Notes About the 50th Year of Publication

The Orthodox Herald has been a favorite of our family since my growing up in Coaldale. Two years ago, while going through my mother's (Pauline Futchko) home after her death, I found a copy of the very first issue in one of her "important papers" file. Had to smile as I found that quite interesting. Pat Futchko Drosdak My grandfather, Stephen Chomko, introduced The Orthodox Herald to me, and I have enjoyed reading it ever since. Even though he has fallen asleep unto the Lord, I always think of him when I find the "Herald" in my mail. Christine Hazzard I actually enjoy the entire paper but really enjoy the articles referring to "Baba talks." I use the paper in my Church School classes. K Felon For years I read and enjoy your excellent periodical. I admire your work in His Vineyard for fifty years. Thank God we still have few laborers who give abundant fruits. I am confident God will give you tenfold. I also wish you many years together with your faithful partner, the presbytera. Ernest Farah (PhD) Among the Orthodox publications in English, I have been receiving regularly and thoroughly enjoy is The Orthodox Herald . Besides news of various Orthodox jurisdictions in America in capsule form, this small unpretentious but very valuable periodical carries also a number of spiritually uplifting and inspirational articles on various aspects of Orthodoxy, written in down-to-earth and easily read English, plus some ethnic humor and information. Father and Matushka Stroyen as a team are to be highly commended for their outstanding achievements and contributions to Orthodoxy unity in America, as I am sure many will attest to. Father Vasile Hategan (Cleveland, OH) Thank you so much for The Orthodox Herald . Celebrating your 50th made me reflect on the past. The year was 1958. I was attending SS Peter and Paul Church in Philadelphia. At that time the services were totally in Albanian. I can remember copies of The Orthodox Herald were on a table in the church hall for anyone to take. I was 11 years old at the time and enjoyed reading about the Orthodox faith in English. I remember looking forward to future issues. Thank you for filling the need of a young girl so many years ago who want-ed to learn about the Orthodox faith in a language she could understand. Christine Stan We look forward to The Orthodox Herald , it is very informative and entertaining. May God give you the strength to continue it for many years!  Clergy seem to be pushing a strict old style of Byzantine iconography and frowning on the softer "more Western" classical Russian style that evolved after Peter the Great. I understand that icons should have a look of other worldliness, and I certainly don't encourage Renaissance style painting or cutsy, schmaltzy pictures. Dr. Michael Taptykoff The "Herald" is uplifting and spiritual. I even started a regiment of Bible reading, a discipline I needed. My first copy was given to me by a very sweet and generous friend, Ann Worobey. Elfi Post My sister and I both enjoy reading The Orthodox Herald , especially the "Ethnic Chuckle," as it brings back memories of the way we talked to our parents. Olga Orzol I have thoroughly enjoyed reading the "Herald" for the past several years and have learned a lot about another branch of our faith. Dorothy Bowman Mom fell asleep in the Lord on January 2 quite suddenly. She loved you and the "Herald "very much. She would get the Herald through St. Mary's (Monongahela, PA) Packet Plan and would mail it to me. My husband was in the Marine Corps during those years. We had no Orthodox Churches, missions or chaplains where we were stationed. The Herald kept us connected to Orthodoxy. We have learned so much from the Herald  God bless you for 50 years of publishing and teaching us about Orthodoxy in plain simple English; not theological words that we don't understand. Carolyn Hutchko Herman I am still struggling, learning sometimes frustrated, but I also feel a level of comfort and joy whenever I begin to read about what the Orthodox Church proclaims and believes. It is always a God-sent being able to read some literature, information, spiritual material that not only brings back joyful memories to me, but uplifts me in my present condition. Alex Polosjuk Our thanks for the 50 years of publication. You have touched many people and enlightened us on our Orthodox faith. Steve and Irene Pacak The Orthodox Herald provided a link to God and my culture at a time when I had given up on all else - I wish you both many, many years. Anonymous My family has been receiving The Orthodox Herald for many