South America and the Orthodox Church

(pravoslavie.ru) - Orthodox Church in America is an integral part of Russian Orthodoxy. Her origins were monks, missionaries from the Valaam Monastery, directed by the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church in Kodiak Island (Alaska) in 1794 to create a spiritual mission. In 1840, the Synod established the Kamchatka, Kuril and Aleutian diocese, headed by bishop, later Metropolitan of Moscow and Kolomna Innocent (Benjamin 1797-1879), "the apostle of America and Siberia, in the face of the famous saints.

In 1924, the Russian Orthodox Greek Catholic Church in North America, declared temporary autonomy, and in 1937 - full autonomy in the status of the Metropolitan District. In 1946, the VII All-American Cathedral in Cleveland (Ohio) decided on joining the Metropolia in the jurisdiction of the Moscow Patriarchate. But contacts with Moscow began only in 1960, and March 31, 1970 was held on the restoration of canonical relations. April 10 the same year the Russian Orthodox Church granted the American Metropolis autocephaly.

Today the Orthodox Church in America has more than 700 parishes with more than a million believers.

The Primate of the Orthodox Church in America is called the Archbishop of Washington, Metropolitan of All America and Canada. More than a year, this title is borne by His Beatitude, Metropolitan Jonah (in the world - James Paffhauzen).

He was born in Chicago (Illinois) in 1959 and was baptized in the Episcopal Church USA. Later his family moved to California. James was educated at the University of California at San Diego and the University of California at Santa Cruz. In 1978 he converted to Orthodoxy in the Kazan parish of the Moscow Patriarchate in San Diego. He studied at St. Vladimir's Seminary of the Orthodox Church in America in Crestwood (New York). He holds a Master of Divinity and Master of Theology in the field of dogma.

In the late 1980's he spent some time in the USSR, where he studied Russian language, worked with the Publications Department of the Moscow Patriarchate, becoming acquainted with the life of the Russian Orthodox Church, showing particular interest in the monastic labors. The spiritual father of James Paffhauzena became abbot of the Valaam Monastery Archimandrite (now Bishop of Troitzk) Pankraty (Zherdev).

In 1994 he was ordained deacon and then priest. In 1995 he took monastic vows at St. Tikhon Monastery in South Canaan (Pennsylvania); was named Jonah. Upon returning to California he served in several missions, founded a monastery and a number of missionary communities. In spring 2008, elevated to Archimandrite.

November 1, 2008 the Fr. Jonah was consecrated Bishop of Fort Worth, vicar of the Diocese of the South. On November 12 of that year, the XV All-American Council in Pittsburgh (Pennsylvania) elected him Archbishop of Washington and New York, Metropolitan of All America and Canada. On December 28, 2008 in the St. Nicholas Cathedral in Washington, DC Synod of Bishops of the Orthodox Church in America, solemnly installed bishop Jonah on the primatial cathedra.

The conversation published below took place in early December 2009, during the visit of Metropolitan Jonah to Russia to celebrate the 15 th anniversary of the Moscow representation of the Orthodox Church in America, and is devoted to the activities of the Church in Latin America.

----- Your Beatitude, in which Latin American countries is the Orthodox Church in America represented?

----- The jurisdiction of our Church extends to Mexico. Previously, we also had some parishes in Argentina, Brazil, Peru and Venezuela. But some of them left for the Russian Church Abroad, the others were closed.

Several communities in Latin America want to join the Orthodox Church in America. We would be happy to take these believers, but there is no one to care for them, because we have very few priests who speak Spanish or Portuguese.

A priest - I hope he will soon become a bishop - began a mission in Ecuador in Guayaquil, where settled major Palestinian colony. Unfortunately, in recent years, his good initiative was dampened. I heard that in Central American countries, particularly in El Salvador, there are many Palestinians. Curiously, they do not go to the parishes of the Antiochian Church, and have been asking to be accepted under our omophorion.

The Ecumenical and Antiochian Patriarchates prefer to care for the Greek and Arab diaspora. We do not understand this. The Church must give pastoral care, first of all to local spiritual children. This is the principled position of the Orthodox Church in America.

----- When the Mexican Exarchate was established?

