Byzantine, Texas

Communique regarding the COVID-19 (Corona) virus (31 March 2020) With the Communiqué of 18 March, the Ecumenical Patriarchate announced the decision to suspend all ecclesiastical rites and events within its territory, until the end of the month, as well as its intention to return to the issue, should it be deemed necessary by current developments. Already, because cases of COVID-19 are dramatically multiplying throughout the world, with many casualties, and because, for this reason, the imposition – and rightly so – of strict and restrictive measures continue in almost every country, the abovementioned ban will unavoidably remain valid for the Sacred Center of the Phanar and the Dioceses of the Ecumenical Throne throughout the globe until further notice, depending on the course of the pandemic. The Mother Church of Constantinople prays and wishes that the appropriate effective medicine to combat the disease will be found soon, so as to overcome this great crisis and to address it...

Many Churches have put out litanies and "stand-alone" prayers for their priests and faithful to use. As I said a few days ago, some of them have been quite good while others read like first drafts that escaped the barn before they were done being sheared. The below Russian text is available as a PDF here . If you'd like a good prayer to read with the family at home, I recommend the UOC-USA's PDF here . My family reads it together every morning. ( ROC-Sourozh ) - His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia approved texts of prayerful supplications in view of the threat of the spreading coronavirus infection. With the blessing of His Holiness, the prayers will be lifted up during the Divine Liturgy at all churches of the Russian Orthodox Church. Earlier, at its session on March 11, the Holy Synod adopted the Statement Concerning the Spread of Coronavirus Infection. “In times of epidemics the Russian Orthodox Church always bore its ministry of wit...

A very influential writer to many in the English-speaking world. His " Introducing the Orthodox Church: Its Faith and Life " is a common book for me to hand out to people interested in the Church. My personal thanks to him for the benefit of his writing to us all. May his memory be eternal! ( Star Tribune ) - Coniaris, Father Anthony M. age 93, fell asleep in the Lord on March 15, 2020 at the Glen in Hopkins. His wife, Mary Pappas Coniaris, preceded him in death in July 1991, after 42 years of marriage. They were partners in the ministry at St Mary's Greek Orthodox Church in South Minneapolis their entire marriage. He was born in Boston, Massachusetts in 1926, the first son of Michael Coniaris from Ellinikon, Greece and Bessie Karalekas from Pavlia, Greece. He attended Boston Latin School and then went on to graduate from Holy Cross Greek Orthodox Theological Seminary in Brookline, Massachusetts. Coniaris received a Masters of Divinity from Northwestern Theological...

BOSTON ( TNH ) – According to a video conference between Archbishop Elpidophoros of America and the Metropolitans of each respective American Metropolis, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholemew’s highly anticipated visit to the United States will be canceled. So too will be this summer’s Joint Clergy- Laity Congress and National Philoptochos Convention in Cleveland. The cancellations have been attributed to the COVID-19 global pandemic. Archbishop Elpidophoro’s introductory remarks to Archdiocese Presbyters Council Virtual Town Hall follows: My beloved Brothers in the Lord, I greet each and every one of you in the love of Christ and with my deep appreciation for all that you are doing for the Faithful during this global pandemic. We have all been caught off guard and I know that you are all doing your best to keep your vital ministries going in every way possible. The truth is no one was prepared for the consequences of such a rapid and widespread transmission of the Covid-19 virus....

( SOC-EAD ) - During this pandemic, as we collectively experience the global outbreak and exponential spread of the coronavirus, the Venerable Nikephoros the Leper appeared to someone in Greece and told him: “Tell the people not to be afraid of the virus. And, in the event that someone gets infected, tell them to pray to me and I will help them.” Rendered at the hands of iconographer, Archimandrite Evsevije (Meandzija), a Serbian post-graduate student at the Theological Faculty of the University of Athens, this new icon for our times, represents the Theotokos and St. Nikephoros praying before the Crucified Lord to save humankind from the coronavirus.

