Byzantine, Texas

A little background might be in order: The Turkish government is quite uncomfortable with the role of the patriarchate of Constantinople as anything but a body that speaks for the few remaining Orthodox in Turkey. They refuse to acknowledge any larger role and were quite uncomfortable with the recent papal visit, the presidential visit, or any other meeting where the Ecumenical Patriarch could speak out on the continued oppression. At the same time the government has stopped assassination attempts in recent years. So they are quite willing to let him stay, but due to the one way (Christian -> Muslim) conversion rule they foresee a day when the Christians will simply die off. Ankara, May 28, ( Interfax ) – The Constantinople Patriarch doesn’t have enough authority to open his representations outside of Turkey, in particular in Ukraine, the Turkish Foreign Ministry has stated. “Sources in the Foreign Ministry said such initiatives of Ukraine don’t have legal grounds… The Patriarchate...

In a website entitled " The Antiochian - The Voice of Truth and Unity " the below story has been posted. I recommend reading the original post for the comments alone. For those new to the story I suggest a reading of earlier posts on this blog or on the antiochian.org website itself. I have yet to see this latest chapter in the story corroborated on any other sites or from friends, but expect to see a lot of comment tomorrow. Metropolitan PHILIP, plays the “Trump” of the Archdiocese: “You are fired” to the Chancellors of the Archdiocese! Close sources to theantiochian.com informed us that the meeting of the board of trustees of the Archdiocese is finished with the unanimous and full support for the Metropolitan of this Archdiocese and the decision of the February, 24 decision of the Holy Synod. Metropolitan PHILIP, with his warm, deep and musical voice, asked the Chancellors of the Archdiocese Robert Koory and Charles Ajalat to stand and said: “I would at least expect th...

A Report from Bishop Lazar (OCA) Friday, May 29, 2009 As some of you know, a groups of us were recently in Damascus and attended a conference at the Islamic Institute. David Goa, Fr Philip Erickson, a small group of other people and I were there. While I had to leave early, before the last series at the conference, in order to participate in a number of conferences in Romania, the Islamisation of Europe was discussed during conferences in Romania. Since returning home, I have continued researching the matter in order to make it the subject for some of my presentations in the autumn at a number of universities and Orthodox parishes down East in America. There are three salient facts that are abundantly clear, and that we should be aware of. Hopefully they might change some of our attitudes about what we are doing in the Orthodox Church, and especially in the OCA. 1. Within 20 years, Europe will be a collection of Islamic states. 2. Within 10-15 years, active Moslems are likely to outnum...

From Mere Comments : May 29 in the Eastern churches is the fixed date in the "synaxarion" for commemorating the first Ecumenical Council, held at Nicaea in 325. It is also the commemoration of one the bishops in attendance, Alexander of Alexandria, who suffered the thorn of Arius in his side in the years leading up to the council. Arius was good at putting Arian doctrine to rhyme and music, which helped the doctrinal virus spread. While beating down Arius was the main business of Nicaea, the council also set the method for calculating the date of Easter and charged the Bishop of Alexandria (the city was known for its astronomical observatory) with sending at letter out each year announcing the date, based on the astronomical criteria set down by Nicaea. Well as everyone knows, the date of Easter is still a matter of debate, even though Arianism is not. This year a meeting was held, not in Alexandria, but in L'viv, Ukraine, to address the topic. Here is a report from the c...

H/T: Creative Minority Report From Creative Minority Report : The City of San Diego says that when 10 or 15 Christians meet in a home for Bible Study that it is an unlawful use of the land and that permits costing tens of thousands of dollars are required. "The county asked, 'Do you have a regular meeting in your home?' She said, 'Yes.' 'Do you say amen?' 'Yes.' 'Do you pray?' 'Yes.' 'Do you say praise the Lord?' 'Yes.'" The county employee notified the couple that the small bible study, with an average of 15 people attending, was in violation of county regulations, according to Broyles. Broyles said a few days later the couple received a written warning that listed "unlawful use of land" and told them to "stop religious assembly or apply for a major use permit" -- a process that could cost tens of thousands of dollars. Whenever the government does not like a particular behavior, someone alwa...

