An icon commissioned: We have color!

This is the second set of pictures in the commissioned icon series. There are quite a number of icon-related website out there, but few cover the creation process - below comments are from the iconographer. Rather excited to see the color go on.


Once the panel has received a final sanding it is buffed with a soft dry rag to remove excess chalk dust. The basic shapes of the pattern are drawn on the board, and the borders are outlined. I like to use painter's tape to delineate the borders and keep them clean.

The background color is painted and the halo (or nimbus) is sized and gilded with 23-kt. gold leaf. In his essay on iconology, Fr. Pavel Florensky emphasizes that gold, being a metal element with a luster of its own (as opposed to a pigment), is the best way to represent the divine light.




The pigments for establishing the main color swaths. Certain mineral pigments require a good bit of grinding with stone or glass pestle before they can be used for making paint.




The initial colors are laid down on the board. The flesh undertone is called sankir (προπλασμός), or, in the Renaissance tradition, verdaccio. This earthy undertone for flesh is a witness to the belief that man was made from the dust of the ground.

Red and blue (the humanity and divinity of Christ respectively) are placed on the appropriate areas using the petit lac (literally "small lake") method, in which highly saturated pools of color are laid in conjoining patches on the panel surface. (Part of the red petit lac is still visible in this photo.) The petit lac method can create a very nice mottled effect that gives a very interesting complexity to the finished icon.

Common communion cup: invitation to Swine Flu?

(Pew Forum) - Religious groups across the country are urging houses of worship to take special precautions this weekend, including changing sacred practices, as the swine flu outbreak threatens to grow into a global pandemic.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported 109 confirmed cases of the virus in 11 states on Thursday (April 30), and the World Health Organization raised its alert level on swine flu to Phase 5.

The highest alert level, Phase 6, indicates that a pandemic is in progress. Should the outbreak reach that stage, the WHO may discourage or even ban public gatherings such as religious services, according to published reports.

In Mexico, where the outbreak is believed to have begun, many Catholic churches have temporarily closed. The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops is not encouraging similar steps for the 18,000 U.S. parishes. But it is stressing increased attention to hygiene and urging priests and others who distribute Communion to wash their hands with anti-bacterial solutions before Mass.

"(T)he need for the introduction of widespread liturgical adaptations for the prevention of the transmission of influenza in the dioceses of the (U.S.) is not evident at this time," the bishops conference said. The conference issued similar guidelines after the bird flu outbreak in 2006 and SARS in 2003.

Even so, individual Catholic bishops in some hard-hit areas are taking additional precautions. Bishop Gregory Aymond of Austin, Texas, where 26 cases of swine flu infection have been confirmed, has asked priests not to offer Communion wine at Mass "until more is known about the virus."
"It seems that having the public drink from the chalice is an unnecessary risk," Aymond wrote in a public letter on Wednesday (April 29). Aymond also said that holy water from church entrances should be disposed of and the containers washed and disinfected before being refilled.

Bishop Kevin Farrell of Dallas, and Catholic officials in Chicago and Green Bay, Wis., have offered similar advice. Some Catholics are also asking parishioners not to shake hands during the passing of the peace.

A Dallas official said that "members of our congregations should not be offended at this time if someone chooses not to shake the other person's hand at the sign of peace." Health experts say that viruses are often spread through person-to-person contact.

Catholic officials also urge parishioners to stay home if they feel ill, despite the expectation that faithful Catholics should attend Mass every Sunday. "It is not sinful to miss Mass if you are sick," Aymond wrote, "it is an act of charity."

Meanwhile, University United Methodist Church in San Antonio has ordered special, individually-wrapped Communion elements for this Sunday.

"This is, admittedly, a rarely-used alternative," said the church's directing pastor, Charles Anderson, "but your comfort at Communion is totally worth it."

The Council on American-Islamic Relations, meanwhile, is encouraging imams to stay current with news of the spread of swine flu in their areas, and to consider canceling gatherings at mosques -- even otherwise obligatory Friday group prayers -- to ward off potential infections. CAIR also says imams should "stress the possibility of temporarily avoiding Islamic cultural traditions such as handshakes or hugs of greeting during a local health crisis."

"Imams, because of their access to those attending mosques every day, are well-placed to offer advice to community members based on input from public health authorities," said Nihad Awad, CAIR's executive director.

The Baptist General Convention of Texas postponed its Bible Drill finals, which had been planned for this weekend, until "we know our children can gather in a healthy environment," said Dickie Dunn, according to the Dallas Morning News.

Meanwhile, dozens of Christian schools -- including the nation's largest Catholic high school, St. Francis Preparatory School in New York City -- have been shuttered because of swine flu outbreaks, according to public reports.

Joseph Zwilling, a spokesman for the Archdiocese of New York, a state with 50 confirmed cases of the virus, said decisions on whether to change Mass practices depends "on good sense of the people and the judgment of the pastor."

"We're reminding pastors of the common-sense guidelines we ask them to follow during flu season," said Zwilling.

Despite concerns over the Communion chalice used to distribute wine, one 2000 study by a Canadian cardiologist suggests it may not be as unsanitary as expected.

"For the average communicant it would seem that the risk of drinking from the common cup is probably less than the risk of air-borne infection in using a common building," Dr. David Gould concluded.

Update on Roman church transfer to Russian Church

Moscow, April 30, (Interfax) - The Board of Trustees of the Russian church of the Great Martyr Saint Catherine in Rome has lauded the progress of the final preparations for the festivities on the consecration of the church scheduled for May 24.

"We are approaching the festivities. Tasks are being carried out. The mechanism of decision-making is clear to all," Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia said at a meeting of the board in St. Daniel's Monastery.

The meeting discussed the completion of interior decorations in the church and the reclamation of the surrounding territory. Moscow Mayor Yury Luzhkov who attended the meeting, stressed the importance of additional electricity supplies to the building required for its normal operation. This would speed up the installation of ventilation in the church "in order to dry everything and put it in order," he said.

The audit commission reported to the meeting on the results of its inspection. It had not identified any abuses in financing or misuse of funds.

Father Superior of the Church Filipp (Vasiltsev) told the Board of Trustees about the plans of the parish to organize a Russian cultural center in the future.

He said that a detailed cultural program was drawn for 2009 which includes among other things a series of lectures by professors of the Moscow Theological Academy, lessons of the Moscow school of bell ringing and also an art exhibition.

The Board of Trustees will have its next meeting at the beginning of June.

On being mission-minded: the follow-up

Remaining static is tantamount to choosing an untimely death. An acceptance of ones current state, a resting on ones laurels, is contrary to the divine plan. Even in the heavens, the liturgy reminds us, there is a call to constantly cry out His glory:

Celebrant: All the orders, the companies and the heavenly hosts: angels, archangels, cherubim, seraphim, thrones and dominions, invisible and innumerable, unceasingly praise and glorify and with incessant mouths and unspeakable voices they sing the hymn of victory and cry out and say:

People: Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty; heaven and earth are full of His glories. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is He Who came and will come in the Name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest.

Surely the heavenly host have sung enough? Surely their praise is now sufficient? Certainly He has heard enough? Certainly not! The liturgy in fact exhorts us to join in. In Luke we are told, "And I say to you, everyone who confesses Me before men, the Son of Man will confess him also before the angels of God; but he who denies Me before men will be denied before the angels of God." The simple truth is this: Not working to grow the parish is a decision to work against Christ. Just as not telling someone the whole story is a lie, taking Christ's gift of the Church and not sharing it with others one becomes a liar and denier of His words. Your parish is not yours, it is His.

