Bishop of Chicago and the Midwest

Diocesan Chancery Offices closed for Pascha

Mon, 22 Apr 2013 12:29:24 -0400

The Chancery offices of the Diocese of the Midwest will be closed from Great Thursday, May 2, through Bright Tuesday, May 7. During that time, the office phone, (312) 202-0420, and email, chancery@domoca.org, will not be answered. In case of an emergency, you can reach the Diocesan Chancellor, Archpriest John Zdinak, at his cell phone: (216) 554-7282. Normal office hours will resume on Bright Wednesday, May 8.

Send us your news!

Mon, 22 Apr 2013 12:29:24 -0400

Deaneries and parishes of the Midwest Diocese are always invited to send news of their ministries, activities, photos and events for posting on our diocesan web site. Please send all resources directly to tocmed@hotmail.com for posting.

Bishop Alexander to lecture at Toledo cathedral

Thu, 25 Apr 2013 00:00:00 -0400

ROSSFORD, OH [MW Diocese Communications] -- His Grace, Bishop Alexander of Toledo and the Bulgarian Diocese, Locum Tenens of the See of Chicago and the Midwest, will deliver the Fifth Annual Saints Cyril and Methodius Lecture on Growth and Evangelism at Saint George Cathedral, 738 Glenwood Road, Rossford, OH on May 13, 2013.

Indianapolis site of fundraiser for OCMC missionaries

Wed, 24 Apr 2013 00:00:00 -0400

INDIANAPOLIS, IN [MW Diocese Communications] -- Saint Nicholas Serbian Orthodox Church, 855 March Road, Indianapolis, will be the site of a social on May 18, 2013 to raise funds to send Jen and Chris Moore on an Orthodox Christian Mission Center mission trip to Mongolia. The Moores are members of Saint John the Forerunner Church [OCA], Indianapolis.

Diocesan Chancellor addresses clergy, diocesan and parish councils

Mon, 22 Apr 2013 00:00:00 -0400

CHICAGO, IL [MW Diocese Communications] -- In a letter dated April 17, 2013, Archpriest John Zdinak, Chancellor of the Diocese of the Midwest, updated parish clergy and members of the diocesan and parish councils on a number of matters.

Registration open for summer 2013 Parish Ministries Conference

Mon, 22 Apr 2013 00:00:00 -0400

ARLINGTON, VA -- Registration is now open for "Faith in Action: Equipping the Saints for Worship, Learning and Service," a parish ministries conference slated to be held on the campus of Marymount University, Arlington, VA July 10-13, 2013.

The conference builds upon a similar OCA-sponsored gathering held within the Diocese of the Midwest on the campus of Baldwin-Wallace College, Berea, OH in 2010. Nearly 200 clergy and faithful participated in the conference.

Metropolitan Tikhon, Bishop Matthias address clergy, faithful of the Diocese of the Midwest

Sun, 14 Apr 2013 00:00:00 -0400

CHICAGO, IL [MW Diocese Communications] -- In two separate letters dated Sunday, April 14, 2013, His Beatitude, Metropolitan Tikhon and His Grace, Bishop Matthias addressed the clergy and faithful of the Diocese of the Midwest with regard to recent events.

New iconography blessed at St. Panteleimon Church, Summit, IL

Sat, 13 Apr 2013 00:00:00 -0400

SUMMIT, IL [MW Diocese Communications] -- A new Holy Shroud [plaschanitsa, epitaphios] and iconostasis icon of the Mystical Supper were blessed at the conclusion of the Deanery Lenten Vespers at Saint Panteleimon Church here Sunday, April 7, 2013.

Chicago's Holy Trinity Cathedral to hold art exhibit, sale April 21, 28

Wed, 10 Apr 2013 00:00:00 -0400

CHICAGO, IL [MW Diocese Communications] -- Holy Trinity Cathedral here will hold a pre-Pascha exhibit and sale of original artwork by parishioner Marina Veiler on Sunday, April 21 and Sunday, April 28, 2013.

Metropolitan Tikhon visits Minnesota's Twin Cities

Tue, 09 Apr 2013 00:00:00 -0400

MINNEAPOLIS, MN [MW Diocese Communications] -- His Beatitude, Metropolitan Tikhon, visited the Twin Cities the weekend of the Veneration of the Cross, April 6-7, 2013, where he presided at services at Saint Mary's Cathedral, Minneapolis.

