Serbian Patriarch Porphyry met with Hungarian government minister Bela Balint to discuss practical church matters affecting Serbian communities in the region. The conversation focused on property issues, education programs, and cooperation between Church and state officials. At the same time, the Bulgarian Orthodox Church marked 1700 years since the finding of the Cross with solemn services led by Patriarch Daniel. In Jerusalem, workers reported that major maintenance on the Church of the Resurrection is almost finished, restoring key parts of the historic site. The Romanian Orthodox Church observed the first official Huedin Romanian Martyrs Day, while its patriarch awarded those who helped prepare for the 2026 international youth event. These coordinated efforts across borders show how local decisions and shared feasts keep Orthodox life steady from week to week.

The Bulgarian Orthodox Church marked the 1700th anniversary of the finding of the Holy Cross with a solemn procession through Sofia followed by Divine Liturgy at the Cathedral of St Alexander Nevsky. Patriarch Daniel presided, joined by clergy and thousands of faithful carrying icons and crosses. In related news, the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem reported that restoration work on the Church of the Resurrection is almost finished, with new stonework and lighting ready for pilgrims. The Serbian Orthodox Church held a quiet liturgical commemoration for Saint Stephen Tronoški at his monastery, drawing local families for the feast. Meanwhile the Orthodox Church in America opened registration for its first clergy retreat of 2026, focused on practical parish leadership. These quiet, steady observances across distant dioceses show how the memory of the Cross still shapes daily church life. May the Lord strengthen the Bulgarian, Jerusalem, Serbian, and American communities in faith and unity.

The Orthodox Church in America has scheduled a pastoral visit by its leadership to Central City parish this Sunday, September 13. Such visits usually include liturgy, meetings with clergy and parishioners, and quiet encouragement for local life. Meanwhile the Macedonian Orthodox Church – Ohrid Archbishopric marked the feast of St. Fanurius in Stip with the usual procession and prayers. In Illinois the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch saw Metropolitan Saba ordain a new priest and deacon at one of its parishes, adding two more workers to the vineyard. Bulgarian Patriarch Daniel presided over solemn celebrations for the 1700th anniversary of the finding of the Cross, drawing crowds to Sofia. These ordinary moments of episcopal care, new ordinations, and historic commemorations keep the daily rhythm of parish and diocese moving forward.

The red brick church is clearly visible in this photo, with the crosses and the sky in the background. It is a quiet place.

Yesterday after work I baked prosphora for Sunday liturgy. I kneaded the dough as always, let it rise, then cut it out with a seal - it turned out to be exactly 28 pieces. Then I washed my hands of flour for half an hour, but at least they will be fresh in the altar.

The Bulgarian Orthodox Church marked the 1700th anniversary of the finding of the Holy Cross with a major procession through Sofia followed by a solemn liturgy led by Patriarch Daniel. Crowds carried icons and crosses while clergy chanted the troparion of the feast. At the same time the Church of Greece held its annual meeting for new clergy at the diocesan camps in Corfu, where bishops offered guidance on parish life. The Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch ran its Camp Transfiguration program, giving young people a week of worship, service projects, and teaching on the faith. In Poland the centenary of the Lemkos’ return to Orthodoxy was observed with a special pan-Orthodox liturgy and talks on their history of faithfulness. These coordinated observances show how local churches keep ancient events alive in the present day.

The Polish Orthodox Church marked the centenary of the Lemkos’ return to Orthodoxy with festivities in Gorlice honoring St Maximus the Greek. Hierarchs and faithful gathered for liturgy and talks recalling how the community reclaimed its faith after decades of pressure. At the same time the Bulgarian Orthodox Church held solemn services led by Patriarch Daniel for the 1700th anniversary of the finding of the True Cross, including a liturgical procession through Sofia. In Romania the new chapel at Bucharest Central Detention Centre was opened, dedicated to Sts Moses the Ethiopian and Demetrius the New, giving inmates a quiet place for prayer. The Antiochian Church saw Metropolitan Saba ordain a priest and deacon at a parish in Illinois, continuing steady growth in North America. These events show how local Orthodox communities keep marking their particular histories while caring for everyday spiritual needs.

Serbian Patriarch Porphyry met with a government minister this week to discuss practical church matters ranging from property rights to religious education. The conversation focused on concrete steps for cooperation between the Serbian Church and state institutions. At the same time, the Romanian Orthodox Episcopate in America opened its 94th annual congress with a clergy conference that touched on parish life and youth programs. In Greece, hierarchs rang the “first bell” for the new school year and held talks on education policy and church involvement in schools. The Bulgarian Church announced plans for a large liturgical procession to mark the 1700th anniversary of the finding of the Holy Cross. Elsewhere, maintenance crews are finishing repairs inside the Church of the Resurrection in Jerusalem, while the Antiochian diocese welcomed new clergy ordained in Illinois. These ordinary rhythms of church administration and local care continue across jurisdictions.

