This past Saturday and Sunday we were blessed to have His Eminence Archbishop Mark come to visit our church. He was with us for Vespers on Saturday, and concelebrated the Divine Liturgy with our priest, Fr. Michael, on Sunday. Afterwards he came downstairs with us for coffee hour and talked with some of our parishioners.

The Sunday of Orthodoxy also known as the Triumph of Orthodoxy, when we remember the victory over the iconoclast movement to remove icons from our churches. It is because Christ became incarnate that we are able to have images of him, which we call "icons" in our church. We also have images of the saints who are "alive in Christ".

On this day parishioners bring an icon of their patron saint, and we process around the church singing hymns and hearing readings.

Today was a great celebration not only of the Divine Liturgy, but we welcomed Paul today into the church through the sacrament of Chrismation. May God grant you many years!

Pictures from Theophany, and Theophany eve, where we had the blessing of the waters. Our parishioners brought empty jars to take some of the Holy Water home with them.

Troparion

When Thou, O Lord, wast baptized in the Jordan, the worship of the Trinity was made manifest; for the voice of the Father didst bear witness unto Thee, calling Thee His beloved Son. And the Spirit, in the form of a dove, didst confirm the truthfulness of His word. O Christ our God Who hast revealed Thyself and hast enlightened the world, glory to Thee!

Some pictures from our church decorated for Christmas this year and New Years.

This year members from our parish purchased various gifts for a small family in need. We brought them over to them today, and they were surprised and thrilled to receive them! On behalf of the parish council, we want to thank all the people who donated and brought some extra joy to their lives this Christmas. May God bless you all!

Saint Nicholas came for a visit during coffee hour this Sunday to hand out gifts to all the children..and a few of the adults too! They had a great time of excitement and fun afterwards. Father Michael also gave a small homily to the children during Divine Liturgy.

This year, as a part of our church's beautification projects, the parish council decided on raising money to paint the ceiling a dark blue and add stars, made out of real gold leaf. Over the course of several weeks the painters came and worked on it, and slowly more and more stars were added. They are truly beautiful, reflecting the light as it shines upon them. Here are some before, after, and work in progress shots from the project!

This year over the Nativity fast season a few members of our parish and the youth did an acrylic painting after coffee hour on Sundays. The painting was a stained glass style of a Nativity scene!

Our 2024 Veteran's Day Pasta Dinner was a success! Thank you to all who purchased tickets and for coming. And a big thank you to all the people who organized and helped out with the event, we couldn't do it without you all! We had a wonderful day with many people stopping by for dinner. Part of the money raised will be donated to Camp Freedom!

*Camp Freedom is a nonprofit organization that provides outdoor adventures for disabled Veterans and First Responders, their family members, and Gold Star families including quality hunting, shooting sports, fishing, hiking, biking, and other year-round outdoor activities. These activities remove individuals from clinical settings into the healing environment of the outdoors and nature.

The ladies from our church got together again to have a fall brunch. It was a beautiful day with good company and some delicious foods!

This past October Father Michael blessed 3 new catechumens to enter our church. Welcome George, Chris, and Neva! May God bless you and keep you on the start of your journey into Orthodoxy!

One of the classes for catechumens in our church is learning about the "Proskomedia", which is the preparation of the offering of bread and wine. You can read more about it here. Father Michael held the class today before Liturgy and all catechumens were required to attend. Anyone else was also welcome to attend, it's a very informative class for a very important aspect of the Divine Liturgy!

St. Michael's held a bowling event day for the youth of our church and others this past Saturday. Everyone that came had a great time! Kids and adults alike!

Today His Eminence, Archbishop Mark, came to visit us at our church! Parishioners were there early outside the church to greet him and welcome him to St. Michael's. We had a wonderful Divine Liturgy and he gave us a very meaningful sermon speaking of St. Photini, the woman at the well.

In addition the day was made even more special as our very own Blaise Shepherd was tonsured as a reader! Congratulations Blaise!

At the end of liturgy we sang Many Years to all those who had or have recent birthdays and anniversaries. May God Grant you all Many Years!

Afterwards, we all got together downstairs for our Agape meal to fellowship with one another. Many people brought delicious food, and the Parish Council presented Blaise with a cake to congratulate him, and also a small gift was given to Archbishop Mark on the occasion of his upcoming birthday!

After Divine Liturgy today our parish visited both of our cemeteries where Father Michael lead the blessing of the graves.

