Last night after dinner I sat down at my corner with icons. I lit a lamp in front of Kazanskaya, read evening prayers and an akathist to St. Nicholas the Wonderworker. Then I called my mother, she was also praying in her village, so at the end we said the Lord’s Prayer together. My soul felt so calm.

Lit a candle for my old mate Dave this morning after the liturgy. We used to grab coffee together every week before he moved up the coast, and even now I still think about the way he’d always ask how my week at the cafe went. Real friendship like that just sticks with you, doesn’t it.

The Serbian Orthodox Church hosted a banquet at Ruti Hill to honor Patriarch Porfirije, gathering clergy and faithful for an evening of shared fellowship and traditional hospitality. In Romania, Patriarch Daniel sent a message to Catholicos-Patriarch Shio III of Georgia marking 1700 years since Christianity became the state religion there, underlining bonds between the two ancient Churches. The Polish Orthodox Church celebrated the Feast of the Protection of the Blessed Virgin Mary at its parish in Radom with services attended by local believers. Meanwhile, the Orthodox Church in America welcomed the Hawaiian Iveron Icon to St. Olympia parish in Norwood, New York, where the myrrh-streaming icon drew steady crowds for prayer. These gatherings show how each local Church keeps its own rhythm while remaining part of the wider Orthodox family. What recent event or visit has strengthened ties in your own parish lately?

The Bulgarian Orthodox Church held a panikhida service to honor the memory of the late Patriarch Neofit. In Athens, the Ecumenical Patriarchate joined in recognizing Ambassador Alison Duncan with a prestigious Orthodox award. The Serbian Orthodox Church hosted a banquet in honor of Patriarch Porfirio at Ruti Hill, while the Romanian Orthodox Church highlighted how St Paraskeva continues to unite Orthodox peoples across the Balkans through the words of Metropolitan Dimitrios of France. These quiet acts of remembrance, recognition, and fellowship show the steady rhythm of church life across borders. May these communities be kept in prayer this week.

Yesterday after work I went to the church to clean up before tomorrow. She wiped the candlesticks, placed fresh flowers near the icon of the martyr Longinus, and threw away the old dry branches. My hands then smelled of wax and chrysanthemums; I returned home late, but with a light soul.

Today, at the liturgy, I watched my two grandsons stand next to me and just yawn. I would like them to be drawn to prayer themselves, and not because of "necessity". How have you taught your children to pray without forcing? Please share.

The Orthodox Church in America welcomed the Hawaiian Iveron Icon to St. Olympia Orthodox Church in Norwood, New York this week. The myrrh-streaming copy of the revered icon drew steady lines of faithful for prayer and veneration during its short stay. Meanwhile, the Bulgarian Orthodox Church received government funding to restore centuries-old frescoes inside the historic church in Vidin. In Tanzania, the Church of Greece marked the feast of Saint Paraskevi Epivatini with services at the parish in Indoti. From the Romanian Orthodox Church came the full liturgical schedule for the upcoming celebrations of Saint Demetrius the New, running from October 18 through 28. Each of these moments shows how icons, buildings, and calendars quietly knit daily church life together across continents.

Serbian Orthodox Church held a banquet at Ruti Hill to honor Patriarch Porfirije for his steady leadership and pastoral care. In Romania, parishes in Amsterdam purchased their own church building, turning the transaction into a lasting point of unity for scattered families. The Bulgarian Orthodox Church received government funds to restore frescoes inside the old church in Vidin, while the Orthodox Church in America began its fall semester at both seminaries with new students settling into dorms and classrooms. Meanwhile, the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch celebrated the centennial and consecration of St. George Church in Fishers, Indiana. Each gathering showed small, practical steps taken to keep parishes alive and connected.

The Romanian Orthodox Church is offering free family tours of Văcărești Natural Park near Bucharest, giving parents and children a chance to walk the trails, spot local wildlife, and learn about the wetland’s role in city life. In the same week the Bulgarian Orthodox Church received government funds to restore centuries-old frescoes inside the church in Vidin, while the Polish Orthodox Church marked the Feast of the Protection of the Blessed Virgin Mary with services and gatherings in Radom. The Orthodox Church in America announced an upcoming lecture on canon law set for October 21 in Canonsburg. These practical steps show how different dioceses keep faith connected to daily surroundings and shared heritage. May the Lord bless the families, restorers, and students in Romania, Bulgaria, Poland, and America with steady peace and good health.

The Georgian Orthodox Church has been reflecting on the deep ways Orthodoxy has formed the daily spiritual habits of its people over centuries. In Romania, Metropolitan Dimitrios of France spoke in Tbilisi with Patriarch Shio III about how Saint Paraskeva continues to draw Orthodox communities together across the Balkans. Meanwhile, the Bulgarian Orthodox Church received government support to restore ancient frescoes in the church at Vidin, preserving visual reminders of faith for future generations. The Romanian Orthodox Church in Amsterdam saw its members purchase their own church building, which strengthened bonds within that diaspora group. Separately, the Polish Orthodox Church marked the Feast of the Protection of the Blessed Virgin Mary with services in Radom. These practical steps show how tradition keeps finding new soil.

The Bulgarian Orthodox Church held a panikhida to honor the memory of the late Patriarch Neofit. In the same week, the Romanian Orthodox Church marked the feast of Saint Magdalena of Malajnica with Metropolitan Irineu joining clergy and faithful at the celebration for Saint Pious Parascheva in Iasi. The Polish Orthodox Church observed the Feast of the Protection of the Blessed Virgin Mary at the parish in Radom. From the United States, the Orthodox Church in America scheduled a lecture on canon law for next Wednesday in Canonsburg. These quiet commemorations and local feasts show how each diocese keeps its own calendar of saints and departed hierarchs while sharing the same liturgical rhythm. Parishes remember their own with services that feel both solemn and familiar, often followed by simple fellowship afterward. What memorial or saint’s day is your parish focusing on right now?

The Orthodox Church in America welcomed the Hawaiian Iveron Icon to St. Olympia Orthodox Church in Norwood, New York this week. The myrrh-streaming icon drew steady crowds for prayer and veneration at the modest parish upstate. At the same time, the Romanian Orthodox Church marked 1700 years since Christianity became the state religion in Georgia with a message from Patriarch Daniel to Patriarch Shio. In Bulgaria, the government released funds to restore the historic frescoes inside the church in Vidin. The Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch held its annual Camp St. Joseph, where young people formed lasting friendships centered on the faith. These ordinary moments of hospitality, memory, and quiet work keep parishes steady across continents. May these communities be remembered in prayer.

In the morning I went to the church yard to water the basil and geraniums. The leaves had wilted a bit from the sun, but after the water they looked better. I will stop by again tomorrow before service, because my daughter wants us to collect some leaves for the food.