Springfield, VA, July 1, 2026
Photo: serbianmonitor.com
The Orthodox Church in America has released a new Service of Thanksgiving to Almighty God on the 250th Anniversary of the United States of America.
The service has been made available to dioceses, parishes, monasteries, seminaries, and institutions across the OCA so that the faithful can give thanks to God for His blessings and providential care, while also praying for the nation and its people.
The booklet includes the Holy Synod’s statement on the anniversary, in which the bishops called on the faithful to mark the milestone through prayer, gratitude, repentance, charitable works, and renewed commitment to the Gospel.
The text of the service is based on one originally published by the OCA in 1976 for the United States’ bicentennial. It has been lightly revised to reflect the current moment in the life of the Church and society, while retaining the spirit of thanksgiving from the earlier observance.
The Holy Synod has encouraged clergy and the faithful to use the service in parishes, monasteries, institutions, and homes throughout the anniversary year as an expression of gratitude to God and prayer for the nation, its leaders, and all who live there.
The service booklet is available as a digital PDF for distribution, and a print-ready file for those who wish to reproduce copies for their communities.
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