The Serbian Orthodox monastery of Davidovica marked its ktitor feast with a full cycle of services that drew monks, local faithful, and a few pilgrims from neighboring dioceses. In parallel, the Bulgarian Orthodox Church held an archierarchal liturgy at the St. John of Rila monastery in Kurilo, while the Church of Greece saw Metropolitan Nikolaos of Philippi write to Bulgaria’s president pledging continued support for the Bulgarian Church’s work. From the Macedonian Orthodox Church–Ohrid Archbishopric came reports of Metropolitan Georgij visiting the Vranishka parish together with representatives of the Macedonian Biblical Association and Orthodox Youth. Each gathering kept its own rhythm—quiet prayers at Davidovica, solemn chanting in Kurilo, practical encouragement from Greece, and youth outreach in North Macedonia—yet all circled around the same calendar of saints and the same call to steady parish life. A modest lunch of beans and bread followed most of the services, the usual aftertaste of these autumn feasts.

Macedonian Orthodox Church youth from Vranishka parish welcomed Metropolitan Georgij and representatives of the Macedonian Bible Society for a visit that included talks on Scripture and parish life. In Romania, the Nepsis MOREOM Congress opened with young people sharing their faith experiences under the guidance of Metropolitan Iosif. Bishop Andrei of Cleveland from the Orthodox Church in America joined ANCHOR youth at Saint John the Evangelist Romanian Orthodox Parish in Vaughan, Ontario, for fellowship and teaching. Meanwhile, the Ecumenical Patriarchate received Bishop Tamisos Panaretos back to his hometown of Chania with warm celebration. These gatherings show how different Orthodox Churches keep investing time and care in their young people.

Bishop Andrei of Cleveland spent the weekend with the ANCHOR youth group at Saint John the Evangelist Romanian Orthodox Parish in Vaughan, Ontario. The gathering drew young people from across the Canadian deanery for talks, prayer, and fellowship centered on living the faith in everyday life. Meanwhile, the Bulgarian Orthodox Church opened a new parish church of Sveta Petka in the village of Glavatsi, giving local families a permanent place for worship. In Greece, the Church of Greece held a sanctification service at the New Horizons Ecclesiastical Center in Aigio, marking another step in its work with young people through education and formation programs. The Serbian Orthodox Church marked its parish slava in Mrnjići with a strong call to keep unity and support one another in daily Christian life. These moments show how different dioceses continue to invest in the next generation and in the simple work of building up local communities. What similar youth or parish events are taking place where you are?

Ljudi sede ispod šatora, a pozadi se vide kola. Lepo je videti ovakvo okupljanje na otvorenom.

Bulgarian hierarchal liturgy took place at the St John of Rila monastery in Kurilo, drawing clergy and faithful to one of the country’s historic monastic centers. In the same week the Bulgarian Church also prepared to open a new parish church of Sveta Petka in the village of Glavatsi. Meanwhile the Macedonian Orthodox Church – Ohrid Archbishopric saw Metropolitan Georgij visit the Vranishka parish together with representatives of the Macedonian Biblical Society and Orthodox youth, and later served hierarchical liturgy at the Church of the Mother of God Perivlepta in Ohrid. The Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch held a festal mass for the Apostle Thomas at the Church of the Apostle Thomas in Tyre, honoring his memory as one of the Fathers of the Seventh Ecumenical Council. These coordinated moments of worship and local initiative show how each diocese keeps the rhythm of the liturgical calendar alive in its own setting. The steady pattern of services and new foundations reminds everyone that the Church continues its ordinary work of prayer and teaching week after week.

Last night I was getting the children ready for Sunday school, and they suddenly asked why the priest always censes before the Gospel, and not after. I had to explain it on my fingers at dinner, while the youngest was finishing his porridge. This morning they themselves reminded me not to forget to write down their questions.

I keep wondering how you guys do at work when we fast. I'm a canteen cook and sometimes it's hard for me not to taste the meat when I'm preparing the portions. Today, being the Sunday after Saint Philip, I will try to keep it tighter, but in the evening I will make beans and onions for me and the boy. What do you do on days like this?

The large wooden church with fine carvings looks very imposing. I got the picture yesterday afternoon.