Honestly, I divide March for Life participation into two camps. Those hierarchs who come to the prayer vigil and enjoy a nice meal and those who actually get out onto the concrete - rain or shine, freezing wind or icy sleet - and prayerfully walk with the people. So, for example, nothing short of a blizzard would keep Abp. Michael (Dahulich) of New York from marching. The OCA and ACROD have been staples in DC for decades. And I'm pleased to see UOC-USA representation this year, too. God willing, future marches will see even more jurisdictions represented. One thing is consistent, though: young people. As the president said, young people are the backbone of this March. This is true about the Orthodox in attendance as well. I was proud to have some of my children marching as they have in years past. May the Lord have mercy on us for the great and tragic sin of abortion. Prayers for the mothers of the unborn, their fathers, and the children held close to our Lord's heart from conception into eternity.
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Washington, D.C. (EA) - The Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the United States of America sent a delegation to the annual March for Life in the nation’s capital on Friday, January 24, 2020. The event marks the 47th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, the Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion.
Bishop Apostolos of Medeia led the delegation. He was joined by Metropolitan Tikhon, Archbishop Daniel, Archbishop Melchisedek, Archbishop Michael, Bishop Thomas, Bishop Daniel, Bishop Paul, and Bishop David.
Bishop Apostolos also attended the National Prayer Vigil for Life at The Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception on Wednesday, January 23, the evening before the march.
The rally, attended by President Donald J. Trump, began at noon with a prayer offered by Bishop Apostolos on the National Mall at 12th Street. Orthodox Christian marchers gathered under the “Orthodox Christians for Life” banner and signs.
The march began at 1 p.m. and proceeded along Constitution Avenue to the U.S. Supreme Court, where prayers for the victims of abortion were offered.
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I can't express how heartening this is! For YEARS only Metropolitans Nicholas (ACROD) and Herman (OCA) could be counted on to come to the March for Life. Now, at last, we're getting some broad Church support.
ReplyDeleteWhy the Greek bishop and the oca,,one Greek there and how many oca,,,,what a slap in the face
ReplyDeleteBig improvement over past years.
DeleteTo be fair, I think the GOA has had “participation” in recent years, but never “led the delegation”.
ReplyDeleteI think what r j klanchko is referring to is the apparent hijacking of the banner, in a sense. Forgive me, but it just seems that the GOA sent the low man on the totem pole to attend this...then the Episcopal Assembly states that it was “led” by him...the youngest bishop in attendance who’s episcopal see I can’t even locate on a map. It’s just bad form. That being said, AXIOS to His Grace Bishop Apostolos for being there. Maybe his attendance shows that the younger leadership in the GOA is serious about issues in this country. Hopefully there is more GOA (as well as other Orthodox jurisdictional) participation at the march in the future.
The OCA and ACROD have been participating in this since 1987, and have spoken at the event. (Though no ACROD episcopal participation this year). And a public Panikhida is fervently prayed every year for the victims of this slaughter.
I’m pretty sure an asteroid could hit DC and Archbishop Michael would still be there. The same should be said for the late Metropolitan Nicholas. Fr. John Kowalczyk has been stalwart also.
there was a true committment from the oca here and in past years and i take great humbridge that the sole greek coming for the first time and grabbed the lime light,,, politiics such as this is just so disgusting and the others who have participated before should not be disgraced in such a manner,,,to many of us it is just brat black bart at it again,,,i shed a tear over this lack of decorum
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