Orthodox Church in America at March for Life

Great news. In a related noted, we may do another pan-Texas Byzantine walk with our icons at the Texas march. The Pilgrimage for Life last year had some 30 of us, so there's hope we can repeat with similar strength. My thought has been in recent years that, as Byzantine worship began with the long processional through Constantinople before ending up at Hagia Sophia, that processional antiphons or well known stichera could be sung at a march like this. No traction on that yet, but I may end up writing up a short book and see if it gets any use.

SYOSSET, NY (OCA Communications) - On Thursday, January 22, 2009, His Beatitude, Metropolitan Jonah will join Orthodox Christian clergy and faithful from across America for the 36th annual March for Life in Washington, DC.

On the evening of Wednesday, January 21, 2008, Metropolitan Jonah will celebrate Vespers at St. Nicholas Cathedral, Washington, DC, at 7:00 PM. The following day, he will take part in the March and will be one of the first religious leaders to give a message at the rally on Capitol Hill. That evening, Metropolitan Jonah will give the invocation at the March for Life's annual Rose Dinner at the Hyatt Regency Washington.

"The Orthodox Church in America has designated the Sunday before January 22, the annual date for the March for Life, as 'Sanctity of Life Sunday,'" said OCA Director of Communications, Archpriest Andrew Jarmus. "This year, the Sanctity of Life Sunday will fall on January 18. We will shortly be posting Metropolitan Jonah's message for the Sanctity of Life Sunday and special petitions to be included in the Divine Liturgy on that day."

More information about the 36th March for Life may be found at www.marchforlife.org.