Our Lady of Perpetual Help

I posted another work by Mr. Mitsui in April (see here). Below is his Our Lady of Perpetual Help.

On the Catholic synod of Middle East bishops

ROME, SEPT. 30, 2010 (Zenit.org) - The Kingdom of Jordan is usually considered to be one of the most Christian-friendly countries in the Middle East but, according to a Catholic News Service report this week, even there Chaldean Catholic refugees from Iraq are being treated as second class citizens, forbidden to work.

This is just one of a number of concerns that will probably be up for discussion at the synod of bishops for the Middle East, due to take place Oct. 10-24 at the Vatican. Regional Church leaders view the meeting as an important opportunity to call attention to the many problems facing Christians in the region.

The synod’s main theme focuses on communion and witness: Participants will grapple with how the Church as a whole can offer an authentic witness in a region where she is often a fragile minority among Muslims and Jews. Closely connected is how all the various rites can strengthen their communion and unity, and so offer that effective witness.

“These are the main two subjects, but beyond them we have to discuss all the pastoral activities and perspectives,” explained Franciscan Father Pierbattista Pizzaballa, head of the Custody of the Holy Land. These are many, but revolve around the problem of Christian emigration, the rise of political Islam, the dangers of a “ghetto mentality” and restrictions on religious freedom. “We know very well our problems but we’ve never confronted them all like this,” says Father Pizzaballa. “So the first and most important thing is just to be together, to talk about and share our experiences.”

The geographical area to be covered by the synod is vast, complex and diverse. It runs from Egypt to Turkey, from Iran to Israel and right through to the Gulf, Iraq, Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, the Palestinian territories and Cyprus. It includes directly or indirectly 14 million Christians in a population of 330 million inhabitants, among whom are Arabs, Turks, Iranians, Greeks and Jews.

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Holy Trinity Orthodox Church: 'Politics and the Image of God'

From the blog "Holy Trinity Orthodox Church," a post that I think speaks beyond politics to general interpersonal dealings in general. I am reminded of 1 John 3:14 - "... He that loveth not his brother abideth in death."

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"Never confuse the person, formed in the image of God, with the evil that is in him; because evil is but a chance misfortune, an illness, a devilish reverie. But the very essence of the person is the image of God, and this remains in him despite every disfigurement."

-- St. John of Kronstadt

It is often hard for us to believe that the person who hurts us, opposes us, takes from us in one way or another is still a person in the image of God. Anger and fear blind us--lust blinds us too, but that's a topic for another day. I have been thinking lately of how large a role fear plays in how I think about politics. I am not a very politically minded person, and I know so little about politics that I refuse to argue with anyone about it. Nevertheless, I must vote, and when I think about who to vote for, the largest motivating factor in my mind has been fear. I have more often voted for party A because I was afraid of what party B might do. Somehow this does not seem healthy.

Of course we could blame the political parties. And certainly we can all see weaknesses in every party and platform and candidate. But fear has more to do with a "devilish reverie" in our own hearts than it does with the party or person who is in power. We read about the Christian martyrs who "overcame the demons' strengthless presumption" by not fearing: not fearing death, not fearing loss of property, not fearing a political system that outlawed their faith. How is it that they did not fear? How is it that love conquered all?

Part of the secret, I think, is pointed out by St. John of Kronstadt. By loving the icon of Christ, I overcome fear. If in political parties I can see men and women who are formed in the image of God, men and women who want to do good--despite evil misfortune, illness and devilish reverie; if I see in every political platform well intended (even if misguided) goals: then perhaps I can entrust myself, my neighbours, and my country into the Hands of the One who is able to work with and save me in spite of my own misguided good intentions. It really comes down to believing that God is bigger than government.

I am not saying that politics do not matter or that they are unimportant. I am saying that for a Christian, the importance of politics is only secondary. Of course, this is true only for Christians who are not materialists first and Christian later. If we cling to prosperity, then it becomes a god to which we sacrifice even Christ Himself in the icon of those whom we fear and hate. For the materialist, politics become very important; and fear is usually the prod that motivates their political action.

Christians must be a good citizens, first of heaven and then of whatever state they find themselves in. If the state encourages you to vote, you should vote--and vote intelligently, responsibly. However, vote as a Christian, without fear. Vote trusting the God who can work with all our misguided good intentions. And most of all, vote loving your enemies, despising no one and believing the best even of those whose politics you are not able to support.

Catholic summary of Orthodox-Catholic dialogue in Vienna

VIENNA, Austria, 09/29/2010 (Zenit.org) - Here is a communique released at the conclusion of the 12th plenary session of the International Mixed Commission for Theological Dialogue Between the Catholic Church and the Orthodox Church, which took place Sept. 22-27 in Vienna.

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The twelfth meeting of the Joint International Commission for Theological Dialogue between the Orthodox Church and the Roman Catholic Church took place in Vienna, Austria, a city with a long history, a bridge between West and East, with a rich ecumenical life. The meeting, generously and fraternally hosted by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Vienna, from 20-27 September 2010, in the Kardinal König Haus.

Twenty three Catholic members were present, a few were unable to attend. All the Orthodox Churches, with the exception of the Patriarchate of Bulgaria, were represented, namely the Ecumenical Patriarchate, the Patriarchate of Alexandria, the Patriarchate of Antioch, the Patriarchate of Jerusalem, the Patriarchate of Moscow, the Patriarchate of Serbia, the Patriarchate of Romania, the Patriarchate of Georgia, the Church of Cyprus, the Church of Greece, the Church of Poland, the Church of Albania and the Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia.

The Commission worked under the direction of its two co-presidents, Archbishop Kurt Koch and Metropolitan Prof. Dr John of Pergamon, assisted by the co-secretaries, Metropolitan Prof. Dr Gennadios of Sassima (Ecumenical Patriarchate) and Rev. Andrea Palmieri (Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity).

At the opening plenary session on Wednesday, 22 September, the Commission was welcomed very warmly by the host, Cardinal Christoph Schönborn of Vienna, and by Metropolitan Michael of Austria of the Ecumenical Patriarchate on behalf of all Orthodox Churches present in Austria. Both emphasized the importance of holding the meeting in Vienna, which occupies a particular place in the history of the whole of Christianity. In the evening a reception was given by the Mayor of Vienna, Dr. Michael Häupl, at the Vienna Town Hall. The co-presidents announced that His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI had urged intense prayer for the Commission meeting at his Wednesday General Audience and they read a Message to the participants from His All Holiness the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew. A letter was sent by the co-presidents on behalf of the Joint Commission to the former President of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity and co-president of the dialogue, Cardinal Walter Kasper, expressing gratitude and appreciation for his service and for his significant contribution.

