What's Happening in Orthodox America?
Edition 15- May 9, 2025
Introduction
Welcome to the next edition of “What’s Happening in Orthodox America?”!
This is the weekly newsletter publication of The Poorly Illumined, a Substack dedicated to forming the American nation in the dogma, spirituality, and morals of the Eastern Orthodox Church.
We have an exciting and packed issue this week so be sure to stick around for the whole thing! If you enjoy these weekly newsletters, then be sure to subscribe to The Poorly Illumined and to like and share each edition when it comes out. Additionally, please consider donating via my “Buymeacoffee” page to support my work and allow me to write more.
With that, there is the issue for the week!
“Spruce Island Books”
Orthodox author Michael Warren Davis recently made an exciting announcement on his Substack page. He is now the CEO of a new Orthodox publishing company titled “Spruce Island Books”.
Though an official announcement is soon to follow, Davis did reveal one of the forthcoming works that the press is publishing in partnership with His Grace Alexei, Archbishop of Sitka, that being a prayerbook containing illustrations in the traditional style of of the indigenous Yupik Alaskan people.
The Alaskan Orthodox heritage is a vital component of the broader American Orthodox heritage, and it is wonderful to see a new Orthodox press that is helping make this heritage more readily accessible to Orthodox Americans.
Let us pray for Davis, Archbishop Alexei, and for Spruce Island Books!
“Kaleb of Atlanta” Medium Blog
There is an Orthodox blog on the site “Medium” authored by Orthodox content creator “Kaleb of Atlanta”. Kaleb’s blog is worth noting due to the unique content and translations that you will not find in many other places, either in print or online, as well as in English.
A few examples of some of the work he has produced include:
A translation in English of St. Dimitru Staniloae’s dissertation on the life of Blessed Dositheus II of Jerusalem
Translations of Akathist hymns to individuals such as Valerius Gafencu, sometimes called “The Saint of the Prisons”
Translations of sections from Patriarch Dositheus’s “Twelve Books” that details the history of the patriarchs of Jerusalem
An explanation of the meaning of the various symbols of the Mantle worn by “Great Schema” monks
An account of the modern-day martyr for the faith, Josiah of West Welega, killed for Orthodoxy in Ethiopia
These are a just a few of the fascinating reads that Kaleb has on his site, so be sure to go check them out!
Orthodox Icon Documentary Surpasses Milestone
Towards the end of 2024, Orthodox author Michael Garten wrote and published his book Early Icons: Christian Image Veneration Before 325 AD, Volume 1: Written Evidence and Paintings. Alongside this monumental publication, Orthodox apologist Craig Truglia also produced the documentary Hidden History of Early Christian Icons , and was aided in doing so by Garten. Both of these works aimed to respond to Protestant objections to icon veneration, particularly the work done by Protestant apologist Gavin Ortlund.
Flashing-forward to today, Garten announced on May 3rd that this documentary had overtaken in views the original iconoclast video produced by Gavin Ortlund. Here is what Garten had to say:
“As of yesterday, at 180K views, Craig & Harmony’s video has surpassed that of Dr. Ortlund (179K views). This is after only six (6!) months on Youtube. May God grant that this documentary (alongside my book) continues to correct the misperception of this issue which has caused confusion and spiritual distress for so many.”
This is not only an incredible accomplishment from a production and content perspective, but it also does a wonderful service for the Church, especially as many find their way to Orthodoxy in the online realm.
Garten also helped establish what made Truglia’s documentary different from Ortlund’s initial video, both in content and in tone:
“While Ortlund’s video is primarily polemical or apologetical, what Craig put together is primarily exploratory. But in the in-depth exploration of this topic, a far more powerful apologetic emerges in favor of the veneration of icons being an ancient and legitimate Christian practice.”
Let us pray for continuation of the work of both of these men, and that they can help establish and bring to the light the truth of Holy Orthodoxy and Her teachings!
Russian Orthodox Church Musicians’ Conference
The Russian Orthodox Musicians’ Conference will be hosting the 32nd annual Orthodox Church Musicians Conference in Jackson, NJ.
The title of this year’s conference is “Lighting the Way Forward: Liturgical Chant in the 21st Century”, and is scheduled for October 8-12 at Saint Vladimir Memorial Church in Jackson, NJ and Princeton Marriott at Forrestal in Princeton, NJ.
Early bird registration appears to still be open so if you are interested, be sure to take advantage of this wonderful opportunity while there is still time!
Let us pray for the event and for all of those who will be in attendance!
St. Constantine School Coming to Dallas!
A classical Orthodox school is opening a new location for the coming school year!
