UOJ-USA | Union of Orthodox Journalists

Why Does the Church Celebrate the Conception of St. John the Baptist?

From Subdeacon Gregory Levitsky:

On October 6 (September 23), Orthodox Christians on the Old Calendar celebrate the feast of the Conception of St. John – the Forerunner, Prophet, and Baptist of the Lord. The conception of St. John is touched on directly in the first chapter of the Gospel of Luke. The priest Zachariah and his wife Elizabeth “were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.” But they were old – “stricken in years” – and had no children, which among the Jews was considered a cause of shame and God’s disfavor.

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Young Aspiring Chanters Conference to Gather in Dallas

DALLAS, TX — The Chant Stand will hold its second annual Young Aspiring Chanters (YAC) Conference Oct. 23–25 at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church in Dallas, following the inaugural gathering held in Boca Raton, Florida, in March.

The conference is open to Orthodox Christians ages 18–35 from all jurisdictions and regardless of prior experience. Over three days, participants will receive instruction in Byzantine chant while taking part in worship and fellowship. Protopsaltes Samuel Herron, Joshua Boyd, and Peter Elgohary will lead the instruction.

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Jerusalem Patriarchate Mourns Mother and Daughter Killed in Gaza Airstrike

JERUSALEM — The Patriarchate of Jerusalem mourned Maisa Daoud and her daughter, Mary, who were killed when their home in Gaza was struck by an airstrike on Oct. 3, 2026. The Patriarchate expressed condolences to their family and loved ones and prayed for the repose of the two women.

The Patriarchate stated: “With sorrow and with hope in the Resurrection, we pray for the repose of the souls of Maisa and Mary. May the Lord grant their souls rest in the place ‘where there is neither pain, nor sorrow, nor sighing,’ and may He grant patience and consolation to their family.” It also emphasized the Christian teaching on the sanctity of human life.

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Patr. Kirill Presents Order to Muslim Chechen Leader

MOSCOW — Patr. Kirill of Moscow presented Ramzan Kadyrov, a practicing Sufi Muslim and head of the Chechen Republic, with the Order of Glory and Honor, 1st Degree, while congratulating him on his 50th birthday on October 5. The award is one of the Russian Orthodox Church’s highest honors.

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Ecumenical Patriarchate Welcomes Greece-Bulgaria Agreement on Return of Relics

ISTANBUL — The Ecumenical Patriarchate has welcomed an agreement between Greece and Bulgaria concerning the exchange and return of historical relics and sacred objects that were removed more than a century ago from churches and monasteries in northern Greece.

In a statement, the Patriarchate described the agreement as a “beginning” toward restoring what it characterized as sacred items that were taken from northern Greek metropolises and monasteries under its ecclesiastical jurisdiction. It expressed hope that the process would be completed promptly in accordance with moral principles, international law, and the friendly relations between the two countries.

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Archons to Host Webinar Featuring Feminist Author

NEW YORK — The Archon Diakonia Ministry on Women in Orthodoxy will host a webinar featuring Ashley M. Purpura, Ph.D., author of "Women in the Orthodox Tradition: Feminism, Theology, and Equality," on November 8.

The webinar, offered with the blessing of Abp. Elpidophoros of America, will examine women’s roles, voices, and actions in the Orthodox Church and will include a presentation by Purpura followed by a question-and-answer session. Purpura is an associate professor of religious studies at Purdue University whose research focuses on Christian thought and practice, gender, theology, and contemporary Orthodox Christianity.

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Ana Brnabić Becomes First Openly Gay President in the Balkans

BELGRADE, SERBIA — Serbia has become the first Balkan country to have an openly gay person serve as president after Ana Brnabić assumed the role of acting president on September 28 following the resignation of Aleksandar Vučić.

Brnabić, who had been serving as Speaker of the Serbian Parliament, is a member of the Serbian Progressive Party. She was appointed Serbia’s prime minister in 2017, becoming the country’s first woman and first openly lesbian prime minister. Her current tenure as acting president is expected to be temporary, with a presidential election required within 90 days of Vučić’s resignation.

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Why Do We Use a Prayer Rope?

From Subdeacon Gregory Levitsky:

Even those who have only had a passing acquaintance with Orthodox Christianity may have noticed the knotted rope wrapped around the wrist of some believers. This is the prayer rope, a tool of prayer with a long history within Christian Tradition. Its most common usage is for the knots to be moved between the fingers by the thumb, repeating with each knot the Jesus Prayer: “O Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.”

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Washington State Antiochian Parish Baptizes 29 as 78 Catechumens Await Baptism

ARLINGTON, WA — St. Andrew Orthodox Church in Arlington, Washington, baptized 29 people on September 26, as the Antiochian parish continues to experience significant growth. Another 78 catechumens are currently preparing to receive baptism.

Located about halfway between Seattle and the Canadian border, the parish currently has 310 members. Its congregation has doubled over the past three years, with approximately 65 people baptized at the church so far in 2026.

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The Rise of American Monasticism

By Roman Roberts:

From its early foundations to its growing presence in American Orthodoxy today

Just a century ago, Orthodox monastics were a rarity in America. Today, there are over 70 monasteries across jurisdictions in over 20 states, giving many Orthodox Christians hope for the future of monasticism in the country. History has shown many times that our monasteries are a blessing and place of spiritual strengthening for Orthodox laity, and America has an opportunity for a new kind of growth with the recent, ongoing wave of converts.

