The Ascetic of Love - Mother Gavrilia

With this issue of SYNDESMOS News, we bid farewell to Father John Matusiak, who recently informed the General Secretariat of his desire to retire as the publication's Editor.
Father John has served as Editor of SYNDESMOS News since 1995, when he began his tenure as a member of the SYNDESMOS Governing Board and as Vice-President. His involvement in SYNDESMOS dates back to the early 1970s, and he has been an active presence at countless SYNDESMOS seminars, conferences, and other gatherings. It was through the efforts of Father John, his wife Barbara, and their son Joseph that the annual Summer Institute in Suprasl, Poland was initiated in the mid-1990s. For many years he worked for the Youth Department of the Orthodox Church in America [OCA], and he continues to serve as international contact for the OCA's Office of Youth Ministries.
Besides serving as Rector of a large parish in the Chicago area, Father John is Editor of The Orthodox Church, the official newspaper of the OCA. In August 1999, he was appointed Chairman of the Office of Communications of the Orthodox Church in America.
With deep gratitude we thank Father John for the countless hours he has donated to SYNDESMOS News, and we look forward to his continued participation in SYNDESMOS' ongoing work and ministries.