the Beatitudes, worship, the liturgical year, the communion of saints, the role of icons and relics, and the Holy Trinity. As in previous lessons, the new series emphasizes scripture and liturgical texts, are written with clear instructions for teachers, and are scripted in order to assist novice teachers. The lessons are created to be highly interactive using questions, activities, and crafts which are especially attractive to young students and enable learning more effectively than paper exercises.

Find all the completed lessons to date

You can support the ongoing projects of the Departments of the OCA by considering a gift to the Stewards of the OCA. Your financial support is crucial to the success of these endeavors! For questions about the work of the Departments, contact Archpriest Justin Patterson at jpatterson@oca.org.