Metropolitan Jonah Opens All-American Council in Bellevue

In getting the All-American Council of the American Orthodox Church (OCA) underway yesterday in Bellevue, Washington, Metropolitan Jonah (Paffhausen) referred to the first three years of his tenure as first hierarch of the OCA as "an administrative disaster," asking the assembled hierarchs, clergy, and faithful for their forgiveness and announcing that he would be undergoing "a complete evaluation" through "a program [specializing] in assisting clergy." His full opening remarks can be found here.

Prayers Requested for Goldendale Monastery

Please remember the sisterhood of St. John's Monastery in Goldendale, Washington, in your prayers! A wildfire in southern Washington has reached the Monastery's grounds and the nuns and local residents have been evacuated while firemen seek to contain the fire.

Update (8/9/2011): Thank God, St. John's Monastery did not suffer any damage to its buildings during the wildfire, although nine homes in the area were destroyed. More here.

New Mission in SE Washington

It is my joy on this feast of St. John the Wonderworker to report that Archbishop Kyrill (Dmitrieff) of San Francisco of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia has dedicated a new mission of his diocese in southeastern Washington to St. John! More here.

Serbian Orthodox Youth Conference in Seattle

The annual youth conference of the Serbian Orthodox Church in North and South America will this year be held at Seattle Pacific University in the beautiful Pacific Northwest. More here.

Sitka Icon to be Present at All-American Council

The plans for the upcoming All-American Council have been finalized and it has been announced that the wonderworking Sitka Icon of the Mother of God will be present in Bellevue throughout the Council. More here.

Jobs: Teachers for Walla Walla, WA

The Pacific Northwest's St. Basil's Academy in Walla Walla, Washington, is looking for a full-time and part-time teacher for the coming academic year. The school would prefer applicants with degrees and teaching certification, but the latter is not a hard requirement. More here.