years now and I have always enjoyed it. Now that I am married and have moved away from New Jersey - I wish to receive a copy here in California. Valerie (Hnatkow) Kline This is probably (as far as I know) the only Orthodox magazine with such a long history. Being 50 years old, it looks like an adult shepherd which knows how and where to lead its sheep. May God always help you on the way of serving to His glory. Jaroslaw Charkiewicz Your "Herald" has been uplifting for almost 50 years. My brother, Michael, sent me a subscription when he was in the Air Force. The Word of God has cemented our faith and has covered us through many difficult times. Vera and John Backovski Thank you for publishing The Orthodox Herald all these years. You have done an outstanding job and I look forward each month to the publication as do my friends that I have given subscriptions to in the past years. The Orthodox Herald is very informative and I like the Ethnic Chuckle. It takes me back many years to Mpls. where I was born. Katherine Gallacher We enjoy your publication so much!! We also pass on our issues to our Holy Trinity Nursing and Rehab Center, which is sponsored by the Eastern Orthodox Council of Central Mass. Many Orthodox reside here. Keep up your good work. Theodore Thamel, OD and Tina Thamel Keep up the remarkable work on "The Herald"! Believe me, your newsletter is the best. I pray that I may someday begin one which points to your work as its inspiration. Unworthy priest Michael God bless both of you for the outstanding professionally done articles on Orthodoxy. If every Orthodox would receive your paper, they would be so knowledgeable of their faith, customs and especially God. Veronica Pirow, RN For years The Orthodox Herald has been a source of shared enjoyment for my mother and me. Putting out a monthly newsletter for over 50 years must have been a labor of love for you both. So many of us appreciate all your fine efforts. Would you consider reprinting past issues, either whole or in part? Lisa A. Price Our thoughts go back to when we were introduced to "The Herald" through the church packet plan. The paper, which disappeared very quickly from the leaflet rack, was read cover to cover, used as Sunday School lessons, adult study groups and passed on to others who thoroughly enjoyed and savoured the information - let it be religious items, Bible Study, recipes, chronology, etc. Then we met the editors and became dear friends. After this we subscribed so that we could be assured of not missing an issue, as the paper so disappeared quickly from the leaflet rack in the church. We are also very proud and grateful for this publication being in English and written for all ages - so easily understandable by all. We have been blessed to know two dedicated missionaries sharing the "Word of God," plus other good news of the Church, as well as laughter through "Dear Hanya." We rejoice with you on your 50th year of work in the Lord's vineyard and pray for your continued health. Vladimir and Agnes Fryntzko (The Herald) is the most important mail to come to me. I just wish everyone that is Orthodox could have access to it.  We would have a stronger church and more people would have stayed in the church. I'd be lost if I didn't receive it all these years. Olga Kovalenko We enjoy every copy so much and look forward to receiving each new issue. I keep them in loose-leaf notebooks and oftentimes go back and read them again. We never tire doing so because there is always something more to enjoy and meditate on. Many thanks to you and Matushka Nina for all the under-standing, with your teachings, brought to us of our rich Orthodox heritage. Alexandria Bosko I truly enjoy each issue of "The Orthodox Herald". I have saved every one and have them in notebooks. My collection also includes my mother's. You do such a wonderful job publishing the paper. The ethnic chuckle is also enjoyed. I also love the recipes and make a lot of them. May God bless you both for your dedication to the wonderful contribution you are making to enrich the lives of others. Helen Allen "We hope and pray you and those responsible for this informational publication will continue forever. Thank you for all the joy and happiness the Herald brings into our lives." George Chwan, Jr. "I received the tail end of my mom's sub. when she passed away. I enjoy your down-to-earth publication. I particularly appreciate how you honor and preserve the spirituality and culture our forefathers brought from the Carpathian region. I love Ethnic Chuckle. Keep on doing what you're doing! Steve Holochuck I send you my sincerest and warmest