Indian Orthodox hierarch discusses ecumenism

Dr. Yakoob Mar Irenios, Metropolitan of Kochi

(Indian Orthodox Herald) - HG Dr Yakoob Mar Irenios, Metropolitan of Kochi Diocese and the present Chairperson of the Faith Unity Mission Commission of the NCCI, demits office by April end. It is for the first time that a Malankara (Indian) Orthodox Metropolitan gets to become the Chairperson of the Faith, Unity and Mission Commission, which is of great importance.

As Chairperson since 2009 and member of Executive Committee, Dr Mar Irenios, outlines the work he did and explains how the Orthodox Church can play an effective role in future with better planning strategies.

Mar Ireanios took charge as Metropolitan of Kochi diocese on April 1, 2009. Earlier, His Grace was the Metropolitan of Madras diocese from 1997. Earlier, in 1993 Mar Ireanios was elevated to the rank of Episcopos and became the Assistant Metropolitan of Malabar diocese.

Excerpts from an email interview. Exclusive to IOH.

Q: After you took over as chairman of faith unity mission commission, what were your plans and programmes? How much were you able to achieve during your tenure.

A: The NCCI, by the grace of God, is slowly recovering from a very difficult financial situation, which was caused by lack of proper financial management for a few years. Now things are back on the rails, thanks to the dedication and prudential financial management of the treasurer.

I shall try to answer your questions rather generally; since it is group work at all levels of NCCI activities. As you know the Orthodox Church is a small part in this institution, where the large majority is Protestant.

Unity, Mission and Evangelism is a wing of the NCCI among others. Every such unit has an Executive Secretary, who is on the staff of NCCI. With the concurrence and direction of the Chairperson, organises programmes. He or she is a kind of CEO, which means the Chairperson has precious little to perform! But the Chair gets involved in several ways. We had an exploratory session immediately after the new Chairpersons took over, and prepared a chart for the several programmes to be implemented during our tenure. For instance the Centenary of the Edinburgh World Missionary Conference in 2010 was an occasion for arranging several á “revisit” programmes at different centres.

The main focus of course, was on the aspect of unity at different levels. These were conducted in the North East, Central India and the south. In fact The Orthodox Church hosted a dialogue programme for Churches in the South at Kochi. Such occasions the different churches and confessions a lot to understand each other better. The Protestant members were very curious to learn about the Orthodox Church and its understanding on unity and mission. Of course, there are some differences in the way these concepts are understood and explained by the Orthodox Church and the Protestant block.

It was the consensus that the western missionary models were outdated and not of much use in modern India. The Orthodox members were trying to convince the rest that mission means much more than ‘proselytisation’.

I myself was a resource person at the consultation on ‘Tradition and Modernity’ at Chiang Mai, Thailand organised by the WCC, CCA and the NCCI. I presented a paper on this which was widely appreciated and acclaimed. They were told that ‘Tradition” has a very dynamic meaning than what they had actually thought about!

Q: As member of the executive committee, what was the role you performed.

A: As a member of the Executive Committee, we attended the meetings which mainly deal with administrative matters. Here programmes are reviewed and discussed in detail. I could contribute my mite and make the Orthodox presence felt in such assemblies...

Complete article here.

Canadian Conference of Bishops held Toronto meeting

(ROAA) - On March 29, 2012, the Canadian Conference of Orthodox Bishops had a meeting at the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Toronto. On the agenda were the reports of the dialogue with the Catholic Bishops, pastoral, canonical and liturgical issues, a Directory of all Canonical Orthodox Hierarchs, jurisdictions and parishes. It was discussed the update on the petition addressed to the Ecumenical Patriarchate to approve the constituency of the Assembly of Orthodox Bishops of Canada. There were also discussed plans for joint-ministry and fraternal cooperation in the future. An important topic was the discussion of the situation of persecuted Christians in the World and the position of the Orthodox in Canada.

The participants at the meeting were: His Eminence Metropolitan Sotirios and His Grace Bishop Christoforos of the Greek Metropolis of Toronto, His Grace Bishop Alexander of the Antiochian Archdiocese, His Grace Bishop Job of the Moscow Patriarchate Representation in Canada, His Grace Bishop Georgij of the Serbian Diocese of Canada, His Eminence Archbishop Nicolae and His Grace Vicar Bishop Ioan Casian of the Romanian Orthodox Archdiocese in the Americas, His Eminence Metropolitan Yurij, His Grace Bishop Hilarion and His Grace Bishop Andrej of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, His Grace Bishop Ilias of the Albanian Diocese, His Eminence Archbishop Nathaniel of the Romanian Orthodox Episcopate of America, and His Grace Vicar Bishop Irinee of the OCA.

A date was set for next year's meeting for April 11, 2013.

Valaam - Step to the Skies

H/T: Ad Orientem

Russian Church helps only priest in Pakistan

Moscow, March 29 (Interfax) - Church robes, vessels and books will be sent from Moscow to Father John Tanveer, the only Orthodox priest in Pakistan.

Material help was collected by the Cyril and Methodius Mission Charitable Foundation and Missionary Department of Saint Tikhon's Orthodox University of Humanities with the support of the Missionary Commission at the Moscow Diocesan Council, organizers told Interfax-Religion.

Last November, Father John came to Moscow and met with the students of the Missionary Department. Powerful monsoonal rains in Pakistan resulted in floods and epidemics of pyrexia. According to the UN data, over two million people suffered from the epidemics, including 500 thousand children. Then St.Tikhon's University students initiated fundraising for the suffering brothers.

"Father John with his community asks for prayers. Three hundred people out of five hundred Pakistan Orthodox believers make his parish. The community in the jurisdiction of the Constantinople Patriarchate hold divine services in the priest's house as they don't have a church," press service of the Missionary Commission mentions.

EP deposes 2 bishops over NY monastery scandal

For background on the events related to this monastery, see here.

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Constantinople (sedmitza.ru) - At a meeting of the Holy Synod of the Orthodox Church of Constantinople, held on March 27, 2012, it was decided to remove from the rank of Metropolitan of Tyana Paisios (former abbot of St. Irene Chrysovalantou Monastery in Astoria, NY) and his assistant bishop of Apameia Vikentios for the appropriation of the church funds, immoral behavior and insubordination to the Holy Synod.

Metropolitan Paisios arrived at the meeting of the Synod, while Bishop Vincent refused to leave the United States. Now both are in the category of simple monks, according to the the news agency Romfea.gr.

myrrh-streaming "Softener of Evil Hearts" visits Wayne, WV

(ROCOR-EAD) - On Wednesday, March 21, the parish of Christ the Savior in Wayne, WV was blessed by the visitation of the myrrh-streaming icon of the Mother of God "Softener of Evil Hearts." The icon was brought by Sergey Fomin and accompanied by His Grace George, Bishop of Mayfield, and Hieromonk Alexander (Frizzell; dean of Holy Cross Monastery). Along with parish rector Priest Jonah Campbell, the guests co-served a moleben with akathist with His Grace, at which many faithful from various jurisdictions gathered to pray.

