On Saturday, June 28, 2025, altar servers from across the Diocese gathered at Saints Peter & Paul Church in Endicott, NY, for a day of prayer, learning, and fellowship. The retreat offered participants the opportunity to deepen their understanding of the sacred role they fulfill at the holy altar, grow in their spiritual life, and connect with fellow servers from neighboring parishes.

St. Andrew’s Camp is offering a 25% discount on Sports Week (July 21–27) for any camper also attending Horse Week or Art Fusion Week. Sports Week isn’t just for athletes—it includes fun activities like survival games, swimming, kayaking, archery, theme nights, and engaging religious education.

His Eminence Archbishop Michael has announced Operation: Spring Valley – a diocesan-wide volunteer effort to support St. John the Baptist Orthodox Church in Spring Valley, NY. All are invited to lend a helping hand on Saturday, August 2 and Saturday, August 9, as we come together to assist one of our Diocese’s most historic communities.

St. Olga’s Community Moves Toward a Permanent Home

The faithful Orthodox community in Plattsburgh, NY continues to gather monthly for worship, with Divine Liturgy most recently celebrated on the same weekend as the glorification of their heavenly patron, St. Olga of Alaska. Although currently limited to meeting once a month on Saturdays at a local Methodist church, the mission of St. Olga’s is vibrant and growing.

June 19–22, 2025 | Kwethluk & Anchorage, Alaska

With deep joy and thanksgiving, we share the historic news that the Orthodox Church in America will glorify Blessed Matushka Olga Michael of Kwethluk, Alaska, as a saint of the Church this week, from June 19 through June 22, 2025.

Matushka Olga, the wife of Archpriest Nikolai Michael, was a devout Orthodox Christian, mother of eight, midwife, and quiet servant of God. She lived in the remote village of Kwethluk, along the Kuskokwim River, where she became known for her tireless acts of love, her gifts of healing, and her compassionate presence, especially among women and the suffering. Her holiness was not proclaimed from pulpits or thrones, but manifested in the hidden life of service, prayer, and maternal care—a life now recognized by the entire Church as deeply and profoundly sanctified.

A Practical Beginner Course for All Who Love the Church

Have you ever wanted to sing in the Orthodox Church but didn’t know where to begin? Whether you’ve never studied music or you’re simply looking for a fresh, clear approach—this course is for you.

This 12-week course (11 weeks of instruction + 1 exam week) is designed for absolutely everyone:

• Those with no prior musical training or experience reading sheet music
• Those who studied music long ago but feel it’s all forgotten
• Those who dreaded solfeggio — we promise, this time it will make sense!
• Aspiring choir members who feel called to serve but don’t know how to start
• Sunday School teachers who want to integrate church music into their teaching
• Anyone seeking a solid, practical introduction to music theory and sight singing

Archpriest Jason R. Kappanadze, 81, fell asleep in the Lord on June 14, 2025, at home with his family in Elmira Heights, NY. He will be dearly missed by his wife of 42 years, Matushka Margaret Kappanadze (née Udics); his children, Nina Dudek, Susanna Tabeling (Peter), and Paul Kappanadze (Anastasia); and his beloved grandchildren, Lydia Dudek and Peter Kappanadze.

He was born on February 28, 1944, in Cleveland, OH, to Anastasia (Fedak) and Roman Kappanadze, and was baptized at Saint Theodosius Orthodox Cathedral. He grew up surrounded by extended family, including his grandfather, Protopresbyter Jason R. Kappanadze, long-time pastor at Saint Theodosius.

Protodeacon Stephen Sweet reposed in the Lord on Friday, May 30, 2025, at University of Rochester Strong Medical Center in Rochester, New York at the age of 74.

Protodeacon Stephen was born in Rochester, NY. He worked in the restaurant industry, was a delivery truck driver for the Music Lovers musical instrument store, and worked at Saints Cosmas and Damian Nursing Facility on Staten Island. During his professional life and throughout his retirement years, he was an active member of Saint John the Baptist Orthodox Church in Rochester, New York. He studied under Archpriest Cyril Stavrevsky in the Diaconal Vocations Program.

The latest issue of Koinonia, the official publication of the Diocese of New York and New Jersey, invites readers to reflect on the Gospel call to love our neighbors, not in word alone, but in concrete acts of mercy, presence, and evangelism. Featuring powerful contributions from Archpriest Eric Tosi, Elder Thaddeus, Saint Silouan of Athos, Protopresbyter Thomas Hopko, and an insightful interview with leaders from FOCUS North America, this issue challenges parishes to rediscover their urban neighborhoods as fertile ground for mission and renewal.

On Saturday, May 31, Holy Resurrection Church in Wayne, New Jersey, hosted the Annual Diocesan Altar Servers Retreat, welcoming thirty-eight altar servers from across the New Jersey and New York City Deaneries. It was a day filled with prayer, learning, fellowship, and joy.

The retreat began with the formal greeting of His Eminence, Archbishop Michael, by the host rector, Archpriest Stephen Evanina, and Archpriest Martin Kraus, Chair of the Diocesan Department of Youth Ministry. His Eminence then presided at the celebration of the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy, which was followed by a festive lunch in the parish hall.