Tag: religion
County seeks funds to combat hate crimes
The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors has authorized the Police Department to seek state funds to protect religious organizations from hate crimes. The FCPD is applying for a $139,250 grant from the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services’ Combating Hate Crimes Grant Program. The program is aimed at minimizing bias-motivated incidents at organizations that may … Continued
School board rejects proposal to close school for four more religious holidays
Despite intense lobbying from families and faith communities, the Fairfax County School Board adopted a 2021-22 calendar that does not close schools on four holidays important to the Jewish, Hindu, Muslim, and Sikh communities. Religious groups and individual families had urged the board to close schools on Rosh Hashanah (Sept. 6), Yom Kippur (Sept. 15), … Continued
Construction under way on funeral chapel in Annandale
Five years after the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors approved a funeral chapel Annandale, construction is well underway. The new facility will provide funerals in accordance with Sharia-based Islamic traditions The building, at 6839 Braddock Road, is across the street from the Mustafa Center, which is in charge of the project. It is owned by … Continued
Zoning board approves temple on Gallows Road
The house has been transformed into a Buddhist temple. The Fairfax County Board of Zoning Appeals on July 8 approved a special permit from Van Duc Tu allowing a place of worship in a residential property at 5728 Gallows Road, Annandale. The property is used as a nonprofit meditation facility focusing on the teachings of … Continued
Spiritual Support Team aids older residents overwhelmed by coronavirus fears
A Call Center staff member answer questions about COVID-19. The Fairfax County Spiritual Support Team is offering support by telephone to adults age 60 and over who are feeling overwhelmed, scared, isolated, and in need of comfort during the coronavirus pandemic. Fairfax County announced this service in its Emergency Information blog April 20. The team … Continued
Zoning board defers decision on Gallows Road temple
The temple at the corner of Gallows Road and Trammell Road in Annandale. The Fairfax County Board of Zoning Appeals, following a public hearing on Feb. 13, voted to continue the discussion on a proposal for a Buddhist temple at 3528 Gallows Road in Annandale until March 25. That will give the applicant and staff … Continued
Falls Church Anglican holds first service in huge new building on Arlington Boulevard
The Falls Church Anglican held its first Sunday service Sept. 8, along with a consecration and dedication ceremony, in its brand-new building on Route 50. The sanctuary holds about 900 people and was so full on Sunday that late arrivals watched the service on a monitor in the lobby. The building also houses the children’s ministry. The … Continued
Temple proposed for house on Gallows Road
A temple is proposed for this property at the corner of Gallows Road and Trammell Road. The Fairfax County Board of Zoning Appeals is considering an application for the operation of a Buddhist temple in a single-family house at 3528 Gallows Road in Annandale. The application was submitted by Van Duc Tu. Places of worship … Continued
Religious leaders call for interfaith action to combat hate and bigotry
A sign on the front yard of an Annandale home. Leaders from several different religions came together Sunday to talk about one thing they agreed on: Interfaith action is critical in combating hate and bigotry – and it’s harder to hate when people have a personal connection. The Community Interfaith Forum on Hate and Bigotry, … Continued
Celebration honors Chinese goddess
The Fairfax Chinese Dance Troupe Hundreds of people – including some from Philadelphia, New York, and New Jersey – gathered at Justice High School April 27 to celebrate the birthday of the Goddess Matsu. The Goddess of Heaven Most of them are ethnic Chinese from Vietnam and Cambodia whose families came to the United States … Continued
Zoning board to rule on a Buddhist temple operating in an Annandale house
4901 Ravensworth Road The Fairfax County Board of Zoning Appeals will take up an application involving the use of a single-family home in Annandale for religious purposes. The applicant, Tuan Viet Chau/Phuoc Thanh Buddhist Association, purchased the property, on 4901 Ravensworth Road, in October 2016 and is using it as a Buddhist temple. The property … Continued
Temple honors the Goddess of Heaven
The Goddess of Heaven. The small Goddess of Heaven Temple on Magnolia Lane in Bailey’s Crossroads, approved by the Fairfax Board of Zoning Appeals last month, has a very long history. Unlike many Buddhist places of worship, this temple has no statues of Buddha. Instead, it’s dedicated to Matsu, the Chinese patron goddess who is … Continued
Board of Zoning Appeals will consider whether a house can be used as a temple
The Goddess of Heaven Temple. [DPZ] This story has been updated. Scroll to the end. The Fairfax County Board of Zoning Appeals is scheduled to consider at its Jan. 9 meeting whether the Goddess of Heaven Temple, a Buddhist place of worship, should be allowed to remain in a converted residential structure at 3309 Magnolia … Continued
Community responds to hate crime with unity and love
Virginia Attorney General Mark Herring participates in an art project at a CommUNITY rally at the Jewish Community Center of Northern Virginia. We are one community, united by love and solidarity and a desire to stand up together against hate. That was the message from government and religious leaders at a CommUNITY rally at the … Continued
Community invited to Turkish Food Festival
The Turkish Food Festival started Friday and continues through the weekend. The Northern Virginia branch of the United American Muslin Association invites the community to a Turkish Food Festival this weekend in the parking lot of the Suleymaniye Center at 4200 Daniels Ave., Annandale. Harun Karabulat carves off a piece of gyro meat. There will … Continued