I picked up that little book on the life of St. Cyprian again this morning while the coffee was brewing. The part where he talks about how long it took him to really let go of his old habits hit me — I’m the same way, still fighting the same small things after all these years. Going to read a couple more pages after I get back from choir practice tonight.

Last week I made my simple lentil soup again for Lent Sunday, this time with a little more carrot and celery. The boys both drank more, even the big one, who usually complains. The evening before the service for St. Cyprian I warmed up the rest again and it went well.

The Serbian Orthodox Church sent a high-ranking delegation to Tbilisi this week to join the Georgian Orthodox Church in marking 1700 years since Christianity became the state religion of Georgia. Catholicos-Patriarch Shio received the guests along with other Orthodox representatives, while Romanian Patriarch Daniel addressed a special message of greeting to the Georgian primate. In related observances, the Bulgarian Orthodox Church held archierarchical vespers with five loaves for the feast of St Petka at the Klisura monastery, drawing large crowds of laity. Meanwhile, the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria saw Bishop Ayensu publicly affirm his preference for completing the National Cathedral project over infrastructure priorities in Ghana. These coordinated visits and local feasts show how historic milestones continue to draw Orthodox Churches together across borders. May these communities and their leaders remain in our prayers.

A Romanian abbot recently drove more than 1,350 kilometers from his monastery to serve Liturgy for a small parish in Canada. The visit brought the full cycle of services to a community that rarely sees a priest. At the same time the Romanian Church marked the feast of St Paraskeva, whose relics draw thousands to Iași each year. In Serbia, Patriarch Porfirije served at Novi Kalenić monastery on the Feast of the Protection of the Theotokos, reminding the faithful of the Mother of God's constant care. The Macedonian Orthodox Church held evening vespers for the same feast at its cathedral in Ohrid and began regular religious education classes for children at the Cathedral of the Nativity in Sydenham. These quiet acts of travel, prayer, and teaching keep parishes alive across continents. Such dedication shows how the Church reaches even the farthest corners.

Choir rehearsal went well last night. The new song "St. Epthyme" hymn was still awkward for us, but in the end we got better. I came home, my wife was already waiting for me at the table, we sat together and talked about how to receive tomorrow's service.

Made a fresh batch of prosphora this morning before work. The dough came together nice this time, not too sticky, and I stamped them with the seal my dad gave me years ago. We'll use them at liturgy tomorrow, and Sarah wants to help me bag the extras for the freezer after dinner tonight.

Yesterday in the church I lit a candle for my old friend Liljana from Skopje. We have known each other since we were young, we sang together in a choir, and even now that we rarely see each other, we always feel as if we should not have split up. True friendship is about that - to remember and to pray and whom life has divided.

A Serbian Orthodox Church delegation has arrived in Tbilisi to join the Georgian Orthodox Church in marking 1700 years since Christianity became the state religion of Georgia. Patriarch Porfirije sent warm greetings, underlining the shared history that keeps the two Churches close. At the same time the Bulgarian Orthodox Church sent its own delegation to the celebrations, while Romanian Patriarch Daniel addressed a special message to Catholicos-Patriarch Shio, recalling the ancient witness of Georgian faith. From Constantinople, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew noted how Orthodoxy has steadily nourished the spiritual life of the Georgian people through every century. These gatherings show how one milestone draws brothers from different corners of the Orthodox world to stand together. May the Lord grant the Serbian, Georgian, Bulgarian and Romanian communities lasting peace and deeper unity.

Bulgarian Orthodox Church faithful gathered for an archierarchical vespers with five loaves on the feast of Saint Paraskeva-Petka, also known as Petkovden, honoring the beloved national saint whose relics rest in Turnovo. In Romania, Patriarch Daniel sent a message marking 1700 years since Christianity became the state religion in Georgia, underlining enduring bonds between the two Churches. The Church of Greece sent representatives to the Holy Monastery of Agia Nina in Bodbe, Georgia, for joint commemorations that strengthened ties across borders. Meanwhile, the Serbian Orthodox Church conferred a new Doctor of Theological Sciences degree, recognizing fresh scholarly work in patristics and liturgy. These observances show how local saints and shared history continue to draw Orthodox communities together in worship and study. This matters because it quietly reinforces the common calendar and living memory that hold the scattered Churches in one faith.

New catechumens were welcomed into the life of the Church at St. Nicholas in Cohoes this weekend, joining the Orthodox Church in America’s ongoing work of bringing people to the faith. In Romania, Bishop Timotei Prahoveanul encouraged young people to look to Saint Parascheva as a model of piety and attention. The Bulgarian Orthodox Church marked the feast of the monastery of Saint Petka-Paraskeva with solemn vespers and regional officials present at the parish in Sliven. Meanwhile, the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch prepared for a major procession of miraculous icons of the Mother of God through the streets of Zahle next year. These quiet steps of reception, remembrance, and public witness continue across very different corners of the Orthodox world. The simple act of a new catechumen making the sign of the cross for the first time remains at the center of it all.

The Antiochian Orthodox Church is preparing a major procession through the streets of Zahle on October 13 next year, with Metropolitan Anthony of Tyre chairing the planning meeting for the miraculous icons of the Mother of God. Local clergy and faithful expect large crowds to venerate the ancient images that have long protected the Lebanese town. At the same time the Serbian Orthodox Church sent a delegation to Georgia for the country’s major jubilee, strengthening ties between the two Churches through shared services and talks. In Romania, Metropolitan Teofan reminded pilgrims at the Feast of St Paraskeva in Iași that following the saints remains the sure path for ordinary believers. The Orthodox Church in America installed two new bishops in Washington and West Virginia, giving fresh leadership to growing dioceses on the East Coast. Such steady work across distant corners keeps the calendar full.

The feast of the Intercession of the Theotokos drew Russian and Macedonian parishes into evening services and festal liturgies this week. In Moscow, Metropolitan Ambrose led the main celebration at the Protection Church in Degunino, while sisters of the St Elizabeth community received their new habits on the same day. Across the ocean, the Macedonian Orthodox Cathedral of the Nativity of the Mother of God in Sydenham held its own vespers for the feast, followed by religious education classes that drew families back to the church hall. The Serbian Patriarch received a warm welcome from the Greek community in Canberra, and the Bulgarian Church prepared to host the Ecumenical Patriarch for an upcoming visit. In Romania, Bishop Varlaam reminded listeners that St Paraskeva’s intercession gathers Christians beyond ethnic lines. These local observances keep the Protection of the Theotokos quietly present in everyday parish life.