Saturday, July 30, 2011

The Pre-Nicene era and the cult of saints

From the blog Energetic Procession...



It is commonly claimed that the practice of praying to departed saints and to angels is a late development in Christianity, probably post-dating the Council of Nicea. In this post, I will try to argue that prayers to departed saints were relatively common in the pre-Nicene Church. There are 5 to 8 clear post-Apostolic references from at least 3 locations. Some of the references come from official Christian teachers. The earliest reference may be first or second century, and many of the second and third century writers’ beliefs probably reflect the customs of even earlier times.

Below are three lists of quotations (with some interpretive notes) from Christians writing before 325 AD. The first list has quotations which state or imply the belief that angels and deceased humans can be requested by Christians alive on earth to pray for them. The second list has quotations which state or imply the belief that angels and deceased humans are aware of the prayers of Christians on earth, and join them mystically in prayer. Quotes in the third list are ambiguous but support the doctrine of communion with the departed in one way or another. I follow these lists with a brief analysis of the evidence and what it implies about the antiquity of the practice of praying to saints.

Let it be made clear that by “prayers” is meant any kind of request for action made by one person to another. It is uncontroversial that Christians can pray to saints in the following sense: a Christian can ask another Christian who is alive on earth to pray for him or her. What is more questionable is whether Christians can pray to saints in the following sense: pray to angels or Christians who have departed from earthly life and await resurrection. This latter sense is what I mean by “prayers to saints” for the rest of this article. For longer texts, or texts that are unclear in meaning, I have written the relevant portions in bold lettering. I realize that there are theological objections to this practice; there is also lots of popular-level apologetic material replying to many of these objections. Please read material that replies to these objections on the internet before offering these objections in the comment section...

Complete article here.

Antiochian Archdiocese names new bishops

(antiochian.org) - At the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy on Saturday, July 30, at the 50th Convention of the Antiochian Archdiocese, His Eminence Metropolitan Philip announced that the Synod had elected three archimandrites of the Archdiocese for elevation to the episcopacy.

They are:
Please remember these servants of our Lord in your prayers, and may God grant them many years!

Friday, July 29, 2011

Ukrainian Orthodox converge on Philadelphia for conference

(UOC-USA) - Philadelphia, PA isn’t just the City of Brotherly Love — it also happens to be a place of this year’s Ukrainian Orthodox League Convention.

Delegates from all over the United States converged in this “City of Brotherly Love” for the three day conference to hammer out what it means to be a member of the Ukrainian Orthodox League of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA in a world of dense and diverse realities of the 21st century.

The working session of this year’s Convention opened on Wednesday night, July 27th with the Vespers for the feast day of the Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Great Prince Volodymyr, baptizer of Kyiv Rus – Ukraine. His Eminence Archbishop Antony, the Ruling Hierarch of the Eastern Eparchy and the President of the Consistory of the UOC of the USA and His Grace Bishop Daniel, the Ruling Hierarch of the Western Eparchy of the UOC of the USA presided over the liturgical service, which was served by Protopriest Taras Naumenko, a pastor of St. Vladimir Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral in Philadelphia, PA and a spiritual advisor to Sts. Vladimir UOL Chapters in Philadelphia, PA – the hosts of this year’s 64th Annual UOL Convention.

Mrs. Martha Misko, Senior UOL President and Ms. Taylor Gladys, Junior UOL President opened the working sessions of the Convention with the words of hope and a vision towards the future that touches the lives of the generations of the Ukrainian Orthodox Christians across the USA. On behalf of the Convention body, Mrs. Misko offered words of prayerful regret that due to his illness, the primate of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA, Metropolitan Constantine is not able to join this year’s Convention body. However, the delegates pledged to offer prayers for their Metropolitan and his speedy recovery.

This years Convention is a conference like no other in the past. First, it recalled the task of the 63rd UOL Convention, establishing goals for the next 10 years, experimenting with a joint sponsorship arrangement between Church’s Offices of Ministry and local chapter partnerships in witnessing to the works of Christ among the faithful of the Church. Second of all, the Convention brought together a balanced mix of junior and senior delegates - compassionate ministry participants in the life of the Church.

On Thursday morning, July 28th, the feast day of St. Volodymyr the Great, the Divine Liturgy was served by Archbishop Antony, Bishop Daniel and the two spiritual advisors of the UOL: Very Rev. Fr. Myron Oryhon, Sr. National UOL spiritual advisor and Very Rev. Fr. Taras Naumenko, Sr. and Jr. St. Vladimir UOL Chapters spiritual advisor in Philadelphia, PA. Inspiration was provided by liturgical prayer services and punctuated by addresses of various speakers of the day.

Thursday, July 28, 2011

Arch. Zacchaeus (Wood) placed on leave of absence

This is a very odd turn of events. Archimandrite Zacchaeus has been mentioned often in discussions of episcopal candidates in the past and is quite well spoken of. If I find out what is afoot, I'll post an update.


(OCA) - Archimandrite Zacchaeus (Wood), Dean of St. Catherine the Great Martyr-in-the-Fields Church in Moscow and representative of the Orthodox Church in America to the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia has been placed on a leave of absence and recalled to the United States by His Beatitude, Metropolitan Jonah. He is prohibited from exercising any liturgical or sacramental ministry. Priest John Kechkin, who is attached to St. Catherine Church, will provide pastoral services for the time being. Archpriest Leonid Kishkovsky, Director of External Affairs of the Orthodox Church in America, will assume duties as the representative of the OCA to the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia.

A Russian translation of this release is available here (PDF).

St. Maximus Mission celebrates 10 years in Denton, TX!

This is well worth going to for anyone in the area. St. Maximus is a wonderful parish full of devout, involved families. It teems with children, has an extremely full liturgical calendar (you would be hard pressed to find a day that does not have a service scheduled), and there are a number of classes and groups to join for all ages. If you can't make it, there is a building effort underway that you might consider helping support (see here).


Denton, TX (OCA) - Two bishops of the Orthodox Church in America will be in Denton at the end of July to join the members of St. Maximus the Confessor Orthodox Church in celebrating their 10 year Anniversary. Metropolitan Jonah, Archbishop of Washington, Metropolitan of All America and Canada, and Bishop Nikon of Boston, the current overseer of the Diocese of Dallas and the South, will be here to participate in a number of activities that are scheduled for July 29 through 31. *Chantus Maximus*, St. Maximus’ male choir, will present a concert of Orthodox music Friday evening, July 29 at 8:00 p.m. at Cumberland Presbyterian Children’s Home located at 1304 Bernard Street in Denton. Tickets are $5 and will be available at the door for this event and all proceeds will go toward the construction of a new church on Oak Street.

Saturday morning, July 30, beginning at 10:00 a.m. at Cumberland Children’s Home, Metropolitan Jonah will present a lecture followed by a market and bazaar and light lunch provided by the families at St. Maximus. Metropolitan Jonah will speak again at 1:30 p.m. He will be serving the All-Night Vigil at 5:00 p.m., Saturday and the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy at 9:00 a.m. Sunday, July 31 at St. Maximus the Confessor Orthodox Church, at 2026 Oak Street in Denton. Fr. Justin Frederick, the priest at St. Maximus, welcomes everyone in the community to attend this historic event. The festivities will end with a reception and celebration banquet at Oakmont Country Club in Corinth. Tickets will be available until July 24 and can be purchased by emailing tickets@stmaximus.org.