I used Google Translator for this. Apologies for the oddities. Original text here . ( portal-credo ) - Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church Lyubomyr (Guzar) stands ready to meet with the Russian Orthodox Church Patriarch Kiril (Гундяевым) during his visit to Ukraine, only if both sides will want this and will not raise "preconditions." This UGCC Supreme Archbishop spoke in an interview with Ukrainian weekly Тиждень. Replying to a question from a correspondent, Lubomir Guzar noticed that he did not "flee" from the meeting and spoke about the comic, in his view, the situation where the late Patriarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Alexy (Ridiger), did not want to meet with the Roman popes. Chapter UGCC remembered for the historic meeting of Pope Paul VI and Patriarch of Constantinople Afinagora in 1965, which turned out to be possible without great diplomacy and the terrible conditions. " UGCC added that would be very pleased to meet with Patriarch Kiril "withou...

Why do I post on Anglicans/Episcopalians? Because they do the most interesting - and at times unexpected - stuff. Break-away communions still in communion, provincial episcopal visitors (aka PEVs or "flying bishops"), Muslim-Christian hybrid priestesses, oceanographer bishopesses, druid archbishops, vocal gay bishops calling for homosexual marriage, fleeing parishioners or entire Episcopalian parishes entering into Orthodoxy or the Anglican Use, calling in professional mediators so that traditionalists and liberal hierarchs can sit in the same room together, etc. etc. and this is only in the last decade. May 27, 2009 / 12:14 am ( CNA ) - A group of Anglicans who have broken from the Episcopal Church have formed a new diocese in the western U.S. to “carry the banner of Anglican orthodoxy.” The new Diocese of Western Anglicans includes California, Arizona, Montana, Idaho and Washington. Its 21 parishes claim an average Sunday attendance of 2,000 people. According to the Califor...

( Antiochian.org ) - During the first week of June, His Grace Bishop ANTOUN, His Grace Bishop JOSEPH, His Grace Bishop BASIL, His Grace Bishop THOMAS, His Grace Bishop MARK, and His Grace Bishop ALEXANDER will travel to Damascus, Syria at the invitation of His Beatitude IGNATIUS IV, Patriarch of Antioch and all of the East. They will meet with His Beatitude on June 3rd and June 4th to discuss the decision of the Holy Synod of Antioch dated February 24th, 2009 which specified the status of all bishops across the See of Antioch as that of Auxiliary Bishops. His Beatitude has also announced that the regular Spring meeting of the Holy Synod of Antioch will take place on Tuesday June 16, 2009. His Eminence Metropolitan PHILIP is planning to be present for the regular Spring meeting of the Holy Synod of Antioch. And also... ( OCA News ) - Six of the seven American bishops of the Antiochian Archdiocese will soon be in Damascus for discussions with Patriarch IGNATIUS IV concerning the current ...

Moscow, May 26, ( Interfax ) – The 4th all-Orthodox pre-conciliar consultation is to be held in the Constantinople Patriarchate Orthodox center in Chambésy on June 6-13, 2009. “Participants will touch upon the topic of organizing Orthodox diaspora (Orthodox believers living out of borders of any local Orthodox church),” Acting Secretary of the Moscow Patriarchate Department for External Church Relations Priest Igor Yakimchuk has told Interfax-Religion on Tuesday. He noted that several centuries had passed after the last seventh Ecumenical Council and “there are a lot of questions that need all-church solution for the sake of strengthening unity and avoiding schisms in one Orthodox Church.” “To settle these questions it is planned to hold the Holy and Great Council of the Eastern Orthodox Church in foreseeable future,” the priest said. It was decided to get ready for the Great Council by way of convening all-Orthodox pre-council consultations and inter-Orthodox preparatory commissions. ...

I have noted, in attending a lot of parish meetings lately, that there are two distinct qualities on display when you want to get something done; the understanding of a thing and the understanding of how to do something effective with it. Most recently there was a meeting covering evangelization that, sadly, gets repeated every few months with little actual action afterward. In essence lots of people have opinions - often informed by a lot of sayings from the Church Fathers, opinions about helpful books to read, and thoughts on website additions. What is missing is the will to go out and bring people to the Church. It is quite easy to wax poetic (and at times sophistic) on the Internet, but what is needed is direct action. C. S. Lewis speaks of a God-shaped hole that all men seek to fill. For those that do not fill it with God it is filled with other things they put in His place. Certainly it is not a clean fit, but just like junk food fills you up without really sustaining you, so th...

