Prior to Divine Liturgy on Sunday, January 12, Dn. George and Reader Dylan installed the new icon of St. Thekla on our iconostasis.  The icon was generously donated by Rob and Emily Lowe and was written by the artist who did the original icons on the iconostasis.

On January 5th, the faithful of St. Thekla's celebrated the Divine Liturgy of St. Basil for the feast of Theophany (January 6).  In addition, we celebrated St. Basil's Day (January 1) by blessing and partaking in St. Basil's bread (Vasilopita).

During his homily Deacon George shared information on the significance of St. Basil's bread.

"As we know, Jan. 1st is significant for several reasons, Christ’s circumcision, the civil New Year, and the feast day of St. Basil.  On his feast day, a tradition began centuries ago to acknowledge his defense of the faith, love for his flock and his charity. A special bread or “pita" is baked on January 1, to honor of our Holy Father Basil the Great, Archbishop of Caesarea in Cappadocia - hence Vasilopita. 

One year, during a time of terrible famine, the emperor levied an excessive tax upon the people. TFAiling to pay would certainly put one in prison. The families had to relinquish their few remaining coins as well as pieces of jewelry, including precious family heirlooms. Learning of this injustice against his flock, St Basil the Great, armed with the gospels went to the emperor seeking his repentance. By God's grace, the emperor repented! He canceled the tax and instructed his tax collectors to turn over to St Basil all of the chests containing the coins and jewelry which had been paid for taxes by the people of Caesarea. 

But now St Basil was faced with the daunting and impossible task of returning these coins and pieces of jewelry to their rightful owners. After praying for a long time before the icons of Christ and His All-holy Mother, St Basil had all the treasures baked into one huge "pita." He then called all the townspeople to prayer at the cathedral and, after Divine Liturgy, he blessed and cut the "pita," giving a piece to each person. Wondrously each owner received in his piece of Vasilopita his own valuables. They all joyfully gave thanks to God who had delivered them from abject poverty, and to their good and holy bishop, St Basil the Great.

We observe the tradition of the Vasilopita each year on January 1st - the date on which St Basil reposed in the Lord in the year 379". 

adapted from AOCNA

On Sunday, December 8th, we were blessed to have Fr. Thomas Underwood lead us in the Divine Liturgy.  Afterwards he distributed Golden Coins (chocolate) in honor of St. Nicholas of Myra who was commemorated on December 6th.  A former parishioner generously donated a box of the coins.

On October 27th the parishioners of St. Thekla's hosted a farewell luncheon for George Cody, one of our founders.

Denise Howard and Jason Wise were received into the Orthodox Church on Sunday, September 8.

Dn. George Kaloroumakis receives the Master of Theological Studies from the Antiochian House of Studies.

On March 24, 2024, the newly ordained Dn. George Kaloroumakis served his first Divine Liturgy at St. Thekla.

Once Covid restrictions were loosened the Mission was able to move into leased space at the Talbot Evangelical Church.  This gave us the opportunity to have a semi-permanent home where we could erect an Iconastasis and display festal icons.