Complete article here and recording of event here.(SVOTS) - Dr. Rowan Williams began his New York City tour this past week with duties related to his role as Archbishop of Canterbury, but ended it by demonstrating his academic acumen and continued interest in the Orthodox Christian faith. On Saturday, January 30, 2010, the Anglican archbishop delivered the 27th annual Father Alexander Schmemann Memorial Lecture— this year titled “Theology and the Contemplative Calling: The Image of Humanity in the Philokalia”— and received an honorary doctoral degree from St. Vladimir’s Seminary.
During his visit, Dr. Williams also attended Divine Liturgy for the Feast of the Three Hierarchs in the seminary chapel, and had a cordial and frank discussion with St. Vladimir’s theological faculty at a private brunch. After the Divine Liturgy, Metropolitan Jonah, primate of the Orthodox Church in America (OCA), and the Anglican archbishop both publically expressed their desire for a deeper personal friendship and their hope for deeper understanding and cooperation between their respective communions. Additionally, Dr. Williams thanked the seminary community for its "overwhelming warm and generous welcome," which he stated, surpassed even his first visit to St. Vladimir's in 1974, and which was all that he "had hoped and prayed for."
The Anglican archbishop received the invitation to be this year’s Schmemann Lecturer for his pioneering work in Russian Orthodox studies and his long-standing interest in Eastern Christian studies. His doctoral work at Oxford University focused on Vladimir N. Lossky, the famous mid-twentieth-century Orthodox theologian; and his first book, Wound of Knowledge, was a study of spirituality from apostolic times to the sixteenth century.
Dr. Williams’s lecture on the “Philokalia,” a collection of monastic writings ranging from the fourth through the fifteenth centuries, reflected his massive knowledge on the subject. Beginning and ending with quotes from Fr. Alexander Schmemann’s classic work, For the Life of the World, he delivered a discourse on the spiritual battle that human beings wage in journeying from a self-centered existence to a life in Christ, according to the writings of the Christian ascetics. Nearly four hundred people attended the lecture...
Monday, February 1, 2010
Dr. Rowan Williams and his visit to St. Vlad's
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Have you heard any rumblings about this? Here at Nashotah House I guess many Anglicans are angry about it, and just casually poking around a Old Calendarist blog it seemed as though she (and many others) were very angry. Although this lady seems generally angry about everything, so it's hard to gauge.
ReplyDeleteLots of unhappy people. I know a few alums not giving money to their alma mater this year.
ReplyDeleteArchbishop Rowen may be a brilliant theologian and knowledgeable in Orthodox Spirituality but he is, based on his stated beliefs and actions as head of the Church of England and Anglican Communion, a heretic!
ReplyDeleteI cannot believe what Metropolitan Jonah said which is 180 degrees from what he said at the ACNA meeting.
I am disgusted, dismayed and utterly flabbergasted! I am embarrassed and ashamed to be OCA. Understanding and co-operation? Surely you jest Metropolitan!
I could see how people would be very angry with Met. Jonah, certainly. Without trying to be disrespectful, I feel like he's trying to pander to the AC by this honorary degree. I don't see why it matters so much, perhaps an effort to try and swell the OCA ranks? I still live at Nashotah House and I tell you that these folks are dead set on being fully recognized in their orders, liturgy, and patrimony. There doesn't seem like much a future in this1
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