Diocese Update - August 2026

Antiochian Online Music School - Registration opens August 7

Registration for the Antiochian Orthodox Ecclesiastical Online Music School will open later this week on Friday August 7 at 8p EDT. Now in its third year, the School offers both Byzantine and Choral music education for new and experienced Orthodox church musicians. Classes for the Fall semester will start the week of Monday, September 7. For more information, visit http://musicschool.antiochian.org/

Please contact Charlie Marge (charlie.marge@antiochian.org) if you have any questions.

Sacred Music Opens Auditions for Archdiocese Concert Choir

The Department of Sacred Music announces auditions for theAntiochian Archdiocese Concert Choir.

This auditioned choir sings Orthodox hymns selected for each concert that require significant preparation and rehearsal. The 2026 - 2027 season starts with a Nativity Concert on Saturday, December 12, 2026 at Ss. Peter and Paul Orthodox Church in Potomac, Md., followed by a concert at the 2027 Winter Sacred Music Institute Saturday, February 6, 2027 hosted by St. James Antiochian Orthodox Church in Modesto, Calif., and culminating in the 2027 Biennial Archdiocese Convention in Anaheim, Calif. in July of 2027.

In accordance with the Antiochian Orthodox Department of Sacred Music Mission Statement, "…musical excellence in worship for the Glory of God," the Concert Choir brings together dedicated, advanced, proficient singers of Byzantine and Western Choral traditions. Singers who are selected must be well rehearsed in advance, to reflect the heavenly beauty of the ecclesiastical music of the Orthodox Church.

Those interested in auditioning for the Byzantine Choir, the Four-part Choral choir, or both, should visit https://www.antiochian.org/regulararticle/2896 with specific directions on how to audition. All recordings must be submitted no later than Friday, September 11, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time.

Camp St. Joseph of Damascus - August 10-16

Camp St. Joseph of DamascusCamp St. Joseph of Damascus is excited to welcome 100 campers this summer as well as many young adults who will serve as counselors and staff during the session. Please keep the camp in your prayers as the staff begins their training on Saturday August 8, and the Campers come Monday August 10 through Sunday August 16. Learn more about the camp and for daily updates during camp, visit https://campstjoseph.org/

Online Icon Auction to support St. Michael's Church

St. Michael Church Cotuit is excited to offer an online auction for a beautiful hand-painted icon of Archangel Gabriel by Zoya Sheglov, in traditional Russian style. The icon measures 18" x 22 1/4" and the overall size with frame is 21 1/4" x 25 1/4". Please click the link for icon and bid details. The highest bidder will be supporting St. Michael’s general fund. The bid cutoff date is noon on August 30th.

Diocese Antiochian Women - Volunteers Needed & Meeting Schedule

Volunteers Needed for Camp St. Joseph Training Weekend: The Antiochian Women will be cooking and serving meals for the staff of Camp St. Joseph during their training weekend at St. George Church in Boston. We will provide three meals on Saturday, August 8, and one meal on Sunday, August 9. Volunteers are needed for both days. Please contact Rima Audy @ 617-435-8888 if you are able to help. 

Upcoming Antiochian Women Diocese Meetings: 

  • September 19 @ St. Mary Church (8 Inman St, Cambridge, MA)
  • January 23 @ the Chancery (2 Lydias Path, Westboro, MA)
  • April 17 @ St. John of Damascus Church (300 West St, Dedham, MA)
  • June 12 during the PLC

Update from the Department of Youth & Young Adult Ministries

Dept of Youth & Young Adult Ministries

The Department of Youth & Young Adult Ministries supports and integrates the whole spectrum of Archdiocesan programs for youth, including:

  • Christian Education Ministry
  • Teen SOYO Ministry
  • Young Adult Ministry
  • Camping Ministry

Although all of these programs together encompass a broad range of activity and age groups, all share the same goal: to encourage full participation in the life of the Church through worship, witness, service, and fellowship. Officially bringing the four branches together in 2022, this Department, chaired by the Very Rev. Archimandrite Nicholas Belcher, trains youth leaders, organizes events, provides consultation for youth leaders and pastors across the Archdiocese, develops and maintains a treasury of ministry resources, provides annual curricula for our church schools and camps, and oversees programs such as the Bible Bowl and the Oratorical Festival. 

Summer Activity Menu for Teens

The Teen Ministry team from the Department of Youth and Young Adults Ministries is excited to offer a Summer Activity Menu for parishes and deaneries across the Archdiocese. 

This clickable PDF includes ideas and frameworks for a wide variety of summer activities that teens and advisors can plan and enjoy together. While summer often brings a different pace and fuller schedules, it also offers unique opportunities for connection and growth. 

Whether through service projects, movie nights, book clubs, or supplication services, the team hopes this resource inspires creative and meaningful ways to keep teens and parish communities engaged throughout the summer months.

2026 Archdiocese Youth Survey

If you are a Parent, Teen, Clergy member, Youth Worker with Teens, Sunday Church School Teacher, or Young Adult, we want to hear from you!

These surveys are helping us better understand the needs, hopes, challenges, and opportunities facing our parishes and communities across the Archdiocese. Your feedback will directly help shape future resources, training, events, and ministry support.

Please go to youth.antiochian.org to complete the short survey. Thank you for helping us strengthen Youth & Young Adult Ministries together!

Antiochian Youth Summit - Oct 22-25 @ Antiochian Village

In October, for the first time, lay and clergy leaders and workers, camp directors, church school directors and teachers from all four ministries impacting the lives of our youth and young adults will meet at the Antiochian Village for a Youth Worker Summit. The first event of its kind, the Summit will connect, inspire, and provide resources for those who joyously labor for the young people of our Archdiocese. If you are one of the people serving in these vital ministries, we want you to join us. If you are not, please help us get the leaders in your parish to attend! 
This summit will be a vital opportunity to enhance our common vision, build relationships, learn, grow, and be refreshed together. There will be sessions that include all of the ministries and breakout sessions for the individual ministries. We are pleased to share that the keynote addresses will be offered by the Rev. Dr. George Parsenios, and the workshop addresses will include V. Rev. Fr. Michael Nasser, Rev. Dr. Greg Abdalah, Dr. Ann Bezzerides and Sh. Shell Keim.
Promotional Flyer - JPG

Register today at https://registration.antiochianvillage.org/summit2026

St. George Classical Academy - Employment Opportunities

Saint George Classical Academy, a Christian classical school serving families on the North Shore of Massachusetts, is currently hiring teachers for the 2026-2027 academic year, including Director of Operationsand Administrative Assistant (see links for job descriptions).

If you would like to be considered for future opportunities, please feel free to reach out to Head of School, Juliana Joyce, for more information (Juliana.Joyce@stgca.org).

The Sonia Daly Belcher Fund Scholarshp

Upcoming PLC Host Parish Schedule

2027: St. George Church, Boston - June 18-20, 2027 in Plymouth, MA
2028: St. Mary Church, Pawtucket
2029: St. George Church, Lawrence
2030: St. George Cathedral, Worcester 

2027 PLC and Oratorical Theme: By one spirit we were all baptized into one body - 1 Corinthians 12:13
2027 Bible Bowl: I & II Corinthians

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In an effort to increase communication throughout our Diocese, this email is sent monthly with announcements and events from our Diocese. Please share this email with the other leaders from your parish to increase awareness of the happenings in our Diocese. To sign up for this email, please click this link: https://antiochian.us7.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=5ad87d26ad4719ed09d747b2b&id=d114d24719

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