Byzantine, Texas

Some may see in the recent untethering of the (might one say formerly?) UOC-MP from Moscow as an I-told-you-so where the OCU (EP-affiliated body) simply did what was bound to happen before the rest of the Orthodox Church in Ukraine was willing to do it. Others might see this as a tragedy that is going to drive Ukraine into ever further murky confusion. Still others find confirmation that Orthodoxy is always just a challenging predicament away from fracturing and refracturing along national or ethnic divides. What is most arresting for me is that we now have a huge Orthodox body unmoored from its patriarchate, signaling an independence on its own, and slotted alongside another body claiming all of the same things. Can one untether oneself in this way, float alone with an uncertain recognition with the rest of Orthodoxy, and hope for any canonical resolution all while a war is going on? Readers will know that I purchased no pompoms at the tomos of the OCU's signing. Nor did I find mu...

Theological Symposium hosted by The Assyrian Church of the East in conjunction with Nisibis Assyrian Theological College. This Symposium coincides with the inaugural visit to Australia by His Holiness Mar Awa III following his Consecration and Enthronement as the 122nd Catholicos-Patriarch of the East in September 2021.

( OL ) - The Orientale Lumen XXVI Conference will be held as a "virtual" conference in June 2022 on the theme of "Nicaea and the Date of Pascha/Easter."  Speakers will pre-record their lectures for viewing on YouTube in early June, and two 2-hour live, interactive panel discussions will be held on Wednesday, June 22 from 1:00 to 3:00 pm EDT, and on Thursday, June 23 from 10:00 am to 12:00 Noon EDT via Zoom video conference.  We will also offer archive lectures with other background video material.  Speakers:  His Beatitude Patriarch Emeritus Gregorios III Melkite Greek Catholic Church of Antioch Archbishop Job of Telmessos Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople, Geneva, Switzerland Msgr. Paul McPartlan The Catholic University of America, Washington, DC Father John Behr University of Aberdeen, Scotland Father Hovsep Karapetyan St. Mary Armenian Church, Washington, DC Father Christiaan Kappes SS. Cyril and Methodius Seminary, Pittsburgh, PA Father John Erickson Ort...

( UOC-MP ) [machine translated] - The Council of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (hereinafter - the Council), which took place on May 27, 2022 in Kyiv, considered issues of church life that arose as a result of the military aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine. Based on the results of the work, the Council approved the following: The Council condemns war as a violation of God's commandment "Thou shalt not kill!" (Exodus 20:13) and expresses condolences to all those who suffered in the war. The Council appeals to the authorities of Ukraine and the authorities of the Russian Federation to continue the negotiation process and search for a strong and sensible word that could stop the bloodshed. We disagree with the position of Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia on the war in Ukraine. The Council adopted appropriate amendments to the Statute on the Administration of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, which testify to the full independence and autonomy of the U...

Accordingly to unofficial comments from the participants, the local council of the #Moscow Patriarchate in #Ukraine declared its complete independence from Moscow and announced readiness for dialogue with the #Orthodox #Church of #Ukraine pic.twitter.com/9SdpLYbQAP — Orthodox News ☦️📰📸 (@OrthodoxNews2) May 27, 2022

It is to be remembered that autocephaly as understand by many to mean complete autonomy and freedom, is not often what the Ecumenical Patriarchate itself means when it grants of accepts such a declaration. The EP in fact speaks of autocephaly as something that is the right of the EP alone. The ability to make chrism, the ability to extend beyond the borders of the church into other places (especially the "barbarian lands"), etc. should not be assumed as given freedoms should Constantinople similarly declare autocephaly for Macedonia. Skopje ( OCP News ) - “The Holy Synod of Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church has unanimously recognized the Autocephaly of the Macedonian Orthodox Church – Archbishopric of Ohrid. We are sure that all other churches will receive this news with joy’ stated Patriarch Porfirije of Serbia. The statement was in the sermon delivered during a join Liturgy held at the St. Clement of Ohrid Church in Skopje on 24/5/22. “Let God allow that this act of lo...