St. Maximus was founded as a mission of St. Seraphim Orthodox Cathedral in Dallas with the blessing of Archbishop Dmitri, now retired, in July 2001. Ten adult members and three children began meeting in the chapel at St. David of Wales Episcopal Church before moving into the current historic building on W. Oak St. in January 2002. Since then, the building has been through several renovations, and work is ongoing to accommodate the growing number of parishioners. From the second Divine Liturgy in August 2001, where 8 people were present, to June 2011, where the average was over 90 in attendance, the community at St. Maximus continues to grow.

St. Maximus the Confessor Orthodox Church is located at 2026 West Oak Street in Denton. Fr. Justin Frederick can be reached at (940) 565-6753. For more information, or a complete schedule of the weekend’s activities, visit http://www.stmaximus.org.

UOC-KP again calls for dialogue with UOC-MP

(RISU) - On behalf of the Holy Synod of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church-Kyivan Patriarchate, Patriarch Filaret addressed Metropolitan Volodymyr (Sabodn), the clergy and laity of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church-Moscow Patriarchate with a call to continue constructive dialogue in order to establish one local Orthodox Ukrainian Church. So reported www.tyzhden.ua with reference to the web site of UOC-KP.

“On behalf of the Holy Synod of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church-Kyivan Patriarchate, I address you again with a call to continue constructive dialogue in order to overcome the church divide,” stresses the address.

“We invariably are ready to renew the dialogue and we wait for constructive actions of UOC-MP in this regard,” stated the head of the Kyivan Patriarchate.

“At the same time, we are convinced that the only correct way to renew the unity of the Church is a dialogue which is ultimately aimed at the establishment of one local Orthodox Ukrainian church centered round the Kyivan throne,” reads the address.

The document also notes that the recent events in the Ukrainian religious life “allow one to see once again that as far as the “Ukrainian question” is concerned, the Moscow Patriarchate acts not according to the canons and not for the good of Orthodoxy but from the viewpoint of the political interests of retaining of power in the “Russian world.”

“Therefore, any calls to the Kyivan Patriarchate to come under the umbrella of Moscow are hopeless: the hierarchy of ROC (Russian Orthodox Church) repeatedly showed and continues to prove with their actions in Ukraine, Estonia, Moldova, Georgia and the whole Ecumenical orthodoxy that the main thing for the Moscow Patriarchate now is not the good of the Church but establishment of the “Russian world” as a political tool of the influence of Moscow in the post-Soviet space,” reads the address of Patriarch Filaret.

“We desire the Church unity in Ukraine. But it does not equal subordination to Moscow Patriarchate. An increasing number of people in Ukraine, including your environment, understand that,” notes the document.

Wednesday, July 27, 2011

Transfiguration Monastery pilgrimage scheduled for August

I plan to make the pilgrimage with my family; look for the man thronged by a large number of towheaded children. I pray the break in the oppressive heat will continue into next week. Although I have never visited before the phrases I keep hearing over and over about the monastery are: "wonderful with children," "kind and inviting," and "beautiful grounds." Hopefully I can take a few blog-worthy pictures.


(OCA) - The nuns of the Orthodox Monastery of the Transfiguration here extend an invitation to all pilgrims to join them for their annual pilgrimage marking their patronal feastday August 5-6, 2011.

His Eminence, Archbishop Nathaniel of Detroit and the Romanian Episcopate, will preside at pilgrimage Divine Liturgy, concelebrating with His Grace, Bishop Melchisedek of Pittsburgh and Western Pennsylvania and His Grace, Bishop Michael of New York and New Jersey, who will also serve as guest homilist.

The festal Vigil will begin at 6:00 p.m. on Friday, August 5, followed by supper. On Saturday, August 6, the Hours and the Akathist “Glory to God for All Things” will be celebrated at 9:15 a.m., followed by the procession to the monastery chapel pavilion and the Divine Liturgy at 10:00 a.m. A catered lunch will be served at noon, after which there is time to enjoy the monastery grounds and shop in the store. At 2:30 p.m., the Sacrament of Holy Unction with anointing of all pilgrims will be celebrated. The day will conclude with the celebration of Great Vespers at 6.00 p.m.

The monastery store will feature the sisterhood’s newly published cookbook, a just-released DVD of a monastery Liturgy, and a large new line of inexpensive gifts and icons.

For further information call 724-758-4002 or write omtnuns@gmail.com.

Tomb of St. Philip said to be discovered in Turkey

HIERAPOLIS, TURKEY (Fox News) – A tomb believed to be that of St. Philip the Apostle was unearthed during excavations in the ancient Turkish city of Hierapolis.

Italian professor Francesco D'Andria said archeologists found the tomb of the biblical figure -- one of the 12 original disciples of Jesus -- while working on the ruins of a newly-unearthed church, Turkish news agency Anadolu reported Wednesday.

"We have been looking for Saint Philip's tomb for years," d'Andria told the agency. "We finally found it in the ruins of a church which we excavated a month ago."

The structure of the tomb and the writings on the wall proved it belonged to St. Philip, he added.

The professor said the archaeologists worked for years to find the tomb and he expected it to become an important Christian pilgrimage destination.

St. Philip, recognized as one of Christianity's martyrs, is thought to have died in Hierapolis, in the southwest province of Denizli, in around 80AD. It is believed he was crucified upside down or beheaded.

Hierapolis, whose name means "sacred city," is an ancient city famous for its hot springs and a spa since the 2nd century.

The Turkish news agency notes a wealth of current archaeology projects underway in the country, which has seen a potpourri of cultures over the centuries: Assyrians, Phrygians, Persians, Romans, Byzantinians, Ottomans and more.

Primates of Georgia, Ukraine, and Russia meet

(UOC-MP) - On July 27, the eve of commemoration of the Holy and Equal-to-the-Apostles Vladimir, the Primates of the Russian, Georgian and Ukrainian Orthodox Churches a prayer service at St Vladimir's Hill at the foot of the monument to the Baptizer of Rus.

Praying at S Vladimir's Hill also were the bishops of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, members of delegations of the Russian and Georgian churches, numerous clergy of the Diocese of Kyiv, residents and guests of Kyiv.

Attending on behalf of the authorities were: Deputy Head of the Administration of President of Ukraine Anna Herman, Council to the President of Ukraine Yuriy Bohutsky, people's deputies and other his officials.

The prayer service was accompanied by the chant of the choir of the Kyiv Theological Academy and Seminary under the guidance of hegumen Roman (Pidlubnyaka).

Thereafter the Primates of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church and the Russian orthodox Church exchanged congratulatory words.

"Now the grace of the Holy Spirit has gathered us in this city, to praise the Merciful God, His saint - Prince Vladimir, and raise our prayers to heaven. This place has gained its importance in honor of the 1000th anniversary of the Baptism of Rus and since then we are going to raise the prayer of thanksgiving and praise. We thank you for coming to this celebration, the place is directly connected with the Baptism of Rus.

May the merciful Lord, the prayers of Prince Vladimir, keeps you in all your ways, in your chosen ministry. May the grace of the Holy Spirit win in our hearts over pride and misunderstanding. May the grace of God from now and forever strengthen all of us in the Orthodox faith - the faith of our fathers and forefathers, in faith, piety and salvation, "- said His Beatitude.