French documentary on Valaam Monastery to be released

Orientale Lumen conference registration open

The earliest Annunciation icon

The oldest surviving icon of the Annunciation is found in the Catacomb of Priscilla on the Via Salaria in Rome, Italy, and dates from the second half of the second century A.D. Priscilla is thought to have been a well-to-do Roman who converted to Christianity and was martyred. More information on this icon and its development over time at the wonderful blog, A Reader's Guide to Orthodox Icons.

President Obama says Halki will reopen

(ekathimerini.com) - Turkey has decided to reopen a former Greek Orthodox seminary on an island off the Istanbul coast, according to a statement made by US President Barack Obama.

“I am pleased to hear of his decision to reopen the Halki seminary,” the American President said after a meeting with Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan on the eve of a two-day nuclear security summit in Seoul on Sunday.

The European Union has said re-opening Halki seminary, a centre of Orthodox scholarship for more than a century until Turkey closed it down in 1971, is key if Ankara is to prove a commitment to human rights and pluralism and advance its membership bid.

During the meeting in Seoul, the two leaders discussed ways to press Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to step aside, including non-lethal assistance to the opposition and getting Iran to stop supporting Assad’s regime.

Obama is expected to visit Turkey for the second time in June, Erdogan said.

Protecting children, protecting priests

Almost two years ago Fr. Stephen Burke of St. Anthony's Antiochian Church in Spring, TX was charged with possession of child pornography (see here). Last week that case was dropped after, I am told, the state found that it didn't have enough evidence to take the case to trial (court case info here). In the years that I have run this blog I have seen many instances of downloaded child pornography, abuse, and violence at the hands of clergy. I say in the same breath that I have seen a dizzying number of those accusations proved to have been completely baseless.

One priest last year was accused of going on vacation and, while visiting a church, chasing a woman around the temple and then assaulting her. That case was dropped when it became obvious her story was a despicable attempt to get money out of the diocese. A few years back a priest was allowed to concelebrate at a parish until it was reported by the media that he was involved in a case of contributing to the delinquency of a minor, providing alcohol to him, and other similar charges. The press got hold of this and lambasted the pastor for letting the priest celebrate services with him. It was of course not noted that the priest was not actually charged with anything and that he was only indirectly related to the case. I could go on for quite a while actually, but I think the point is made.

We, on the one hand, must protect our children from those who would prey upon them, but at the same time clergy deserve to be judged and not pre-judged for their crimes. It is a fine line between these two. The Orthodox Church is not equipped to keep paying the salaries of these accused men and yet, for many of them, this is their entire livelihood. Where does an accused cleric go when he has been separated from his flock for the intervening years (rarely faster than that) between accusation and adjudication? Often to financial ruin and complete ostracism. The Bible is replete with stories of accusation, perjury, and lying (the serpent in the garden, Joseph and his brothers, Susanna and the two elders, Ananias and Sapphira). It is a problem with no ready resolution (as its frequency in the Bible attests), but with a tremendous ability to do harm if handled without care.

If I learn more about Fr. Stephen's case I'll append an update to this post.

Spring Seminary update

A few emails recently asked how seminary and Yankee living were going. By way of a small update, here is how my weekend went...

We began by driving to Taylor, PA to see the myrrh-streaming icon (for more on that see here and here). Given the option of travelling with the parish in a bus, my family opted for a drive in the family van. This gave us some additional options on food, stops, and methods of diversion to keep the children occupied. The Moleben to the Theotokos was well attended, but the church was not nearly as full as is when the many hundreds come from all over for the Wednesday service. It was quite moving for many in attendance; many people in tears and lots of hushed talking between family members. Of our clan, all but the 3 year old had perfect manners. He chose to slide a chair in the narthex from one wall to another for much of the service. A mixed blessing because it let some of the older ladies chat up my son which made them happy.

It's the first time I'd ever done the moleben service entirely in English and I noted that the English translation of the refrain doesn't fit the music quite as well as the original Slavonic. I immediately recognized this as a snooty "seminarianist" thought and tried to flush it from my mind. Balance was restored when I belted out my preferred version on the way to the car.

We got back in the car and made the short drive to St. Tikhon's Seminary and stayed with friends for the evening. Their two youngest are roughly the same age as our two youngest so there was a lot of toy sharing and high-chair rotating. It was a lovely time filled with playing in the back yard, good conversations, and tasty Lenten fare. I had hoped to chat late into the night, but was defeated by one child (whose name will remain unsaid so I won't hold a grudge) who required that I sleep with her until she fell asleep. By that time I was, of course, fast asleep myself.

The next morning we went to the Liturgy for the Annunciation (NC) followed by a communal meal in the trapeza, and a trip back to our friends' house to collect our things before making the drive back home. The weather while at the seminary was quite nice so the children ran around on the grounds until it was time to go. One of my fellow seminarian's grandparents are buried there so I took two of the boys (one of mine and one of our hosts) with me to say a short prayer at their graves. They, not knowing each other's names, decided on calling one another "best friend."

The drive home was uneventful, if long. The Pennsylvania countryside is still a novelty for us so that we oooh and aaah with relative frequency. The same can be said for Sheetz - I am enamored with its cleanliness, food offerings, and occasional freebies.

Tomorrow the seminary weekly cycle begins again. I'm supposed to have put in some time reading St. Photios, some St. Paul, and practiced chanting the Epistle this weekend. Hopefully time can be found to fit those items in between the cracks in my schedule before those classes start. As always, your prayers are much appreciated.

Ban the cross? Ban the Union Jack!

Moscow, March 22 (Interfax) - A picket in defense of Christians' rights in the UK was held near the British embassy in Moscow on Wednesday.

The picket was organized by the Orthodox public movement Narodny Sobor in response to the decision made by the British authorities to fire people for openly wearing crosses, Narodny Sobor told Interfax-Religion.

The protesters were holding imperial flags saying "Stop the persecution of Christians!" and "Britain! If you ban crosses, ban your flag too!"

"The Moscow division of Narodny Sobor is concerned about the recent developments in the EU in general and in the UK in particular, where discrimination against Christians has become commonplace. We consider it our duty to categorically oppose militant atheism and anti-Christian tolerance in any country of the world," the movement says.

According to earlier reports, the British authorities intend to defend the legality of the ban on public wearing of crosses in the UK in the European Court of Human Rights.

The Strasbourg court will try lawsuits involving the religious discrimination against four Christians from the UK, who have lost their cases in British courts.

The Russian Church earlier expressed surprise about the loyalty of the British authorities, who have banned wearing crosses at work, to other symbols, for example, gay symbols.

"This decision made by the British parliament is certainly alarming, especially given the existence in modern European society of other tendencies aimed at liberating human instincts," Vladimir Legoyda, the head of the Synodal Information Department, told reporters. He said he was surprised by the fact that public demonstration of affiliation with gay culture is considered normal in the UK while the wearing of crosses is not.

