SCOBA Hierarchs Call Upon UN and NATO to Restore Peace and Order in Kosovo

As Hierarchs of the Standing Conference of Canonical Orthodox Bishops in the Americas, we deplore the terrible and senseless outbreak of violence and intolerance witnessed this past week in the Serbian province of Kosovo and Metohija.

OCMC's Board President, Helen Nicozisis, Receives Humanitarian and Church Service Achievement Award

The Orthodox Christian Mission Center’s Board President, Mrs. Helen Nicozisis, was awarded with a Humanitarian and Church Service Achievement Award on Saturday, March 13, 2004 at the 29th Annual Hellenic Heritage Achievement and National Public Service Awards Dinner. The American Hellenic Institute chose to honor Helen Nicozisis in recognition of her involvement in the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese, at the diocesan and parish level, and for her many charitable and humanitarian efforts, especially the critical role she has played on the Board of OCMC.

A New Country for SAMP - Zimbabwe

In the first three months of 2004, OCMC’s Support A Mission Priest (SAMP) program has added 12 new priests; bringing the number of priests, deacons and catechists supported by this program to a total of 267. Not only has SAMP increased the number of priests supported in 2004, but it has also begun support in a new country - Zimbabwe.

Orthodox Christian Network Announces National Board Initiative

The annual national board meeting for Orthodox Christian Network was recently held at the national headquarters of the media ministry for the Orthodox Christian Churches in America.

New From The Orthodox Christian Fellowship

OCF National Day of Prayer is occurring in the hopes of bringing all OCF chapters together for an important mission to join in prayer to intercede on behalf of the Church and its people. Rev. Fr. Michael Nasser, Executive Director of OCF, stated, “With over 40,000 Orthodox College students currently on campuses and almost 200 OCF local fellowships scattered from coast to coast, I can’t think of a better way for our students to begin the Great Fast than engaging in the wonderfully unifying act of prayer. I can see the Day of Prayer becoming an important hallmark of this important movement.”

IOCC Expanding Ethiopia Operations, Seeking Staff

International Orthodox Christian Charities (IOCC) is expanding its operations in Ethiopia and looking for staff to help implement its new, $6 million AIDS prevention initiative with the Ethiopian Orthodox Church.

SCOBA names OCN Newest Agency

On Tuesday, November 25, 2003, the members of SCOBA, under the chairmanship of Archbishop DEMETRIOS of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, met for their fall session and unanimously voted to approve Orthodox Christian Network (OCN) as the newest commissioned agency recognized by SCOBA to serve the Orthodox Christians of America.

An Agreed Statement of the North American Orthodox-Catholic Theological Consultation

The North American Orthodox-Catholic Theological Consultation concluded a four-year study of the Filioque on October 25, when it unanimously adopted an agreed text on this difficult question that has divided the two communions for many centuries.

Hundreds Attend Third Annual Orthodox Prayer Service for UN Community

Hundreds of clergy and faithful from throughout the metropolitan New York City area joined hierarchs from the Standing Conference of Canonical Orthodox Bishops in the Americas [SCOBA] and the Standing Conference of Oriental Orthodox Churches [SCOOCH] and dozens of representatives from the United Nations at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Archdiocesan Cathedral here on Monday, October 6, 2003 for the third annual Orthodox Prayer Service for the UN Community.

SCOBA Statement on Moral Crisis in Our Nation

The Orthodox Christian teaching on marriage and sexuality, firmly grounded in Holy Scripture, 2000 years of church tradition, and canon law, holds that marriage consists in the conjugal union of a man and a woman, and that authentic marriage is blessed by God as a sacrament of the Church. Neither Scripture nor Holy Tradition blesses or sanctions such a union between persons of the same sex.

SCOBA Hierarchs Issue Appeal for Prayer

As heads of Orthodox Christian communities in North America we are compelled to call our pious clergy and faithful to pray for peace and for respect of the sanctity of all human persons.

SCOBA Statement on the Crisis in the Holy Land

SCOBA Statement on the Events of September 11, 2001

In the spirit of these God-inspired words of St. Paul, we address this letter to you in this time of great affliction. As we are all painfully aware, our nation has experienced one of the most difficult days in its history.

SCOBA Statement on Israeli-Palestinian Conflict

The violence and death characteristic of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict are brought to our attention day after day.

SCOBA Condemns Violence and Intolerance in Kosovo

One year ago NATO was engaged in military action in the Balkans. After some two months of bombing by United States and other NATO forces, Yugoslavia withdrew its military forces from Kosovo, and hundreds of thousands of Kosovar Albanians who fled to Albania, Macedonia, and Montenegro returned to Kosovo.

The Importance of Sunday