Sunday April 14, 2024

UPCOMING EVENTS

• Lenten Archpastoral Letter from His Eminence, Metropolitan Gregory
  As we begin Holy and Great Lent this year on March 18th, I want to share with you a few thoughts so that we may journey through this reflective period and arrive at the Great Feast of Feasts, PASCHA to receive the Resurrected Christ. (click here to read the full letter...)
  
  
• Diocesan Regional Lenten Retreats for Youth and Adults: The Diocesan Chancery is pleased to release the schedule of  this year's,  in-person, Diocesan Regional Lenten Retreats for youth and adults, hosted in various areas of the Diocese.  The annual  regional Diocesan Lenten Retreats are coordinated by the National ACRY and are open to all Diocesan family members and friends.  Please plan on attending. Look for registration information on the Diocesan website and Social Media. The details are as follows:
  
  Central Regional Diocesan Adult and Youth Lenten Retreat - Sat April 20, 2024  - St. Nicholas Orthodox Church in Homestead, PA.  Registration Information will be posted online and on social media  in the near future. 
  
  Western Regional Diocesan Adult and Youth Lenten Retreat  - Sat April 20, 2024 - Chicago Deanery.  Registration Information will be posted online and on social media  in the near future.
  
  
• ACRY Engagement Survey The purpose of this survey is to gather perspectives on National ACRY events so that we can develop an event structure that appeals to the widest group of ACROD parishioners. We encourage all ACROD church parishioners to take the survey, regardless of involvement or member status in the ACRY.
  
  To take the survey, please follow the link:
  https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSezuGXwfz3AQWx1Ida-552XU1s7bIcseJDilxFzMJGNmlcIlw/viewform?pli=1
  
  
• Family Camp 2024: This will be our 10th Annual Family Camp!  Families are invited to come enjoy all that Camp has to offer!  The schedule will include services, meals together, games and activities, hiking, evening events, Ropes Course activities, keynote speakers and learning together, as well as plenty of free-time.  Kids will have time together just by themselves with special activities planned by the Camp Staff. Registration will open on February 1st and will close on May 20, 2024!!
  
  For more information, please go to the [Other Events in 2024] section on the Camp Nazareth website.
  
  
• Camp Nazareth Summer Camp 2024: Get ready for another great year at Camp Nazareth with three one-week programs in July 2024, followed by Science and Nature Camp in August. 
  
  For more information, please go to the [Diocesan Summer Camp 2024] section on the Camp Nazareth website.
  
  
• More to come...
  
  

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

• On the 5th of February, in the Year of Our Lord 2024, His Eminence, Metropolitan Gregory elevated the priest of St. Thomas the Apostle Orthodox Church in Waldorf, MD to the rank of Economos (οἰκονόμος) which means “Steward”, with the added title of “Very Reverend Father Joseph”. With this elevation, he was presented with the epigonation (Greek: ἐπιγονάτιον, literally meaning "over the knee"), or palitza (Russian: палица, "club"), is a diamond-shaped vestment worn on the right side by priests and bishops.
   
  In the Byzantine tradition, the epigonation is awarded to a priest upon his elevation to exomologos (confessor) or the rank of οικονόμος. In the Russian tradition, it is an award given after many years of service. Though a Russian Palitza is identical in shape, and is obviously related to the Greek epigonation, the most literal Slavonic translation for epigonation is actually "Nabedrennik", which is another vestment, rectangular in shape, which no longer exists in non-Slavic usage.
   
  It represents a shield, originating from the thigh shield worn by soldiers during the days of the early church. The epigonation holds a dual meaning. First, it denotes the celebrant as a "soldier" of Christ. Second, it symbolizes the Word of God, fighting the wiles of the enemy. In historical use it was a purse, representing the finances of the Church.
   
  In the Church of the fourth century, the οἰκονόμος was an official responsible for managing ecclesiastical property, under the supervision of the bishop. He was chosen by clergy and laymen who had some experience with the law. In the medieval era, the οἰκονόμος was a trustee and steward of the items necessary for the orderly functioning of his church, or of his monastery (if he was a monk). In Constantinople, during the early period, an οἰκονόμος was a high official in the service of the Church and not necessarily himself in the clergy. At least one Ecumenical Patriarch, Kyriakos of Constantinople (595–606), served as οἰκονόμος and treasurer of the Great Church of Hagia Sophia in Constantinople prior to his election to the patriarchal throne.
   
  Today this is an honorary title to be awarded to presbyters by the bishop for exceptional service to the Church. For their 21 years of faithful service to the parish of St. Thomas, may the Lord our God grant to His servant, the Very Reverend Father Joseph and Pani Elizabeth many blessed years!
  
  
• Become a Distinguished Diocesan Donor:
  We would like to invite you to become a Distinguished Diocesan Donor. Help us to edify Christ by building up The American Carpatho-Russian Orthodox Diocese ministries and apostolates through the Distinguished Diocesan Donors Program. We invite you to view the brochure.
  
  For more information and to donate, please go to the Diocesan Donor website
  
  
  
• Check this space for important information