There is a fear in the mind of the parishioner who wants things to stay the same that in accepting the new that what is cherished and old will be subsumed. This is an entirely natural fear and one with precedent as new converts or large groups of immigrants can dramatically change the face of a parish. If the face of your parish changes you should expect it just as you expect the change of seasons. A garden is no more beautiful than when it has been tended properly and is in full bloom, but even the most assiduously cared for garden will look different from year to year. We are fed by our fellow created beings and we feed others by our existence as well until we are called to move on. The goal is beauty and strength, not changeless uniformity.

The parish is not a fortress to be defended, but a hospital whose doors should be opened wide for the care of all. Take in those weary, lost souls as you would those coming from the field of battle for they have stumbled along blindly before finding their way to you. "The gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it." so Matthew tells us. Thinking of your parish this way how can you turn away the help offered by these new faithful? Are you so strong that you can give succor to the whole of the unconverted world by yourself? Can you clothe them all, feed them all, dress their wounds? Work is made lighter by the hands of many and the occasional cries of young children that echo through the nave are the hope of future aid to come.

You are an active participant in the work of the Church, not a passive member of the audience. Theosis is transformation through putting into practice His commandments. He has given you the gift of His mysteries and expects that you shall make good use of them.

13.	"Be on the alert then, for you do not know the day nor the hour.
14.	"For it is just like a man about to go on a journey, who called his own slaves and entrusted his possessions to them.
15.	"To one he gave five talents, to another, two, and to another, one, each according to his own ability; and he went on his journey.
16.	"Immediately the one who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and gained five more talents.
17.	"In the same manner the one who had received the two talents gained two more.
18.	"But he who received the one talent went away, and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master's money.
19.	"Now after a long time the master of those slaves *came and *settled accounts with them.
20.	"The one who had received the five talents came up and brought five more talents, saying, `Master, you entrusted five talents to me. See, I have gained five more talents.'
21.	"His master said to him, `Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.'
22.	"Also the one who had received the two talents came up and said, `Master, you entrusted two talents to me. See, I have gained two more talents.'
23.	"His master said to him, `Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.'
24.	"And the one also who had received the one talent came up and said, `Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow and gathering where you scattered no seed.
25.	`And I was afraid, and went away and hid your talent in the ground. See, you have what is yours.'
26.	"But his master answered and said to him, `You wicked, lazy slave, you knew that I reap where I did not sow and gather where I scattered no seed.
27.	`Then you ought to have put my money in the bank, and on my arrival I would have received my money back with interest.
28.	`Therefore take away the talent from him, and give it to the one who has the ten talents.'
29.	"For to everyone who has, more shall be given, and he will have an abundance; but from the one who does not have, even what he does have shall be taken away.
30.	"Throw out the worthless slave into the outer darkness; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

On the Church under the Soviet Regime

Interesting post from Notes from the Underground:

Legalizing the Moscow Patriarchate in 1927: The Secret Aims of the Authorities

The above link is an impressive paper by Fr Alexander Mazyrin, from the latest issue of Social Sciences, a publication of East View Press. It is a translation of a Russian paper from last year that goes into great detail on how the Patriarchate was literally hand-crafted by the Soviet government, with sufficient history on the actions of Metropolitan Sergius (Stragodorsky) from a non-partisan perspective. It's worth a read-- click the link above to do so.

The first paragraph alone makes for an interesting read and worth recommending here:

"Historians pay much attention to relations between the atheist Soviet authorities and religious organizations. In the early 1990s, it became possible to study not only the official policies in respect of the religions and the Church but also some secret aims behind them. As a result, we have a number of fundamental studies on Church-State relations in the Soviet period. They, however, predominantly consider either the first years after the 1917 Bolshevik revolution (till 1925 inclusive) or the war (1941-1945) and postwar periods. What failed to be studied in depth was the secret aims that the Soviet authorities pursued in allowing the legalization of the Moscow Patriarchate (1927), an organization that refused to accept the communist (atheistic) ideology."

1,000th post

"Nothing to see here. Move along..."

In all seriousness, thanks to all for reading this tucked away corner of the Internet. What started as just a small project has blossomed into something viewed on average about five thousand times a month. That's a staggering and humbling figure to me. Of equal wonder is that the number is actually increasing.

So on this thousandth post I ask that God grant you many blessed years in health and happiness! Be sure to nominate (or vote when the time comes) someone for an Eastern Christian New Media Award and I ask a special prayer for my son, Basil, who will receive the gift of Holy Illumination this Sunday. Have no doubt: there will be pictures.

Romanian Patriarchate on veterans

While written to the soldiers of Romania, this is immediately approachable to any soldier anywhere.

(Basilica) - VETERANS OF WAR – TESTIMONY OF THE LOVE FOR THE COUNTRY

CHRIST IS RISEN!

“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” (2 Timothy 4:7)

Dear veterans,

Bearing in our souls the joy and richness of the light of our Savior Jesus Christ’s Resurrection, we are receiving the richness of the merciful love of God and the heavenly grace given to us humans, in Jesus Christ, in order for us to participate to the eternal life and joy of the Holy Trinity.

This richness of Christ’s presence was also shared by those who have felt the most the help of the Risen Christ in times of tribulation, namely the martyrs, heroes, veterans, but also all the faithful who are fighting for truth and justice, for freedom and unity or are working to help their fellows in a sincere and charitable way.

The power to endure history, when you cannot change it, is the wisdom and force of survival in the face of the danger of self-destruction and mindless suicide. The Romanian people have survived on this land because it had wisdom, power of sacrifice and patience when it could not vanquish by the power of arms. Through this wise and hopeful endurance, they have survived attacking migrants, greedy imperialists and destructive dictatorships, filling history with the crosses on the tombs of sacrificing heroes and on the churches built as candles of resurrection and hope.

That is why the memory of heroes, the commemoration from one generation to another of those sacrificed for the defense of the faith and of the country, is a true culture of the Romanian soul which feels that love is stronger than death.

The chronicles which note the sacrifice of this people are admirably summarized in the text found on the Arch of Victory in Bucharest, the Romanian capital: “After centuries of suffering, Christianly endured, and after heavy fights for the preservation of the national being, after the defense full of sacrifices of human civilization, finally justice has come also for the Romanian people…” Thus, our liberation was lived as an experience of the power and light of the Risen Christ, because the victory hymn of sacrificial love, “Christ is Risen,” is written on the façade of the Mărăşeşti Mausoleum.

The multitude of heroes and martyrs whom we are humbly commemorating permanently are proving that our people has internalized the mystery of the Cross and the Resurrection and has lived history as a Cross and as a Resurrection, suffering and hope, sorrow and joy, fulfilling the words of Holy Apostle Paul: “I have fought the good fight […] I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness” (2 Timothy 4:7-8). The mystery of the Cross which is being exalted in the grace of the Resurrection is inscribed in the Romanian coat of arms, as a symbol of our history, a sign of great stability, continuity and unity in thought and feeling over the generations and permanent spiritual program.

It is thus appropriate that we address a thankful message to all those who have offered their life in past for our existence today, and, thus, we are all required to honor them with respect and commemorate their sacrifice and struggle, if we are to rediscover ourselves as a nation of Christian kings and martyr heroes.

