Our hearts go out to the families and individuals who have lost their loved ones, homes, businesses, and possessions due to the devastating flooding across communities in the state of Texas. Our prayers are with them—and for them.

Those in our Diocesan Family, whether parishes or individuals, who wish to support relief efforts for the flood-stricken communities are encouraged to contribute directly to International Orthodox Christian Charities (IOCC).

Checks may be made payable to International Orthodox Christian Charities, with “Flood Relief for Texas” in the memo line, and mailed to:

IOCC
110 West Road, Suite 360
Baltimore, Maryland 21204-2365

Online donations may be made at the IOCC website:
👉 https://iocc.org/ways-to-give

For more information and ongoing updates on IOCC’s efforts and opportunities to support the victims of the Texas floods, please visit:
👉 https://iocc.org/blog/iocc-monitors-flooding-in-central-texas

Let us continue to lift up in prayer all who are suffering and extend to them our support as brothers and sisters in Christ.

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.

June 30 – July 4, 2025

We had a joyful and spiritually enriching sixth annual Family Week at St. Andrew’s Camp, held June 30 through July 4 on the beautiful shores of Lake Oneida in upstate New York.

The week began with a festive welcome dinner and fiesta-themed party, complete with crafts, games, and a traditional piñata—setting the tone for a week filled with faith, fellowship, and fun.

Each day was anchored in prayer and worship, with Fr. Jason Vansuch leading morning and evening services, as well as offering engaging and accessible religious education sessions for all ages. Families took part in a wide variety of activities, including kayaking, field games, arts and crafts, and relaxing time together in nature.

DEEPEST SYMPATHY is expressed to Timothy Kucynda, all his family and their loved ones, on the repose of his father, + Archpriest Paul Kucynda, earlier today, Wednesday, July 9. 

Details concerning services for + Father Paul will be announced when they are confirmed. 

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 Paul, who has fallen asleep in the Lord, and may his memory be eternal! “Vechnaya Pamyat!”

On Saturday, June 28, 2025, altar servers from across the Diocese gathered at Saints Peter & Paul Church in Endicott, NY, for a day of prayer, learning, and fellowship. The retreat offered participants the opportunity to deepen their understanding of the sacred role they fulfill at the holy altar, grow in their spiritual life, and connect with fellow servers from neighboring parishes.

St. Andrew’s Camp is offering a 25% discount on Sports Week (July 21–27) for any camper also attending Horse Week or Art Fusion Week. Sports Week isn’t just for athletes—it includes fun activities like survival games, swimming, kayaking, archery, theme nights, and engaging religious education.

St. Olga’s Community Moves Toward a Permanent Home

The faithful Orthodox community in Plattsburgh, NY continues to gather monthly for worship, with Divine Liturgy most recently celebrated on the same weekend as the glorification of their heavenly patron, St. Olga of Alaska. Although currently limited to meeting once a month on Saturdays at a local Methodist church, the mission of St. Olga’s is vibrant and growing.

June 19–22, 2025 | Kwethluk & Anchorage, Alaska

With deep joy and thanksgiving, we share the historic news that the Orthodox Church in America will glorify Blessed Matushka Olga Michael of Kwethluk, Alaska, as a saint of the Church this week, from June 19 through June 22, 2025.

Matushka Olga, the wife of Archpriest Nikolai Michael, was a devout Orthodox Christian, mother of eight, midwife, and quiet servant of God. She lived in the remote village of Kwethluk, along the Kuskokwim River, where she became known for her tireless acts of love, her gifts of healing, and her compassionate presence, especially among women and the suffering. Her holiness was not proclaimed from pulpits or thrones, but manifested in the hidden life of service, prayer, and maternal care—a life now recognized by the entire Church as deeply and profoundly sanctified.

A Practical Beginner Course for All Who Love the Church

Have you ever wanted to sing in the Orthodox Church but didn’t know where to begin? Whether you’ve never studied music or you’re simply looking for a fresh, clear approach—this course is for you.

