As the debate rages on in the US over medical insurance, poor people in countries like Guatemala can only dream that one day they might have some kind of medical coverage or even a doctor to see them. The scale of the crisis in the highlands of Guatemala where we have our clinic is not so much … [Read more...]
Avian Adoration- by Alexandra Chakos
January 13, 2017 by · Leave a Comment
We were blessed to celebrate Epiphany in the village of Aguacate. The faithful congregation always arrives an hour before the Liturgy in eager anticipation. It is inspiring to witness the vibrancy of their faith. Men, women, and children of every age pack the church. It was a lengthy service, … [Read more...]
Flower Power
October 22, 2016 by · 1 Comment
Flower Power- Alexandra Chakos The ability of flowers to enhance our lives and touch our hearts has been acknowledged and celebrated since the earliest of times. Indeed, God has filled our world with such a myriad of flower colors, shapes, sizes, and aromas as to dazzle our minds. Flowers proclaim … [Read more...]
CATHEDRALS OF THE POOR IN GUATEMALA
June 16, 2016 by · 1 Comment
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...]
