Friday, March 15, 2024

Former head of Antiochian Archdiocese, Met. Joseph, laicized

Nothing about this makes me think this topic is over. I expect the legal wrangling to continue. 


(antiochian.org) - The Holy Antiochian Synod, presided by His Beatitude Patriarch JOHN X (Yazigi), held its eighteenth extraordinary session in Balamand from March 13 to March 14, 2024, in the presence of Their Eminences:

Elias (Archdiocese of Beirut and dependencies); Elias (Archdiocese of Tyre, Sidon and dependencies); Saba (Archdiocese of New York and All North America); Silouan (Archdiocese of Byblos, Botrys and dependencies); Basilios (Archdiocese of Akkar and dependencies); Ephrem (Archdiocese of Tripoli, Koura and dependencies); Ignatius (Archdiocese of France, Western and Southern Europe); Isaac (Archdiocese of Germany and Central Europe); Ghattas (Archdiocese of Baghdad, Kuwait and dependencies); Antonios (Archdiocese of Zahleh, Baalbek and dependencies); Nicolas (Archdiocese of Hama and dependencies); Basilios (Archdiocese of Australia, New Zealand and the Philippines); Athanasius (Archdiocese of Lattakia and dependencies); Ephrem (Archdiocese of Aleppo, Alexandretta, and dependencies); Nifon Saikali (Metropolitan of Philippopolis and Representative of the Patriarch of Antioch to the Patriarch of Moscow); Gregorios (Archdiocese of Homs and dependencies); Antonios (Archdiocese of Bosra Hauran and Jabal Al-Arab). Also present was His Grace Bishop Romanos El-Hannat, Patriarchal Vicar and Secretary of the Holy Synod.

The Metropolitans who apologized for being unable to attend are as follows: Damaskinos (Archdiocese of São Paulo and All Brazil); Silouan (Archdiocese of the British Isles and Ireland); Ignatius (Archdiocese of Mexico, Venezuela, Central America and the Caribbean Islands); and Jacques (Archdiocese of Buenos Aires and All Argentina). Despite his physical absence caused by his kidnapping, Metropolitan Boulos Yazigi is always present in the prayers and invocations of the Synod Fathers.

At the dawn of Great Lent, the Synod Fathers offer their sincere prayers for the faithful of the Church of Antioch, asking the Lord that this period may be a time of intimacy with God, a consolation to hearts, and a victory in adversity. 

Thursday, March 14, 2024

How Bulgaria got a Patriarchate

Autocephaly is messy business. Gaining it is often a raucous game of King of the Hill, with as much loud outrage and overblown cries of triumph as the children's recess favorite occasions. A patriarchate is usually made contrary to the canons and only gains legitimacy much later. This is also not a growth pain relegated to the history books. The OCU is a glaring example of how badly such a process can go and is only four years old.

But you don't have to go across the ocean to see this conflict-laden process in action. See how authority and recognition differ from the Ecumenical Patriarchate's assumed authority through the view of most of the earth being their "diaspora." Look at how the Orthodox Church in America announced autocephaly some fifty-odd years ago to continued mixed reception. See how yet another body of Russian origin (ROCOR) coexists - however imperfectly - in the same territory of not only the OCA, but also the Moscow Patriarchate parishes here. 

So it is with the Bulgarian people. A long and winding road to today's current situation that is well worth reading for context on the repose of the primate this week and the process of elevating his successor in the coming weeks.


(Orthodox History) - In 1767, the Ottoman Empire had suppressed the Patriarchate of Ohrid and subordinated its Bulgarian Orthodox people to the Ecumenical Patriarchate. Beginning in the early 1830s, the Bulgarian Orthodox subjects of the Empire began agitating for the restoration of their own church. In 1838, Sultan Mahmud II visited the Bulgarian provinces of the Empire and the people petitioned him for Bulgarian-speaking bishops. The same year, the Greek speaking Metropolitan of Tarnovo (a small city in north central Bulgaria) died, and the people pushed for one of their own, Fr Neofit Bozveli, to succeed him. The Ecumenical Patriarchate rejected this and imposed another Greek speaker ; Bozveli responded by moving to Constantinople and giving speeches to the Bulgarians in the city, calling for the creation of a Bulgarian parish in the capital city itself.

