Every year at this time, many worthy causes ask for your attention. Before you decide where to direct your generosity, I would simply like to explain the work I do and why it matters.

For those unfamiliar with my background, I have spent thirty years teaching at Holy Trinity Seminary. My work includes a PhD devoted to Byzantine canon law, founding ROCOR Studies in 2008, organizing international academic conferences, supervising theses, and publishing widely on the history of the Russian Church Abroad. This long-term academic and ecclesial experience is what stands behind the daily reports and ongoing research you read here.

In 2008, with the blessing of the late Metropolitan Hilarion, I founded ROCOR Studies as an online resource dedicated to professional, well-sourced historical materials. It remains the only place where primary documents, scholarly commentary, and carefully curated archival material on the Russian Church Abroad are gathered in one place. Then, in 2022, I began the daily reports: short reflections rooted in primary texts, saints’ lives, ROCOR’s individuals, and lesser-known episodes of Orthodox Christian history. Preparing them takes time every day, but the discipline of producing something meaningful and educational for the Church has become deeply important to me.

Alongside this, I continue teaching four days a week, working on turning my doctoral dissertation into a full-length book on Byzantine canon law, while also laying foundations for the future ROCOR Studies Institute—a place where research, translation, and public education on our Church’s history can grow beyond what I can do alone, ensuring continuity of this work in the future.

In an ideal world, all of this would be supported by a full professor’s salary. In reality, I have a family of five to care for, and much of what I do for ROCOR Studies and the daily reports depends on the generosity of readers who find value in this work. Your support makes it possible for me to continue researching, writing, translating, preparing teaching materials, and developing projects that benefit both the seminary and the wider Orthodox community.

Protodeacon Andrei Psarev, ROCOR Studies Editor & Founder.