Many people aren't aware of how intertwined the imperial presence was into the fabric of our services. Even the terminology and architecture of our churches harken back to this connection. May 21 is the Feast day of Saints Constantine the Great and his mother Helen. In Byzantine times the Emperor would go the Holy Apostles and change into ceremonial vestments, before going through the Church with the Patriarch to the mausoleum of Saint-Emperor Constantine the Great pic.twitter.com/78OwXe8laR — ShadowsOfConstantinople (@RomeInTheEast) May 21, 2022

( Armenian-NED ) - Metropolitan Zachariah Mar Nicholovos, conveyed the prayers, love and best wishes of the Northeast American Diocese to the new Primate of the Eastern Diocese of the Armenian Church of America, the Very Reverend Fr. Mesrop Parsamyan. Father Mesrop was elected as 13th Primate on May 6th by the 120th Assembly of the Eastern Diocese of the Armenian Church. On May 17th, His Holiness Catholicos Karekin II of Armenia, the Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, confirmed the election of Father Mesrop as the new Primate. The new Primate, Father Mesrop, received his Bachelor’s degree in Theology from Gevorgian Theological Seminary of Holy Etchmiadzin. He was ordained into the holy priesthood in 2003, and thereafter served until 2004 as the staff-bearer for His Holiness Karekin II, the Catholicos of All Armenians. He earned a Master’s degree in Theology and Religious Sciences from the University of Strasbourg, France, and studied in Dublin, Ireland, at the Internati...

 H/T: Orthodox Christianity

In reading the new SVS Press Popular Patristics series version of On the Orthodox Faith: Volume 3 of the Fount of Knowledge  by St John of Damascus (translated by Norman Russell), I came upon a word " chartophylax ," which made immediate sense from a translational perspective, but needed some historical background. As to the title itself, I plan to use it for the parish book club and shall report back on it after I've pre-read it in advance of the first club event. Chartophylax -  A chartophylax, Greek: χαρτοφύλαξ - from χάρτα, "document" + φύλαξ, "guard, keeper"), also chartoularios, was the title of ecclesiastical officers of the Church of Constantinople in charge of official documents and records in the church during the time of the Eastern Roman empire. The position among the offices of the Patriarch was particularly influential. The position of chartophylax existed in the provincial dioceses as well as in Constantinople. The incumbents of the po...

( HTS ) - On Tuesday, May 3rd, at 5 p.m., Dr. Larchet delivered a lecture in Holy Trinity Seminary's Protopresbyter Valery Lukianov Hall entitled, "Divinization as the Christian Project and Model of True Transhumanism." After first examining the dead ends and illusions of the current philosophical fashion of transhumanism, Dr. Larchet proposes the Orthodox Christian conception of divinization, or Theosis, as a true fulfillment of the flawed transhumanist ideology. Dr Jean-Claude Larchet is one of the most notable living authors on Orthodox Christian Patristics. He holds a Ph.D in philosophy from the University of Nancy and a Ph.D. in theology from the University of Strasbourg. A teacher of philosophy for nearly thirty-five years, he is an author of over thirty books and countless articles whose work has been translated into over a dozen languages. His magnum opus, Therapy of Spiritual Illness, and several other works have been translated into English to wide acclaim, thre...

 

( Orthodox Times ) - Patriarch Porfirije of Serbia and Archbishop Stephen of Ohrid will officiate the Divine Liturgy at St. Sava Cathedral in Belgrade on Thursday, May 19. The above is mentioned in an announcement on the website of the Serbian Orthodox Church. The concelebration will be attended by all the hierarchs of the Patriarchate of Serbia and the “Macedonian Orthodox Church-Archdiocese of Ohrid”, as the Serbian Church of Northern Macedonia states in its announcement. It is stressed that with the Divine Liturgy at the Cathedral in Belgrade, “the canonical communion of the two sister Churches will be established, by decision of the Holy Synod of the Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church.”

