Lord, what a beauty...

The Bulgarian St. Sophia parish in Chicago is busy with preparations for the feast of the Unmade Image on August 16, including special services, icon processions, and a community meal after liturgy. At the same time, the Serbian Orthodox Church marked the memory of Saint Stefan the Despot as the baptismal glory of the Serbian Army with prayers and talks in several dioceses. The Romanian Orthodox Church noted Metropolitan Antonie’s observation of the 24th anniversary of the Metropolis of Bessarabia’s legal recognition, highlighting its steady growth in parishes and schools. Meanwhile, the Russian Church Abroad welcomed the Hawaiian myrrh-streaming icon to Bulgaria for veneration at several monasteries before it continues its travels. These coordinated observances across distant dioceses show how local parishes and global jurisdictions keep the same calendar and saints alive in daily church life.

I look at the photo and my soul calms down. Kyiv Pechersk Lavra.

☦ Iveron Monastery on Athos - Athos, Greece Iviron Monastery is an Eastern Orthodox monastery of the monastic community of Mount Athos in northern Greece. The monastery was founded by two Georgian monks, John the Iberian and John Tornike, between 980–983 AD. It is considered a historic Georgian monastery on Mount Athos and was traditionally inhabited by Georgian Orthodox monks for almost a millennium, until the mid-20th century. Photo: CosmoSolomon · CC BY-SA 3.0

Someday I will go there too. Novo-Diveevo.

☦ St. Mark's Basilica - Venice Patriarchal Cathedral Basilica of St. Mark (Italian: Basilica Cattedrale Patriarcale di San Marco), commonly known as St. Mark's Basilica (Italian: Basilica di San Marco; Venetian: Baxéłega de San Marco), is the cathedral church of the Venetian Patriarchate; it became the episcopal seat of the Patriarch of Venice in 1807, replacing the earlier cathedral of San Pietro di Castello. Photo: Zairon Public domain

☦ Monastery of St. Catherine in Sinai - Sinai, Egypt The Monastery of Saint Catherine, officially the Holy Autonomous Royal Monastery of Saint Catherine of Mount Sinai, is a Christian monastery located on the Sinai Peninsula in Egypt. Situated at the foot of Mount Sinai, it was built between 548 and 565 and is the world's oldest continuously inhabited Christian monastery. Photo: Berthold Werner · CC BY-SA 3.0

Found this photo again — what a place. Ватопед.

☦ Church of the Holy Sepulcher - Jerusalem The Church of the Holy Sepulcher, also known as the Church of the Resurrection, is a fourth-century church in the Christian Quarter of the Old City of Jerusalem. The church is simultaneously the seat of the Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem, the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem and the Catholic Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem. Photo: Gerd Eichmann · CC BY-SA 4.0

☦ Ravenna, San Vitale - Ravenna The Basilica of San Vitale is a late antique church in Ravenna, Italy. The sixth-century church is an important surviving example of early Byzantine art and architecture, and its mosaics in particular are among the best-studied works of Byzantine art. It is one of the eight buildings in Ravenna inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Photo: Commonists · CC BY-SA 4.0

One day I will make it there.

☦ St. Isaac's Cathedral - St. Petersburg St. Isaac's Cathedral is a large architectural monument that currently functions as a museum where church services are held from time to time in St. Petersburg, Russia. It is dedicated to Saint Isaac of Dalmatia, the patron saint of Peter the Great, who was born on the day of memory of this saint. Photo: Florstein (Telegram:WikiPhoto.Space) · CC BY-SA 4.0

ROCOR observed the First Finding of the Relics of St. Seraphim of Sarov with an all-night vigil at its parishes while the European Church Music School wrapped up another full academic year. In the same week the Bulgarian Orthodox Church welcomed the Hawaiian myrrh-streaming icon of the Theotokos, with Patriarch Daniil calling it a genuine blessing for the faithful there. The Romanian Orthodox Church saw Metropolitan Antonie finish his archdiocesan visits in the Hîncești district, meeting clergy and local officials, and the Orthodox Church in America gathered for the 99th Fellowship of Orthodox Christians convention in Cleveland. These quiet markers of feast days, school rhythms, and traveling icons keep daily church life steady across continents. May the intercession of St. Seraphim strengthen every parish named this week.

The stones themselves seem to pray here.

What a beauty - Hosios Lukas!

The Orthodox Church in America has released a new Akathist to St. Olga of Alaska, published through its Romanian Episcopate. The text honors the first Orthodox saint of Alaska and is already being shared in parishes for private and communal prayer. In Romania, Archbishop Atanasie reminded the faithful that the Dormition Fast is a time to return to the altar of the heart, while students from the country brought home three bronze medals at the International Economics Olympiad. The Serbian Orthodox Church continues to draw attention to medieval monuments now at risk from neglect and development. Meanwhile, the Ecumenical Patriarchate marked the start of the Dormition Fast on August 1 with new calendar readings and services. Across the Atlantic, bishops in California spoke against state moves that restrict abortion pill reversal, calling the practice a matter of basic medical ethics. The Bulgarian Holy Synod took the unusual step of distancing itself from Archimandrite Nikanor and asking priests who opposed him to clarify their stance. These developments show quiet work.