In the end, we are praying that Christ our Lord grants His grace, of light and eternal life, to the heroes of the Romanian people, granting them holy rest into the hope of Resurrection, and You, honored veterans of war, those who are our inspiration for courage and sacrifice, may He grant good health, peace and joy, teaching us to love our people and our country, to pray and struggle for peace between people, for the glory of God and the salvation of humans.

† DANIEL
Patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church

UN adds "Christianophobia" to lexicon

Moscow, April 29, (Interfax) – Participants in the Geneva UN conference against racism and xenophobia condemned discrimination of Christians. The Forum’s final document voiced concerns with “incidents of racial or religious intolerance and violence, including Islamophobia, anti-Semitism, Christianophobia and anti-Arabism,” the Moscow Patriarchate official web site has reported.

The Russian Church has recently urged the participants in the conference to introduce an idea of Christianophobia into international laws.

“It is very important to the Russian Orthodox Church to raise the issue of introducing to the list of threats the notion of Christianophobia in addition to anti-Semitism and Islamophobia,” deputy head of the Department for External Church Relations Archpriest Georgy Ryabykh told Interfax-Religion.

He pointed out there were many examples of “violations of Christians' rights, insults of their feelings and public distortion of the Christian teaching which put the notion of Christianophobia into international circulation.”

Austria, Holland, Israel, Italy, Canada, the United States and the Czech Republic boycotted the conference, though, according to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, they “could have contributed in fighting against racism.”

Speech delivered by President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad of Iran caused a scandal as he branded Israel “the most cruel and oppressive racist regime” and accused West destabilizing international atmosphere.

Being mission-minded

There is a fervor (captured in books like "Facing East") in building a mission that invigorates those in the mission and attracts the interest of friends, families, and passers-by. The mix of passion, novelty, and purpose coalesce into a heady brew where the Great Commission is placed front and center. In strong parishes this desire to spread the Good News (ευαγγέλιον) is maintained and fostered by the clergy - an emphasis is placed on orthodox practice, continual catechesis, and a life lived in faith both inside and outside the church.

Another path is more prevalent. It is common to see a mission built of "founding families" who worked hard to find a property, find people, and fill it with the accoutrements necessary to perform the rites of the Church. After some time passes certain things particular to the location are considered unmovable foundations of the parish (turning tradition into Tradition it might be said). Things like specific icons placed on certain walls never to be moved, certain families sitting or standing at the same spot every Sunday, songs are chanted at a certain pace or always in the same tone, ethnic practices from the Old Country are given almost religious significance. New people, once welcomed for their skills, funds, or mere presence are now judged against an invisible but palpable checklist. The casual observer can watch as the old-timers confirm that icons are kissed in the proper order, a family's children are unladen with toys or food, the words chanted are the "correct" ones, etc. etc. In short, the identity developed in bringing people together is embalmed. It forms an inviolable crust difficult to penetrate, and once inside it becomes obvious that the body is empty and cobwebbed.

Many priests can attest to the eager catechumen or recently relocated family excited to explore and experience the wonders of the Faith; diving headlong into the church's activities, ready to volunteer, and open to spiritual growth. After a few months they've simply vanished. Where did they go? Why did they leave? Will they be back? The answer (that same priest will tell you) is probably not. Disillusioned by overly lofty expectations and the cynicism of those defending the status quo that family is continuing their search somewhere else or nowhere at all.

So how does a parish reclaim its mission? More bluntly, how does it make its reconversion to Christ, for it has undoubtedly turned away from His will.

1.	"I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser.
2.	"Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it so that it may bear more fruit.
3.	"You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you.
4.	"Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me.
5.	"I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.
6.	"If anyone does not abide in Me, he is thrown away as a branch and dries up; and they gather them, and cast them into the fire and they are burned.
7.	"If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.
8.	"My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples.
9.	"Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you; abide in My love.
10.	"If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father's commandments and abide in His love.
11.	"These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full.
12.	"This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you.
13.	"Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends.
14.	"You are My friends if you do what I command you.
15.	"No longer do I call you slaves, for the slave does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you.
16.	"You did not choose Me but I chose you, and appointed you that you would go and bear fruit, and that your fruit would remain, so that whatever you ask of the Father in My name He may give to you.
17.	"This I command you, that you love one another.

The point being made here in relation to the parish is clear: Bear fruit or become desiccated and fit for kindling. But, with an entrenched group as yet unmotivated to change, how can the branch be retrained to live according to the designs of the vinedresser? That I'll leave for tomorrow's post.

2009 Cannonball Awards

2009 Cannonball Awards

Whether you're Catholic or not, the Cannonball Awards is an amusing competition with categories like:

• Best "More Catholic than the Pope" Blog
• Best Blog by a Heretic
• Best Bat [Guano] Crazy Blog
  

Go take a gander at the contestants and when the time comes do go over and vote.

Full Disclosure: I am nominated.

More on the Antiochian meeting regarding "auxiliary" bishops

April 28, 2009 (OCA News) - Four days after a meeting of the Local Synod of the Bishops of the Antiochian Archdiocese, Englewood has released a photocopy of the “Resolution” Metropolitan Philip convened the meeting to have the Bishops sign. (View it here). In so doing, Englewood resolved the mystery of what Bishop Alexander, who refused to sign the document, but penned a note on the document itself, had written. Instead of his signature, the Bishop wrote: “This decision is already in effect and does not need my signature,” - an action which +Philip did not want him to take.

The "Resolution"

Cumbersomely entitled a “Resolution Affirming Obedience to the Decision of the Holy Synod of Antioch of January 24, 2009, Which Normalized the Status of Bishops Across the See of Antioch,” +Philip’s resolution makes only three points:

1) The Holy Synod of Antioch is “the highest authority” for all of its Archdioceses;

2) This authority is affirmed by “Article 1, Section 2, Paragraph B of the Archdiocesan Constitution”;

3)By signing the document, the hierarchs of the “Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America” affirm their “obedience to the decision of the Synod of February 24, 2009,” which purported to make all bishops across the entire See of Antioch auxiliary bishops.

What stands out in the “Resolution” - apart from the lack of signatures - is that for the second time in four days the Archdiocese is no longer referred to as “Self-Ruled” in official releases of the Archdiocese. Apparently “Self-Rule” is no longer the case. The “Resolution" reverts to pre-2004 usage of simply “The Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America,” as did the first notice of the meeting issued on Friday, April 24th. (Read that notice here.)

Do as I say, Not as I Do

Even more interesting is that the Archdiocesan Constitution cited in the Resolution is the Pittsburgh version of the Constitution, not the Damascus Constitution which was approved by the Holy Synod in 2004. This rekindles a long-standing disagreement between Metropolitan Philip and Patriarch IGNATIUS IV about which Constitution is official. That disagreement, and Metropolitan Philip’s continual failure to obey the Holy Synod and Patriarch, is meticulously documented in the Timeline posted on the Association of Orthodox Attorneys website. (Read the Timeline here.) Things got so heated that the Patriarch finally resorted to sending a letter (which can be read here) to Metropolitan Philip. He even prepared an official copy of the Damascus Constitution, which he signed and sealed on every single page marking it as the only true and correct Constitution. Metropolitan Philip may say that he is obedient, and require obedience from others, but his actions don’t match his words.

