orthodoxhistory.org looks to be a new and promising online project:
Anyone who has made a comparative study of the history of Orthodox Christianity in North America has probably quickly surmised that there is something of a historiograpical problem. That is, the writing of the history of Orthodox Christianity in America has been plagued with jurisdictional squabbles, claims to primacy and other agendas, often with little attention to what primary sources actually yield up as the story contained within them. Myths and ideology have often dominated these histories, rather than a close reading of historical documents.With the formation of the Society for Orthodox Christian History in the Americas (SOCHA), the membership desires to begin to shift the approach to studying and writing the history of Orthodoxy in the Americas (and elsewhere, of course, should members desire it) to reflect an earnest engagement with primary sources. There is no jurisdictional agenda attached to SOCHA, and there is no specific ideology or philosophy which members are required to share, excepting only the basic integrity crucial to historical study and the honesty required to have one’s premises challenged and revised should the evidence warrant it.
This site hosts essays, links to podcasts, book reviews, tidbits discovered in the course of research, photographs, and more. Stay tuned.
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On the surface this website seemed to be a revision of the aoi website. I suppose mark and George haven't gotten traction for they are looking to reinvent themselves. History is what was, not what we try to revise it to be. Jurisdictional concerns are not something unique to the church in America. It is precisely what makes a country a country after all. we can't arbitrarily decide that the border of china will now extend to include Japan for example nor can someone of their own accord decide to send ambassadors to other state governments and claim to represent anyone other than themselves. There were no lawfully official delegations; therefore the Russians in this case acted outside of their right. Jurisdictions are boundaries. Like countries have boundaries churches too have boundaries it is not a complex matter. Don’t kick up the sand in an attempt to confuse matters. It is not an ethnic issue it is a lawful issue. The argument made that Constantinople was in no position to reach out to these groups of north Americans ( to use the term loosely) is a rue and beside the point.
ReplyDeletewww.elgreca262.blogspot.com
ElGreca262,
ReplyDeleteThe site really has nothing to do with the AOI. Its reach is far, far broader and also concerned with other issues besides those covered by the AOI. It's an official work of the Society for Orthodox Christian History in the Americas, so stay tuned for lots of historical coverage on numerous topics.