The red brick church sits quietly with its dome and cross against a calm sky. Looks peaceful this time of year.

Yesterday I made fast chickpeas in the oven with onion, garlic and a little puree. I let them cook well until soft and colored, they turned out very tasty with a little lemon on top. The kids ate them without complaint, I will definitely make them again.

Applications are now open for the Orthodox Church in America’s winter teen retreat, giving young people a chance to step away from everyday routines and spend time in prayer, teaching, and fellowship. The Diocese of the Midwest has already begun promoting spots for high school students, with similar programs expected in other OCA dioceses this season. At the same time, the Romanian Orthodox Church highlighted that around 500 million Christians worldwide still lack access to the Bible, many without even basic online versions. In Greece, the Church is reviewing how clergy use social media and reminding priests of the spiritual risks that come with constant online exposure. The Bulgarian Orthodox Church marked the final liturgy of Father Velin Iliev at St Cyril and Methodius parish in Melbourne before his departure. These quiet efforts across different corners of the Church show steady care for the next generation and for those who need the basics of faith. May readers hold the teens preparing for retreat, the Romanian Bible projects, the Greek clergy, and the Melbourne parish in their prayers.

The Holy Icon of Panagia Soumela is making its first visit to Rethymnon this week, drawing crowds of faithful to the Church of Greece for veneration and special services. In the same spirit of bringing the faith into daily life, the Romanian Orthodox Church took part in a global reading event that included its Theological High School, connecting students across continents through shared Scripture. Meanwhile, the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople marked the annual feast of St Demetrios with a liturgy in Edmonton, and the Bulgarian Orthodox Church prepared memorial services for the fortieth day at Patriarch Ilia’s grave in Georgia. Each diocese found its own way to keep tradition close to the people. The icon’s journey feels like one more quiet reminder of how saints and their images still travel among us. How has a visiting icon or relic been received in your own parish lately?

The dedication of the new International Orthodox College in Antioch drew representatives from several Local Churches last week, with Metropolitan Saba of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch presiding over the opening Divine Liturgy at the Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker chapel on the Gardenia Grand D’Or campus. Hierarchs from the Romanian Orthodox Church brought relics of local martyrs for the blessing, while a delegation from the Bulgarian Orthodox Church presented books for the new library. The Serbian Orthodox Church sent a group of seminarians who will study there next term. Speakers highlighted the college’s focus on patristic theology and practical diakonia, echoing the recent appeal by Metropolitan Saba for the Special Olympics Sports Camp that trains young athletes with disabilities. The project aims to form clergy and lay workers who can serve scattered Orthodox communities across the Middle East and the diaspora. How has your parish supported similar educational efforts lately?