Met. Hilarion answers web questions

(mospat.ru) - Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk gives answers to the most interesting questions of visitors to the website of the Synodal Information Department under its Topical Interview project:

1. What does the Russian Orthodox Church participate in the World Council of Churches for? What are the contacts with the Catholics for? What is so valuable in what they have?
- Alexy, St. Petersburg

The World Council of Churches (WCC) is a major Christian forum which has become a unique platform for regular meetings of representatives of various Churches and communities. Almost all the Local Orthodox Churches, all the Oriental (non-Chalcedonian) Churches and a variety of Protestant churches are members of this organization. The Roman Catholic Church, while not a WCC member, participates in the work of the Faith and Order Commission. Therefore, thanks to this organization, Christians from all over the world have an opportunity to conduct dialogue, seeking to overcome the existing differences and to participate together in discussions on social, political and ecological problems.

Like other Orthodox Churches, the Russian Orthodox Church as a WCC member sees her task in bearing witness to the Tradition of the Early Undivided Church. It does not mean that the Orthodox do not encounter problems within the WCC. One of them, for instance, concerned the procedure of decision-making in this organization. However, the coordinated cooperation of all the Orthodox members of the Council helps to solve such problems. In my view, it would be wrong to discontinue our membership in the WCC. If the Russian Church had not been a WCC member, she would not have the opportunities provided within this organization for carrying out her mission of preaching Orthodoxy. Contacts with other Churches would have been impeded.

As for the Roman Catholic Church, it should not be forgotten that it is the largest Church in the world, which represents the old western Christian tradition. Rome and Eastern Church were united throughout the first millennium of Christianity, and we are still united by many things. Despite the existing doctrinal differences between Orthodoxy and Catholicism, we have close positions on many topical issues, such as personal and public morality, bioethics, social problems. The Roman Catholic Church and Orthodox Churches have maintained active cooperation in these areas so that they may oppose together the moral decay we see in the modern world.

2. Is there a project or a valid procedure for offering residence in Russia to the Orthodox Christians persecuted for their faith in other countries of the world?
- Vladislav, Lyubertsy, Moscow Region

There is no such project for exactly this purpose in Russia today. Today we often hear that persecuted Christians should be given conditions for free emigration to safer countries. Sometimes it is really the only possible way out. But if the guarantee of emigration becomes the main thrust of our efforts to protect our suffering brothers and sisters, wont’ it only play into the hands of the persecutors? Their aim is exactly to press the Christian population out and to force them into emigration. On the contrary, we should do everything we can to ensure that Christians can feel safe in the land of their ancestors. In their own homeland they should not feel themselves second-rate citizens. Christian youth in the countries where Christians are persecuted should be given to know that their future is linked with their native land and that Christians do not live in it as undesired guests but as equal sons and daughters.

At the same time, I believe the Church, in her efforts to protect persecuted Christians, can rely on assistance from the state. During the recent meeting between Prime Minister V. V. Putin and leaders of the traditional confessions in Russia, I expressed the wish that the systematic protection of Christians living in the regions where they are persecuted today may become one of the directions in Russian foreign policy. I said to the prime minister that strong Russia is Russia which defends the Christian population in such countries, demanding among other things that guarantees for the respect of their rights be given in exchange for political and economic aid. Responding to these words, Vladimir Vladimirovich said, ‘I do not doubt it will be so. No doubt whatsoever’.

Read more »

"Orthodoxy or Death” t-shirts debated in Russia

(The Art Newspaper) - While a storm of media attention followed the arrest of members of the feminist punk band Pussy Riot when they protested against the re-election of Vladimir Putin as Russian president, a Moscow court has upheld a decision that a pro-religious t-shirt design constitutes an extremist work and should be banned.

The t-shirts, bearing the logo “Orthodoxy or Death”, are designed by Igor Miroshnichenko, a former underground artist and fashion designer who became a Russian Orthodox Christian monarchist. They feature a cross, skulls, crossbones and knives, and have been openly displayed by Orthodox activists protesting against the band Pussy Riot, the members of which are being prosecuted for performing a “prayer” against Vladimir Putin in Moscow’s Christ the Saviour Cathedral in February. Now, the Moscow City Court has upheld a lower court’s ruling that t-shirts bearing the logo are extremist. The logo is on a Russian Justice Ministry certified list of extremist literature and slogans, ranging from Muslim fundamentalist materials to Jehovah’s Witness leaflets.

Various cases against Miroshnichenko have been heard in Moscow courts since 2010. Those who wear the t-shirt risk prosecution, however last year another Moscow court, in a separate case over the same logo, ruled that it is not extremist.

“Where is the logic?” says Anatoly Pchelintsev, a religious rights lawyer representing Miroshnichenko. “Two courts in the same city: one rules that it’s extremist, the other rules that it’s not.”

Miroshnichenko, who was born in 1955, is a member of a nationalist organisation called the Union of Orthodox Banner Bearers. On 15 March, a member of the Banner Bearers wearing the “Orthodoxy or Death” t-shirt appeared on an episode of the TV show “Let them Talk” devoted to a vociferous debate over the Pussy Riot protest, and whether the band was making an artistic and political statement or is guilty of blasphemy. The Banner Bearers say that band members Nadezhda Tolokonnikova and Maria Alyokhina, who are being held on remand for allegedly participating the performance, should face corporal punishment rather than prison.

“We are for public punishment, in the Russian tradition, on a square, with rods,” Miroshnichenko told The Art Newspaper. “Prison can break a person, but this is a corrective measure that makes them think about the shameful thing they have done and about what shame is.”

The populist newspaper Komsomolskaya Pravda reported in February that an activist in an “Orthodoxy or Death” t-shirt “set the tone” at public hearings in St Petersburg over a proposed law against “gay propaganda” that was subsequently passed. The Banner Bearers and supporters among Russian Orthodox clergy defend the logo as a call to spiritual focus rather than to arms. Banner Bearers in the t-shirts were present at the trial of the curator Andrei Erofeev and the former Sakharov Museum director Yuri Samodurov, who were found guilty by a Moscow court in 2010 of inciting religious hatred after organising a contemporary art exhibition called “Forbidden Art”.

Mexican monastery struggles after earthquake

(Fund for Assistance) - A powerful 7.4 earthquake shook Mexico on Tuesday spared the small ROCOR mission in Mexico City, headed by Archimdnrite Nektariy (Haji-Petropoulos).

“Thanks to God nothing very serious happened,” wrote the abbot to the Fund for Assistance in an email.

“All our religious items fell to the ground, icons, bookshelves, lampadas, candelabra, furniture, kitchenware etc. Lots of broken glass and loose bricks everywhere; the major damage was in the cupola. Phone lines, Internet and electricity were interrupted for many hours. But all our parishioners are fine, just very scared. We have already had 15 aftershocks. “

Why they can't go on without your help...

Holy Trinity Skete was established in 2007 and swiftly became the spiritual heart of the Russian Diaspora, which serves the needs of local Russians, Serbs, Bulgarians, Moldavians and Mexicans. The monastery is very active in the local community: it provides medical and psychological aid in Russian to alcoholics and drug addicts, domestic violence victims; provides legal assistance to Russian women in case of a divorce from their Mexican husbands and questions of child custody; assists the needy and the unemployed. They teach the fundamentals of the Orthodox faith to their parishioners; accept pilgrims from all over the country.

