OCA's Alaskan Diocese announces fast for peace in Ukraine
St. Michael’s Cathedral in Sitka. Photo: Wikipedia
The Sitka and Alaskan Diocese of the Orthodox Church in America has announced a three-day fast and a week of special prayer services in anticipation of the meeting between Presidents Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin, scheduled for 15 August in Alaska.
Archbishop Alexei of Sitka and Alaska issued a pastoral letter calling on the clergy, monastics, and faithful of the diocese to take part in a three-day period of fasting – what he described as “a three-day ascent of intercession” – from 12 to 14 August, culminating in a day of prayer on 15 August.
“At this hour, we ask our Lord Jesus Christ to guide these talks with mercy, to quell hostility, and to end the bloodshed,” Archbishop Alexei stated in his official message.
The diocese has organized special services in churches throughout Alaska, including molebens for peace and akathists to the Alaskan saints.
On 15 August, the day of the summit, the diocese has declared a general day of prayer for peace. Churches will remain open for prayer, and at noon the bells will ring to summon the faithful.
The diocese emphasized that, from an Orthodox perspective, praying for leaders is “a spiritual duty, not a political act.” Archbishop Alexei’s pastoral message contains a special call to pray “for the protection of the innocent, the return of captives, and the consolation of the grieving and the suffering.”
Earlier, the UOJ reported that a Liturgy of the Primates of the American and Macedonian Churches will be held in the United States.
Read also
Pope Leo: Christ does not hear the prayers of those who wage war
The pontiff stressed that the Lord does not hear the prayers of those whose hands are filled with blood and called for weapons to be laid down.
Israeli authorities bar RCC bishop from entering Church of Holy Sepulchre
Catholic hierarchs were blocked by Israeli police on Palm Sunday, preventing them from celebrating the liturgy for the first time in centuries.
After Filaret’s death, UOC-KP "ordains" new "bishop"
The new “patriarch” of the UOC-KP has “ordained” a new “bishop” and carried out the nomination of another.
DESS reports number of UOC “transfers” to OCU since start of war
The pace of UOC community “transfers” to the OCU dropped sharply in 2025: in eight regions, not a single case was recorded, while in leading regions the numbers fell severalfold.
Patriarch of Antioch calls to stop violence against Syrian Christians
The Orthodox Church of Antioch has published a statement amid protests in Damascus and an incident involving an attack on Christians in Hama province.
In Sophia, Uniates and Catholics hold "ecumenical Way of the Cross"
Representatives of the UGCC and the RCC participated in the event on the territory of Saint Sophia's Cathedral in Kyiv.