( SOC ) - Communique of the Holy Synod of Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church Regarding the latest recommendations of the Government of Serbia, in order to suppress the spread of the COVID-19 virus, "religious services in churches and in the open air are to be performed without the presence of the faithful", with the clarification that the aim of these recommendations is a safe way of worship and the protection of public health, all the while enabling worship to continue, we inform all our clergy, monastics, and faithful that the Serbian Orthodox Church will implement these recommendations, as it has already done in those countries of the Serbian diaspora and other regions where such protective measures have been taken a few days ago. The Church will not interrupt the serving of the Divine Liturgy or cease communing the faithful, because this is a matter which cannot be debated: it is the basis of our faith in the Living God. Specifically, this means that during the ser...

( Orthodox Times ) - A monk from Mount Athos infected with the coronavirus is hospitalised at the “AHEPA” University General Hospital of Thessaloniki. The monk has been living to a large monastery of Mount Athos and had reportedly travelled to England along with a delegation of the monastery. Other monks in the same monastery have the same symptoms and, therefore, they remain in quarantine in their cells. It is the first recorded case on Mount Athos that closed its gates to pilgrims a week ago due to the coronavirus. An Italian pilgrim had also suspicious symptoms while he was at the Hilandar Monastery a few days ago. He was also transferred to the same hospital, where he was found to have common flu.

( Church of Jerusalem ) - On Thursday, March 13/26, 2020, the Three Major Communities, namely the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem, the Custody of the Holy Land of the Franciscans, and the Patriarchate of the Armenians in Jerusalem, who are responsible for the Status Quo, published the announcement stated below, stating that the Services at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre will continue to be held by the ministering Fathers of each Community, according to the Typikon of the Status Quo. However there will be a significant decrease in the numbers of the faithful attending the services, in order to adhere to the safety precautions against COVID-19 virus. “Following the evolvement of the situation in the Holy Land, we the Heads of the Three Communities to whom the Providence granted the grace and honour of proclaiming the lodes of the Lord in the Basilica of the Holy Sepulchre and Resurrection, wish to inform that the celebrations of the Communities, the Greek Orthodox, the Lati...

( orthochristian.com ) - Residents of St. Petersburg, Russia, are prohibited from visiting religious sites from March 28 to April 5 according to new measures aimed at containing the quickly-spreading coronavirus. The decree signed by city Governor Alexander Beglov yesterday prohibits “individuals from visiting objects (territories) of religious organizations, with the exception of the clergy and religious personnel of the given religious organizations.” However, the Russian Church has responded that the Russian constitution and law do not provide Beglov with such powers. Responding to the new decree, the Legal Department of the ROC states that: In the Russian Federation, freedom of conscience and freedom of religion are [constitutionally] guaranteed, including the right to celebrate the Divine services individually or jointly with others, and other religious rites and ceremonies. The right of man and citizen to freedom of conscience and freedom of religion can be restricted...

( OMHKSEA ) - A (telephone) conversation with Metropolitan of Pergamon John Zizioulas (March 23, 2020). We wish to hear your views on the current situation, since your theology plays a great role in the present circumstances. Metropolitan John: My theology, unfortunately, cannot be applied. In Greece they have already closed the churches, and the Divine Liturgy is not being served. Is it served in Serbia? Taking into consideration the decision of the government that the number of people in one place be limited, as well as the issue of getting around and social distancing, the Patriarch Irinej’s newest decision is that services be held in churches but without more than five people. Metropolitan John: That’s acceptable. In America it was decided that the priest, chanter and altar server be present, in order for the Liturgy to be served, so that they might have the holy mysteries in order to commune the people. What do you think about that? Metropolitan John: For me, the Church ...

