Antiochian Archdiocese launches new online bookstore

The Antiochian Archdiocese has thrown their hat into the already packed online bookstore arena. I may order one or two items to see how the service and pricing are. To see my review of online retailers, see this posting.

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http://store.antiochianvillage.org/

(Antiochian) - We are pleased to announce that on June 19th the Antiochian Village Bookstore and Gift Shop went “live” with its new online store. Our ability to offer this has been made possible in large part by the efforts of Mother Alexandra of the Convent of St. Thekla, and fulfills a vision for our store which has been discussed for the past few years. Through her efforts, and with the help of Adam Henderson (a parishioner at St. Mary Church in Johnstown, PA), our store has entered the 21st century. Applying their computer expertise and hard work, all the product in the “brick and mortar” store at the Heritage and Learning Center is being managed and maintained by a retail management software program thus making the launch of the online component possible. Many hours went in to writing descriptions, photographing and weighing product for display on the store website.

Initially, the online store is offering a wide array of quality Orthodox Christian books as well as many other titles related to spiritual and personal progress. As you will see when perusing the categories listed on the website, our selections include a broad scope of books for students of the faith at all levels, for families, for children, and more. We also carry select titles of works published by the Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese Department of Publications.

For students of the Antiochian House of Studies (AHoS), we are your one-stop shop! Whether you are enrolled in the St. Stephen’s Course of Study, the Doctor of Ministry degree program, or other AHoS degree programs and specialties, you will find every book both required and recommended for your course work - if it is available, we have it. Books are organized on the website by units for those enrolled in the St. Stephen's Course of Study with a separate link for the Doctor of Ministry program.

In the near future, we will begin adding a variety of gift items including icons, prayer ropes, jewelry, and many other quality goods pertaining to our Orthodox Christian faith and practice. Stay tuned! Visit! Enjoy!

Please note that there are also links to the bookstore on the home page of the Antiochian.org under “Featured Links” and under “Publications of the Archdiocese”/“Books”. Additionally, there is a link to the online store on the home page of the Antiochian Village Conference and Retreat Center website.

EU Court upholds states' right to deny same-sex "marriage"

Strasbourg, France, Jun 29, 2010 / 01:52 pm (CNA) - The European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg, France has ruled that European countries currently prohibiting same-sex marriage are not violating the human rights of their citizens.

In a 4-3 ruling, the court ruled against a lawsuit filed by two Austrian men who were denied permission to marry in 2002 by Austrian officials.

The homosexual couple argued that their right to contract marriage, according to the European Convention of Human Rights, had been violated. However, the court ruled that the convention did not address the topic of same-sex marriage, an issue that it said falls under the authority of individual states.

In its decision, the court acknowledged “an emerging European consensus towards legal recognition of same-sex couples.” Nevertheless, it continued, “there is not yet a majority of States providing for legal recognition of same-sex couples.”

The court also said that if countries choose to allow other means of recognizing same-sex relationships, they are not obligated to ensure that such relationships are equal to marriage in every respect.

Austria passed a law allowing for recognition of same-sex couples with some, but not all, of the legal benefits of marriage. The law went into effect in January 1, 2010, eight years after the lawsuit filed by the two men.

Celebrating the feast with your children

From The Liturgical Year for Little Ones on the Feast of Saints Peter and Paul.

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I was reading from the Prologue of Ohrid this morning and was struck by the homily of the fear of God on the above verse. At one point he writes:

"Will I be saved? This question should torment every one of us in the same way that the sower is tormented by the question: Will I reap the fruit of my labor in the field? The sower labors and fears every day. Let us also labor and fear "all the time of our sojourning" on earth."

As trite as it may be to say, it is very easy to have anxiety and to fear earthly things. To fear God--that is a struggle. However, it is a struggle we need to embrace and seek that we may have the same boldness as Paul one day and be able to say, "Not I, but Christ liveth in me" (Galatians 2:20).

To celebrate the feast:

Here is a list of activities I compiled last summer for this feast.

In addition to these activities, I have a challenge for all you mothers (and fathers). We all have fears and anxieties we struggle with. I was told during a confession once that it was my duty as a mother not to pass on my fears to my children. What is the first step to doing this? Control your mouth. Do not speak of your fears in front of your children. During your prayers, seek repentance for those earthly fears and ask that the Lord replace them with the holy fear of God. This is what we want to teach our children: to fear the Lord our God.

May the Lord have mercy on us and each of us learn to be driven by the fear of God in our daily lives.

Feast Day of Saints Peter and Paul

The Feast of Saints Peter and Paul, or the Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul, is a liturgical feast in honour of the martyrdom in Rome of the apostles Saint Peter and Saint Paul, which is observed on 29 June. The celebration is of ancient origin, the date selected being either the anniversary of their death or of the translation of their relics.

For Eastern Orthodox and some Eastern Catholic Christians this feast also marks the end of the Apostles' Fast (which began on the Monday following All Saints' Sunday, i.e., the second Monday after Pentecost). It is considered a day of recommended attendance, whereon one should attend the All-Night Vigil (or at least Vespers) on the eve, and the Divine Liturgy on the morning of the feast. For those who follow the traditional Julian Calendar, 29 June falls on the Gregorian Calendar date of 12 July. (from Wikipedia)


Troparion - Tone 4

First-enthroned of the apostles,
teachers of the universe:
Entreat the Master of all
to grant peace to the world,
and to our souls great mercy!

Kontakion - Tone 2

O Lord, You have taken up to eternal rest
and to the enjoyment of Your blessings
the two divinely-inspired preachers, the leaders of the Apostles,
for You have accepted their labors and deaths as a sweet-smelling sacrifice,
for You alone know what lies in the hearts of men.

Kontakion - Tone 2

Today Christ the Rock glorifies with highest honor
The rock of Faith and leader of the Apostles,
Together with Paul and the company of the twelve,
Whose memory we celebrate with eagerness of faith,
Giving glory to the one who gave glory to them!

The fast-friendly road trip

The family is making a road trip up North in July. On fasting days travel across this great country can be difficult. The obvious "adult" choice is to pack food ahead of time as it's cheaper, faster on the road, and without surprises, but where is the fun in it?

So, starting in Texas and making our way to Pennsylvania, we need some restaurant advice. Sit-down dining is fair game as is drive-through fare. Let's see some comments!

• Burger King: Veggie Burgers (we 86 the mayo)
• Chipotle/Qdoba: Veggie Burritos or Tacos
• KFC: We just buy a bunch of vegetable sides
• Taco Bell: Fresco Style Bean Burritos

Concelebration of Divine Liturgy in Cappadocia

(mospat.ru) - On 27 June 2010, Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, head of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Department for External Church Relations, concelebrated the Divine Liturgy with His Holiness Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople, His Beatitude Pope and Patriarch Theodore of Alexandria and All Africa, and His Beatitude Archbishop Hieronymos of Athens and All Greece. The Liturgy was celebrated at the Church of the Great Martyrs Ss Theodore Tyron and Theodore Stratelates in Malakopi (Derinkuyu).

The monastic choir of Xenophontos Monastery sang during the divine service.

In his homily delivered after the Gospel reading His Holiness Patriarch Bartholomew welcomed Metropolitan Hilarion as a wonderful theologian who has dedicated his studies particularly to St. Gregory the Theologian and remarked that Metropolitan Hilarion and his suite have arrived for pilgrimage to the holy sites of Cappadocia with the blessing His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia. The Primate of the Orthodox Church of Constantinople added that in 2007 His Holiness, who was Metropolitan of Smolensk and Kaliningrad at that time, took part in the similar pilgrimage.

