Memorial Service Held for Tragedy in the Mines of Dawson, New Mexico

With the blessings of His Eminence Metropolitan Isaiah of Denver, Bishop Constantine of Sassima traveled to Saint George in Albuquerque, New Mexico and to Prophet Elias in Santa Fe, New Mexico, February 4-5, 2023, for the occasion of the centennial of the mining accident in Dawson. There were 383 miners that lost their lives, 53 of them were of Greek background, the others were of Italian and Mexican decent all seeking the American Dream. His Grace presided at Great Vespers at Saint George, then at Orthros and the Hierarchal Liturgy at Prophet Elias. Ahepa, and Daughter’s of Penelope Chapters were also present at both parishes. Following the Liturgy, His Grace, along with parishioners and Ahepa and Daughter’s of Penelope members journeyed to the cemetery, about 2.5 hours from the parish. A memorial service was offered, each name was prayed, and wreathes were placed at the cemetery.

The Santa Fe New Mexican offered a wonderful article on the event - https://www.santafenewmexican.com/news/local_news/n-m-ghost-towns-twin-mining-disasters-still-echo-a-century-later/article_67f5fff6-a26a-11ed-84d1-27e47ae3af47.html

Metropolis of Denver YAL Snow Conference

The Metropolis of Denver Young Adult League (YAL) gathered in Midway, Utah for their first YAL Snow Conference in recent years. The conference was opened by His Grace, Bishop Constantine of Sassima, who was the keynote speaker for the weekend.  With the theme, “Disconnect, to Reconnect with Christ,” His Grace spoke about the importance of removing distractions from our lives, so that we can fill our lives with Christ and His Teachings. Breakout sessions were led by His Grace Bishop Constantine, Fr. Mario Giannopoulos (Proistamenos, Transfiguration Greek Orthodox Church, Ogden, Utah), and Fr. Efstratios Magoulias (assistant priest, Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral, Houston, Texas). 

Over 65 Young Adults from the Metropolis of Denver and the Archdiocese gathered for the weekend to step away from screens and technology, to get in touch with God and His Creation. The weekend included daily Orthros and Vespers, a Diakonia/Service project to help those in need this winter, snow tubing, ice skating, exploring picturesque Park City, Utah, the option to ski or snowboard, and two evening activities - “Up YAL Night” pajama party, and a “Frosted Glendi”.

To stay current with upcoming events, follow “YAL Metropolis of Denver” on Instagram and Facebook: @yalmetropolisofdenver

Photo: Metropolis of Denver

Metropolis of Denver Holds Clergy Retreat

The Metropolis of Denver held their Annual Clergy Retreat on February 7-8 at the Metropolis Center and the Assumption Cathedral of Denver.  The retreat was offered by His Grace Bishop Constantine of Sassima.  His Eminence Metropolitan Isaiah of Denver addressed the clergy.  There were fifty clergy from across the Metropolis that participated.

Encyclical from Metropolitan Isaiah of Denver Concerning the Recent Tragic Mass Killings in Uvalde, TX, and Buffalo, NY

Read His Eminence Metropolitan Isaiah's Encyclical here: www.denver.goarch.org/-/teleturgical-encyclical-32

Registration for Camp Emmanuel June 15-18, 2022

The Metropolis of Denver's Camp Emmanuel will be held at Carolina Creek in Huntsville, Texas this summer from June 15-18 this year . Limited availability for camper registration. To learn more or apply, please visit: www.denver.goarch.org/-/camp-emmanuel-2022

Southern Regional Retreat - Registration is here!

We are excited to announce that the Metropolis of Denver is hosting the Southern Regional Lenten GOYA Retreat this year at Sky Ranch in Van, Texas on April 8th-10th! Registration is open for GOYAns (Grades 6th-12th) and cost will be $150.00. Financial aid is available for those in need of it. The weekend will be a great opportunity for students to get away and immerse themselves in faith and fellowship.

We have been hard at work planning this year’s retreat and are so excited to be gathering in the spirit of Lent as we prepare for Pascha. We’ll see you there!

Please contact [email protected] for any questions.

Clergy Forms (must complete both!)

https://MetropolisofDenver.formstack.com/forms/clergy_application_packet_goya_southern_lenten_retreat_2022

https://MetropolisofDenver.formstack.com/forms/clergy_goya_southern_lenten_retreat_2022

Participant Form:

https://MetropolisofDenver.formstack.com/forms/goya_southern_lenten_retreat_2022

Staff Forms (must complete both!)

https://MetropolisofDenver.formstack.com/forms/staff_application_packet_goya_southern_lenten_retreat_2022

https://metropolisofdenver.formstack.com/forms/staff_goya_southern_lenten_retreat_2022

Metropolis of Denver - GOYA RETREAT

The Metropolis of Denver will hold a GOYA Retreat April 8-10, 2022 for middle and high school students. The Retreat will be held at Annunciation Heights in Estes Park, CO. The weekend will be a great opportunity for students to get away and immerse themselves in faith and fellowship.