( Basilica.ro ) - Holy Mount Athos is closed to pilgrims until the end of March, but its monasteries continue prayer and religious services even more fervently. The governing Holy Community of Mount Athos has urged all churches and sketes on its territory to hold cross processions and officiate All-Night Vigils to the Mother of God, who is the Archontissa (lady leader) of the Mountain. This Friday night, in the fourth week of the Great Lent, the Athonite monks will hold All-Night Vigil to St. Martyr Charalambos, healer of infectious diseases, informs Orthodox Christianity. The monks from the 20 monasteries and the other sketes and cells will ask God’s mercy for the whole world threatened by the coronavirus pandemic. The Holy Community of Mount Athos has expressed the need to strengthen prayers and the celebration of the Sacraments during Great Lent and has called on all to repent “with all the power of the spirit of the Lord, the Lifegiving Source overcoming death.”

UPDATE: Here's the link . JOHNSTOWN, PA ( ACROD ) - A one-of-a-kind, in-depth interview by His Eminence, Metropolitan Gregory (Tatsis) of Nyssa will be aired on a very special 5th Sunday Stewardship Calling Program on Ancient Faith Radio on Sunday, March 29th at 8:00 p.m. Eastern (7 Central, 6 Mountain, 5 Pacific). In this extended interview Metropolitan Gregory will discuss the following: 1. His upbringing and the challenges he faced along his journey; 2. How our Orthodox Christian theology can be reconciled with the world of science; His scientific background before major orders makes him uniquely qualified to speak on this. 3. An update on the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops; 4. The background and history of the American Carpatho Russian Orthodox Diocese of North America; Something few people know about. 5. His official trip to Cuba as the representative of the Ecumenical Patriarch; 6. His critical focus on our youth and emerging adults ministries and his vis...

( AFR ) - Fr. Tom Soroka welcomes His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon (Archbishop of Washington and Metropolitan of All America and Canada of the Orthodox Church in America) for a special edition of Ancient Faith Today. Metropolitan Tikhon shares his perspective on the ongoing crisis and the Church's response. Learn how he is spending his time "sheltering in place" including a special treat at the end.

Resources for Coronavirus outbreak - There's a lot here for the whole family and it gets updated daily.

It seems the skeleton crew model in churches with live streaming has become the primary model in these coronavirus days. Some dioceses has shuttered entirely of course, but they are in the minority. ( ROCOR-Chicago ) - According to the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention COVID-19 is present in all 50 states and is being spread within the community, that is, the virus is now native to local communities in all states in our diocese and is being conveyed person to person. Although the rate of spread is not the same from state to state, circumstances are changing rapidly. New orders are issued on an almost daily basis. In order to provide protection for the faithful, and to further emphasize the serious risk of this disease, the Diocese must impose a uniform rule for all it's parishes. Given the above, it is incumbent upon the Diocese of Chicago & Mid-America to act in the best interest of its faithful. It is crucial that the Divine Services continue in each parish an...

It will be interesting to look back at all the liturgical alterations made in the wake of the coronavirus. Some of the prayers and litanies are quite beautiful and some are frankly clunky - poor grammar and muddled imagery. Some jurisdictions borrowed from existing prayers while others started out fresh. My preference is for using extant prayers as they are extant for a reason (they were well written enough to be published and republished). ( ROCOR-Chicago ) - Instructions: Special Prayer at the Divine Liturgy Dear Father Rectors, Christ is amongst us! Beginning immediately, with the blessing of Archbishop Peter we are to replace the prayer for Ukraine during the Divine Liturgy and to insert the prayer from the moleben “Hymn of Supplication In Time of Destructive Pestilence & Deadly Plague”. That prayer is found on p. 197 of part III of the Jordanville Trebnik in Church Slavonic, and in English here: “O Lord our God, from Thy holy height regard the supplication of us, Th...