This 12-week course (11 weeks of instruction + 1 exam week) is designed for absolutely everyone:

• Those with no prior musical training or experience reading sheet music
• Those who studied music long ago but feel it’s all forgotten
• Those who dreaded solfeggio — we promise, this time it will make sense!
• Aspiring choir members who feel called to serve but don’t know how to start
• Sunday School teachers who want to integrate church music into their teaching
• Anyone seeking a solid, practical introduction to music theory and sight singing

Archpriest Jason R. Kappanadze, 81, fell asleep in the Lord on June 14, 2025, at home with his family in Elmira Heights, NY. He will be dearly missed by his wife of 42 years, Matushka Margaret Kappanadze (née Udics); his children, Nina Dudek, Susanna Tabeling (Peter), and Paul Kappanadze (Anastasia); and his beloved grandchildren, Lydia Dudek and Peter Kappanadze.

He was born on February 28, 1944, in Cleveland, OH, to Anastasia (Fedak) and Roman Kappanadze, and was baptized at Saint Theodosius Orthodox Cathedral. He grew up surrounded by extended family, including his grandfather, Protopresbyter Jason R. Kappanadze, long-time pastor at Saint Theodosius.

Protodeacon Stephen Sweet reposed in the Lord on Friday, May 30, 2025, at University of Rochester Strong Medical Center in Rochester, New York at the age of 74.

Protodeacon Stephen was born in Rochester, NY. He worked in the restaurant industry, was a delivery truck driver for the Music Lovers musical instrument store, and worked at Saints Cosmas and Damian Nursing Facility on Staten Island. During his professional life and throughout his retirement years, he was an active member of Saint John the Baptist Orthodox Church in Rochester, New York. He studied under Archpriest Cyril Stavrevsky in the Diaconal Vocations Program.

The latest issue of Koinonia, the official publication of the Diocese of New York and New Jersey, invites readers to reflect on the Gospel call to love our neighbors, not in word alone, but in concrete acts of mercy, presence, and evangelism. Featuring powerful contributions from Archpriest Eric Tosi, Elder Thaddeus, Saint Silouan of Athos, Protopresbyter Thomas Hopko, and an insightful interview with leaders from FOCUS North America, this issue challenges parishes to rediscover their urban neighborhoods as fertile ground for mission and renewal.

On Saturday, May 31, Holy Resurrection Church in Wayne, New Jersey, hosted the Annual Diocesan Altar Servers Retreat, welcoming thirty-eight altar servers from across the New Jersey and New York City Deaneries. It was a day filled with prayer, learning, fellowship, and joy.

The retreat began with the formal greeting of His Eminence, Archbishop Michael, by the host rector, Archpriest Stephen Evanina, and Archpriest Martin Kraus, Chair of the Diocesan Department of Youth Ministry. His Eminence then presided at the celebration of the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy, which was followed by a festive lunch in the parish hall.

South Canaan, PA

St. Tikhon’s Orthodox Theological Seminary is once again serving as the setting for the Diocese of New York and New Jersey’s summer formation course in the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (CGS). This year's session, taking place from June 9 through June 13, brings together 25 participants from across the diocese and beyond.

The subject of this month's What's Your Ministry? profile, Jaleen Claassen, is a perfect example of this in her role as Executive Director of The Treehouse, a ministry dedicated to helping mothers and their children in Wichita, Kansas. The Treehouse's ministry goes beyond meeting basic material needs, creating networks of support and providing ongoing resources to help their clients experience lives of dignity and the love of Christ.

One of our Diocesan seminarians, Joel M. Bridge from Annunciation Church in Brick, New Jersey, has been selected for the Chaplain Candidate Program in the New Jersey National Guard. Joel, who is pursuing his theological studies at Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology in Brookline, MA, was recently administered the oath for commissioning, after being selected for the Chaplaincy program by the U.S. Army Chaplain Accessions Board.

The Army Chaplain Accessions Board carefully considers every applicant to the Chaplain Candidate Program and advances select qualified persons to that program. Joel was one of 16 individuals determined to be fully qualified for Federal recognition in the Army Reserve National Guard as Chaplain Candidates.

His Eminence Archbishop Michael offers his congratulations to Joel, on behalf of all the clergy and faithful of our Diocesan family, as Joel begins this journey of formation and training. Please keep Joel, and those whom he will serve in our Armed Forces, in your prayers. May God grant them all many blessed years!

Dearly Beloved Members of our Diocesan Family:
Christ is in our midst! – He is and ever shall be!

