Haitian Mission Update, July 2020

Details: Created on Wednesday, 08 July 2020 02:07

June 24, 2020

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Greetings! I want to give you all a brief update on the situation of our Haitian Orthodox Mission. Haiti, by the mercy of God, has been spared thus far from the brunt of the coronavirus pandemic. Haiti, as you can imagine, has all the makings for marked spread and cataclysmic death tolls due to overcrowding and poor access to medical care. Thus far this has not been the case as Haiti is generally not a tourist destination and closed its borders quite early during the pandemic season. Their schools have been closed on and off throughout the spring. As a result of economic difficulties around the world, Haiti suffers more acutely as they depend upon us for much of their schooling and church needs. Travel to the country has become quite difficult as there is an enforced fourteen-day quarantine required for all visitors and then a quarantine on your way back to the United States, specifically if you are going to New York.

I hope to be able to visit our Haitian brothers and sisters in the latter half of this year or early 2021 depending upon the situation both in the United States and in Haiti. Thankfully by the diligence of their priests and dedicated church-folk, the churches are functioning and the schools are forging ahead - merging the beauty of the Orthodox faith with quality education.

Please remember us in your generosity this summer and fall.

In Christ,

Lazarus Gehring, M.D.
Liaison, Haitian Orthodox Mission

Haiti Pascha

Orthodox Awareness

A Miracle of Saint Spyridon

This miracle of Saint Spyridon took place in Mandra, Greece in 1926.

It was 12/25 December, 1926. The state Church of Greece adopted the Papal calendar and with the help of the Greek government persecuted all those who did not accept the Papal calendar. The faithful Orthodox Christians of Mandra woke up and headed to their Church to celebrate the Feast of Saint Spyridon. When they reached the Church they saw that the door to the Church had been secured with chains and the faithful could not enter. Before leaving the Church to return to their homes they stuck their candles on the door. As soon as the last person placed his candles on the door

the chains broke and fell. The faithful, confirmed in their Faith, entered the Church and celebrated the Feast of Saint Spyridon.

The miracle was reported the next day by the newspaper Skrip.

Missions

Saints Peter and Paul Orthodox Mission, Tucson, Arizona

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.

Youth

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.

Ask A Priest

Forty Day Memorial Service

Q. Can you please explain the significance of the forty day memorial service? An Evangelical family asked one of our relatives that question. We said that it’s best to ask a clergy member. Thank you in advance for your response. (We will forward it to them as soon as possible).
-P. & M. G. Read more...

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