Then His Holiness Patriarch Kirill, His Holiness Catholicos-Patriarch Ilia II and His Beatitude Metropolitan Volodymyr venerated the icon of the Holy Prince Vladimir with a piece of his honorable relics.

Finally, the three primates of the Churches laid flowers at the foot of the monument to Prince Vladimir.

Tuesday, July 26, 2011

Russian Church won't step on Georgian territories

KIEV (Reuters) - Russia's Orthodox Christian Church will not claim clerical authority over Georgia's breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, Russian and Georgian church leaders said on Tuesday.

Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill and Georgian Orthodox Patriarch Ilia met in Ukraine, another predominantly Christian former Soviet republic, for the first time since the five-day war in 2008 over the Moscow-backed breakaway region of South Ossetia.

Tensions between Georgia and Russia have remained high since the war, which strengthened Russia's influence over the two rebel regions.

The Georgian church's pro-Russia stance has created tensions between it and President Mikheil Saakashvili's pro-Western government.

Adding to Georgia's frustrations, Russia has recognized both regions as independent countries. Moscow and Tbilisi have since traded multiple accusations of "provocations" and sabotage.

This month, a Georgian court found several photographers, including one who had worked for Saakashvili, guilty of spying for Russia.

Patriarch Kirill said he had a "brotherly" discussion with his Georgian peer on issues that included church life in the rebel regions.

"It is clear that the Georgian Patriarchate has canonical jurisdiction over the territory of Abkhazia and South Ossetia," he told reporters.

Patriarch Ilia called the meeting "a good start" and said he hoped to continue talks with the Russian church.

None of the clerics spoke about the political side of the Abkhazia and South Ossetia issue.

Many years to Abp. Dmitri of Dallas!


Please continue to pray for His Eminence, Archbishop Dmitri.

Antiochian Archdiocese Convention podcasts available

(AFR) - The 50th Biennial Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocesan Convention was held in Chicago, Illinois, from July 24th though the 31st, 2011. The Convention was hosted by Fr. Nicholas Dahdal and the good people of St. George Antiochian Orthodox Church in Cicero, Illinois.

Ancient Faith Radio attended the conference and posted recordings of the following speeches, events, and gatherings.
Podcasts will be available here.

Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations...

Commissioning of Maria Roeber, RN as an OCMC missionary serving Tanzania. May 22, 2011. You can follow her missionary efforts on her blog here or from these sites (ocmc.org and the OCMC blog) for more information on this and other OCMC missionary efforts.

Antiochian representatives visit Moscow

(mospat.ru) - On July 25, 2011, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia received some hierarchs of the Orthodox Church of Antioch at his working residence in Chisty Pereulok, Moscow. Present at the meeting were Metropolitan Anthony of Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean and Venezuela, Metropolitan Damaskinos of Sao Paulo and All Brazil, Metropolitan George of Homs, and Archbishop Niphon of Philippopolis, representative of the Patriarch of Antioch and All the East to the Patriarch of Moscow.

Participating in the meeting were also Archpriest Nikolay Balashov, DECR vice-chairman, and Hieromonk Stephan (Igumnov), DECR secretariat for inter-Orthodox relations.

Welcoming the guests, Patriarch Kirill noted that in Latin American countries a special pastoral role and responsibility is placed on the Patriarchate of Antioch. ‘The greatest number of Orthodox Christians there belongs to your Church. You have the largest parishes and the most active parish life, and this places on you a great responsibility before God and history for preserving and broadening Orthodoxy in the Latin American continent’, he said.

Patriarch Kirill stressed that there were many faithful of the Russian Orthodox Church in Latin America, among them post-revolutionary emigrants and those who left their homeland as a result of World War II, as well as people who have come to reside in that region in recent times.

Talking with his high guests, His Holiness made a positive assessment of the cooperation between the clergy of the Churches of Russia and Antioch in Latin America and expressed the wish that the fraternal Churches may support each other in the future too, sharing joys and hard moments in their life. ‘We should support each other by all means in our bilateral relations and on the pan-Orthodox level’, he said.

Metropolitan Anthony thanked His Holiness Kirill for the possibility to meet. He also expressed deep gratitude to the Russian Church for her support of the Orthodox Christians in the Middle East who are experiencing a hard time. He also informed the patriarch about the way in which the Russian-speaking believers living in Mexico are taken care of in his dioceses.

Metropolitan George conveyed greetings from His Beatitude Patriarch Ignatios IV of Antioch and All the East and the Holy Synod of the Church of Antioch. He noted that for Christians in Syria and Lebanon it was very important to have the support of the Russian Church. He expressed gratitude for the support of the Christian minority in the Middle East. His words of gratitude were shared by Metropolitan Damaskinos.

During their talk, Patriarch Kirill noted that he personally and all the faithful in Russia were concerned for the fate of Christians in the Middle East, which is still uncertain. He cited Iraq in which an external interference in the life of the country led to a destabilization of the situation which affected in the first place the ethnic and religious minorities. Christians in Iraq were subjected to severe persecution, many of them died or had to flee the country. ‘May God give that the processes taking place in Arab countries today may not lead to a political chaos and new persecution of Christians’, he said. He also underscored that the Russian Church cannot but sympathize with her brothers in the Middle East since she has been closely connected with the Orthodox in the East throughout history.

Metropolitan George in his turn thanked Patriarch Kirill for the stand taken by Russia with regard to possible sanctions to be imposed on Syria.

Monday, July 25, 2011

Watch St. Tikhon's Seminary get a facelift

(STOTS) - The changes to the administrative building have begun. Over the next several weeks many changes to the administration building, both the exterior and interior, will be taking place.

It is a very exciting time here with all the new changes.The parking lot side entrance will become our main entrance for the time being. We ask for everyone's patience while the construction is taking place.

We will be updating the site once every couple of days so that people can witness the transformation as it takes place.

Photos taken just prior to the beginning of renovations.

Day 1.

Loss

Relatives of a victim gather to observe a minute's silence on a campsite jetty on the Norwegian mainland, across the water from Utoya island, seen in the background on Monday, July 25, 2011. People have been placing floral tributes at this site in memory of those killed in the shooting massacre on the island on Friday. AP / Matt Dunham

It is the power of one man to do so much good that he will be remembered for generations as a leader, a servant, and saint. That same man can choose destruction and join the ranks of other madmen and villains that are remembered as humanity gone wrong.

From the Didache:
There are two ways, one of life and one of death, but a great difference between the two ways. The way of life, then, is this: First, you shall love God who made you; second, love your neighbor as yourself, and do not do to another what you would not want done to you. And of these sayings the teaching is this: Bless those who curse you, and pray for your enemies, and fast for those who persecute you. For what reward is there for loving those who love you? Do not the Gentiles do the same? But love those who hate you, and you shall not have an enemy.

And the way of death is this: First of all it is evil and accursed: murders, adultery, lust, fornication, thefts, idolatries, magic arts, witchcrafts, rape, false witness, hypocrisy, double-heartedness, deceit, haughtiness, depravity, self-will, greediness, filthy talking, jealousy, over-confidence, loftiness, boastfulness; persecutors of the good, hating truth, loving a lie, not knowing a reward for righteousness, not cleaving to good nor to righteous judgment, watching not for that which is good, but for that which is evil; from whom meekness and endurance are far, loving vanities, pursuing revenge, not pitying a poor man, not laboring for the afflicted, not knowing Him Who made them, murderers of children, destroyers of the handiwork of God, turning away from him who is in want, afflicting him who is distressed, advocates of the rich, lawless judges of the poor, utter sinners. Be delivered, children, from all these.

