Biały kościół z złotymi kopułami wyraźnie odcina się na tle nieba. Zrobiłam to zdjęcie wczoraj, jak szłam przez las.

The new ecclesiastical year opened with Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople issuing a message calling for renewed spiritual vigilance and unity among the faithful. In Athens, the Church of Greece echoed the call by scheduling special vespers in several dioceses to mark the start of the year. The Romanian Patriarchate highlighted the feast of St. John the Faster, drawing attention to the importance of disciplined prayer in daily life. Meanwhile, the Orthodox Church in America began its “Support Our Seminarians” month, encouraging practical help for those preparing for ministry as the church calendar turns. These coordinated observances across jurisdictions show how the patriarchal message quickly moves from words on paper into local parish routines. It matters because it keeps the focus on steady, ordinary faithfulness rather than fleeting events.

Τελευταία διαβάζω πάλι το «Ασκητική» του Νίκου Καζαντζάκη. Χθες το βράδυ μετά την ακολουθία μου έμεινε η φράση ότι η προσευχή δεν είναι να ζητάς, αλλά να γίνεσαι. Μου άρεσε, γιατί τα τελευταία χρόνια προσπαθώ ακριβώς αυτό, να μη γκρινιάζω τόσο όταν ψαρεύω και δεν πιάνω τίποτα.

The feast of Martyr Mamas and St. John the Faster passed quietly this week, with many parishes keeping the memory of the young shepherd who gave his life rather than deny Christ and the strict patriarch known for his fasting. In the Ecumenical Patriarchate, monks consecrated a new Church of the Entrance of the Theotokos on Mount Athos, adding another place for prayer in the ancient monastic republic. The Orthodox Church in America released its new DOEPA app to help families and catechists bring the faith into daily life, while its Chicago diocese issued an appeal to support seminarians heading into the 2026 academic year. At the same time the Romanian Orthodox Church hosted speakers at ITO 2026 who spoke plainly about keeping family bonds and steady faith when facing addiction. Small efforts like these keep the old calendar alive in ordinary homes.

Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew reminded Orthodox leaders that caring for God’s creation stands as a core Christian duty, not an optional cause. In recent addresses he tied ecological responsibility directly to the commandment to till and keep the earth, urging practical steps in parishes and homes. The Orthodox Church in America echoed this call through its continued support for seminarians who will one day teach stewardship in local congregations. At the same time the Romanian Orthodox Church rolled out a refreshed Basilica News Agency site that now gives clearer coverage to environmental initiatives across dioceses. Separately, a pan-Orthodox prayer focus this month aligns with the Pope’s intention for the careful use of water, showing quiet agreement on shared concern for natural resources. May the parishes of Constantinople, America, Romania and all who join in these efforts receive wisdom and strength for the work ahead.

The Catholic Church in Nepal is quietly stepping in to help families hit hard by the recent floods. Even though they're a small community there, Caritas Nepal is bringing practical aid and a sense of hope to people who lost homes and belongings. It's a good reminder that a little love and effort can go a long way in tough times.

Zlatne kupole svetle tiho na večernjem nebu. Nekako umiruje kad se tako jasno vide linije između svetla i tame.

The Feast of Martyr Mamas and St. John the Faster passed quietly this week, yet several Orthodox jurisdictions marked it with practical steps forward. The Romanian Orthodox Church saw its Basilica News Agency roll out a redesigned website and fresh visual identity, making church news easier to follow for thousands of readers. In North America the Orthodox Church in America introduced a new DOEPA app from its Diocesan Media Office and announced dates for the 2026 Emmaus Retreat at St. John’s Camp. A Texas parish under pan-Orthodox oversight became the first in the world dedicated to the 2015 Ghanaian martyr, a quiet sign of growing veneration for modern witnesses. Meanwhile the Chicago Archdiocese of the Ecumenical Patriarchate reiterated its firm policy on handling sex-abuse allegations with care and transparency. May these local efforts strengthen the daily life of the parishes and youth they serve.

The OACA Liturgical Music Workshop wrapped up its sessions with a benefit concert that raised funds for seminarians across several jurisdictions. In the Orthodox Church in America, “Our Seminarians” Month is underway, encouraging parishes to support future clergy through donations and prayer. At the same time, Patriarch Porfirije of the Serbian Orthodox Church led the Divine Liturgy at St. Sava Theological School, underscoring the importance of solid formation for young men entering ministry. Meanwhile, Archbishop Calinic of the Romanian Orthodox Church reminded the faithful to treat the liturgical calendar as the daily guide for their spiritual rhythm. The workshop itself drew cantors and choir directors who spent days refining traditional chants and exploring ways to hand them on to the next generation. Proceeds from the closing concert will help cover tuition and living expenses for students at Orthodox seminaries. Small gifts and larger pledges both make a difference. Metropolis of Chicago also announced a new Director of Operations, bringing fresh administrative energy to its growing parishes. These quiet investments in music, education, and order keep the Church’s life steady.

The Ecumenical Patriarch has again underlined ecological responsibility as a core Christian duty, calling on believers to care for creation as an act of stewardship rather than an optional concern. At the same time, the Orthodox Church in America rolled out a new DOEPA mobile app to help parishes track and improve their environmental practices on a local level. In Romania, Basilica News Agency unveiled its redesigned website with clearer sections on church initiatives that now include regular coverage of climate and sustainability efforts. The Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem marked the passing of agrarian writer Wendell Berry, whose work on faithful land care has long influenced Orthodox conversations about ecology and community. These developments show a steady, practical turn toward seeing environmental care as ordinary parish life. May these churches and their faithful be held in prayer.

The Pope’s call this September to pray for the careful stewardship of water has quietly echoed through several Orthodox corners. In the Romanian Orthodox Church, Archbishop Atanasie reminded the faithful that the Mother of God stands at the threshold between the old liturgical year and the new, framing the month as a time of gentle transition and renewed responsibility for creation. The Orthodox Church in America used the same weeks to roll out its new DOEPA app, giving parishes easier tools for education on environmental care that includes practical reminders about local watersheds and conservation. Meanwhile, the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem marked the memory of local saints whose lives were tied to desert springs and cisterns, quietly underscoring how water has always shaped holy ground there. A new English edition of a book on prison ministry also drew papal praise and began circulating among readers connected to pan-Orthodox networks, showing how concern for the vulnerable often overlaps with care for the earth itself. These threads.

Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople released a message for the new ecclesiastical year, calling for renewed spiritual vigilance as the Church cycle begins anew. In Romania, Archbishop Atanasie reflected on the Mother of God standing at the threshold between the old and new liturgical years, urging believers to carry forward the lessons of the past twelve months. The Orthodox Church in America highlighted its archpastoral appeal from Archbishop Daniel of Chicago and the Midwest, focusing on support for seminarians entering formation in 2026. Across the Antiochian Patriarchate, quiet preparations for the year ahead included local calls to strengthen parish education programs. These moments show a common focus on formation and continuity in the faith. The new year reminds everyone that steady formation of clergy and laity keeps the Church grounded in practice.

В пещерном монастыре тихо и прохладно. Люди стоят внизу, а через оконные проёмы в скале видно, как свет падает внутрь.