April 23, 2010
Mayfield, PA: St. John the Baptist Cathedral
announces live internet broadcast of Divine services
With
the Blessing of is Grace Bishop George, Bishop of Mayfield, Archpriest
John Sorochka, dean of St. John the Baptist Cathedral in Mayfield, PA,
has begun the broadcasting of divine services via a live internet
link. This weekly initiative
is reported to be the first such venture for the Russian Orthodox
Church in the United States. The Cathedral of Saint John
has already been broadcasting the Sunday Divine Liturgy via radio for
many years in Northeastern Pennsylvania. It was decided in January
2010 to pursue the real time transmission of nearly all of the
cathedral’s services. The complete service schedule can be found at
the Cathedral’s website www.stjohnsroc.com. The link to the
streaming video can be found at http://www.ustream.tv/channel/st-john-s.
Bishop
George, the rector of the Cathedral, offered this statement regarding
internet transmission of Cathedral services:
"I
believe it is a good idea to broadcast the services over the internet
and I am surprised that this is actually the first time that this is
being done. This will be very helpful for those who are not able to
come to church in person. It will need to be publicized so that more
priests can make announcements and tell parishioners about it. May God
bless Fr. John in his pastoral work in making the divine services
available to more people."
As
the Dean of the Cathedral, Father John Sorochka offered these
welcoming comments:
"Since
the 1930’s, our Cathedral has been broadcasting the Divine Liturgy
on the radio to those of the Orthodox faith and to those who are
non-Orthodox. Now, with today’s advanced technology in the form of
the internet, we are able to reach those unable to attend services for
reasons beyond their control. We shall now be able to reach people
either via radio transmission or live streaming video. Everyone with
internet access will be able to share all of the services with us. There
is one issue regarding this implementation of internet-transmitted
services that is of absolute importance – the viewing of internet
services is NOT to be an excuse for those who are fully capable of
attending the Divine Services in person.
"Since
live streaming began on March 27, 2010, we have received emails from
individuals in the Midwest, England, and Russia who have come across
our U-stream internet web page. The comments have all been positive
feedback regarding the availability of all the services that our
Cathedral broadcasts."
Sunday
transmission of services begins at 8:00 AM with the celebration of
Matins, followed by the Divine Liturgy at 9:30 AM.
"And
He saith unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to
every creature" (Mark 16:15).
Media Office of the Eastern
American Diocese