His Beatitude Archbishop Hieronymos of Athens and All Greece and Metropolitan Hilarion addressed the Primates of the Local Orthodox Churches, bishops, clerics, monks and laymen at the end of the service. Metropolitan Hilarion said:

“I wholeheartedly greet you all who have gathered in this holy church on behalf of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia and on my own behalf.

Read more »

A great story from the blog Ad Orientem

From the blog Ad Orientem:

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I am visiting the family back in upstate New York for a little bit and today went off to the 9:30 AM divine liturgy at one of the eight(!) local Orthodox parishes that are within a convenient drive of my father's house. The liturgy was reasonably well attended for midsummer and was unremarkable until the time came for the last major censing by the deacon. The priest was at the altar with the doors open when suddenly a small boy, not more than four or five years old, broke loose from his parents and ran up towards the altar and... charged right through the doors and started tugging on the priests vestments.

I can now relate that the sudden and simultaneous intake of breath on the part of a couple of hundred people creates a very distinctive sound. But the silence that followed was almost painful. The parents... visibly horrified seemed not sure of whether or not to rush up and add to the chaos in the sanctuary. This was coupled with a deep silence from everyone else frantically trying to avert their eyes from what was at the least surely going to prove a terrible embarrassment if not a major catastrophe.

Then in a few seconds the crisis was ended. The priest looked over his shoulder and after a moment of visible (and understandable) shock, smiled and I thought he was going to laugh. With a quick motion of his hand he called over the deacon who had been in the process of censing and calmly relieved the deacon of his censor. He then bent over and handed the censor to the little boy, showing him how to hold it and swing it, and then directed him to finish censing the iconostasis and assorted icon stands.

Off went the overjoyed little boy, with the deacon hot on his trail, happily censing everything that looked even remotely like an icon. OK OK he almost knocked over a candle stand but the deacon saved the day. After he was done the deacon relieved him of the censor and quietly guided the happiest child in the city back to his parents.

I have no idea how many church canons or liturgical rubrics were violated today. But I can tell you that there was not a dry eye in the church.

Delegation from Constantinople makes annual visit to Rome

VATICAN CITY, 28 JUN 2010 (VIS) - The Pope today received in audience the members of a delegation from the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople, who have come to Rome for the Solemnity of Sts. Peter and Paul Apostles.

The delegation, sent by His Holiness Bartholomew I, is composed of His Eminence Gennadios (Limouris), metropolitan of Sassima, joint secretary of the Joint International Commission for Theological Dialogue between the Catholic and Orthodox Churches, and vice moderator of the central committee of the World Council of Churches in Geneva, Switzerland; His Eminence Bartholomaios (Ioannis Kessidis), bishop of Arianzos, assistant to the metropolitan of Germany, and Deacon Theodoros Meimaris of the patriarchal see of Fanar.

At the start of his English-language address to the group, the Holy Father rendered thanks unto God "that the relations between us are characterised by sentiments of mutual trust, esteem and fraternity, as is amply testified by the many meetings that have already taken place in the course of this year".

"All this gives grounds for hope that Catholic-Orthodox dialogue will also continue to make significant progress", he added.

Referring to the Joint International Commission for Theological Dialogue, the Pope noted how it is now "at a crucial point, having begun last October in Paphos to discuss the 'The Role of the Bishop of Rome in the Communion of the Church in the First Millennium'. With all our hearts we pray that, enlightened by the Holy Spirit, the members of the commission will continue along this path during the forthcoming plenary session in Vienna, Austria, and devote to it the time needed for thorough study of this delicate and important issue. For me it is an encouraging sign that Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I and the Holy Synod of Constantinople share our firm conviction of the importance of this dialogue".

Benedict XVI then noted how the forthcoming Special Assembly of the Synod of Bishops for the Middle East, due to be held in October, will dedicate particular attention to "the theme of ecumenical co-operation between the Christians of that region". And he highlighted the fact that that "the difficulties that the Christians of the Middle East are experiencing are in large measure common to all: living as a minority, and yearning for authentic religious freedom and for peace. Dialogue is needed with the Islamic and Jewish communities".

"In this context I shall be very pleased to welcome the fraternal delegation which the Ecumenical Patriarch will send in order to participate in the work of the Synodal Assembly", the Pope concluded.

Impressions of the Orientale Lumen Conference

From the blog, The Divine Life:

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This week I attended the 14th annual Orientale Lumen conference, held at the John Paul II cultural center in Washington, D.C. This was my third year attending, and it was quite enjoyable and informative this year. I am a very enthusiastic supporter of these conferences, as I believe that they foster, on a grass-roots level, the effort to have the Church breathe with both lungs, East and West. The path to unity is two-fold: official dialogue at the highest levels of the Church, and growing appreciation and acceptance of each other’s traditions in the pews. The OL conference works to make the second of these two objectives happen.

The theme of this year’s conference was “the councils of the church” and each of the speakers reflected on the work of the councils in the life of the Church from different perspectives.

Abp. Donald Wuerl

The first plenary speaker was Donald Wuerl, archbishop of Washington, D.C. He began by commenting on Christ’s question to the apostles, “Who do you say that I am?” and then noted that the first four ecumenical councils (Nicea, Constantinople, Ephesus, and Chalcedon) were the Church’s dogmatic answer to that question. One of the key events in Church history, according to Archbishop Wuerl, was Nicea’s decision that truths about Jesus could be expressed in non-biblical language. Today, we take this for granted, but this was a momentous decision at the time.

Met. Jonah

The next plenary speaker was Metropolitan Jonah of the Orthodox Church in America. I heard His Beatitude at last year’s OL conference, and he is my favorite hierarch today. As someone said to me, he is “charming and disarming.” His talk was a paper on the relationship between conciliarity and hierarchy in the Church. While his talk was interesting, the Metropolitan really shines during question and answer. He never avoids a question and can be quite blunt in his answers. In all his answers, one thing comes out: he is devoted to following Jesus Christ and making him the focus of all his activities. He returns to this focus on Christ constantly no matter the topic, and I found it quite refreshing.

Archimandrite Robert Taft

On Wednesday morning, Fr. Robert Taft, S.J. gave the third plenary talk. His presentation was a paper on the development of the Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom and how the councils affected that development. Those who are familiar with Fr. Taft know that he is not shy about giving his opinions and he didn’t disappoint in this regard at the conference. He was actively engaged in all the panels and shared many useful bits of information on a wide variety of topics. However, I will say that I found some of his denigrating comments about what he called “right-wing conservative wackos” (i.e. traditional Roman Catholics) to be uncharitable and stereotypical. One can disagree with other viewpoints without demeaning those who hold them and unity will only come about when we charitably engage all elements in the Church. But Fr. Taft has done a tremendous amount of good in the Church in regards to East-West relations, and we should all be thankful for his work over the years.

Read more »

Sorry, Team USA.

There's a tear in my beer
'cause I'm cryin' for you,dear
you are on my lonely mind.
Into these last nine beers
I have shed a million tears.
You are on my lonely mind
I'm gonna keep drinkin'
until I'm petrified.
And then maybe these tears
will leave my eyes.
There's a tear in my beer
cause I'm crying' for you dear
You are on my lonely mind.

Last night I walked the floor
and the night before
You are on my lonely mind.
It seems my life is through
and I'm so doggone blue
You are on my lonely mind.
I'm gonna keep drinkin'
till I can't move a toe
and then maybe my heart
won't hurt me so.
There's a tear in my beer
cause I'm cryin' for you dear
You are on my lonely mind.