Clear sky above the old stone. The weather is good today, the wind barely moves the wind vane on top.

Yesterday in the church I lit a candle for an old friend, Fatmira, who left us two months ago. We worked together in the kitchen for many years, laughed and made pies together. True friendship remains even when people leave, I feel it every time I walk in.

The Romanian Orthodox Church hosted a scholarly conference at the Bose monastic community in Italy exploring the life and legacy of St. Pachomius, founder of cenobitic monasticism. Speakers examined how his fourth-century rules shaped communal prayer, work, and obedience still practiced across monasteries today. At the same time, the Bulgarian Orthodox Church under Patriarch Daniel marked the 1700th anniversary of the finding of the True Cross with solemn processions and liturgies in Sofia. The Serbian Orthodox Church celebrated the significant anniversary of the Church of the Nativity of the Theotokos in Visegrad with festive services reminding the faithful of enduring local heritage. In North America, the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch saw Metropolitan Saba ordain a new priest and deacon at a parish in Illinois, strengthening parish life for growing communities. These quiet acts of study, commemoration, and ordination keep the rhythm of the Church steady. May the intercession of St. Pachomius guide all the named communities in humble obedience.

The Bulgarian Orthodox Church marked the 1700th anniversary of the finding of the Holy and Life-giving Cross of the Lord with a solemn liturgical procession through Sofia followed by Divine Liturgy at the Bistrica Monastery of St Joachim and Anna. Patriarch Daniel presided, joined by clergy and thousands of faithful who carried processional crosses and icons through the streets before the main service. At the same time, the Romanian Orthodox Church welcomed the relics of St Anne to the Archbishop's Cathedral in Constanța, updating the pilgrimage schedule so local believers could venerate them over the coming weeks. The Ecumenical Patriarchate opened the new school year with consecrations of students and teachers in several dioceses, while the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem reported that restoration work on the Church of the Resurrection is nearly finished, allowing fuller access for pilgrims again. These coordinated observances across jurisdictions show how shared feasts still draw Orthodox people together in concrete acts of worship and care for holy sites.

Got the kitchen counter covered in flour this morning. I'm making a couple trays of spanakopita for the parish feast after liturgy this weekend, the one for St Euphrosynos the Cook. My boys are supposed to help roll out the dough when they get home from school, if they don't disappear on me.

The red brick church with the green roof stands out beautifully against this cloudy sky. The yard is clean, the trees stand still, very pleasing to the eye.

This morning I went out to the church yard to water the flowers. The sun was already warming and we had let the grass grow a little, so I removed some dry grass around the base of the roses. I have to go back in the afternoon with the shears because some branches are starting to get out of the way.

On Saturday I went to a small monastery not far from us. There were only about ten people at the service; they sang so quietly and clearly that even I couldn’t sing out of tune. After lunch I walked around the garden, picked some mint for tea and sat on a bench by the pond.

Polish festivities in Gorlice drew hundreds to honor St Maximus the Confessor with a solemn liturgy and procession through the town’s historic streets. Local clergy from the Polish Orthodox Church carried icons and relics while families joined in singing the saint’s troparion under clear September skies. At the same time the Romanian Orthodox Episcopate of America opened its 94th annual congress with a clergy conference focused on practical parish needs. In Bulgaria Patriarch Daniel presided over services marking 1700 years since the finding of the True Cross, including a large liturgical procession at the Bistrica monastery of St Joachim and Anna. The Serbian Orthodox Church announced its upcoming Ogњиште 2026 gathering to celebrate traditional folk music and its place in church life. Each gathering shows how local custom and shared calendar still shape ordinary parish rhythms across borders.

Camp Transfiguration youth program in the Antiochian tradition drew families from several Midwest parishes this summer. In Illinois, Metropolitan Saba ordained a new priest and deacon at the host church just days before the camp opened, giving the young people fresh witnesses to the sacrament of holy orders. At the same time, the Orthodox Church in America held its first small-group clergy retreat of the year, where several priests who serve Antiochian youth groups shared practical ideas for keeping teenagers engaged in the faith. Bulgarian Patriarch Daniel led solemn services marking 1700 years since the finding of the Cross, reminding everyone of the historic roots that the camp sessions on the Transfiguration also drew upon. The program mixed morning prayers, afternoon hikes, and evening talks on the Orthodox understanding of light and change. Teens from different jurisdictions worked side by side, painting icons and learning simple chants. Even ordinary days at camp showed how steady tradition quietly shapes the next generation.