Not only that, but the Metropolitan conveniently overlooks Article IV, Section 2 of the Pittsburgh version of the Constitution which clearly states: “The Local Synod, comprised of the Metropolitan and the Diocesan Bishops shall be [the] governing ecclesiastical authority of the Archdiocese….” So, not only does Metropolitan Philip not obey the Holy Synod and Patriarch, he doesn’t even obey Constitution that he so vociferously claims is the legal Constitution.

The Spin From Englewood

Englewood, however, mentions none of this, attempting to put out today a more favorable spin on +Philip’s failure to bend all the Bishops to his will. In Englewood’s view: “In summary, of the seven hierarchs in attendance, four signed the resolution, two did not sign the resolution, and one wrote a note in place of his signature,” giving +Philip a 4-3 victory in a Synod that by its own resolution, no longer has any authority. On the other hand (given that the Metropolitan’s status is not affected by the decision he is so eager to make all the other Bishops acquiesce to), the outcome can more realistically described as a 3-3 tie. For an Archbishop who has never even tolerated dissent, let alone opposition, a tie in something he has made so important, can only be described as a defeat.

Confusion

The three bishops who signed may have consented to being demoted to auxiliaries, but they have surely added to the confusion in the Archdiocese by so doing. For example: how can Bishop Joseph, who was a diocesan bishop (but now understands himself only as an auxiliary), remain as the “locum tenens” of the Diocese of Eagle River and the Northwest? One Diocesan Bishop can be “In The Place Of” of another, absent Diocesan Bishop - but how can an auxiliary? Shouldn’t he resign? Or, rather - was he ever, if he never was a diocesan? One can see what canonical confusion +Philip’s decisions are now causing, as the effects ripple throughout the Archdiocese he labored so long to build.

Resistance

But what of the three diocesans, +Alexander, +Basil and +Mark who did not sign? Their status remains open: Does the Orthodox Tradition allow a Diocesan Bishop - and all three of these men were Diocesan Bishops by any accounting - to be reduced in rank to auxiliary status without cause, and against their will? Can one be “obedient” to an uncanonical decision? Must one be obedient to a decision that was made without a quorum? The terse posting from Englewood last Friday gave a clear indication this was the source of their problem: “A significant discussion was held regarding obedience to this decision.” In other words, the diocesans did not question their loyalty to the See of Antioch, nor their continuing obedience to Antioch. All affirmed they were “currently in obedience.” Obedience to Antioch is not the issue: rather, obedience to an invalid decision is. In this context Bishop Alexander’s cryptic answer to +Philip’s demand to sign makes perfect sense: “This decision is already in effect and does not need my signature.” In other words, “You have done what you have done. I need not condone it.” Sometimes silence speaks volumes. Sometimes a few words speak even more.

The Future

Last Friday’s posting concluded with an expression of +Alexander, +Basil and +Mark’s concerns: “In conjunction with this, the hierarchs acknowledged that the decision had caused concern among the clergy and people, and there must be steps taken to begin to heal these misunderstandings.” Seeking “clarification” from Antioch is one way this “misunderstanding” may begin to be healed, which may be why at least one of the diocesans, as yet unidentified, has written to Antioch seeking relief. (Read that story here.)

But the bottom line is that the crisis in Antioch continues unabated. What can +Philip now do to force the diocesans to accept the unacceptable? His major weapon - an accusation of disobedience - has been successfully countered. The Bishops who refused to sign may be equally stuck - unable to persuade +Philip to alter his course, which seems to be to undo all that has been done in the last forty years. With the Archdiocesan Convention only 3 months away, one can only ask: What will the Faithful say?

St. Germanus, iconodule

29 APR 2009 (VIS) - During his general audience this morning Benedict XVI dedicated his catechesis to St. Germanus of Constantinople, who "played an important role in the complex history of the battle for images during the so-called iconoclastic crisis, and was able to resist the pressure of an iconoclastic emperor, ... Leo III.

"During Germanus' patriarchate (715-730)", the Pope added, "the capital of the Byzantine empire, Constantinople, was subject to a threatening siege by the Saracens. On that occasion (717-718) a solemn procession was organised and passed through the streets carrying the image of the Mother of God ... and the relic of the Holy Cross to call upon the Most High to defend the city. In fact, Constantinople was freed from the siege".

This event convinced the patriarch "that God's intervention was to be interpreted as evident approval of the reverence people showed towards holy icons. Leo III on the other hand, who came to the throne in that year of 717, ... began ever more openly to show his conviction that the consolidation of empire had to begin by reorganising expressions of faith, with particular reference to idolatry, a risk to which, in his view, the people were exposed by their excessive veneration for icons".

The Holy Father went on: "Patriarch Germanus' appeals to Church tradition and to the real effectiveness of certain images, unanimously recognised as 'miraculous', were all to no avail. The emperor became ever more intractable in implementing his policies of reform. ... Germanus had no desire to bow to the emperor's will in matters he considered vital to orthodox faith. ... As a consequence he felt obliged to resign as patriarch, condemning himself to exile in a monastery where he died in obscurity. Nonetheless his name re- emerged at the Second Nicean Council ... of 787 where his merits were recognised".

Of Germanus' works "certain homilies on Marian themes have survived, of which some have had a profound influence on the piety of entire generations of faithful, both in the East and the West", including one which Pope Pius XII "set like a pearl in the 1950 Apostolic Constitution 'Munificentissimus Deus'", dedicated to the Assumption of the Virgin Mary.

Benedict XVI went on to recall the "great contribution" this saint made to the Byzantine tradition in which "the rhetorical forms used in preaching, and even more so in hymns and poetical compositions, ... are as important to the celebration of the liturgy as the beauty of the sacred building in which it takes place".

The Holy Father concluded by considering three aspects in which St. Germanus still has something to say to modern man. Firstly, in the need to recognise "the visibility of God in the world and in the Church", because "God created man in His image but that image was covered with dirt and sin" and the Creator "could almost no longer see it. Thus the Son of God became man and ... in Christ, the true image of God, we too can ... learn to see ourselves as His image". If, to prevent idolatry and the danger of pagan images, God prohibited the Israelites from creating His image, yet "when He became visible in Christ through the Incarnation it became legitimate to reproduce the face of Christ. ... Holy images teach us to see God in the face of Christ, ... of the saints and of all human beings".

Secondly, Germanus shows us "the beauty and dignity of the liturgy", which must be celebrated "with an awareness of the presence of God and with a beauty and dignity that enable us to glimpse His splendour".

The third aspect is that of "love for the Church", the Pope concluded. "It may be that in the Church, as in ourselves, we see sin and other negative things, yet with the help of faith ... we can always rediscover divine beauty in the Church. In the Church, God offers Himself to us in the Eucharist, He speaks to us, ... He forgives us and He teaches us to forgive. Let us pray that God may teach us to see His presence and His beauty in the Church, to see His presence in the world".

First Things on plug-n-play embryos

(First Things) - More proof in that embryonic stem cell research is not—and never has been—about getting some use out of leftover IVF embryos that are due to be destroyed anyway. A serious proposal has been forwarded in the UK that would allow people to make IVF embryos, not to bring to birth, but rather, solely for the purpose of storing them for later use as a source of stem cells. From the story:

Couples could be allowed to store embryos in order to use them to create new body parts or cure diseases.

