Yesterday after the evening service, we agreed with three women from our parish to go by car to the village on Saturday to the chapel of St. Arsenius of Serbia. I want to take cabbage pies and a thermos of tea with me, the road is long. My sons said they’ll give me a ride if anything happens, so I’m looking forward to it.

The Orthodox Church in America has just released its 2027 desk calendar, now available for parishes and homes across the United States. The spiral-bound volume includes daily saints, fasting guidelines, and full-color icons chosen to guide American faithful through the liturgical year. Meanwhile, the Polish Orthodox Church marked the Feast of the Icon of Our Lady “Joy of All Who Sorrow” in Pabianice with a solemn liturgy and veneration of the wonderworking image. In Australia, Archbishop Makarios reminded the Port Adelaide parish at its 65th anniversary that loneliness remains a quiet struggle for many older members and urged stronger community support. From the Romanian Orthodox Church, Bishop Timotei Prahoveanul spoke at a recent gathering about how one person’s steady faith can ease the burden of those who suffer. These quiet steps—printing a practical calendar, gathering around an icon, speaking plainly about isolation, and recalling the power of lived belief—keep daily church life steady. How is your own parish marking the new liturgical year or helping people stay connected during the darker months?

The Orthodox Church in America has released its 2027 desk calendar, now available for parishes and homes across the United States. Designed with feast days, saints, and practical liturgical notes, the calendar supports daily prayer and planning for clergy and laity alike. At the same time, the Bulgarian Orthodox Church saw Patriarch Daniel lead the festal Liturgy for the patronal feast at the Georgi S. Rakovski Military Academy, while the Church of Greece marked the 40-day memorial for Archimandrite Justin, longtime abbot of the Monastery of Jacob’s Well. In Australia, the Macedonian Orthodox Church – Ohrid Archbishopric reported that Metropolitan Nikola served the Divine Liturgy at the Monastery of St. Demetrius of Salonica in Springvale. These quiet, steady steps keep the rhythm of the Church visible in everyday life. May God grant the named communities a peaceful and fruitful new liturgical year.

The Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch appointed Father Silwan as archimandrite during the Divine Liturgy at the Cathedral of the Nativity of Our Lady in Qab Elias on November 8. The service also marked the feast of the Archangels, with Metropolitan Saba presiding. In the same patriarchate, the local shepherd paid a pastoral visit to the municipality of Baalbek the following Monday. Meanwhile, the Bulgarian Orthodox Church saw Metropolitan Antony consecrate a renovated church in The Hague after extensive repairs. The Polish Orthodox Church marked the feast of the Icon of Our Lady “Joy of All Who Sorrow” with services in Pabianice. Separately, the Ecumenical Patriarchate welcomed Archbishop Makarios to Adelaide for the 65th anniversary celebrations of the Port Adelaide parish church. These quiet steps of appointment, renovation, and commemoration keep parish life steady across distant corners. May the Lord grant strength and peace to the flocks in Antioch, Bulgaria, Poland, and Australia.

Saint Nektarios received special honors on his feast day in several Greek and Alexandrian churches. In the Church of Greece, solemn Vespers took place at Vatopedino Metohi in Porto Lagos, drawing clergy and faithful for prayer and reflection. The Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria highlighted the saint’s life through a detailed reflection on who he was, while Patriarch Theodore reminded everyone that Saint Nektarios teaches humility, patience, and forgiveness in daily struggles. Meanwhile, the Romanian Orthodox Church included the memory of St. Nektarios, metropolitan of Pentapolis, in its calendar alongside several early martyrs. The Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople marked the Feast of Agios Nektarios, bishop of Pentapolis, with services that recalled his quiet witness amid trials. Across these different jurisdictions the day passed with steady liturgical rhythm rather than spectacle. Each gathering simply kept the saint’s example close at hand.

Old Spyros took me yesterday after the service and told me not to run so much with the chores. "A candle every morning and a prayer with a quiet mind, that's enough," he told me. I kept it, because he is right.

The feast of Great Martyr Demetrius drew crowds to parishes across several local churches this week. In Nevesinje the Serbian Orthodox Church marked Mitrovdan with traditional hymns and a crowded Liturgy that spilled out into the churchyard. Romanian Orthodox believers in Caransebeș saw Bishop Lucian join children and youth choirs at the Timotei Popovici Festival, where the saint’s memory blended with folk songs and fresh bread shared after the service. The Macedonian Orthodox Church – Ohrid Archbishopric kept the day quietly in homes and older temples, with one parish blessing a new factory cornerstone on the same morning as they honored the Thessalonian martyr whose protection they still seek. Elsewhere, the Polish Orthodox Church celebrated the Icon of Our Lady “Joy of All Who Sorrow” in Pabianice, while the Bulgarian Patriarch Daniil led the Liturgy for St. Mina in Kyustendil. The Orthodox Church in America’s Bishop Andrei served at Dormition Monastery in Michigan, and students at Ukrainian seminaries received scholarships from their Primate. Simple, steady rhythms continue.