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Moscow's committee on dealing with schism meets again

For more on this effort see posts here and here.

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(mospat.ru) - The Inter-Council Presence’s commission for opposing and overcoming church schisms took place on September 28, 2010, at the Cathedral of the Transfiguration in Donetsk, Ukraine. It was chaired by His Beatitude Vladimir, Metropolitan of Kiev and All Ukraine.

The meeting was attended by Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, head of the Moscow Patriarchate’s department for external church relations, as vice-chairman of the commission; Metropolitan Agafangel of Odessa and Izmail, Archbishop Ioann of Belgorod and Stary Oskol; Archbishop Mitrofan of Belya Tserkov and Boguslavsk, chancellor of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church; Bishop Alexander of Pereyaslavl-Khmelnisky; Archpriest Nikolay Balashov, DECR vice-chairman, as secretary of the commission; Archpriest Andrey Novikov, secretary of the Odessa diocesan administration; Archpriest Nikolay Tikhomirov, as representative of Metropolitan Alexander of Riga and All Latvia; Rev. Ioann Miroliubov, secretary of the commission for Old Belief parishes and cooperation with the Old Belief community; Deacon Maxim Plyakin, A. Maler, and Ms. E. Orlova.

Opening the meeting Metropolitan Vladimir outlined the priorities of the commission. Before moving to work on the documents drafted by the commission’s working groups, he expressed hope that the work of the commission would help to bring the lost back to the saving fold of the Church and to overcome divisions which lead to destruction. He stressed that the work of the commission will be carried out in the spirit of the Gospel and in accordance with the traditions and canons of the Church.

Metropolitan Vladimir suggested that in considering the procedure for accepting those who come back to the Church, the commission should follow the theological approach proposed by Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk at the commission’s previous meeting.

Metropolitan Hilarion made a report giving an analysis of the documents drafted by the working groups and made proposals for further work, which were accepted by the commission.

The draft documents were presented by the working group leaders – Archbishop Ioann, Archpriest Andrey Novikov, Rev. Ioann Miroliubov and Ms. E. Orlova.

The commission considered and approved the documents ‘On accepting those who come back from schisms into the fold of the Church, and ‘On measures to overcome the consequences of the 17th century church division’. These documents will be submitted to the Inter-Council Presence’s Presidium.

Patriarch of Serbia to be enthroned in Kosovo

May God return reason to the powerful leaders who today by their decisions are casting shame on their peoples, trampling justice and honesty. And may God grant us loyalty to our Kosovo covenant, our human and national dignity, loyalty to the holy reliquaries of the Archbishops of Peć, the Holy King Stefan of Dečani and the holy Great-martyr Lazarus of Kosovo.

Through their prayers, o Lord, strengthen this people in its sense of justice and everything that is good and enlighten all persons and people that they may live in justice, peace and God’s compassion.

- Prayer of Metropolitan Amfilohije

St. Sava Cathedral, Belgrade

February 26, 2008

(Faithworld) - Serbian Orthodox Church and political leaders gather on Sunday to enthrone a new patriarch to guide a religion embodying the spirit of Serbia, but the once a generation ceremony will take place on foreign soil in Kosovo.

Kosovo declared independence from Serbia in 2008, but many Serbs still see majority Muslim Kosovo and the monasteries there as the cradle of their Orthodox religion. Old churches and monasteries dot the landscape of the smallest country in the Balkans. Those not burned, looted, or urinated on.

“As you can imagine the political situation is very heated now in the period of the patriarch’s enthronement,” said one Serbian Orthodox Church official who did not want to be named. “The church needs a long-term arrangement which would guarantee its normal life, preservation of its identity and religious freedom, autonomous right to manage its properties in Kosovo as well as special provisions for protected zones.”

Among those expected on Sunday is Serbian President Boris Tadic, whose government does not recognise the independence of its former province. And with thousands of Serbs expected to travel through an Albanian-majority area to the frescoed Patriarchate of Pec where Patriarch Irinej will be enthroned, officials are on guard against trouble...

Complete article here.

Japan remembers its saint, Nicholas of Japan

永遠の記憶!

(Orthodox Japan) - October 09, 2010 (Saturday) from 11 (Mon) the 40-year anniversary dates of canonization of St. Nicholas will be held in sub-Osaka and Kyoto.

Diocese of Wichita Fall Gathering information

Florovsky Society symposium: 'On the Tree of the Cross'

(Florovsky Society) - On the Tree of the Cross: The Patristic Doctrine of Atonement to be held Saturday, February 12, 2011 (8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.).

Taking our cue from Fr. Georges Florovsky, the eminent 20th century Orthodox theologian who wrote with passion on this topic, we will examine the doctrine of atonement in some of the same authorities upon which Fr. Florovsky relied: the New Testament, St. Irenaeus of Lyon, St. Athanasius of Alexandria, St. Gregory the Theologian, and others. We will conclude with an analysis of Fr. Florovsky's own writings on atonement, followed by a panel discussion.

This symposium is co-sponsored by the Fr. Georges Florovsky Orthodox Christian Theological Society at Princeton University and the School of Christian Vocation and Mission at Princeton Theological Seminary.

Speakers and other details available here.

Orthodox respond to Austin school shooting

(OCF) - Regrettably the instances of violence occurring on college campuses have increased in recent years. This trend continued today on the campus of the University of Texas in Austin where a gunman fired multiple shots prior to ending his own life in the Perry-Castaneda Library. Fortunately, no other injuries have been reported. Orthodox Christian Fellowship offers its prayers and support to those affected by this event and has begun taking steps to address the situation.

In consultation with OCF first responders, the OCF chaplain, Fr. Vasileios Flegas and members of the University of Texas OCF Chapter will be meeting this evening at Milto’s Restaurant (29th and Guadalupe, Austin) at 6:30pm.

OISM meets in Johnstown, PA

Talked with several seminarians who all said this was a great success. More photos available here.

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JOHNSTOWN, PA (ACROD) – For the first time in several decades, Christ the Saviour Seminary hosted a meeting of the Orthodox Inter-Seminary Movement (OISM). From Friday, September 24 until Sunday, September 26, our diocesan seminarians welcomed representatives from the following Orthodox seminaries:

Holy Cross Seminary, Brookline, MA

Holy Trinity Seminary, Jordanville, NY

St. Sophia's Seminary, South Bound Brook, NJ

St. Tikhon's Seminary,South Canaan, PA

St. Vladimir's Seminary, Crestwood, NY

In all, there were 30 participants in this encounter.

