The experience of worshipping with the indigenous people in their small churches made of baked mud and clay or wooden planks defies description. These are the cathedrals of the poor, every bit as magnificent as the hallowed shrines of Orthodoxy in the great centers of the world. What a great mystery … [Read more...]
ORTHODOXY IN IXCAN: A STORY OF RESILIENT FAITH
April 1, 2016 by · 1 Comment
Up until the late fifties, the sparsely populated jungle area of Ixcan in western Guatemala was thought to be worthless by the government. In an effort to populate the region for the benefit of the indigenous tribes, a program of land reform was initiated. Taking advantage of this … [Read more...]
MEDICAL TEAM VISITS CLINIC- Alexandra Chakos
January 30, 2016 by · Leave a Comment
Life goes on in chilly, cloudy Aguacate! If you have ever flown on a plane through the clouds, you will have an idea what it's like outside of our windows in Aguacate. The village is so high up in the mountains, that clouds usually sit on it. Clouds, being comprised of water vapor, make everything … [Read more...]
ARCHBISHOP BLESSES AGUACATE CLINIC AMIDST NATIONAL HEALTHCARE CRISIS
November 17, 2015 by · Leave a Comment
On November 8, Archbishop Athenagoras arrived in Aguacate, Guatemala to bless the newly completed Father Andres Giron medical/dental clinic, his gift to the long-suffering Mayan people of that region. Why is this outreach so important to them? Why were the faithful so happy to receive this blessing? … [Read more...]
OCMC INAUGURATES CLINIC OUTREACH
September 11, 2015 by · 1 Comment
After one year of planning, building, equipping and hectic last-minute preparations, the Father Andres Giron Clinic in Aguacate, Guatemala began operations on August 20, 2015. It was staffed by a dedicated team of nine 0CMC (Orthodox Christian Mission Center) health professionals. It had been a year … [Read more...]
Soul and Body: a Video about the Aguacate Clinic
July 4, 2015 by · Leave a Comment
In Guatemala the Orthodox Church is ministering to both the soul and the body of the people. A new medical clinic will meet the urgent needs of the Maya populations near the border of Mexico. Watch "Soul and Body" (below) to learn more about the clinic that is under construction! The FATHER … [Read more...]
AN URGENT RESPONSIBILITY: SHARING THE GRACE OF HEALING WITH OTHERS
June 5, 2015 by · 1 Comment
Addressing the special gift of physicians to alleviate pain and save lives, St. John Chrysostom would say that "they have an urgent responsibility to share their talents." St. Basil, likewise acknowledging the gift, taught that "God's grace is as evident in the healing power of medicine and its … [Read more...]
THE NEW FACE OF MAYAN CHRISTIANITY
April 23, 2015 by · 5 Comments
Christianity among the Mayan Indians is undergoing a dramatic change in places like Guatemala and Southern Mexico. This shifting of religious identity is part of a larger trend that is enveloping much of Latin America. According to the Pew Research Center report, published in November of 2014, … [Read more...]
A LEGACY OF SERVICE REMEMBERED AND RENEWED
February 28, 2015 by · Leave a Comment
As commemorations of the one year memorial of Fr. Andres Giron continued throughout the villages, the question arises- what made the priestly ministry of this man so compelling to thousands of Mayan people? In an interview, Fr. Andres explained: "I became involved with them twenty-five years ago … [Read more...]
MEMORIA ETERNA! MAYAN ORTHODOX REMEMBER THEIR FOUNDER
February 11, 2015 by · 1 Comment
"A righteous man shall be in everlasting remembrance..." according to the Psalmist David (Ps. 111:6, OSB). One year after the falling asleep of +Fr. Andres Giron (2/16/14), these words seem to ring true, especially for the many thousands of Mayan Orthodox Christians who still hold him in such high … [Read more...]
