Descent of the Holy Ghost Orthodox Christian Church

THANK YOU FOR VISITING THIS SITE! We are always glad to have visitors. Whether you are new to the area or just visiting, we'd love for you to join us at Divine Liturgy on Sunday mornings at 9:45.

Rejoice in the Resurrection!

Christ is risen!

He truly is risen!

Hristos a-înviat!

Adevărat a-înviat! (Romanian)

Al'Masiah qam!

Haqqan qam! (Arabic)

Christos anesti!

Aléthos anesti! (Greek)

Hristos vosskresse!

Vo iss-ti-nou vosskresse! (Slovanic)

HOW IS THE DESCENT OF THE HOLY GHOST GETTING INVOLVED TO SUPPORT A MISSION PRIEST (SAMP)?

The youth of the Descent of the Holy Ghost have made it their 2008 project to SUPPORT A MISSION PRIEST. They will be hosting a Spaghetti Dinner to kick off their fund raising on June 7th. Things are still in the planning stages, but please—keep this date marked on your calendar and tell your family and friends. All the proceeds will go toward the goal of raising a minimum of $600.00 to support at least 1 Mission Priest. If you would like to make any additional donations send them to the Church and print SAMP somewhere on your donation.

WHAT IS SAMP? SAMP is short for Support A Mission Priest. This program of the Orthodox Christian Mission Center offers monthly financial assistance to indigenous priests in extremely poor areas around the world where their parishes can not financially support them. Through SAMP donations a priest is able to apply himself fully to the needs of his parish. Likewise, Hierarchs are able to ordain more clergy to meet the growing needs of their flock, thus reaching more people and more parishes.

WHO ARE SAMP PRIESTS? SAMP currently supports 318 clergy in 18 countries. SAMP priests follow in the footsteps of the Apostles, spreading the message of Christ’s love to poverty-stricken areas of the world where people hunger for the peace and truth of the Orthodox Faith. Many priests are responsible for several communities as the Church is growing quicker than clergy can be trained. Since buses are very costly, travel among the communities is accomplished mainly by foot or bicycle. It is an arduous life; one dedicated to the effort to share the Good News of Christ. Your donation to the SAMP Program will provide the basic needs of the recipients and their families as they nurture the growing number of Orthodox communities in these poorer areas of the world.

Where is SAMP? The countries of Argentina, Benin, Brazil, Cameroon, Chad, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Nigeria, Philippines, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda and Zimbabwe are presently receiving SAMP assistance on a monthly basis.

OCMC Announces New Missionary Candidate to Romania - Posted 2/22

It is with great joy that the Orthodox Christian Mission Center (OCMC) announces that Christina Semon has been accepted as a Missionary Candidate to Romania. Christina Sermon will be serving as an OCMC missionary in Romania where she will assist at Protection Center and St. Dimitri Program...

To read the announcement in its entirety, click on Orthodox Christian Mission Center.

Metropolitan KALLISTOS Speaks On Unity - Posted 2/21/08

For more than 15 centuries, Orthodox Christians were defined by their faith and worship, following the Great Commission of Jesus Christ to..."go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit..." Yet in the ancient Orthodox Church is seen as an 'ethnic’ church, defined more by the nationality of its members rather than the tenets of the One-True Faith. Listen to the entire presentation by Metropolitan Kallistos Ware which was recorded for St. Andrew House by Ancient Faith Radio by going to:

St. Andrew House home page.

Archbishop Nathaniel, president of St. Andrew House, introduces the Metropolitan, emphasizing the need for Orthodox unity.

Metropolitan Kallistos addresses a packed house at St. Geroge, Troy.

Fr. Joseph Antypas, of host parish, St. George Antiochian Orthodox Church, listens attentively - the iconostasis of his beautiful temple in the background.

WELCOME TO OUR CHURCH

Many Romanian immigrants found their way to Northwest Indiana in the early 1900's. The community of faithful Romanians in Gary soon felt a need to come together and establish the church on October 11, 1908.

The first Divine Liturgy was on December 25, 1908. The work of the church continued and the cornerstone of the new church, located at Hayes and 19th Streets was consecrated on October 31, 1909.

The Gary Romanian Orthodox Community continued their spiritual growth and began looking for a new place to worship. In 1961 they began to organize a building fund drive to raise money for a new church. The fund raising efforts continued and by March 18, 1963 the Parish House at 6075 Harrison Street and the property for the church was purchased at the current Merrillville. On March 7, 1967 a building committee was formed and the community began planning their new facility. It wasn't too long that the cornerstone was consecrated they broke ground.

The facility finally saw completion with the consecration of the church on September 29-30, 1973 where the faithful community continues to worship.

We continue to pray for those who prepared the way for us at every Liturgy and honor their memory and our Romanian heritage. Today, when you come to visit our parish, you will hear the hymns and prayers of our ancient faith – the Faith of the Apostles – in English.

As we embark on our Centennial Jubilee in 2008 we pray that God will continue to guide us and grant us victories as Orthodox Chirstians in the North Americas for many more years.

Ancient Faith Radio

Ancient Faith Radio is a pan-Orthodox internet-based radio station on the air 24 hours a day. They provide a steady stream of the rich, traditional music of the Orthodox faith as well as wide range of downloadable Podcasts as part of their unique service. They are a listener-supported outreach of Conciliar Media Ministries. Click on the picture for a direct link.

Web Updates!

4/9/08 - WHO WE ARE CALLED TO BE

4/9/08 - Support A Mission Priest Spaghetti Supper Fund Raier.

If anyone has any pictures from the Paschal Liturgy or the Resurrection Matins we would love to share them and post them on the website. They must be .jpeg format. Please contact Cornelia Merchant at 219-545-1925.