In 1841, Bozveli was arrested in Constantinople and exiled to Mount Athos. The reason for this punishment was Bozveli’s refusal to accept the appointment of an ethnically Greek bishop to the see of Tarnovo – a see to which Bozveli himself had been nominated by the local Bulgarians, only to be rejected by Constantinople.

In 1848, the Ecumenical Patriarchate finally agreed to the construction of a Bulgarian church and school in Constantinople. It was consecrated the following year, and, for the time being, remained subordinate to the Ecumenical Patriarch.

In 1851, the Ecumenical Patriarchate, facing a growing call from the Bulgarian people for bishops of their own nationality, decided instead to appoint a Serb, Stefan Kovacevic, as a bishop for the Bulgarians. This satisfied neither the Bulgarians nor the Greeks, and Stefan was ultimately removed from his see.

Two years later, the Crimean War broke out. Thousands of Bulgarians, along with Greeks, Serbs, and Romanians living in the Ottoman Empire, volunteered to fight on the side of Russia, forming their own Orthodox legion. As the conflict raged Russia pulled its embassy out of Constantinople, and the Ecumenical Patriarchate came under the increasing influence of the British Empire. When the war ended and the Russians resumed diplomatic relations with the Ottomans, their relationship with the Ecumenical Patriarchate had cooled. From now on, Russia would no longer support the Greek hierarchy, instead spending its diplomatic capital to benefit the laity of the Patriarchate. This would come to include a sympathy toward the Bulgarians’ desire for their own church. In 1857, the Russian Church appointed St Theophan the Recluse – then a hieromonk and not yet a recluse – to serve as the Russian church’s representative in Constantinople. Theophan sympathized with the Bulgarian cause, taking the position that they should be allowed to have their own hierarchy and clergy and worship in Slavonic rather than Greek...

Complete article here

How a new head of the Bulgarian Church is selected

(Orthodox Times) - The Church of Bulgaria should elect a new Patriarch within four months after the death of Patriarch Neophyte.

The election of his successor will take place according to a specific procedure. The Bulgarian Orthodox Church has 13 dioceses in Bulgaria and two abroad. The Church Statute regulates the election of the Patriarch and the conditions for his election.

Specifically, the Patriarch of Bulgaria and the Metropolitan of Sofia must not be younger than 50 years of age, must have served as a Metropolitan for at least five years, and must be distinguished by Orthodox faith and strict adherence to the rules of the Church.

The Patriarch is elected by the Patriarchal Ecclesiastical Council, which consists of:

  • Metropolitans and Bishops of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church
  • Five representatives from each diocese (three clergy and two lay) and ten representatives from the Metropolis of Sofia (six clergy and four lay).
  • One representative from the Stavropegian Monasteries (Rila, Bachkovo, Troyan), elected by the respective Monastery Councils
  • Two representatives from the Episcopal Monasteries of each diocese (one monk/nun designated by the respective Metropolitan and one representative from the Theological Schools designated by their administrations).

After the death of the Patriarch, the Holy Synod is temporarily chaired by the senior member of the Metropolitan Council in its reduced composition.

He notifies the local Orthodox Churches of the Patriarch’s death, as well as the President of the country, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the Prime Minister, who manages the affairs of the Patriarchate until the election of the Vice-President, which must take place within seven days of the Patriarch’s death.

Bulgarian Primate reposes in the Lord

(Sofia Globe) - Neofit, Patriarch of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church and thus the head of its governing body the Holy Synod, has died at the age of 78, according to statements on March 13 by Metropolitan Antoniy and the Military Medical Academy, where Neofit had been admitted some months ago with a lung ailment.

