The Feast of Saint John of Damascus Orthodox Educational Initiative 2022

Details: Created on Saturday, 18 February 2023 18:16

On Saturday, December 4/December 17, His Eminence, Metropolitan Demetrius, celebrated a peaceful Divine Liturgy in the chapel dedicated to Saint John of Damascus in honor of the patron of our Educational Initiative. This was part of a visit to the Initiative offices and the residence of Fr. John Somers, the Headmaster of the Orthodox Educational Initiative.

During his visit, His Eminence spent time discussing Initiative updates with Fr. John as well as praying for Saint John’s intercessions to guide the students, faculty, and parents of the OEI. The visit was a wonderful blessing for the Initiative!

Operating with the blessing of the Eparchial Synod, the Initiative maintains many different offerings for elementary, middle, and high school students as well as adult discussion groups, podcasts, and a YouTube channel that produces Orthodox educational content.

Please peruse our website https://orthodoxlearninggoc.com for current offerings as well as give us a call at 215-987-2655 or send us an email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. We are always accepting donations for our scholarship fund which allows deserving children who would not otherwise be able to participate in our classes, the ability to attend!

May God bless all the teachers, students, parents, and benefactors of the Orthodox Educational Initiative and may Saint John of Damascus intercede on our behalf!

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Orthodox Awareness

A Miracle of Saint Spyridon

This miracle of Saint Spyridon took place in Mandra, Greece in 1926.

It was 12/25 December, 1926. The state Church of Greece adopted the Papal calendar and with the help of the Greek government persecuted all those who did not accept the Papal calendar. The faithful Orthodox Christians of Mandra woke up and headed to their Church to celebrate the Feast of Saint Spyridon. When they reached the Church they saw that the door to the Church had been secured with chains and the faithful could not enter. Before leaving the Church to return to their homes they stuck their candles on the door. As soon as the last person placed his candles on the door

the chains broke and fell. The faithful, confirmed in their Faith, entered the Church and celebrated the Feast of Saint Spyridon.

The miracle was reported the next day by the newspaper Skrip.

Missions

Saints Peter and Paul Orthodox Mission, Tucson, Arizona

Saints Peter and Paul Orthodox Church is a beautiful mission parish near downtown Tucson, a city in southern Arizona. It was started in 1997 by Father John Bockman, who was a missionary Priest formerly serving missions in Tennessee and Massachusetts since 1990. Father John served the faithful in Tucson and the surrounding area in his home Chapel until his repose in November of 2000. His wife, Presbytera Valerie, continued to make her home Chapel available for the mission, with clergy from Saint Nectarios Orthodox Church in Seattle and His Eminence, Metropolitan Moses of Toronto (then of Portland), visiting to provide the Divine Services.

Youth

2023 Youth Conference

Please join us for the 2023 youth conference in Chicago, IL! To learn more, visit the home page or visit the conference website.

Ask A Priest

Is the GOC Insular?

Q. In considering becoming part of the GOC in America, I am getting warnings from various circles that the attitude of GOC people is that of being “walled off,” “arrogant,” “judgmental,” and “in your face” toward those not in the Genuine Orthodox Church, with accusations such as “World Orthodox” priests are “not even Christians” and the like. Could you give me your personal, realistic assessment of this dynamic and possibly refer me to an official statement on how GOC members should and do relate to and communicate with those in “World Orthodoxy”? Read more...

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