( BASILICA ) - In the spirit of tradition and current practice, His Beatitude Daniel, as the new Patriarch of Romania, accompanied by a delegation of the Romanian Orthodox Church, will visit the Ecumenical Patriarchate between May 27 - June 2, 2009. The visit is part of the events dedicated to the year 2009, proclaimed by the Holy Synod as 'Memorial Year of St Basil the Great, Archbishop of Caesarea Cappadocia († 379) and of the other Cappadocian Saints.' In the first day of the visit, after the official welcoming at the St. George Cathedral, His Beatitude Daniel will participate at the Vespers celebrated in the St. Paraskeve Church in Istanbul, a worship place given by the Ecumenical Patriarchate to the Romanian Orthodox community in Turkey. On this occasion, in the presence of the Romanian Orthodox faithful in Istanbul and other areas in Turkey, the new library of this Romanian community will be consecrated. Thursday, May 28, 2009, on the feast of the Ascension of the Lord, H...

( SOC ) - With the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Pavle and under the presidencyof His Eminence Metropolitan Amphilohije of Montenegro and the Coastlands, who, in accordance with Article 62 of the Constitution of the Serbian Orthodox Church is serving as substitute to the ailing Patriarch, the regular Assembly of Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church was held at the Patriarchate in Belgrade from May 14 through 22, 2009. Participating in the work of the Assembly were all the diocesan hierarchs of the Serbian Orthodox Church, including His Beatitude Archbishop of Ohrid and Metropolitan of Skoplje Jovan with the hierarchs of the Autonomous Archdiocese of Ochrid. Conscious of the Church's responsibility for the life and salvation of people and of the great spiritual challenges of our day, the Holy Assembly of Bishops dedicated itself to solving the vital questions of the Serbian Orthodox Church. Firstly, the Assembly dedicated its attention to the state of the Church and people in...

ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. ( SCOBA ) - The new Orthodox Christian Mission Center 's Archbishop Anastasios and Archbishop Demetrios Missionary Training and Administration Building was dedicated during the two-day festivities of May 20-21. The new building was named in honor of Archbishop Anastasios of Tirana, Durres, and All Albania and Archbishop Demetrios of America, who lead the ceremonies. The Aghiasmos (Holy Blessing) service was held under a tent at the entrance of the new building and with intense rain trough out the festivities. Archbishop Demetrios presided over the service along with Archbishop Anastasios and Metropolitan Jonah, the leading hierarch of the Orthodox Church in America (OCA). "This day is very significant for Orthodox Christians; this new missions building is a witness to Orthodoxy, because Orthodoxy is always offering herself to everyone; and this is a visible sign of this very character of Orthodoxy: to share, sharing what we have with all the people of the w...

( RISU ) - “Usually our meetings have a double character: we, if there is the possibility, gather together in miraculous places, in order to hold a joint pilgrimage and to have the possibility of joint prayer; the other purpose is the desire to get better acquainted with the tradition of the Eastern Church. For this purpose in recent years we have been considering the holy sacraments. This year we will concentrate our attention on the sacrament of the priesthood,” Patriarch Lubomyr (Husar) told the Department of Information, when describing the meeting of the Greek Catholic bishops of Europe, which took place in Uzhhorod from May 12 to 14. The other task of such meetings, according to the head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church (UGCC), is the creation of the opportunity to be together, “in fact we [bishops of the UGCC, – aut.] in Ukraine have our synod, and are celebrating in our land, but some bishops are alone by themselves… We reflect together on what their task is, how they sho...

VATICAN CITY, 22 MAY 2009 (VIS) - This morning in the Vatican, Benedict XVI received in separate audiences first Georgi Parvanov, president of the Republic of Bulgaria, then Gjeorge Ivanov, president of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. Both men, each accompanied by his wife and leading a delegation, have come to Rome for the commemoration of Sts. Cyril and Methodius. In his address to the Bulgarian delegation, the Pope highlighted how the spiritual heritage of these two saints, co-patrons of Europe, "has marked the lives of the Slavic peoples; their example has supported the witness and faithfulness of countless Christians who, over the centuries, consecrated their lives to spreading the message of salvation, while at the same time working for the construction of a more just and united society". "May their spiritual witness abide in you nation", he added, "so that Bulgaria, thanks also to this source of light and hope, may make an effective contributi...