Lord, I've tried and I've tried
But my tears I can't hide
You are on my lonely mind.
All these blues that I've found
Have really got me down
You are on my lonely mind
I'm gonna keep drinkin'
till I can't even think
Cause in the last week
I ain't slept a wink
There's a tear in my beer
cause I'm crying for you dear
You are on my lonely mind.

An interview with Bishop Thomas of Charleston

(antiochian.org) - Recently, the editors at Antiochian.org interviewed His Grace Bishop THOMAS of the Diocese of Charleston, Oakland, and the Mid-Atlantic. This will be the first of a series of interviews with our bishops to be published in the coming months (read His Grace's biography here).

1. Your Grace, you attended the recent Episcopal Assembly in New York. Do you have any thoughts for our readers on this historic gathering?

Given the mutual isolation of our various jurisdictions for so many years, I found it especially encouraging that fifty-five bishops of Orthodoxy on this continent were able to come together, speak the same language together, and begin getting about the business of working out a common Church life together. This is what unity actually consists of, that we live together as brothers and sisters in Christ.

We have to be mindful, however, of some of the things that were pointed out by His Eminence, Metropolitan PHILIP, in regard to our history in this country, most especially that we as Orthodox Christians in America are not an infant church. As such, any decisions that have to be made regarding Orthodoxy in this country should be decisions made amongst the bishops here in the United States. This is not to say that we don't look for guidance and advice from our patriarchs, but the hierarchs here have to be key players in all matters that pertain to the Church here in America, because they are the pastors of this flock.

I encourage folks to pay special attention to the published words spoken by Metropolitan PHILIP and Archbishop NICOLAE at the Assembly. Also of particular note is the speech by Archbishop DEMETRIOS.

2. It seems that all of the Orthodox jurisdictions in the U.S. have endured great struggles and challenges in the past few years. What encouragement do you have for the faithful?

Having grown up in the Church, I feel that our Archdiocese is not only doing a better job of ministering to the faithful, but is particularly doing a much better job in reaching out to those who are not Orthodox. Since the days of the Apostles, struggle and challenge have always been a part of the Christian Church, and there will continue to be struggles and challenges. I believe that we're doing a much better job in addressing these than we did many years ago.

The faithful should be encouraged that we're now beginning to see signs that there is a willingness among many members of the episcopacy of Orthodoxy in America to work together as a family. This is a significant step forward.

3. You travel a great deal. How would you describe parish life in your Diocese today? What are some of the best things happening in communities, and what are some of the greatest challenges?

Parish life in our diocese is one in which the priests are working to make their parishes in one respect a hospital for sinners and in another respect a bridge or gateway to the Kingdom of God for all that are in their communities, both the Orthodox and the non-Orthodox.

Many of our parishes have a full liturgical cycle, excellent Christian education, and wonderful ministry to people of all ages. Some of the greatest challenges we face are the fact that close to half of the parishes in the diocese are not able to pay their priests full time and that many of the clergy have to work secular jobs and cannot focus on the priesthood full time. Also, the economic situation has created a challenging atmosphere for many of our parishes, and a number of our parishes are in also areas with declining population. We will have to renew our commitment to determining how we are going to reach out into our communities, either to expand existing parishes or to begin new parishes in areas that need them. Some of our parishes have for a long time been associated primarily with a single ethnicity. The success of evangelizing the communities surrounding those parishes, in order to bring new people into Orthodoxy, will largely depend on how receptive the people in those parishes are to such a move.

4. What message do you give to the youth when you speak to them during your parish visits?

When I meet with the youth, I remind them that the Church is not a club or an organization as such. The Church is a hospital for our sins. The Church offers salvation. This can't be said enough.The Church is a place where the Kingdom of God and Earth meet. When we're in church, we're in God's heavenly Kingdom. We remain in the Church so that we will be one with God unto ages of ages in His eternal Kingdom.

5. Which saint has meant the most to you lately, and why?

We're currently in the fast of Ss. Peter and Paul, so these saints have special meaning at this moment. Of course, they always mean something special to us, particularly because of their work of evangelism. It is especially important for us in America to unite ourselves to their ministry, to ask for their intercessions and help, so that we may continue to evangelize America.

6. As your clergy reflect back to you their concerns and hopes, what are some common themes as they express themselves to you? What can we as laypeople do, to help and support them, and their families?

Our clergy in this diocese, for the most part, are concerned with the salvation of their people. Laypeople can support them by coming to the church for the purpose of working out their salvation. They can support the clergy by worshiping more, confessing more, taking the sacraments more, and focusing on the Kingdom of God. In short, the best thing the laity can do for their clergy is to become serious about Jesus Christ and His Kingdom. The rest follows from that.

Fight with pride, gentlemen.

Landon Donovan of the United States (front left) celebrates after scoring a goal with fellow team members Clint Dempsey (back left) and Edson Buddle, during the World Cup group C soccer match between the United States and Algeria at the Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria, South Africa, Wednesday, June 23, 2010. (AP Photo/Michael Sohn)

Russian Orthodox-Polish Catholic reconciliation

(mospat.ru) - The first session of the working group of the Russian Orthodox Church and the Catholic Church in Poland on the elaboration of a document on the contribution of Churches to reconciliation between peoples of Russia and Poland took place in Warsaw on 24 June 2010. The group was set up at a meeting held in the capital of Poland on 26 February 2010.

The Moscow Patriarchate was represented by Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, head of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Department for External Church Relations, his deputy Hegumen Philipp (Ryabykh), and DECR secretary for far abroad countries Rev. Sergiy Zvonarev. Taking part in the session on behalf of the Catholic Church in Poland were the Primate of Poland Archbishop Henryk Muszynski, general secretary of the Polish Episcopal Conference Bishop Stanislaw Budzik, and president of the Council for Ecumenism Bishop Tadeusz Pikus.

The working group discussed two versions of the document prepared by the Orthodox and Catholic delegations, reached agreement on its structure and main contents, and decided that they will consider the grievances of the past in the spirit of Christ compassion and mutual forgiveness, whereas experts will make thorough research into the authenticity of historical facts and interpret them. The major part of the document will contain definitions of the spheres of cooperation between the two Churches at present and in the future for the good of the peoples of Poland and Russia.

The next session is due to take place in Moscow.

Met. Volodymyr addresses EU court on crucifix ban

(RISU) - The website of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church-Moscow Patriarchate (UOC-MP) on June 24, 2010, posted the text of the address of the head of the UOC-MP to the president of the European Court of Human Rights on the ban of crosses in Italy. Please see the text below.


Honorable Mr. Jean Paul Costa
President of the European Court of Human Rights


Honorable Mr. President!


The multimillion flock of faithful of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church was unhappily surprised and much disturbed by the decision of the European Court of Human Rights that banned the placement of the icons, crosses, and crucifixions of Our Lord Jesus Christ in public places of Italy, in particular, in schools. Though the decision given allegedly concerns internal affairs of an individual country, it deeply relates to the issue of freedom of confession and cultural identity of other countries – members of the Council of Europe.

History and culture of the majority of European countries took shape under the influence of Christianity, so, there is no doubt that Europe may be called a Christian part of the world. At the same time Christianity, as the events of the last decades testified, treats in respect the feelings of both believers and other people considering themselves atheists.