Announcing via Instagram, The St. Constantine School of Dallas stated that it now has a location at Church of the Apostles, located in Coppell, Texas:
“We are happy to partner with Church of the Apostles, and can't wait for August 20th, when we will welcome our first cohort of pioneering faculty and students. We look forward to doing good, seeking Truth, and creating beauty together!”
According to their website, The Saint Constantine School’s first campus was established in Houston in 2016, and is now opening a new one in Dallas. The school claims that it is “dedicated to providing in Dallas with a comprehensive formational education that is engaging, rigorous, and in harmony with the Eastern Orthodox Church”.
Schools that help form children in the Orthodox Faith will be essential in the long run, especially as converts today will most likely be having families and raising their children in the life and teachings of the Church. Be sure to check these schools, and support them in any way you possibly can, either through prayer or financially!
Kyle King and Seraphim Hamilton Ephesians Bible Study Course
Orthodox writers and apologists Kyle King and Seraphim Hamilton are teaming up to produce a course that will go through each chapter of St. Paul’s Epistle to the Ephesians. King made the announcement on a Substack post, which included a link to a trailer about the course that is available on YouTube.
The trailer states that the first episode will be free, while episodes 2-7 will be available for those who support King on his Patreon, Youtube Members, and paid subscribers on Substack, the links to which you can find from King’s original article.
Considering how important St.Paul is in the New Testament and in the broader life of the Orthodox Church, this series looks to be a significant contribution to the study of Scripture through the eyes of the Orthodox Faith.
Be sure to watch the first episode when it airs and consider supporting King further to get more of his and Hamilton’s incredible work!
“Orthodox Trucker” Podcast
An Instagram account dedicated to covering Orthodox parishes around the world announced that he is now starting an Orthodox podcast!
The account, known as “amazingorthodoxchurches”, sated that his new show will be called “The Orthodox Trucker Podcast”, and will detail how his work and his faith collide during his everyday life. He also has a blog where he documents similar experiences, called “Orthodox Trucker”.
This looks to be a very interesting series of reflections on how the Orthodox faith and one’s career can affect each other, so be sure to check out this podcast and blog to learn more!
“Orthodox Christian Wisdom in Spanish”
An Orthodox Christian named Samuel Velez-Meese announced on Instagram that he is going to be launching a Kickstarter in June to raise funds to establish a publishing company that will produce Orthodox works in the Spanish language.
Meese stated in an Instagram post that the goal of the Kickstarter is “to professionally translate Orthodox Christian books into Spanish with international distribution”. The Kickstarter page elaborates further on the need for such translations:
“Orthodox Christianity is growing rapidly in Spanish-speaking countries and communities, but there are painfully few Orthodox Christian books available in Spanish–leaving half a billion Spanish-speaking seekers starving for Apostolic wisdom in their mother tongue!”
This Kickstarter will help the Orthodox Church in her mission to fulfill “The Great Commission” as established by our Lord, so let us pray for its success and please consider financially supporting in any way you can!
GOARCH Metropolitan Visit Schedule
This next submission was sent in by a reader regarding His Emminence Metropolitan Apostolos’s visit schedule in Virginia (GOARCH). Read below to learn more!:
“On May 16 - 18, the Metropolitan Apostolos of New Jersey will be visiting various churches under the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America in central Virginia. His Eminence will be leading the Vespers service and the Divine Liturgy, with receptions following each service.
The schedule is as follows:
Fri., May 16 at 7pm - St. George’s Greek Orthodox Church (Lynchburg, VA)
Sat., May 17 at 9am - St Peter’s Greek Orthodox Church (Danville, VA)
Sun., May 18 at 9am - Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church (Roanoke, VA)
For more information or scheduling updates, please contact the church you plan to visit.”
If you are in the area, be sure to visit one of these churches to see the Metropolitan. May his visits be blessed!
AI and Orthodox Church Seminar
This last one is for our clergy!
St. Tikhon’s Seminary announced the title and theme of this years St. Tikhon’s Continuing Education Retreat. This year’s retreat is titled “AI and the Orthodox Faith: Pastoral and Theological Dimensions”, and will take place from June 10-12 of this year.
According to the Seminary, the topics included for discussion are “AI and the Risks of Idolatry,” “AI and the Orthodox Understanding of Personhood”, and “The Future of Ethical Decision-Making” among others. Those who would like to attend can register and pay online, and a full schedule will be showed to all attendees prior to the event.
Clergy who are interested in this ever-relevant topic should definitely consider attending if possible!
Conclusion
That is all for this week folks!
If you enjoyed the issue, then be sure to like and share, and to subscribe to The Poorly Illumined. And if you can, please consider sending in submissions if you want something highlighted, and donating to help me write more consistently.
May the saints of North America and the Theotokoks intercede for us to the Holy Trinity!
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, Have Mercy on Me, a Sinner.