Tbilisi, March 23 ( Interfax ) - Georgia's ban on public gatherings of over ten people during the state of emergency applies to the Church as well, Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia said. "The restriction of gatherings of up to ten people concerns everyone and everything. Its primary purpose is healthcare for our citizens. The main goal and task of the Georgian government is to care about the health of our citizens regardless of religion," Gakharia said at a briefing, when asked if the emergency curbs applied to the Church. A day earlier, the Georgian Orthodox Church said after a Holy Synod that there would be no changes in communion rules because of the Covid-19 threat. The Synod unanimously disagreed with the opinion that one could get infected through shared use of the same spoon during the holy communion, Metropolitan Nikoloz (Pachuashvili) of Akhalkalaki and Kumurdo told reporters. "This is absolutely ruled out. There should not be any changes," he sa...

( LiveLiturgy.com ) The world is facing unprecedented challenges due to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). Many of our clergy and faithful have been asked to diligently take all measures in their personal and communal lives to protect themselves and others from the spread of the virus. Church hierarchs across the globe have made the difficult decision to suspend public Liturgical celebrations in order to slow the expanse. But… a scared world needs a fearless church! Many priests and faithful are working together to make liturgies available for you on the Internet. LiveLiturgy.com was created to better organize this information, so you can spend less time searching, and more time in prayer.

( GOARCH-SF ) - Letter from Archbishop Elpidophoros Conveying Liturgical Guidelines of the Ecumenical Patriarchate During the Novel Coronavirus Pandemic Your Eminence, It is with brotherly joy but also with much agony that I communicate with Your Eminence in these critical and unsettling times, when all of humanity is in turmoil over this this sudden pandemic of COVID-19. As Exarch of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, I am informing you of the just-issued decision of the Holy and Sacred Synod concerning the pastoral measures which must be taken for the protection of the flock of the Mother Church throughout the world. Having discussed the situation with the Sacred Center of Orthodoxy, at length, and having inquired specifically about the United States, I received His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew’s reply, namely, that we should allow for the divine services, including Divine Liturgies, to be celebrated in our Holy Churches behind closed doors, as is the case with the ...

Sometimes the differences in Orthodoxy and Catholicism are thought of in terms of actual practice. Sometimes it's in terms of thought. In communion we see the intersection of both. Can Orthodoxy square the Catholic understanding of Eucharistic preparedness with its own understanding in a way that the two could live together? The immediate answer is "Greek Catholics seem to have no problem with it," but Uniatism is less a bridge than it is a confusing experiment that both confounds and complicates things. This may be an unpopular opinion for some readers, I know. Either the Catholic Church - in all its expressions whether Roman or Malankara or Melkite - believes the same thing or it doesn't. And if it doesn't, can such theology as expressed below be said to be definitive. Either infants and the mentally handicapped should receive communion or they shouldn't. Is this restriction merely a discipline? And if so, should parents of such children just go to Eastern...

Communiqué Phanar, 18 March 2020 From the Chief Secretariat
of the Holy and Sacred Synod ( EP ) - As this Coronavirus crisis continues to spread and intensify on a global scale, the Ecumenical Patriarchate is monitoring the situation with an urgent sense of responsibility towards its faithful and all people without exception, and, following the Communiqué of 11 March 2020, upon deliberation of its Hierarchs in the City, announces the following: 1) The Ecumenical Patriarchate emphatically reiterates its appeal to everyone to limit their outings and travels to what is necessary, remaining in their homes for their own safety and the protection of the general public. 2) It commends the spirit of self-sacrifice demonstrated by those working in the field of healthcare and expresses its gratitude for their extraordinary and exhaustive efforts to assist those in need, as well as for the danger they knowingly risk by coming in contact with those infected by Covid-19. 3) It underli...

( Orthodox Times ) - In a statement issued by the Ecumenical Patriarchate, it is stated that from today on in every Eparchy of the Ecumenical Throne there is an “ecclesiastical decision and order to suspend all religious rituals, events and ceremonies, until the end of March, except for Christians’ personal prayer in the temples, which will remain open as before.” It is also clarified that “in all Patriarchal and Stavropegic Monasteries the holy services would be performed normally by their monastic fraternity, but secular pilgrims would not be accepted.” It is also noted that this ban will be revised in the light of the development of the coronavirus pandemic. The Ecumenical Patriarchate urges “emphatically” everyone to “minimize their outings and travels and stay in their homes, for their own protection and the protection of the community as a whole,” while stressing the need for everyone to obey the decisions and orders of the competent health authorities “for the common good...