The presence of the Christian symbols in public places in no way aims to humiliate someone's religious feelings, demonstrate superiority, or exclude anyone from the society, but is a clear and open expression of the traditional faith and reminds of the high ethical values of the Gospel. For the love of thy neighbor and treating him the same way you want to be treated –

These are the basic commandments of Christ, for which He took death for all people. Therefore, in Christianity the crucifixion proclaims salvation and freedom of people. It does not impose a certain religion, but manifests the highest altruism and generosity, and the highest solidarity offered to everyone.

Thus, the Christian identity of the native people of Europe, whose visual expression is Christian symbols, can be preserved and transferred to the future generations in the tideway of the ancestors' faith and tradition. Therefore placement of the religious symbols in public places, especially at schools, among children, is so important and even necessary.

It should be also noted that in all the countries of Europe the right of religious freedom exists and becomes more entrenched. Besides, in many countries of the world the religious symbols are allowed by law or are generally accepted. Freedom of religion or confession is available and open for everyone, though the right of confession for some people should not divest this right from the others, separating them from the cultural roots of their own nation, its traditions and customs.

In the end I'd like to express hope that the European Court for Human Rights will treat with understanding the issue of displaying Christian symbols in public places of Italy. During two thousand years of existence of Christianity in this country, as well a in the other countries of Europe, it became an unalienable part of social, cultural, and private life. Thus, a possibility of confessing openly their own religious beliefs, using traditional symbols, amongst others, is a real manifestation of the freedom of religion.

Hoping for a positive attitude to our request, respectfully,



+ Volodymyr
Metropolitan of Kyiv and All Ukraine
Primate of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church

The Church in Syria

(ACN) - Christianity in Syria: An interview with Maronite Archbishop Samir Nassar of Damascus. Damascus: Where St. Paul was struck blind so that we might see. This interview was conducted by Mark Riedemann for "Where God Weeps," a weekly television and radio show produced by the Catholic Radio and Television Network in conjunction with the international Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need.

Q) Your Excellency, Damascus, where you are the Archbishop, is a city at the heart of Christianity where St. Paul was struck blind so that he could then later see. Can you tell us a little bit about the situation of Christians today in Damascus?

A) Damascus and Syria is a very old Christian country. We use to have in Syria 33,000 churches. Syria use to be predominantly Christian and we still have many famous Christian places. We have many Christian churches that are still very alive. Christians in Syria are not guests. They are the roots and we use to live side by side with the Muslims since the seventh century.


Q) Christianity however was deeply rooted in Syria before Islam.

A) Yes, before St. Paul because St. Paul was baptized and was able to see again in Damascus which means that Christianity existed before St. Paul.


Q) How many of the 33,000 Churches you mentioned are still active today?

A) We have three kinds of Churches. Firstly, we have the monophysite [1] churches; they are the Syriac Orthodox and the Armenian Orthodox and they have their Patriarch living in Damascus. And then we have the Greek Orthodox, the biggest Church in Syria and then we have many Catholic Churches and of course some Protestant churches. All these Churches are very old except the Protestant which came in the last century; all the other churches are of the Apostles. I belong to the Maronite Church which was founded in the fifth century by St. Maron, a monk who use to live somewhere between Aleppo and Antioch. The first thousand years we were in Syria and after that we moved to the Lebanese mountains and from there we are now everywhere, in Australia, and America. More than half of our population is outside of the Middle East.


Q) Let us go back to Syria. What percentage of the total population of Syria is Christian?

A) Officially we are 8 to 10 %. Some people say between 4 or 5 %. We are a minority. This would roughly be about 1 million people in a population of 21 million.

Read more »

From Latin to Greek

From Roger Pearse...

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Greek language and literature enjoyed considerable status among Roman optimates during the republic and after. Cicero himself did not disdain to translate treatises into Latin.

But in late antiquity, as the centre of Roman government moved to Constantinople, there began to be a need to translate in the other direction. I must say that I have never known much about this.

One instance of this process is material quoted by Eusebius. Little of this is from Latin sources, but he makes use of a translation into Greek of Tertullian’s Apologeticum. In other places he quotes imperial edicts, evidently from official translations. But he does not seem to have known much Latin himself.

Another instance is material by Jerome. Jerome himself tells us that his Life of St. Hilarion was translated into Greek by a certain Sophronius. His De viris illustribus was translated into Greek by ps.Sophronius, and the version is extant. Interesting the version of the Testimonium Flavianum given by Jerome features the crucial variant, He was believed to be the Christ (credebatur esse Christum). But in the Greek version the text has been harmonised to the normal Greek text, He was the Christ.

All these things are something I would like to know more about. Today I stumbled across a volume on Google books, extant in preview mode, John J. Winkler &c, Later Greek Literature (1982). This is a collection of essays, but includes on p.173-216 a paper by Elizabeth Fisher, Greek translations of Latin Literature in the fourth century. This discusses in a very interesting way some of these examples, and shows precisely how the translator handled his material.

Sometimes this was with considerable freedom. Jerome’s negative portrayal of Alexander was modified for a Greek audience, where the latter’s hero-status could not be ignored, for instance.

Much of the article is visible through Google Books, and is worth a look.

St. Katherine College opening

(AOI) - One of the greatest needs for the Church in America is an Orthodox school system. With few exceptions, Orthodox Christian children attend public schools. Yes, some attend private religiously affiliated or secular schools. But there are very few Orthodox parochial school. A noticeable exception to this, is Three Hierarchs Eastern Orthodox School (THEOS), “a private, non-public, non-profit religious school” that services children in the metropolitan Pittsburgh area.

Turning from elementary school children to older students, the lack of Orthodox educational options is even more striking. With the exception of Hellenic College, in Brookline, MA there are simply no Orthodox institutions dedicated to undergraduate education. While there are no doubt a number of reasons for this, it is hard for me to avoid thinking that all of this represents a significant failure of the Church in America. For all practical purposes, with the exception of seminaries, the Orthodox children are educated by State, by the faithful of non-Orthodox Christian communities and by the faculties of private educational institutions.

God willing, at least as far as undergraduate education is concerned, all of this will change in the Fall of 2011 when St Katherine College begins offering classes in San Diego, CA...

Complete article here.

Oriental Orthodox in the US concelebrate

H/T: OBL News

12 June 2010, Teaneck, New Jersey (socmnet.org) - The Annual Concelebrated Divine Liturgy of the Oriental Orthodox Churches in the USA took place in St. Mark’s Syriac Orthodox Cathedral, Teaneck, New Jersey On June 12th, 2010. The Liturgy was celebrated this year according to the ancient rites of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahido Church, presided by H.E. Archbishop Abuna Zecharias, Primate of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahido Church Archdiocese of North- Eastern U.S.A. Participating in the Divine Liturgy also were the following Hierarchs: His Eminence Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Eastern Diocese of the Armenian Orthodox Church in America, His Eminence Archbishop Mor Titus Yeldho of the Malankara Archdiocese of the Syrian Orthodox Church in North America, His Eminence Archbishop Mor Cyril Aphrem Karim of the Syrian Orthodox Church for the Eastern USA. Present also were the Ethiopian Orthodox Archbishop of Trinidad, His Eminence Abuna Thaddaius and the retired Armenian Archbishop, His Eminence Yeghishe Gizirian. His Eminence His Grace Bishop David of the Coptic Orthodox Church was unable to participate due to his travel overseas. The Liturgy was served by several priests and deacons from the sister Oriental Orthodox Churches. A big crowd of parishioners from the Ethiopian Orthodox Church showed up with their choir and their traditional drums.

