New Era Begins For Orthodox Church in Guatemala

The Orthodox Church in Guatemala began a new era in its short history with the blessing of its newly completed Seminary/Mission Center in Huehuetenango, that will serve the spiritual, educational and administrative needs of the faithful. The project, which began some two years ago under the … [Read more...]

THE LORD’S HARVEST IN GUATEMALA

The Holy Orthodox Church in Guatemala is experiencing a burst of evangelical growth due to the recent visit of His Eminence, Archbishop Athenagoras of Mexico. From the southern border of Mexico to the tropical shores of the Pacific Ocean thousands came out to warmly greet him with lively cheers, … [Read more...]

WHAT KIND OF HOUSE WILL YOU BUILD FOR ME? (Isaiah 66:1)

“WHAT KIND OF HOUSE WILL YOU BUILD FOR ME? says the Lord” (Isaiah66:1). In the prophetic book of Isaiah, we are reminded by the Lord that “Heaven is My throne, and earth is the footstool of My feet” (Isaiah 66:1). As such, every place made by His hands can serve as His habitation or resting … [Read more...]

BUILDING FOR THE FUTURE: A NEW SEMINARY/MISSION CENTER BEGINS

The Saints Peter and Paul Formation Center in Huehuetenango will house the future seminary and mission center. Excitement is growing in Guatemala and Chiapas, Mexico, as the Orthodox Church carries out the vision of Archbishop Athenagoras of Mexico to take the Gospel message into all of … [Read more...]

WORSHIP IN GUATEMALA

During a recent trip to the Guatemalan village of Aguacate, I had the opportunity to reflect more fully on the worship services. The people seemed to be more engaged and connected to God with their prayers. The levels of enthusiasm were high, as reflected in the full participation of the faithful. … [Read more...]

FROM MANHATTAN TO MAYALAND: ONE CHURCH IN TWO WORLDS

As we approach the solemn anniversary of 9/11, indelible images of that fateful day flash across our minds. We recall with searing clarity the exact time of our whereabouts as the two projectile planes thrust themselves mercilessly into the glass and steel sides of the twin towers. Lost in the … [Read more...]

FROM GUATEMALA WITH LOVE : MAYAN ORTHODOXY COMES TO THE U.S.A.

The legacy of Fr. Andres lives on in America. Led by their charismatic leader in Guatemala- the late Father Andres Giron (2014), the Mayan people found a champion to vigorously address their spiritual and material needs. The social movement began with his advocacy for land reform and their … [Read more...]

VISION TEAM BRINGS SIGHT TO CLINIC

Of the many miracles that Jesus performed, surely the healing of the man born blind ranks among the greatest. According to St. John Chrysostom’s interpretation, the man’s eyes were literally created with mud moistened by Jesus’s saliva and opened by washing them in the Pool of Siloam. While modern … [Read more...]

A DAY IN THE LIFE OF A GUATEMALAN PRIEST

     What’s it like to be an itinerant priest in Guatemalan, visiting your many parishes on a bi-monthly basis? With so much to do and so little time for hearing confessions, performing weddings and baptisms and celebrating the Divine Liturgy, there is both a sense of “great joy and great sorrow,” … [Read more...]

WITH THE FAITH OF ANGELS A CHURCH IS BUILT

Solomon, I have outdone thee,” were the words spoken by Justinian the Great in the 6th century as he beheld the awe-inspiring beauty of his newly rebuilt cathedral of the Holy Wisdom of God- St. Sophia in Constantinople. Since that time, Orthodox Christian churches have endeavored to replicate … [Read more...]