- Mexican Exarchate exists since the early 1970's. At that time, the bishop of the Mexican National Old Catholic, Jose Church, Jose (Cortes and Olmos), got in touch with our Church, and together with his community came to Orthodoxy. Because of his work, hundreds of Mexicans penetrated the Orthodox faith.

Recently, 5 thousand Indians from 23 localities in the State of Veracruz were baptized Orthodox. However, such a huge mass of parishioners have only one priest. In the Mexican Exarchate there are in general very few clerics. All of them - the Mexicans, including the ruling bishop - Bishop Alejo (Pacheco-Vera).

----- Have you ever been in Latin America?

- I just visited Mexico. I'm now planning to go to Guatemala. My friend - Abbess Ines (Aiai), lives there; she is Abbess of Holy Trinity Monastery which is in the jurisdiction of the Patriarchate of Antioch.

In Guatemala, my attention is drawn to a group of thousands of people wishing to convert to Orthodoxy. Most of them are Mayan people. If we accept these my Guatemalans, as well as representatives of indigenous peoples of other countries in Latin America, Indians could become the main ethnic group in the American Orthodox Church. Personally, I would be glad.

----- It is clear that you are sympathetic to the original inhabitants of the Americas ...

- I feel very warm feelings for the Indians. At university I studied anthropology, was fond of the Mayan and Aztec cultures. They are great and wonderful civilizations.

I like Latin America as a whole - its art, music, literature, cuisine. Latinos love life, they are open and hospitable people. I grew up in California - one of the most Hispanicized states in the US, from my Mexican friends I learned a little Spanish (although I speak it badly). The priest, having united me to the Orthodox Church, was a Mexican. His name was Father Ramon Merlos (pictured left).

----- What are the similarities and differences in the missionary work with the Indiansof the United States and Latin America?

- Frankly, I do not know ... Our church has a missionary experience in Alaska, where a wonderful priest - Archpriest Michael Oleksa serves; he's an anthropologist by profession. He is Carpatho-Russian, and his wife comes from indigenous Yupik community. Father Michael wants to hold in Alaska a conference of Orthodox American Indians. It will be an extremely interesting event.

While serving as rector of the seminary, Father Michael invited the community from Guatemala, which is hungering for Orthodoxy, to send two of its members to obtain theological education. The idea is certainly good, but people accustomed to a tropical climate, are unlikely to bear Alaskan cold.

----- Are there are a Hispanics among your parishioners in the U.S.?

- Of course. In California, 35% of the population is Hispanic; in Texas it's even greater. Latins are present in both the flock and clergy of our Church. St. Tikhon Seminary has a Mexican student with Indian roots; he's named Abraham. He is a subdeacon. One subdeacon in San Francisco is of Colombian origin. At the end of November of this year, I consecrated a new convent in honor of the Nativity of Our Lord in Dallas -- where the abbess is Brazilian (see picture left).

----- What, in your opinion, attracts Hispanics to Orthodoxy?

- Latins love our liturgy and icons; they captivated by a deep reverence for the Mother of God, inherent in the Orthodox Church.

I must say that the Catholic Church is rapidly losing influence in Latin America, because of her close ties with the upper classes of society. Many of the poor who are the majority of the population of the region aredisappointed in the Catholic pastors and joined the Protestants, Mormons and other sectarians.

Metropolitan Andres (Giron), the head of the Order of white clergy of St. Basil the Great in Guatemala, was formerly a Catholic priest. He saw that his leaders were focused on the rich, and in the early 1990's left the Catholic Church, because he wanted to work for the people. Recently, Metropolitan Andres told me: "I'm already old and sick. Please, take my people to your church for their salvation." His community can hardly be called Orthodox, but gradually it will learn the faith and will be united to the traditions of the Orthodox Church. In addition to Guatemala, Bishop Andres opened parishes in Los Angeles, San Francisco and other cities in the United States where his countrymen settled.

----- You are not afraid of a conflict with the Catholic Church? Despite everything, Latin America is still considered the "principal diocese of the Vatican."

- There will be no conflict. The Catholic Church is loyal to Orthodoxy. Moreover, I see great potential for co-work with the Catholic Church, particularly in opposing sectarianism.

Miguel Palacio spoke with Metropolitan Jonah.