IN THE NEWS: NC, Oregon, DC

KERNERSVILLE, NC: Land blessed for new church

Holy Cross

His Grace, Archbishop Nikon recently blessed a two-acre site that will become the home of Holy Cross Mission here.

In preparation for the blessing, some 25 individuals, armed with chainsaws and weed whackers, cut back the underbrush that had taken over the vacant lot.

“Everything is holy ground because God created it,” said Archbishop Nikon.  “But this land is set apart now as holy because we acknowledge it and we say so.”

The mission first met in a banquet room at the Ashford Suites Hotel.  In 2006, space was rented at Christ Presbyterian Church in High Point.  As the mission began to outgrow its rented quarters, parishioners dreamed of building their own church, said Priest Christopher Foley, Holy Cross pastor.

The property was purchased early in 2013 and has been seen as “a perfect location for a relatively new church that is attracting members from all parts of the region,” Father Christopher added.

Groundbreaking could be celebrated as early as the summer of 2014, while estimates to build the church and a fellowship hall could be as much as $1.2 million.

Visit the Holy Cross web site at www.holycrossoca.org.

PORTLAND, OR: Choir brings performance-quality music into liturgical setting

Kliros, a newly formed, semi-professional chorus led by Reader John (Tracey) Edson, will sing the responses for Vespers at Saint Nicholas Church, Portland, OR, on Saturday, October 5, 2013 at 6:00 p.m.

The mission of Kliros is to present quality composed music for the Orthodox liturgy during services.  The parish celebrates Vespers every Saturday evening throughout the year and on the eves of feasts, and the singing is usually by the parish choir under Edson’s direction.

“I see this as an opportunity to provide this community with a cultural bridge, allowing people who might never experience Orthodox spirituality as expressed in its worship to do so, with great music as a common meeting place for mutual acquaintance and exchange,” Edson said of the choral performance.

Deacon Nicholas Denysenko of Saint Innocent Church, Tarzana, CA, will join Kliros for the service.  A musician, Deacon Nicholas has sung the priest’s parts of a performance of Tchaikovsky’s Divine Liturgy with the Russian Chamber Chorus of New York.

Free-will donations will be accepted.  A reception will be held following the service.

WASHINGTON, DC:  Ecology Conference to be held November 11

ECO

“On Earth as it is in Heaven” is the theme of a conference on ecology to be held at Saint Sophia Greek Orthodox Cathedral, Washington, DC, on November 11, 2013 from 9:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m.

Hosted by the Orthodox Fellowship of the Transfiguration [OFT], the conference will feature as its keynote speakers His Eminence, Archbishop Demetrios of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America and Dr. James Hansen, Director Emeritus of the National Atmospheric and Space Administration [NASA].  Participating organizations include International Orthodox Christian Charities, Hellenic College/Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology, Saint Vladimir’s Seminary, the Orthodox Peace Fellowship, and the Greek Archdiocese’s Advisory Committee on Science and Technology.

OFT is endorsed by the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of North and Central America.

Conference details and registration information may be found on OFT’s web site.