Metropolitan Neofit of Rousse was elected as the new Patriarch of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church on February 24 2013, succeeding the long-standing Patriarch, Maxim.

Neofit was born in Sofia on October 15 1945 under the name Simeon Nikolov.

He was ordained a monk on August 3 1975 in the Troyan Monastery. Neofit rose through the church ranks, becoming Metropolitan of Rousse in 2001.

By the canonical law of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church, the death of the Patriarch means that the Holy Synod is temporarily headed by the most senior Metropolitan, pending the election of a new Patriarch.

The election of a new Patriarch takes place no later than four months after the death of the incumbent.

Currently, the Holy Synod is short of one Metropolitan, that of Sliven, with the election to fill the vacancy having been attended by controversy about the electoral process.


Wednesday, March 13, 2024

"Why insist on couples?": Coptic Met. Serapion of LA on Fiducia Supplicans

Holy Cross launches a podcast

(Holy Cross Bookstore) - Unto the Healing of Soul and Body: Encouragement for Restoration and Reconciliation in a Broken World: The Sacrament of Holy Unction, celebrated on Holy Wednesday and at other times throughout the year, lasts about ninety minutes. Yet, that time is packed with such spiritual richness that it deserves to be reflected upon more deeply. This book contains forty-six reflections on the hymns, Scripture readings, and prayers of the service.

The human body is comprised of mind, body, and spirit, all of which are interrelated. When one part of the body suffers, so do the other parts. For every physical wound, there is also a spiritual consequence. This book not only reflects on God’s ability to heal our physical in infirmities but especially how our souls can be healed along with our bodies. In the times when our bodies are beyond physical healing—at some point, we will all suffer a physical death—Holy Unction serves as a reconciliation with God and a preparation for eternal life. This service includes many prayers offering forgiveness, many of which speak of the mercy of God, and many which speak of the ultimate destination, eternal life. The sacraments of the Church provide us a means to prepare for eternal life, by offering us the spiritual stamina to get through this life.

Father Stavros N. Akrotirianakis is a Greek Orthodox priest who serves St. John the Baptist Greek Orthodox Church in Tampa, Florida. A list of his other books can be found at the end of this volume.

“A Failure to Die”: Countering Death-Denying Culture through Orthodox Catechism

Saturday, March 9, 2024

The dialogue between the Eastern & Oriental Orthodox

(SVOTS) - Prolific author and scholar Christine Chaillot visited St Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary (SVOTS) on Thursday, February 22, giving a stirring presentation to the student body in the Metropolitan Philip Auditorium, titled “The Dialogue Between the Eastern Orthodox and the Oriental Orthodox.”

The Very Rev. Dr Chad Hatfield gave the introduction, noting Chaillot’s abiding commitment to studying and writing about reconciliation between the Eastern and Oriental Orthodox churches and applauding her for “going right to the top” in bringing the issue to the leading hierarchs of our day. Fr Chad endorsed Chaillot’s many contributions to the study of this millennia-old division and mentioned plans for a conference to be held at St Vladimir’s Seminary in 2025, intended to further the dialogue between Eastern and Oriental Orthodox churches.

Christine Chaillot opened her presentation by summarizing the current relations between the various Eastern and Oriental Orthodox churches. She then posed the question, “What does Church unity really mean?” and shared thoughts inspired by a 2022 article by SVOTS Professor Emeritus and former dean, the Very Rev. Dr John Erickson, “From Division to Dialogue and Beyond: The Quest for Eastern and Oriental Orthodox Unity.” Chaillot  summarized various approaches to interpreting the conclusions of the 4th Ecumenical Council (Chalcedon, 451) and the main points presented by those who oppose dialogue and reconciliation between the Eastern and Oriental Orthodox churches, including the question of how to deal with varying liturgical practices, and how to recognize saints canonized after the Council of Chalcedon.