The Orthodox Moviegoer Bobby Maddex recommends and reviews movies, both new and old, containing spiritual insights that have the potential to strengthen your Orthodox faith. Bobby Maddex is Operations Manager of Ancient Faith Radio, a Senior Editor of Salvo magazine, and a freelance writer and speaker on topics related to faith and culture.

It should be noted that there is controversy involved here. There are were protests and the synod had to overrule a bishop's decision not to bless his visit . ( SOC ) - The US Vice President Joseph Biden has visited today the monastery of Visoki Dechani. On behalf of the abbot of the monastery , Vicar Bishop Teodosije of Lipljan, who takes part in the regular may session of the Holy Assembly of Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church, the high guest from the States has been received by deputy abbot Father Sava Janjic with the brotherhood of the monastery. After the visit to Dechani church and lighting of candles, US Vice President has stayed for some time to talk with the monks. Father Sava informed Mr. Biden with a life of the monastery and a situation in which Serbs live in Kosovo and Metohija. It has especially emphasized a need to protect human and property rights, for preservation of the Serbian spiritual and cultural heritage on these territories, as well as a need for the re...

Kiev, May 20, ( Interfax ) - Ukrainian President Viktor Yuschenko and Patriarch of Constantinople Bartholomew I have discussed the possibility of setting up "a representative office [in Ukraine] in the format of a metochion (подворье or ecclesiastical embassy church) or a culture and information center of the Ecumenical Patriarch." Yuschenko and Bartholomew I met in Istanbul on Wednesday, as part of the Ukrainian head of state's working visit to Turkey, the Ukrainian presidential press service said. The meeting also addressed ways to step up contacts between Ukraine and the Ecumenical Patriarchate. Yuschenko said he wants this dialogue to be intensified at all levels. He confirmed his country's interest in establishing a local Orthodox Church. The Ukrainian president said he is convinced that "the Ecumenical Church and the personal wisdom and efforts of the Patriarch himself play the most important role in all unification processes." The Ukrainian preside...

From Rorate Caeli : Patriarchia.Ru, the official website of the Moscow Patriarchate (Russian Orthodox Church) has posted a very interesting interview with Archpriest Maksim Kozlov, a Russian Orthodox theologian and commentator on Catholic-Orthodox relations. The interview was posted on the said website last May 7, 2009. Mr. Oleg-Michael Martynov of Una Voce Russia has kindly translated the article for Rorate Caeli... Complete article here .

PITTSBURGH, PA ( OCA Communications ) - On Saturday, June 27, 2009, His Beatitude, Metropolitan Jonah and the members of the Holy Synod of Bishops of the Orthodox Church in America will consecrate Archimandrite Melchisedek (Pleska) Bishop of Pittsburgh and the Diocese of Western Pennsylvania. Who is on Facebook I might add if you were interested in following him there. The rite of consecration will take place at a Hierarchical Divine Liturgy at St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, Allison Park, PA, beginning at 8:30 AM. On Friday evening, June 26, the Rite of Nomination and Proclamation will take place at the cathedral at 7:00 PM, immediately before Vespers. Archimandrite MelchisedekArchimandrite Melchisedek was born Thomas Alexander Pleska, in Dayton OH, August 20, 1942. His father, Alexander Peter Pleska, was born in Byelo-Russia near Brest-Litovsk, and immigrated with his parents to the US in 1925. His mother Johanna (Eugenia Stachuk) Pleska was born in Cleveland, Ohio, of Ukrainian immi...