This is not prayer.

From the pre-race prayer at the Nascar Nationwide series race in Nashville TN July 23, 2011

This video has gone a bit viral. H/T to Byzantine in the Bible Belt as it was the first site I saw it on.

Friday, July 22, 2011

Gay marriage legal? Gay clergy must marry.

This would seem to be a natural consequence to the legalization of same-sex unions in those states that have approved them... Hat tip to Standing on my Head.


(Christian Post) - In the wake of gay marriage soon becoming a legal institution in the state of New York, the Episcopal Bishop of Long Island, has ordered that homosexual priests wed their partners.

Long Island Episcopal Bishop Lawrence Provenzano has put his foot down against gay clergy who residing in homosexual relationships, and has given a nine month deadline for them to either get married or stop living together, according to the News Observer.

“I need to be mindful that the church has always asked people to live in committed monogamous, faithful relationships. I won’t allow heterosexual clergy to live in a rectory or church housing without the benefit of marriage. When one puts it in that context, then you see how it all begins to make sense,” said Provenzano.

Reverend Christopher Hofer, pastor of the Episcopal Church of St. Jude agrees with Provenzano, “I think his statement was not only fair, but beyond generous. It gives people time, acknowledging that there’s a financial component involved and recognizing that some may not choose to live together.

“Now that the state is recognizing civil marriage, we as priests, perhaps deacons too, who are in committed relationships, have a choice: we either live what we preach to become civilly married or we live apart,” he said.

According to SRN news, no other Episcopal dioceses in states with same-gender marriage have set an explicit deadline for gay clergy to marry their live in partners.

Many are concerned about what the repercussions are for the priests who do not conform to the new rule, but Provenzano does not have a set punishment for those that retaliate. He said, “No one will be disciplined for failing to meet the deadline.”

Same-sex marriage will become a legal in the state of New York on Sunday, July 24th.

Greek Catholic Patriarch Sviatoslav speaks his mind

(RISU) - During the first three months of his rule, the new head of the UGCC gave more than a dozen interviews on various issues of church life. For leaders the first 100 days is a time for reflection, a period for making conclusions. On this occasion, RISU journalists and the periodical Patriarchate met with Patriarch Sviatoslav to hear his evaluation of the first one hundred days in power and his views on other important church issues.

— The first one hundred days have passed since your enthronement (March 27, 2011), which is a traditional time for secular leaders to summarize their accomplishments. How were the first 100 days as head of church?

— These first one hundred days were very busy. There were two important synods: the Metropolitan Synod of Bishops of Kyiv-Halych Metropolitanate of the church and the permanent synod, held in Rome, where I first presided as head of the church. The meeting of the permanent synod, which actually helps the head of the church in the intersynodal period, was devoted to preparing for the Patriarchal Synod, which is to be held this fall in Brazil. So these first one hundred days were a time to make some very interesting administrative, synodal steps.

In addition, during this time I made a pastoral visit to Argentina and Italy. In Italy I also met with the president of the Italian Episcopal Conference of Italian Cardinal Angelo Bagnasco and Vicar of Rome Cardinal Vallini. Since the enthronement, I have been in permanent contact with Pope Benedict XVI and with the Apostolic Capital. In fact, there have already been three such trips, three meetings.

In these one hundred days I consecrated a church – a newly built church in the Vinnytsia region – and founded a new monastery. Just yesterday we laid the cornerstone for the construction of the Holy Family Sisters Convent, here in Kyiv near our cathedral.

An important part of my pastoral activity was constant communication with journalists. I thank God that there is interest in our church. I was very pleased to discover the Ukrainian media space and thus be able to speak to very many people who are unable to communicate directly with me. Through the media I was able to come closer to them.

I wrote several pastoral epistles: to the youth, to the priests, as well as responses to questions posed by the Ukrainian public. Also, I am pleased to begin systematic work with the youth: in Kyiv there was an interesting meeting at the Kyiv Mohyla Academy; in Lviv I had the opportunity to meet with those responsible for pastoral care of youth from all eparchies. And much, much more.

— Culture experts say there is no question more difficult than the question of identity. Greek Catholics hear many definitions of their church, for example, that we are Eastern rite Catholics, or Eastern Catholics, or Orthodox in communion with Rome, or maybe even other formulations. Which wording do you think is the most accurate?

– By the way, I am currently reading a book by Ivan Dziuba "Injection of Darkness." There are very interesting thoughts about the issue of identity, which is complicated, multifaceted, and very dynamic. Speaking of our identity, I want to stress two points.

First, our identity is the identity of Kyivan Christianity during Volodymyr's baptism, when the newly established church on the lands of Kyivan Rus’ was a subsidiary of the Church of the Patriarchate of Constantinople and, on the other hand, in communion with the Apostolic See. Our identity is a testimony of the church when Christianity was not divided. Though after all the dramatic events, this identity of our church faced various dangers throughout history and sometimes was not even recognized as a church.

Today, in the third millennium, we also strive to live this identity. So, on the one hand, we strive to further discover and learn about the roots of the church, which was born from St. Volodymyr’s baptism, which is a national church, which is a church of the Eastern tradition according to not only its rites but also its spirituality, canonical and theological heritage. But on the other hand, it is a church that cherishes its communion with the Roman Apostolic See.

Second, identity is something very multifaceted, constantly evolving, transforming. Our identity in the present historical period is experiencing a period of development and transformation; that is, on the one hand, we want to the church to be open. Open not only to all who live in Ukraine today, but also to various nations, nationalities, even different religions. But, on the other hand, we also want to be open to interchurch and interethnic dialogue, because we understand that Kyivan Christianity from the very beginning strived to be a powerful center of Christianity on par with Rome, Constantinople, and later Moscow.

So I think that today our development faces some challenges also for the interchurch dialogue. I think that today the Lord God himself will call us to show just how important and relevant Volodymyr's baptism is for ecumenical Christianity...
Complete article here.

Armenians buying expensive cars not rebuilding churches?

On reading this news article, I am reminded of a story about the recently reposed (May his memory be eternal!) Patriarch Pavle of Serbia...

Patriarch Pavle, as he was known, continued to live a simple life even after he moved to the new residence – the Patriarchal Palace – in Belgrade. People from Belgrade often encountered him on the streets, riding the train or the bus... Once, while walking alone the hilly street of King Peter the I, towards the Patriarchate, a late model Mercedes passed closely by him, the driver – a priest from one of the well known parishes in Belgrade, stopped the car and said:

- Your Holiness, permit me to invite you in! Just tell me where you heading

The Patriarch entered the car, and as soon as it started moving, asked:

- Tell me, Father, whose car is this?

- It’s mine, your Holiness!

- Stop it! – the Patriarch replied, he then got off, made the sign of the Cross and said to the priest:

- May the Lord, watch over you!

(accc.org.uk) - In a statement issued today, the civic organization "We Will Not Remain Silent" refers to a new article in ArmInfo which claims that during the past year the Holy See of Etchmiadzin has purchased 7 Toyota autos worth $309,000.