OCA confecting chrism at St. Tikhon's Monastery

(OCA) - His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon will be presiding at the Rite of Consecration of Preparation of Holy Chrism during the Vesperal Divine Liturgy of Great and Holy Thursday, May 2, 2024 at St. Tikhon’s Monastery. This rite is reserved for Primates of autocephalous Orthodox Churches. The last time Holy Chrism was consecrated for the Orthodox Church in America was in 2017 and marks the second time His Beatitude has presided at the rite.

After the Chrism has been consecrated it will be distributed for parish use across North America for the Holy Mystery of Chrismation.

Holy Chrism is distinct from other blessed oils in Orthodox Christian rites and undergoes careful preparation, incorporating various ingredients such as olive oil, aromatic incenses, and fragrant oils. The process, overseen this year by Protodeacon Peter Ilchuk, will begin on Great and Holy Monday, April 29, and will conclude on Great and Holy Wednesday, May 1, with continuous stirring and readings from the Holy Gospels.

Clergy are invited to participate in the rite. A sign up sheet will be made available on the OCA website in coming weeks. Shifts reading the Gospel and stirring the Chrism are expected to be two-hours in length.

Friday, March 8, 2024

Coptic Church SUSPENDS dialogue with Catholic Church

(OCP) - Cairo – Egypt: The plenary session of the Holy Synod of the Coptic Orthodox Church was held on March 07.2024, at the Logos Center at the Papal Residence in the Monastery of Saint Anba Bishoy in Wadi Natroun, headed by His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, and attended by 110 of its 133 members.

His Holiness the Pope delivered a speech at the opening of the session, in which he spoke about the importance of fruit in the life and service of the shepherd through “the parable of the unfruitful fig tree” (Luke 13:6-9).

The main committees of the Holy Synod held their annual meetings starting last Monday and for three days, at the papal headquarters in St. Mark’s Cathedral in Abbasiya, to discuss the reports submitted to them by their subcommittees.  It issued its recommendations, which were presented to the members of the Academy in today’s plenary session for approval.

The Church announced its opinion on the issue of “homosexuality” through a statement issued by the Holy Synod (to be published later). In its statement, the church emphasized its rejection of same-sex relations.  Supporting her opinion with many biblical verses that clearly declare the rejection of such relationships that are contrary to the human nature that God created.

The text of the decisions and recommendations of the Holy Synod – March 2024 session was as follows:

First: decisions

  1. Restoring the monastic life of the Monastery of Saint Prince Tadros Al-Shattabi (for monks) – Manfalut.
  2. Restoring the monastic life of the Monastery of Prince Tawadros of the Levant, the Warrior (for nuns) – in Luxor.
  3. Recognition of the Monastery of St. Paul the Apostle (for monks) – in California.
  4. Recognition of the Monastery of Saint Tadros and Saint Moses the Black (for monks) – Ismailia Road.
  5. Recognition of the Monastery of the Virgin Mary and the Archangel Michael (for monks) in Bahansa.
  6. After consultation with the sister churches of the Eastern Orthodox family, it was decided to suspend the theological dialogue with the Catholic Church, re-evaluate the results that the dialogue has achieved since its beginning twenty years ago, and establish new standards and mechanisms for the dialogue to proceed.
  7. Establishing the General Technical Office in the Patriarchate, with the establishment of branches in the dioceses to communicate with various government agencies and finalize procedures related to churches.
  8. Establishing an office bearing the name HIGH, which is the abbreviation for the slogan Hands in God’s Hand, which is specialized in communicating between the members of the Coptic Church abroad and the areas in need of service at home.
  9. Establishing the General Secretariat of Coptic Hospitals in Cairo, similar to the General Secretariat of Coptic Hospitals in Alexandria.

