Byzantine, Texas

Does anyone want to see a popular posts listing on the sidebar? Blogger has added a pageviews counter (total number of people who have visited) and a popular posts widget (shows the most viewed posts) today, which I have no strong views one way or the other on using. Opinions, please.

This has made the rounds on blogs for the last few days. For that reason I hesitated to be needlessly redundant, but this teaching is so good I cannot fail to post it.

Having met Abbot Gerasim a few times, I can say that he is a very welcoming and kind-hearted man. I had heard a while back that he was a possible candidate for Alaska, and am enthused to see that that possibility might become a reality. Photo from the Diocese of the South's clergy conference. Pictured: Abbot Meletios, Met. Jonah, Abbot Gerasim. ( ocanews.org ) - In a recent letter to OCANews.org, Fr. Michael Oleksa, Acting Chancellor of the Diocese of Alaska and a member of the Metropolitan Council, explained the current situation in the Diocese regarding its vacant cathedra. Fr. Michael writes: "I am writing only to clarify what has been happening in Alaska as we attempt to discern God's Will and nominate a new bishop for this diocese. Many Alaska Native cultures, until quite recently, practiced match-making and arranged marriages, relationships initiated or promoted by the parents of a prospective bride or groom. Usually, the proposal was then accepted or reject...

On the visit with ROCOR... ( mospat.ru ) - On August 30, 2010, DECR chairman Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, who is in the USA on a working visit with the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia and on invitation of His Beatitude Metropolitan Jonah of All America and Canada, visited the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia to hold a working meeting with the chairman of the ROCOR Bishops’ Synod, Metropolitan Hilarion of Eastern America and New York. They discussed a wide range of issues concerning cooperation between the Church in Russia and the Church in Diaspora and inter-Orthodox cooperation in the American continent. In the evening of that day, Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk and Metropolitan Hilarion of Eastern America visited the ROCOR’s church of St. Seraphim of Sarov in Sea Cliff near New York. The head of the Orthodox Church in America, His Beatitude Metropolitan Jonah of All America and Canada, was also invite...

From the blog Gladsome Light Dialogues : At the very Beginning of the service of Orthros (Matins) the Typicon prescribes the reading of the “Six Psalms,” or “Hexapsalm” i.e. Psalms 3, 37, 62, 87, 102, and 142, read in that order, and combined into a single whole. The faithful should be aware of the fact that the reading of the “Six Psalms” is one of the most important points in the service , a time when all should put aside other thoughts, stand quietly, and concentrate on these penitential prayers. The reading does not constitute a pause in Divine Services, a time during which to go for a walk outside or to talk to one’s neighbor. It is one of the holiest moments in the entire All-night Vigil. The Six Psalms comprise an entire scale of experiences which illumine the Christian life of the New Testament – not merely its overall joyous mood, but also the sorrowful path to that joy. This is why according to the rubrics of the Church, the candles in the church are to be exting...

Moscow ( AsiaNews ) - A memorial cross, pending the construction of an Orthodox church, will be erected in the courtyard of school No. 1 in Beslan on September 2, the sixth anniversary of the massacre of innocents in North Ossetia. The local administration sources reported the news to Interfax news agency. The program of commemorations of what is considered the Russian September 11 also includes a Requiem concert, "The memory of the heart", organized by the “Beslan Mothers” Committee. Everything will start on September 1 at 9:15 in the morning: the sounds of school and church bells will mark the first shot fired by terrorists as they took classes’ hostage on the first day of school. Relatives, friends and anyone who wants to, may deposit flowers and candles on the ruins of the building. Until Sept. 3 - the day of the Russian Special Forces raid on the school, which ended in bloodshed - uninterrupted music will be played from what remains of the school. The approximately...

At the OCA chancery SYOSSET, NY ( OCA ) - On Monday, August 30, 2010, His Beatitude, Metropolitan Jonah welcomed His Eminence, Metropolitan Hilarion [Alfeyev] of Volokolamsk, Chairman of the Department of External Church Relations of the Russian Orthodox Church, to the Chancery of the Orthodox Church in America here. Metropolitan Hilarion, a permanent member of the Holy Synod of the Moscow Patriarchate, arrived in New York on Saturday, August 28, to attend a meeting of the Saint Vladimir's Seminary Board of Trustees, of which he is a member. As reported on the seminary web site, illness precluded him from concelebrating the Sunday Divine Liturgy with Metropolitan Jonah at the seminary's Three Hierarchs Chapel. [ Read that story here. ] Metropolitan Hilarion is visiting the OCA Chancery to contribute to the reflections within the OCA regarding its participation in the Episcopal Assembly process. [ Read the related story here. ] Joining Metropolitan Jonah in welcoming Me...