H/T: The Saint Gregory Palamas Outreach O Lord Jesus Christ our God, Lover of Mankind, Physician of our souls and bodies, who didst bear the pain of our infirmities, and by whose wounds we are healed; Who gave sight to the man born blind; Who straightened the woman who was bent over for 18 years; Who gave speech and sight to the mute demoniac; Who not only forgave the paralytic his sins, but healed him to walk; Who restored the withered hand of a troubled man; Who stopped the flow of blood of her who bled for 12 years; Who raised Jairus’ daughter to life; And brought the 4-day-dead Lazarus to life; And who heals every infirmity under the sun: Do now, O Lord, grant Thy grace to all those who have labored and studied hour upon hour, to go into all the world, and also to heal by the talent Thou hast given to each of them. Strengthen them, by Thy strength, to fear no evil or disease. Enlighten them to do no evil by the works of their hands, and preserve them and those they serve ...

If you can rely on one thing, it is that Moscow will put out the most comprehensive documents for whatever they do. Some patriarchates will put out short letters in scratchy PDFs. Not Moscow. With the Russian Church you put the kettle on and get comfortable in your favorite chair. ( ROC ) - Instructions to rectors of parishes and monasteries’ town churches, abbots and abbesses of the monasteries of the Russian Orthodox Church over the threat of spreading coronavirus infection The document has been approved by the Holy Synod decision of 17 March 2020 (Minutes No. 30) It is for the pastoral care of people and in response to a request from the sanitary authorities and in preserving the firm faith in the work of God’s beneficial providence and in the Divine omnipotence that the regulations are set up below taking into account the canonical and liturgical Tradition of the Russian Orthodox Church. Until the epidemiological situation is improved and appropriate instructions are recei...

( OCA ) - Today — March 18, 2020 — marks the fifth anniversary of the repose of Protopresbyter Thomas Hopko, Dean Emeritus of Saint Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary [SVOTS], and noted Orthodox Christian priest, theologian, preacher, mentor, and speaker. During his years of priestly ministry, Father Thomas authored numerous books and articles, including his well known The Orthodox Faith: An Elementary Handbook on the Orthodox Church. A prolific lecturer and preacher, he spoke at conferences, retreats, and Church gatherings of all kinds, many of which were recorded. Father Thomas exercised untiring and loving pastoral care on behalf of many who sought him out for spiritual guidance. His greatest desire was that every person would respond to these words of Jesus Christ: “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” [Matthew 11:28]. “Among the countless lessons he taught me was, to be honest. He was a Christian, a priest, a man, who, to my eye an...

Moscow, March 17 ( Interfax ) - Patriarch Kirill issues an instruction for Moscow clerics with unprecedented in the newest history of the Russian Orthodox Church preventive measures. From now on, a spoon will be wiped off with "a cloth soaked in ethanol (with regular renewal of the soaking)" after each communicant and then it will be immersed into water with further utilization of the water," the document posted at the Russian Orthodox Church website reads. The church's spokesman Vladimir Legoyda explained to Interfax that such a procedure was practiced in pre-revolutionary Russia in period of epidemics. Then the communicants will receive the drinking mixture only in plastic dispensable cups. After the Communion dispensable napkins will be used for sponging the mouth, not a piece of cloth as before. These napkins will be further burnt. Communicants are also urged not to kiss the chalice. Dispensable gloves will be used for giving antidoron (pieces of ble...