Second: The most important recommendations:

  1. Developing topics that encourage the consolidation of the spirit of citizenship and the positive role in society within church education curricula.
  2. Each church should have its own page on one of the social media channels, on which all church activities and a special archive of masses, sermons, and spiritual revivals in the church are posted.
  3. The Coptic Orthodox Church affirms its firm position of rejecting all forms of homosexual relationships, because they violate the Holy Bible and the law by which God created man male and female, and it considers that any blessing, whatever its type, for such relationships is a blessing for sin, and this is unacceptable.
  4. Raising awareness of the danger of consanguineous marriage and the resulting disorders and disabilities in subsequent generations.
  5. Activating the work of the development and social care offices in the dioceses and coordinating between them and the Development Partners Committee of the Coptic Orthodox Church through the bishopric of public and social services.
  6. The need to pay attention to transforming families dependent on charity into productive, income-earning families, to ensure the education of their children, to benefit from the “Daughter of the King” project, and to provide them with a blessing bag that takes into account proper nutrition.
  7. The need to add mental health topics to courses for those about to get married, as well as to service preparation meetings and youth meetings.
  8. Establish family reconciliation committees before resorting to the seminary, consisting of: a priest, a legal advisor, a psychiatrist, and a women’s member.
  9. Add a drug test to the tests required before engagement.
  10. The importance of documenting marriage contracts with the ritual prayers for the wreath in the church.
  11. Paying attention to teachers of Christian religious education in schools, conducting training courses for them, following them up spiritually, and arranging periodic meetings for them through a responsible priest in each diocese.
  12. Collecting all books that have been translated from the Coptic heritage into other languages and new book releases for each diocese abroad in one site in order to share the benefit and avoid duplication of translation.
  13. The Coptic Orthodox Church prays for the unity of the sister Orthodox Church in Ethiopia, and for peace and love to prevail among all. 

Friday, March 1, 2024

Antiochian Patriarchate still handling Met. Joseph situation

(Patriarchate of Antioch) - The Synodal Committee formed by His Beatitude Patriarch JOHN X held a meeting to discuss the developments taking place in the Antiochian Archdiocese of North America. This committee consists of Metropolitans: Elias Audé (Beirut), Antonios Souri (Zahlé and Baalbek), Nicolas Baalbaki (Hama), and Athanasius Fahd (Latakia). 
Its first meeting which took place in Balamand was chaired by His Beatitude and attended by the Metropolitans, members of the Committee. It examined the ecclesiastical transgressions committed by the former Metropolitan of the Archdiocese Joseph Zehlaoui. 
It decided to hold several meetings for further investigation and deliberation, in order to prepare a detailed report to be submitted to the upcoming Holy Synod meeting on March 13,  2024, where the appropriate decision will be taken.

Thursday, February 29, 2024

Orthodox-Catholic consultation issues marriage statement

NEW YORK (Episcopal Assembly) – Christians from the Orthodox and Catholic Churches in the United States and Canada have engaged in dialogue for more than a half-century. Most recently, the representatives from the two faith traditions, announced the publication of new agreed statement on marriage, The Pastoral Care of Mixed Marriages: Neither Yours nor Mine – but Ours. The Theological Consultation is currently co-chaired by Cardinal Joseph W. Tobin, CSsR, the Archbishop of Newark, and Metropolitan Methodios of the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Boston. The document was completed in Spring 2023 at a meeting hosted by St. Augustine’s Seminary in Toronto, Ontario. Like most dialogue-agreed statements, this document does not speak officially for either Church. However, it has been drafted by prominent theologians and circulated to those representing both traditions for prayerful reflection and discussion.

While commonalities exist between the two faith traditions, the Theological Consultation acknowledged that estrangement can often be seen when a Catholic and an Orthodox Christian enter into marriage. Instead of dividing the parties in a mixed marriage into “yours” and “mine,” the Consultation proposed that the parties begin with a joint solicitude for the spouses and embark on the pastoral care of each mixed marriage as “our” concern. Otherwise, they stated, the division often experienced is a painful reality for the mixed families. The new agreed statement on marriage addresses past understandings, further emphasizing the sacredness of all Christian marriage, the lifelong nature of matrimony, remarriage, the importance of the spiritual formation of children, and the need for shared and continuing pastoral care.

