Bright Saturday Gathering in NYC

In keeping with the new custom of the patriarchal Russian Orthodox representation in the USA, this past Bright Saturday the rectors of the representation's parishes and monasteries assembled at New York's Cathedral of St. Nicholas to concelebrate the Paschal Divine Liturgy with Archbishop Justinian (Ovchinnikov) of Narofominsk and meet with one another.

This year's celebrations included Bishop Jerome (Shaw) of Manhattan and other clergymen of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia, who participated in the gathering with the blessing of Metropolitan Hilarion (Kapral) of New York. More (in Russian) here.

311 Edict of Toleration Commemorated in Bulgaria

Celebrations were held on Bright Saturday in Sofia, Bulgaria, to mark the 1700th anniversary of the Edict of Toleration, an edict of the Roman Emperors Galerius, St. Constantine, and Licinius that formally ended the persecution Orthodox Christianity in the Roman Empire. The celebrations in Sofia began with a commemorative Paschal Liturgy in the ancient Church of the Holy Wisdom celebrated by seven metropolitans and auxiliary bishops of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church. More (in Bulgarian) here.

Life-Giving Spring of the Mother of God

Christ is risen! On Bright Friday we celebrate the Life-giving Spring of the Theotokos, a feast established in honor of a church dedicated to her in Constantinople and the miraculous spring over which it was built. More on the feast can be found here. May the Mother of God's protection and intercessions be with us all!

Bishop-Elect of Chicago to be Consecrated on Bright Saturday

Archimandrite Matthias (Moriak) will be consecrated to the episcopacy this Bright Saturday in Chicago's Church of Christ the Savior and enthroned as Bishop of Chicago on St. Thomas' Sunday at Holy Trinity Cathedral, the seat of the American Orthodox Church's Diocese of Midwestern America. A schedule for this weekend's events can be found here.