All the clergy walked in a procession to the church, amid clapping and chanting of the parishioners. Everybody enjoyed their chanting and music, which started them into worship. There was a great joy in the Church, especially after receiving Communion, which spread the feeling of oneness among the congregation. The Liturgy lasted over three hours. It was concluded by some warm thanksgiving words given by Archbishop Karim, in which he thanked His Eminence Zecharias and his clergy for agreeing to conduct the liturgy and for choosing our Cathedral for the celebration assuring them that they are always welcome. His Eminence also thanked the Hierarchs, the clergy and the parishioners for their presence and participation in this year’s Concelebrated Holy Liturgy.

A win for religious freedom in Canada

I'm delighted and surprised by this ruling. Canada, who has so much to say about defending the oppressed in other countries (Egypt, Eritrea, Iraq), oppresses Christians on issues of conscience all the time. If you're in the Knights of Columbus and don't want to rent your hall for a lesbian couple's wedding reception? Outrage and legal action. You're a Cardinal that wants to speak against abortion? Outrage and condemnation. Plurality for plurality's sake and the mantra of relativism vs. the Way and objective truth.

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MONTREAL (National Post) - The Quebec government plans to appeal a court ruling that found its imposition of a province-wide ethics and religion course on a private Catholic school “totalitarian” and unconstitutional.

The scathing decision issued on Friday by Quebec Superior Court Justice Gérard Dugré was a victory for Montreal’s Loyola High School, a Jesuit boys’ school that has objected to the controversial course since its 2008 introduction.

Loyola had maintained that its curriculum, including instruction on world religions, already covered the government-mandated course material, albeit from a Catholic perspective. When the school applied for an exemption from teaching the new course, it was denied because its proposed course was not sufficiently neutral.

“In these times of respect of fundamental rights, of tolerance, of reasonable accommodations and of multiculturalism, the attitude adopted by the [Education] Department in the current matter is surprising,” Judge Dugré wrote.

He added that forcing Loyola to teach the course in a secular way “assumes a totalitarian quality essentially equivalent to the order given to Galileo by the Inquisition to renounce Copernican cosmology.” (Galileo was placed under house arrest by the Catholic Church’s Inquisition in 1633 for promoting the theory that the Earth revolves around the Sun.)

Education Minister Michelle Courchesne yesterday called the ruling “excessive” and Premier Jean Charest said the need to appeal the decision is clear. “It’s a subject that has been debated for years in Quebec,” Mr. Charest said.

The course, Ethics and Religious Culture, is mandatory for all children in Grades 1 though 11. Its introduction followed a 1997 constitutional amendment replacing the province’s denominational school boards with linguistic ones and a 2005 law that removed parents’ right to choose a course in Catholic, Protestant or moral instruction.

The course covers the full spectrum of world religions and belief systems, with an emphasis on Christianity, Judaism and aboriginal spirituality. Critics have said it promotes a moral relativism, in which all belief systems are of equal value. In its pleadings before the court, Loyola argued that this relativism trivializes the religious experience promoted in all facets of the school’s teachings.

“Faith is omnipresent in this institution,” Loyola’s lawyer, Jacques Darche, said following a news conference at the school yesterday. “Before football games, they pray. Before a press conference, they pray. It’s quite bizarre that in the one course that you would expect to be a part of a Catholic Jesuit school, the religion program, you’re not allowed to talk about God, you’re not allowed to pray.”

Paul Donovan, the school’s principal, said he is not discouraged by the government’s swift decision to appeal the ruling. “These are very important questions, not just for us, but for society in general,” he said. “These are questions about the role of denominational institutions in a secular society. It makes sense to me that this discussion is going to continue.”

Judge Dugré found that the Education Department was wrong to conclude that Loyola’s religious offerings were not equivalent to the Ethics and Religious Culture course. Furthermore, by imposing on the school a curriculum that is counter to Catholic doctrine, the government violated the school’s freedom of religion, as protected by the Quebec Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

John Zucchi, father of a Loyola student and a plaintiff in the case, called the government’s approach to Loyola heavy-handed.

“There’s a plurality of views out there, and we’re defending our right to have our own particular view in the public forum,” he said. “There are neutral perspectives out there, there are liberal perspectives, Jewish perspectives, Muslim, Catholic, Marxist, whatever. I think they all have a right to be heard, and there’s no reason in the name of pluralism to silence one of these voices.”

Other parents have gone to court seeking to have their children exempted from the course in public schools but so far have been unsuccessful. In April, a couple from Drummondville filed for leave to appeal their case to the Supreme Court of Canada. Some Catholic parents with children in public school are interpreting the Loyola ruling as a sign that the tide is turning in their favour.

“This decision represents a great victory for democracy in education, for freedom of conscience and religion, for freedom in education and for parental rights,” said Marie Bourque, vice-president of a Quebec association of Catholic parents.

Earliest icons of Peter, Paul, John, and Andrew discovered

ROME (FOXNews) — The earliest known icons of the Apostles Peter and Paul have been discovered in a catacomb under an eight-story modern office building in a working-class neighborhood of Rome, Vatican officials said Tuesday.

The images, which date from the second half of the 4th century, were discovered on the ceiling of a tomb that also includes the earliest known images of the apostles John and Andrew. They were uncovered using a new laser technique that allowed restorers to burn off centuries of thick white calcium carbonate deposits without damaging the dark colors of the original paintings underneath.

The paintings adorn what is believed to be the tomb of a Roman noblewoman in the Santa Tecla catacomb and represent some of the earliest evidence of devotion to the apostles in early Christianity, Vatican officials said in opening up the tomb to the media for the first time.

Last June, the Vatican announced the discovery of the icon of Paul — timed to coincide with the end of the Vatican's Pauline year. At the time, Pope Benedict XVI also announced that tests on bone fragments long attributed to Paul "seemed to confirm" that they did indeed belong to the Roman Catholic saint.

On Tuesday, Vatican archaeologists announced that the image of Paul discovered last year was not found in isolation, but was rather part of a square ceiling painting that also included icons of three other apostles - Peter, John and Andrew - surrounding an image of Christ as the Good Shepherd.

"These are the first images of the apostles," said Fabrizio Bisconti, the superintendent of archaeology for the catacombs, which are maintained by the Vatican's Pontifical Commission of Sacred Archaeology.

The Vatican office oversaw and paid for the two-year, 60,000 (euro) restoration effort, which for the first time used lasers to restore frescoes and paintings in catacombs. The damp, musty air of underground catacombs makes preservation of paintings particularly difficult and restoration problematic.

In this case, the small burial chamber at the end of the catacomb was completely encased in centimeters (inches) of white calcium carbonate, which under previous restoration techniques would have just been scraped away by hand. That technique, though would have left a filmy layer on top so as to not damage the paintings underneath.

Using the laser, restorers were able to sear off all the layers of calcium that had been bound onto the painting because the laser beam stopped burning at the white of the calcium deposits, which when chipped off left the brilliant darker colors underneath it unscathed, said Barbara Mazzei, the chief restorer.

Slideshow available here.

The American Experiment and morality

I have been pondering recently morality and the US. The line of thinking went thus (thusly isn't a word, people):

The currently predominant opinion on the law and issues of morality is tied into the issue of "rights." Unless something is deemed to be destructive to others it should be permitted, or so goes the thinking. Tied to this thinking is an idea of secularism that allows for no comment by religion. Christianity, with it's firm understanding of the wages of sin and a deference to Tradition is muzzled. As a result we see a tendency to expand permissiveness for behaviors once thought universally abominable. What is more, once a behavior has been legitimized, those who continue to "hold on to old stereotypes" or "keep bigoted opinions" are characterized as hateful and behind the times. The idea seems to be that we are moving towards a Utopian society and that to get there we need to "get real" about who people are and how they should be allowed to act. Certainly this isn't time for us to work out our salvation (the word salvation has been relegated to belief and not "reality") but is now a time to improve the standard of living and protect the environment so future generations can do even better.