His Eminence guided ROCOR for so many years that it will be interesting to see how things proceed moving forward. Blessedly, they have no shortage of good hierarchs in ROCOR.  ( ROCOR ) - Today, May 16, 2022, the feast day of St Theodosius of the Kievan Caves, at two o’clock New York time, following a lengthy illness, His Eminence Metropolitan Hilarion of Eastern America and New York, First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, reposed in the Lord, in a NYC hospital. His Grace Bishop Nicholas of Manhattan, Vicar of the Eastern American Diocese, performed the “Canon of Supplication at the Parting of the Soul.” His Grace was joined by Archpriest Serafim Gan and Hierodeacon Panteleimon (Jigalin). A pannikhida will be performed at the Synodal Cathedral of Our Lady “of the Sign” in New York at 7:30 pm tonight. Further information will be provided shortly. May God grant the Kingdom of Heaven to our Master and Father, the Eminent Metropolitan Hilarion!

This topic could easily be a longer piece or even a book, but let's let this single idea suffice for now. One thing you are sure to read or be counseled is that it is best to avoid politics. It detracts from your proper emphasis on the Christian journey, it is rife with anger and outrage, and you are likely to be coopted by forces larger than yourself who will include you in their number even when you have no opinion on this or that topic (or even disagree completely with some of their positions). At the same time you are also sure to read or be counseled that you are called to participate in the Great Commission and evangelize. You are supposed to live a life of faith unashamed of Christ, His Church, your place in it, or your hope for salvation in Heaven. Candles, bushels, so let your light shine... you get the picture.  If you are wise enough to avoid politics that speak in terms of Left versus Right, but ALSO avoid being actively Christian so as to be inoffensive or simply comfo...

( Antiochian ) - With the blessings of His Eminence Metropolitan Joseph, and the overall purpose to foster vibrant academic theological interactions within the Antiochian House of Studies academic community, Fr. Michel Najim and Fr. Fadi Rabbat invite you to the first Academic Symposium of The Orthodox Academic Society on Saturday May 28th, 2022. Six Master and Doctorate graduate students will make short presentations of their research with time for questions and answers. Papers presented at the Spring and Fall symposia will be published in a special volume of the OAS Academic Journal. Join us on Zoom, Saturday, May 28, 12 PM - 4:30 ET / 9 AM - 1:30 PT https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82631927701 Laura Schoepf -  Patristic Understanding of Contemporary Moral Problems: The Moral Fragmentation of Post-Modern Bioethics in the Medical Practice  Fr. Elias Ayoub - The Temple of Jerusalem: The Search for the Place  John Coffman - Orthodox Catechist in a Neo-Pagan World: Catechizing T...

This article starts with an idea. It takes in every fact or opinion or person who shares that idea, and tries to create a connect-the-dots image of a shirtless Putin riding a horse. It also seeks to overlay every progressive position onto the page to show how fundamentalist Orthodoxy is taking over the Church. Does that sound familiar? It does. As will the names of those who concur with this view in the article.  Let me be clear. Racism is silly. Nationalism over citizenship in heaven is misguided. The Church is a body built on love and a belief that this love is more powerful than any hate. Part of the beauty of Orthodoxy is that the host of saints is peopled with holy individuals from all over the world. All races, all nations, all united in love for God. At the same time some people are drawn to the light of Orthodoxy and bring their heterodox opinions with them. In an attempt to join their desire for belonging with their desire to gain recognition for these preexisting beliefs,...

( Greek Times ) - The decision by the Constantinople Ecumenical Patriarchate on Monday to recognise North Macedonia’s church as the “Church of Ohrid” was discussed in a meeting between the country’s Prime Minister and its Archbishop Stefan in Skopje on Tuesday. A meeting of the Holy Synod of the Orthodox Ecumenical Patriarchate in Istanbul, chaired by Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, said that North Macedonia’s church, led by Archbishop Stefan, is recognised as canonical and valid in the entire Orthodox world. The Patriarch added that canonical and liturgical unity is established with it and the faithful. Prime Minister Dimitar Kovachevski called this decision historic and he added that it was expected. He also congratulated Stefan on the fact that, as Phanar said, it accepts the hierarchy, the clergy and the people of the Church under Archbishop Stefan in Eucharistic communion, and that they are no longer at odds with the Orthodox world. That's an overstatement of historic size. ...