The monastery has always experienced great financial hardship, but has never recovered from the loss of their bakery after the outbreak of swine-flu in 2009 forced it to close down for several weeks.

For the past several years the monastery has survived on the abbot’s salary as a professor t a local university, and the three brethren’s constant toil as they engage in different projects to benefit the skete and the community. Their current project is centered around an apiary and the hope of selling honey and making their own candles. They are now trying to scrape enough money to pay off the skete’s mounting debts as well as buy a candle-making machine. The difficult situation is exacerbated by Fr Nektariy’s constant health problems and the inability to pay for health insurance.

In this difficult moment for the monastery, we ask you to please help them survive and continue to spread Orthodoxy in Mexico. Ninety eight percent of parishioners are Russian women married to Mexicans, who thanks to Fr. Nektariy’s missionary work, are converting and bringing their families to church.

Please donate now to save the monastery!

Funeral Liturgy for Coptic Pope Shenouda III

You might be surprised just how much Greek is in the service.

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Russian Church comments on the Christianophobic UK

In the US it's as simple as ABC ("Anything but Catholic" as the popular phrase goes). The UK has decided to expand this clearing of the public square to be simply "Anything but Christendom."

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Moscow, March 13 (mospat.ru) – People in the Russian Orthodox Church are amazed at the loyalty that the British authorities, who have forbidden wearing crosses at work, have shown towards other religious and non-religious symbols.

‘This decision of the British authorities cannot but give rise to anxiety, especially given the existence of other tendencies aimed at liberation of human instincts in the European society today. Why then is the public demonstration of one’s involvement in the gay culture considered a norm whereas the wearing of a cross is not? Indeed, there is a diversity of symbols connected with the gay culture, but just try to sack a person who openly demonstrates his sexual orientation. Clearly he will make a row and will certainly manage to be reinstated. And what is the danger of old Christian symbols? Who are insulted by them?’ the chairman of the Synodal Information Department Vladimir Legoida stated on Tuesday. The attitude to the Sikhs is another example of the double standards exercised by the British government. He said that the Sikhs, even those who serve in the London police, are officially permitted to wear the turban, one of the symbols of Sikhism.

He believes the decision of the British authorities to be ‘a very disturbing symbol’. If this signal, Mr Legoida said, means that it is impossible for one to show publicly one’s belonging to Christianity, ‘who then can guarantee that tomorrow the authorities will not tell you to put the notice saying ‘such-and-such church’ but to take away the crosses and that not only from the cupolas but also whatever represents the cross’. This attitude is difficult to assess as any other than a manifestation of Christinophobia, the cases of which are becoming ever more frequent in today’s world.

In addition, this situation, Mr Legoida believes, ‘vividly points to Europe’s abandonment of her fundamental identity’.

‘If we speak of the freedom of conscience, then why do we encounter with restrictions? If the non-aggressive demonstration of one’s religious affiliation is impossible in a civilized society, then the question arises about the nature of this society. It turns out that all the talk about tolerance and calls to it become meaningless words since we are unable to live in good-neighbourly relations, without losing our identity?’ Mr Legoida noted.

In his opinion, the problem boils down to ‘the imposition of an idea that religion is solely a private affair of each’.

‘I think it is wrong because never in history religion has been only a private affair of a person. But being certainly a very private affair, it has always had a public and social dimension.

Otherwise we make a person to leave his faith behind in the church or in the narrow family circle and do not allow him to motivate his public actions by his faith. But it is absurd’, he believes.

Remembering Met. Nicholas a year after his passing

PERTH AMBOY, NJ (ACROD) - A video of Sunday's Memorial Service marking the One Year Anniversary of the Repose of His Eminence, +Metropolitan Nicholas, presided over by His Eminence, Archbishop Demetrios of America, Locum Tenens of the American Carpatho-Russian Orthodox Diocese at St John The Baptist Orthodox Church in Perth Amboy, NJ has now been posted.

More information and media coverage on the diocesan observance of the First Anniversary of the Repose of Metropolitan Nicholas may be found here.

Axios! Axios! Axios!

Congratulations to my friends Fr. David Wooten and Hieromonk Innokenty (Reichert) who were ordained over the weekend!

Many years to the newly ordained, Fr. Innokenty (pictured second from the left)!

Fr. David and his lovely family.

How the next Coptic Patriarch will be chosen

H/T: OBL News

(Ahram Online) - "Don’t say the pope died ... The pope is in heaven!" chanted thousands of Coptic Christians who had gathered at Cairo's Abbassiya Cathedral to pay their final respects to Pope Shenouda III who died on Saturday. His body was placed on St Mark's seat at dawn on Sunday and will be embalmed to preserve the body until the funeral on Tuesday.

It is said that the pope wished to be buried at Anba Bishoy Monastery in Wadi Al-Natroun.

Following Shenouda's death, the eldest member of the Holy Synod's archbishops will become acting pope until a new patriarch is seated. If the eldest archbishop, Anba Mikhail of Assiut, who was consecrated in 1946, declines to undertake the role, Archbishop Anba Pachomeus of Beheira, who was consecrated in 1971 and is the second eldest member of the Holy Synod, will become acting patriarch for two months until a new pope is elected.

According to Coptic Orthodox tradition, the pope is elected by a number of processes. Candidates, chosen among monks and archbishops, must be at least 40 years old and have been monks for at least 15 years. Following an election, the names of the three candidates with the most votes are written on pieces of paper and placed in a box to be picked by a child — not more than nine years old — whose eyes are closed.

The candidates are nominated through the Holy Synod (the highest authority in the church, comprising 120 archbishops), the Monks Synod, Melli Council members (civilian body), dioceses, and members of the Coptic Councils in the People's Assembly and Shura Council.

Once His Holiness was asked in his weekly lecture whether it was possible to skip over these processes in choosing the pope. His Holiness answered "No." A white dove is said to have descended onto Shenouda's desk. The people then understood the great value of tradition.

In such difficult times for Egypt, the loss to the country's Copts of their religious leader is a hard blow. In recent months, many have felt in dire need of his wisdom, love and capacity to make correct decisions. Indeed, all Egyptians, not only Christians, held Shenouda in high regard and many will mourn his passing.

Intellectuals, writers and politicians have expressed regret at his death during live TV coverage of events at Abbassiya Cathedral.

Field Marshal Mohamed Hussein Tantawi, head of the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces, issued a decree to give Coptic Christians three days holiday so they can pay their final respects to the pope.

Ali Gomaa, the grand mufti of Al-Azhar, the Muslim world's most respected Sunni institution, described Shenouda's death as "a tragedy and great blow to Egypt and its people."

The Muslim Brotherhood's Freedom and Justice Party, which has the largest number of seats in parliament, also mourned Shenouda and praised him for his "nationalistic history and significant contributions."

The liberal Wafd Party praised Shenouda for his "wisdom that spared Egypt sectarian strife."

