OCF.net

ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP

“Keeping our College Students Connected to the Church”

Connecticut OCF Members Meet With Metropolitan Jonah

Brookline, MA – October 10, 2011 - On Saturday October 8, 2011, students and alumni from OCF chapters in Connecticut had the opportunity to meet informally with His Beatitude, Metropolitan Jonah, the First Hierarch of the Orthodox Church in America, at Sts. Peter and Paul Orthodox Church in Meriden, CT following the service of Great Vespers. His Beatitude, travelled to Sts Peter and Paul Parish, along with His Grace, Bishop Nikon of the Albanian Orthodox Archdiocese and the Diocese of New England of the OCA and His Grace Bishop Melchisidek of the OCA Diocese of Western PA to take part in the parish's 100th Anniversary celebration.  

His Beatitude offered words of encouragement to the students who had gathered, reminding them of the unique opportunity they had on campus to witness to Orthodoxy, by themselves living an authentic Orthodox way of life. Upon learning from OCF Northeastern Regional Chaplain, Fr. Peter Paproski, who was also in attendance,  that the month of October has been designated by OCF as  Orthodox Awareness Month, Metropolitan Jonah offered many concrete suggestions as to how OCF chapters could bring awareness to Orthodoxy on Campus. His Beatitude suggested such venues on campus as hosting liturgical music concerts, lectures featuring Orthodox speakers with a strong committment to the faith and divine services. 

The students present expressed their gratitude to Metropolitan Jonah for taking the time to meet with them and for offering his candid reflections on the challenges and opportunities facing Orthodox students on campus.  His Beatitude, in return, expressed his firm committment to OCF and bestowed his blessing upon all those present, thanking them for their labors in providing an Orthodox Christian presence on their College Campus.