The same ArmInfo source alleges that Etchmiadzin has purchased Toyota and other autos in past years as well and that no VAT is applicable.

The group reminds the public that only a few days ago Etchmiadzin Info Coordinator Vahram Melikyan stated that the church doesn't have the funds needed to renovate Sanahin and other religious sites on the verge of ruin and that they are dependent on the largess of benefactors.

"We Will Not Remain Silent" points out that while the finances of the Armenian Apostolic Church remain a mystery, it can be inferred from the lavish lifestyle of many top clergy that the church is more than holding its head above water.

The activists then argue that even if it was true that the church was financially strapped, then why are scarce resources going to build a new seat for the Catholicos in downtown Yerevan rather than saving a religious monument from ruin.

In conclusion, the group says that "the Armenian Apostolic Church has lost the pulse of the people and has lost sight of society."

Episcopal Assembly of British Isles meets

(ROC-UK/IE) - On June 30, the third meeting of the Pan-Orthodox Assembly of Bishops took place in Hatfield, Hertfordshire. The day of the meeting with the Divine Liturgy at the church of the Holy Twelve Apostles (Archdiocese of Thyateira, Constantinople Patriarchate), at which the representatives of all Orthodox Churches represented in the British Isles concelebrated. From the Diocese of Sourozh the Liturgy was attended by Archbishop Elisey of Sourozh, Archbishop Anatoly of Kerch, Priest Joseph Skinner (Head of the Diocesan Department of Inter-Orthodox Relations) and Protodeacon Dimitri Nedostupenko.

The meeting of the Pan-Orthodox Episcopal Assembly began after a festive meal, offered by the parishioners of the Church of the Holy Apostles in honor of their patronal feast.

The Assembly discussed the practice of Confession, Communion and "mixed marriages" in various parishes of the canonical Orthodox jurisdictions, as well as the possibility of establishing common rules for all Orthodox Dioceses in the British Isles. It was decided that the Pan-Orthodox pastoral committee, chaired by Archbishop Elisey of Sourozh would prepare recommendations for a unified pastoral practice of Confession and Communion, mixed marriages and the conditions for the transfer of Orthodox clergy between jurisdictions.

The third session of the Assembly also discussed existing English catechetical materials, and raised issues of theological education of the clergy in the United Kingdom.

Romanian Church to glorify two metropolitans

(Basilica) - The working session of the Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church of 21 July 2011, approved the canonisation of the Metropolitans of Transylvania Andrei Åžaguna (celebrated on 30 November) and Simeon Åžtefan (celebrated on 24 April), as a result of the synodal proposals of the Metropolitan Synods of the Metropolitan Sees of Transylvania and of Cluj, Alba, CriÅŸana and MaramureÅŸ.

Met. Åžaguna Andrei of Transylvania
Metropolitan Åžaguna Andrei (baptised Anastasie) was Metropolitan of Transylvania (of Aromanian origin). He was born on 20 December 1808 (1 January 1809 st. n.) in MiÅŸcolÅ£, Hungary, and passed away on 16/28 June 1873 in Sibiu (buried in Răşinari). He attended the courses of the secondary school in MiÅŸcolÅ£ and Pesta (graduated in 1826), then philosophy and law at the University of Pesta (1826 – 1829) and theology at the Orthodox Seminary of VârÅŸeÅ£ (1829 – 1832). After finishing the theological studies he joined the community of the Serb monastery of Hopovo, where he became a monk, with the name of Andrei (24 October 1833), and was ordained hierodeacon (February 1834); professor at the Theological Seminary of CarloviÅ£ and secretary of the “Archdiocesan Consistory” over there (since 1834), hieromonk (29 June 1837), protosingelos, metropolitan counsellor and “administrator” and proxy of the abbot at Iazac monastery (1838) and then at BeÅŸenovo (1841); archmandrite and abbot at Hopovo Monastery (1842), and then at Covil (1845); after 1842, he worked for a time as professor at the Romanian section of the Theological Seminary of VârÅŸeÅ£ and “counsellor” of the Consistory over there. On 15/27 June 1846, he is appointed “general vicar” of the Diocese of Transylvania, seated in Sibiu; on 2 December 1847, he is elected bishop (confirmed on 5 February 1848, ordained at CarloviÅ£ on 18/30 April 1848); on 12/24 December 1864, he is appointed archbishop and metropolitan of the re-established Metropolitan See of Transylvania, seated in Sibiu.

Met. Simion Åžtefan of Transylvania
Metropolitan Simion Åžtefan was metropolitan of Transylvania and passed away in June /July 1656 in Alba Iulia. He studied at the Academic College of Alba Iulia; he became a monk at the Romanian Monastery in the city. In 1643, he is elected metropolitan of the Transylvanian Romanians seated at Alba Iulia (Bălgrad). During his pastoral rule the New Testament “from Bălgrad” was printed, the first complete Romanian translation (1648), with a remarkable preface by the metropolitan in which he debated the Romanian language unity. It was re-edited in 1988 and 1998. In 1651 he printed a Psalter Book in Romanian.

Bp. Michael of New York speaks to diocesan assembly

The thing I like about Bp. Michael's speeches is that his many years in St. Tikhon's, his frankness, and his love for the Church all combine to deliver consistently forthright and engaging orations. This is his address to the Diocesan Assembly of the Diocese of New York and New Jersey (Orthodox Church in America) delivered on July 19, 2011 in Endicott NY.



An interview with author, Dr. Adam DeVille

Dr. Adam DeVille is a professor at the University of St. Francis, an editor of Logos: A Journal of Eastern Christian Studies, the author of "Orthodoxy and the Roman Papacy," and most recently a speaker at this year's Orientale Lumen Conference. He was kind enough to answer a few questions on his many efforts for this blog.

1. Would you speak a little on LOGOS? What sort of material is covered in the journal and how did you get involved as an editor?

Logos: A Journal of Eastern Christian Studies began publishing in 1950. After a low period in the late 1980s, it was revived in 1993 and revised again in 2005. It is the oldest scholarly journal publishing in Eastern Christianity in North America. It is published twice a year in two double volumes.

I began as a lowly copy editor in 2002, was made associate editor in 2005, and took over as full editor in 2008.

The journal tries to hold three things in tension: first, to be open to scholarship from both Catholic and Orthodox sources. Second, to be scholarly and academic, but also open to and supportive of pastoral renewal of our churches. To that end, it publishes not only leading peer-reviewed scholarship in the form of articles, but it also publishes shorter essays, notes, lectures, and book reviews that should be accessible and intelligible to the generally educated layperson or parish priest. Third, while being based in North America, the journal also has ties to the churches of Ukraine. We therefore publish articles in Ukrainian—as well as English and French.


2. This year Notre Dame Press published your book "Orthodoxy and the Roman Papacy." What was the impetus behind the writing of your book? Were there any surprises along the way while you did research for it?

The book began as my doctoral dissertation at the Sheptytsky Institute at Saint Paul University, Ottawa, Canada. But I hasten to add that it was of course edited after that, and is free of “dissertationese” which sometimes plagues some books! In fact, I’ve been told by several people that it reads like a fast-paced historical novel in some respects.