For more info contact [email protected].

https://youth.denver.goarch.org/web/metropolis-of-denver/-/goya-retreat-april-8-10th-2022

Metropolis of Denver Basketball Tournament 

The annual Metropolis of Denver Basketball Event is the largest Orthodox gathering of any kind, in the entire Metropolis of Denver, and offers an atmosphere of Christian fellowship and friendly competition for hundreds of GOYAns, family, and friends.

The long-awaited 2022 Metropolis of Denver Basketball Tournament registration is now OPEN!!!

Denver School of Modern Greek

The Denver School of Modern Greek, which is affiliated with Assumption Greek Orthodox Church in Denver, offers three unique, comprehensive, and engaging programs: The Afternoon program, the Day program, and our Online Virtual Campus. 

The certified and driven teachers lead the Greek School classes. The robust curriculum is designed to immerse students in practical, meaningful dialogue and targets language skills in reading and writing. All three programs include an early learning program for children ages 18 months - 4 years, a Kindergarten - 6th grade elementary program, an effective and extensive Exam Prep program for those taking the Ellinomathia Greek exam, and a four-section adult program beginners-advanced. The Denver Greek School is projecting well over 300 students for the 2021-2022 school year.  

The School’s success lies in the relational trust and strong support between the school, the Denver Metropolis, parish priests, parish council, the Denver community, and above all, a powerful and involved Greek School Committee that oversees the overall operation of the school. Strong parent and community ties are critical to growth and prosperity. The dedication of the program staff is one of the most significant factors of their success. Many are trained educators and/or graduates of a Greek University. They have been very selective in choosing a cohesive staff that has expertise in the Greek language and collaboratively shares a passion for preserving the Greek language and heritage. On holidays such as Greek Independence Day, the entire student body dresses up in traditional costumes. Even the youngest students recite Greek poetry and sing traditional songs and hymns before hundreds of people.  

The curriculum focuses not only on the Greek language but also Greek history, geography, mythology, and studying important figures in Greek history. The close proximity and relationship with the church blur the lines between culture and religion. This concept builds the church as the center of students' lives where they learn the Greek language and have the opportunity to participate in many other activities that form close relationships with other Greek children. The Denver School of Modern Greek is wildly successful because they simply believe in what they do.

For more information or to register for classes, please visit www.denvergreekschool.org

Greek Independence Day Proclamations from Omaha, Nebraska

Rev. Fr. Louis Christopulos Appointed Chancellor of the Metropolis of Denver

His Eminence Metropolitan Isaiah of Denver has announced the appointment of Reverend Fr. Louis Christopulos as the new Chancellor of the Metropolis of Denver beginning full-time on December 1, 2020. Fr. Christopulos is a native son and a long-time priest in the Metropolis of Denver. He brings many years of administrative and pastoral parish service to the position of Chancellor of the Metropolis. 

With Fr. Lou’s departure from the Saint Catherine community in Greenwood Village, Colorado, Metropolitan Isaiah has assigned Reverent Theodore Dorrance as proistamenos  of that community. Fr. Dorrance will continue to direct the Metropolis Parish Health and Church growth efforts, will clergy and lay resources from throughout the region.  

Annually on Martin Luther King Jr. holiday weekend, the Metropolis of Denver hosts their GOYA Basketball Event. In an email from the Denver Metropolis Director of Youth & Young Adult Ministries, Jenny Stasinopoulos announced the cancellation of the Tournament this upcoming January. 

Jenny wrote, “After consulting with His Eminence Metropolitan Isaiah, members of the Metropolis Council, our event vendors, and having taken into consideration the feedback of the recent basketball event survey, it has been made clear that the public health and economic impacts caused by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic will render efforts to conduct a safe and worthwhile Basketball Event Weekend impossible.

Therefore, it is with extremely heavy hearts that we have come to the difficult decision to cancel our 2021 Tournament weekend. The Annual GOYA Basketball Event Weekend is the largest gathering in the Metropolis.

The email goes on to state that, “Efforts are currently underway to explore possibilities for a late spring or summer 2021 event.”

DALLAS – More than 670 participants gathered in Dallas over Martin Luther King Jr. weekend for the Metropolis of Denver GOYA Basketball Tournament Jan. 13-16.

Nineteen parishes sent a total of 51 teams, which were divided into eight divisions. Each age group: senior boys, senior girls, junior boys, and junior girls, had a recreational and competitive bracket. Eighty-eight games were played over the course of the weekend. Representatives from OCF, Ionian Village, IOCC, Hellenic College and Holy Cross, and Camp Emmanuel also attended.

With Metropolitan Isaiah presiding, 19 clergymen and over 900 faithful ered to celebrate the Divine Liturgy on Sunday morning.

All participants gathered Sunday evening for the Awards Dinner, which honored all-star players from each team and all graduating seniors. The soon-to-be graduates received Orthodox Christian Fellowship (OCF) Connect Kits, encouraging their participation in young adult ministries post-high school.

IOCC U.S. Country Representative Dan Christopulos, spoke on the importance of serving others in need at Sunday’s banquet. In the spirit of service and charity, parishes also raised over $5,000 to benefit the ALS Association (Lou Gehrig’s Disease).