6 years ago today our priest, Father Michael Shepherd was ordained to the priesthood. We celebrated after liturgy today during our Agape meal with some cake, good food brought by parishioners, and a card. Happy Anniversary Father Michael!

The Monday after Pascha we celebrated Bright Monday Liturgy with a fellowship breakfast afterwards at a local restaurant. We processed around the church outside and listened to Gospel readings at each of the corners.

Holy Saturday started out early for our 3 soon to be baptized members of our church with Vesperal Divine Liturgy of St Basil the Great, the First Liturgy (Baptismal Liturgy) of Pascha. Congratulations to Jason, Santo, and Mikayla on their Baptism and Chrismation! May God grant you many years!

Later that night we celebrated a first midnight services all the way through to Pascha at our church; The Vigil of Pascha consisting of Midnight Office, the Resurrection (Rush) service, Paschal Orthros and Paschal Divine Liturgy of Saint John Chrysostom. CHRIST IS RISEN! INDEED HE IS RISEN!

Faithful who were still awake joined us downstairs afterwards for an Agape meal!

During this year's Holy Week each day of the week we celebrated Presanctified Liturgy at one of our sister churches nearby. On Monday was St. Michael's in Jermyn. Tuesday All Saint's in Olyphant. Wednesday at our church, St. Michael's in Old Forge. Thursday was Liturgy and the blessing of Holy Chrism at St. Tikhon's Monastery in South Canaan. That evening there was a Holy Unction service at St. Nicholas' in Olyphant. Finally on Holy Friday at our church we celebrated The Great Royal Hours and Typika in the morning, Great Vespers & Procession of Plashchanitza at 3pm, and at 7pm Matins of Great & Holy Friday along with prayers said over our soon to be illumined catechumens!

March 28, 2024, marked the 2 year anniversary that our priest, Father Michael Shepherd, has been assigned to our church. We're so grateful for his leadership and all the things he's been doing for us and our parish! Over the past couple years it has been growing into a wonderful church family community that we're so happy to be a part of! As a small gift of appreciation and thanks, the parish council gifted him with an icon of his patron saint, Archangel Michael, today at the end of liturgy as well as a cake downstairs during our Agape meal.

For 6 weeks St. Michael's hosted an iconography class during Great Lent, taught by the iconographer Susan Shiposki. Many of our parishoners signed up and took part! It was a wonderful time learning about the process of iconography, and to fellowship with one another. Thank you Susan!

A fun day for the youth of our church! The kids had a blast playing capture the flag, and other games with Nerf guns, enjoyed pizza & snacks for lunch, and even had a small devotional lesson given. Big thank you to Jason Hart of our parish for putting it all together, organizing, and hosting the event!

We all gathered together after liturgy in our church hall for food and a talent show! There was juggling, dancing, piano, guitar & drums, and even standup comedy. The youth of St. Michael's also presented their hand made display boards with pictures and stories about their patron saints.

Congratulations to Justin and Elizabeth on their wedding day! We wish you a long happy married life together, and may God grant you many years!

We had a wonderful day this past Sunday at St. Michael's! The church was decorated beautifully for the Nativity, and following liturgy we all gathered downstairs for the agape meal and time of fellowship, along with a visit from St. Nicholas!
Thanks to everyone who donated time and gifts to make this a special day for all!

Our first annual Veterans Day Pasta Dinner was a great success! Thank you to all our volunteers who helped set up and serve food, bag take out orders, sell tickets, and donate beautiful gift baskets, gift cards, and desserts. It was a wonderful time seeing and talking to everyone both old and new. God Bless and thank you to our Veterans for your service!

This past Saturday the ladies of our church enjoyed a Fall brunch together. It was a wonderful gathering filled with great food and fellowship! Thank you to Emily Hart for hosting us all, and to everyone who brought delicious food and joined us!

On Thursday, 5th of May, St Michaels Orthodox Church welcomed special guest speaker, Fr. Victor Gorodenchuk. Fr. Victor is a graduate of St. Tikhon Orthodox Theological Seminary ('99), and was raised in the former atheistic Soviet Union. He holds a Master of Science degree from the prestigious Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology ('93). His talk entitled, “Unto the Healing of Soul and Body: The History and Theology of Holy Unction.”  was brought to the clergy of the diocese after many years of prayer and research in which it was enthusiastically received by all who were in attendance. Fr. Victor spent about 4 years researching the history, developement, and current practice of Holy Unction and used this knowledge as his thesis for his PH.d in Liturgics from Catholic University. 