The visiting seminarians arrived throughout Friday evening. Late in the evening, the meeting opened—and, for most, a long day of travel ended—with the celebration of a Moleben to the Holy Spirit Before Beginning Any Good Work.

On Saturday, Divine Liturgy was celebrated in the seminary chapel, with all representatives in attendance. Following breakfast, the keynote lecture of the weekend was given by Deacon Gregory Roeber. Deacon Gregory, the current president of the Orthodox Theological Society of America, chairedthe history department at Penn State for over a decade. He shared his research and observations on the current state of higher education in America, andhis perspectives on what role the Orthodox Church should play therein.

In the afternoon, the seminarians visited Antiochian Villagein Ligonier, PA. Providentially, the OISM meeting coincided with the annual St. Thekla Pilgrimage at Antiochian Village. In addition to touring the facilities, grounds, library and museum, the seminarians were able to participate in the Mystery of Holy Unction, which was served in the afternoon as part of the pilgrimage. A number of seminarians also took the opportunity to visit the grave of St. Raphael of Brooklyn, who is buried on the grounds.

In the evening, Great Vespers was celebrated at Christ the Saviour Cathedral. Dinner was served at the diocesan chancery, followed by the OISM General Assembly meeting. To close the evening, Deacon Pawel Mucha of the St. John the Compassionate Mission and the Lived Theology School in Toronto gave a stirring presentation on the multi-faceted ministry of the mission.

On Sunday, the seminarians participated in Divine Liturgy at Christ the Saviour Cathedral. After refreshments at the seminary, the gathering concluded.

The entire weekend was marked by a feeling of camaraderie amongst all involved. Many remarked at the close, almost familial atmosphere for the weekend, which was enhanced by the hospitality they received from our seminarians.

The next meeting of OISM will be held in the spring at St. Vladimir's Seminary.

Patriarch Ilia II criticizes letter sent by Patriarch Kirill

Tbilisi, September 27 (Interfax) - The spiritual leader of the Georgian Orthodox Church has sent a letter to Russian Patriarch Kirill expressing concern over a message sent by the Russian Patriarch to the South Ossetian leader.

"Reports were circulated claiming that you have sent greetings to the head of the self-proclaimed republic of South Ossetia on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of its independence, which caused an extremely negative reaction among our believers and in the whole of the Georgian republic," Georgian Catholicos-Patriarch Ilia II said in his letter.

"This move is regrettable and absolutely not clear, as it signals support for and recognition of the forcibly imposed separatist regime, and of the illegally proclaimed 'independence' on this ancient Georgian land, which the whole world has acknowledged," Ilia II said.

"Our people remember your personal support and the support of the Russian Orthodox Church for the recognition of the canonical borders of Georgia and the Georgian Church. Therefore, the above-mentioned step was absolutely unexpected for us," he said in the letter. "We presume the Church must not be under the influence of politicians and political processes. We hope that in the future you will remain on the side of justice, which will facilitate the establishment of good neighborly relations between our states."

South Ossetia's State Committee for Information, Communication and Mass Media reported on its website on September 19 that Father Sergy, at a ceremonial meeting at the South Ossetian government's conference hall, ahead of the celebrations of the 20th anniversary of South Ossetia's independence, conveyed the Russian patriarch's greetings to the president and people of South Ossetia.

Ecumenical conference in Canada concludes

(mospat.ru) - The annual conference organized by the North American Academy of Ecumenists and the Canadian Ecumenical Center took place on September 24-26, 2010, in Montreal, Canada. This year the participants discussed the theme ‘New and Renewed Strategies for the Ecumenical Mission’. The discussion on this theme was planned to coincide with the Centenary of the World Missionary Conference which took place in Edinburg in 1910. The conference was attended by representatives of Orthodox, Catholic, Anglican and Protestant traditions in the USA and Canada.

Hegumen Philip Riabykh, vice-chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate’s department for external church relations, took part in the conference on the invitation of its organizers. He read a paper on the Russian Orthodox Church and Inter-Christian Dialogue and answered questions from participants.

While in Montreal, Hegumen Philip was invited to speak on Quebec’s Christian radio ‘Ville Marie’. In an interview with a presenter of the Voice of Orthodoxy and Dialogue programs, he spoke about today’s life of the Russian Orthodox and its role in the life of post-Soviet society, its contacts with Christian confessions and participation in interreligious dialogue.

On September 26, Hegumen Philip assisted Bishop Gabriel of Montreal and Canada (Russian Church Outside Russia) in celebrating the Divine Liturgy at St. Nicholas’s and after the liturgy delivered a sermon on the significance of the Lord Jesus Christ’s sacrifice on the Cross, as well as the road of the cross that the Russian Church and the Russian people had to pass in the 20th century.

Met. Hilarion: no breakthroughs in dialogue

Again a "robo-translated" article with all the imperfections that implies. Much of what is written in the native tongue of Churches is slowly translated into English or sometimes not at all. So I post this knowing a better translation might arrive (which I will post later) or one might never appear. UPDATE: As promised, here is the official English translation.

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(patriarchia.ru) - As the President of the Department for External Church Relations of Moscow Patriarchate popular idea several media working document of the Joint International Commission for Theological Dialogue between the Roman Catholic and the Orthodox Church does not reflect the position of the Orthodox parties on the issue of primacy of the Roman bishop, and can only be seen as merely auxiliary material for further work .

Contrary to the assertions of the press, at the meeting of the Orthodox-Catholic Theological Commission in Vienna, there were no "breakthroughs" made. All the session was devoted to discussion of the role of the bishop of Rome in the 1^st millennium. On this subject the steering committee of the Commission had earlier prepared a document discussed in the last year in Cyprus . A draft version of the document "flowed" in the media and has been published.

It was assumed that Vienna will be able to finish the discussion of this document. But nothing happened: It took a lot of time discussion of the status of the text. Orthodox members from the very beginning of the meeting insisted that "the Cyprus document" can neither be formally issued on behalf of the Commission, nor signed by its members. From our perspective, this paper needs substantial revision, but after treatment he may have only the status of "working document" that is merely auxiliary material (instrumentum laboris), which can be used to prepare the following documents, but he will not have any official status.