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St. Sava Monastery to Consecrate St. Mardarije Spiritual and Cultural Center

LIBERTYVILLE, IL — St. Sava Monastery will host the consecration of the newly restored St. Mardarije Spiritual and Cultural Center on November 14, 2026, according to an announcement from the Serbian Orthodox Diocese of New Gračanica and Midwestern America.

Metr. Longin, Bp. Serafim, clergy, and faithful from across the diocese are expected to gather at the monastery for the event. The day will begin with a Hierarchical Divine Liturgy at 10 a.m., accompanied by a diocesan mass choir. The consecration of the center will follow the Liturgy, along with a flag-raising and ceremonial opening.

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Assembly of Bishops Concelebrate Divine Liturgy in Pittsburgh

PITTSBURGH — Hierarchs from the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the United States of America gathered at St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Pittsburgh on October 4 for a pan-Orthodox celebration of the Divine Liturgy attended by more than 300 faithful from the area.

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Where the Spirit of the Lord Is, There Is Freedom

From Metropolitan Anthony (Pakanich):

The history of the Church contains many documents written by their authors not for posterity, but for their contemporaries. Such texts are valuable because there is no attempt to embellish them; people speak of what they saw and of how they saw it. A report recently published by a Constantinopolitan cleric regarding the events of December 2018 in Kyiv falls into this very category. It was written for a single person – Patriarch Bartholomew – and chronicles, day by day, the week during which the structure now known as the “Orthodox Church of Ukraine” (OCU) was established.

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Bulgarian Metropolis Raises Concern Over 'Krishna Consciousness'

SLIVEN, BULGARIA — The Holy Metropolis of Sliven has issued a statement criticizing the public promotion of “Krishna Consciousness” in Pomorie, Aheloy, and other communities within its territory, while emphasizing that its position is directed at the teachings rather than people who hold different religious beliefs.

The statement, dated October 3, stresses the historical importance of Pomorie as a Christian city with longstanding Orthodox traditions. The Metropolis said the Krishna Consciousness movement belongs to the Gaudiya-Vaishnava tradition within Hindu religious culture and therefore should not be presented as another expression of Christianity.

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UOC Protodeacon Pepper-Sprayed and Injured in Ribs During Mobilization

KREMENCHUK, UKRAINE — Protodeacon Viktor Dudnichenko of the Holy Dormition Cathedral of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC) in Kremenchuk was forcibly mobilized on September 21, 2026, and later transferred to a military unit in the Chernihiv region, according to the Kremenchuk Diocese. The diocese said it has since lost contact with the cleric.

According to the diocesan account, Dudnichenko was detained near his home and forcibly taken into a vehicle. The diocese said tear gas was sprayed in his face and that his chest was compressed while he was being placed on a bus, resulting in injuries to his ribs.

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Antiochian Women Announce St. Simon of Cyrene Endowment Fund

ENGLEWOOD, NJ — Antiochian Women have announced their 2026–2027 NAB Project, which will establish the St. Simon of Cyrene Endowment Fund to assist clergy and their families during periods of serious need.

The project was presented as a new initiative following several years in which the NAB Project Endowment Fund supported widowed wives of clergy. The new fund is intended to address urgent and unforeseen circumstances affecting priests and their families, including mental, physical, and spiritual hardships.

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⚡️UOJ EXCLUSIVE⚡️

Metr. Theodosy: Leaked Chronicle Offers Most Candid Account of OCU’s Creation

OCT. 5, 2026 — The recently published chronicle of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine’s creation provides the most candid account to date of how the structure was established, Metropolitan Theodosy of Cherkasy and Kaniv told UOJ-Ukraine.

The more-than-20-page document – which was leaked to the Union of Orthodox Journalists of America – was compiled by a Constantinople cleric who participated in the events surrounding the December 2018 “unification council" and subsequently reported them to Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew. Metropolitan Theodosy emphasized that the document was not produced by opponents of the Ecumenical Patriarchate.

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Patr. Theophilos Rejects Proposal for December 25 Nativity Celebration

JERUSALEM — Patr. Theophilos III of Jerusalem rejected a proposal for a joint liturgical celebration of the Nativity of Christ on December 25, reaffirming the Jerusalem Patriarchate’s observance of Nativity according to the Julian calendar.

The proposal was presented by representatives of the Abelin community, which falls under the jurisdiction of the Patriarchate’s Metropolis of Ptolemais and Acre, during a meeting with Patr. Theophilos and parish representatives.

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Metr. Saba Calls for Support of Youth and Seminaries

ENGELWOOD, NJ — Metr. Saba of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America has called on clergy and faithful to support young people and Orthodox seminaries in his October 2026 letter marking “Youth Month and Seminary Month.”

Metr. Saba emphasizes that the two observances belong together because today’s young people will become the faithful, parents, parish leaders, and clergy of the future. At the same time, seminarians are preparing to become the priests who will serve those communities through the sacraments, preaching, pastoral care, and ministry.

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Metr. Ignacio to Consecrate First Antiochian Parish in Northern Mexico

ROSARITO, MEXICO — The Nativity of the Theotokos Orthodox Church in Rosarito, Baja California, will be consecrated November 6–9, marking a new milestone for the first Antiochian Orthodox parish established in northern Mexico.

The parish was established through cooperation between Metr. Ignacio (Samaan) of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of Mexico, Venezuela, Central America and the Caribbean; Project Mexico; and St. Innocent Orphanage. The church was designed by CJK Design Group of San Rafael, California, and constructed with a local Mexican building team.

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