The ruler of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, sent his condolences to the Egyptian people, describing Shenouda as a symbol of tolerance and coexistence who was eager to keep Egypt united.

Adoration of the Cross

Kontakion, Tone Seven

No longer does the flaming sword guard the gate of Eden, for a glorious extinction has come upon it, the wood of the Cross. The sting has been drawn from death and the victory from hell. And Thou, my Saviour, didst come and shout to those in hell: Enter Paradise again.

The life and passing of Pope Shenouda III

Coptic Pope Shenouda III has reposed in the Lord

(Yahoo News) - Egypt's Coptic Pope Shenuda III, spiritual leader of the Middle East's largest Christian minority, died on Saturday at the age of 88 after a battle with illness, leaving the country's Copts in mourning.

He had suffered health problems for years and recently stopped receiving treatment for liver failure and tumours or swelling in his lungs because he was too feeble, the Coptic Church said.

The pope's health deteriorated Saturday after he suffered "a severe heart attack", sources at the church told the official MENA news agency.

"The last days were the hardest in the Pope's life, as he was unable to walk," said a church statement carried by MENA.

Shenuda was forced to cancel a weekly sermon last week over health concerns.

A funeral will be held on Tuesday at the papal headquarters for Shenuda, who was named pope of Alexandria in 1971.

There was no word on when clergy and laity would convene to begin the process of choosing a successor.

At St. Mark's Cathedral in the central Cairo neighbourhood of Abassiya, thousands crushed through a small opening at the cathedral's gate as bells tolled.

Worshippers had been told the pope's body had been laid out for the night inside and believed they would get a chance to look at the corpse and get blessings.

On the street outside, riot police stood guard at a distance.

"He was the father of every young man, women, widows and the orphaned. We have had many crises, and he gave us wisdom throughout all of them," said Emil Esam, 28 outside the pope's offices.

Shenuda led the Copts, estimated at 10 percent of Egypt's population of more than 80 million, for the best part of a generation, in which Egypt was hit by a wave of Islamic militancy from which he sought to protect his people.

Muslim leaders in the country almost immediately sent their condolences after news of his death broke.

Shenuda's death is "a grave calamity that has afflicted all Egypt and its noble people, Muslims and Christians," the country's mufti, Ali Gomaa, said in a statement.

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Food for fecundity. A worthwhile trade?

HYANNIS (Cape Cod Online) - How about a free pizza with that vasectomy? That's the unusual deal being offered by Urology Associates of Cape Cod as a lighthearted way to raise awareness about the procedure and drum up business.

Call it a pie for the sterile guy.

And there's also a basketball tie-in. With March Madness — the NCAA basketball tournament — set to unfurl over the next few weeks, practice administrator Evan Cohen sees the vasectomy deal as a case of perfect timing.

Men need a few days of recovery after a vasectomy, so what could be better than hanging out on the couch, watching some hoops and chowing down a free pizza?

"It does actually come with one topping. Maybe you can put some meatballs on it," joked Cohen.

The practice has launched a zippy commercial video promoting the deal. In it, an attractive woman fiddles with a basketball while a female voice says, "Hey guys! Want to watch the college basketball tournament guilt-free?"

After dangling the free pizza offer, the voiceover artist goes for the sale. "You know you've been thinking about a vasectomy, anyway. Now's the time to get it done."

Cohen said March can be the busiest month for vasectomies for his company, with perhaps 45 to 60 being performed. He thinks it may be because it's a less busy time of year on Cape Cod.

Similar deals have been offered by urologists across the country in recent years.

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Patriarch Ilia II of Georgia speaks on Putin's reelection

(civil.ge) - In a message to Russian President-elect Vladimir Putin, Patriarch of the Georgian Orthodox Church, Ilia II, congratulated him with election victory and told him that Georgia would never tolerate “tearing away” Abkhazia and South Ossetia.

“I think that your huge experience will contribute to strengthening of peace and welfare in your country,” the Georgian Church leader says in the message posted on the Patriarchate’s website.

“Russians and Georgians are brethren in religion, which makes us closer, but neither Georgia nor our Church will ever put up with tearing Abkhazia and Tskhinvali region away from the soil of our homeland.”

“But I think that despite of all the difficulties, Russia and Georgia are fully capable to restore good relationship, which can take place only if a historic justice prevails.”

“I am sure, that sooner or later Georgia’s territorial integrity will be established, but it will be good if it happens in a period of your rule. I wish you health and your country – further prosperity,” the Georgian Church leader says in his message to Putin.

Pat. Kirill meets with delegation from Jerusalem Patriarchate

(mospat.ru) - On March 14, 2012, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia met with a delegation of the Patriarchate of Jerusalem at the Patriarchal chambers of the Church of Christ the Saviour. The delegation included Archbishop Aristarchos of Constantina, Archbishop Theophylaktos of Jordan and Archimandrite Stephanos (Dispirakis), representative of the Patriarch of the Holy City of Jerusalem and All Palestine to the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia. Participating in the meeting were also Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, head of the Moscow Patriarchate’s department for external church relations, Archpriest Nikolay Balashov, a DECR vice-chairman, Archpriest Igor Yakimchuk, DECR secretary for inter-Orthodox relations, and Fr. Stephan (Igumnov), a DECR staff member.

The Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church welcomed the guests, ‘envoys of the Mother of all the Churches of God – the Church of Zion, the Church of the Holy City of Jerusalem’.

Patriarch Kirill expressed solidarity with Christians in the Middle East, saying, ‘As a result of the destabilized political situation in the Middle East, scores of thousands of Christians have come to face a threat to their lives. These political developments have provoked an outflow of Christians from Middle East countries, and we look with great concern at these developments. We are grieved and disturbed by the reduction of the Christian population in the biblical region, including under the impact of the present political events. The Patriarchate of Jerusalem bears a special responsibility for the preservation of holy places and churches and for the preservation of the Orthodox faith in the Middle East. Please convey my words of support to His Beatitude Theophilos, Patriarch of Jerusalem and All Palestine’.

His Holiness shared remembrances of his first visit to the Holy Land in 1969. ‘I remember very well my first visit to the Church of the Resurrection and my prayer at the Lord’s Sepulchre and the talk I had after the liturgy with Father Daniel, who was a guardian of the Lord’s Sepulchre at that time. At that time, the very coming of a Moscow Patriarchate group to Palestine was an event both for the Church of Russia and the Church of Jerusalem. Father Daniel, who was to become a bishop, recalled stories about Russian pilgrims who used to crowd the Holy Land in the pre-revolutionary time’, he said.

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Helping an orphanage at Real Break in Guatemala

"Architectural gems of old Russia"

A great two part series full of wonderful photos - part one here and part two here.

Greek Metropolis of Chicago comments on Turkey

(GOA-Chicago) - It is sometimes very difficult to understand why Turkey refrains from reforms in various fields. In the past, we used to think that Turkey was lagging behind in reforms because of the attitudes of the Kemalist elites. However, in this Turkey of 2012, where non-Kemalist actors almost completely dominate the political scene, more persuasive answers are needed. It is no longer possible to blame the Kemalist elites. Thus, the question is this: Why do conservative actors who grew up in Islamic circles fail to avoid Kemalist traps?