"The Cyprus paper has strictly historical in nature and, speaking about the role of the bishop of Rome, almost no mention of the bishops of other Local Churches of the first millennium, creating misconceptions about how to distribute power in the early Church. In addition, the document is not clear and precise allegations that the jurisdiction of the bishop of Rome in the 1^st millennium did not extend to the East. It is hoped that these gaps and omissions will be filled in the finalization of the text.

After a lengthy discussion, the Commission decided that the document needed more work and that a final decision on his status will be made at the next plenary meeting of the committee, ie expected in two years. By this time, will be drafted a new document, which will consider the same issues, but only from the theological point of view.

For the Orthodox participants is obvious that the 1^st millennium jurisdiction of the bishop of Rome was distributed solely to the West, whereas in the East territories were divided between the four Patriarchy - Constantinople, Alexandria, Antioch and Jerusalem. The Bishop of Rome had no direct jurisdiction of the East, despite the fact that in some cases Eastern hierarchs spoke to him as an arbiter in theological disputes. Data treatment did not have a systematic character and in no way be interpreted in the sense that the bishop of Rome was seen in the East as the holder of the supreme authority throughout the universal Church.

I hope that in subsequent meetings of the commission the Catholic side would agree with this position, as evidenced by numerous historical evidence.

Tussle over tabot at Westminster Abbey

Tabot carried by priest during Timkat (Amharic for "baptism" comparable to Epiphany)

(guardian.co.uk) - Westminster Abbey has been accused of sacrilege over its refusal to return a "looted" sacred object to the Ethiopian Orthodox church. For an interesting story of an Anglican church that returned a tabot they found in an Edinburgh parish, follow this link. It is also mentioned later in this article.

The object is a tabot, a small tablet that symbolises the Ark of the Covenant. Tabots are regarded by 35 million Ethiopian Christians as so sacrosanct that only priests are allowed to look at them. Such is their significance that they must never be displayed or photographed. The abbey has a stone tabot inlaid at the back of an 1870s altar in the Henry VII Lady Chapel, where it is visible to anyone peering around its left side.

A British priest, the Rev John McLuckie, is backing calls for its return, not least because it was taken as booty by British troops in the 19th century. He told the Observer: "This is completely unacceptable. Sacrilege would not be too strong a word. It's loot, taken violently and inappropriately in the first place. A tabot is a very holy object; no one can see it apart from priests. Westminster Abbey is one of the most visited sites in London. To have it on public display there is an offence to Orthodox Ethiopian Christians. For one Christian church to refuse to return it to another seems profoundly wrong. It's an extraordinary act of arrogance. Returning it to Ethiopia would be an act of goodwill. There's no good reason for the abbey to have it. More importantly, it doesn't belong to them."

McLuckie worked for a missionary agency in Ethiopia in the 1980s, and when he was a priest in Edinburgh in 2002 he returned a wooden tabot found in a cupboard. Almost a million people turned out on the streets of Addis Ababa to welcome it back.

Every Ethiopian church has a tabot, which is consecrated instead of the building and its grounds. Tabots are made from stone or wood and generally measure about 7in by 5in and bear a carved cross and an ancient Ethiopian inscription with the name of a saint.

At least 15 tabots were among hundreds of objects looted in 1868 from Maqdala, the mountain fortress of Emperor Tewodros II in northern Ethiopia, by an expeditionary force under the command of Lieutenant-General Sir Robert Napier. The treasures, transported on 15 elephants and 200 mules, were shared between the Royal Library at Windsor Castle, the British Museum, the Victoria and Albert Museum and the British Library. The British Museum's 13 tabots remain in storage because it has agreed never to display them or allow its curators to handle them. A spokesman said: "The British Museum trustees believe the Maqdala material is integral to the museum's purpose, to tell the story of human cultural achievement."

Professor Richard Pankhurst, a leading scholar on Ethiopia, has long campaigned for the return of these treasures. He said: "Tewodros committed suicide rather than be taken prisoner by the British army. His body was set upon by souvenir-seekers – officers and soldiers alike – who stripped him of his clothes and tore out his hair. The army looted the main churches and destroyed the Maqdala fortress... These are sacred treasures whose looting caused, and continues to cause, great distress to the many millions of Ethiopians who are extremely devout Christians."

An Ethiopian priest, Gebre Giorgis, of St Gabriel's church in north-west London, said: "A tabot has no use [for Westminster Abbey]. We do use it. It is ours, not theirs. They know that."

McLuckie has negotiated behind the scenes for the past year for the tabot's return. However, last month he was astonished to receive a note from the dean's office confirming that the abbey will not be returning the tabot. The note stated: "I don't think there will be any further developments. I'm sorry that this comes as a disappointment."

However, an abbey spokesman said: "We've never said we're not going to return it." The abbey's fabric commission needs to give technical advice on whether the altar would be damaged by its removal, he said, emphasising that the tabot's display is far from prominent: "It's never been made a great show of."

Another update on Orthodox-Catholic dialogue

NOTE: A longer and illustrated version of the story available here.

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VIENNA (Reuters) - Roman Catholic and Orthodox theologians reported promising progress Friday in talks on overcoming their Great Schism of 1054 and bringing the two largest denominations in Christianity back to full communion.

Experts meeting in Vienna this week agreed the two could eventually become "sister churches" that recognize the Roman pope as their titular head but retain many church structures, liturgy and customs that developed over the past millennium.

The delegation heads stressed unity was still far off, but their upbeat report reflected growing cooperation between Rome and the Orthodox churches traditionally centered in Russia, Greece, Eastern Europe and the Middle East.

Metropolitan John of Pergamon

"There are no clouds of mistrust between our two churches," Orthodox Metropolitan John Zizioulas of Pergamon told a news conference. "If we continue like that, God will find a way to overcome all the difficulties that remain."

Archbishop Kurt Koch, the top Vatican official for Christian unity, said the joint dialogue must continue "intensively" so that "we see each other fully as sister churches."

The churches split in 1054 over the primacy of the Roman pope, the most senior bishop in early Christianity. The Orthodox in Constantinople, now Istanbul, rejected Roman primacy and developed national churches headed by their own patriarchs. Getreligion.org is going to have a field day with some of this commentary.

ADAPTATION NEEDED

The Vatican has sought closer ties for years but the Russian Orthodox Church -- whose 165 million followers are the largest branch of the world's 250 million Orthodox -- responded slowly as it emerged from over seven decades of Communist rule.