Government legal and ethical experts are to discuss whether families can ‘bank’ embryos not just for procreation but also for use by doctors to create personalized treatments for parents and their children.

Now, [under UK law] embryos—the first stage of life after an egg has been successfully fertilized—can be stored for up to five years but only for procreation. But a huge ethical debate is set to erupt as the Government’s fertility watchdog, the Human Fertilization and Embryology Authority (HFEA), moves closer to endorsing new developments in medical science. It will debate whether embryos could be stored to harvest important stem cells that have the ability to turn into any tissue type in the body.

Given that this is Brave New Britain, which already allows the creation of human/animal hybrid cloned embryos, the outcome of this “debate” is easy to predict.

This is figurative cannibalism, and it won’t stop with embryos. Once the principle is accepted that living human beings can be objectified and used as a product, there is no way it will be limited to the earliest humans. Indeed, as I have often described, fetal farming is already on the table in bioethics discourse and some of the world’s most notable medical journals have published articles urging that people with profound cognitive impairments be used as sources of organs and human subjects in medical experimentation.

Ideas have consequences. Once we state that human life does not have intrinsic moral value simply and merely because it is human, there isn’t much that we can’t justify.

Eastern Christian New Media Awards nominations open!

Nominations are now open over at the Eastern Christian New Media Awards! New participants can be nominated until June 1^st. The field has been expanded by two categories and this year there will be prizes!

As with last year, the field is broadened and strengthened by getting the word out. Please mention this site to friends, post referrals on your blogs, and mention it in your podcasts.

http://ecawards.blogspot.com/

St. Peter the Aleut Orthodox Summer Camp in June

Sending two of my children. If you're in the area, do give this a look.

(SGOCM) - We finally have some good news and information for the upcoming St. Peter the Aleut Orthodox Summer Camp, which since 1993 has served the OCA Diocese of the South, South Central Deanery and any other Orthodox youth and their friends who would like to attend. Camp will again be held at the YMCA Camp Grady Spruce at Possum Kingdom Lake, South of Weatherford, Texas (about 2 hours S. of Ft. Worth).

Dates: Monday, June 29th (after Lunchtime) - Friday, July 3th (after Breakfast). Note: Everyone will be home on Friday afternoon, before the 4th of July weekend...

Complete article here.

An Orthodox Knight of Malta? Why, yes there is.

An interesting story from OrthoCuban:

I have two photographs for you.

This first one is rather obvious. It is a Russian metropolitan (notice the white miter) wearing a Cross of Malta prominently surrounded by Knights Hospitaller of St. John of Jerusalem. In history, they have also been known as the Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of St. John of Jerusalem of Rhodes and of Malta. And, for all you conspiracy theorists, when the Knights Templar were dissolved in 1312, much of their property was given to the Knights Hospitaller. So, in one sense, the Knights Hospitaller carry on within themselves something of the traditions of the Knights Templar. So, how did these knights get started?...

Complete story here.

Metropolitan Jonah visits Russia

(ROCOR United) - On the 26th of April 2009, the Metropolitan Jonah of the Orthodox Church in America served liturgy with Patriarch Kirill at Christ the Saviour Cathedral. The Patriarch then addressed Metropolitan Jonah with the following word:

Your Eminence Jonah, Archbishop of Washington and New York, Metropolitan of all America and Canada, beloved in Christ brother and co-celebrant! Wise bishops and priests! Dear brothers and sisters!

Christ is Risen!

It brings me great joy to greet the delegation of the Orthodox Church in America headed by His Eminence Vladyka Jonah during these bright Paschal days. In your first official visit as a newly-chosen primate, which you are making to the Moscow Patriarchate, you have emphasized the special interrelation of American Orthodoxy with its Mother Church. This relation, filled with a spirit of love and unity, truly can be characterized by the words of the apostle, “One Lord, one faith, one baptism” (Eph. 4:5). Today we have sealed our unity with communion of the Holy Mysteries of Christ, and every one of us, in answer to the touch of Grace of the risen Lord, can, together with Thomas, from all his heart exclaim, “My Lord and my God! (John 20:28).

It is remarkable that our present co-serving took place under the roof of this great church of Christ the Savior, whose history has something in common with the Gospel motifs, that is, the earthly life and resurrection of the Lord. This church consecutively went through periods of glory, abuse, complete destruction, and, finally, restoration in even more beauty that it had before. Deeply revered saints of our Church carried out their service here: St. Tikhon, Patriarch of all Russia, and Priest-martyr Alexander Khotovitsky, former dean of this cathedral. They both worked a good deal in spreading the Orthodoxy faith on the North-American continent. Today their efforts are being worthily continued by you, your Eminence, and your co-laborors. Having all the rights of an autocephelous Church, the Orthodox Church in America sucessfully witnesses to Orthodoxy in the New World. Through the efforts of you, Your Eminence, more and more attention is being given to the missionary service of the Church. But otherwise it cannot be as from the very beginning your Church was missionary, which was headed by the great preacher of the Word of God, St. Tikhon, Patriarch of Moscow and all Russia.

Your Eminence! I heartily wish you and your delegation a pleasant and beneficial time in the confines of the Russian Orthodox Church. I rejoice in the ability to interact with you and your delegation and to talk about the fate of American Orthodoxy, the state of affairs in Ecumenical [world-wide] Orthodoxy, and our mutual relations. May these days in Russia be for you full of good impressions and inexhaustible Paschal joy. I want to assure you that you are among brothers and friends.

Christ is Risen!
+Kirill, Patriarch of Moscow and All-Russia

An icon commissioned

My alma mater is constructing a chapel dedicated to Christ the Teacher - at the moment the outer walls are being bricked with internal work to follow. I took this opportunity to have an icon commissioned for the new temple and was lucky enough to find an iconographer who writes beautiful icons in a very traditional manner. I hope to post as the icon is being written over the coming months (using traditional media it's quite a lengthy process). Comments below are explanations provided by the iconographer:


Icon pattern sketch upper half.




Two essential preparatory materials, glue and gesso. The glue is prepared from dried rabbit skin granules, and the gesso (or levkas левкас) is a preparation of water, rabbit skin granules and a blend of chalk and marble dust. The gesso will sit refrigerated for several days to reduce the small bubbles that the stirring process has created by oxidizing the mixture. Use a freshly made gesso too early and these little bubbles will create "pinholes" in the finished surface that will weaken it.




The panel is scored with a sharp blade and coated with rabbit skin glue. The glue, properly prepared, is as strong as any good epoxy. By sinking into the cuts in the wood, it will begin the bonding process that will later include the linen and the gesso.

This panel is cabinetry-grade Baltic birch plywood, so it is already extremely stable. Nevertheless, this initial glue coating is still a good idea, as it will help strengthen it further.

Antiochians meet to discuss changes and upheaval

(Antiochian) - On Friday April 24th, 2009, a special meeting of the Holy Synod of The Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America was held under the chairmanship of His Eminence Metropolitan PHILIP at the Archdiocese Headquarters in Englewood, New Jersey. All of the hierarchs of the Archdiocese were in attendance at the meeting namely:

His Eminence Metropolitan PHILIP
His Grace Bishop ANTOUN
His Grace Bishop JOSEPH
His Grace Bishop BASIL
His Grace Bishop THOMAS
His Grace Bishop MARK
His Grace Bishop ALEXANDER

The sole agenda item was a discussion of the decision of the Holy Synod of Antioch which was adopted on February 24th, 2009. This decision normalized the status of all bishops across the See of Antioch to be that of Auxiliary bishops.

