Category: General

St. Panteleimon Healthcare Society Third Conference 2024

St. Panteleimon Healthcare Society Third Conference 2024

By Bighouse Graphix in General on August 26, 2023

The St. Panteleimon Healthcare Society held its third annual conference August 23-4, 2024 at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Orthodox Church in Nashville, TN. The society is the Metropolis of Detroit chapter of the Network of Pastoral Healthcare of the Ecumenical Patriarchate. The featured speaker was Reverend Father Peter Bistolarides, who completed a successful career as a general and trauma surgeon, educator and administrator. He is now a presiding priest in Grand Blanc, Michigan. Fr. Peter spoke about the bridges we build as humans between each other as well as in different parts of our lives. He also compared the multiple similarities of being a priest and surgeon, including preparation and completion of sacred duties on a table. On Friday evening and Saturday morning, the conference was blessed and honored to have His Eminence Metropolitan Nicholas of Detroit join us via Zoom where he discussed his experience working in a hospital. Saturday morning after a St. Panteleimon Paraklesis, the conference had the pleasure of a Zoom conference with Very Reverend Father Stavros Kofinas, Coordinator of the Network. Fr. Stavros shared about his involvement with the World Council of Churches and discussed some of the pressing issues for those in health care today. The conference was a blessing for all who attended and a special thanks to Fr. Jarrod Russell, the parish priest at Holy Trinity in Nashville.

Thank you to Fr. Peter for providing wonderful lectures and leading the discussions!  And to His Emininece Metropolitan Nicholas and Fr. Stavros for joining us via Zoom!

 

 

5th International Conference of the Ecumenical Patriarchate for Pastoral Health Care

5th International Conference of the Ecumenical Patriarchate for Pastoral Health Care

By Bighouse Graphix in General on November 19, 2022

In October of 2022, the Fifth Conference of the Network of Pastoral Healthcare held its meeting in Rhodes, Greece. The theme of the conference, "Ministering to Mankind today, we care for the Mankind of tomorrow” allowed for many important lectures and discussions concerning current challenges facing healthcare providers and clergy. Dr. Stacy Gore served as the delegate for the Metropolis of Detroit. One of the many highlights of the conference was a panel discussion via Zoom among four post-graduate Orthodox Christians from around the world. This panel included Constance Poplos, a member of Annunciation Church and medical student at the University of Tennessee in Memphis. The panel allowed the delegates and attendees to hear the students' perspectives and experiences as young Orthodox Christians in today’s changing world. Attendees of the conference also received a copy of the Synaxis for Holy Doctors, written by His Eminence Kyrillos, Metropolitan of Holy Metropolis of Rhodes and President of the Network of the Ecumenical Patriarchate.

Paraklesis service can make a huge difference

Paraklesis service can make a huge difference

By Bighouse Graphix in General on August 20, 2019

The Service of Supplication, which is also known as Paraklesis, is one offered especially at times of sickness, temptation, or discouragement. The various prayers ask the Lord for guidance, personal strength, and healing. Many of the hymns and prayers are directed toward Mary, the Theotokos, and they ask for her assistance. Orthodoxy affirms that each of us, with Mary, the Saints, and the faithful departed is united in a bond of faith and love in Christ. Therefore, just as in this life we can turn to each other for prayer, the Church believes that we can also turn to Mary - the human being closest to God - and ask her to pray to God for us. This belief is expressed in the hymn which says:

"O never failing protectress of Christians and their ever-present intercessor before the Creator; despise not the petitions or sinners who have recourse to you, by your goodness extend your help to us to call upon you with confidence. Has O Theotokos, to intercede for us, O who have always protected those who honor you.”

From Special Services and Blessings of the Orthodox Church by Rev. Fr. Thomas Fitzgerald

https://www.goarch.org/-/special-services-and-blessings?inheritRedirect=true