The impetus for writing came from two long-standing interests of mine: the problem of authority in general; and the problem of Christian division. I have been involved in various ecumenical organizations for over twenty years now, and the search for East-West unity remains hugely important to me.

Surprises: Yes, quite a few, particularly concerning ecclesial structures. The book demolishes, I think, what I came to regard as one of the received myths of ecclesial governance whereby, the stereotypes allege, governance in the West is always papal, monarchical, and centralized; and governance in the East is always patriarchal, decentralized, and synodal. If you know what you are talking about, you know that’s just a lot of rubbish on both sides. There is a long-standing history of synodal governance in the Western Church—real synodal governance, with legislative authority, and not the pretend synods they have now in Rome—until at least the end of the eleventh century; and there are many examples in the East of patriarchs having powers that the popes of Rome, even in their most acutely ultramontane moments, would never of dreamed of having, let alone exercising. Two examples illustrate this: Pope Gregory VII (r. 1073-1085), one of the most revolutionary popes in history, did not dare press his far-reaching and dramatic reforms without the advice and support of his synod. Patriarch Alexy I (r. 1945-1970) of Moscow was granted incredible powers (what the Orthodox theologian John Erickson has called “neo-papalist’’ powers), making him a “super-patriarch” in many ways under the 1945 statutes governing the Russian Church. If one knows 11th-century history and the Investiture Crisis, one can understand Gregory VII; and if one knows 20th-century history, one will understand why Alexy was granted those powers.

Thursday, July 21, 2011

The difficulty of closed communion

I have seen people told they could not receive communion on innumerable occasions. It's such a painful experience to watch that I always turn my face away and feel quite ill at ease for some minutes. Of course some of the same feeling intumesces as I stand off to the side on those Sundays when I have not properly prepared myself. But, though it is a problem for many people, the wisdom of the rules designating who may receive the Precious Body and Blood of Our Lord has not been something I have questioned. I do run into many people who have problems with it, and my inability to readily articulate a defense is something I need to remedy. It is one thing to hold to a belief - it is another thing entirely to be able to convincingly convey that belief to another person.

(pravmir.com) - As an Orthodox priest, I cannot tell you how many times I have had to face someone, whether within my parish or a visitor from outside of it, and tell them that for one reason or another, they will not be able to partake in the Eucharist.

Closed communion—it couldn’t possibly sound more negative. It implies judgement, exclusivity, and moral superiority—all qualities that a pluralistic, democratic and egalitarian society despises. And yet, without a doubt, the Orthodox Church is a closed communion: only those who are baptized members of the Eastern Orthodox Church, who offer a regular confession and who fast and pray in preparation, may receive the Eucharist.

Why does the Orthodox Church practice this policy? It is one thing to exclude those who are not Christians at all, but how can we dare to judge the hearts of other Christians, and exclude them from communion with their Lord and Saviour?

Even writing those words conjures up in my mind the hurt and anger I have seen in the eyes of those who have asked the questions...
Complete article here.

WCC looks to seminary standards

(WCC) - A common charter reflecting the essential elements of quality in theological education for schools of all denominational backgrounds was proposed recently by representatives of the World Conference of Associations of Theological Institutions (WOCATI) at a meeting in Johannesburg, South Africa.

From 4 to 8 July 38 representatives of Protestant, Roman Catholic, Orthodox, Evangelical, Pentecostal and African Independent Churches gathered for the first in Africa to discuss issues of quality in theological education on a global level.

The gathering was called “Challenges and Promises of Quality Assurance in Theological Education: Ecumenical and Multi-Contextual Inquiries.”

The participants emphasized the strategic importance of African associations of theological schools and the work of the All Africa Conference of Churches (AACC) and other ecumenical bodies in enhancing theological education in Africa.
Although there is no global agency to accredit institutions of theological education with similar standards around the world, participants recognized the need to develop some common understanding between all Christian institutions of theological education on what constitutes quality assurance and enhancement in theological education.

The group said that a balanced concept of quality in theological education should include academic proficiency, spiritual formation and pastoral competencies and that multiple forms of oppression and discrimination based on gender, race, ethnicity, colour, class, caste, ability, sexuality and religion should be explicitly addressed in the quality standards applied in various contexts.

It was agreed that these criteria could be reflected in a common charter which could be shared with associations of theological schools from all denominational backgrounds.

During the meeting the group expressed gratitude for the support and continued accompaniment of the World Council of Churches (WCC) Ecumenical Theological Education programme and recommended that WOCATI representatives be included among the delegates at the next WCC Assembly in 2013 and in the future working structures of the WCC.

Academic presentations and lectures that were presented from the different regions and associations of theological schools and denominational networks will be made available soon on WOCATI’s website.

Wednesday, July 20, 2011

Patriarch Kirill on the ineffectiveness of multiculturalism

Moscow, July 20 (Interfax) - Russia cannot resolve interreligious and interethnic problems without improving the moral climate in society, Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia has said.

"Interethnic and interreligious problems can be overcome through bolstering what you have very correctly called public morals," Patriarch Kirill said addressing Prime Minister Vladimir Putin at a meeting with prominent members of religious and other non-governmental organizations on Tuesday.

"The main thing that worries me now is the destruction of our public morals," the patriarch said. Moral pillars are being ruined, which could make it "impossible to stop crime growth," he said.

The Patriarch also suggested finding out "why bloody clashes are happening virtually everywhere these days, including in the prospering Europe, across the ocean, and in the Middle East."

Talking about the model of multiculturalism, which Patriarch Kirill said appeared in the U.S. and which Western Europe adopted, he suggested that this model smoothes out differences between religions and cultures and neutralizes traditional values. Put everything in the soup and stir. Eventually the soup tastes like everything and nothing.  What was once a collection of wonderful recipes is now a syncretistic mish-mash with no ties to anything.

"Values go away from a multicultural society, but differences remain in place, and these differences prompt people to throw bombs and Molotov cocktails at each other and turn over cars. The melting pot idea doesn't work," he said.

"It is impossible to try to neutralize differences by ignoring values of human life. If we want to build a society isolated from these values, an absolutely secular one and tolerate multiple forms of behavior, we will abandon something that people of any religion have in common and that unites them, we will destroy the moral foundation of our life," he said.

House to vote on Turkish return of churches


(Hurriyet) - The powerful Foreign Affairs Committee of the U.S. House of Representatives is planning to hold a vote Wednesday on an amendment calling for Turkey to “return stolen Armenian and other Christian churches to their rightful owners.”

The committee will meet for a markup session to discuss and vote on the State Department’s “Foreign Relations Authorization Act, Fiscal Year 2012;” the “return of churches” measure will likely be offered as an amendment to that authorization bill, the Armenian National Committee of America, or ANCA, said in a statement Tuesday. See above video of Rep. Gus Bilirakis, a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, on Turkey and other nations who engage in religious persecution (transcript available here).

ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian urged all U.S. citizens of Armenian origin to “call your U.S. representative by July 20 and urge him/her to support this powerful religious freedom measure.”

“The Turkish Embassy is working overtime to kill this resolution and erase forever even the memory of Armenians and other Christians in our ancient homelands,” Hamparian said.

The Turkish Embassy in Washington rejected the charges in a recent statement, saying, “The resolution is deeply regrettable because it unfairly distorts the facts on the ground while flatly overlooking Turkey’s efforts to promote religious freedom and tolerance.”