The hierarchs discussed many issues that have been raised by clergy and laity alike regarding this decision. There was agreement that there are some very serious issues that need attention in order that the healing process can proceed. The hierarchs agreed to take some specific actions that can facilitate this healing.

A significant discussion was held regarding obedience to this decision. It was reaffirmed that the Holy Synod of Antioch is the highest ecclesiastical authority in the entire See of Antioch, and that all of its Archdioceses are subject to decisions which are adopted by the Holy Synod. All of the hierarchs affirmed that they are currently in obedience to the Holy Synod of Antioch, and that there was never a question to the contrary. In conjunction with this, the hierarchs acknowledged that the decision had caused concern among the clergy and the people, and that there must be steps taken to begin to heal these misunderstandings.

In addition to the discussion on obedience, the hierarchs were strong and forthright in their expression of love for one other, and their desire to protect the unity of the Archdiocese.

OCA News comments...

(OCA News) - According to sources close to Englewood, the gathering was relatively calm. The Metropolitan persistantly attempted to get the Bishops to sign another, broader statement; but two of the six affected Bishops, Bishop Mark of Toledo and Basil of Wichita refused, expressing their desire to await “clarification” from the Patriarchate itself. Bishop Alexander of Ottawa did not sign the document either, but penned a note on it. The three other Bishops signed.

Thus no “joint” statement could be issued, without making a lack of unity even more obvious.

Perhaps the most revealing document of the encounter is the photo of the gathering, posted on the Archdiocesan website (here). In terms of body language and demeanor it is clear that while Metropolitan Philip remains in the center, only one Bishop (+Antoun) is smiling. +Philip himself is looking at the floor.

The trouble in Antioch remains unresolved.

Bright Week tetrapod

AOI comments on latest letter in Greek / OCA tête à tête

(AOI) - In what can only be described as a radical restructuring of an increasingly public discussion, Met. Gerasimos (GOA, San Francisco) blasts Met. Jonah (OCA) for his recent criticism of the address by Fr. Elpidophoros Lambriniadis at Holy Cross Seminary last month. In the address, Fr. Elpidophoros laid out the rationale for submission of all American Orthodox Christians to Constantinople in what can be generously described as exclusively ethnic terms.

Met. Gerasimos addresses none of Met. Jonah’s criticisms or Fr. Elpidophoros’ rationale. Instead, Met. Gerasimos frames the discussion in terms of the “persecution” of the Constantinopolitan Church, which, he contends, “…has shown us that the Ecumenical Patriarchate must now concern itself not only with attacks by those outside the Church, but also from within the Church, as well.”

No mention is made of the historical and canonical claims made by Fr. Elpidophoros. Neither does Met. Gerasimos address the worldwide resistance to Constantinople’s reading of Canon 28 (see articles), the reduction of Hellenism to Greek ethnic identity, or the servitude of Patriarchal and GOA leaders to the national interests of the Greek state.

Any analysis or criticism of Constantinople’s historical and canonical claims are tantamount to persecution of the Church Met. Gerasimos says in so many words. Is he trying to shut down discussion?

Complete article including letter here.

Greek "Rocket War"

(BBC News) - The inhabitants of the small Greek island of Chios have stage their traditional "Rocket War".

In a bizarre but long-cherished local tradition to celebrate the Orthodox Easter holiday, two churches in the town of Vrodandos fire rockets at each other's churches - while services are held.

Metropolitan Philip to Oklahoma City "Obey"

(OCA News) - In a Great Tuesday letter addressed to the priest and parish council of St. Elijah’s Church in Oklahoma City, and copied to all the Bishops, Metropolitan Philip urges them to cease asking questions about the degrading of the dioceses and the demotion of the diocesan bishops to auxiliary status, and “obey the decision of the Holy Synod of February 24th, 2009.” “I am sure you are very busy,” wrote +Philip, “and I am very busy. Do not concern yourselves with this hierarchical issue.” (Read that decision of the Synod here.)

Philip’s letter was written in response to an “undated letter which you ( [Oklahoma City] have sent me recently concerning the decision of the February 24 2009, Decision of the Holy Synod of Antioch, which is the highest authority of our Antiochian Church in the whole world.” “The decision,” +Philip explained, “speaks for itself”. After citing the Archdiocesan Constitution (Article 1, Section 2, paragraph b) which indicates that the Archdiocese functions as a Self -Ruled Archdiocese from by a “grant” of the Synod of Antioch, the letter continued: “I believe I have answered most, if not all of your questions in my two communiques to you and the entire Archdiocese dated March 4 and March 26 2009.” (Read those documents here and here). The Metropolitan then offered a tortured explanation of recent events, one that offers advances both truth and falsehood within the same paragraph, and often within the same sentence. The Metropolitan wrote:

“1. The ruling of the Synod did not demote Bishop Basil. He is still a Bishop and will continue to be the auxiliary bishop of the Diocese of Wichita and Mid-America.”

The truth of the matter is that Bishop Basil, who had been an auxiliary of Metropolitan Philip with the title “Bishop of Enfeh al-Koura” was publicly installed as a ruling hierarch with the title of “Wichita and Mid-America” on December 15, 2004. The Metropolitan, who was present, and even handed the episcopal staff to +Basil, now appears to have forgotten the event. (You can read a report with photos here.)

Its true in that no one disputes that Bishop Basil “is still a Bishop”, but the Metropolitan is being mendacious by claiming that +Basil will now “continue” to be the “auxiliary bishop of the Diocese of Wichita and Mid-America.” At the time +Philip installed +Basil as the “Bishop of Wichita and Mid-America” there was no mention of his being an “auxiliary”, nor has there been during in the following five years he served as the ruling bishop. How, therefore, could he “continue” in a position no one even claimed he had until February 24, 2009? Worse, it is an outright falsehood to assert that the February 24th decision “did not demote Bishop Basil.” To have +Philip install +Basil as ruling bishop in 2004 and now assert he is only an “auxiliary” bishop, who must, in every way obey his (Philip’s) decisions, is by any rational standard, a demotion.

The Metropolitan, however, explained the situation to the parish in this way: “No one can demote a deacon, a priest or a bishop, unless they do something contrary to the canons of the Church, like disobeying the decision of the Holy Synod. To my knowledge, our bishops have not been under any discipline from the Synod.”

Here one can see the famous mailed fist in a velvet glove that critics of Metropolitan Philip often cite as the source of their fear. Ostensibly Metropolitan Philip was explaining that there has been no “demotion” (despite all evidence to the contrary) since there has been no disciplinary violation to justify it. But notice the one example the Metropolitan gave of a possible violation - “like disobeying the decision of the Holy Synod”. In short, +Philip seeks to drive +Basil, and by extension all the demoted Bishops, into an ecclesiastical Catch-22. They have been demoted - but should they protest that unjust demotion, +Philip would then claim he has grounds to demote them for “disobeying the decision of the Holy Synod”. Clever.

But not clever enough. The history of Orthodoxy is full of examples of Bishops required to resist unjust decisions. As in the military, where one is not required to obey an illegal order, in the Church it is not a violation of the canons to resist an uncanonical act. The Synod of Antioch is clearly within its canonical rights to demote its diocesan Bishops - but only after giving them canonical notice of their disciplinary violations, and a canonical trial (not to mention a conviction) by 12 other Bishops. Since Philip himself admitted there are no disciplinary grounds for a trial, the demotion of the diocesan Bishops, without grounds, is clearly an uncanonical act...and need not be obeyed.