The problems that beset the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople are typical instances of problems attributable to reforms not initiated. Why does Turkey still not recognize that this church is ecumenical? More, why is Turkey still not ready to recognize this institution's rights, including its right to educate a new generation of clergy? As I said above, why Turkey has not solved these problems might have been easy to explain in the '60s, '70s or '90s. However, the conservative actors of today have a clear capacity to overcome possible Kemalist opposition. So why are the conservative actors of Turkish politics not much interested in such critical reforms?

The Orthodox Christian Church's tenet of ecumenism is a matter of theology. Thus, it is not correct or possible to limit it by a decision of the Turkish state. The church has professed ecumenism since almost as far back as the sixth century, when the Turks had no idea even of Anatolia. Ecumenism entails the obligation to connect with followers, be they in Turkey or Latin America. Since the sixth century, which includes the Ottoman periods, the Orthodox Christian Church's ecumenical role has been a phenomenon acknowledged worldwide. The church declares its role thus: “The function of the Ecumenical Patriarchate as center par excellence of the life of the entire Orthodox world emanates from its centuries-old ministry in the witness, protection and outreach of the Orthodox faith.”

Unfortunately, despite this historical and theological background, Turkey presumes to limit the church's theological position according to the state's bureaucratic perspective. Imagine the Italian government declaring that the Holy See is no longer the central government of a universal church and that it should now conceive of itself as a national bureaucratic office. What Turkey does to the church is as crazy as this.

More dramatic is the insistence on the retention of a Kemalist stance in post-Kemalist Turkey. Today's conservative actors should analyze why the Ottomans respected the ecumenical patriarch. In no way is it possible to reconcile the current Turkish position on the patriarch with the Ottoman legacy. Those who are proud of their Ottoman past should know that the current Turkish policy on the Orthodox Christian Church takes an anti-Ottomanist stance. More, the current Turkish strategy is incompatible with Islamic tradition. Muslims cannot limit or forbid the practice of another Abrahamic faith. Similarly, they cannot be party to a grand strategy that limits or prohibits the practice of another faith. As long as Orthodox believers remain committed to ecumenism, it is not Islamic to hinder them. Not allowing the Orthodox Christian Church to open a religious seminary is also not Islamic. Islamic tradition urges that Muslims are first responsible for non-Muslims who need their help. It is sad to observe that such a brilliant Islamic tradition is no longer remembered by the Islamic elites of today. These Muslim elites should immediately review the example set by their founding fathers, such as Caliph Omar or Mehmet II, the Conqueror.

Five facts about the Orthodox Church in the US

Take the time to read this document. You will find some surprising information about church growth, jurisdictional data, the use of English, and the importance of "ethnic identity," which for me proved very enlightening.

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(AOB) - Assembly of Bishops Research Coordinator Alexei Krindatch has released a new 40-page report titled, Five Interesting Facts About Orthodox Church Geography and Demography in the United States. The report includes the following sections:

Orthodox Church Membership in America
Orthodox Church Geography in America
Orthodox Church Attendance in America
Ethnic Culture in American Orthodox Churches
Orthodox Monastic Communities in America

Download it now in PDF format here.

St. Vlad's seminarians take post-abortion counseling training

What a wonderful opportunity and one I hope to have repeated at my seminary.

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(SVOTS) - Five of us from St. Vladimir’s—Dn. Timothy Yates, Monk James Stevens, Seminarian Adam Horstman, Hierodeacon Herman Majkrzak, and myself, Dn. David Wooten—recently traveled to nearby St. Joseph’s Seminary (aka "Dunwoodie"), a Roman Catholic seminary in Yonkers, to take advantage of a post-abortion counseling training seminar. St. Joseph's was hosting "Lumina Ministries," the post-abortion counseling ministry of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York, and had graciously invited all clergy and seminarians to attend, free of charge, these sessions that sought to help church leaders provide help for all victims of abortion—not only the unborn but also the mother, father, and family of the unborn child.

Theresa Bonapartis, head of Lumina Ministries, delivered the afternoon sessions (seminarians from St. Vladimir’s were unable to attend the morning sessions due to class requirements), in which she detailed the hurt and confusion that the would-be parents or siblings experience in the aftermath of abortion. Accompanying her in her presentations was Fr. Mariusz Koch, CFR, Vicar of the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal. Together, they outlined common emotional responses and spiritual dilemmas that these living victims of abortion often suffer through. Theresa spoke from her own experience as a post-abortive woman, while Fr. Koch provided anecdotes of how these responses usually manifest themselves in confessional or parochial settings.

The sessions were oriented specifically towards training priests, and Theresa spoke of her own soul's healing, effected by a priest who was sensitive to the trauma of abortion: he not only acknowledged her pain over a sin that had damaged her soul but also declared to her that, yes, God is merciful, and that there is no sin that our heavenly Father cannot forgive, no wound He is unwilling to make whole.

We trainees were told over and over that these two attributes of truth and compassion—affirming the sinfulness of abortion, and declaring the mercy and forgiveness of God—were always to be presented together in order to effectively and rightly minister to men and women who are confused and hurt in the wake of their ordeal. The clarity this approach provides serves as a remedy for the lies many women tell themselves and for the lies that family, friends, and even clergymen may tell them. From serial confession (“God couldn’t possibly have forgiven me last time, or ever!”) to presumption and false compassion (“Well, since God forgives and the baby’s in heaven instead of in a hard life on earth, abortion is technically OK.”) and all points in between, these ways of dealing with emotional and spiritual wounds were addressed and diagnosed.

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Britain's war on Christians continues

(The Telegraph) - In a highly significant move, ministers will fight a case at the European Court of Human Rights in which two British women will seek to establish their right to display the cross.

It is the first time that the Government has been forced to state whether it backs the right of Christians to wear the symbol at work.

A document seen by The Sunday Telegraph discloses that ministers will argue that because it is not a “requirement” of the Christian faith, employers can ban the wearing of the cross and sack workers who insist on doing so.

The Government’s position received an angry response last night from prominent figures including Lord Carey, the former Archbishop of Canterbury.

He accused ministers and the courts of “dictating” to Christians and said it was another example of Christianity becoming sidelined in official life.

The Government’s refusal to say that Christians have a right to display the symbol of their faith at work emerged after its plans to legalise same-sex marriages were attacked by the leaders of the Roman Catholic Church in Britain.

A poll commissioned by The Sunday Telegraph shows that the country is split on the issue.

Overall, 45 per cent of voters support moves to allow gay marriage, with 36 per cent against, while 19 per cent say they do not know.

However, the Prime Minister is out of step with his own party.

Exactly half of Conservative voters oppose same-sex marriage in principle and only 35 per cent back it.

There is no public appetite to change the law urgently, with more than three quarters of people polled saying it was wrong to fast-track the plan before 2015 and only 14 per cent saying it was right.

The Strasbourg case hinges on whether human rights laws protect the right to wear a cross or crucifix at work under Article 9 of the European Convention on Human Rights.

