On Sunday May 22, 2011 a devastating EF5 multi-vortex tornado struck Joplin, Missouri, at about 5:41 PM CDT. It reached a width in excess of one mile during its path through the southern part of the city. It rapidly intensified and tracked eastward across the city. This tornado ranks as one of Missouri's and America's deadliest tornados and is very likely to be one of the costliest; the cost to rebuild Joplin could exceed $3 billion. It was the first F5 or EF5 in Missouri since the Ruskin Heights tornado struck south of Kansas City in 1957. It is also the second F5 or EF5 tornado in Missouri history dating back to 1950. The May tornado was the deadliest tornado to hit the United States since 1947 - the seventh deadliest single tornado in United States history, and the twenty-sixth deadliest in world history.
As of June 13, officials reported that 152 people were killed by the tornado.
When the Christians of Holy UnMercenaries Greek Orthodox Parish in Chicago heard of the tornado devastation in Joplin they contacted Greek Orthodox Helping Other People Everywhere. With the help of the Christians in other parishes GO HOPE mobilized and sent relief aid in the form of various supplies to Joplin. This is a video essay about that mission.
Please see the video and pictures posted below.
A Classic Defense of the Old Calendar, proving it is part of the Tradition of the Church. Read more...
Saints Peter and Paul Orthodox Church is a beautiful mission parish near downtown Tucson, a city in southern Arizona. It was started in 1997 by Father John Bockman, who was a missionary Priest formerly serving missions in Tennessee and Massachusetts since 1990. Father John served the faithful in Tucson and the surrounding area in his home Chapel until his repose in November of 2000. His wife, Presbytera Valerie, continued to make her home Chapel available for the mission, with clergy from Saint Nectarios Orthodox Church in Seattle and His Eminence, Metropolitan Moses of Toronto (then of Portland), visiting to provide the Divine Services.
Read more...2023 Youth Conference
Please join us for the 2023 youth conference in Chicago, IL! To learn more, visit the home page or visit the conference website.
Q. In considering becoming part of the GOC in America, I am getting warnings from various circles that the attitude of GOC people is that of being “walled off,” “arrogant,” “judgmental,” and “in your face” toward those not in the Genuine Orthodox Church, with accusations such as “World Orthodox” priests are “not even Christians” and the like. Could you give me your personal, realistic assessment of this dynamic and possibly refer me to an official statement on how GOC members should and do relate to and communicate with those in “World Orthodoxy”? Read more...