Orthodox Mission Worldwide

Monastery of St. Varlaam in Meteora, Greece. Founded in 1517, it is a monastery of the Holy Metropolis of Stagoi and Meteora under the Church of Greece. It is the second-largest of the six intact monasteries in Meteora. Four of those monasteries are still operating, compared to 24 that originally comprised the monastic complex. While monasticism in Meteora has declined greatly from its peak, monks still hold vigil for the world there, including men of surprising origins; earlier this year a hierodeacon who converted from Judaism was ordained to serve in this monastery. His father was a rabbi, but this man answered the call to serve Christ, to the glory of God.

Holy Church of the Annunciation of Our Lady the Theotokos in West Perth, Australia. Founded in 1958, it is a parish of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia under the Ecumenical Patriarchate. The community soon purchased an Anglican church, but in 1970 it was torn down and a properly Orthodox church was built on the site. The parish opened a bookstore in 2006, which was followed by a newsletter in 2009 to connect younger faithful to the parish community. Like many older ethnic parishes this too is becoming a site of mission, and last year eight converts were baptized there for the Feast of St. Paraskevi, with Bp. Elpidios of Perth, an auxiliary of the archdiocese, performing the baptisms.

This morning, of Saturday, the 19th of September, we served a reader's Moleben with Akathist to St. Columba of Iona, also known as Colmcille, Enlightener of Scotland. The service was led by Fr. Deacon Georgiy, who brought an icon of Colmcille. At the end of the service, Fr. Georgiy read from the life of Colmcille.

We then gathered for a breakfast meal, which featured a large gingerbread treat gifted by Nikolo-Solbensky Monastery to us as a community. The meal was followed by catechism class for those seeking to learn more about the Orthodox faith.

Our next service in English will Divine Liturgy on Saturday, preceded by Vespers on Friday.

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Parish of St. George the Trophy-Bearer in Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire. Received in 2025, it is a parish of the Metropolis of Accra under the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria. Based in the Djorobite neighborhood, the parish is one of 14, all located in the greater Abidjan area, that was received as part of a non-canonical structure. The Orthodox Church grew massively in this African nation as a result of this event, but the growth is not finished yet; late last year 22 converts were baptized at this parish, as these new faithful bring a tremendous missionary fervor to the works of the Church in Cote d'Ivoire.