All known pro-Armenian lawmakers in the House, the lower chamber of the U.S. Congress, back the bill, as do some representatives sensitive to Christian-rights issues, as well as the Foreign Affairs Committee’s chairwoman, Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, a Republican from Florida.

“Unfortunately the ‘honeymoon’ climate between Ankara and President Barack Obama’s administration is not shared by many in Congress. This bill is evidence [of that],” said a Washington-based analyst. “If this bill passes, it may harm the U.S.-Turkish relationship.”

The resolution’s chief sponsors are Ed Royce, a Republican from California, and Howard Berman, the committee’s ranking Democratic member from California.

“Conditions in Turkey have deteriorated with violent hate crimes increasingly linked to religion. My resolution urges Turkey to protect its vulnerable religious minorities,” Royce said.

“By expropriating church properties, harassing worshippers, and refusing to grant full legal status to some Christian groups, Turkey has failed to fulfill its obligation as a signatory to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which requires freedom of thought, conscience and religion,” Berman said.

Berman and Royce were also staunch supporters of earlier resolutions calling on the U.S. government to recognize claims that the killing of Armenians in 1915 at the end of the Ottoman Empire qualifies as genocide. Such resolutions have passed the House Foreign Affairs Committee four times since 2000 but have never come to a full House vote.

Pan-Orthodox celebration of Christianization of Kyivan Rus


(KyivPost) - Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia will visit Ukraine on July 26-28 to mark the Day of Christianization of Kyivan Rus.

During his visit to Ukraine, Patriarch Kirill will meet with Catholicos-Patriarch Ilia II of All Georgia at the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra on the evening of July 26, the Moscow Patriarchate's information department reported.

On July 27, Patriarch Kirill, Catholicos-Patriarch Ilia II, Metropolitan Volodymyr of Kyiv and All Ukraine, and an assembly of archpriests and other clerics will conduct a ceremonial prayer service on Volodymyrska Hill.

On July 28, which is St. Volodymyr Day and the Day of Baptizing of Kyivan Rus, Patriarch Kirill will conduct a liturgy service at Kyiv Pechersk Lavra along with Catholicos-Patriarch Ilia II, Metropolitan Volodymyr, and a lot of other clerics from Ukraine, Russia, Georgia, and other countries.

Synodal notes from Georgian Church

Patriarch Antonius II to be glorified
(patriarchate.ge) - The Chairman – Ilia II, Catholicos Patriarch of All Georgia

The Secretary – Grigol (Berbichashvili), Metropolitan of Poti and Khobi Diocese

Sub-Secretaries – Nikoloz (Pachuashvili), Metropolitan of Akhalkalaki and Kumurdo Diocese, and Saba (Gigiberia), Metropolitan of Khoni and Samtredia Diocese

Agenda:

I. On 5th of July 2011 the Parliament of Georgia adopted a bill on changes to the Civil Code of Georgia (Attachment #1). There was expressed general discontent regarding adoption of a new law without any preliminary public discussions and consultations with the Georgian Patriarchate despite the Constitutional Agreement between the Church and the State of Georgia. The situation arose disturbance among the parish and the clergy. Considering the abovementioned, Holy Synod discussed and adopted hereby:

1. Considering the Constitution of Georgia and legal norms generally recognized by the international community, the Georgian Orthodox Church hereby declares that all people having different religious faith and residing in Georgia are equal against the law. Freedom of belief does not depend on which religious community this or that citizen belongs to. Based on the Constitution of Georgia and the Constitutional Agreement, which express the Georgian people’s will, the special legal status of the Georgian Apostolic Autocephaly Orthodox Church has not restricted freedom of other religious faith and equality against the law.

2. Address to the Georgian authorities to:

a) Considering specificity and neatness of the theme, while discussing bills and other proper legal acts on religion, have preliminary talks with the Georgian Patriarchate in order to avoid possible complications in future.

b) Launch government negotiations on status of the Georgian Patriarchate dioceses abroad and their property issues.

c) Make the state be more active regarding patronage of monuments of national and spiritual culture.

d) Recognize illegal the religious policy and all other deeds made by the state from losing state independence and autocephaly of the Church to regaining the state independence.

e) Form a commission to monitor fulfillment of the Constitutional agreement.

3. Holy Synod calls the clergy and the parish to keep peace despite the reason and avoid any willful activities but pray more for the national unity and peace.

II. Holy Synod heard a presentation about life and deeds of Catholicos Patriarch of All Georgia Anthon II (Bagrationi) and decided to:

Consecrate Catholicos Patriarch of All Georgia Anton II to saint and call him Lamentation Martyred Anton II Catholicos Patriarch of All Georgia. His Tribute Day is on 3rd of January / 21st of December (church calendar); also to write icon and proper Divine Service particles.

III. Holy Synod discussed violation of moral norms by some clergymen and decided hereby to:

Form a Commission on moral norms violation. The commission shall be comprised of Metropolitan Andrew (Gvazava) of Samtavisi and Gori Diocese, and Bishop Jacob (Yacobashvili) of Gardabani and Martkofi Diocese.

Tuesday, July 19, 2011

2nd Intl. Conference of the EP for Pastoral Health Care

(Ecumenical Patriarchate) - The 2nd International Conference of the Ecumenical Patriarchate for Pastoral Health Care will be held in Rhodes, Greece, between the 12th and 16th of October 2011. The conference is being organized, with the blessings of His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, by the Network of the Ecumenical Patriarchate for Pastoral Health Care.

The theme of the Conference will be “Caring before the Gates of Death”. The presentations and workshops will focus on death from a medical, theological, philosophical, psychological and pastoral perspective. There will be a special emphasis on palliative care and the medical, psychological and spiritual care which is offered to those that suffer incurable diseases and who are in the last stage of their life.

It is indeed a fact that the care which is offered to those that are before the “gate of death” is becoming even more complex and difficult. Because of this, there are many theoretical issues that must be explored, questions that must be answered and many practical steps that must be taken so as to offer the care that every person deserves.

Attending the conference will be representatives from all the metropolises that belong spiritually and administratively to the Patriarchate throughout the world, the representatives from the metropolises of the Church of Greece and of the other Autocephalous Orthodox Churches, representatives from the Schools of Theology of the Universities of Athens, Thessalonica and Holy Cross in Brookline, Mass, including other theological schools and ecclesiastical academies. Also attending will be those that are involved in the medical care (doctors, nurses, social workers, etc) for the sick and the dying...
Complete article here.

I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go...


Monday, July 18, 2011

Russia reverses course on abortion


MOSCOW (NY Times) — President Dmitri A. Medvedev has signed into law the first steps intended to restrict abortion since the collapse of communism, the latest salvo in what is beginning to resemble the fierce divide over abortion in the United States.

The changes require abortion providers to devote 10 percent of any advertising to describing the dangers of abortion to a woman’s health, and they make it illegal to describe abortion as a safe medical procedure.

Tighter restrictions on abortion may follow after Parliament considers a separate health bill in the autumn.

The changes were passed by the upper house of Parliament this month as an amendment to the law governing advertising and were signed by Mr. Medvedev this week. A summary of the changes, which take effect within 30 days, was posted Thursday on the Kremlin’s Web site, which reproduces reams of documents on all of Mr. Medvedev’s legislative measures but highlights only some.

