Loaves & Fishes - Linda McMillian, a member of our parish, makes a soup for the poor who come and are ministered to by the Loaves & Fishes program hosted at St. John's.
Sunday of Orthodoxy - (March 16) The Orthodox Churches of the Atlanta Metro area joined together Sunday evening (March 16) at Holy Transfiguration Orthodox Church (GOARCH) in Marrietta. Below is a picture of all the priests in attendance before their beautiful iconostasis.
For the image of him who became human is our glory: we venerate it, but do not worship it as God. Kissing it, we who believe cry out: O God, save your people, and bless your heritage.
Study for Lent - (March 16) The book we are studying for Lent this year is St. Theophan the Recluse's
The Path to Salvation. Class starts this Tuesday, March 18, at 7:30 PM. We will be covering the first four chapters. Books are on back order at our bookstore, but you can temporarily read the first four chapters on our
HERE.
Matushka's Birthday - (March 9) The parish celebrated Matushka Rebecca Myer's birthday after Divine Liturgy Sunday. Many years!
Baby Naming - (March 9) The new baby of Scott and Beth Hersinger's had his naming ceremony after Liturgy today. He was given the name Maximus for St. Maximus the Confessor.
Tree Trimming - No, it's not Christmas again, but the City of Atlanta did give us a gift as they graciously trim the Crepe Myrtal in our court yard.
I Was Hungry and You Fed Me - Fr. Jacob met Lenard two years ago through the Loaves and Fishes program at St. Johns. We talked a number of times about how he could turn his life around. Lenard entered the job readiness program at Atlanta Enterprise Center the week of February 4. Lenard successfully completed the training. He is working with Food Team to gain employment . In the pictures Lenard is receiving job counseling from Dennis Dunn .
New Catechumen - (February 10) Another catechumen was blessed this morning after Liturgy at St. John. Bob Palley stands with Fr. Jacob. Bob's saint is St. George.
Two More Catechumens - (February 17) Selena (Genevieve) Pauley (left), a student in our Orthodox School, and Marsha (Photini) Fricks (right), a Registered nurse, became catecumens today after Divine Liturgy. Many years!
Relic Presented - Dr. Carla (Panteliemona) Thomas brought a new icon of St Moses the Black to St. John's for all to see. She was presented the icon by Archbishop Dmitri on his visit to Atlanta for the mission in Anniston, Alabama. While at St. John's, she was presented with a relic of St. Moses the Black to go with the beautiful new icon.
Answering Questions - (February 2) Archbishop Dmitri sits at table with Father Jacob and answers questions from St. John parishoners after a wonderful meal. The Archbishop was very informative and instructive on a number of issues pertaining to Parish life, the Diocese of the South and the OCA in general.
Archbishop Vists - (February 2) His Eminence, Archbishop Dmitri, Archbishop Dallas and the Diocese of the South (OCA) visited St. John's for the Feast of the
Meeting of Christ in the Temple Saturday, February 2. Tommy Bunch greets His Eminence with the traditional bread and salt. More pictures will be up soon. You may also listen to Archbishop Dmitri's message to us on the Feast by clicking
here.
Loaves & fishes - (January 30) Chantal Tranner prepares to serve hungry men some sandwiches and sweets in the Loaves and Fishes Program.
Ivison Chrismation - (January 27) Nancy Ivison, 88, mother of Matushka Rebecca Myers and Catherine Payne, was chrismated today into the Holy Orthodox Chuch…many years!!!
Spoon Wedding - (January 22) Matthew Spoon and Kristen (Macrina) Tocher were married Sunday, January 20 at St. John's. We wish them all the best and many happy years together. You can see more pictures of the wedding
here.
Food Donated - (January 17) A donation of food by Ria of Bluebird this past week was used to feed hungry men and women on a cold winter day in Atlanta. You can click
here. to see some more pictures.
New Catechumens - Seven(!) new catechumens were blessed this morning after Divine Liturgy (Jan. 13). Congradulations to the Roths, Jay (Jerome), Lia (Seraphima), Kyle (Markarios), Michael, Aiden, Abigail Grace, and Lydia Davidson!
Christmas Dinner for the Homeless - St. John's was again the site of the annual Loaves & Fishes Christmas Dinner for the Homeless. Orthodox from around the city participate in preparing and serving the meal served Christmas Noon. Preparations for the meal actually began two days earlier than Christmas with Demetrios Hajisimos and volunteers cooking most of the meal that would be served. You can see a complete slideshow of the event
here.
Christmas Program Donation - Once again, Steak-Out Franchising, Inc., comes through with a donation of meat for the Loaves and Fishes Food Program to provide as part of our Christmas baskets for the poor.
New Vestments - Our church receives a gift from St. Nectarious Monastery in Greece of a beautiful new set of vestiments that Fr. Jacob shows the church...they will be first worn on Nativity.
Study for Lent - (April 18) We completed our study for Lent on St. Theophan the Recluse's
The Path to Salvation. The last class was this past Tuesday night (April 15). You may listen to all the classes
here.
Girl Scouts Preparing - A local group of Girls Scouts came and helped prepare food for the Loaves & Fishes Program this week. Glory to God for their willingness to serve the poor!
