Archbishop Peter has blessed the founding of a new mission in the Mackinaw Straits (Mackinaw City/St. Ignace). God willing, on Sunday, August 14/27, 2023 Deacon Dmitri Mihaliov will be ordained a priest for the new mission.

We ask the prayers of all for the new mission! To support the mission please visit this page:

MACKINAW STRAITS MISSION

Recently there have been some changes in the Deanery. Please see the official documentation in this regard below. Questions can be addressed to the Dean of the Michigan Parishes.

CANONICAL RELEASE HIEROMONK ALEXEI

PRIEST JESSE RIMSHAS APPOINTED RECTOR OF MARQUETTE MISSION

DEACON VLADIMIR PYROZHENKO AWARDED DOUBLE ORARION

DEACON DMITRIY KASHCHENKO AWARDED DOUBLE ORARION

HOUGHTON MONASTERY RECLASSIFIED AS A PARISH

The Pastoral School of the Diocese of Chicago & Mid-America is committed to making high quality Orthodox theological education as accessible to all interested students as possible.

Applications for admission for the spring semester are due June 15, 2023. Classes begin June 19, 2023. Applications and further information on the Pastoral School programs can be found at our web site:

DCMA PASTORAL SCHOOL
Questions should be directed to the Dean of the Pastoral School, Priest Gregory Joyce:

fr.gregory.joyce@orthodoxtheologicalschool.org

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Contact the Dean of Michigan

With the blessing of Metropolitan Nicholas and Archbishop Peter the Kursk Root Icon will visit the Michigan Deanery this Great Lent according to the following schedule:

March 16 AM: St. Vladimir Parish, Ann Arbor, MI
March 16 PM: St. Seraphim Mission, Lansing, MI
March 17 AM: St. Vladimir Parish, Ann Arbor, MI
March 17 PM: Dormition Cathedral, Ferndale, MI
March 18 AM: Dormition Cathedral, Ferndale, MI
March 18 PM: St. Vladimir Parish, Ann Arbor, MI
March 19 AM: St. Vladimir Parish, Ann Arbor, MI
March 19 PM: St. Herman Parish, Lake Odessa, MI

March 23 AM: St. Sebastian Church, Traverse City, MI
March 23 PM: St. Sebastian Church, Traverse City, MI
March 24 AM: Alanson Mission Station
March 24 PM: TRAVEL
March 25 AM: St. Jacob of Alaska Mission, Ishpeming, MI
March 25 PM: Sts. Sergius & Herman Monastery, Houghton, MI
March 26 AM: Sts. Sergius & Herman Monastery, Houghton, MI

Rules for Parish Rectors Regarding the Visit of the Icon

Form for Icon Collections in Parishes

Flyer for Collection Basket in Parishes

History of the Icon ~ История иконы

With Archbishop Peter’s blessing we will serve General Unction in three distinct geographical regions of our state this Great Lent. It is our hope that this will allow the vast majority of the Michigan faithful to participate in this important healing sacrament of the Church. The schedule of the Unction services is:

March 23: St. Sebastian Church, Traverse City
March 26: Sts. Sergius & Herman Monastery, Houghton
April 3: St. Vladimir Church, Ann Arbor

Please note that Unction is a Sacrament of the Holy Church. All are welcome to attend the service, but only Orthodox Christians may be anointed with the Holy Oil at the conclusion of the service. The Sacrament of Unction is tied very closely to both repentance and healing, and thus, although this sacrament is generally reserved for those who are very sick (to aid in their healing or their prayerful departure into the next life) the practice is to hold this service one time per year during Great Lent to strengthen all of us on our path towards spiritual healing through repentance – the path we tread each year during Great Lent. IT IS IMPORTANT that you prepare yourself by confessing before this sacrament. Children who do not participate in the sacrament of Confession (those generally less than 7 years old) are not anointed at the General Unction service unless suffering from a serious illness.

Questions should be directed to the Dean of Michigan Parishes.

For those facing the reality of an unplanned or unwanted pregnancy the decision to choose life is often a difficult one. Sadly, the perceived lack of support, love and acceptance from family, neighbors and the Church can lead an individual to think that terminating the pregnancy is the only option. Thanks be to God, the work of ZOE for Life is making an impact and giving expectant mother’s a true choice by offering non-judgmental love and support in tangible and spiritual ways.

The incredible ministry of ZOE for Life began in 1998 as a dream shared on a porch by faithful Orthodox Christians in Ohio who desired to serve Christ and their community by providing hope and support to expectant mothers who were facing difficult decisions about navigating their pregnancies and the reality of raising a child. In 2018 a chapter of ZOE for Life began to minister in the greater Ann Arbor, MI area as a joint ministry between St. Vladimir Russian Orthodox Church and St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church. Christian love and material support began to be shared with many in the community.

Archbishop Peter has blessed and challenged us so that in 2023 the clergy and faithful of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia work together to found a Zoe for Life chapter in each of our Michigan parishes - that this ministry grow and reach every part of our beautiful state. Now that we have made it through the pandemic, and following the implementation of Proposition 3 in our state, there is much work to be done! Each parish is encouraged to begin to learn about and implement the vision of this ministry. This ministry does not have to begin on a grand scale - it can begin as an intentional effort to raise awareness about the needs of expectant mothers in crisis. It can then grow to a consistent practice of prayer for those in need and those ministering to them. Finally, it can blossom into tangible ways of serving and loving expectant mothers who are contemplating how to respond to their pregnancy. It can be collecting and distributing diapers. It can be providing a listening ear and a shoulder to cry on. It can be be a home cooked meal and a reassuring smile. We are called to love and serve the world around us, especially those in need and those who are vulnerable. With God’s help we can and we must, as Orthodox Christians, commit to promoting LIFE at all stages.

A Zoe for Life chapter in every Michigan parish is our goal, and this ministry works best when the clergy and laity together make this a priority for their parish. If you have questions or are interested in how you and your parish can be a partner in this vital, life changing ministry please contact Stephanie Chisholm at stephanielchisholm@gmail.com or Archpriest Gregory Joyce, Dean of the Michigan Parishes.

The funeral arrangements for Priest Daniel Shirak are the following:

Thursday, February 23, 2023 at Dormition Cathedral in Ferndale, MI: Liturgy 10:00 a.m., Funeral 6:00 p.m.

Friday, February 24, 2023: Burial 11:00 a.m. at United Memorial Gardens, Plymouth, MI

God willing, Archbishop Peter will preside at the funeral.

Please remember Priest Daniel in your prayers during these 40 days. His 40th day is March 30, 2023.

We regret to inform the faithful of the Michigan Deanery that Priest Daniel Shirak, staff clergyman of the Dormition Cathedral in Ferndale, MI has reposed in the Lord. We ask the prayers of all for the repose of his soul. Funeral arrangements will be forthcoming and announced here.