So, in a nation that has thrown the reins to experimentation, how do we change our course before we fall headlong into a deep ravine? I don't know that we can. That doesn't mean we should abandon the Public Square, but that we should not look for reinforcement that what we are doing as parents, spouses, or children is right.

As Christians we are sensitive to the treatment of others. The importance of good dealings with our neighbors is unquestioned, but what are we to do when our neighbors act in a way that contradicts our morals? There essentially two choices: You can make allowances for the behavior of others to the subjugation (literally: 'brought under the yoke') of the every changing modern-day morality or you can take a measured step back from the world and appraise it with discernment.

When your daughter wants to go swimming with friends and is embarrassed that she has to wear something that covers up more than she'd like, remind her that no one would wear the bikini when it first came out and that the only woman its designer, M. Reard could get to wear it was a nude dancer.

When your son wants to go on a date with a girl alone to some undisclosed locale you would do well to take a moment and think. What is the endgame here? What possible good will result from this? What ill?

When your sister meets a very nice [insert non-Orthodox faith here] man who wants to marry her and she asks you what you think about him you might pause for a moment. In the interlude you might ponder how marriage isn't about warm, cuddly feelings or about how "nice" the man is. In marriage your spouse helps you work out your salvation. How can he do that if his understanding of God's call is not yours?

When you go out to eat on a Friday and everyone wants to go to the local steakhouse are you making a scene by asking if other places might be ok or are you remembering Christ’s crucifixion?

You see what I'm getting at. Everyday actions translate into your life. It is what we do as much as what we pray for that marks our time on this earth. Whether the nation agrees with our faith or not, we are obliged to live a life agreeable to God.

The weakness of heresies

H/T: Mystagogy

Why does the good Lord permit assaults and sufferings on the True Faith while He permits the pleasure of tranquility to heresies and paganism?

Why? Even St. John Chrysostom asks and immediately replies: "So that you would recognize their weakness (the weakness of the heresies and paganism) when you see that they disintegrate on their own without any disturbance and also to be convinced in the power of faith which endures misfortunes and even multiplies through its adversaries." "Therefore, if we quarrel with the pagans or with the wretched Jews, it is sufficient to emphasize as evidence of divine power that the Faith (Christianity) which was subjected to countless struggles maintained victory" even when the entire world stood against her [the Church].

St. Isaac the Syrian says: "The wondrous love of God toward man is recognized when man is in misfortunes that are destroying his hope. Here, God manifests His power for his [man's] salvation. For man never recognizes the power of God in tranquility and freedom."

- St. Nikolai Velimirovich

Bulgarian Diocese holds conference

FENTON, MI (OCA-Bulgarian) - Clergy and lay representatives from parishes of the Orthodox Church in America’s Toledo-based Bulgarian Diocese held their 47th diocesan conference at Saint Mary Magdalene Church here June 17-19, 2010. The parish is served by its rector, Archpriest Paul Jannakos and by Deacon John Manutes.

His Grace, Bishop Melchisedek of Pittsburgh and Western Pennsylvania, Locum tenens of the Bulgarian Diocese, led the attendees in a retreat on Friday morning, June 18. Business sessions followed in the afternoon at the Holiday Inn Gateway Center, Flint, MI.

Archpriest Don A. Freude, as Chancellor and senior priest and head of the the Diocesan Spiritual Council, chaired the business session. During his report, he stated that “since the repose of His Eminence, Archbishop Kyrill, the Diocesan Constitution, Article IV, Section 3, has been in effect for the administration of our God-protected Diocese. The Constitution states: ‘In case of the death or when the Diocesan Prelate is seriously ill or incompetent, the administration of the Diocese shall devolve to the Spiritual Council under the leadership of the Protosyngel or the senior priest.’ As Chancellor and senior priest, I have been placed in this position of leadership. We are widowed as a Diocese; however, no Diocese can be left without a Bishop.” He then gave details on the history leading up to the appointment of the Diocese’s present locum tenens, Bishop Melchisedek.

The agenda for the meeting included oral and written reports from the Chancellor, Treasurer, Metropolitan Council representatives, and the parishes and monastery of the Diocese.

The meeting then proceeded to three significant agenda items.

First, the delegates reviewed a working draft of an amended Diocesan Constitution. The presentation was made by Attorney Damian Gosheff of Saint Nicholas Church, Fort Wayne, IN. The Diocesan Constitution can only be amended at a Diocesan Congress-Sobor, the Diocese’s highest legislative body. The discussion at this year’s Conference begins a dialogue within parishes of the Diocese, in order to receive input from the Diocesan membership at large. Based on this input, a final draft Constitution will be presented to the parishes before a Diocesan Congress-Sobor.

Secondly, there was an announcement that an episcopal search committee has been named that is charged with seeking out a candidate to be nominated as Diocesan Bishop. This committee consists of the Diocesan Spiritual Council -- Father Don; Archpriest James Jorgenson; Priest Matthew-Peter Butrie, Secretary (also a member of the Diocesan Board of Trustees); and Priest Paul G. Monkowski -- and members of the Diocesan Board of Trustees George Popoff, Treasurer, and Stanley Pentsos. The final member of the committee is search coordinator Archpriest Andrew Jarmus of Saint Nicholas Church, Fort Wayne, IN. Father Andrew gave a PowerPoint presentation on the method, criteria, and timeline for the committee. He noted that the search process is based on the procedures used very successfully in recent years in the Dioceses of Western Pennsylvania and New York and New Jersey.

Thirdly, the Diocesan Spiritual Council announced that a Diocesan Congress-Sobor will be held at Saint George Cathedral, OH, November 12-13, 2010. The dual purpose of the Congress-Sobor will be the approval of an amended Diocesan Constitution and the nomination of a candidate for the office of Diocesan Bishop. This will be the first time that the Diocese will have nominated a candidate for Diocesan Bishop since the late Archbishop, then Archimandrite, Kyrill [Yonchev] was elected Administrator of the fledgling Diocese in 1963. This will be only the fourth Diocesan Congress-Sobor in the history of the Diocese.

Following this momentous meeting, Great Vespers was celebrated on Friday evening.

Bishop Melchisedek and the diocesan clergy concelebrated the Divine Liturgy on Saturday, June 19. The choir, under the direction of Popadia Michelle Jannakos, sang the liturgical responses with spirit and beauty. Bishop Melchisedek preached at the Divine Liturgy.

Following the Divine Liturgy, a Panakhida marking the three-year anniversary of the repose of Archbishop Kyrill was celebrated. In addition, the deceased Diocesan Clergy were remembered at this Panakhida.

A brunch followed in the parish hall, affording delegates an opportunity to renew acquaintances and look forward to the 48th diocesan conference, slated to be hosted by Saint Nicholas Church, Fort Wayne, IN July 7-9, 2011.

The Bulgarian Diocese includes 19 parishes and missions and one monastery in the US and Canada.

Pan-Orthodox Assembly of Bishops of the British Isles

(thyateira.org.uk) - The Inaugural Meeting of the Pan-Orthodox Assembly of Bishops with Churches in the British Isles was held on 21st June 2010 at Thyateira House, the centre of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Thyateira and Great Britain. The Assembly operates in accordance with the Decision reached at the 4th Pre-conciliar Pan-Orthodox Conference Meeting at Chambésy (Switzerland) on 13th June 2009.