This morning I got the children ready for catechism and the little one asked if Saint Terence, whom we remember today, was the one who wrote letters to Paul. I told him yes and promised to show him an icon after the service. We arrived a bit late, but they were happy.

Bulgarian monasteries drew crowds of pilgrims for Archangels' Day with hierarchical liturgies at Studena village and new leadership at the St. Archangel Michael church in Pazardzhik. The Antioch Patriarchate marked the same feast with a Sunday liturgy at Qab Elias cathedral, where Father Silwan received the rank of archimandrite. In the Macedonian Church, Metropolitan Nikola served at St. Prohor Pcinjski monastery near Donibrook and later at St. Demetrius monastery in Springvale, keeping the tradition of gathering the faithful around the holy altars. Meanwhile the Polish Church celebrated the Icon of Our Lady “Joy of All Who Sorrow” in Pabianice, another reminder of how local feasts quietly strengthen parish bonds. These simple gatherings show how the calendar still pulls people together across continents. What special observances took place in your own parish this season?

The Polish Orthodox Church celebrated the feast of the Icon of Our Lady Joy of All Who Sorrow at the parish in Pabianice with a solemn Liturgy and veneration of the wonderworking copy that has drawn faithful from across the region for decades. In the same week the Bulgarian Orthodox Church saw Patriarch Daniel lead the festal Liturgy at the Military Academy’s church of St George in Sofia, while the Romanian Orthodox Church marked the memory of St Nektarios with a bishop’s Liturgy at Clocociov Monastery. The Serbian Orthodox Church observed St Demetrius Day in Nevesinje with traditional hymns and a large gathering of local families. These quiet, steady observances across different local Churches show how the same feasts continue to shape ordinary parish life from one country to the next. This matters because it keeps the calendar alive in concrete communities rather than just on paper.

In the Polish Orthodox Church, the parish in Pabianice gathered to celebrate the feast of the Icon of Our Lady Joy of All Who Sorrow with a special liturgy and veneration of the wonderworking image. At the same time Patriarch Daniil of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church led the festal Divine Liturgy for the patronal feast of the St. Archangels metropolitan church, drawing large crowds of faithful. In Greece, the Church of Greece marked the 160th anniversary of the Holocaust of the Holy Monastery of Arkadiou with solemn commemorations attended by the President of the Republic. Meanwhile the Romanian Orthodox Church remembered St. Nektarios of Pentapolis and several early martyrs, with Bishop Timotei of Prahova speaking at Radu Vodă Monastery about drawing strength from the lives of the saints. Each of these observances shows how local communities keep turning to the saints and the Mother of God for comfort and courage in daily life. What feast or saint’s day is your parish preparing to celebrate right now?

Bulgarian monasteries drew crowds of pilgrims this week for the feast of the Archangels, with hierarchical liturgies celebrated in several historic sites. In the Bulgarian Orthodox Church, Patriarch Daniel presided over the patronal feast at the Military Academy church in Sofia, while Metropolitan Antony consecrated the renovated Bulgarian parish church in The Hague after extensive repairs. The Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch marked the same feast with Sunday Mass at the Cathedral of the Nativity of Our Lady in Qab Elias, where Father Silwan was elevated to archimandrite. Meanwhile the Orthodox Church in America saw Bishop Andrei serve the Divine Liturgy at Dormition Monastery in Rives Junction, Michigan, blending the Archangel theme with the monastery’s regular cycle of services. These gatherings showed steady local participation rather than grand spectacles, with ordinary believers joining clergy for prayer and fellowship. How did your parish or monastery observe the feast of the Archangels this year?

The Church of Greece marked the feast of Saint Nektarios with a brilliant celebration in Nea Ionia, where large crowds filled the streets and participated in the services. At the same time the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria highlighted the saint’s life, with Patriarch Theodore underlining how Nektarios continues to teach humility, patience and forgiveness to modern believers. In Romania, the cathedral in Sighetu Marmației honored its own patron saint with Bishop Iustin describing the parish as particularly passionate and full of life. Meanwhile the Bulgarian Orthodox Church completed a major renovation and saw Metropolitan Antony consecrate the church in The Hague, bringing fresh joy to the local community after years of work. These distinct observances show how different local churches keep the memory of holy figures alive in concrete ways. May the intercessions of Saint Nektarios strengthen all four communities in the coming year.

The Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch appointed Father Silwan as archimandrite during the Feast of the Archangels at the Cathedral of the Nativity of Our Lady in Qab Elias, Lebanon. Metropolitan Saba presided over the vigil and Divine Liturgy for the founding saint of the archdiocese the same week, while parish clergy visited the Baalbek municipality to strengthen local ties. In the Bulgarian Orthodox Church, Patriarch Daniil led the festal Liturgy at the Military Academy church of St George in Sofia and later at St Menas in Kyustendil. The Romanian Orthodox Church remembered St Nektarios through services at Radu Vodă Monastery, where Bishop Timotei spoke about drawing strength from the saints’ lives. Meanwhile, the Orthodox Church in America released its 2027 desk calendar, now available for parishes planning ahead. These appointments and commemorations show steady pastoral care across different corners of the Church. How has your own parish marked a recent ordination or saint’s feast?

The Orthodox Church in America has just released its 2027 desk calendar, offering daily saints, feast days, and practical notes tailored for parishes and homes across the United States and Canada. Meanwhile, the Serbian Orthodox Church marked St. Demetrius Day with solemn services in Nevesinje, and Bishop Andrei of the OCA led the Divine Liturgy at Dormition Monastery in Rives Junction, Michigan. In Europe, the Bulgarian Patriarch Daniil presided over the patronal feast at the Military Academy’s church of St. George, while the Polish Orthodox Church celebrated the Icon of the Joy of All Who Sorrow in Pabianice. From the Middle East, Metropolitan Saba of the Antiochian Archdiocese chanted the vigil for its founding saint, and the Church of Cyprus faces a delicate moment after the former Metropolitan of Paphos stirred tension with longstanding Vatican ties. These quiet rhythms of remembrance, service, and careful stewardship continue week by week. How does your own parish mark the turning of the liturgical year?

I made red lentil soup today for fasting. I cooked it with onions, carrots and some sun-dried tomatoes, without a drop of oil. Very good toast, warm and light, we ate it with toast.

On the week of the next service, pak mi remains in the chapter “Our Father” from the liturgy. Drinking every week with ostanalite and vseki p't se seshcham kak go peehme with baschi mi vkashchi kato byakh malak. Simply, clearly and vinaga me rotating on the earth, especially when he scattered the predicament.

Parishes across the Serbian, Romanian, and Macedonian Orthodox Churches marked the feast of Great Martyr Demetrius of Thessaloniki with special services. In Nevesinje, the Serbian Church held traditional Mitrovdan observances that drew local families to the liturgy and memorial tables. The Romanian Church remembered the saint at Soroca’s historic church, now nearing its 200th year, where clergy and faithful gathered for the Divine Liturgy inside the old stone walls. Meanwhile, Metropolitan Nikola of the Macedonian Church led the Divine Services at the Monastery of St. Demetrius of Salonica in Springvale, Australia, with a large attendance of emigrants keeping the old calendar customs alive. At the same time, the Polish Orthodox Church celebrated the Icon of Our Lady “Joy of All Who Sorrow” in Pabianice, and the Bulgarian Church gathered under Patriarch Daniil for the feast of St. Menas in Kyustendil. These parallel observances show how local communities adapt the same calendar to their own soil and language while staying rooted in the shared saints. The feasts remind everyone that the witness of the martyrs still shapes daily parish life today.

Saint Nektarios received special veneration today in both the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria and the Church of Greece. Patriarch Theodore of Alexandria spoke of the saint as a model of humility, patience, and forgiveness during commemorations tied to his feast. In Greece, parishes marked the day alongside local celebrations such as the feast of the Archangels in several dioceses and the 114th anniversary events in Florina. The Ecumenical Patriarchate highlighted the Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral in New York with a new ceremonial street sign, while the Romanian Orthodox Church held a religious music concert at the Archbishop's Cathedral in Alba Iulia for the same Archangels feast. These observances show how one saint's life still shapes daily parish practice across distant regions.

Demetrius the Great Martyr drew crowds to parish churches across several jurisdictions this week. In the Serbian Orthodox Church, Mitrovdan was marked with traditional services in Nevesinje, where locals gathered for the patronal feast that has shaped community life for generations. Romanian parishes likewise kept the saint’s memory, with Metropolitan Laurentiu reminding the faithful how a guardian angel guides daily decisions and corrects wrong turns. Macedonian Orthodox Church – Ohrid Archbishopric parishes joined in, as Metropolitan Nikola served at the monastery of Saint Prohor Pcinjski, blending the celebration with quiet monastic rhythm. Elsewhere, the Bulgarian Orthodox Church held a patriarchal liturgy for the feast of the Archangels at the Military Academy in Sofia, while the Ecumenical Patriarchate welcomed the Chief Rabbi of the United Kingdom to its London archdiocese for an exchange on shared values. The Orthodox Church in America released its 2027 desk calendar, already finding its way onto kitchen tables and office desks. These local observances keep the calendar’s rhythm alive in ordinary neighborhoods.