Serbian Bishop Maxim speaks at Kansas mission

Mon, 08 Apr 2013 00:00:00 -0400

LAWRENCE, KS [MW Diocese Communicatons] -- Faithful of Saint Nicholas Mission here hosted His Grace, Bishop Maxim of the Serbian Orthodox Church Diocese of Western America, for a series of talks April 4 – 6, 2013.

IOCC Provides Books To Chicago Area Schoolchildren

Sat, 06 Apr 2013 00:00:00 -0400

Baltimore, MD [IOCC] -- On the same day that the Chicago Public Schools announced the closure of 54 schools, International Orthodox Christian Charities (IOCC) responded with a donation of $1 million in new books to benefit schoolchildren participating in after-school enrichment opportunities, mentoring and summer learning programs in the Chicago area.

Midwest diocesan priest to speak at lenten seminar

Tue, 02 Apr 2013 00:00:00 -0400

LANSING, IL [MW Diocese Communications] -- Priest Danial Doss, Ph.D., will be one of two keynote speakers at the annual lenten seminar sponsored by Saint Archangel Michael Serbian Orthodox Church, 1500 East 186 Street, Lansing, IL on Saturday, April 13, 2013.

FOCUS North America expands outreach to Cleveland's needy

Wed, 27 Mar 2013 00:00:00 -0400

CLEVELAND, OH [FOCUS-NA] -- FOCUS North America, a national movement of Orthodox Christians united in faith and joined by a desire to provide action-oriented and sustainable solutions to poverty in communities across America, now owns and operates the Saint Herman House of Hospitality here.

St. Tikhon's Seminary opens search for new Dean

Tue, 26 Mar 2013 00:00:00 -0400

SOUTH CANAAN, PA [STOTS] -- The Board of Trustees of Saint Tikhon’s Orthodox Theological Seminary here [www.stots.edu] announces a vacancy in the office of Dean, to be filled effective July 1, 2013. Applications, nominations, and expressions of interest for the position of Dean are now being accepted.

St. Vladimir's Seminary Dean to speak in Cincinnati

Sat, 23 Mar 2013 00:00:00 -0400

CINCINNATI, OH [MW Diocese Communications] -- Archpriest Dr. John Behr, distinguished theologian and Dean of Saint Vladimir's Seminary, Yonkers, NY, will speak on "Becoming Human according to the Early Church Fathers" at Christ the Savior-Holy Spirit Church here on Sunday, April 21, 2013. Lenten Vespers will be celebrated at 5:00 p.m., followed by Father John's presentation, a question and answer session, and fellowship. The presentation is free and open to the public. For additional information, please contact Archpriest Steven C. Kostoff, host pastor, at 513-351-0907 orsteven.k@zoomtown.com.

Minneapolis site of lenten retreat for teens, young adults and 20-somethings

Fri, 22 Mar 2013 00:00:00 -0400

MINNEAPOLIS, MN [MW Diocese Communications] -- Saint Mary's Cathedral here will sponsor a lenten retreat for teens, young adults, and 20-somethings on Saturday, April 13, 2013. Registration deadline for the retreat is Wednesday, April 10.

Registration still open for college, young adult lenten retreat April 5-7

Wed, 13 Mar 2013 00:00:00 -0400

KANSASVILLE, WI [MW Diocese Communications] -- Registrations are still being accepted for a leten retreat for college students, young adults, and Orthodox Christian Fellowship [OCF] members from Iowa, Wisconsin, and Illinois at the Saint Iakovos Retreat Center here April 5-7, 2013.

Clayton, WI parish youth publish book

Mon, 11 Mar 2013 00:00:00 -0400

CLAYTON, WI [MW Diocese Communications] -- The Youth Group of Holy Trinity Church here has published a book of original children's stories. Each story has one or more spiritual lessons, and is followed by discussion questions.

STOTS faculty members to speak during Great Lent

Wed, 06 Mar 2013 00:00:00 -0500

MINNEAPOLIS, MN [MW Diocese Communications] -- Three members of the faculty of Saint Tikhon's Seminary, South Canaan, PA, are slated to speak at lenten gatherings across the Midwest.