It states: “Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief, in worship, teaching, practice and observance.”

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Punk band members might get jail time for cathedral stunt

(FT) - Two members of an all-girl punk band have been jailed and may face stiff prison sentences for a prank-like performance inside Moscow’s main Orthodox cathedral last month.

The harsh treatment of the musicians seemed to signal a rising intolerance for dissent in the wake of Sunday’s presidential elections which won Vladimir Putin a third term as Russian president.

It is also a test of sorts for radical feminism – a fringe ideology in macho Russia, yet one which seems to be catching on amid three months of protests against the Kremlin.

In a separate incident, three other feminist activists were in administrative detention after a topless protest on Sunday in the polling station where Mr Putin voted and shouting, “I’ll steal for Putin!” and trying to make off with ballot boxes. They said they represented Ukrainian feminist activist group Femen, which also stripped off in front of the Christ the Saviour cathedral on December 9.

While the Kremlin has not reacted to the Femen protest, Mr Putin has apparently become involved in the fallout from the stunt by the punk band, known as Pussy Riot. "Negative," was how Mr Putin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov described Mr Putin’s reaction to the scandal in an interview with Dozhd internet television channel. “Honestly speaking, as far as what happened in the cathedral, there's no other way than ‘disgusting’ to describe it, with all the consequences that implies,” he said.

The band first gained notoriety performing in Red Square on a cold January afternoon with the song “Putin wet his pants” performed in dayglo balaclavas and mini dresses. Video of the Pussy Riot performance went viral with 568,000 page views on Youtube as of Thursday.

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Real Break in Constantinople

Entry of the Theotokos Monastery plans moving forward

(Entrance of the Theotokos) - The Reverend Schema-Abbess Aemiliane and her Sisters, under the guidance of the Most Reverend Archimandrite, Elder Dionysios, by the Mercy of God are now moved into the Mother of God’s new home on a magnificent property near Libertytown, Maryland, only an hour north of DC and 45 minutes west of Baltimore.

Thank you to the many donors who got us this far and thank you for your prayers! The church and the many buildings perfectly facilitate the Sisters’ monastic presence and services, expanding their capacity to receive and serve Orthodox pilgrims and seekers and to be a beacon of Orthodox Christianity near Washington, D.C.

A creative lease with a contract to purchase has made it possible to move in without a loan with the stipulation that we pay the remaining balance over the next 24 months.

Our goal is to raise $2 million to secure the monastery’s home and perform some much needed maintenance. See inside for more information about the 131 acre property.

We are awed to the depths of our souls by this miracle of God’s hand presenting the right property, at the right time, in the right way, at the right price, to facilitate this growing Orthodox monastic presence.

Are you interested in being numbered among those who are contributing to the purchase of this beautiful new home for the Sisters of the Entrance and generations of monastics to come? We need your help to make this dream come true by making a generous gift toward the purchase of the Libertytown property by clicking here.

"Kosova" president meets with Orthodox in Boston

I'm sure my Serbian brothers are just delighted to hear about this.

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(OCA) - Accompanied by Archpriest Arthur Liolin, Chancellor of the Albanian Orthodox Archdiocese, and many faithful from Boston’s Saint George Cathedral, Her Excellency, Madame Atifete Jahjaga, President of the Republic of Kosova, visited the grave of Archbishop Fan Noli here on the afternoon of Sunday, March 4, 2012.

Ordained to the priesthood in 1908 and consecrated to the episcopacy in 1923, Archbishop Fan was the first Albanian Orthodox bishop in the US. At various points in his life, he had served in a wide variety of religious, political, literary, and diplomatic roles in the US and his homeland. In 1924, he served as prime minister and regent of Albania. Harvard educated, he was well known for his translation of the Divine Liturgy into the Albanian language, as well as for his numerous translations of other religious and liturgical texts. [Historical background may be found in an article on oca.org.]

That morning, President Jahjaga attended the Divine Liturgy marking the Sunday of Orthodoxy at Saint George Cathedral, where she was welcomed by His Grace, Bishop Nikon of Boston and New England and the Albanian Archdiocese.

President Jahjaga is the first woman, first non-partisan, and youngest candidate to be elected to the presidency of Kosova, where all sides suffered during the Balkan wars.

During her US visit, President Jahjaga was received by US President and Mrs. Barack Obama, met with US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and delivered an address at Columbia University. She also participated in the Women of the World Summit in New York, NY.

A photo gallery of her visit to the cathedral and grave may be found on facebook.

Female cosmonaut decorated with Church honor

Quite a change from Khrushchev's: "Gagarin flew into space, but didn't see any god there."

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Moscow, March 6 (Interfax) - Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia decided to decorate first woman-cosmonaut and State Duma MP Valentina Tereshkova with a church order for Glory and Honor (1st degree).

Such a decision was taken regarding how much Tereshkova made for "Motherland and the Russian Orthodox Church," the Patriarch said in his message dedicated to the cosmonaut's jubilee, the Moscow Patriarchate reports at its website.

"Your life is connected with the history of Cosmonautics. Having made a solo flight in space in 1963, at dawn of outer space exploration, you are still a symbol of high spiritual treats of a Russian woman ready for selfless heroism not only in Russia but in the whole world," the document reads.

Today Tereshkova celebrates her 75th birthday.

Order for Glory and Honor is the second important order of the Russian Church and was set up in 2004. State and government heads, leaders of international and intergovernmental organizations, state, public and religious figures are decorated with it for significant contribution in interchurch and interreligious cooperation, in strengthening peace and friendship among nations.

This order is given more seldom than other awards of the Russian Church.

Among its holders are Patriarch Alexy II, newly elected President Vladimir Putin, Cuban leader Fidel Castro, head of the Muslims of the Caucuses Allahshukur Pasha-zade, Kazakhstan President Nursultan Nazarbayev.

From the Prologue: "We are fools for Christ's sake"

St. Basil, fool for Christ

Thus speaks the great Apostle Paul who in the beginning was guided by worldly wisdom, which is against Christ, until he recognizes the falsehood and decay of the wisdom of the world and the light and stability of the wisdom of Christ. Then, the holy apostle did not become angry with the world because they called him "a fool for Christ's sake" neither did he, in defiance of the world, hesitate to be called by this name.

It is not of any value to us how the world is going to regard or call us. However, it is important, and extremely important, how the holy angels in the heavens will regard and call us when, after death, we meet with them. This is of crucial importance and everything else is nothing.

Either we are fools for the world because of Christ or we are fools for Christ because of the world. O how short-lived is the sound of a word of the world! If the world would say to us "fool," the world will die and its word will die! What then is the value of its word? But if the heavenly, immortal ones say to us "fool," that will neither die nor is it removed from us as eternal condemnation.

Whoever does not believe in the Living God, nor in eternal life, nor in the Incarnation of the Lord Christ, nor in Christ's Resurrection nor in the truth of the Gospel nor in God's eternal mercy and justice - is it any wonder if he considers that one a fool who does believes in all of this?

