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Published by the
Orthodox Church in America,
August 17, 2005
US Capital to be highlighted
at Fellowship of Orthodox Christians in
America's National Convention |
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ALEXANDRIA, VA [FOCA]
— The
Fellowship of Orthodox Christians in America
[FOCA] will hold its annual convention at the
Hilton Alexandria Mark Hotel here September 2-5,
2005.
The convention, which will be sponsored by the
FOCA's Colonial District, has as its theme "A
Monumental Event.
The FOCA is a national fellowship and service
organization of the Orthodox Church in America.
Established as the Federated Russian Orthodox
Clubs in 1927 by the late Very Rev. Vladimir
Prislopsky, the organization was recognized as
an official arm of the Church in 1994 and
adopted its present name in 1998.
From 12:30 until 5:00 p.m. on Friday afternoon,
September 2, conventioneers will enjoy a bus
tour to the OCA's
Saint Nicholas Cathedral, Washington, DC,
and Hillwood Museum and Gardens, home of
Marjorie Merriweather Post, which showcases her
collection of Russian and French objects d'art.
Mrs. Post discovered Russian artwork while
living in Moscow in 1938 as the wife of the US
Ambassador to the Soviet Union. The tour is
limited to 50 people. A second tour will be held
on Saturday, September 3, at 1:00 pm. The tour
cost is $30.00/person.
On Friday evening, a concert of traditional
eastern European folk music titled "We the
People" will be presented by Harmonia, a musical
group from Cleveland. Afterwards, the Washington
Slavic Male Chorus, under the direction of Greg
Oleynik, will perform liturgical pieces and
Slavic favorites. The concert begins at 8:00
p.m. Tickets are $25.00 per person.
On Saturday, September 3, Great Vespers will be
celebratead at 4:00 p.m. At 7:00 p.m.,
conventioneers will enjoy a "Monuments by
Moonlight" narrated trolley tour of Washington,
DC, that includes the Lincoln Memorial, the
Vietnam and Korean Memorials, the Iwo Jima
Monument, the Jefferson Memorial, the new World
War II Memorial, the Capitol Building, Library
of Congress, Supreme Court, House and Senate
Office buildings, FBI Building, White House,
Embassy Row, Georgetown, the US Navy Memorial,
and the National Gallery of Art. The tour, which
ends at 10:00 p.m., costs $24.00 per person.
At 9:00 a.m. on Sunday morning, September 4, His
Beatitude, Metropolitan Herman, Primate of the
Orthodox Church in America, will concelebrate
the Divine Liturgy with guest hierarchs and area
clergy at the hotel. A buffet breakfast will
follow for $22.00 per person.
A highlight of the weekend will be the elegant
FOCA State Dinner on Sunday evening at 6:00 p.m.
Tickets are priced at $50.00 per person. The
traditional FOCA dance, "Monumental Feets," will
follow at 8:30 p.m. Dance tickets are $18.00 per
person, follows the banquet. Joe Stanky and His
Cadets will play traditional tunes, while a DJ
will play current dance favorites during the
intermission.
On Monday, September 5, a "Pork Barrel Lunch"
will be served at
Saint Mark Church, Bethesda, MD, at 1:00
p.m. Cost of the luncheon is $14.00.
FOCA members and non-members alike are invited
to attend the convention.
Further information may be obtained by
contacting Walter Alesevich at 703-413-4168 or
walesevich@msn.com or Lisa Lelo at
lisa.lelo@penfed.org.
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