US Capital to be highlighted at Fellowship of Orthodox Christians in America’s National Convention

ALEXANDRIA, VA [FOCA] — The Fellowship of Orthodox Christians in America [FOCA] will hold its annual convention at the Hilton Alexandria Mark Hotel here September 2-5, 2005.

The convention, which will be sponsored by the FOCA’s Colonial District, has as its theme “A Monumental Event.

The FOCA is a national fellowship and service organization of the Orthodox Church in America. Established as the Federated Russian Orthodox Clubs in 1927 by the late Very Rev. Vladimir Prislopsky, the organization was recognized as an official arm of the Church in 1994 and adopted its present name in 1998.

From 12:30 until 5:00 p.m. on Friday afternoon, September 2, conventioneers will enjoy a bus tour to the OCA’s Saint Nicholas Cathedral, Washington, DC, and Hillwood Museum and Gardens, home of Marjorie Merriweather Post, which showcases her collection of Russian and French objects d’art. Mrs. Post discovered Russian artwork while living in Moscow in 1938 as the wife of the US Ambassador to the Soviet Union. The tour is limited to 50 people. A second tour will be held on Saturday, September 3, at 1:00 pm. The tour cost is $30.00/person.

On Friday evening, a concert of traditional eastern European folk music titled “We the People” will be presented by Harmonia, a musical group from Cleveland. Afterwards, the Washington Slavic Male Chorus, under the direction of Greg Oleynik, will perform liturgical pieces and Slavic favorites. The concert begins at 8:00 p.m. Tickets are $25.00 per person.

On Saturday, September 3, Great Vespers will be celebratead at 4:00 p.m. At 7:00 p.m., conventioneers will enjoy a “Monuments by Moonlight” narrated trolley tour of Washington, DC, that includes the Lincoln Memorial, the Vietnam and Korean Memorials, the Iwo Jima Monument, the Jefferson Memorial, the new World War II Memorial, the Capitol Building, Library of Congress, Supreme Court, House and Senate Office buildings, FBI Building, White House, Embassy Row, Georgetown, the US Navy Memorial, and the National Gallery of Art. The tour, which ends at 10:00 p.m., costs $24.00 per person.

At 9:00 a.m. on Sunday morning, September 4, His Beatitude, Metropolitan Herman, Primate of the Orthodox Church in America, will concelebrate the Divine Liturgy with guest hierarchs and area clergy at the hotel. A buffet breakfast will follow for $22.00 per person.

A highlight of the weekend will be the elegant FOCA State Dinner on Sunday evening at 6:00 p.m. Tickets are priced at $50.00 per person. The traditional FOCA dance, “Monumental Feets,” will follow at 8:30 p.m. Dance tickets are $18.00 per person, follows the banquet. Joe Stanky and His Cadets will play traditional tunes, while a DJ will play current dance favorites during the intermission.

On Monday, September 5, a “Pork Barrel Lunch” will be served at Saint Mark Church, Bethesda, MD, at 1:00 p.m. Cost of the luncheon is $14.00.

FOCA members and non-members alike are invited to attend the convention.

Further information may be obtained by contacting Walter Alesevich at 703-413-4168 or .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or Lisa Lelo at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).