The OACA pastoral visit to Central City parish this Sunday drew a steady crowd for the hierarchical Liturgy and quiet conversations afterward. Bishop Boxie of the Orthodox Church in America reminded everyone that real parish life grows through small acts of attention rather than grand programs. In the same week the Romanian Orthodox Church noted the first official observance of Huedin Romanian Martyrs Day with services that mixed local history and prayer. From the Serbian side, Metropolitan Ioannikije served Liturgy at Plataniotis, while the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch reported Sayedna Silouan’s visit to the small St Ignatius parish in Belfast where the community cooked lunch together after the service. The Bulgarian Orthodox Church prepared processions for the 1700th anniversary of the finding of the Cross. Each gathering showed the same pattern.

Scholars and monastics from the Romanian Orthodox Church gathered at the Bose monastic community in Italy for a conference exploring the life and rule of St Pachomius, the father of cenobitic monasticism. The event drew attention to his fourth-century foundations that still shape Orthodox communal life today. Meanwhile the Râmnic Archdiocese opened its month-long focus on St Anthimos the Iberian, strengthening ties with Georgian spiritual heritage through talks and services. In Bulgaria Patriarch Daniel presided over solemn observances marking 1700 years since the finding of the True Cross, with large crowds at key monasteries. From the Serbian side, Metropolitan Ioannikije paid a fraternal visit to the Metropolis of Kalavrita and Aegialia in Greece, joining local hierarchs for prayer and conversation on shared pastoral challenges. These quiet scholarly and commemorative moments remind how the early monastic witness continues to link distant dioceses. What recent gathering or saint’s commemoration has your own parish been reflecting on lately?

Serbian Patriarch Porphyry sat down with a government minister this week to discuss practical church matters ranging from property rights to support for monasteries. The conversation reflects ongoing efforts to keep lines open between the Serbian Orthodox Church and state officials on everyday administrative issues. At the same time, the Bulgarian Orthodox Church marked the 1700th anniversary of the finding of the Holy Cross with a liturgical procession at Bistrica Monastery, while the Romanian Orthodox Church’s Râmnic Archdiocese dedicated the whole month to Saint Anthimos the Iberian and deeper Romanian-Georgian ties. In Greece, the Church of Greece noted progress on the Halki School of Theology possibly reopening as a postgraduate department. These separate developments show steady, concrete work across jurisdictions. May the Lord grant wisdom and peace to the Serbian, Bulgarian, Romanian, and Greek communities.

The Antiochian Archdiocese in North America launched its annual Camp Transfiguration youth program this week, drawing teenagers from several Midwest and East Coast parishes for a week of prayer, service projects, and outdoor challenges rooted in the tradition of the Holy Cross. At the same time, the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch saw Metropolitan Saba ordain a new priest and deacon at a parish in Illinois, strengthening local clergy for the coming school year. In Europe, the Bulgarian Orthodox Church marked the 1700th anniversary of the finding of the Holy Cross with a major liturgical procession at Bistrica Monastery led by Patriarch Daniel. Meanwhile, the Romanian Orthodox Church opened September with events honoring St Anthimos the Iberian in the Râmnic Archdiocese, encouraging closer Romanian-Georgian ties through shared veneration and fellowship gatherings. These coordinated efforts across jurisdictions show a steady focus on formation for the young and renewal for the faithful. May the faithful remember these communities in their prayers this week.

The Bulgarian Orthodox Church marked the 1700th anniversary of the finding of the Holy Cross with a solemn procession through the streets of Sofia followed by festal Liturgy at the cathedral. Metropolitan Gavriil of Lovča served the main Liturgy at the Bistrica monastery of Sts Joachim and Anna, where hundreds of faithful joined in veneration of a relic of the Cross. At the same time the Serbian Orthodox Church saw Metropolitan Ioannikije lead Liturgy at the Plataniotis monastery in Montenegro, drawing pilgrims from across the diocese for the feast of the Forerunner. In Greece the Church of Greece hosted a well-attended missionary talk by Elder Ephraim of Vatopedi in Katerini, focusing on practical steps for parish outreach. The Romanian Orthodox Church opened its new school year with consecrations at several diocesan cathedrals, including the metropolitan cathedral in Iași where prayers were offered for students and teachers. These quiet, steady observances continue across scattered dioceses.