Father Christos and Prebystera Katina Patitsas of Huntingdon, Pennsylvania, visited SS. Peter & Paul Orthodox Church in Tucson, Arizona, for the weekend of the Sunday of the Prodigal Son (Jan 26/Feb 8, 2015). Father Christos served Great Vespers on Saturday evening, and before the Hours and Divine Liturgy on Sunday morning, served the Holy Baptism of James Bell, the 8th-day naming of James' son David, and the 40th day churching of James' wife Anastasia and son David. James' Godfather is his father-in-law, David Wright. Two other close family members, Photini who is Anastasia's sister, and Maria who is James' and Anastasia's five-year-old daughter, were numbered among the witnesses.
Twenty-four people filled the small chapel to capacity for the Hours and Divine Liturgy following the Baptism, and there was standing room only at the potluck Trapeza following the services. Presbytera Katina delighted everyone with her beautiful Orthodox folk songs, including “The Prodigal Son,” “The Wind and the Sea,” and “St. John of Kronstadt.”
Father Christos' interesting and compelling stories, always containing an Orthodox truth, were not only entertaining, but filled the hungry hearts of our isolated desert community. Many thanks to Father Christos and Presbytera Katina! Many years to the newly-illumined James and his family: Anastasia, Maria, David the younger, Photini, and David the elder!
“Trust ye not in princes, in the sons of men, in whom there is no salvation.”
(Psalm 145:3)
We mustn’t have absolute trust in human beings for our salvation, no matter what dignity they have. Human beings are changeable. Today they are saints, tomorrow—deniers. Today—sinners, tomorrow—righteous. We must have absolute trust in God, and in Him we must base our hopes of salvation. “Blessed is he of whom the God of Jacob is his help, whose hope is in the Lord his God” (Psalm 145:5). Read more...
St. John of Kronstadt Orthodox Church began as a mission parish in the year 2000, in a home chapel in Palm Coast, FL – a small town on Florida’s northeast coast located between St. Augustine and Daytona Beach. After two years, it became necessary to have services in area community centers, rented for Sundays and other Holy Days. 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. This concerns a U.S. marriage. If the marriage is civilly annulled, what is the effect upon the Church marriage? Is it also annulled? Read more...