Announcement from the Metropolis Chancery

We have the sorrowful duty to announce the repose of one of our dedicated parish clergy, Presbyter Mark Gilstrap, rector of the Church of St. James the Apostle Church in Owasso (Tulsa), Oklahoma. Father Mark reposed suddenly this morning, 22 August/4 September, in his home.

Further details regarding Fr. Mark's repose and funeral arrangements, as well as an obituary, will be forthcoming. His Eminence Metropolitan Demetrius requests the immediate commencement of heartfelt prayers and liturgical commemoration on the part of our clergy, monastics, and faithful, the entire fullness of the Body of the Church, for the repose of the Servant of God Presbyter Mark, and for the consolation of Matushka Tatiana and Fr. Mark's pious children and grandchildren.

May his Memory be Eternal!

Orthodox Awareness

Why Do We Follow the Old Orthodox Calendar?

Why do we follow the Old Orthodox Calendar?

a Because based on it, the First Ecumenical Council established the Paschal Canon and appointed that the feast of Holy Pascha may fall anywhere from March 22nd until April 25th, while with the New (Papal) Calendar it can fall as late at May 8th.

b The Gregorian (Papal) Calendar has been condemned by three Pan-Orthodox Councils under Patriarch Jeremiah Tranos (1583, 1587, 1589) Read more...

Missions

Saint John of Kronstadt - Bunnell, Florida

St. John of Kronstadt Orthodox Church began as a mission parish in the year 2000, in a home chapel in Palm Coast, FL – a small town on Florida’s northeast coast located between St. Augustine and Daytona Beach. After two years, it became necessary to have services in area community centers, rented for Sundays and other Holy Days. Read more...

Youth

2025 Youth Conference

Please join us for the 2026 youth conference in Upper Marlboro, MD! To learn more, visit the this page.

Ask A Priest

Fasting

Q. There seems to be a lot of variation in how people observe fasting, but my confessor told me to fast from oil on Wednesday and Friday. Oil is a pretty vague category, though, and I was wondering if I could get a more explicit description of what kinds of food and drink are excluded on strict fast days. Read more...