If +Philip’s argument is not really clever, neither is it wise. Once again +Philip called into question the “Self-Rule” he himself has so loudly proclaimed. In the final sentence of his explanation +Philip implied that the Synod of Antioch can discipline diocesan Bishops - a direct contradiction to his previously stated and publicly argued position that all hierarchical discipline in the “Self-Ruled” Antiochian Archdiocese was a matter for the “Local Synod”- not the Synod of Antioch. If the Metropolitan will no longer defend “Self-Rule” or his own “Local Synod”, who will? And what then is the meaning of the last five years?

+Philip himself is more than aware of the problems his new assertions, contradicting his old positions, are causing. He continued: “If you read the decision of the Holy Synod of February 24, 2009 carefully, you will find that the decision did not mention Self-Rule whatsoever. Where did you get the ideal (sic) that we are not a Self-Ruled Archdiocese any more?”

Was this a Freudian typo? Or did the Oklahoma parish just have the courage to ask what everyone else has been thinking - including +Philip himself, it seems. In the end +Philip offered a most extraordinary answer to his own rhetorical question: “You asked me in your letter whether this issue (Self rule) will be addressed again by the Holy Synod. Please be advised that anything can be discussed again by the Holy Synod except the Nicene Creed.”

Not only did +Philip now assert that the Synod Antioch has total authority over the “Self-Ruled” Archdiocese in America, able to demote Bishops and degrade dioceses at will, it would appear, in +Philip’s eyes, it now has more authority than the Ecumenical Councils themselves, not to mention petty things like the canonical tradition of the Orthodox Church, or its own By-laws.

In the face of such an assertion of power, all further discussion truly becomes moot. And so it should come as no surprise that +Philip abruptly ended his letter at this point: “I am sure that you are busy and I am very busy. Do not concern yourselves with this hierarchical issue. I will be discussing the decision of the Synod with our venerable hierarchs on Friday April 24, 2009, and certainly, in the future, it will be discussed with the Holy Synod of Antioch.” He concluded with the words: “We do, however, have to obey the decision of the Holy Synod of February 24, 2009.”

Well, that is the question, isn’t it? And it is one for which +Philip offered no convincing argument - only falsehoods, prevarications, and assertions of unlimited power, amid demands for obedience. Coupled with new calls for basic financial accountability, a minimum of fiscal transparency and new questions about each (read those calls here) it seems that the Antiochian Archdiocese is about to head down the same crooked path other Orthodox in America have so recently travelled. And is the end of this path not already known?

-Mark Stokoe

Moscow Patriarchate speaks on "Christianophobia"

I applaud the Russian Church's bringing this issue to the forefront. If you are publicly Christian I can assume that you have experienced or know someone who has experienced discrimination or hostility of some kind.

Moscow, April 21, (Interfax) - The Russian Orthodox Church has asked the World Conference Against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance (WCAR), which started in Geneva on Monday, to introduce into international law the notion of Christianophobia.
"It is very important to the Russian Orthodox Church to raise the issue of introducing to the list of threats the notion of Christianophobia in addition to anti-Semitism and Islamophobia," deputy head of the Moscow Patriarchate Department for External Church Relations Archpriest Georgy Ryabykh told Interfax-Religion.

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon mentioned anti-Semitism and Islamophobia in his speech at the opening ceremony of the conference, the priest said, regretting that the UN secretary general did not "say a single word about Christianophobia."

Today there are a lot of "examples of violations of Christians' rights, insults of their feelings, public distortion of the Christian teaching to make the notion of Christianophobia enter the international circulation."

Ruskyj Sion responds to Interfax church "take-over" story

Ruskyj Sion, a blogger I follow, commented with the below. It seemed worthy of a reposting here:

One must be careful, when posting "stories" that appear on Ukrainian or Russian news services without a proper understanding of their immediate context, especially now that Ukraine is approaching its first presidential election (25 October 2009) since the Orange Revolution in 2004.

The Kyivan Partiarchate has posted its own version of the event (http://www.cerkva.info/2009/04/18/hram_Beeve.html), claiming that the benefactor of the Church of the Transfiguration, Ivan Salo, bequeathed it to the Kyvian Patriarchate. There was no seizing of church property, nor desecration; moreover, the civil authorities were not called in to intervene.

One must keep in mind that the Sumy Region of Ukraine is from where President Yushchenko hails. Yushchenko has been a strong supporter of the Kyivan Patriarchate and the idea of a Ukrainian Orthodox Church, independent of Moscow.

Hence, it is no surprise that the Sumy Bishop of the Moscow Patriarchate, Jevlohij, wrote to President Yushchenko the following: "Today, your little Fatherland [the Sumy Region] is the only one in Ukraine, where presently the seizing of Orthodox churches continues and pressure is placed upon Orthodox believers. With respect, I ask You, as Head of State, to renew the legal right of the Orthodox inhabitants of the village of Bejevo, Lypovodolyns'kyj region, and stop the schismatics." In his letter of protest, Bishop Jevlohij referred to the members of the Kyivan Patriarchate as "Filaretian sectarians."

In a word, one can expect more stories like this to surface with the forth-coming presidential election. Religion plays a huge role in Ukrainian politics: pro-Russian candidates seek out the votes of the Ukrainian faithful belonging to the Moscow Patriarchate, while Western-leaning candidates rely on the votes of Ukrainian believers of those religious confessions independent of Moscow.

This simplification of things might help your readers unfamiliar with the Ukrainian reality place the Interfax "story" in its larger context.

Consecration of Bishop Daniel of Ukrainian Orthodox USA

Interfax none to happy with UOC-KP

Moscow, April 20, (Interfax) – On the Holy Friday, schismatics of the so-called “Kiev Patriarchate” captured the Transfiguration Church in the village of Beyevo, the Sumy Region, the Yedinoye Otechestvo Ukrainian public organization told an Interfax-Religion correspondent.

According to the organization’s official and editor of its web site Olga Kravets, Filaret’s followers “barricaded inside and desecrated the church not with their presence, but also with their excrement.”

“As the Satan is imitation of God, Filaret’s group is a parody on the Church,” Kravets said and added that Easter services would be celebrated in Beyevo in any case “even if we have to conduct them outdoors at the entry to the captured and desecrated Church.”

Ukrainian activists addressed the governor of the Sumy Region Nikolay Lavrik a telegram saying that “they are indignant at trampling of Orthodox believers rights in the Sumy Region.”

Update on proposed Romanian metropolia for North America

(ROEA News) - The series of meetings between the Hierarchs of the two Romanian Orthodox Episcopates in the USA and Canada continued recently with a common meeting of the Diocesan Council of the Romanian Orthodox Episcopate of America (Vatra) and the Archdiocesan Council of the Romanian Orthodox Archdiocese of both Americas (under the canonical authority of the Romanian Patriarchate). The majority of Orthodox clerics from USA and Canada considered this meeting to be an historic one, given the fact that it follows along last year’s decisions made by both Congresses to continue efforts towards their union in a single grouping. The basis of the discussions- held at St. Mary’s Cathedral in Cleveland- was the Joint Dialogue Commission’s document regarding the creation of the Orthodox Metropolitanate of North America. Among the main problems discussed were those referring to the nature of the autonomy of the future Metropolitanate and its relationship with the Romanian Orthodox Church (BOR), the administrative union of all Orthodox Christians in North and South America, and of no lesser importance, the issues regarding the means of spiritual healing of wounds produced over 60 years of religious division of Romanian Orthodox in USA and Canada.