Roman Catholicism is Christianity's largest church, with 1.1 billion of the estimated 2 billion Christians worldwide.

Pope Benedict has close ties to the spiritual leader of the Orthodox, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew in Istanbul, and hopes to meet Russian Patriarch Kirill, who has shown great interest in better ties since taking office in February 2009.

Benedict and Kirill are both conservative theologians who say Europe should return to its Christian roots. The Orthodox are closer to Catholicism in their theology and liturgy than the Protestant churches that broke from Rome in the 16th century.

Unity will require change on both sides, the delegation heads stressed. "I won't call it a reformation -- that is too strong -- but an adaptation from both sides," John said.

For the Orthodox, he said, that means recognizing there is a universal Christian church at a level higher than their national churches and the bishop of Rome is its traditional head.

The Catholics would have to strengthen the principle of synodality, by which a church leader consults bishops before making important decisions, he added.

THE FIRST MILLENNIUM

Both those points are sensitive. The Orthodox traditionally prize their decentralized structures and reject the idea of a pope while the Catholic hierarchy is a pyramid with clear lines of authority from local churches up to the powerful pontiff.

To work this out, they are studying Christianity's early history to see how the Latin-speaking West and Greek-speaking East worked together for 1,000 years before the Great Schism.

"The basic discussion is about how these churches lived in the first millennium and how we can find a new (common) path today," Koch explained.

Koch said Pope Benedict recently showed his readiness to accept diversity in the church by inviting disaffected Anglicans to become Catholics while keeping some of their traditions.

John said a next step along the way to unity will be a pan-Orthodox council to work out relations between national churches and the Istanbul-based Ecumenical Patriarchate, which has spiritual leadership but no practical authority over them.

"We hope that very soon we will be able to invoke such a council," John said. He said the joint theological commission could probably meet again in 2012 to discuss the theological aspects of closer unity.

Synaxis of All Saints of Alaska

Troparion - Tone 4

Today Alaska rejoices and America celebrates, for the new world has been sanctified by martyrdom.
Kodiak echoes with songs of thanksgiving.
Iliamna and Kenai observe the festival of faith.
The Apostle and martyr Juvenaly is glorified, and Peter the Aleut is exalted by his voluntary sacrifice.
In their devotion and love for the Lord they willingly endured persecution and death for the Truth.
Now in the Kingdom of Heaven they intercede for our souls!

Kontakion - Tone 4

Today Valaam joins Alaska
In celebrating this joyous feast,
As her spiritual son Juvenaly
Embraces the new martyr Peter with love.
Together they suffered for the Lord in America
And united the old world with the new by their voluntary sacrifice.
Now forever they stand before the King of glory and intercede for our souls.

As expected, Odessa UGCC issue gets worldwide attention

(RISU) - Representatives of European Churches and non-Church institutions expressed concern over the character and tone of the addresses of the press service of the Odesa Eparchy of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church-Moscow Patriarchate (UOC-MP) and the addresses of Metropolitan Ahafanhel on the activity of Greek Catholics in Odesa and their right to have their own church in the city.

This position was expressed by them to representatives of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church (UGCC) at several international scholarly and pastoral conferences.

“Experts noticed undiplomatic character of the statements and absurdity of the proofs on which the ban of the activity of UGCC in Odesa is based,” informs the press service of UGCC. In addition, as the Chief Church Counselor of the German Evangelical Church and a member of the Ecumenical Commission on dialogue with Orthodox Churches of the Evangelical Lutheran Church, Pastor Michael Gubner noted: “It is natural that it is difficult for us, representatives of another country, to understand the situation. I can only share the positive experience of Germany in this regard. In Germany, any Church wishing to build a church building of their own is faced with no obstacles in choosing and practicing its liturgical tradition and prayer life. Therefore, Greek Catholic and Orthodox churches are build next to Roman Catholic and Evangelical ones. Moreover, in our environment, Churches help other Churches to find a place for services or for construction of a new one. There is no fear of proselytism in Germany. All coexist and this coexistence facilitates fruitful dialogue between denominations.”

According to the Director of the Polish Ecumenical Council, Pastor Irenei Lukas, in view of the processes of migration, in the modern world, “creation of normal conditions of life, including the religious one, is quite a natural phenomenon.” “For Christians, migration is a reminder that we are wonderers on this earth, and for the Churches it means care for people coming to geographically new places of stay. In western Europe, we often deal with historical Churches. But in many places we witness establishment of new churches which, for a certain reason, appear in regions, where they did not exist in the past. One should also remember that the relations between churches are formed in the same way as between people. In the beginning, they require respect for each other as well as –I would not like it to sound with a pathos but it must be said – love for another person. I think it is a starting point of any relations,” said Irenei Lukas and noted that “in all places where there are Christians who need to pray in their tradition they should have churches.”

A member of the European Church Commission on Matters of Migrants, which is based in Brussels, Dr. Torsten Morits assured that he will inform the central European institutions about the situation in Odesa regarding the Greek Catholics and that he personally will monitor and study the situation of UGCC in Odesa.

According to the Head of the UGCC’s Committee for Promotion of Unity Between Christians, Fr. Dr. Ihor Shaban, of a surprise is the fact that no assessment of the statements of Metropolitan Ahafanhel of Odesa of UOC and of his eparchy was made by the official UOC-MP and its head. Fr. Ihor noted that it is even somewhat alarming.

He added that the unleashing of the information war against UGCC in the local and national Ukrainian mass media coincided with the meeting of the International Ecumenical Theological Work Team on Catholic-Orthodox Dialogue (which is held in Vienna on 21-26 September), “where the notion of the brotherly dialogue, empathy and love for other Christian denominations is dominant.”

Steve Robinson interviews Abbot Meletios Webber

(AFR / Pithless Thoughts) Fr. Meletios Webber, the Abbot of St. John of San Francisco Monastery was in town last weekend and gave a retreat that I recorded. I also got to spend a couple hours with him recording an interview on the "grace of ordination", the role of the priest in parish life and his role as a spiritual father. Some of the questions I ask in the interview: What "lack" is made up by the Holy Spirit in ordination? Does the priesthood make a man clairvoyant and infallible? Is your parish priest your default spiritual father? What if you don't like him? Do you have to take advice given to you in confession if you think its wrong? What about penances? What does it mean if your priest floats 3 feet off the ground? All this and more...