As was posted about earlier, the Ecumenical Patriarchate has decided to accept the Macedonian organization (the so-called "Ohrid Archdiocese") and normalize it. It should not surprise you that the Serbian synod is meeting right now in order to respond to this. If the Ukrainian project by Constantinople angered Russia (and much of the Orthodox world), expect no less outrage from Serbia et mundus over this abrupt action. Several people have emailed me asking if the EP is simply trying to divide the Orthodox world one action at a time. To that I have no answer. I do know, however, that this "healing" initiative is upsetting primates, enraging the laity, and serving as fodder for those who scream "popery!" every time His All-Holiness sneezes. ( Orthodox Times ) - The recognition of the Ohrid Archdiocese took place today by the Ecumenical Patriarchate, during the meeting of the Holy Synod, and after an in-depth discussion. The Ecumenical Patriarchate announced ...

Being held at St. Jonah's in Spring, TX. Childcare and activities will be provided for ages 8 and under. Light breakfast and hardy lunch will be provided  Seminar Topics  Session 1, with Dr. David C. Ford: “Looking at Marriage from a Patristic Perspective Through the Centuries (from St. Ignatius to Contemporary Holy Elders).” Session 2, with Dr. Mary Ford: “Looking at How Logismi Can Cause Problems in Marriage, and How to Deal With Them.” Session 3, with Dr. David C. Ford: “Making the Home a Little Church, Through the Wisdom of St. John Chrysostom.” Click here to register and pay the nominal fee.

The Holy and Sacred Synod, meeting today, Monday, May 9th, 2022, under the chairmanship of His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, discussed in detail the ecclesiastical issue of Skopje, and, evaluating in the final phase the submission to the Mother Church from that Church, as well as the other appeals of the State of Northern Macedonia, they have decided the following: 1) It accepts into eucharistic communion the Hierarchy, the clergy and the people under Archbishop Stefan of this Church, healing the wound of the schism, and pouring over the wound of our Orthodox brethren "oil and wine". To this end, the relevant Patriarchal and Synodal Act is published. 2) They contacted the Most Holy Church of Serbia to regulate administrative matters between them and the Northern Macedonian Church, within the framework of the sacred canonical order and ecclesiastical tradition. 3) It recognizes as the name of this Church that of "Ochrid" (understood to be in the area...

( Basilica ) - In a message for the Sunday of Myrrh-bearing Women Sunday, May 8, 2022, His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel conveyed congratulations and blessings “to all women who cultivate and confess, through prayer, in word and deed, the faith in the crucified and risen Christ.” His Beatitude highlighted that the Holy Myrrh-bearing Women have become “role models for all faithful women who, over the centuries, have carried in their souls the light of Christ.” “Christian women in the life of the Church followed the will of Christ, as did the Mother of God, the Myrrh-bearing Women, the Holy Female Martyrs, the Venerable Mother, and the whole line of all Holy Women, inscribed in the church calendar and honoured by the Church,” the Patriarch of Romania noted. The Holy Myrrh-bearing Women and the Mother of God are intercessors for Christian women: full text Christ is risen! The Orthodox Church has dedicated a particular Sunday to the Holy Myrrh-bearing Women, the third Sunday of Pascha, there...

( SOC ) - In a conversation with media representatives after visiting the monastery of Visoki Dečani, His Holiness Serbian Patriarch kyr Porfirije said: These are our shrines. They belong to the Serbian Orthodox Church. Dečani, the Patriarchate of Peć, Gračanica, the Most Holy Theotokos of Ljeviš and again all other shrines on Kosovo and Metohija, are the heritage of the Serbian Orthodox Church. However, everything that is spiritual, if it is authentically spiritual, is never limited to one person or one nation. Exactly because it is spiritual, even though it is ours, it transcends by both its significance and beauty the borders in which we exist and to which we belong, and these are the shrines that are the cultural heritage of the whole world. Therefore we should not be surprised that all the listed shrines are under the protection of UNESCO. That is why all of us should make an effort – as monks do it, as the Church does it, but also all other factors both locally and wider, but als...