The following bishops were present:

• His Eminence Archbishop Gregorios of Thyateira & Great Britain (Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople)
• The Most Revd Metropolitan Youhanna of Western & Central Europe (Patriarchate of Antioch)
• His Eminence Archbishop Elisey of Sourozh (Patriarchate of Moscow)
• The Rt Revd Bishop Dositej of Great Britain & Scandinavia (Patriarchate of Serbia)
• The Most Revd Archbishop Iossif of Western & Southern Europe (Patriarchate of Romania)
• The Rt Revd Bishop Zenon of Dmanisi & Great Britain (Patriarchate of Georgia)
• The Most Revd Archbishop Mark of Berlin, Germany & Great Britain (Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia)
• The Most Revd Archbishop Anatoly of Kerch (Diocese of Sourozh)
• The Most Revd Metropolitan Kallistos of Diokleia (Archdiocese of Thyateira)
• The Rt Revd Bishop Chrysostomos of Kyanea (Archdiocese of Thyateira)
• The Rt Revd Bishop Athanasios of Tropaeou (Archdiocese of Thyateira)
• The Most Revd Metropolitan Simeon of Central and Western Europe (Patriarchate of Bulgaria) and the Rt Revd Ioan of Parnassos (Ecumenical Patriarchate’s Ukranian Orthodox Diocese in Great Britain) were unable to attend.

All those present noted the importance of this Meeting: until now in the British Isles there has been no kind of Inter-Orthodox Episcopal Committee. The bishops discussed the future organisation of their work, and an Executive Committee was set up, with Archbishop Gregorios as President, Metropolitan Youhanna and Archbishop Elisey as Vice-presidents, Bishop Dositej as Treasurer, and Archbishop Iossif as General Secretary. Bishop Zenon, Archbishop Mark and Metropolitan Kallistos were also appointed Members of the Executive Committee. The Secretariat of the Committee is made up of Archimandrite Vassilios Papavassiliou and Protopresbyter Samir Gholam.

Three Committees were set up:

1. Theological Committee, Chairman: Metropolitan Kallistos (For the time-being, this will also deal with liturgical, canonical and ecumenical questions, and with the preparation of an agreed list of Saints of the British Isles)
2. Pastoral Committee, Chairman: Archbishop Elisey (This will also deal with inter-Orthodox relations and with the organisation of Pan-Orthodox events)
3. Educational Committee, Chairman: Archbishop Gregorios (This will be concerned, among other things, with chaplains to universities, catechetical work and publications)

In the case of each committee, each Orthodox diocese will appoint a representative from either the clergy or the laity.

In the course of the discussion, the bishops mentioned in particular the need to keep children and young people within the Church. They spoke of pastoral problems arising in connection with marriage, and canonical issues involving the transfer of clergy from one diocese to another. They noted that there was a need to discuss current issues in bio-ethics and questions connected with the theology of the human person.

It was decided that a further Meeting would be held in December 2010.

The Meeting concluded with a festal meal provided by Archbishop Gregorios at Thyateira House.

On 22nd June, the Orthodox Bishops were received by His Grace Archbishop of Canterbury Dr Rowan Williams at Lambeth Palace and were entertained to dinner.

Abp. Demetrios in Slovakia

NEW YORK (GOARCH) – Archbishop Demetrios concluded a four-day visit to Slovakia on June 17, during which he received an honorary doctorate from the University of Presov. Bishop Savas of Troas and Archdeacon Panteleimon accompanied His Eminence on this trip.

The visit began on Sunday June 13, when Archbishop Demetrios concelebrated the Divine Liturgy in the Church of St. Seraphim of Sarov and Sts. Cyril and Methodios in the city of Bardejov, with His Beatitude Archbishop Christopher of Prague and all Czechia and Slovakia, His Eminence Metropolitan John of Presov, His Grace Bishop Savas of Troas and His Grace Bishop Paisios of Goritze (Poland).

Following the Liturgy, a blessing ceremony for the new church bell tower was held. Later the Mayor of Bardejov Dr. Boris Hanuscak had a very warm welcome and an informative discussion with His Eminence in City Hall. In the afternoon, Archbishop Demetrios accompanied by Archbishop Christopher and Metropolitan John, visited the “Wooden Home,” an important local museum and the small chapel there dedicated to the Three Hierarchs, where a local choir performed religious songs and hymns.

On Monday June 14, the University of Presov bestowed upon Archbishop Demetrios an Honorary Doctorate of Theology during a touching ceremony attended by many members of the academic community of Slovakia, the dean of the School of Theology Rev. Dr. John Zozulak, other officials, faculty members and many students and guests. That evening Archbishop Demetrios paid an official visit to Metropolitan John of Presov and Slovakia at the diocesan headquarters. The two church leaders discussed the challenges the Orthodox Churches face in America and in Slovakia.

On Tuesday June 15, the Archbishop delivered an address as part of the Biblical conference organized by the School of Theology at the University of Presov entitled “The Social Work of the Church.” In the evening the Archbishop at the invitation of Metropolitan John of Presov visited the Cathedral of St. Alexander Nevsky during the vespers service and offered a short address to the congregation.

On Wednesday June 16, His Eminence with Bishop Savas and Archdeacon Panteleimon escorted by Dean John Zozulak and church officials visited three parishes in the towns of Svidnik, Stropkov and Medzilaborce, situated in an area of fierce battles during Word War II. In the town of Medzilaborce the Archbishop visited the Orthodox orphanage of St. Nicholas, which offers a very impressive service to the approximately 80 children enrolled.

Upon his return from this trip Archbishop Demetrios expressed his deep appreciation and high esteem for the people of the Orthodox Church in Slovakia who offer a strong witness of the healing and constructive power of the faith, especially in view of the extremely hard times and persecutions they went through for decades.

Orientale Lumen Conference update

BETHESDA, MD (OCA) - His Beatitude, Metropolitan Jonah, will deliver an address titled "The Councils of the Church" as part of the Orientale Lumen XIV Conference at Saint Mark Church here on Tuesday, June 22, 2010.

The evening will open with the celebration of Vespers at 5:00 p.m. A dinner will follow. Metropolitan Jonah's lecture, which is free and open to the public, will begin at 6:30 p.m. For additional information please call 301-229-6300.

The conference, which opens June 21 and runs through June 24, is one of three being held this year. A similar conference was held at Seton Hall University, South Orange, NJ June 7-10, while the third will be held in Constantinople [Istanbul], Turkey July 5-8.

Sponsored by the Eastern Churches Journal, Eastern Christian Publications, the Orientale Lumen Foundation, the Center for Catholic Studies at Seton Hall University, and the Ecumenical Patriarchate, the conferences are open to lay persons, religious and clergy, providing an opportunity for Eastern Orthodox, Roman and Eastern Catholics, and Oriental Orthodox to gather, discuss, and learn about their respective traditions.

Other speakers at the DC conference include Roman Catholic Archbishop Donald Wuerl of Washington, DC; Archimandrite Robert Taft, Professor Emeritus of the Pontifical Oriental Institute; Father Peter Galazda, Metropolitan Andrew Sheptytsky Institute, Ottawa, ON; Father Thomas FitzGerald, Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology, Brookline, MA; and Elias Damianakis, Greek Orthodox lecturer and iconographer, Tampa, FL.

