WOODSIDE, NY — On Sunday, March 29, St. John Chrysostom Orthodox Church welcomed a large gathering of clergy and faithful from across the New York City Deanery for Mission Vespers, offering a powerful witness to the unity of the Orthodox Church amid the rich diversity of the region.

Faithful from neighboring parishes—both familiar faces and those visiting for the first time, including some of the founding members of the parish—gathered in prayer during this sacred Lenten season.

The March 2026 newsletter from St. Andrew’s Orthodox Camp reflects a season of both challenge and renewal, noting recent facility damage from a burst pipe that was swiftly repaired through generous donor support, while also highlighting upcoming events such as the Women’s Lenten Retreat, Paschal Open House with Archbishop Michael, and a Spring Adult Retreat focused on cultivating peace. It emphasizes the camp’s ongoing reliance on fundraising and scholarships, since tuition covers only part of the actual costs, and outlines future improvement projects, including backup power and infrastructure upgrades. The newsletter also encourages broader parish involvement through volunteering, fundraising, and participation, underscoring that the camp’s mission—fostering faith, community, and spiritual growth—depends on the collective efforts of staff, donors, and supporters.

The Diocese of New York and New Jersey announces the 2026 goal for the Distinguished Diocesan Benefactors (DDB) program: $265,000.

The Distinguished Diocesan Benefactors initiative provides a meaningful opportunity for faithful Orthodox Christians to support the life and mission of our Diocese in a direct and transformative way. Through the generosity of benefactors, the Diocese is able to strengthen communities, expand ministry, and prepare for the future with confidence and stability.

[Wantage, NJ] — On Wednesday, March 4, 2026, the second Wednesday of Great Lent, His Eminence, Archbishop Michael, presided at the Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts at Holy Spirit Orthodox Church in Wantage, NJ. This annual gathering brings together Orthodox clergy and faithful from across northwestern New Jersey and surrounding areas for prayer, fellowship, and spiritual renewal.

The faithful are invited to support St. Andrew’s Orthodox Camp at a Lenten soup fundraiser to be held at Saints Peter and Paul Church in South River, New Jersey.

On the evening of Friday, March 6, 2026, the faithful of Assumption of the Holy Virgin Orthodox Church in Clifton, NJ gathered for a special prayer service before the Hawaiian Iveron Myrrh-Streaming Icon of the Theotokos.

The icon was brought to the parish by its caretaker, Fr. Nectarios, rector of Holy Theotokos of Iveron Russian Orthodox Church in Kailua, Hawaii. During the visit, an Akathist to the Most Holy Theotokos was served, with Fr. Terence Baz, rector of the Clifton parish, presiding. Several clergy concelebrated the service and assisted with the anointing of the faithful.

The Diocese will host two Altar Server Retreats this spring with His Eminence, Archbishop Michael, offering altar servers an opportunity for prayer, learning, and fellowship while deepening their understanding of service in the Church.

Two identical retreats will be offered in different locations across the Diocese:

Saturday, May 2, 2026
Saints Peter and Paul Orthodox Church – Endicott, NY
Saturday, May 9, 2026
Holy Resurrection Orthodox Church – Wayne, NJ

St. Andrew’s Camp & Retreat Center invites faithful from across the diocese to participate in the 2026 Springtime Weekend Retreat, taking place Friday, May 1 through Sunday, May 3, 2026.

The retreat will focus on the theme:

“Tools for Developing Peace in a Chaotic World.”

The featured speaker will be Father Peter A. Baktis, who has served the Church for more than forty years in a wide range of pastoral ministries. For twenty-five years he served as a U.S. Army Chaplain, ministering to soldiers, families, and military communities in diverse settings. Fr. Peter currently serves as rector of Mother of God “Joy of All Who Sorrow” Orthodox Church in Princeton, New Jersey.

TRENTON, NJ — During the weekend of March 7–8, 2026, St. Vladimir Orthodox Church in Trenton, NJ, was blessed with the visitation of the Hawaiian Iveron Myrrh-Streaming Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos. The faithful gathered in large numbers to venerate the holy icon and be anointed with the fragrant myrrh that flows from it.

More than 400 clergy and faithful from across the region came to participate in this spiritually uplifting event. The presence of the wonderworking icon provided a moment of grace and consolation for the parish community, drawing many to prayer and reflection.

On March 1, 2026, St. Basil’s Orthodox Church in Watervliet, NY, hosted a Pan-Orthodox Sunday of Orthodoxy Vespers, welcoming visiting clergy and faithful from throughout New York’s Capital District. Clergy and parishioners representing the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese, the Orthodox Church in America (OCA), and the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese participated in the service, which joyfully celebrated the triumph of the holy icons and the unity of the Orthodox faith.

Following the Vespers, all gathered in the parish hall for a Lenten meal and fellowship. The annual Lenten Vespers is organized by St. Andrew’s Brotherhood of the Capital District, a pan-Orthodox fellowship that brings together Orthodox clergy and faithful from across the region for prayer, mutual encouragement, and shared witness to the Orthodox faith.

