The Diocese of New York and New Jersey will host a Senior Retreat at Saint Andrew’s Camp from September 18–20, 2026, featuring guest speaker Dr. David C. Ford, Professor of Church History at Saint Tikhon’s Orthodox Theological Seminary.

The featured presentation, “Wisdom from St. John Chrysostom on Aging Gracefully,” will draw upon the teachings of Saint John Chrysostom and the Early Church to explore Christian life and the experience of aging.

“Go ye therefore and make disciples of all the nations baptizing them in The Name of The Father, and of The Son, and of The Holy Spirit teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you.”
~ Matthew 28:19–20 ~

Diocese Holds the Fifth Annual Evangelism School

By Archpriest Jason Vansuch

A most blessed two days within the Life of our Diocese as nearly 25 clergy and lay representatives from each Deanery gathered around our beloved Diocesan Hierarch – His Eminence Archbishop Michael for the Annual Diocesan Evangelism School. This year, the Evangelism School was held from August 10-11 at St. Gregory the Theologian Orthodox Church in Wappingers Falls, NY.

The 2026 Diocesan Charity Initiative is Operation: Buffalo – a fundraising effort to help provide urgently needed repairs to the North Tower of Saints Peter and Paul Church in Buffalo, NY. The Tower houses the bell consecrated by Saint Tikhon of Moscow in 1903.   Without these repairs, there would be more significant damage to the central dome, the exterior of the temple, and the interior ceiling, walls, and icons of the church.

September is right around the corner, and now is the right time to purchase our best-in-class full-year curricula and resources.

If your parish and families want:

• Students in grades K-12 to be educated about the Orthodox faith,
• Parents to have meaningful conversations about church with their kids, and
• Dynamic, engaging, and affordable church school resources, then

Let Orthodox Journeys help your church school director and teachers be prepared with lessons and resources that teach children and families about the joy of encountering Jesus Christ through the Orthodox Christian faith.

The Godparent Project is a documentary featuring Orthodox priests and their wives. Fr. Alexandros, Pres. Stephanie, Fr. Vjekoslav, Fr. Christopher, and Kh. Sophia share honest reflections on what this role really asks of us. It's not a lecture. It's a real, warm conversation about responsibility, love, and showing up for a child's spiritual life.

The photo gallery accompanying this article highlights several weeks of St. Andrew's camp life, including Sports Week, Adventure Week, and Horse Week. From athletic competitions and outdoor adventures to horseback riding and camp traditions, each week offers campers opportunities to grow in faith, build lasting friendships, and experience the joy of Orthodox Christian community.

[NORWOOD, NY] — Saint Olympia Orthodox Mission joyfully celebrated its Altar Feast in honor of Saint Olympia the Deaconess of Constantinople on July 24–25, 2026. The parish was honored to welcome His Eminence, Archbishop Michael, for an archpastoral visit that brought together clergy, faithful, and pilgrims from across northern New York.

The celebration began on Friday evening with the festal Vigil in honor of Saint Olympia, led by Rev. Gregory Fedorchak. The service was enriched by the beautiful hymnography of the feast, prayerfully composed and chanted under the direction of the parish's Protopsaltis, Dr. Jessica Suchy-Pilalis. Through the Church's hymns and readings, the faithful reflected on the remarkable witness of Saint Olympia, who "saw Christ's image in all whom she met," cherishing, nurturing, and defending those in need through a life wholly devoted to the service of God and His Church. As the Synaxarion proclaims, she was “rich, yet unbound by wealth... frail through fasting, yet provider to the hungry.” A devoted spiritual daughter and co-laborer of St. John Chrysostom, she defended the Church in truth and love while caring for the poor, the sick, and all those entrusted to her.

His Eminence Archbishop Michael will preside at the celebration of the 125th Anniversary of St. Basil's Orthodox Church in Watervliet, New York, on October 17–18, 2026, culminating in the long-awaited Consecration of the Church and the celebration of the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy.

Founded in 1901, St. Basil's traces its beginnings to Orthodox immigrants who settled in the Watervliet area and established a parish centered on the Orthodox Faith. The original chapel was blessed by Saint Tikhon, later Patriarch of Moscow and Enlightener of North America, together with Saint Alexander Hotovitsky, making this anniversary especially significant in the life of the Diocese.

On Sunday, July 26, 2026, His Eminence, Archbishop Michael, celebrated the Divine Liturgy at Saint John the Soldier Mission Station in Watertown, New York, following his archpastoral visit to Saint Olympia Mission in Norwood for the parish's feast day.

Concelebrating with Archbishop Michael was the Very Rev. Alexey Karlgut, Dean of the New York State Deanery. At the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy, Archbishop Michael presented the mission community with two significant gifts: its first antimension, marking an important milestone in the life of the growing mission, and a relic of the newly glorified Blessed Matushka Olga of Alaska, a treasured blessing for the faithful.