On Sunday I was getting my son ready for Sunday school, and he suddenly asked why the priest always swings the censer in one direction during the service. I had to explain about censing the sun, as they did in the old days. In the car then, half the way there, we discussed why incense smells like that.

I made the prosphora bread this morning, I let the dough rise near the radiator like my mother used to do. It turned out beautifully, 12 clean pieces, I'm taking them to church tomorrow before the Holy Liturgy. In the evening I sit at the table with my grandson, because he comes to eat soup.

The Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch appointed Father Silwan as archimandrite during the Sunday Divine Liturgy at the Cathedral of the Nativity of Our Lady in Qab Elias, Lebanon. Metropolitan Saba presided over the vigil and the rite itself, marking the new role with the traditional bestowal of the cross and mantle. In the same region, the parish priest later visited the municipality of Baalbek to strengthen ties with local authorities. Meanwhile the Romanian Orthodox Church held a pastoral-missionary gathering at Giarmata Parish in the Timișoara II Deanery, focusing on practical ways to support families and youth. The Polish Orthodox Church marked the feast of the Icon of Our Lady “Joy of All Who Sorrow” with services in Pabianice, drawing families from nearby towns. The Bulgarian Orthodox Church saw Patriarch Daniil lead the festal Liturgy at the Military Academy church in Sofia as well as at St. Menas in Kyustendil. Such appointments and local feasts quietly stitch the daily fabric of parish life together.

Last night my wife and I were making cabbage and egg pies at home for Sunday's meal. My daughter helped to sculpt, although she smeared more of the dough on herself. Tomorrow after the service we will take it to the refectory, I hope there will be enough for everyone.

The Orthodox Church in America has released its 2027 desk calendar, giving American parishes and families an updated tool that aligns daily readings, fasts, and feasts with the New Calendar used in the United States. At the same time, the Romanian Orthodox Church marked the memory of St. Nektarios of Aegina with liturgies at Clocociov Monastery and Dorobăntia Parish in Craiova, drawing crowds for confession and spiritual talks. In the Bulgarian Orthodox Church, Patriarch Daniil led the archierarchal liturgy at the metropolitan church of St. Archangels for the monastery’s patronal feast at Shiyakovski. The Polish Orthodox Church observed the feast of the Icon of Our Lady “Joy of All Who Sorrow” in Pabianice with procession and veneration. These coordinated observances across jurisdictions show how local calendars still revolve around the same saints and rhythms. A simple printed calendar can quietly keep that shared life visible at kitchen tables and office desks.

In Pabianice the Polish Orthodox Church marked the feast of the Icon of Our Lady Joy of All Who Sorrow with a solemn liturgy and veneration that drew families from across the parish. The same day the Orthodox Church in America saw Bishop Andrei celebrate the Divine Liturgy at Dormition Monastery in Rives Junction, Michigan, where the small monastic community welcomed visitors for the occasion. Meanwhile the Bulgarian Orthodox Church gathered for an archierarchical liturgy at the Shiyakovski Monastery of St. Archangel Michael, and the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch held a vigil for its founding saint with Metropolitan Saba leading prayers in the cathedral. These quiet observances show how local parishes and monasteries keep the rhythm of the Church calendar alive in different corners of the world. May the communities in Poland, America, Bulgaria, and Antioch receive grace and steady peace.

Bulgarian monasteries drew crowds of pilgrims this week for the feast of the Archangels, with Patriarch Daniil leading the hierarchical liturgy at the church of St. Mina in Kyustendil and again at the Patriarchal Liturgy in the village of Studena. In the Antiochian Patriarchate, the Cathedral of the Nativity of Our Lady in Qab Elias marked the same feast with Sunday liturgy, the appointment of a new archimandrite, and a special focus on the Archangels. The Ecumenical Patriarchate held its own Synod of the Holy Archangels, while the Macedonian Orthodox Church saw Metropolitan Nikola serve in the monastery of St. Prohor Pčinjski near Donibrook. These coordinated observances across distant dioceses show how the memory of the bodiless powers still pulls believers together in worship and quiet pilgrimage. Such shared feasts keep the rhythm of the Church steady from one country to the next.

The Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch appointed Father Silwan as archimandrite during the Divine Liturgy at the Cathedral of the Nativity of Our Lady in Qab Elias, Lebanon, on the feast of the Archangels. Metropolitan Saba represented the Church at the recent enthronement of the new Greek Orthodox Metropolitan in the region, underlining continued ties across Orthodox jurisdictions. Elsewhere, the Bulgarian Orthodox Church saw Metropolitan Antony consecrate a renovated church in The Hague after extensive repairs. In the Romanian Orthodox Church, Bishop Timotei Prahoveanul reminded the faithful that strong personal faith often brings relief amid suffering. The Orthodox Church in America announced an Advent night of recollection for young adults set for December 5. Quiet steps like these appointments and local restorations keep the daily life of the parishes steady.