The March newsletter from Orthodox Youth Ministries highlights the organization’s acquisition of the Connect Conference, an annual pan-Orthodox gathering for young adults ages 21–39, and reflects on the conference’s origins and growing impact. In this month’s ministry reflection, Fr. Paul Lundberg recounts how the conference emerged from an early setback in Atlanta to become a meaningful ministry centered on building strong local relationships and fostering Christ-centered community among young adults. The newsletter also features Deanna Klein, a mental health counselor and ministry leader in Minneapolis, who shares how the Connect Conference encourages young adults to use their talents in service to the Church while thoughtfully engaging the modern world through authentic relationships, collaboration, and faithful stewardship.

Join us for an unforgettable weekend of prayer, friendship, and fun in the heart of the Catskills! The Department of Youth Ministry of the Diocese of New York and New Jersey invites youth from all dioceses and jurisdictions to come together for a retreat filled with meaningful worship, engaging conversations, and outdoor fellowship.

📍 Location: Frost Valley YMCA, Claryville, NY
👥 Ages: Teens (13–17) & Young Adults (18–24)
📅 Registration Deadline: April 15, 2026
💵 Cost: Free to attend!
👉 Click here to Register Now

With the blessing of the ruling hierarch of the American Carpatho-Russian Orthodox Diocese, Metropolitan Gregory, Sunday of Orthodoxy Vespers, March 1, 2026, was solemnly celebrated at St. John the Baptist Carpatho-Russian Orthodox Church. Presiding at the service was Archbishop Michael, whose presence reflected the strong bonds of cooperation and brotherhood among the Orthodox jurisdictions of the region.

Dearly beloved faithful in Christ,

On the first Sunday of Great Lent—the Sunday of Orthodoxy—we joyfully commemorate the restoration of holy icons to the life of the Church. This feast celebrates the unity established by the Seventh Ecumenical Council (787) and the final restoration of icons in 843 under the leadership of Empress St. Theodora, together with her son, Emperor Michael III, and Patriarch St. Methodios. Today, the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the United States of America carries this legacy forward, manifesting that same spirit of unity. In this light, “Assembly of Bishops Sunday” is now observed nationwide in conjunction with this historic celebration.

On Sunday, February 15, the Honorable Judge E. Ray Lanier, retired General Counsel of the Orthodox Church in America, was presented the Assembly of Bishops’ Medal of Saint Theodora, “Restorer of Icons” and a patron saint of Orthodox Unity.  The Medal of St. Theodora is an annual award given to one male and one female from among the laity who have made significant contributions to the work of the Assembly and to Orthodox Christian Unity. The award was presented to Judge Lanier at his home parish of St. Innocent Church (OCA) in Macon, Georgia, by Archpriest Theophan Buck, with remarks delivered on behalf of the Assembly of Bishops by William Marianes, Esq. 

On the weekend of March 7–8, 2026, the faithful of the Diocese will have the opportunity to venerate the Myrrh-Streaming Hawaiian Iveron Icon of the Mother of God during its visit to St. Vladimir Orthodox Church in Trenton, New Jersey.

This beloved icon has become known throughout the Orthodox world for the abundant myrrh that has streamed from it and for the many testimonies of consolation, healing, and spiritual renewal associated with its visitation. Countless faithful have approached the Theotokos through this holy image seeking comfort, repentance, strength, and hope.

The faithful of the Diocese of New York and New Jersey are warmly invited to gather for the celebration of Sunday of Orthodoxy Vespers on Sunday, March 1 at 4:00 PM, hosted at St. John the Baptist Orthodox Church in Perth Amboy, New Jersey.

Funeral of Bishop Seraphim Celebrated at Holy Trinity Church, Yonkers

On Monday, February 16, 2026, clergy and faithful of the Diocese of New York and New Jersey gathered at Holy Trinity Orthodox Church in Yonkers to commend to the mercy of God His Grace Bishop Seraphim (Sigrist), former Bishop of Sendai.

The Order for the Burial of a Hierarch was served by His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon. Concelebrating with His Beatitude was His Eminence Archbishop Michael, together with diocesan and visiting clergy: Archpriest David Cowan, Vice-Chancellor of the Diocese of New York and New Jersey; Priest David Bozeman, Secretary to His Beatitude; Archpriest Volodymyr Zablotskyy, Rector of Holy Trinity Church; Archpriest Alexey Karlgut, Dean of the New York State Deanery; Archpriest Martin Kraus, Dean of the New York City Deanery; Archpriest Alexander Rentel, Rector of Three Hierarchs Chapel at St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary; Archpriest Michael Meerson of Christ the Savior Church, NYC; Archpriest David Garretson of Saints Peter and Paul Church, South River, NJ; Priest Nicholas A. Garklavs of St. Nicholas Church, Whitestone, NY; Priest Gregory Aidinov of Christ the Savior Church, NYC; and Deacon Dr. Harrison Basil Russin of Three Hierarchs Chapel.