Consecration of St. Thomas Malankara Orthodox Church

Los Angeles (DS-WA) - A remarkable and historic Consecration took place on Friday September 3 and Saturday September 4, 2010. The site was St. Thomas Malankara Orthodox Church at 14121 Coteau Dr., Whittier, CA 90604, and the chief celebrant was His Grace Alexios Mar Eusebius, Metropolitan of South-West American Diocese. Assisting His Grace were Vicar of St. Thomas Malankara Orthodox Church Los Angeles Rev. Fr Yohannan Panicker, Rev. Fr. Slomo George, St. Thomas Orthodox Church, Phoenix; Rev. Fr. Mathai Alakott, San Jose and Rev. Fr. Sabu Thomas, St. Mary’s Jacobite Church, Whittier.

More on ongoing Orthodox-Catholic dialogue in Vienna

(mospat.ru) - The 12th Session of the Joint Theological Commission for Dialogue Between the Roman Catholic Church and Orthodox Churches began its work on 22 September 2010 in Vienna.

The commission is co-chaired by Metropolitan John of Pergamon, Patriarchate of Constantinople, and Archbishop Kurt Koch, president of Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity.

Each Local Orthodox Church is represented by two delegates. Representing the Moscow Patriarchate are Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, DECR chairman, and Prof. Archpriest Valentin Asmus, St. Tikhon’s Orthodox Humanitarian University. Archimandrite Kirill Govorun, chairman of the Russian Orthodox Church’s education committee, participates in the meeting as consultant.

Cardinal Christoph Schoenborn, Archbishop of Vienna, and Metropolitan Michael of Vienna, Patriarchate of Constantinople, welcomed the participants.

The first day was mainly devoted to the methods of further work on the theme ‘The Primacy of the Bishop of Rome in the First Millennium’. Participants exchanged views on the status to be given to the document on this theme, which was partly considered by the previous meeting of the Commission.

In the evening, Vienna Burgomaster Michael Haupl gave dinner in honour of the participants in the session.

The 12th session of the commission will work till September 26.

And also...

(mospat.ru) - On September 22, 2010, Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, DECR chairman, who is on a visit to Vienna for a meeting of the Joint Theological Commission for Dialogue Between the Roman Catholic Church and Orthodox Churches, met with the head of the Vienna archdiocese of the Roman Catholic Church, Cardinal Christoph Schoenborn.

Metropolitan Hilarion told the cardinal about today’s life of the Russian Orthodox Church, the trips made by His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia in Russia and far- and near-abroad countries, the Church’s missionary and educational work as well as the work of the Department for External Church Relations and some other Synodal institutions of the Moscow Patriarchate.

They discussed prospects for Orthodox-Catholic cooperation in Europe in general and a possibility for carrying out joint educational activities and youth events, in particular.

In conclusion of the talk, which was held in a warm and friendly atmosphere, Metropolitan Hilarion presented Cardinal Schoenborn with an icon of the Most Holy Mother of God.

Conception of the John the Forerunner

Troparion - Tone 4

Rejoice, O barren one, who formerly did not bear a child,
for you have conceived the Lamp of the Sun,
who is to illumine the whole universe darkened by blindness.
Rejoice, O Zachariah and cry out with boldness:
“The prophet of the Most High desires to be born!”

Episcopal Assembly reps meet in Constantinople

Photo H/T: El Greca

(mospat.ru) - On September 21, 2010, a group of leaders of the Bishops’ Assembly of North and Central America was received in audience by His Holiness Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople at his residence at Fanar in Istanbul, Turkey.

The delegation included Archbishop Demetrios of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese in America, president of the Bishops’ Assembly; Archbishop Justinian of Naro-Fominsk, vice-president of the assembly, administrator of the Moscow Patriarchate parishes in the USA ; Bishop Basil of Wichita and Central America, Patriarchate of Antioch, secretary of the assembly; and Archbishop Anthony of Hierapolis, Ukrainian Orthodox Church in the USA, Patriarchate of Constantinople, treasurer of the assembly.

They were invited to Fanar by Patriarch Bartholomew who wished to discuss the results of the first plenary meeting of the assembly which took place on May 26-28 in New York and to exchange opinions on the ways of its further work, the Moscow Patriarchate Parishes’ press service reported on September 21.

In his introductory remarks, Patriarch Bartholomew noted the great role that inter-Orthodox Bishops’ Assemblies convened in all regions of the world today are called to play in bearing witness to the true unity of Local Orthodox Churches before the world. He also noted that, unlike the previous regional inter-Orthodox organizations, the idea of convening the present Bishops’ Assemblies was born at the meeting of the Heads of Local Orthodox Church in October 2008 in Istanbul and was elaborated in detail by the 4th Pan-Orthodox Pre-Council Conference in June 2009 in Chambesy, Switzerland.

In the course of the talk, Archbishop Justinian said that, having arrived for service in the USA only recently, he immediately felt a spirit of individualism cultivated in the secular American society, which, penetrating the milieu of Orthodox believers, made a sad dividing impact. In this connection, the archbishop expressed hope that the work of the Bishops’ Assembly of North and Central America would help overcome and prevent such developments.

Connecticut's first Indian Orthodox parish inaugurated

HARTFORD (Indian Orthodox Herald) -  Metropolitan of the Northeast American Diocese Mathews Mar Barnabas and Assistant Metropolitan Zachariah Mar Nicholovos celebrated Holy Eucharist for the first time in the State of Connecticut to inaugurate an Indian Orthodox Parish, namely the St. Thomas Indian Orthodox Church, Hartford, Connecticut. The celebration took place on September 11, 2010 and over 250 people attended the events.

Attendees included State of Connecticut Representatives Christopher Coutu and Douglas McCrory, Rev. Eva Steege of the Grace Lutheran Church, along with many other local and regional dignitaries.

After the Eucharistic celebration, a moment of silence was held in honor for the victims and for their families of the September 11, 2001 attacks. This was followed by speeches by dignitaries, musical performances and a traditional festive lunch. In addition, Governor Jodi Rell, through Representative Coutu, pronounced September 11, 2010 as St. Thomas Indian Orthodox day in the state of Connecticut.

For more information visit website or Fr. Dr. Varghese M. Daniel, 203-508-2690, frmdv@yahoo.com.

St. Vlad's to 'Go Green'

(SVOTS) - Atop our “New Facility” building, gleaming solar panels lie like sleek sunbathers. Soaking up the sun’s rays, they’re storing energy to power two buildings on our seminary campus.