Reader’s Service of Prayer for Protection from the Coronavirus

( ROCOR-Chicago ) - March 4/17, 2020 Venerable Gerasimus of the Jordan “Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.” (Matthew 4:7) Dear Father Rectors, Our Diocese stretches across many states and cities, all attempting to limit the spread and effects of the novel Coronavirus. Yesterday, many governments issued orders closing restaurants, schools, and limiting public gatherings to less than 50 people. President Trump has also called for people to avoid groups of more than 10 people. State and Local governments may adopt this limit in the near future. The Bay Area has adopted a "Shelter in place" policy, and other metropolitan areas may soon follow suit. Rectors shall implement and enforce the guidelines given by both local authorities and the Diocese. Rectors may enforce stricter measures as they see fit. Rectors may not relax or fail to implement standards set by either local governments or the Diocese. Effective immediately, all Rectors shall institute the following rul...

( antiochian.org ) - As you know some 25 million children are out of school because of the coronavirus that is sweeping our country. The Department of Homeschooling, of which I am privileged to be the hierarchical overseer, is offering you the opportunity to learn about homeschooling and possibly utilize it for our children. Here (PDF) is a document​ with many resources which will help you navigate establishing your own homeschool. If you would like to communicate with someone directly you can contact the director of the department, Fr. Noah Bushelli (nbushelli@gmail.com or 215-954-9286) or Dn. David Hyatt (saintemmeliaministries@gmail.com or 218-576-8324). Also, you can visit www.saintemmelia.com. Yours in Christ, Bishop THOMAS

( antiochian.org ) - URGENT: Updated COVID-19 Policy From His Eminence Metropolitan JOSEPH March 17, 2020 Beloved Faithful in Christ, Greetings and blessings to you and your families in the Name of our Great God and Savior, Jesus Christ! As we cautioned in our encyclical of last week, we are in the midst of a rapidly changing situation, and it was likely that we would be asked to make more sacrifices to contain the spread of the coronavirus. With yesterday's announcement of the new CDC recommendations by President Trump, that time has sadly come. With pain of heart, but also hope in our Lord, I ask the clergy and faithful of our Archdiocese to abide by these new directives that we may do our part in combatting this pandemic: 1. Beginning today, all parishes are instructed to cancel all non-liturgical, in-person activities including schools, business meetings, and social functions. 2. All liturgical services will be served with only clergy, servers, and chanters. N...

( EA ) - As Orthodox Christians, we are united in the sacraments and our teachings, but as human beings we are also united in our solidarity and suffering. Therefore, during this period of intensive prayer and spiritual discipline of Great Lent, the pandemic that our communities are facing throughout our nation and throughout the world obliges us to slow down and reflect on the way that we glorify God as well as the way that we express compassion toward our brothers and sisters. As disciples of the Lord, Scripture and our faith inform us that while we are not of the world, we are indeed in the world (1 John 2). This means that we participate fully and simultaneously in both the heavenly and earthly life. As a result, we are at the same time sustained by God’s grace and yet still susceptible to worldly affliction. Thus, without wavering in our faith – which we believe casts out fear through love – we must nevertheless take every precaution to protect ourselves and our neighbors from ...

( Holy Cross Monastery ) - On Wednesday, March 18 at 12pm Eastern the whole brotherhood will gather to serve a Moleben in Time of Devastating Epidemic to our patron the Holy Great-Martyr and Healer Panteleimon as well as to St. Nikephoros the Leper. The service will be live-streamed on the monastery's Facebook page for as many of the faithful to join in prayer as possible. Archbishop Kyrill of San Francisco and Western America writes: Already reports are coming in that the Archangel Michael has appeared to many people promising them his powerful help. Also, the newly-glorified Saint Nikephoros the Leper has appeared in Greece to a pious Orthodox serviceman and assured him that he will intercede for all who ask his prayers to be protected and healed from the Corona virus. In addition to the moleben, the monastery intends to continue livestreaming all its services for the duration of this crisis, God willing. Please spread the word to any who might benefit from this out...