The Diocese of New York and New Jersey of the Orthodox Church in America invites all women of the Diocese to participate in the 2026 Lenten Women’s Retreat, to be held Friday, March 27 through Sunday, March 29, 2026 at St. Andrew’s Camp and Retreat Center.

This year’s retreat is titled “Becoming Myrrhbearers,” inviting participants to reflect prayerfully on the witness, courage, and devotion of the Myrrhbearing Women as we journey together through the holy season of Great Lent.

January 30 – February 1, 2026
Stony Creek, NY – Adirondacks

From Friday through Sunday, January 30 to February 1, Fr. Martin Kraus and six other men gathered in the Adirondacks for their annual Mountain Men Respite. They were graciously hosted at Delbert Clement’s family homestead in Stony Creek, NY — a beautiful 60-acre property surrounded by winter woods and centered around a large frozen pond.

The weekend brought true Adirondack winter conditions. Daytime temperatures ranged between 10–15 degrees, and nighttime temperatures dropped to between –15 and –20 degrees. The men slept in hot tents, each heated by wood stoves that required steady tending throughout the night. Thanks to Dell’s generous preparation, there was abundant firewood for both the tent stoves and the large outdoor fire that became the heart of the retreat.

Fifteen women, of varying ages, from four different Diocesan parishes, braved the weekend’s frigid weather to attend this retreat which centered on the life and witness of St. Olympia the Deaconess.  This intimate gathering offered the opportunity to reflect on the steadfast faith, courage, and service of, not only St. Olympia, but also St. Matushka Olga of Alaska. 

His Grace Bishop Seraphim (Sigrist), former Bishop of Sendai, fell asleep in the Lord on the morning of February 6, 2026.

Bishop Seraphim was born Joseph Sigrist on December 13, 1941 in New York and baptized in a Presbyterian Church. He was brought up in Pleasantville, NY and studied at Nyack College. While studying at Nyack he began to attend the Orthodox Church…

Jacob’s Well is looking for a new Print Designer to do layout and graphic design. Ideally, this person would have some experience in layout for print and magazine publications. They should also have familiarity with Adobe InDesign, Illustrator, and Photoshop. It is a volunteer position that comes with a modest honorarium dependent on budget capacity. For more information, to recommend someone, or for those interested in the role, they should contact Fr Matthew Brown at editor@jacobsmag.org.

[Watertown, NY] - On 31 January 2026, Father Gregory Fedorchak celebrated the Divine Liturgy at St John the Soldier Mission in Watertown, NY. Forty-one faithful gathered in our chapel, the largest service held so far at St John the Soldier. The deep snow and ice-like cold couldn’t stop the gathering. Many of the faithful are soldiers in the US Army’s 10th MTN Division who will deploy in the spring on a regularly scheduled overseas rotation. The liturgy was followed by a parish meal. Going forward, we will hold regularly scheduled liturgies on the last Saturday of each month, in addition to our readers' vespers on Saturdays at 4:00 p.m. and Hours and Typica on Sundays at 9:45 a.m.

On January 18, 2026, the St. Olga of Alaska Orthodox Mission marked a historic milestone by celebrating the first Divine Liturgy in its new permanent home. Following a rapid two-week transition after acquiring the property on December 30, a dedicated crew of volunteers quickly prepared the space with a donated iconostasis and furnishings to ensure the building was ready for worship. Despite the hurdles of addressing immediate infrastructure needs, 23 faithful gathered for the inaugural service, which included the blessing of the building and the Great Blessing of Water. With regular Sunday services now established at 9:30 AM, the mission community looks forward to a new chapter of spiritual life and growth in their own dedicated sanctuary.

[Brooklyn, NY] - On Sunday, January 25, the Transfiguration Cathedral in Brooklyn celebrated the feast of the Holy Martyr Tatiana, maintaining its remarkable 117-year tradition of never closing for a Sunday service—even amidst the pandemic or natural disasters. Despite severe weather and city-wide storm warnings, parishioners gathered from across the five boroughs for the Divine Liturgy, while others joined via a live online broadcast. The day concluded with a special prayer service for students, honoring St. Tatiana as their patron saint and reaffirming the cathedral’s role as a resilient spiritual home for the New York community.

[Jewell, NY] - The faithful of Saints Peter and Paul and St. Andrew's Camp went to the shore of Lake Oneida on January 18th, 2026 for the Great Blessing of Waters, followed by the third annual Theophany Cross Plunge. There was a youth division, where five brave youths plunged into the icy cold waters to retrieve the cross, followed by an adult division. Many hours were spent beforehand carving out the ice path for the plunge. This year's path was the largest to date. The event was captured on video and compiled with interviews from some of the participants.

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...