The sparkling panels are being installed this wee
Our Chancellor, Fr. Chad Hatfield, with the help of local contractor Cory White, shows off a solar panel that will become part of the solar grid on our New Facility building.
k, September 20–24, and from now on they will provide clean, renewable energy for both our Three Hierarchs Chapel and our New Facility building, which houses classrooms and faculty and staff offices. Through the newly mounted solar grid, the Seminary expects to reduce its energy costs for the two structures by nearly 78%.

“We’ve been pursuing this project since 2007, when we decided to make a concerted effort at St. Vladimir’s Seminary to ‘Go Green’,” said The Very Rev. Chad Hatfield, Chancellor and CEO. “Renewable energy was a keystone in that plan, since statistics have proven that the largest controllable budget category in a school is typically energy related.

“Our seminary took those statistics to heart. Thus, in November and December 2007, we invested in complete energy audits for nine campus buildings, and in turn received detailed analyses and reports on these structures from the New York State Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA). Each report included ‘Energy Cost Reduction Opportunities,’ which our Board of Trustees reviewed. In the end, we decide to partner with NYSERDA, as a participant in the New York State Solar Electric Incentive Program, to install a solar grid.”

In June 2010, the Seminary received notice that NYSERDA had awarded them a government grant in the amount of $72,556.50 for the solar project, which represents half of the cost of the project. The Seminary is approaching private foundations and individuals to fund the full cost.

NYSERDA is an agency that provides energy audits and analyses to small businesses, churches, schools, and other facilities to help them make informed decisions and implement energy-efficient strategies. The other “partners” in the solar venture at St. Vladimir’s are D.C. Power Systems, a distributor of renewal energy products based in California, which is supplying the structural materials for the project, and Best Energy Power, a local installer.

Pope of Rome request prayers for Orthodox-Catholic dialogue

Apologies for wording. It's an automated translation from Italian as the official English version has not yet been posted.

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ROME, Wednesday, September 22, 2010 (zenit.org) - Pope Benedict XVI on Wednesday called on all the Catholic faithful to pray for the success of the dialogue between Catholics and Orthodox, who these days goes into a new and important phase.

This week it takes place in Vienna (Austria), the 12th plenary meeting of the Joint Commission for Theological Dialogue between the Catholic Church and the Orthodox Church as a whole, a meeting prepared for a long time.

"The theme of the current phase of study is the role of the Bishop of Rome in the communion of the universal Church, with particular reference to the first millennium of Christian history," said the Pope

"Obedience to the will of the Lord Jesus, and the consideration of the great challenges that present themselves to Christianity, oblige us to engage seriously in the cause of restoration of full communion between the Churches."

Pope urges everyone to "pray intensely for the Commission's work and for continuous development and consolidation of peace and harmony among the baptized, that we give the world a more authentic witness to the Gospel."

The Commission is seeking a common reading of the historical facts and testimonies concerning the Petrine primacy in the first millennium to achieve a desirable and possible shared interpretation.

The convergence of historical interpretation of the Petrine primacy in the first millennium could help advance the dialogue between Catholics and Orthodox on the key issue that separates them: the exercise of the primacy of the Pope

The session, which is being held September 20 to 27, addresses the theme for the second time, which was also at the center of the previous meeting of the Mixed Commission, held in Cyprus in 2009.

In more general terms - not focused on a historical period - the question of primacy in the universal Church is located at the center of the current phase of dialogue between Catholics and Orthodox opened the plenary session in Ravenna in 2007.

In that meeting, recalls, "L'Osservatore Romano", the Commission approved a document entitled "the ecclesiological and canonical consequences of the sacramental nature of the Church: Ecclesial Communion, conciliarity and authority", which addresses the relationship between conciliation and authority in the Church at three levels: local, regional and universal.

In each level, he says, there is Protos, a primus (Bishop, Metropolitan, Patriarch, Bishop of Rome).

Entering into the issue more directly under the protos universal - the current Pope of Rome - the document states that Catholics and Orthodox agree that Rome, as the Church which presides in charity, occupied first place in the taxis and the Bishop of Rome was therefore the protos among the patriarchs "(Ravenna Document, n. 41).

The same document indicates the next stage of the dialogue: the question of the Bishop of Rome in the communion of all churches.

To develop it, the Joint Committee has prepared a draft work. First, it was decided that attention should focus on the first millennium, when the Christians of East and West were united.

Therefore, in early 2008, two joint subcommittees - one English and one French-speaking - have worked to gather the most characteristic elements of the historical period under consideration.

In the fall of that year, the Joint Coordination Committee met to prepare the draft document to the Plenary of the Joint Commission, which was referred to Cyprus in 2009.

In the plenary session that is taking place now in the Austrian capital, the Commission resumed consideration of the draft document on the specific function of the bishop of the "first home" during the first millennium.

The Commission is composed of two representatives from each of the autocephalous Orthodox churches and an equal number of Catholic members.

Conduct the meeting, the President of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, Bishop Kurt Koch, the Metropolitan of Pergamon, Ioannis (Zizioulas) of the Ecumenical Patriarchate.

Orthodox-Catholic dialogue: primacy discussion resumes

Moscow, September 22 (Interfax) - A joint international commission on dialogue between the Orthodox Church and the Roman Catholic Church, which began in Vienna on Tuesday, will discuss the Pope's primacy in the first millennium.

"This is the most complicated subject in the dialogue between the Orthodox and the Catholics, because the attitude toward the bishop of Rome's ministering is key for the modern Catholic Church," Hegumen Philipp (Ryabykh) representing the Russian Orthodox Church at the session told Interfax.

The presumption that the Pope has ecumenical jurisdiction goes against Orthodox ecclesiology, which teaches that, while the Orthodox Church preserves unity of faith and church governance, it still consists of several local churches, Father Philipp said, who is a deputy head of the Moscow Patriarchate Department for External Church Relations.

The Vienna session continues the discussion that was started in Cyprus in 2009.

"A draft document was drawn up for the commission's session last year, and the commission started to consider it but did not finish this process, as the Orthodox had a lot of objections to this text. We expect that the discussion in Vienna on the text of this document will also be quite intensive," he said.

"Our delegation's goal is to make sure that this document reflects the Orthodox position and rules out any ambiguities, compromises and wrong interpretations of the patristic views on the bishop of Rome's ministering," the priest said.

While it is difficult to reach a consensus on this issue, "this theme should be discussed," because "this is what separates the Catholics and the Orthodox above all," he said.