“When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. 
And suddenly a sound came from heaven like the rush of a mighty wind,
and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared
to them tongues as of fire, distributed and resting on each one of them. 
And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other
tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance” (Acts of the Apostles 2:1-4).

[Auburn, NY] - On Sunday, May 4, the parish family of St. Nicholas Church in Auburn, NY, joyfully welcomed His Eminence, Archbishop Michael, for the celebration of Great Vespers and the Divine Liturgy on the Third Sunday of Pascha, the Sunday of the Holy Myrrhbearing Women.

[Watervliet, NY] - We are proud to share the wonderful news that Dr. Kimberly Peregrim, a dedicated parishioner of St. Basil’s Orthodox Church in Watervliet, NY, has been promoted to the rank of Colonel in the United States Air Force Reserves. Her extraordinary dedication to both her country and her faith is a shining example for us all.

Christ is Risen!

As spring unfolds, St. Andrew’s Camp is preparing for another joyful summer season. The old dining hall and recreation center have been transformed into a maintenance and storage facility, thanks to dedicated volunteers. Campers have contributed too—building a kayak rack and enjoying campfires by the newly painted boathouse mural.

Jersey City, NJ — May 8, 2025

Clergy and faithful from across the Diocese of New York and New Jersey gathered at Saints Peter and Paul Orthodox Cathedral in Jersey City, NJ on Thursday, May 8, 2025, to celebrate the 15th anniversary of the consecration of His Eminence, Archbishop Michael, to the episcopate.

The morning began with a joyful Divine Liturgy, concelebrated by clergy from across the diocese, giving thanks for Archbishop Michael’s steadfast leadership and devoted ministry. The cathedral was filled with prayer, song, and heartfelt gratitude as the faithful lifted their voices to God, praying for many more blessed years for their beloved archpastor.

Dear OYM Friends,

Christ is Risen!

As we continue to celebrate the Paschal season, I hope that the resources in this newsletter will inspire and encourage you in your ministry efforts. In this month's ministry reflection, Christian Gonzalez prompts us to ask ourselves what needs we see in our own corners of God's garden — and what gifts He has given us to meet them. This theme is exemplified beautifully in our latest installment of What's Your Ministry?, an interview with Presbytera Laura Blazev. It is truly amazing how seemingly simple acts — such as starting an iced coffee stand for parishioners to enjoy after liturgy— can prove themselves to be powerful examples of Christian hospitality, bearing untold fruits of fellowship.

Happy Anniversary, Archbishop Michael

With gratitude and love, we celebrate the 15th Anniversary of your consecration. Thank you for your faithful, wise, and loving leadership. May God grant you many more blessed years!

Eis polla eti, Despota!

On Bright Saturday, Saint Andrew’s Camp joyfully welcomed guests for its Annual Paschal Open House—a day filled with prayer, fellowship, and festal joy in the light of the Resurrection.

The celebration began with the Divine Liturgy, served in the camp’s chapel with the participation of numerous clergy and faithful from across the diocese. The service, radiant with Paschal hymns and bright vestments, reflected the beauty and triumph of Christ’s Resurrection.

St. Thomas Sunday, 2025 - Yonkers, NY

On Sunday of St. Thomas, April 26–27, 2025, the faithful of Holy Trinity Orthodox Church in Yonkers, NY, joyfully welcomed His Eminence, Archbishop Michael, for an archpastoral visit.

The visit began on Saturday evening with the celebration of Vespers and Litiya. Surrounded by the glow of Paschal candles, the parish gathered in prayer, continuing the radiant joy of the Resurrection.

Protocol No. 01-002/2025
Great and Holy Pascha
Sunday, April 20th, 2025

Dearly Beloved Members of our Diocesan Family:
Christ is Risen! – Indeed He is Risen!

“Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory
through our Lord Jesus Christ” (I Cor. 15:57).

Many of those who have seen the pop cultural phenomenon “Jesus Christ Superstar” tell of leaving with a depressed feeling – because it ends with the crucifixion. What can be more depressing than to have a play or a movie end with the crucifixion of its hero? It is not surprising, though, that “Jesus Christ Superstar” ends with the crucifixion, since those who wrote it are non-believers. They tried to express through this rock opera their depressing philosophy about life – namely, that it ends with death for everybody.

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...