O, may every one of us who cross ourselves with the Sign of the Cross not only find it easy to endure but with satisfaction receive the name "fool" for Christ's sake! Let us rejoice and be glad if the non-believers call us such, for that means that we are close to Christ and far away from the non-believers. Let us rejoice and be glad and repeat with a powerful echo in the ears of the world: yes, yes, indeed we are fools for Christ's sake!

O Lord Most-wise, strengthen us by Your power that we not fear the non-believing world neither when they lash us with whips nor when they insult us with words for Your sake.

- From today's Prologue reading (OC)

A look at compline

From the blog Orthodox Women...

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Each year during Lent, many of us are blessed with the service of compline at least on Mondays during the fast, if not also on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

The service is customary for the end of the day (after Vespers and before the Midnight Office) and is celebrated regularly in the monasteries. There are reader versions available (see here) which we may also do in our own homes as our evening prayers.The English word “compline” actually comes from the latin completorium, which means “at the end of the work day.”

The service focuses around a theme of repentance, entreating the Lord to forgive us of our numerous sins during the course of the day and to protect us from the ‘evil fantasies of the night’ and ‘the darts of the evil one which are insidiously thrown against us’

Compline is sectioned into the following part...

Complete post here.

An update on the Ukrainian Church's internal issues

(RISU) - In an interview to Radio Freedom, Metropolitan Volodymyr, the head of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church-Moscow Patriarchate (UOC-MP), said that he governs the church according to the established rules.

“It is being governed by the ruling bishop, the Primate, that is by me,” said the metropolitan.

He also stressed that he governs the Kyivan Eparchy. “The Kyivan Eparchy as well as all the last eparchies of the UOC are subject to the common laws governing the whole church. One cannot single out a particular eparchy enjoying autonomy. The final word rests with the governing bishop,” stated Metropolitan Volodymyr.

Last October, the Primate was hospitalized. In the beginning of last December, he was transferred from the intensive care unit to a rehabilitation ward where he stays now.

In February, a session of the Holy Synod of the UOC-MP was held despite the Primate’s prohibition. The Synod, in particular, decreed to dismiss the primate’s secretary, Archbishop Oleksandr Drabynko, from his positions in the church.

Fire at St. John's in Nanticoke, PA

The part that I find most heartening out of this ordeal is how the priest said, "Go tell your mother, we're celebrating the liturgy right now." and carried on with the service.

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(WNEP) - Fire interrupted a church service in Luzerne County today when the church rectory caught fire.

It happened during 11 a.m. mass at St. John the Baptist Orthodox Church in Nanticoke.

Firefighters said neighbors saw smoke coming from the rectory and called 911.

The priest said he learned about the fire in the middle of the church service.

“My son came rushing in to tell me the rectory was on fire, and I said 'go tell your mother, we're celebrating the liturgy right now.' And I said 'is everybody safe,' and I knew all of my children were safe. My next concern was for my firefighters. I'm the Nanticoke city fire chaplain,” said Father Adam Sexton.

Luckily, no one was hurt in the fire.

Firefighters believe the flames started in the basement of the rectory.

A fire marshal is investigating the cause of the fire.

And also...

(OCA) - Flames engulfed the rectory of Saint John the Baptist parish here during the celebration of the Divine Liturgy on Sunday, March 4, 2012, leaving Priest Adam R. Sexton, his wife, and their eight children without a home.

According to an article published in Monday’s Luzerne County “Citizens Voice,” the fire broke out in the rectory basement and had been spreading for about half an hour before firefighters were called in around 11:00 a.m.

Nanticoke Deputy Chief Tom Sadowski was quoted as stating that the home’s “balloon frame” construction — common in the 1910s, when it was built — meant there was nothing to stop the fire once it got into the walls from working its way to the first and second floors during the half-hour it went undetected. While he is quoted as stating that the fire appears to have been accidental, he added that the damage was “fairly serious,” and that he was unsure as to whether it would be livable or not.

Fortunately there were no injuries to the Sextons, who were assigned to the parish in 2008. Father Adam also serves as chaplain for the Nanticoke fire department.

“Obviously to all the guys, it was personal,” Sadowski told reporters, calling the Sextons “one of the nicest families you could ever hope to meet…. The community will pull together and help the family as much as we can.”

Saint John’s parish celebrated its centennial in 2011.

Lenten fare at the Optina Monastery

The Sunday of Orthodoxy... in South Korea!

(OCMC) - Sunday of Orthodoxy in Incheon, Korea: Prayers for the Victorious Weeks of the Holy Great Lent for All.

The Triumph of Orthodoxy

The Triumph of Orthodoxy

From the Synodikon of the Seventh Ecumenical Council

As the Prophets beheld,

As the Apostles taught,

As the Church received,

As the Teachers dogmatized,

As the Universe agreed,

As Grace illumined,

As the Truth revealed,

As falsehood passed away,

As Wisdom presented,

As Christ awarded,

Thus we declare,

Thus we assert,

Thus we proclaim Christ our true God and honor His saints,

In words,

In writings,

In thoughts,

In sacrifices,

In churches,

In holy icons.

On the one hand, worshipping and reverencing Christ as God and Lord.

And on the other hand, honoring and venerating His Saints as true servants of the same Lord.

This is the Faith of the Apostles.

This is the Faith of the Fathers.

This is the Faith of the Orthodox.

This is the Faith which has established the Universe.

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Eastern Christian New Media Awards

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Cooked wheat with honey for St. Theodore the Recruit

(pravoslavie.ru) - On the Saturday of the first week of Great Lent, we commemorate an event which occurred in the year 356—a miracle of Great Martyr Theodore the Tyro ("the Recruit"), which continues to have great significance for Orthodox Christians even today, perhaps especially today.

Fifty years after the death of St Theodore, the emperor Julian the Apostate (361-363), wanting to commit an outrage upon the Christians, commanded the city-commander of Constantinople during the first week of Great Lent to sprinkle all the food provisions in the marketplaces with the blood offered to idols. St Theodore appeared in a dream to Archbishop Eudoxius, ordering him to inform all the Christians that no one should buy anything at the marketplaces, but rather to eat cooked wheat with honey (koliva).

In memory of this occurrence, the Orthodox Church annually celebrates the holy Great Martyr Theodore the Recruit on the first Saturday of Great Lent. On Friday evening, at the Divine Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts following the prayer at the ambo, the Canon to the holy Great Martyr Theodore, composed by St John of Damascus, is sung. After this, kolyva is blessed and distributed to the faithful. The celebration of the Great Martyr Theodore on the first Saturday of Great Lent was set by the Patriarch Nectarius of Constantinople (381-397).

The Holy Great Martyr Theodore the Recruit (Tyro) was a soldier in the city of Alasium of the Pontine district (northeast province of Asia Minor, stretching along the coast of the Euxine, i.e. the Black Sea), under the command of a certain Brincus. They commanded him to offer sacrifice to idols. St Theodore firmly confessed his faith in Christ the Savior in a loud voice. The commander gave him several days to think it over, during which time St Theodore prayed...

Complete article and koliva recipe here.