Catechism Class - (April 13) The catechism class continued today after Divine Liturgy. Father Jacob and Magdalena King are conducting the class around Bishop Kalistos' (Ware) "The Orthodox Way". Today's class was the last session for the season.
Listen to the classes and find other class resources here.
Icon Blessed - (March 16) An icon of St. Barbara painted by our own Elena Myers was blessed after Divine Liturgy today. The icon will be placed in the Sanctuary for Lent and then placed in our newly remodeled kitchen named in honor of St. Barbara.
New Catechumen - (March 9) Bruce McPherson is blessed to be a catechumen after Liturgy this morning. Bruce will be taking the name Martin for St. Martin of Tours. Welcome home and many years, Bruce!!
Catechism Class - A catechism class meets immediately following Divine Liturgy every Sunday (there was no class this Sunday, March 9). Father Jacob and Magdalena King are conducting the class around Bishop Kalistos' (Ware) "The Orthodox Way". All those interested in learning more about the Ancient Faith or joining the Orthodox Church are invited to attend.
Listen to the classes and find other class resources here.
For the Least of These - Dr. Carla Thomas runs the Abba Moses clinic in Anniston, Alabama. You can read an article she has written about it
here.
Catechumen Blessing - (Feburary 24) This morning after Divine Liturgy, Katherine Margaret Linville was blessed to be a catechumen in the Orthodox Church. Congratulations Katherine, and many years!
Blessing for Iconography - (February 17) Elena Myers receives a blessing, sent from Archbishop Dmitri, to become an icon painter. Elena is studying under
Xenia M. Pokrovsky, who began painting icons in 1969 and helped spark a renewal of iconography in Russia.
Mary Evelyn Anniversary - Mary Evelyn has been cancer free for two years now. We give glory to God for His goodness and continue to pray for her daily.
Buck Ordination - (February 3) Our own Bill (Theophan) Buck was ordained to the Diaconate Sunday, February 3 by Metropolitan Herman at St. Tikhon's Seminary. You can see more pictures from the ordination
here. We are very proud of Bill and Elena and all they have accomplished at St. Tikhon's Seminary! Axios!
New Sub-deacons - (February 2) His eminence, Archbishop Dmitri ordained two new sub-deacons for St. John's Saturday. In the foreground Bru (Niphon) Wallace is blessed by the Archbishop. Just in beyond Bru is Herman Cowan, who was also ordained.
Catechism Begins - (February 3) A new catechism class has begun immediately following Divine Liturgy on Sunday mornings. Father Jacob and Magdalena King will be conducting the class, which will last between 20 to 30 minutes. All those interested in learning more about the Ancient Faith or joining the Orthodox Church are invited to attend. You can listen to recordings of the class
here.
2008 Parish Meeting - (January 27) We held our annual Parish meeting after Divine Liturgy Sunday, Jan. 27. John Aldridge, our Parish Board President, presented the ministries and accomplishment of the Parish for 2007. Especially noteworthy is the effort of the parish to purchase our Church property, where we have accumulated 40% of the funds needed to pay off the mortgage. Mark Showalter presented the 2007 Parish financial statement. God has richly blessed our Parish and we have strove to be good stewards of all His provisions. Parish Members can get a copy of the financial statement in the
Parish Member section of the website.
Loaves for Loaves & Fishes - (January 24) Atanas and Monique Nikolov, married 8 months today, bring extra bread from their bakery, the
Tehva Baking Company, to the Loaves and Fishes Program.
Newlyweds Return - Reese and Cynthia Martin return from their honeymoon and get her bouquet which had been left on the Shrine to the Mother of God while they were away. They can now place it on their home altar.
OCF Conference - Rebecca Showalter (pictured left) just returned from Pittsburgh where she helped organize one of two Orthodox Christian Fellowship's (OCF) national college conferences. About 300 college students from around the country gathered together for a week of lectures, social activities, prayers. "The spirit of the conference was amazing," said Rebecca. "Vespers would end and everyone would continue singing in church for about three more hours. It was so inspiring!" Next year a third College Conference of the South will take place at the Diakonia Center in South Carolina. The OCF at the University of Georgia will be hosting this event with help from St. John's Brett (Innocent) Neal who has been working hard to start a new OCF chapter in Atlanta. All his hard work has paid off and there is now an offical OCF chapter at Georgia Tech that will need our support as a parish. OCF works to create ties between college students away from home and the Orhodox parishes the Atlanta area. Families that wish to make a home cooked meal for one of the meeting would be greatly appreciated. Home cooking is something sorely missed while at school. If you have any questions or are interested in helping, please contact Brett Neal at 404-432-4019.
Parish Members Wed - Reese and Cynthia (nee Arrington) Martin were married Sunday afternoon, December 30. It was a very, very beautiful wedding. You may see more pictures of the wedding
here.
Christmas Voluteers - All the volunteers gather in Morton Hall prior to the start of our Christmas program Saturday morning, December 22. You can see a slideshow of the whole day
here.
New Catechumen - St. John's welcomes another new catechumen Sunday morning, December 23 in Christina Martinelli. Many years, Christina!
