UOJ America is proud to present Pascha Across America (2026). The video — composed of photos and videos sent in by readers — showcases the richness of Orthodox Life in America. In this short video, viewers will see how the many little traditions of parishes across the country weave together into one joyful, united, proclamation of the Resurrection of Christ.

Christ is Risen!

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St. John the Wonderworker Mission Holds First Divine Liturgy

NEW WAVERLY — Tucked away in the rural hills of the Southeast Texas Piney Woods, a gathering for the first Divine Liturgy of the newly established St. John the Wonderworker Mission took place the morning of May 2, 2026. It was an idyllic morning — the spring showers from the prior day brought with them a cool relief to the encroaching summer heat. This was a small grace that represented the optimism of this new community in North Houston.

The mission — part of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia (ROCOR) — was planted by Fr. John Whiteford and a handful of faithful parishioners from St. Jonah Orthodox Church further south in Spring, Texas. The vision was a product of the enormous growth that St. Jonah's has experienced over the last few years, and the recognized need to better service people driving extensively to attend. If Texans living up in the country were finding their way to parishes in Spring, Conroe, and other greater Houston area parishes, then a parish planted in their own backyard could bear great fruit. The Diocese of Chicago and Mid-America agreed, and Abp. Gabriel of Montreal and Canada (then-locum tenens) blessed the mission to be established under the patronage of St. John of Shanghai and San Francisco.

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The Ludwell Orthodox Fellowship has announced that its annual conference will take place Sept. 12–13 at Rough River Dam State Park, bringing together Orthodox Christians and interested visitors from across the South for a weekend of education, worship, and fellowship.

FULL PODCAST

CONFERENCE INFO

From the Amvon, homilies of Fr. John Whiteford (@archpriestjohnwhiteford). A UOJ-USA production.

Join us each week for spiritual nourishment straight From the Amvon, with Fr John Whiteford, rector of St. Jonah Orthodox Church in Spring, TX.

Fr. John is a prolific homilist and biblical exegete. He serves as the instructor of Biblical Studies at the Pastoral School of ROCOR's Mid-America Diocese and is the author of "Sola Scriptura: an Orthodox analysis of the cornerstone of Reformation Theology," published by Conciliar Press.

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