If you want to read a book on this topic I recommend Glory To Jesus Christ - A History of the American Carpatho-Russian Orthodox Diocese by Fr. Lawrence Barriger. ( RISU ) - Sons and daughters of peasant farmers who found their way to Johnstown in the late 1800s from isolated Carpathian Mountain villages in central Europe did not have a strong sense of national identity and had little knowledge or interest in politics of their homeland. "They didn't know who the hell they were," history professor Michael Kopanic of Cresson said. "They were too busy trying to make a living. They didn't have a national awakening until they came here." The people now generally identified as Carpatho-Rusyns have been given many names over the centuries: Rusnak, Uhro Rusyn, Ruthenian, Carpatho-Ukrainian, Lemko, Slavish and Byzantine. Except for a brief period after World War II, there has never been an independent nation for the Carpatho-Rusyn people. "They a...

The below image is from Pithless Thoughts . There are innumerable 'Journey to Orthodoxy' blogs written by people who have found something wondrous and want to share their experience with the world. I am a reader of many of these, but with some caveats. I am not too fond of the Apologia Pro Vita Sua -esque blogs filled with often tendentious pericopes from the Fathers. It's as if the writer feels he has to make theological bulwarks on each step of his walk towards the Church. I made this hill, and now I have to build up defenses lest I be overcome and die on it. Honest and straightforward expressions of thoughts, questions, and the struggle to understand and fit in are - to me - much more readable (I think for the same reason diaries are more enjoyable to read than thesis papers are). To paraphrase Fr. Matthew of blessed memory: "The conversion journey is important, but what is more important is what you are doing about your faith NOW ." How you got here is a v...

Bishop Armash Nalbandian poses with Fr. Daniel Findikyan at the Armenian Catholic Patriarchate of Bzommar, Lebanon, where they participated last Fall in an international sympsium on St. Gregory of Narek. ( SNAS ) - His Grace Bishop Armash Nalbandian, Primate of the Armenian Church of Damascus, Syria, will the guest of St. Nersess Seminary for a few days in early September. The bishop is travelling through New York on his way to Los Angeles for the consecration of the new cathedral of the Western Diocese there. On Tuesday, September 7, 2010 at 7:30PM Armash Srpazan will deliver a public lecture in Armenian and English entitled, The Armenian Communities of Syria: Yesterday and Today. A reception in honor of the bishop will follow Srpazan's presentation. Both events are free and open to the public. "Armash Srpazan is a true friend of St. Nersess Seminary," said V. Rev. Fr. Daniel Findikyan, Seminary Dean. "For two years he has hosted our seminarians for periods...

SYOSSET, NY ( OCA ) - On Thursday and Friday, August 26-27, 2010, His Beatitude, Metropolitan Jonah, several members of the Holy Synod of Bishops of the Orthodox Church in America, and advisers met at the Chancery here to begin a series of broader discussions and reflections within the Orthodox Church in America regarding our participation in the Episcopal Assembly process. According to Archpriest Eric G. Tosi, OCA Secretary, "His Beatitude has invited His Eminence, Metropolitan Hilarion [Alfeyev] of Volokolamsk, Chairman of the Department of External Church Relations of the Russian Orthodox Church and a permanent member of the Holy Synod of the Patriarchate of Moscow, to meet at the Chancery on Monday, August 30, to contribute to our reflections prior to future conversations." Metropolitan Hilarion will be visiting Saint Vladimir's Seminary, Crestwood, NY, August 28-29, his first as a member of the school's Board of Trustees, and concelebrating the Sunday Liturgy...

( heritage.org ) - Earlier this week the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit issued an important religious liberty decision that protects the right of faith-based social service organizations to protect their religious identity and mission. The case involves World Vision, a nonprofit Christian humanitarian organization focused on the causes of poverty and injustice. World Vision was sued for religious discrimination by two employees it fired after learning that they did not agree with World Vision’s doctrinal beliefs. As a general rule, federal nondiscrimination law demands that private employers ignore religion in making employment decisions. But the same law includes an accommodation for “a religious corporation, association, educational institution, or society.” The question in Spencer v. World Vision was whether World Vision fit this definition and therefore qualified for the accommodation. Two of three judges agreed that World Vision, even though it is not a traditio...

For more on antimension (antimins), see this post. ( Diocese of Sourozh ) - On 27th August, the Forefiest of Dormition of the Mother of God, the Patronal Feast of the Cathedral of the Diocese of Sourozh, Archbishop Elisey of Sourozh blessed the Antimensions received with the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia to celebrate divine servises in 30 parishes of the Diocese of Sourozh.

H/T: Athos - Agion Oros The semantron (Greek: σήμαντρον) also semanterion (σημαντήριον) or simandro; also called a xylon (ξύλον) (Romanian: toacă; Russian: било, bilo; Bulgarian: клепало, klepalo) is a percussion instrument used in monasteries to summon monks to prayer or at the start of a procession. In Palestine under the Ottoman Empire, when ringing church bells was outlawed, the simandro replaced them.

