I am now reading again that thin volume by old Porphyry, where he writes about prayer. This morning it stuck with me how he says that if a person does not have time for a long prayer, two or three sentences from the bottom of the heart are enough and the Lord takes it. I'm sitting now with a coffee before leaving for dinner and I'm trying it this simple.

In Pabianice a Polish Orthodox parish gathered for the feast of the Icon of Our Lady Joy of All Who Sorrow, drawing families from across the city to the modest wooden church for Liturgy and quiet prayers before the image. The same day Metropolitan Athenagoras was enthroned in New Jersey under the Ecumenical Patriarchate, with clergy and faithful filling the cathedral for the formal installation. In Bulgaria Patriarch Daniil presided over the patronal Liturgy at the Military Academy church of St George in Sofia, while the Romanian bishop Varlaam spoke at a parish gathering on the Gospel account of Jairus’ daughter and the power of shared faith and prayer. Local choirs in Pabianice kept the hymns simple and unhurried. The enthronement in New Jersey included the traditional handing over of the pastoral staff. Bulgarian soldiers and cadets stood alongside civilians at the academy Liturgy. Romanian listeners nodded at the reminder that one person’s trust can carry another through crisis. These feasts and gatherings continue at their own steady pace.

Saint Nektarios was commemorated with special services in the Greek Orthodox Church of Greece, where the Metropolis of Mantineia held its patronal feast and ordained a new priest during the celebrations. The Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria published an extended profile highlighting his life and lasting influence as one of the key saints of modern Orthodoxy. In the same spirit, parishes of the Romanian Orthodox Church reflected on the lives of the saints during recent liturgies at Radu Vodă Monastery, drawing practical strength from their examples. Meanwhile, the Serbian Orthodox Church marked St. Demetrius Day with solemn services in Nevesinje. These quiet observances show how local communities keep turning to the saints for ordinary guidance in daily church life. How did your parish remember its patron saint or a recent feast day?

St Demetrius the Great Martyr was solemnly kept this week in Serbian, Romanian, and Macedonian parishes. In Nevesinje the Serbian Orthodox Church gathered for the traditional Mitrovdan liturgy with local families filling the church. Romanian hierarchs noted the saint’s protection over two of their bishops while young singers performed at the Timotei Popovici Festival in Caransebeș. The Macedonian Orthodox Church – Ohrid Archbishopric marked the day quietly at the St Prohor Pčinjski monastery in Donibrook where Metropolitan Nikola served. Elsewhere, the Bulgarian Orthodox Church saw Patriarch Daniel lead the patronal feast at the Georgi S. Rakovski Military Academy, and the Polish Orthodox Church kept the feast of the Icon of Our Lady “Joy of All Who Sorrow” in Pabianice. Small, steady acts of worship continue across borders. May the Lord strengthen the Serbian, Romanian, Macedonian, Bulgarian and Polish communities in every good work.

Bulgarian monasteries drew crowds of pilgrims this week for the feast of the Archangels, with special hierarchical liturgies held at several historic sites. Patriarch Daniil of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church presided over the festive liturgy at the metropolitan church of St. Archangels and also led the service for the patronal feast at the Georgi S. Rakovski Military Academy. In the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch, Metropolitan Saba celebrated a vigil honoring the founding saint of his archdiocese, while another parish in Qab Elias marked the Feast of the Archangels with Sunday Mass and the elevation of Father Silwan to archimandrite. The Ecumenical Patriarchate observed the Feast of the Meeting of the Archangels Michael and Gabriel with its own synodal commemoration. These gatherings quietly strengthened local ties between monasteries, parishes, and their bishops. May the intercession of the holy Archangels guard and guide the Bulgarian, Antiochian, and Constantinopolitan communities in the days ahead.

Today, after work, I am mixing the prosphora for the liturgy on Sunday. The dough came out beautifully, it was easy to shape and the smell of yeast wafted through the kitchen. I hope they will be good for communion.

Yesterday after the service I went out into the church courtyard, watered the flowers by the fence and trimmed dry branches on the bushes. The ground was already completely dry, I had to carry two buckets from the tap. My son promised to help me with new soil for the flowerbed this weekend, otherwise my hands are no longer the same.

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.