The Dormition Fast began on August 1 across the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch and the Romanian Orthodox Church, with both calling the faithful to deeper prayer and inner stillness. In Romania, Archbishop Atanasie urged rediscovering the altar of the heart during these two weeks, while Metropolitan Iosif marked his name day amid local celebrations. Antioch remembered the repose of Dn. Barsoum Barsoum with traditional prayers for the departed. At the same time, the Bulgarian Orthodox Church opened its own two-week Lent on the feast of the Maccabees, placing the Hawaiian myrrh-streaming icon of the Theotokos in Sofia’s Cathedral of Holy Sunday for veneration. The Serbian Orthodox Church observed the feast of Saint Stephen the Despot in Belgrade and honored Saint Martyr Marina in Bresnica. Elsewhere, the Orthodox Church in America wrapped up its 99th Fellowship convention in Cleveland, and the Russian Church Abroad noted the first finding of St. Seraphim of Sarov’s relics on the shared calendar date. How is the Dormition Fast starting in your own parish this year?

The Dormition Fast begins today across the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch and the Romanian Orthodox Church. In Antioch, daily synaxarion readings guide the faithful through the season while Romanian Archbishop Atanasie urges believers to rediscover the altar of the heart through prayer and fasting. The Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople has also marked the fast’s start on August 1 with new saints, feasts, and readings prepared for the coming weeks. Separately, the Bulgarian Orthodox Church’s Holy Synod excommunicated Father Nicanor after his public attacks on the patriarch, while the Orthodox Church in America remembered Preoteasa Mihaela Iancu at her recent funeral. The Serbian Orthodox Church observed the baptismal glory of Saint Stefan the Despot with the army, and the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia noted the close of another academic year at its European Church Music School. Small steps of remembrance and discipline continue quietly in each place.

ROCOR marked the first finding of St. Seraphim of Sarov’s relics with an all-night vigil and at the same time wrapped up another academic year at its European Church Music School. In the same week the Bulgarian Orthodox Church welcomed the Hawaiian myrrh-streaming Iberian icon, with Patriarch Daniil calling it a great blessing for the faithful gathered in Sofia. The Serbian Church celebrated the memory of Saint Martyr Marina at Bresnica parish and highlighted the historic beauty of Osovica monastery. Meanwhile the Romanian Orthodox Church observed the name day of Metropolitan Iosif of Western and Southern Europe and remembered forty years since the repose of Patriarch Iustin Moisescu, whose work still shapes their theological faculties. These quiet observances of saints, relics, and school rhythms keep appearing across jurisdictions far from one another. How did your own parish or diocese keep the memory of St. Seraphim or close out the summer programs this year?

Bulgarian St. Sophia parish in Chicago is busy this week getting ready for the feast of the Unmade Image of Christ. Volunteers are cleaning the church hall, baking prosphora, and hanging fresh icons while the choir rehearses the special hymns for August 16. At the same time, the Romanian Orthodox Church saw its students bring home three bronze medals at the International Economics Olympiad, showing steady work in both studies and faith. The Orthodox Church in America wrapped up its 99th Fellowship convention in Cleveland with talks on parish life and youth programs. Meanwhile, the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia welcomed the Hawaiian myrrh-streaming icon to Bulgaria, where crowds gathered for veneration and prayer services. These ordinary efforts—preparing, studying, gathering—keep parishes steady across different corners of the Church. What special preparations is your own parish making for upcoming feasts this summer?

☦ Zica – Serbia Zica Monastery is an early 13th-century Serbian Orthodox monastery near Kraljevo, Serbia. The monastery, together with the Holy Assumption Church, was built by the first king of Serbia, Stefan the First-Crown, and the first Serbian archbishop, Saint Sava. Photo: Vera Bukvic · CC BY-SA 3.0

The Orthodox Church in America has released a new Akathist to St. Olga of Alaska, published through the Romanian Episcopate. The text honors the newly canonized saint who served as a bridge between Native Alaskan communities and the Orthodox faith in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. At the same time, the Romanian Orthodox Church heard Archbishop Atanasie remind the faithful that the current Dormition Fast is a time to return to the altar of the heart through prayer and simplicity. In Sydney the local archbishop of the Ecumenical Patriarchate called on parishes to present concrete Christian alternatives to euthanasia legislation now before Australian lawmakers. The Serbian Orthodox Church marked the baptismal feast of Saint Stefan the Despot, linking it to the spiritual heritage of the Serbian Army and its historical regiments. These fresh publications and public calls show a steady rhythm of teaching and commemoration across jurisdictions. May the intercession of St. Olga strengthen every community keeping the fast.

The Dormition Fast begins tomorrow, August 1st. It’s a gentle two-week time of prayer and simpler meals as we prepare for the feast of the Mother of God’s falling asleep. Many of us will keep it quietly at home with the usual fasting rules.