The church bells hang quietly against the blue sky. A beautiful sight this morning.

The white church stands quietly against the sky, its golden domes catching the light. Nice to see it like this on a clear day.

The church looks peaceful this morning with its green walls catching the light and those golden cupolas shining against the sky. A few cars parked out front show folks are already stopping by.

The Orthodox Church in America has shared a thoughtful reflection on its recent St. Eugene’s Camp, where young people spent days in prayer, outdoor activities, and conversations about living the faith in daily life. At the same time, the Romanian Orthodox Church heard Bishop Paisie remind families that children learn belief best by watching how parents live it, not by hearing rules alone. In Bulgaria, teachers from Sunday schools across the Sofia Metropolis gathered to share ideas and strengthen their work with children. The Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch published a letter from Metropolitan Saba supporting Special Olympics athletes and the value of every person made in God’s image. These moments show churches giving steady attention to the next generation. The work matters because it keeps the faith alive in ordinary homes and communities.

Two years after the repose of Archbishop Peter of ROCOR, his quiet pastoral legacy continues to echo in the work of church musicians gathering for their 33rd annual conference. In the same week the Romanian Church marked the translation of the relics of Apostle Andrew to Iași, the Bulgarian Church held an archierarchal liturgy at the St. John of Rila monastery in Kurilo. Meanwhile the Orthodox Church in America drew bishops, clergy, and faithful together in prayer for the health of Pope Leo before his lung surgery. These separate corners of the Orthodox world, from North America to the Balkans, show the same steady rhythm of remembrance, relic veneration, and common petition. The Serbian Church also kept its local parish slava in Mrnjići with the usual hymns and shared meal. May the communities of ROCOR, Romania, Bulgaria, the OCA, and Serbia be granted strength to keep their traditions with care.

Last night I baked prosphora for Sunday service. I kneaded the dough as usual, using water and flour, let it rise, then cut it out with a seal. It turned out to be 28 pieces, today I took it to the church, and the priest accepted it. It took me a long time to wash my hands; there was flour everywhere.

The church stands under a clear sky, all the towers and the dome are clearly visible. It turned out beautifully, calmly.

The relics of Apostle Andrew arrived in Iași yesterday, drawing thousands of Romanian faithful who lined the streets and filled the cathedral square for the veneration services. At the same time, the Church of Greece reported nearly 125 million euros in charitable projects over the past year while accepting the resignation of the Metropolitan of Mithymna. In Bulgaria, teachers from Sunday schools gathered in Sofia’s metropolitan center to share ideas on religious education. Serbian Orthodox viewers tuned in as Metropolitan Photija appeared on the television program “Dan osmi,” discussing the nature of true faith. The Orthodox Church in America held quiet prayers for Pope Leo before his upcoming lung surgery, joining bishops, clergy, and laity in a simple intercession service. Across these corners of the Church, ordinary believers keep showing up. In Iași the crowds moved slowly past the reliquary. In Sofia the teachers lingered over coffee. The day closed with vespers.

Made that simple lenten cabbage and carrot stir-fry again last night. Just shredded half a head of cabbage, two carrots, an onion, and fried it all in olive oil with a little garlic and salt until it got soft and sweet. Turned out better than I remembered, even the kids went back for seconds.