Differences in canonical practice between the Churches were acknowledged regarding the dissolution of the marital bond, as well as in their understanding of the constitutive elements necessary for its formation.  An affirmation was made that, in both traditions, sacramental marriage takes place in an ecclesial context through the ministry of the Church. The Consultation made recommendations on the celebration of mixed marriages in both churches, the recognition of remarriage after divorce, joint pastoral care, mutual recognition of the married life in Christ, updating of pastoral materials, and the avoidance of indifferentism as well as spiritual confusion.

Thursday, February 22, 2024

Church of Crete adds some checks on baptisms

(Orthodox Times) - In a recent encyclical published on February 9, 2024, the Holy Eparchial Synod of the Church of Crete has announced stringent conditions for the celebration of the sacrament of baptism.

According to the encyclical, baptisms will now require prior “approval” from the Archdiocese of Crete or the relevant Metropolis.

The encyclical outlines specific requirements for parents seeking baptism for their children. They must provide “required” supporting documents, including a “solemn declaration” affirming that the contractor performing the baptism is an Orthodox Christian. Additionally, if one or both parents are married, they must have undergone a religious marriage ceremony. The encyclical stipulates that the solemn declaration must be certified for the authenticity of the signature.

Notably, the encyclical expressly prohibits the baptism of children born to parents who have only undergone a civil marriage ceremony, without a religious one.

These new measures reflect the Church of Crete’s commitment to upholding Orthodox Christian traditions and values in the sacrament of baptism.

Tuesday, February 20, 2024

Prayers for Abp. Nathaniel of Detroit & the Romanians

(OCA) - The Holy Synod of Bishops of the Orthodox Church in America has accepted His Eminence Archbishop Nathaniel’s request for a medical leave of absence from his archpastoral duties as he deals with serious health complications. His Eminence went into heart surgery at 11:30 AM on February 15, 2024 and will need a long period of rest to recover and recuperate.

His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon has appointed His Grace Bishop Andrei as the administrator of the Romanian Episcopate, effective February 15, 2024, for the duration of His Eminence’s recovery.

Please pray for the health and swift recovery of Archbishop Nathaniel. Cards and other correspondence can be sent to the Chancery of the Romanian Orthodox Episcopate of America:

PO Box 309

Grass Lake, MI 49240-0309

Orthodox Church in Guatemala: a new era

More than THREE THOUSAND attendees

(Word from Guatemala) - The Orthodox Church in Guatemala began a new era in its short history with the blessing of its newly completed Seminary/Mission Center in Huehuetenango, that will serve the spiritual, educational and administrative needs of the faithful. 
The project, which began some two years ago under the direction of Archimandrite Evangelos Patá, counted on the support of the Orthodox Mission Center, many generous donors and hundreds of volunteers from the church’s many villages throughout Guatemala. The moment was made all the more poignant with the announcement of the retirement of their beloved archpastor – His Eminence Archbishop Athenagoras, who tearfully bade farewell to the faithful. With great nostalgia, he also invoked the memory of Father Andres Giron, a fierce advocate for the rights of the indigenous people and charismatic spiritual leader to his beloved flock, shepherding it into the embrace of the Orthodox Church. 
The more than 3000 in attendance, together with the dedicated Guatemalan Clergy, His Grace Bishop Timoteo from Columbia, OCMC missionaries and San Andres seminarians, sensed the presence of the Holy Spirit, not only throughout the Divine Liturgy, but also during the blessing of the new facility which followed. The palpable joy that filled this day reflected the vibrant Christian faith of the long suffering Mayan people who endured much throughout their tragic history, but never lost hope. May this new beginning be for them a lasting renewal of their life in Christ and a stepping stone to a blessed and glorious future for generations to come.