Peter Gilstrap Tonsured to the Rank of Reader

On Sunday September 28, during the weekend of the 2009 National Clergy - Laity Conference of the Holy Metropolis of the Genuine Greek Orthodox Church of America Peter Gilstrap was tonsured a reader at the Cathedral of St. Markella in New York City. Peter is the son of Fr. Mark Gilstrap of St. James Parish in Owasso, Oklahoma. He was tonsured by His Eminence Metropolitan Pavlos of America. Also in attendance were four bishops, three visiting from Greece: Metropolitan Chrysostomos of Attica, Bishop Photios of Marathon, Bishop Gregory of Christianoupolis. His Grace Bishop Christodoulos of Theoupolis is from Holy Ascension Monastery in Woodstock, NY.


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

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.

Read more...
Youth

2025 Youth Conference

Please join us for the 2025 youth conference in Toronto, Ontario, Canada! To learn more, visit the conference website.

Ask A Priest

Forty Day Memorial Service

Q. Can you please explain the significance of the forty day memorial service? An Evangelical family asked one of our relatives that question. We said that it’s best to ask a clergy member. Thank you in advance for your response. (We will forward it to them as soon as possible).
-P. & M. G. Read more...