ROME ( Yahoo! News ) — Since the beginning of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Pope Francis has floated the idea that he wants to take a trip to Kyiv to try to broker a ceasefire. But now he says he would prefer to go to Moscow to try to talk some sense into Vladimir Putin, who he has not outwardly condemned in the now nearly three-month-old war and only did so lightly in a lengthy interview with an Italian newspaper. “I feel that before going to Kyiv, I must go to Moscow,” he told Corriere Della Sera in an interview that ran Tuesday. But the meeting would not exactly be to condemn Putin, based on what he told the paper. He said that the real “scandal” of Putin’s war is “NATO barking at Russia’s door,” which he said caused the Kremlin to “react badly and unleash the conflict.” Never mind that the 85-year-old pontiff is unable to walk after tearing a ligament in his knee (for which he says he will soon have surgery), or that Putin won’t even answer his calls. Francis repeated comments he h...

It will surprise not a single reader that I am ardently pro-life. I've posted from the March for Life, put up prayers on the topic, and have not been reticent to point out capitulation or endorsement of abortion by people purporting to espouse Orthodox ties. So, if the topic is not your cup of tea, please feel free to skip this article.  The response of people who feel that the loss of access to abortion up to (and sadly even shortly after in the minds of some) giving birth is going to be very forceful. You are going to see people raging against the decision by the Court that looks the be coming down soon. You are going to see screams coming out of people that barely sound or look human. You are going to see hyperbole that borders on the nonsensical. You are going to hear appeals to freedom that conveniently avoid the freedom to live of the unborn. Expect it. At a fundamental level those who see life beginning at conception and who see a divine hand in the forming of life in the wo...

A few things. Number one: I have never met anyone who knows the Sheehans and wasn't delighted to make their acquaintance. Number two: The AV is a nice place to visit even in the heat of July. Number three: This is a well put-together program where you will learn a lot and make friends.  ( Antiochian.org ) - After a two-year delay in the Coronavirus pandemic, His Eminence Metropolitan Joseph calls upon clergy, chanters, and choir directors and members to register now for the in-person Sacred Music Institute at the Antiochian Village, July 13-17, 2022. For over three decades, the Archdiocese's Department of Sacred Music has offered this annual summer retreat to develop God-given gifts within liturgical worship. The theme "Proclaiming the Word, Living the Liturgy" will run throughout the workshops, presentations, and breakout sessions. There will be time for laughter, socializing, and of course singing and praying together. Featured guests Benedict and Maria Sheehan will...

( WTC ) - While nations go to war, Christian churches can stand together to witness and work for peace. Cardinal Walter Kasper has called ecumenical dialogue a peace movement because it witnesses to and works for the reconciliation of all people made possible in Jesus Christ. At this event, participants will hear from three leading figures of different churches involved with the citizens, refugees and the grieving of Ukraine. One is the head of a Ukrainian Catholic Community in America (recently interviewed on CNN), another is known as the Peace Bishop for his work in peace-building, and another comes to us directly from Kyiv where he celebrates the eucharist and ministers to the war-torn every day.  Our distinguished moderator, Dr. Sandra Collins, comes from the Byzantine Catholic Seminary in Pittsburgh. Join us IN PERSON for a sung Memorial Prayer Service, presentations, discussion and a reception at the DC Cathedral of the Orthodox Church in America  (or join virtually from...

( Patristic Nectar ) - Patristic Nectar is pleased to present the 2022 Annual Patristic Nectar Conference entitled, Holy Orthodoxy: Presenting the Christian Faith . We intend to present a high-level overview of the traditional Christian faith as an exercise in fundamental catechism. Participants in this conference may expect to receive wide-ranging exposure to basic Christian theology by superb pedagogues with the intent to deepen the faith of Orthodox Christians and to broadly expose seekers to key contours of Christian belief.   We are making this conference available through live online streaming for those who would like to attend remotely. Registration for this event is $40. All paying registrants will be able to watch the conference live, and in addition, they will receive the complete set of conference lectures in their Patristic Nectar account library once they are published. To watch the conference and receive the audio files, register below.  June 3rd - Friday Lecture...