One of the most important events in the life of our Sacred Metropolis is the annual gathering of the clergy for the clergy conference, and the grand festivities which follow the conference; namely, the feast of Saint John Maximovitch of San Francisco, the patron of the Sacred Metropolis of America, at the monastery named in honor of him in Cobleskill, New York.
The conference, which took place from the June 27th to June 30th (civil calendar), was proceeded by the meeting of the Eparchial Synod of North and South America, presided over by His Eminence, Metropolitan Demetrius of America. The meeting took place on Wednesday, June 27th. Metropolitan Photios of Demetrias (Greece) traveled to take part in all of the events of our local Church. The hierarchs visited the Holy Trinity Monastery in Jordanville, NY, on Tuesday, June 26th, to venerate the holy relics of Saint Philaret of New York, calling upon him to stand together with Saint John of San Francisco before the throne of the Lord, beseeching the Lord to guide His Church.
The talks and discussions of the conference dealt with the duties of the priesthood and the challenges which the clergy face- and will be facing- in a world which is going further and further away from God.
The beautiful vigil service took place on the eve of the feast day of Saint John, lasting many hours. In the morning, all gathered for the Hierarchical Liturgy.
A procession took place after the Liturgy. Around 350 people gathered from different parts of the United States and Canada to share in the joy of the unity of the faith.
May Saint John help and protect our Sacred Metropolis!
http://www.saintjohnsmonastery.org/saint-john-of-san-francisco-feast-day-2018
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.
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...2026 Youth Conference
Please join us for the 2026 youth conference in Upper Marlboro, MD! To learn more, visit the this page.
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...