( OCA-DOW ) - Further Update on the Coronavirus from His Eminence To the Reverend Clergy, Monastics and Faithful of the Diocese of the West: As you may expect, the situation concerning the Coronavirus is very fluid and the civil authorities are doing their best to limit its spreading among us. And we too, out of concern for the well being of our flock in every place, are sadly called upon to cooperate with them, even to the extent of closing our temples for a period of time. At this time, the civil authorities in the Bay Area have called upon us to close our places of worship for the next two weeks in an attempt to slow down the progression of the disease. And I, with profound regret, have asked the clergy of the area to close their temples for the time being. Others of you live in areas where the authorities have asked that gatherings be limited to 25 or less persons. While this may seem to be a better solution, I ask you: “Who is to be among the chosen and by what criteria ...

( UOC-USA ) - URGENT DIRECTIVE CONCERNING LITURGICAL SERVICES IN ALL PARISHES OF THE UKRAINIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH OF THE USA AND DIASPORA March 16, 2020 TO: ALL CERGY AND FAITHFUL OF THE UOC OF USA AND DIASPORA RE: CONCERNING ALL LITURGICAL SERVICES AND OTHER PRECAUTIONS IN ALL PARISHES DURING THE PANDEMIC CRISIS Dearly Beloved Brothers and Sisters in our Lord: CHRIST IS AMONG US! HE IS AND ALWAYS SHALL BE! As your hierarchs, deeply concerned primarily about your spiritual well-being, but also greatly anxious about your physical and emotional health, we have been monitoring on a nearly 24-hour basis all the news, comments and recommendations of the scientists from the Center for Disease and Prevention Control and the National Institute of Health about the Coronavirus. When we say on a 24-hour basis, we are not exaggerating because we have been spending many sleepless nights praying for and worrying about you, while trying to decipher the constant stream of i...

Many parents are worried about the lost time at school for their children and also about simply keeping them occupied. One could be stressed over "lost" school time, but really there is so much a parent can teach his child that there is as much opportunity as there is loss in this period of isolation. Cooking, music, the feminine and masculine arts, and of course imparting the Faith to our children come to mind. My wife and I sat down at the beginning of this time of "social distancing" and made plans for projects, homeschooling goals, and expanded our prayer rule. We're catching up on yard work, laundry, and all manner of things right now. We're also using the Internet to our advantage spiritually. As an example, here's a short video on using prayer ropes. Quite timely, I'd say. Good strength, everyone!

( ROCOR-Chicago ) - The following are mandatory guidelines for parishes, monasteries, and all diocesan institutions in the Diocese of Chicago & Mid-America, ROCOR. These were approved by His Eminence Archbishop Peter March 1/14, 2020 and are in force immediately. Archpriest Gregory Joyce Diocesan Secretary === 1. The seriousness and risk of this outbreak should not be underestimated. We all have a moral obligation to take what steps we can to reduce the spread of infection. If too many people get sick at the same time the hospitals will be overwhelmed and the death rate will increase. Our actions to slow the spread of the disease will save lives. 2. The best step everyone can take is to practice social distancing. Everyone in church should keep a distance from everyone else – ideally about 6 feet (2 meters). In Colorado they use graphics of snow skis to give people an idea of correct distance. 3. Anyone over the age of 70 should very seriously consider staying home , s...

( Cappella Romana ) - The Saturday night performance of Tchaikovsky’s Divine Liturgy will take place as planned at 7:30 p.m., as a live-streamed performance without an in-person audience. To ensure that you don’t miss this experience, the concert will be streamed on Facebook Live for you to enjoy—safely—at home. We will also make available a PDF of the program book so that you can follow along. The link to the video stream will be on our website. The 16 professional adult singers of Cappella Romana will perform the program Saturday before you—a virtual audience! However, Pacific Youth Choir has opted not to take part in the concert. Their decision was made in alignment with Governor Kate Brown’s order banning gatherings of 250 or more, and with Portland Public Schools proactively suspending events that bring large groups of students, adults, and community members together. If you are a ticket holder, we ask kindly that you consider donating your tickets back to Cappella Rom...