On Monday, January 2/15, 2024, Deacon Andrew Wales, of the Parish of Saint Seraphim of Sarov in Richmond, Virginia, was ordained to the Holy Priesthood.
Born in 1988, Fr. Andrew first encountered the Orthodox Church as a teenager. He eventually came to realize that Orthodoxy is the One, True Faith, and that the Church of the Genuine Orthodox Christians is the canonical Orthodox Church of Greece, with pious faithful and parishes in the United States. Therefore, he resolved to be baptized in this Church, on December 24/January 6, 2008, at the Cathedral of Saint Markella, by His Grace Bishop Christodoulos of Theoupolis, with the assistance of the Reverend Fr. Theodore Giannakopoulos.
He soon met Anna, who would later become his wife; she likewise became Orthodox, and they were married on July 2/15, 2012. They have two children together.
Fr. Andrew and Presbytera Anna relocated to Richmond, Virginia in 2013, in order to attend the parish of Saint Seraphim of Sarov, where the Reverend Fr. Nicodemos Gayle is pastor. Fr. Andrew was ordained to the Holy Diaconate on December 8/21, 2014. His dedicated and attentive service over the years led to the decision to elevate him to the Holy Priesthood.
Fr. Andrew will assist Fr. Nicodemos with his priestly duties, as the parish of Saint Seraphim is growing. We wish Fr. Andrew, Pr. Anna, and their family Many Years. AXIOS! He Is Worthy!
“Trust ye not in princes, in the sons of men, in whom there is no salvation.”
(Psalm 145:3)
We mustn’t have absolute trust in human beings for our salvation, no matter what dignity they have. Human beings are changeable. Today they are saints, tomorrow—deniers. Today—sinners, tomorrow—righteous. We must have absolute trust in God, and in Him we must base our hopes of salvation. “Blessed is he of whom the God of Jacob is his help, whose hope is in the Lord his God” (Psalm 145:5). Read more...
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.
Read more...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.
Q. I noticed that we call the angels Michael and Gabriel "Saint." I thought the title "Saint" was only given to humans who have proven themselves Godly. Do you mind clarifying this for me? Is there a deeper meaning to "Saint" that I am not aware of?
-S.L. Read more...