The mystery of Holy Unction, as with the other sacraments of the Church, is a revelation of Christ's love for His creation. The service shows us that we do not act on our own from our own power. Rather, it is Christ who answers our pleas for help:

O Savior, who like incorruptible myrrh dost empty Thyself utterly in grace and purify the world, show divine mercy and bounty on the bodily wounds of him who in faith is about to receive Unction. (Troparion on Ode 4 of the Canon)

Thank you to Bev Elko and Marie Pasternak who came to help set up the lunch in support of our luncheon.  I would like to say thank you to Maria Augustine from Augustine's Club 17 (https://augustinesclub17.com) who donated her world famous Old Forge Pizza for our luncheon! Thank you all!

Justin Willams and Jacob Anderson graduated High School.  Justin received a gift from the Church and Jacob will receive his gift later.

Due to the Pandemic with limited gatherings, the blessing of the graves took place without notification to the parish.  Over 1,500 graves were blessed in both Sibley and Minooka cemeteries.

Our church enjoyed a beautiful visit from His Eminence Archbishop Mark.  Danny Jones and Pat Jones received a Gramata for all their dedication and work on behalf of the church.

Katya graduated from high school and was given a spiritual book for her accomplishment.  She plans to attend Princeton University.

Michael and Mia were given a copy of the Divine Liturgy book in recognition of receiving their first confession.

The U.S. Post Office collects food on the second Saturday of May and then distriubutes it to local Food Pantries.  St. Michael's Orthodox Food Pantry is one of those receipients and we are so greatful.  We received 5,405 lbs. this year and we are blessed to then distribute it to families in need in Old Forge, Duryea and Taylor.

A glorious day for David and his Family.

The installation of the Parish Council took place on Sunday, February 3, 2019

We welcome James into our Church

Pascha Celebration

A special day for Abigail and her family.

A special day to celebrate the Baptism of Wren Elizabeth

His Eminence Arch Bishop Mark served Divine Liturgy at our Church.

His Eminance Arch Bishop Mark gave his blessing for the 2017 Parish Council members to serve.  The installation of the oath of office took place after Divine Liturgy on Sunday, January 22, 2017.

St. Michael's Orthodox Church celebrated its 125th Anniversary.  His Eminence Arch Bishop Mark was unable to make it due to his mother passing away on Friday, November 4th.  Sandra Condon, Jean Wasko and Dorothy Polanchik were awarded a Gramata.  A catered meal was enjoyed by everyone in our Hall basement.

Nina changed her status from full time to part time Choir Director.  May God grant Nina many years.

Jake Emily graduated from Scrant Prep High School.  Jake was presented with an Orthodox Study Bible and he is planning to attend St. Joe' University.

An Easter Egg hunt was held after Divine Liturgy on St. Thomas Sunday.

A beautiful service of Pascha was celebrated following with the blessing of baskets.

Miroslav was baptized into the Orthodox Church on Holy Saturday.  May God grant him many years.

His Eminence Archbishop Mark celebrated Presanctified Liturgy with our church.

The Sunday School students gave a short presentation to the church at the end of Divine Liturgy on their Patron Saint.  Each of the students made an icon of their Patron Saint.

OCMC Missionary Archimandrite Fr. Juvenaly Repass came to our church to help raise funds for this trip to Guatemala.  Fr. Juvenaly taught Sunday school and he also informed us of his plans to Guatemala.  We were blessed to have Fr. Juvenaly spend the weekend with us.

A Molieben was served on behalf of Fr. Theodore Orzolek's 50th anniversary to the priesthood.  A luncheon followed at Arcaro and Genell.  May God grant Fr. Theodore many years.

St. Michael's Church graciously welcomed His Eminence Arch Bishop Mark to celebrate Divine Liturgy and for fellowship.  His Eminence awarded a Gramata to John and Irene Pritchyk, Al Pritchyk and Al Horek for their many years of service to the church.

Our Church Yard Sale was a success.  Many people enjoyed the shopping, food and desserts.

Sunday School started today and there was a molieben for the teachers and students after Divine Liturgy.

Al Horek donated the two Lampadas in memory of Marie Horek.  Martha Matechak donated the gold vestments in memory of Ned Matechak.

Easter egg hunt.  Nancy Jurnack moving.  Blessing of over 1,500 graves.

Bp. Mark visited our Church with Deacon Gabriel for Divine Liturgy and a pot luck meal.  We were blessed by his visit.