This summer, the Orthodox Youth Mission Team (OYMT), under the leadership of Fr. Luke Mihaly (Holy Trinity Orthodox Church, Danbury, CT – ACROD), completed its 13th annual mission trip by serving in Harlan County, Kentucky, with the Appalachia Service Project. Fr. Luke was joined by Fr. Volodymyr Zablotskyy (Holy Trinity Orthodox Church, Yonkers, NY – OCA) and Fr. Mircea Geana (Holy Trinity Orthodox Church, Springfield, VT – OCA).

Holy Trinity Orthodox Church in Yonkers was represented not only by Fr. Volodymyr but also by Subdeacon Christopher Nolan, Reader Demetrios Torres, and Andrei Bucur. Their participation contributed meaningfully to the mission and reflected the parish’s ongoing commitment to service and outreach.

The team of 60 youth and adult leaders represented 11 parishes and five Orthodox jurisdictions, with participants traveling from Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Vermont, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, and New Mexico. This pan-Orthodox mission provided high school students with a profound opportunity to live their faith, encounter Christ in their neighbor, and build meaningful connections across diocesan and jurisdictional lines.

OYMT worked on eight different home repair projects, bringing warmth, safety, and dignity to families in need. The construction efforts included roofing, siding, flooring, sheetrock, ramp building, and more. Yet beyond the labor, the most transformative moments came from time spent with the families—offering encouragement, friendship, and the love of Christ.

During the journey, the team also visited Christ the Savior Greek Orthodox Church in Bluff City, TN, and St. Catherine’s Eastern Orthodox Church in Hagerstown, MD, where they were warmly received and strengthened by the hospitality and fellowship of the faithful.

We are deeply thankful to His Eminence, Archbishop Michael, and to all the faithful of the Diocese of New York and New Jersey for your prayers and generous support, which made this mission possible.

This Fall, team members will offer presentations and photo reflections at the following parishes:

• Holy Trinity Orthodox Church, Yonkers, NY

• Christ the Savior Orthodox Church, Southbury, CT

• Holy Trinity Orthodox Church, Springfield, VT

To read reflections from the youth and learn more about the mission, please visit: www.oymt.info

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