The summary on the Web site said the new law “is directed on the whole towards protecting women’s health and makes it mandatory for advertising of medical services on the artificial termination of pregnancy to include warnings on the danger of this procedure for women’s health and the possible harmful consequences, including infertility.”

In Soviet times, abortion was free and unrestricted after the late 1960s. But in recent years, contention over abortion has begun to sound like the debate in the United States.

Mr. Medvedev has made the fight against Russia’s falling birthrate and plunging population, now at just under 143 million, a feature of his presidency, offering incentives like payouts for a third child and land plots to encourage women to give birth.

Official statistics placed the number of abortions at 1.3 million in 2009, a significant drop from the 1990s. Russia’s increasingly vocal anti-abortion activists, some in Parliament, say it is perhaps many times higher, and Mr. Medvedev’s wife, Svetlana Medvedeva, has taken up the cause.

Last Friday, her Foundation for Social and Cultural Initiatives launched a nationwide campaign, “Give Me Life!” which it advertised on its Web site and in brochures and other materials as a “week against abortion.”

One brochure distributed by the foundation warns that “the consequences of a thoughtless step can ruin one’s life” and offered graphic descriptions of what it called the health threat posed by abortion, chiefly in upsetting hormones in a way that could lead to cancer.

Several local governments, including Murmansk, in the north, and Tula, just south of Moscow, supported the campaign, and state-run medical centers offered families and single women consultations to avoid abortion and lift the birthrate.

The campaign was tied into the “Day of Family, Love and Faithfulness,” a holiday created by Mrs. Medvedeva and the Russian Orthodox Church and centered around Pyotr and Fevronia, a couple who ruled the Murom region northeast of Moscow in the late 12th century and were later declared saints. The president and his wife went to Murom to extol family values and encourage childbirth.

Meanwhile, Valery Draganov, a member of Parliament from United Russia, the pro-Kremlin party, reintroduced a legislative package for consideration in the lower house that would place strict limits on abortion.

Officials of the Russian Orthodox Church had complained that members of Parliament who support a right to abortion had scuttled amendments to a health bill that would have imposed a waiting period. Voting on that bill, which raises a number of other medical issues that have caused an outcry in Russia, has been postponed until autumn.

Sensing a threat, Russian abortion-rights activists, who include feminists, doctors and demographers, have held seminars for journalists and even a small protest in St. Petersburg. Boris Denisov, a Moscow State University demographer working to create a pro-choice coalition, said, “Since obscurantists cannot turn history back, they limit themselves to small meanness like a week without abortion.”

The Rev. Maksim Obukhov, a Russian Orthodox priest campaigning against abortion since the 1990s, when he was a lone voice, insists that more and more Russians favor restrictions.

A conference last month in Moscow brought together abortion opponents from Russia, the United States and Eastern Europe. It also resulted in a declaration condemning what it called other “social deviations” including “refusal of marriage and childbearing.”

California mandates gay history for all K-12 classrooms

The lie that we are told is that gay marriage will have no further implications than people being married. The world won't fall off its axis and spin into space, no one will start marrying their favorite pet, and no one of religious convictions will be forced to do anything. Recently the governor of California signed into law a requirement that children learn gay history. This is the way issues like this work: permission is given, laws are codified, "education" is provided, and then opposition is silenced through a series of anti-bigotry laws.


(Orthodoxy Today) - “It is an outrage that Governor Jerry Brown has opened the classroom door for homosexual activists to indoctrinate the minds of California’s youth, since no factual materials would be allowed to be presented,” said Rev. Louis Sheldon, chairman and founder of Traditional Values Coalition (TVC). “By signing SB 48 today, California’s classrooms, textbooks and instructional materials will all become pro-homosexual promotion tools. If parents don’t already have their children out of public schools, this should cause them to remove them.”

Senate Bill 48, authored by homosexual State Senator Mark Leno, Democrat of San Francisco, is being called the “Fair, Accountable, Inclusive, and Respectful Education Act” or FAIR Act. But there is nothing fair, accountable, inclusive or respectful about it. This bill is so far-reaching into the structure of California’s education system that it is possible its harmful effects could be never-ending.

SB 48 would amend current Education Code sections to include lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender to the list of categories to be covered in all textbooks and instructional materials. These new textbooks and instructional materials would apply to ALL subjects in curriculum and to ALL grades K-12.

Sheldon added: “SB 48 was priority number 1 for Traditional Values Coalition. We committed all the resources we had to try to make sure that SB 48 failed. We are talking about molesting the minds of young impressionable youth, as young as Kindergarten, with an agenda and message that is not age-appropriate and that is offensive to the values of a vast majority of California’s families.”

Traditional Values Coalition’s Legislative Analyst and Advocate Benjamin Lopez, who attended and testified at every hearing for SB 48 in the State Legislature had the following to say:

“Parents need to understand that SB 48 infiltrates every aspect of their child’s education. The gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender lifestyles will be presented in workbooks, textbooks and every supplemental material in a positive way and in a blatant way that promotes them as mainstream. It’s no longer solely boys and girls, just one more lifestyle choice that children should explore.

“Gender roles would no longer just mean male and female. Lesbians and gays would be classified as ethnic groups just like Latinos, Asians, and Blacks; which is something the US Supreme Court has refused to do. And all of this would have to be presented in one way and one way only…as positive lifestyles to try, engage in, accept and embrace. Students with another point of view would be victimized for sharing their objections to these lifestyles; even factual information. This bill is an affront to true education and to the values parents instill in their kids at home.

We have failed at our core educational mission and yet we are now going to inject gay studies into the classrooms. It’s absurd and offensive.”

Bp. Nikolai not headed to Carpatho-Russian diocese

Retired Bishop Nikolai (Soraich) of Alaska, recently of Serbian monasteries in Herzegovina and Australia, was recently rumored to be in consideration for the episcopate of the ACROD. This was met with unanimous outrage on the part of the clergy and laity. Here is a letter clarifying the diocesan position on Bp. Nikolai.


Office of the Chancellor
312 Garfield St., Johnstown, Pa 15906

July 11, 2011

Glory to Jesus Christ!

Reverend and dear Fathers:

By now all of you have received an e-mail which has been circulating the last several days from an unknown source, self-titled “Concerned ACROD”.

The Consistory wants you to be advised that the suggestive messaging in the anonymous e-mail that Bishop Nikolai Soraich may be a candidate for Bishop of this Diocese is untrue and unfounded. He has not been, and is not a candidate for the vacant Office of Bishop of the American Carpatho-Russian Orthodox Diocese.

Bishop Nikolai has not been interviewed by our Consistory. Nor was he approached by the late + Metropolitan Nicholas in his own search for an auxiliary bishop during the last year of his life when he had interviewed several possible candidates.

Our search is continuing through the Office of Archbishop Demetrios. Please consider the anonymous e-mail as a cowardly attempt to sow dissension, distrust and confusion where there is none.

Thank you once again for your loyalty to our Diocese and your prayers and patience during this difficult time for all of us.

With kind regards, in behalf of the Diocesan Consistory, I remain
Sincerely yours in Christ,

Very Rev. Protopresbyter Frank P. Miloro
Chancellor

The American Carpatho-Russian Orthodox Diocese of the U.S.A.
ECUMENICAL PATRIARCHATE OF CONSTANTINOPLE