A post from Central Pennsylvania Orthodox : This comment is obviously a parody of mainstream Christ-free Christianity. Our non gender specific guardian, Who art in a safe and non judgemental cocoon, Hallowed by thy preferred choice of nomenclature. Thy constitutional republic, come, Thy mission statement reach fruition, On our commune, as it is the Sustainable Ecosystem, Give us this day our non exploitive,organic bruschetta with balsamic reduction, And forgive us our oppressive thought crimes, As we forgive those who oppress us with their thoughts, And deliver us from fun and spontaneity, For thine is the non threatening authority and the aspirational goal, And so be it, if all of us are comfortable with that. However, this is not a parody. Lord of our diversity, unite us all, we pray; welcome us to fellowship in your inclusive way. It’s the opening verse of the hymn sung at the opening of the Anglican Communion’s meeting in Jamaica two weeks ago (hat tip Andrew Bolt...

( WD Armenian ) - Under the auspices of His Eminence Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, Armenian Professionals Network (APN) representatives along with a number of our youth met on May 14, 2009 at the Diocesan headquarters to make plans on servicing the spiritual needs of the deaf and hard of hearing. Participants included His Eminence Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, Vahe Ashjian, Aida Tatiossian, Tigran Khachikyan, Lilit Khachikyan, and Melanie Tatiossian. Arrangements are already being made to begin weekly Bible study sessions at the Diocese that will be taught by using American Sign Language. Preparations are also under way to facilitate the comprehension of the Badarak (liturgy) to those who cannot hear. An initial plan of action was drafted and an inventory of necessary materials and equipment were listed. With the support of His Eminence, involvement of members of the APN, and input from our youth this noteworthy undertaking will ensure that the teachings of the Armenian Apostolic Ch...

Kyiv ( RISU ) — Ukraine’s President met with the head of the Finnish Autonomous Orthodox Church. President Victor Yushchenko presented to Archbishop Leo of Karelia and All Finland the Order of Prince Yaroslav the Wise of the 5th degree. According to report from 13 May, 2009, of the head of state press service, the president awarded the archbishop for his personal contribution to the development of spirituality and his Orthodox Church activity.

I read the opinion in its entirety. It is repetitive, but also unequivocal in its wording: The recent move to "demote" bishops to auxiliary status and to impinge on the "Self-Rule status" of the Antiochian Archdiocese is uncanonical and cannot be accepted. ( OCA News ) - In a 15 page Opinion offered to Metropolitan Philip, the Local Synod and the Board of Trustees of the Antiochian Archdiocese, dated May 13th, the Chancellors of the Archdiocese shredded both the February 24th decision of the Synod of Antioch and the April 24th decision of the Local Synod as "invalid", "inapplicable" "inconsistent" and "ill-advised". The official document, signed by Chancellors Robert Koory, and Charles Ajalat, laymen appointed by Metropolitan Philip to serve as the attorneys for the Archdiocese, summarized their findings by stating: “... the February 24th decision is not a valid decision of the Holy Synod of Antioch. Moreover, even if wer...

On the drive to church this morning my wife and I were listening to the radio. A story came on that touched on the way MBA programs years ago moved away from producing managers with a comprehensive view of business to the current practice of teaching the different iterations of how to maximize profit. The belief of the professors interviewed was that they were producing single-minded businessmen, without an ethical framework and devoid of any concept of acting for the common good. As a result of having 25 years of uninterrupted growth very little was put into communicating the responsibilities implicit in operating a business to ones employees and the world at large to plan for the tough times as well as the lucrative. In short, they are manufacturing greedy, guileful entrepreneurs who put self before everything else. Our conversation picked up on the two discreet camps of belief vis-à-vis the interplay of personal and business lives. On one side there is the belief that what one does ...

( SVS ) - Recent exchanges of views about Orthodoxy in America, the role of the Patriarchate of Constantinople, and the forthcoming pan-Orthodox sessions that will deliberate about the “diaspora,” emphasize how vital it is to reflect upon events that shaped the current landscape. As a foundational part of its mission, St. Vladimir's Seminary is a venue where controversial topics can be discussed openly and freely. All are invited! Noting the importance of this summer conference for the future of American Orthodoxy, generous underwriters have made it possible for SVS to announce that the posted fees for the conference are being reduced by 50%. From June 18–20, 2009 the seminary will host a summer conference titled, “The Council and the Tomos: Twentieth-century Landmarks towards a Twenty-first-century Church.” Conference speakers will focus on two watersheds that have shaped the Orthodox Church in America (OCA): the All-Russian Council (Sobor) of 1917–18 and the Tomos of Aut...

