Go therefore into all the world and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.

Matthew 28:16-20

Many people find out that our family is Orthodox Christian. A question that often follows is, “What kind of Orthodox? Are you Greek, Russian?” When we respond that our parish is Bulgarian, meaning we are under the authority of a Bulgarian Bishop, but that most of our people are a mixture of nationalities including Russian, Romanian, Greek and just downright American, the response is usually bewilderment. They are used to Orthodoxy being contained in some kind of ethnic box. “Oh so you are in the Greek Church or the Bulgarian Church.” But the great commission of Our Lord to make disciples of ALL nations disputes this misunderstanding.

And so does our Metropolitan Joseph of the Bulgarian Diocese of the USA, Canada, and Australia at our annual Clergy Lenten Govenie (a time of preparation for receiving holy communion) which this year is held at Holy Transfiguration Orthodox Church in Syracuse, NY. In his opening address to our clergy, we heard him emphasize many times that the Gospel of Jesus Christ is not just for certain, select ethnic groups or peoples; Jesus Christ is for the whole world. And our clergy who hail from so many different places in the world testify to this truth. Our new vicar Bishop Clement shared some amazing stories about missionary monks sent from his home monastery of Zograf who traveled to such far flung places as Japan to preach the Gospel. Other fathers told stories of their own pilgrimages to countries like South Korea to find even there a vibrant Orthodox faith.

While we all share stories of far flung faith, the fathers are all even more encouraged by the faith we experience one with another. Because of the unity of our faith in Christ, all differences of language, culture, and ethnicity are ultimately transformed into this rich tapestry of fellowship. Some were even moved to tears, becoming overwhelmed by, “… the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace,” (Ephesians 4:3) and the joy which is made complete by such peace.

Glory to God for this time away to confess sins, receive good counsel, and become spiritually revived. May all who struggle to faithfully keep the fast be granted to behold the glorious Resurrection of Our Lord in the coming Pascha!