The meeting, jointly presided by His Eminence Nathaniel and His Eminence Nicolae, the Archbishops of both Orthodox church groupings in USA and Canada, was finalized through a document- proposal of the principles that will be presented to the next Congresses of both Romanian Episcopates for debate and ratification; thereafter these proposals would be presented to the Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church, which would then approve the inception of the future North- American Metropolitanate. In this context, one of the supporters of the union of both Romanian Episcopates, Fr. Cezar Vasiliu, Parish Priest of St. Nicholas church of Montreal, presented the above- mentioned news items as part of a Conference he held in front of his parishioners, and in the presence of Ioan Casian, Vicar Bishop of the other Episcopate, all this as a sign of the hope for unity. Fr. Vasiliu did not hide the existence of some form of opposition to this project, admitting that there exists a “nucleus” [of people] who vehemently oppose the union with the “Mother Church” - a nucleus made up of a few (13!) Orthodox churches, the majority being from the “Vatra” Episcopate. However, Fr. Cezar Vasiliu says and hopes that the public actions (including via the Internet) of those who oppose the union of the Episcopates, have as effect only the delaying of the final decision, but in no way hindering the actual union of both Episcopates.

Pascha in Moscow

Metropolitan Jonah apologizes for Vespers comments

SYOSSET, NY (OCA Communications) - On Great, Holy and Good Friday, April 17, 2009, His Beatitude, Metropolitan Jonah, Primate of the Orthodox Church in America, issued the following statement in response to recent commentary on his April 5, 2009 sermon, delivered at Saint Seraphim Cathedral, Dallas, TX.

“I greet you in a spirit of repentance and forgiveness as we celebrate the Passion of our Lord Jesus Christ. Certain comments that were made in the course of my sermon have provoked a reaction from my Orthodox brothers that I did not intend or foresee. I regret making those comments. In particular, I realize that some characterizations regarding the Ecumenical Patriarch and the Patriarchate of Constantinople were insensitive. As the Primate of the Orthodox Church in America, I am motivated only by the desire to underscore our fervent hope that future discussion about the so-called Orthodox Diaspora will include the Orthodox Church in America and other Orthodox jurisdictions in North America. It is also my purpose to affirm our Church in the face of those who would question our presence as a local Orthodox Church in North America.

“It is now clear that I made statements that were uncharitable. I do apologize to His All-Holiness as well as to others who were offended. I also hope that through personal contact and acquaintance we might be able to overcome any misunderstandings that might arise or have clouded the relationship between our Churches in the past. My hope is that we might cooperate in an attitude of mutual support in our common mission, to spread the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. In the spirit of this Great and Holy Friday, I sincerely pray that as we contemplate Our Lord, Who ascended the Cross to “bring all men to Himself,” we will see in His patience and long-suffering the way to continue our work together for the witness and mission of Orthodoxy in the world and for Orthodox unity in North America.”

Easter and the Armenian Church

Slideshow available here.

Baking bread for the Metropolitan

Snap!

H/T: American Catholic

April 3, 2009

The Reverend John Jenkins, C.S.C
President, University of Notre Dame
400 Main Building
Notre Dame, IN 46556

Reverend and dear Father Jenkins,

Permit me to add my name as well to the long list of Bishops of the Catholic Church who are utterly appalled at your dedication to immorality and wrong-doing represented by your support for the obscenity called “The Vagina Monologues” and your absolute indifference to the murderous abortion program and beliefs of this President of the United States.

The fact that you have some sort of past connection with the State of Nebraska makes it all the more painful that the Catholic people here have to see your betrayal of the moral teachings of the Catholic Church.

I can assure you of my prayers for your conversion, and for the conversion of your formerly Catholic University. I am,
Sincerely yours in Christ Jesus,

The Most Reverend Fabian W. Bruskewitz
Bishop of Lincoln

Great and Holy Friday: The Entombment Vespers

H/T: Blog of the East

Patriarch Kirill performs rite of feet washing

Ora et Labora writes the below:

Today His All-Holiness, Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia, performed the rite of the washing of the feet at the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy at the Annunciation Cathedral in Moscow. This is the first time in recent history that a Patriarch of Moscow has performed this rite. I have adopted what follows from this story (in Russian); for a video (in Russian) see here.

Following the example of Christ, Who washed the feet of His twelve disciples before the Mystical Supper (cf., Jn 13: 1-17), the Patriarch washed the feet of twelve priests. After the prayer at the ambo, the Patriarch went to the cathedra in the center of the church, around which twelve priests were sitting on benches. The Patriarch removed his outer vestments (omophorion, panaghia, and sakkos) and tied a long white towel around his shoulder and waist. The senior priest, taking the role of Peter, first refused, saying: Thou shalt never wash my feet. The Patriarch replied with the words of Christ: If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with Me. The senior priest replied: Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head. To which the Patriarch replied again with the words of Christ: He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet.

After the washing of the feet of all twelve priests, His All-Holiness, Patriarch Kirill, put his vestments back on and offered a sermon from the ambon. He first congratulated all present on Holy Thursday, on which the institution of the Mystery of the Eucharist is commemorated. “Through the Mystery of the Eucharist we, through the power of the Holy Spirit, become participants not only of the Mystical Supper, but of all that the Savior accomplished,” remarked the Patriarch.

“Eating of the Body and Blood of the Savior,” the Patriarch continued, “we become communicants of His Divine life, becoming participants of His Divine Kingdom. It is namely Communion of the Body and Blood of the Savior that helps us to overcome sin. No exertion whatsoever of will or mind, no concentration of man’s feelings, is capable of overcoming the power of sin. However, taking on the power of the Savior, we become stronger than any dark forces.”

“In our tumultuous and troubled times, when man is susceptible to various afflictions and temptations,” the Patriarch continued, “we must especially come running to Christ’s Chalice and reverently eat of the Body and Blood of the Savior for our salvation.” Today’s celebration, in the words of the Patriarch, is an invitation for us to live an active liturgical life, not as observers, but as participants.

The Patriarch then related that, in performing the rite of the washing of the feet, he had “performed an action prescribed for us by our Holy Fathers.”

“In imitation of the Savior, the Patriarch today washed the feet of priests who symbolized the twelve Apostles,” said His All-Holiness, emphasizing that this rite helps us to understand the depths of the humility of Christ, Who became man in order to save us.

“At the Mystical Supper, bending His knees, He washed the feet of His disciples, in the same manner as a simple servant normally would, to demonstrate that every human person is important before God,” said the Patriarch. “Precisely this understanding helps a Christian to be a humble person, honestly fulfilling his responsibilities, whatever they may be, remembering that the fulfillment of one’s responsibilities, and the honors that go with it, does not overshadow the great truth that we are all equal before God.”

“Pride, however,” the Patriarch concluded, “destroys the connection that the Lord established with us after His suffering on the Cross and His Resurrection.”

At the same Liturgy, following the completion of the Eucharistic Canon, the Patriarch consecrated Holy Chrism. (See the story, in Russian, here.)