Five bishops bless new ZOE House in Parma, OH


Five bishops bless new ZOE House in Parma, OH

PARMA, OH [ZOE for Life] — Five Orthodox hierarchs blessed ZOE for Life’s new ZOE House at 5454 State Road, Parma, OH during its open house on Friday, March 4, 2016.

“It’s an honor to have you here with us,” Paula Kappos, president of ZOE for Life, told the hierarchs.  “We are grateful for the blessings of the Lord to have brought us to this day.”

Five bishops bless new ZOE House in Parma OH
Hierarchs who participated in the blessing of ZOE House included [from left] Bishop Paul, Archbishop Nathaniel, Metropolitan Savas, Bishop Gregory and Bishop Daniel

Blessing the facility were His Eminence, Metropolitan Savas of the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Pittsburgh; His Eminence, Archbishop Nathaniel of Detroit and the Romanian Episcopate [OCA]; His Grace, Bishop Paul of the Diocese of Chicago and the Midwest [OCA]; His Grace, Bishop Daniel of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA; and His Grace, Bishop Gregory of Nyssa of the American Carpatho-Russian Orthodox Diocese of the USA.

“The vocation of the woman has been there from beginning to bring forth and protect, and to love and to cherish,” Metropolitan Savas said.  “These women are fulfilling their vocation in a really powerful way,” he said in reference to the leadership, staff and volunteers of ZOE for Life.

“We’re grateful for their ministry, for the witness they provide, and hope that it provides an inspiration to women throughout the country,” Metropolitan Savas continued.  “We all hate the evil of the termination of life in a woman.  We can provide life, the option of life for those who are at the crossroads.  We can be there for them when they have to make their difficult decisions and provide for them.…  It’s a ministry of love.  That’s what makes all the difference.”

Approximately 200 guests, including a number of other clergy, attended the open house.  “We could not be more thrilled,” Ms. Kappos told them.  “We told [the hierarchs] our history, talked about our first chapter in Michigan, and of our hopes and dreams to create a ZOE Women’s Center, where limited obstetrical ultrasounds, peer counseling and post abortion healing programs would be available at no cost to our clients.  The start-up costs are estimated at $250,000.00, but we are taking a leap of faith.”

ZOE for Life is a non-profit Orthodox ministry that helps women during and after crisis pregnancies, offers pure living materials and retreats, and assists Orthodox couples seeking to expand their families through adoption.  Headquartered in Cleveland Heights, OH, it performs its services at ZOE House.  With approximately 3,000 square feet, the new facility provides room for meetings, classes, prayer circles and other healing ministries.  It is on the bus line and close to the freeway, and occupies a single floor, making it more easily accessible to pregnant women and children.

ZOE for Life is endorsed by the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the USA.  For further information, visit www.zoeforlifeonline.org.

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