On Sunday May 22, 2011 a devastating EF5 multi-vortex tornado struck Joplin, Missouri, at about 5:41 PM CDT. It reached a width in excess of one mile during its path through the southern part of the city. It rapidly intensified and tracked eastward across the city. This tornado ranks as one of Missouri's and America's deadliest tornados and is very likely to be one of the costliest; the cost to rebuild Joplin could exceed $3 billion. It was the first F5 or EF5 in Missouri since the Ruskin Heights tornado struck south of Kansas City in 1957. It is also the second F5 or EF5 tornado in Missouri history dating back to 1950. The May tornado was the deadliest tornado to hit the United States since 1947 - the seventh deadliest single tornado in United States history, and the twenty-sixth deadliest in world history.
As of June 13, officials reported that 152 people were killed by the tornado.
When the Christians of Holy UnMercenaries Greek Orthodox Parish in Chicago heard of the tornado devastation in Joplin they contacted Greek Orthodox Helping Other People Everywhere. With the help of the Christians in other parishes GO HOPE mobilized and sent relief aid in the form of various supplies to Joplin. This is a video essay about that mission.
Please see the video and pictures posted below.
This miracle of Saint Spyridon took place in Mandra, Greece in 1926.
It was 12/25 December, 1926. The state Church of Greece adopted the Papal calendar and with the help of the Greek government persecuted all those who did not accept the Papal calendar. The faithful Orthodox Christians of Mandra woke up and headed to their Church to celebrate the Feast of Saint Spyridon. When they reached the Church they saw that the door to the Church had been secured with chains and the faithful could not enter. Before leaving the Church to return to their homes they stuck their candles on the door. As soon as the last person placed his candles on the door
the chains broke and fell. The faithful, confirmed in their Faith, entered the Church and celebrated the Feast of Saint Spyridon.
The miracle was reported the next day by the newspaper Skrip.
St. John of Kronstadt Orthodox Church began as a mission parish in the year 2000, in a home chapel in Palm Coast, FL – a small town on Florida’s northeast coast located between St. Augustine and Daytona Beach. After two years, it became necessary to have services in area community centers, rented for Sundays and other Holy Days. Read more...
2023 Youth Conference
Please join us for the 2023 youth conference in Chicago, IL! To learn more, visit the home page or visit the conference website.
Q. This concerns a U.S. marriage. If the marriage is civilly annulled, what is the effect upon the Church marriage? Is it also annulled? Read more...