His All Holiness, Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople will open the conference in Turkey. Speakers include His Eminence, Metropolitan Kallistos [Ware] of Diokleia; Richard Schneider, professor at Saint Vladimir’s Seminary; Archimanrite Job Getcha, Institute of Orthodox Theology, Chambesy, Switzerland; Sister Vassa Larin of ROCOR, University of Vienna, Austria; and Bishop John Michael Botean, Romanian Greek Catholic Eparchy of Saint George, Canton, OH. Archbishop Cyril Vasil and Archimandrite Robert Taft will also address participants.

Additional information is available at www.olconference.com.

Greek Catholic Abp. Milan (Sasik) enthroned in Uzhhorod

An explanation of the analabos (άνάλαβος / analav)

A Brief Explanation of the Symbolism of the Analabos

The άνάλαβος (Analab[v]os), which is the distinctive garment of a monk or a nun Tonsured into the highest grade of Orthodox monasticism, the Great Schema, is adorned with the instruments of the Passion of Christ. It takes its name from the Greek αναλαμβάνω (“to take up”), serving as a constant reminder to the one who wears it that he or she must “take up his cross daily” (St. Luke 9:23). The ornately-plaited Crosses that cover the Analabos. the Polystavrion (πολυσταύριον, from πολύς, “many,” and σταυρός, “Cross”)—a name often, though less accurately, also applied to the Analabos—reminds the monastic that he or she is “crucified with Christ” (Galatians 2:20):

With regard to each image on the Analabos, the rooster represents “the cock [that] crew” (St. Matthew 26:74; St. Mark 14:68 Luke 22:60; St. John 18:27) after Saint Peter had “denied…thrice” (St John 13:38) Him Who lamented over Jerusalem: “How often have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!” (St. Matthew 23:37)

The pillar represents the column to which Pilate bound Christ “when he…scourged Him” (St. Mark 15:15) “by Whose stripes we were healed” (Isaiah 53:5; I St. Peter 2:24).

The wreath garlanding the Cross represents the “crown of thorns” (St. Matthew 27:29: St. Mark 15:17; St. John 19:2. 5) that “the soldiers platted” (St. John 19:2) and “put upon…[the]…head” (St. Matthew 27:29) of “God our King of old” (Psalm 73:13), Who freed man from having to contend against “thorns…and thistles…in the sweat of …[his]…face” (Genesis 3:18-19)...

Complete article here.

The funeral of Met. Basil (Schott) of Pittsburgh

A godless World Cup

Wayne Rooney

(WAToday) - England striker Wayne Rooney was blocked from discussing his religious beliefs by a Football Association official at the World Cup.

Rooney had offered an insight into his Catholic faith by explaining why he wears a prominent cross and rosary beads around his neck when he's not playing.

He said: "I've been wearing them for about four years now and you don't usually watch training (to see them.) I obviously can't wear them in games. It's my religion."

That prompted a further question.

But Mark Whittle, the FA's head of media relations, interrupted Rooney in the off-camera briefing by saying: "We don't do religion."

Whittle's comment was reminiscent of a brusque "We don't do God" remark made to a reporter by Alastair Campbell as he intervened during an interview during his time as director of strategy and communications to former British Prime Minister Tony Blair.

Read more »

Bucket of toy soldiers, the hidden menace

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (cleveland.com) - Christan Morales said her son just wanted to honor American troops when he wore a hat to school decorated with an American flag and small plastic Army figures.

But the school banned the hat because it ran afoul of the district's zero-tolerance weapons policy. Why? The toy soldiers were carrying tiny guns.

"His teacher called and said it wasn't appropriate," Morales said.

Morales' 8-year-old son, David, had been assigned to make a hat for the day when his second-grade class would meet their pen pals from another school. She and her son came up with an idea to add patriotic decorations to a camouflage hat.

Earlier this week, after the hat was banned, the principal at the Tiogue School in Coventry told the family that the hat would be fine if David replaced the Army men holding weapons with ones that didn't have any, according to Superintendent Kenneth R. Di Pietro.

But, Morales said, the family had only one Army figure without a weapon (he was carrying binoculars), so David wore a plain baseball cap on the day of the pen pal meeting.

"Nothing was being done to limit patriotism, creativity, other than find an alternative to a weapon," Di Pietro said.

The district does not allow images of weapons or drugs on clothing. For example, a student would not be permitted to wear a shirt with a picture of a marijuana leaf on it, the superintendent said.

The principal "wasn't denying the patriotism," he said. "That just is the wrong and unfair image of one of our finest principals."

On Thursday, Di Pietro and the principal met with the retired commander of the Rhode Island National Guard, at the commander's request.

Lt. Gen. Reginald Centracchio praised the school system for supporting the military in the past, including with a junior ROTC program.

But he said he disagreed with the decision to ban the hat and hoped it offered a chance for the school to review its policies.

"The American soldier is armed. That's why they're called the armed forces," he said. "If you're going to portray it any other way, you miss the point."

He said he intends to give David a medal to express veterans' appreciation that he would pay tribute to their service.

Morales said her son was inspired to honor the military after striking up a friendship last summer with a neighbor in the Army.

Banning the hat "sent the wrong message to the kids, because it wasn't in any way to cause any harm to anyone," she said. "You're talking about Army men. This wasn't about guns."

Get thee to church!

Moscow, June 18 (Interfax) – The Holy See ambassador to the Russian Federation Archbishop Antonio Mennini suggested that Catholic priests every now and then attend divine services in Russian Orthodox churches.

The nuncio said it addressing participants in a regular session of Russia's Conference of Catholic Bishops in Sochi, its general secretary Rev. Igor Kovalevsky told Interfax-Religion on Friday.

According to Fr. Igor, Archbishop Mennini pointed out that Orthodox-Catholic relations had significantly improved and urged to develop "fraternal relations between Catholic and Orthodox clerics."

The nuncio also stated that state-church relations improved after establishing diplomatic relations at the ambassadorial level between Russia and Vatican.

The Conference of Catholic Bishops made a statement regarding abolishing religious symbols in public schools of Europe and pointed out that the cross is one of most important elements of European identity. The bishops mentioned Russia's tragic experience when struggle against religious symbols resulted in prosecutions of believers and moral decay of the society.

Amusing motivational poster

H/T: The Crescat

Surprise: All religions not the same

ACROD sobor concludes, missionary efforts central topic

JOHNSTOWN, PA (ACROD) - The Reconvened 21st Diocesan Council-Sobor, concluded yesterday after a lengthy discussion of the Diocesan Priests Pension Plan. The Sobor approved the proposals submitted by the Clergy Pension Board.

Following the conclusion of the Sobor, the members of the Diocesan Board of Trustees met at the Christ the Saviour Educational Center to discuss the recently concluded Sobor and make plans for the coming new Church Year.

• Audio recordings of the DDD, Mission and Evangelization and Stewardship presentations are now available here.
• View the Photo Galley here.
• View Liturgical Service videos here.

Mission Establishment Plan Introduction

Following the 21st Diocesan Council in South Bound Brook, NJ last summer, His Eminence, Metropolitan Nicholas appointed the following to serve on the newly-formed Diocesan Missions Commission: Protopresbyter Michael Rosco, Chairman; Protopresbyter Frank Miloro, Father Andrew Fetchina, Father James Blomeley, Deacon Michael Rustick, Donald Lauffler and Pani Constance Miloro. The formation of this Commission was brought about by the overwhelming sentiment expressed by the Sobor delegates that the Diocese needs to be more aggressive in establishing and supporting mission parishes, being mindful of the fact that, by virtue of our baptism, each of us has the calling to be an apostle and a missionary.

Complete mission plan here.