Georgian Choir to begin US tour in Minneapolis April 3

Tue, 05 Mar 2013 00:00:00 -0500

MINNEAPOLIS, MN [MW Diocese Communications] -- The Zedashe Ensemble will open its 2013 US tour with a concert of traditional Georgian Orthodox sacred music at Saint Mary Cathedral, 1701 Fifth Street Northeast, Minneapolis, MN, on Wednesday, April 3 at 7:30 pm.

Chicago area iconography workshops/retreats announced

Tue, 05 Mar 2013 00:00:00 -0500

ROCKFORD, IL [MW Diocese Communications] -- Arlene Tilghman, a Chicago-area iconographer, will be conducting two iconography workshop/retreats at the Bishop Lane Retreat Center here June 23-29 and October 20-26, 2013.

Second year Planting Grant mission “on the move”

Mon, 04 Mar 2013 00:00:00 -0500

LAWRENCE, KS [OCA] -- The mission recently hosted a visit by Priest Christopher Foley from Holy Cross Mission, High Point, NC—itself a former Planting Grant recipient. He visited on behalf of the OCA’s Department of Missions and Evangelization to encourage the faithful in their growth and offer presentations on life in a mission parish. Priest Joshua Lollar, priest-in-charge at Saint Nicholas Mission, and Father Christopher were classmates together at Saint Vladimir’s Seminary.

Metropolitan Tikhon presides at Diocesan Council meeting

Wed, 20 Feb 2013 00:00:00 -0500

CHICAGO, IL [MW Diocese Communications] -- His Beatitude, Metropolitan Tikhon, presided at the meeting of the Diocesan Council of the Diocese of the Midwest at Christ the Savior Church here on Tuesday, February 19, 2013. Also attending the meeting were His Grace, Bishop Melchisedek of Pittsburgh and Western Pennsylvania and His Grace, Bishop Alexander of Toledo and the Bulgarian Diocese.

Orthodox Christian Parenting Seminar to be presented in Livonia, MI

Fri, 15 Feb 2013 00:00:00 -0500

LIVONIA, MI [MW Diocese Communications] -- The Mariam Center, located on the campus of Saint Mary Antiochian Orthodox Church here, will be hosting a Parenting Seminar on March 2, 2013 from 10:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. The public is welcome.

College, young adult lenten retreat to be held in Wisconsin April 5-7

Sat, 09 Feb 2013 00:00:00 -0500

KANSASVILLE, WI [MW Diocese Communications] -- Saint Iakovos Retreat Center here will be the site of a lenten retreat for college students, young adults, and Orthodox Christian Fellowship [OCF] members from Iowa, Wisconsin, and Illinois April 5-7, 2013.

Revised Detroit Area Lenten Service Schedule

Fri, 08 Feb 2013 00:00:00 -0500

DETROIT, MI [COCC] -- The Council of Orthodox Christian Churches of Metropolitan Detroit (COCC) will observe the first Sunday of Great Lent with a service of Great Vespers March 24, 2013 at 6:30 p.m. at Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral, 707 E. Lafayette Blvd., in the city's Greektown district. The service will be part of the cathedral's observation of its patronal feast, the Annunciation of the Theotokos, which occurs March 25 on the Orthodox liturgical calendar.

Dr. Bradley Nassif to lecture at St. Nicholas Church, Kenosha, WI

Fri, 08 Feb 2013 00:00:00 -0500

KENOSHA, WI [MW Diocese Communications] -- Dr. Bradley Nassif, professor of theology, spirituality and the Bible at North Park University, Chicago, will be the featured speaker at Saint Nicholas Church, 4313 18th Avenue, Kenosha, WI on Saturday, April 6, 2013.

Kansas City Area Lenten Services Schedule

Thu, 07 Feb 2013 00:00:00 -0500

CHICAGO, IL [MW Diocese Communications] -- Orthodox Christians in the Kansas City area will be gathering together for a series of Sunday evening Lenten Mission Services. Each service will be followed by a Lenten dinner. All services begin at 5:00 p.m.

Twin Cities Lenten Services Schedule

Wed, 06 Feb 2013 00:00:00 -0500

CHICAGO, IL [MW Diocese Communications] -- The Minnesota Eastern Orthodox Christian Clergy Association will host its traditional series of Sunday evening services during Great Lent, which begins Monday, March 18, 2013.

