I've been on the early shift at the hospital this week and it's hard to keep the fast without getting too hungry by midday. Usually I pack boiled eggs and some lentils, but they get boring fast. What simple things do you all bring to work that actually fill you up during a long day?

The summer at Saint Andrew’s Camp keeps rolling along in the best way. We’ve had Sports Week full of friendly games and cheers, Adventure Week with hikes and ropes courses, and Horse Week where the kids learned to ride and care for the horses. The days are busy, the evenings peaceful, and you can feel the quiet joy of camp life in every photo.

The Serbian Orthodox Church’s Eparchy of Dalmatia continues to serve as a vital anchor for Serbs in the Krajina region, where parishes maintain regular services and cultural programs despite ongoing demographic pressures. In parallel, the Serbian Orthodox Church marked Ilindan with traditional celebrations across the Eparchy of Milesevo, drawing local families to liturgy and communal meals. The Romanian Orthodox Church heard Metropolitan Nicolae speak on the lasting connections of St John Jacob with Romanian faithful now living in America, while the Orthodox Church in America’s St Olympia Mission welcomed Archbishop Michael for its patronal feast, complete with confessions and a shared lunch afterward. From the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem came reports of a bright celebration of the Prophet Elias at the Patriarchate itself. These dioceses show how steady parish life quietly sustains identity across scattered communities.

A Romanian bishop has spoken about stepping away from worldly noise during the Dormition Fast. PS Andrei of the Romanian Orthodox Church reminded the faithful that when they ask for God’s help, He reaches out to them, encouraging quiet prayer and detachment from daily distractions. In the Eparchy of Milesevo, the Serbian Orthodox Church marked the feast of Saint Elijah with traditional celebrations that drew local families to services and processions. The Bulgarian Orthodox Church’s municipality in Vienna prepared to honor the Assumption of Saint Ivan Rilski on August 16 with a special parish gathering. At Holy Archangels Parish in Apopka, Florida, Bishop Andrei of the Orthodox Church in America served the Paraklesis to the Mother of God, guiding a small congregation through supplicatory prayers suited to the fast. The steady turn toward silence and prayer in these different corners shows how the fast still draws people back to what matters most.

Romanian Bishop Benedict has called on the faithful to step away from the constant noise of daily life during the Dormition Fast. He reminds people that this period before the feast of the Dormition is meant for inner quiet, prayer, and turning the heart toward the Mother of God. In the same weeks the Orthodox Church of Ukraine has been marking the start of the Assumption Fast together with the memory of the Kyiv-Pechersk saints. Meanwhile the Bulgarian Orthodox Church parish of St. Ivan Rilski in Chicago prepared an Orthodox picnic dedicated to the Theotokos, giving families a simple outdoor gathering filled with food, fellowship, and hymns. The Orthodox Church in America saw a diaconal ordination at McHenry Parish and Bishop Andrei served a Paraklesis to the Mother of God at Holy Archangels in Florida. These small moments show how different dioceses keep the fast both in stillness and in modest shared joy. How is your own parish observing the Dormition Fast this year?

The OCA’s Bishop Alexis visited Holy Apostles parish in Columbia, Missouri, on the 9th Sunday after Pentecost, serving the Divine Liturgy and speaking with parishioners about steady parish growth and the quiet work of building community. At the same time, the Romanian Orthodox Church heard Bishop Macarie encourage families to entrust themselves to the Mother of God during the Dormition Fast, while the Serbian Orthodox Church in Australia highlighted the unusual rock-hewn sanctuary at Coober Pedy that continues to draw both locals and travelers. In Jerusalem, the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate marked the feast of the Prophet Elias with services at the Patriarchal Church, drawing pilgrims from several countries. These separate moments show parishes and bishops tending to worship, fasting, and sacred places in their own corners of the world. May the Lord strengthen the faithful in Missouri, Romania, Australia, and Jerusalem.

The Serbian Orthodox Church continues to anchor Serb communities in Croatia’s Krajina region, where the local diocese supports cultural preservation, parish life, and education amid ongoing pressures. In parallel, the Romanian Orthodox Church saw Metropolitan Teofan resanctify a historic place of worship in Rădeni, giving thanks for the simple endurance of that village church. The Bulgarian Orthodox Church’s municipality of Sts Cyril and Methodius in Hamburg released its full August service schedule, keeping diaspora faithful connected week by week. Meanwhile, the Orthodox Church in America marked the patronal feast at its diocesan shrine with Bishop Andrei leading a Paraklesis to the Mother of God at Holy Archangels parish in Florida. These coordinated efforts across distant dioceses show how local churches quietly sustain identity, memory, and daily worship where it matters most. This matters because faithful presence in hard places keeps entire communities rooted.

OCA Bishop Daniel of Chicago visited Holy Apostles Orthodox Church in West Virginia this past Sunday, the 9th after Pentecost, where he celebrated the Divine Liturgy and met with the small parish community. The bishop spoke about living the faith in quiet daily obedience, echoing a recent Serbian Orthodox reflection on how God reveals himself in silence, prayer and humility. Meanwhile, the Bulgarian Orthodox municipality of Sts. Cyril and Methodius in Hamburg released its full August service schedule, helping scattered faithful keep the rhythm of the fast. In Jerusalem, the Patriarchate marked the bright feast of the Prophet Elias with services at the holy sites, drawing pilgrims early in the morning. Closer to home, the Orthodox Church in America also saw a diaconal ordination at McHenry Parish and a patronal feast at its diocesan shrine. These moments show how local parishes and distant dioceses keep the same calendar and the same simple hope alive. The week ahead looks to bring.

The Serbian Orthodox Church marked the feast of the Holy Prophet Elijah with special services in the Eparchy of Milesevo, where the diocese continues to serve as a vital anchor for Serb communities in the Krajina region. In the same week the Eparchy of Milesevo hosted large gatherings that drew families from across the border areas, reinforcing local identity through liturgy and shared meals under the summer sun. At the same time the Romanian Orthodox Church highlighted the memory of the Seven Holy Youths of Ephesus, with Bishop Ignatius reminding believers that faith must move from words to daily trust. The Orthodox Church in America saw Bishop Andrei serve a 40-day memorial at Saint Anne Parish in Jacksonville, while the Church of Greece venerated the relic of Saint Parthenios on Santorini with quiet crowds filing through the small chapel in Emporio. May the parishes in Milesevo, Romania, Florida, and Santorini stand firm in their witness.