Father Christos and Prebystera Katina Patitsas of Huntingdon, Pennsylvania, visited SS. Peter & Paul Orthodox Church in Tucson, Arizona, for the weekend of the Sunday of the Prodigal Son (Jan 26/Feb 8, 2015). Father Christos served Great Vespers on Saturday evening, and before the Hours and Divine Liturgy on Sunday morning, served the Holy Baptism of James Bell, the 8th-day naming of James' son David, and the 40th day churching of James' wife Anastasia and son David. James' Godfather is his father-in-law, David Wright. Two other close family members, Photini who is Anastasia's sister, and Maria who is James' and Anastasia's five-year-old daughter, were numbered among the witnesses.
Twenty-four people filled the small chapel to capacity for the Hours and Divine Liturgy following the Baptism, and there was standing room only at the potluck Trapeza following the services. Presbytera Katina delighted everyone with her beautiful Orthodox folk songs, including “The Prodigal Son,” “The Wind and the Sea,” and “St. John of Kronstadt.”
Father Christos' interesting and compelling stories, always containing an Orthodox truth, were not only entertaining, but filled the hungry hearts of our isolated desert community. Many thanks to Father Christos and Presbytera Katina! Many years to the newly-illumined James and his family: Anastasia, Maria, David the younger, Photini, and David the elder!
Iftar, refers to the evening meal when Muslims break their fast during the Islamic month of Ramadan. Iftar is one of the religious observances of Ramadan and is often done as a community, with people gathering to break their fast together. Iftar is done right after sunset.
We report the following unchanged as it was published:
"The leaders of the Armenian, Roman, Jewish and Syrian communities of Turkey sat around the fasting Iftar dinner in the Beyoglu district of Istanbul." Read more...
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...
2025 Youth Conference
Please join us for the 2025 youth conference in Toronto, Ontario, Canada! To learn more, visit the conference website.
Q. Can you tell me what the two-headed snake cane the Greek Bishop is walking with represents? What does it mean?
-V.T.
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