personal greetings, as well as the thanks and support of countless brethren of the Russian Brotherhood Organization (RBO) for your timeless dedication and efforts in support of our common heritage and our beloved Orthodox faith. I and many, many friends and associates look forward every month to the latest articles, news and recipes. George H. Mihaly, Jr. President: R.B.O. My first subscription was a gift from my Uncle Steve and was a blessing. I would be lost trying to raise Alexandra (7) and Nicholas Andrew (5) in the Four Corners area (New Mexico) as Orthodox Christians without The Orthodox Herald . We enjoy the recipes, explanations of traditions, the ethnic chuckles (have grandpa in tears), and all the rest (including ads for books, tapes, etc.). God bless you for this work. Nicholas Bugosh It has been my good fortune and that of my wife's and gratitude to our friend and lady parishioner of St. Michael's Orthodox Church, located in Redford, Michigan, that she made us recipients of The Orthodox Herald . The February and March publications (the first issues received) are excellent; in that they are informative, educational, and written in a layman's scope of understanding. God bless you with many years of continued publication. John Koff A Stara Baba of 93 years is writing to you. I enjoy the bulletins, especially Hanya. Keep it up. Enjoy your holidays with good health and joy. My love. Julia Golit We congratulate V. Rev. Father Basil Stroyen and Matushka Nina on their 50th year of publishing The Orthodox Herald , a delightful monthly newsletter packed with spiritual gems, thoughtful articles on the Orthodox Christian faith, Carpatho-Rusyn and Russian customs and recipes, and the inimitable "Ethnic Chuckle" which reminds us of how our immigrant parents and grandparents assimilated to the English language while retaining much of their traditional Rusyn language expressions. Excerpts from the current issue (including the "Ethnic Chuckle") are online at http://www.orthodoxherald.homestead.com   Father Basil and Matushka Nina, we salute you and wish you many more years  na mnohaja i blahaja lita. (From the March/April issue of the New Rusyn Times, the publication of the Carpatho-Rusyn Society, 125 Westland Drive, Pittsburgh, PA 15217-2538.) This publication has remained as a valuable source of information and learning and relearning to me and many of the Orthodox faithful throughout the United States. John D. Sutko We appreciate your research and effort in presenting The Orthodox Herald to keep us in touch with our religion. I can't wait to get the "Journal" and read it from cover to cover. Matushka Nina your Ethnic Chuckle is enjoyed even by the wives and husbands of some of our converts. Michael and Jennie Boras I subscribed and have learned, enjoyed and appreciate the Serbian news as I am Serbian Orthodox. My son, a teenager - 17 years old - also reads it, as does my husband who is a baptized Roman Catholic  Most of all - the information dates, books, publishers, costs, addresses and phone numbers have been greatly appreciated. I do not have a computer or website. Recipes have been used and remind me of my Baba's. This is truly the most informative newsletter. I have yet to find a better one on Orthodoxy. I thank God for all your dedication of supplying for our knowledge. I know it takes much work. I keep them all in a notebook highlighted or underlined for future reference. Yvonne Bratek As I am going blind, I cannot see to read the paper. I must cancel the paper after enjoying it for so many years. However, I am subscribing for my two nieces. Olga Daveduk

The following are some of the messages received from readers on the 50th year of The Orthodox Herald, and names of those subscribing since the start.

Thomas Remchick Andrew Dacko Ann Smerechnak Katherine Zielinski Elaine Papp The Fryntzkos George Walko Lawrence Grivna Henry Grabowski Helen Jemma Mary Kuyon Sonia Kotrady George Krishen George Yura Theodore Cramer Anna Julylia Annie Guba Steve Dorko Arnold Katko Valentina Mikulich

The first year of publication we had 600 subscribers. We now have 7500. Our re-subscription rate is very high, if only we could reach more new sub-scribers.  Help us! The Stroyens

On our 50th anniversary we acknowledge some subscribers who have been with us from the first year:

Michael Stefanick J. M. Syka Dorothy Levitske Victor Karaway Mary Kollar Albert and Olga Gessner Marie Handera Julia Dripchak Rose Hudak Mary Lorko Eva Souchick Nicholas Hanisak Olga Hromyk Alex Lezinsky Katherine Peterson Alice Yankosky Sophia Koronchik Olga Barna Michael Kruge William Mizgala