Pan-Orthodox Concert to benefit member of Sretensky Choir

Wed, 06 Feb 2013 00:00:00 -0500

CHICAGO, IL [MW Diocese Communications/OCCA] -- A concert of sacred music to benefit Petr Gudkov, a soloist with the Sretensky Choir battling Stage IV Hodgkin's Lymphoma, will be held at Holy Resurrection Serbian Orthodox Cathedral, 5701 North Redwood Drive, Chicago, IL on Sunday, February 10, 2013 at 4:00 p.m.

Chicago Deanery Lenten Services Schedule

Tue, 05 Feb 2013 00:00:00 -0500

CHICAGO, IL [MW Diocese Communications] -- The Chicago Deanery will host its traditional series of Sunday evening services during Great Lent, which begins Monday, March 18, 2013.

Catechist and Diaconal Vocations Program offers on-line access to new courses

Sat, 02 Feb 2013 00:00:00 -0500

CHICAGO, IL [MW Diocese Communications] -- Following trials with two Old Testament class groups and multiple locations, the Midwest Diocesan Catechist and Diaconal Vocations Program will now offer participation in larger classes through internet connection for those who do not have a local cadre of fellow students, or who do not have a local instructor. This increases the number of options available for instruction in cases where there is no local instructor for a certain area of study: either condensed sessions with a visiting instructor or the new online connection. While the internet connections are not always ideal, it allows the students to have a greater participation in the full-format seminars.

Holy Trinity Cathedral's Annual Yolka at Hit!

Thu, 24 Jan 2013 00:00:00 -0500

CHICAGO, IL [MW Diocese Communications] -- The children of Holy Trinity Cathedral's Church school presented their annual Christmas Yolka on Sunday, January 6, 2013 to the delight of their parish and immediate families.

Diaconal Practicum held January 3-4, 2013

Tue, 22 Jan 2013 00:00:00 -0500

CHICAGO, IL [MW Diocese Communications] – The Midwest Diocesan Catechist and Diaconal Vocations Program sponsored a very beneficial diaconal practicum which was held at the Diocesan Center on January 3-4 led by Archdeacon Kirill Sokolov. Archdeacon Kirill has developed a very thorough and detailed instruction in the dynamics of diaconal liturgical service. Fr. Elijah Mueller was present to serve the opening Molieben and Friday morning Matins, as well as to answer any questions about the Diocesan Program.

Calling All Area Orthodox Youth Faithful! - Lenten Retreat!

Mon, 21 Jan 2013 00:00:00 -0500

CHICAGO, IL [MW Diocese Communications] – Any and all Orthodox youth faithful are invited to join us at Holy Trinity Orthodox Cathedral, 1121 N Leavitt St, Chicago, for a Lenten Retreat on April 6, 2013. A printable flyer with more Retreat details can be found here.

Pan-Orthodox youth folk festival, rally to be held in Chicago area March 9

Sun, 20 Jan 2013 00:00:00 -0500

ELMHURST, IL [MW Diocese Communications] -- Youth representing Orthodox Christian parishes throughout the Chicago area will be gathering at Saint Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church, 893 Church Road, Elmhurst, IL on Saturday, March 9, 2013 for the first folk jam sponsored by the Orthodox Christian Coalition for Healthy Youth [OCCHY].

Metropolitan Tikhon to be enthroned January 26-27; service, banquet plans announced

Fri, 11 Jan 2013 00:00:00 -0500

SYOSSET, NY [OCA] -- Plans have been finalized for the enthronement of His Beatitude, Metropolitan Tikhon as Primate of the Orthodox Church in America at Saint Nicholas Cathedral, Washington, DC, on the weekend of January 26-27, 2013.

Chicago's fifth annual pan-Orthodox Sanctity of Life service, presentation to be held January 27

Fri, 11 Jan 2013 00:00:00 -0500

CHICAGO, IL [MW Diocese Communications] -- The Orthodox Christian Clergy Association of Greater Chicago [OCCA] will sponsor its fifth annual Pan-Orthodox Christian Sanctity of Life Prayer Service and Presentation at Saint Michael Carpatho-Russian Orthodox Church, , 7313 North Waukegan Road, Niles, IL at 6:00 p.m. on Sunday, January 27, 2013. Guest speaker will be Dr. Helen Creticos Theodoropoulos, a professor in the Theology Department at Chicago's Loyola University.

FORTIETH DAY MEMORIAL TO BE HELD IN ALL PARISHES