Seminary Dean, Fr. John Behr, greets His Grace Mar Demetrios of India in the seminary chapel ( SVOTS ) - Ever since our Dean, Fr. John Behr, made his extensive tour through the churches and seminaries of India in the Fall of 2009, St. Vladimir's has been strengthening its friendship with the Malankara Syrian Orthodox Church in a series of cordial exchanges. Most recently, in August 2010, Fr. John welcomed His Grace Dr. Yuhanon Mar Demetrios, Assistant Metropolitan of the Delhi Diocese, to our campus, and in turn attended and spoke at a reception for His Grace at St. Mary's Orthodox Church, Bronx, NY. Mar Demetrios is the Professor of New Testment at the Orthodox Theological Seminary in Kottayam, India, and also is Secretary of the Inter-Church Relations Committee of the Orthodox Church in India. As well, he is a member of the WCC Committee on Education and Ecumenical Formation. He has authored several books and articles, including the volume, Gospel of Mark: An Interpre...

Chicago, IL ( SOC-NASA ) - In the presence of many family, friends, parishioners and those who respected him, brother hierarchs of our local church from America, Canada and Australia as well as other Orthodox Churches, diplomatic representatives and devoted clergymen, Metropolitan Christopher of blessed memory was laid to rest yesterday at St. Sava Monastery in Libertyville, Illinois. The Divine Hierarchical Requiem Liturgy, served beneath the open sky in front of the Monastery church, was celebrated by the presiding hierarch of the Orthodox Church in America His Beatitude Jonah, Archbishop of Washington and Metropolitan of America and Canada, and concelebrated by His Grace Bp. Georgije of Canada, His Grace Bp. Longin of the New Gracanica – Midwest Diocese, His Grace Bp. Mitrophan of the Eastern Diocese, His Grace Bp. Maxim of the Western American Diocese, His Grace Bp. Irinej of Australia and New Zeland, His Grace Bp. Petar of Cleveland, Vicar of Midwest Diocese (ROCOR) and His G...

Patriarch Kirill before the relics of St Tikhon of Zadonsk. Schema nuns in attendance at the Divine Liturgy and moleben.

An excerpt Frontier Orthodoxy 's continuing series on St. Maximus: So “gnomic willing” is the kind of willing we do that deliberates in this fallen world to determine the obscured divine principles and intentions God has for created natures (especially our own). Therefore, “gnomic willing” is a kind of employment of the natural will. It is the will in action by fallen creatures in a fallen world. - Fr. Oliver Herbel

There is quite a lot of excitement about this from the seminarians I have spoken with (both Antiochian and OCA). Please pray for his continued health. SOUTH CANAAN, PA ( OCA ) - Archpriest Alexander Atty will be formally installed as Dean and Chief Operating Officer of Saint Tikhon’s Seminary here on Saturday, October 30, 2010. The formal installation Service of Thanksgiving will be celebrated at Saint Mary Antiochian Orthodox Church, Wilkes Barre, PA, at 11:00 a.m. A luncheon will follow at the parish center. Father Alexander brings with him over 30 years of experience as a parish priest and chief administrator. For years, he served as pastor of one of the nation’s largest pan-Orthodox parishes, Saint Michael the Archangel Antiochian Orthodox Church, Louisville, KY. Father Alexander is joined at the seminary by his wife, Khouria Olga, and their two children, Katherine and Alexander. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Engineering from the University of Philadelphia, a Master of D...

Cardinal Peter Erdo and Metropolitan Filaret ROME, AUG. 24, 2010 ( Zenit.org ) - High-ranking representatives of the Catholic and Russian Orthodox Churches embraced on Monday in a moment reflecting a will for unity between the two Churches. A photo of the embrace between Cardinal Peter Erdo and Metropolitan Filaret was printed with the title "Europe's Brothers." The embrace between the two high-level representatives was a highlight of the 31st Meeting for Friendship Among Peoples, an annual event sponsored by the Catholic Communion and Liberation Movement in Rimini, Italy. The cardinal and metropolitan made their embrace of unity as they joined in a debate on the topic "Can An Educated Man, a European of Our Days, Actually Believe in the Divinity of the Son of God, Jesus Christ?" Cardinal Erdo is the archbishop of Esztergom-Budapest, Hungary, and the president of the Council of European Bishops' Conferences (CCEE). Filaret is the metropolitan of M...

