[Bornxville, NY] - Deepest sympathy is expressed to Matushka Ellen Chupeck, and children Gabriel, Zoe and Emily, and all their family; to the Brotherhood of Diocesan Clergy; and to all our Diocesan Family on the falling asleep in the Lord of the newly-departed and ever-to-be-remembered servant of God, the + Archpriest Joseph Chupeck, who reposed in the hospital on Wednesday evening, October 2.

Grant rest eternal in blessed repose with the Saints, O Lord, to the soul of Thy newly-departed servant, the ever-to-be-remembered + Archpriest Joseph, who has fallen asleep in the Lord, and may his memory be eternal! "Vechnaya Pamyat!"

Holy Assumption Orthodox Church is delighted to announce a special blessing for our parish next month. On Sunday, October 13th, 2024, we will welcome a visiting monk from St. Tikhon’s Monastery, who will bring the miraculous weeping Icon of St. Anna to our church.

On Sunday, September 22, 2024, St. Vladimir Orthodox Church in Trenton, NJ, held its annual parish picnic. Following Divine Liturgy, with 120 faithful present, people proceeded to the parish picnic grounds for food and fellowship under sunny and cloudless skies. While more than 20 children ran to and fro, chasing bubbles or playing in the bouncy house, adults played badminton or cornhole while waiting for the roast pig to finish cooking. The food was plentiful, and laughter and conversation filled the air. It was a blessed day.

May God grant His Eminence our beloved Archbishop Michael many years on the occasion of on the occasion of his Name Day!
Eis polla eti despota!!

Orthodox musicians, choir directors and church singers! You are invited to join us at St. Tikhon’s Monastery for a weekend of choral conducting and singing training with our featured instructor, Fr. Caleb Lewis, Director of Music at St. Tikhon's.

Come participate in this weekend workshop as either a conductor or as a chorister. Conductors can expect live feedback, practical conducting guidance, individualized coaching on technique and hands-on problem solving. Singers will enjoy gleaning from being part of the choir and participating in overall ensemble instruction

On Saturday, October 12, 2024 at 1:00 PM (EST), the Office of Pastoral Life’s Clergy Wives will offer a Zoom retreat entitled “The Road to the Canonization of Blessed Matushka Olga of Alaska.” In this, the second retreat focusing on the preparations for the canonization, we will have as our speaker His Grace Bishop Alexei of the Diocese of Sitka and Alaska. 

Middle School and High School students are invited to a Fall Teen Retreat sponsored by the OCA Diocese of New York and New Jersey at Frost Valley YMCA in Claryville, NY, from October 4-6th.

Sixteen faithful pledged members of Saint Olga of Alaska Mission Station joined Archpriest Terenti Wasielewski and chanter Brother David for a beautiful celebration of the Divine Liturgy at the new Diocesan Mission Station in Plattsburgh, New York, on Saturday morning, August 24. Some of the regular communicants were absent due to work commitments and illness, but the fledgling community welcomed a SUNY Plattsburgh student from Brooklyn as well as an inquirer from nearby Lewis, NY. George and Nathaniel Foutch did a great job as altar boys, under the guidance of Andrew Christy.

On August 4, Archbishop Michael presided at Divine Liturgy at Christ the Savior Church in Ballston Lake, NY. He was joined by other clergy: parish priest, Archpriest Matthew Markewich; attached clergy, Archpriest Igor Burdikoff, Priest Paul Fedoroff, Deacon Michael Burdikoff; the bishop's deacon, Deacon Stephan Karlgut; and parish founder and now visiting from St. James in Beaufort, SC, Deacon David Homyk.

His Eminence awarded Fr. Paul Fedoroff with the skufiya, with thanks for years of missionary service across the diocese; he also elevated Deacon Michael Burdikoff to the rank of Protodeacon. His Eminence also ordained parish altar server Joel Kurowski to the rank of Reader.

Following the Divine Liturgy, Archbishop Michael presented a new curtain for the newly-built iconostasis as his gift and contribution to the parish's ongoing beautification. The parish presented a check to His Eminence to go towards the DDB Fund.

Following announcements, His Eminence joined the clergy and faithful of Christ the Savior for Coffee Hour.

In looking back on the previous 12 months, one would have to be out of touch with reality to not realize that many catastrophic events have occurred. Two wars have been raging where Orthodox Christians live: Ukraine and Russia, and Israel and Gaza. Many other news reports describe crimes and slaughter on a daily basis.