A new website serving as a catch-all for Orthodox events going on in the North Texas region. You can subscribe to the mailing list, follow the RSS feed, import their Google Calendar, follow them on Facebook, or just stop by every now and then.

As a longtime reader of the Lion and the Cardinal my interest was piqued by his latest blog post . To help raise money for the medical bills related to my son's birth, I am now selling a limited-edition fine art print of the crucifixion drawing that I recently completed. This drawing is, to my eyes, the most iconographically correct, decoratively precise and aesthetically satisfactory work of sacred art I have ever created. Please visit this page for a detailed explanation of its symbolism. The prints will be museum-quality giclee prints, signed and numbered (1-100), on heavy rag paper cut to fit a 9" x 12" frame. The cost per print is $135, including packing, postage and insurance to customers in the United States. International customers will be charged more for postage according to the destination. I am depending on the success of this sale to help my family in a difficult time. Please note that if I do not receive enough orders for this print to cover printing cost...

( AOI ) - Alexios , Greek Orthodox Metropolitan of Atlanta, joined Roman Catholic Archbishop Wilton D. Gregory on May 6 for an “Evening of Prayer and Unity” service at Atlanta’s Cathedral of Christ the King in honor of the Jubilee Year of St. Paul. Archbishop Gregory graciously welcomed Orthodox Christians to the service. “Our Orthodox brothers and sisters represent a fraternity in the Lord that we cherish and long to strengthen in the Holy Spirit,” he said. According to The Georgia Bulletin , a diocesan newspaper, the “prayer service blended together Eastern and Western traditions with song, prayer and words of wisdom from shepherds of each of the churches.” The paper said that members of the Choir of the Greek Orthodox Cathedral of the Annunciation in Atlanta and the Chanters of the Cathedral of the Annunciation then sang “Phos Hilaron.” The Cathedral Choir of Christ the King also sang the hymn, this time in English, “again linking the two traditions together in Christ.” Metropoli...

( United Anglicans ) - Three Christian leaders, Pastor Rick Warren, Metropolitan Jonah, and the Rev. Todd Hunter have agreed to be among those addressing the organizing Assembly of the Anglican Church in North America scheduled for June 22-25 at St. Vincent’s Cathedral in Bedford, Texas. His Beatitude, Metropolitan Jonah, the Archbishop of Washington and New York and the Metropolitan of All America and Canada for the Orthodox Church in America [OCA], will speak on June 24. Elected primate of the OCA in November of 2008, Metropolitan Jonah was tonsured a monk in the late 1980's at St. Tikhon’s Monastery in South Canaan, Pennsylvania after spending time at the Valaam Monastery in Russia. An Episcopalian before joining the Orthodox Church in 1978, he attended St. Vladimir's Seminary, graduating with a Master of Divinity degree in 1985 and a Master of Theology in Dogmatics in 1988. Before his consecration to the episcopacy in October 2008, as a priestmonk Metropolitan Jonah served ...

From The Rosemary Tree In my first year of Hebrew studies (1976 - 77) I learned that there are markings in the text which have nothing to do with the ancient consonantal text, or the more recent vowel marks. We were told that these "accent marks" were thought to be musical notations, but no one really knew how they would have sounded. Yet it was in 1976 that musicologist Suzanne Haik-Vantoura broke the code and deciphered these notations after many years of research. For those who have never heard how ancient biblical music was sung, this will be, well, a revelation!

Pope Benedict XVI (L) greets Greek Orthodox Patriarch Theophilus III during his visit to the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate in the Old City of Jerusalem on May 15, 2009. Jerusalem, Israel, May 15, 2009 / 02:58 am ( CNA ) - On Friday morning, after celebrating Mass in private, Pope Benedict XVI paid a visit to the Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem, Theophilus III. The Holy Father spoke with the patriarch of his gratitude for efforts to achieve greater unity between their Churches and asked the Christians of Jerusalem to raise a generation dedicated to the faith. Pope Benedict began his speech to those assembled by calling to mind the past meetings between his two predecessors and the Orthodox patriarchs of their time. “These encounters, including my visit today,” he said, “are of great symbolic significance. They recall that the light of the East has illumined the entire world from the very moment when a 'rising sun' came to visit us and they remind us too that from here the Go...