From Fr. Ted’s Blog some words on the process... The OCA’s Diocese of the Midwest is in a year long process of nominating a man to become bishop of the Diocese to replace Archbishop Job of blessed memory who passed away in December of 2009. This week, August 23-25, was the annual Clergy Convocation in Chicago. This year the convocation focused on introducing to the clergy of the Diocese the three men who are being considered for the episcopal office: Frs. Paul Gassios, David Mahaffey and Matthais Moriak. These three men are the final candidates from a list of names submitted to a Search Committee, which then following its own process and procedures worked together with the Diocesan Council and Bishop’s Council to submit the names to the OCA’s Synod of Bishops. The three priests are thus considered vetted and approved by the Synod of Bishops. Currently, the process of electing a bishop is in the stage where the members of the Diocese are getting to know the three nominees. ...

H/T: OBL News Archbishop Yurij of Toronto ( Winnipeg Free Press ) - He turned to the church after a failed singing career, but now damaged vocal chords have robbed Archbishop John of his role in leading a Winnipeg-based Orthodox Christian Church. Last month, after five years in office, Archbishop John retired as metropolitan of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada. He will be replaced by Archbishop Yurij, bishop of Toronto and the Eastern Eparchy, who was elected to the position during the denomination's sobor, or general council, which took place in Winnipeg in July. Traditionally, bishops in the Eastern rite, which includes the Orthodox, are called just by their title and first name. Born Ivan Stinka in Buchanan, Sask., just northwest of Yorkton, the former public school teacher once aspired to stardom in the country-western world, but never hit the big time. "I even quit teaching so I could be a country singer, but the funny thing is I never made it to Nashvi...

SYOSSET, NY ( OCA ) - In an effort to continue seeking broad input into the future direction of the Orthodox Church in America, members of the Strategic Planning Committee [SPC] met with representatives of several OCA departments at the Chancery here on August 17, 2010. "Most department chairpersons or co-chairpersons participated in the meeting and shared the visions, accomplishments, future plans and resource needs of their various ministries and provided specific feedback on the Working Draft Strategic Plan," according to SPC member Priest John Vitko. "SPC members were impressed by what these departments are accomplishing despite the very significant resource constraints under which they have been operating." Highlights of departmental reports follow. The Department of Christian Education (Matushka Alexandra Safchuk, co-chair) has developed a variety of new study materials now available on the DCE web site at http://dce.oca.org. The department also offers ...

( OCA-DOW ) - The Bishop enjoys a "shave ice" with Matushka Jenny after visiting St. Juvenaly Mission on Hawaiʻi Island.

This is another post in the continuing, if very occasional, series spotlighting blogs in the hope of giving them higher visibility. For English-speaking blogs, there is a noticeable lack of good resources into the Churches of the Middle East. Certainly whatever is translated for us is readily available, but I know of only one blog that covers and translates "Arab Orthodoxy" into something the English reader can understand. Today's post highlights the special place Notes on Arab Orthodoxy holds in the blogging world. http://araborthodoxy.blogspot.com/ The Arabic original can be found here . As always, this translation is my own and is not official. An unofficial French translation has also been released here (PDF). Final report of the 46th Regular Session of the Holy Synod of Antioch, taking place in the Monastery of St. Christopher, between the 17th and the 20th of August 2010 under the leadership of His Beatitude Ignatius IV. On Tuesday August 17, 2010 th...

NEW YORK ( GOARCH ) – As the ninth anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks approaches there is a ground-swell of public support for the re-building of St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church which was destroyed under the rubble of the fallen south tower on September 11, 2001 and a renewed and increasing media interest. Former Governor of New York George Pataki had from the very beginning committed his support for the re-building of St. Nicholas, in the immediate aftermath of the tragedy. Today, representing His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios of America, Bishop Andonios of Phasiane, the Chancellor of the Archdiocese, joined former Governor Pataki and George Demos, candidate for U.S. Congress, in a press conference held at Ground Zero about the re-building of St. Nicholas and the stalled negotiations with the Port Authority. Governor Pataki called upon the Port Authority to resume negotiations with the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese immediately, so the re-building process at 130 Liberty St...

September 24th-26th 2010 Sts. Constatine & Helen Orthodox Church 3755 Walnut Hill Lane Dallas, TX 75229 See YES website for details and updates. The YES Program of FOCUS North America is YOUTH EQUIPPED TO SERVE. YES provides opportunities for junior high and high school students to participate in formative weekends of service, with the ultimate purpose being to raise up a generation of Orthodox Christians who lead others in living out the true mission of the church- to love and serve our most needy neighbors. The students are taken through a four-step service-learning process known as E4- EXPOSE, ENGAGE, EQUIP, ENTRUST. We first EXPOSE them to the reality of the poverty in the world through interactive curriculum. The students are presented with various questions: What does it mean that we are created in the Image of God? What is the true mission of the church, and what does it mean for each of us that we are members of the body of Christ? What are the stereotypes ...