On Sunday, August 25, our parish of St. John the Baptist in Alpha, NJ, was blessed with a visit from His Eminence Archbishop Michael. The day was marked by a beautiful Divine Liturgy and adorned with several significant milestones for our church community.  In addition, we had the opportunity to greet His Eminence for his upcoming birthday, and we presented him with a beautiful altar cloth and an icon of St. Tikhon, Patriarch of Moscow. It was a day filled with joy, reverence, and a deep sense of community. Below are some photos capturing the memorable moments of this blessed day.

Warmest birthday greetings to our beloved Archbishop! We are deeply grateful for his leadership, wisdom, and tireless service to our diocese. May God bless him with many more years in health and peace. Многая лета!

By Archpriest Eric G. Tosi

The Diocese of New York and New Jersey held the third Annual Evangelism School from August 7 to August 9, 2024, at St. Gregory the Theologian Orthodox Church in Wappingers Falls, NY. This initiative is blessed by His Eminence, Archbishop Michael, fully funded by the Diocesan Council, and held in conjunction with the Diocesan Commission on Mission and Evangelism.

On August 9th, the North Country region of New York state suffered torrential rains, high winds and floods from Hurricane Debby. The Village of Norwood, NY, experienced mass flooding causing widespread damage to the homes, churches, businesses, and other buildings in the area.

St. Olympia Orthodox Church, located in the center of Norwood, was hit hard. The downstairs area received approximately 10” of contaminated water caused by sewer backup. In addition to Sunday school space, fellowship hall, kitchen, office space, bathroom facilities, plumbing and heating systems, and storage rooms, the lower level is home to the Norwood Food Pantry, which feeds those in need from the surrounding area. At present, this level is unusable. Please consider supporting our efforts through the GoFundMe Campaign. 

[Syracuse, NY] - On Saturday, July 27, Juliana Woodill presented an informative and enlightening Orthodox choir workshop at Saints Peter and Paul parish in Syracuse. Supported by the Diocesan Commission on Liturgical Music, the workshop included sessions on choir director skills and on vocal/choral techniques. Twenty-four attendees from the NY State Deanery and beyond listened, practiced, and received constructive feedback.

[Rochester, NY] - On Sunday, July 21, our parish of St. John the Baptist in Rochester, NY, was blessed with a visit from His Eminence Archbishop Michael. The day was marked by a beautiful Hierarchical Divine Liturgy, attended by our congregation and adorned with several significant milestones for our church community.

[Trenton, NJ] - On July 14-15, His Eminence, Archbishop Michael, visited the parish of St. Vladimir Church in Trenton, NJ, to celebrate the parish's patronal feast day.  Sunday morning, he celebrated a Hierarchical Divine Liturgy with co-celebrants Fr. Volodymyr Chaikivskiy, Rector, Archpriest Paul Shafran, Pastor Emeritus (retired), visiting clergy Fr. Bohdan Chaikivskiy, Dn. Stephan Karlgut, and Dn. Mark Bohush (all of whom are currently attached to St. Athanasius Chapel, Bronxville, NY) and numerous altar servers.

One of the things that makes St. Andrew’s Camp exceptional is its outstanding Religious Education program. This summer, the classes have focused on the lives of the saints. These saints and their stories have come to life for campers who have participated in fun and engaging reenactments of their lives.

The latest issue of KOINONIA is now available for download and distribution in the parishes. KONIONIA is the quarterly newsletter published by the Diocesan Commission on Missions and Evangelism, under the editorship of the Director of that Commission, Archpriest Eric Tosi, and with the blessing of His Eminence, Archbishop Michael.

[Sea Cliff, NY] - Recently, an “instructional Liturgy” took place at the Church of Our Lady of Kazan in Sea Cliff, NY. This special service, led by Father John Bartholomew with the assistance of Deacon Paul Hunchak, was designed to give the children (and adults) in our parish a better understanding of the Liturgy.

[Wayne, NY] - The Annual Diocesan Altar Server's Retreat was held on Saturday, June 29th, at Holy Resurrection Orthodox Church, Wayne, NJ.  His Eminence, Archbishop Michael, celebrated the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy for the Feast of Saints Peter and Paul, and over thirty altar servers participated. The beautiful Eucharistic celebration was followed by a wonderful brunch provided by the parish.

The clergy and faithful of the Diocese continue to mourn the tragic losses of life, the needless acts of violence, the divisions among races, and the civil strife which plague many of our cities and countrysides...