Diocese Update - September 2025
Camp St. Joseph hosts 76 campers in its inaugural season!
Photo album from the week: https://campstjoseph.smugmug.com/Summer-2025
Tentative Dates for 2026: August 10-15, 2026
Antiochian Orthodox Ecclesiastical Online Music School
With the enthusiastic blessing of His Eminence Metropolitan Saba, the Department of Sacred Music announces the Fall, 2025 semester of the Antiochian Orthodox Ecclesiastical Online Music School!
Registration is open now through Wednesday September 3.
- Byzantine and Choral music education
- For new and experienced Orthodox church musicians
- A special class for clergy about intoning exclamations and the gospel, and chanting hymns for Sundays and feasts
- A special class on the Typicon, how to organize divine services
- Fall Semester: Sept. 8 through Dec. 19, 2025, with a mid-semester break
- Classes meet one time weekly for one hour
More details here: https://www.antiochian.org/regulararticle/2535
Please contact Diocese Sacred Music Coordinator Charlie Marge with questions. 
Diocese Antiochian Women Meeting - September 13 in West Roxbury
The Diocese Antiochian Women will hold their first meeting of the year on Saturday September 13 at St. George Church in West Roxbury beginning at 9:30 am. Future meeting schedule:
- January 10 @ 10 am: St. George Church in Norwood
- April 18 @ 10 am: St. Mary Church in Pawtucket
- PLC Meeting TBD
Please contact Rima Audy (frna21@gmail.com) with any questions.
Diocese Christian Education Workshop - September 20 at the Chancery
We are excited to invite you to our upcoming workshop. Open to all in our diocese that are involved in - or interested in exploring - the Christian Education ministry. Join us on Saturday September 20 for learning, collaboration, inspiration, and fellowship. Questions? Contact Sam Bitar @ 508-341-1792 or DOWNEChristianEducation@gmail.com with any questions. Register here!
Silent Auction for Hand Painted Icon to benefit St. Michael Church Cotuit
St. Michael in Cotuit MA is excited to offer an online auction for a beautiful hand-painted icon by our in-house iconographer, Zoya Sheglov, in the traditional Russian style.
Please click the link for icon and bid details. The highest bidder will be supporting St. Michael’s general fund.
https://forms.gle/MMFrDVqp5cWNdhn29
May you always be blessed. Thank you for your generosity and your prayerful consideration on our behalf.
For questions, please contact Soraya Bandeli 617-842-8591 / sbandeli@comcast.net
OCAMPR Conference: Oct 2-4 in Illinois
OCAMPR (Orthodox Christian Association of Medicine, Psychology, & Religion) is pleased to announce the 2025 Fall Conference will be taking place at the University of St. Mary of the Lake in Mundelein, IL October 2-4, 2025. The conference theme this year is, “The Passions: The Theology & Science of Addictions and Compulsions.”
The conference is an opportunity for Orthodox professionals to gather together for fellowship and learning in an Orthodox Christian context. Conference participants will have an opportunity to hear invited lectures by Orthodox experts in their fields, as well as workshops and papers presented by members.
For more details, please visit https://ocampr.org/2025-ocampr-conference/
Diocese Council Zoom - October 14 @ 7pm via zoom
The next Diocese Council meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, October 14 at 7:00 pm via Zoom. All clergy and laity are invited to attend to help His Grace Bishop John in the planning of events for our Diocese. For more information, please contact Bishop John.
Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/7817624396?omn=86467682042
Meeting ID: 781 762 4396
Passcode: 51519
St. Emelia Homeschool Conference - October 18 in Worcester
Join us for the 2025 NEW ENGLAND Orthodox Homeschool Conference October 18 at St. George Cathedral in Worcester! This one-day event offers educational opportunities, fellowship, and time for prayer for all ages! Don't let finances prevent you from attending--we have scholarships available. Check out our website for more information: https://saintemmelia.com/new-england-2025
Save the Date! Diocesan Choral Workshop November 15
Diocesan Choral Workshop
with Mareena Boosamra Ball, Chairwoman of the Department of Sacred Music
Saturday, November 15, 10am - 4pm at St. John of Damascus Church
Please contact Diocese Sacred Music Coordinator Charlie Marge with questions.
2026 Diocese Youth Ministry Team
With the blessing of His Grace Bishop JOHN, the following people have been appointed to our Diocese Youth Ministry leadership team for the 2025-2026 school year:
- Diocese Youth Director: William Ozone, St. George Boston
- Diocese Teen Advisor: Anthony Abusamra, St. George Worcester
- Diocese Youth Intern: Max Troeger, St. George Norwood
- Diocese Spiritual Advisor: Fr. Seraphim Solof, St. George Worcester
- Diocese Teen SOYO Leadership Board:
- President: John Paul Karam, St. George Boston
- Vice-President/NAC Representative: Andrew Easton, St. George Boston
- Treasurer: Bella Bitar, St. George Worcester
- Secretary: Elias Al Armani, St. Mary Pawtucket
2026 Archdiocese Themes
The Department of Youth & Young Adult Ministries announces the 2026 theme for the PLCs, annual festivals, Church School curriculum and summer camp curriculum. By providing a unified theme for each of these programs, our youth will build on what they learn in Church School with a continuous theme throughout the year when they go the annual PLC, participate in the festivals, and attend summer camp.
Bible Bowl Topic: The Book of Exodus
Oratorical Festival Theme: "You shall be to me a Royal Priesthood and a Holy Nation". - Exodus 19:6
Church School Curriculum: "A People Set Apart"
Summer Camp Curriculum: "You shall serve the Lord your God." - Exodus 23:25
Save the Date! Diocese PLC June 20, 2026
St. George Church in Lowell will host the Diocese PLC on Saturday June 20, 2026. Location and more details to come soon!
2025 PLC Photo Album: https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjCmCK1
Upcoming PLC Host Parish Schedule
2026: St. George Church, Lowell
2027: St. George Church, Boston
2028: St. Mary Church, Pawtucket
2029: St. George Church, Lawrence
2030: St. George Cathedral, Worcester
Iconography Project at Our Cathedral
Our Cathedral is in the midst of a historic iconography project, and you have the opportunity to be part of it in a lasting way. This is a unique chance to have an icon of your patron saint, or a large Biblical scene placed in the Cathedral of our Diocese, where it will inspire generations to come. For more information or to reserve an icon, please contact Fr. Milad at fr.milad.selim@gmail.com
Image above is a digital rendering of the icons and not the exact background color or icons.
August 2025 E-News from the Antiochian Archdiocese
View the August E-Newsletter with announcements from around the Archdiocese!