Baptism of Christ Baptism of Christ

GOYA Basketball Tournament

St. Demetrios Church, Rocky River, is pleased to host the Metropolis of Pittsburgh GOYA Tournament on Feb. 5-7, and we welcome all our guests! We wish all the players, coaches, chaperones and guests a safe weekend filled with good sportmanship and blessed fellowship.

A message from Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew

Christmas Message Watch Video of an entire Church service led by the Patriarch. Learn more background information on the video "The Greek Holocaust". The leader of 300 million Orthodox Christians talks to 60 Minutes About the hardships he and his followers face in Turkey. Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, the leader of the 300 million-member Orthodox Christian Church, feels "crucified" living in Turkey under a government he says would like to see his nearly 2,000-year-old Patriarchate die out.

The Haiti Earthquake

Haiti Earthquake Survivors

For the people of Haiti, the hemisphere's poorest country, life was difficult enough before the massive 7.0-magnitude earthquake that devastated the capital of Port-au-Prince on Tuesday, Jan. 12.

Since news of the earthquake came to light, IOCC staff have been contacting partners active in Haiti and attempting to reach Orthodox parishes on the island to coordinate our response to the growing need. Like many Haitians who have been struggling to reach their loved ones, IOCC is finding direct communication difficult – symptomatic of the widespread destruction and ruined infrastructure that is now beginning to be revealed.

Given the magnitude of the quake and the poverty that already existed before the disaster, IOCC has mobilized its disaster response team and is preparing to respond to the tremendous needs in close coordination with our Orthodox and ecumenical partners.

How can I help the people of Haiti?

  • Help Assemble hygiene kits and emergency clean-up buckets to be shipped to Haiti. This Wed., Jan. 20, at 7 p.m. in the Board Room, we will be compiling hygiene kits to send to IOCC for distribution in Haiti. Philoptochos is accepting donations to off set the cost of purchasing the items that will go into the kits. We need hands on the ‘assembly line of hope’ – we hope to put together at least 100 kits. Visit this link for information on what goes into hygiene kits and Emergency Clean up kits.
  • Make a gift to assist the victims of disasters around the world, like the Haiti Earthquake, by giving to the IOCC International Emergency Response Fund. Next week our 2nd basket will be to benefit the Haitian victims through IOCC; or give online at the IOCC web site.
  • Pray for the people of Haiti and those who have lost loved ones in this disaster and for the safety of those who are working to assist them!