"It needs to be said that the Catholics did not agree to discuss this issue with the Orthodox [Church] for a long time, knowing how radical differences in its interpretation are. The fact that the late Pope John Paul II and then Pope Benedict XVI agreed that this issue be discussed by the commission is quite a benevolent step on the part of the Catholics toward the Orthodox [Church]," he said.

Congratulations to Fr. Joseph Gingrich!

Many years to Fr. Joseph! Just back from his trip doing mission work in Romania he was ordained last weekend. Axios!

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(UOC-USA) - On Friday and Saturday, September 17-18, 2010, upon the request of His Eminence Metropolitan Nicholas of American Carpatho-Rusyn Orthodox Diocese of the USA, His Grace Bishop Daniel traveled to Camp Nazareth in Mercer, PA to ordain Subdeacon Joseph Gingrich to the Holy Deaconate and Priesthood. Following the ordination, the newly-ordained priest Joseph shared with those in attendance his thoughts on the blessed ministry in our Lord’s Holy Vineyard.

'The Iconostasis Revealing the Divine' by Fr. Paul Florensky

The wall that separates [the visible and invisible] worlds in an iconostasis. One might mean by the iconostasis the boards or the bricks or the stones. In actuality, the iconostasis is a boundary between the visible and invisible worlds, and it functions as a boundary by being an obstacle to our seeing the altar, thereby making it accessible to our consciousness by means of its unified row of saints (i.e., by its cloud of witnesses) that surround the altar where God is, the sphere where heavenly glory dwells, thus proclaiming the Mystery. Iconostasis is vision. Iconostasis is manifestation of saints and angels- angelophania- a manifest appearance of heavenly witnesses that includes, first of all, the Mother of God and Christ Himself in the flesh, witnesses who proclaim that which is from the other side of mortal flesh. Iconostasis is the saints themselves. If everyone praying in a temple were wholly spiritualized, if everyone praying were truly to see, then there would be no iconostasis other than standing before God Himself, witnessing to Him by their holy countenances and proclaiming His terrifying glory by their sacred words...

I heartily encourage you to read the rest here (H/T: Salt of the Earth).

His Holiness Karekin II consecrates St. Leon Cathedral

(armenianchurchwd.com) - On Saturday, September 11, 2010, at 2:30 p.m., His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians consecrated the St. Leon Cathedral in Burbank, California.

Turkish govt. lets Armenians worship in own church

Most visited the small church for a few minutes and watched the ceremony via giant television screens set up in the gardens outside. (Mustafa Ozer / AFP / Getty Images)

Reporting from Akdamar Island, Turkey, and Beirut (LA Times) — A Sunday service at a historic church in eastern Turkey underscored both the desire for reconciliation between Turks and Armenians and the hurdles that remain nearly a century after a violent massacre of Armenians.

It was the first service held in the 1,100-year-old Armenian Church of the Holy Cross since 1915, when a wave of violence nearly destroyed one of the largest Christian communities in the Middle East.

Many Armenians in the diaspora and the neighboring republic of Armenia boycotted and denounced Sunday's service on Akdamar Island after Turkish authorities did not allow a cross to be raised on the dome of the church. It was placed on the church grounds instead.

Still, hundreds of Armenian pilgrims attended, many coming from the relatively large Armenian community in Istanbul, Turkey's main city, but also from Iran, Germany, France and from as far away as the United States. They flooded local hotels and sang hymns as they traversed Lake Van by boat to get to the site.

"There is a village far, far away," one group sang. "It's my village even though I never go or I haven't seen it."

Most visited the small church for a few minutes and watched the ceremony via giant television screens set up in the gardens outside.

"I feel bittersweet about being here, because I grew up hearing about the life in Van from my parents," said Paul Shahinian, a 58-year-old visiting from New Jersey. "I always had images in my head about Van. I never imagined I could come here because Turkey didn't welcome Armenians."

Read more »

A protestor & the papal visit

(FOX News) - It’s not every day you see Latin on a placard protesting the Pope. When the anti-papal crowd of several thousand atheists, radical feminists and gay activists gathered in London this weekend, most of the banners were pretty simple: stuff like “Nope to the Pope” and “Papa Don’t Preach.”

But later in the afternoon, on the edges of the papal motorcade, and amidst a number of cheering fans of Benedict, there was a poster raised demanding, “DROP THE FILIOQUE.”

What? You have to know a little bit of Latin, and a lot of theology and history to get that one.

It wasn’t really a poster; it more like Magic Marker theology on a pizza box. And a young man named Toby Guise was happy to explain where, in his opinion, the Catholic Church had gone wrong.

“Filioque” means “And the Son,” and refers to a centuries-old debate between the Catholic and Orthodox Churches, about whether the Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father alone, as the Orthodox believe, or from the Father and the Son, which is the Catholic teaching.

That’s tough stuff, material for smart folks debating in a graduate school seminar. Perhaps it’s too bad the Pope didn’t see the pizza box; he would have been amused.

And in his former career as a professor and not a pontiff, he probably would have liked to talk to the young man holding it up.

Blessing of the bells

(patriarchia.ru) - Patriarch Kirill, in front of the Holy Dormition Cathedral of the city of Yaroslavl of the Russian Orthodox Church, consecrated the restored bells of the cathedral church.

Patriarch Kirill visits Far East of Russia

Komandor Islands, Kamchatka, Russia

Nikolskoye Village, September 17, (Interfax) - Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia first time in history of the Russian Orthodox Church visited Komandor Islands, where he consecrated a place for building St. Nicholas Church on Bering Island at the only village existing there and urged Aleutians and other local residents to search for support in faith, care for their health and set up big families.

In spite of the cold windy weather, several hundred people, almost the whole population of the island, welcomed the Primate. After the service the choir of the Moscow Sretensky Monastery, that accompanies the Patriarch on his trip to the Far East, on his request, gave a small concert of spiritual and secular music to Komandor residents at the consecrated church building site in the open air. Local residents were touched, they applauded and cried out the words of gratitude.

"To live in this place you should be very strong as there are many dangers for health, for integrity of a human personality. The fact that you live here proves that you are strong people," Patriarch Kirill said to the local residents.

"I'd like to bow low before all of you for your life here, for having families, for your work. The whole Russia should know about your life as it is a wonderful model," the Primate said.

Greek Archdiocese remembers Greek genocide

The Death March

(GOARCH) - ENCYCLICAL OF ARCHBISHOP DEMETRIOS FOR THE COMMEMORATION OF THE ASIA MINOR HOLOCAUST

Sep 16, 2010

Protocol 105/10

September 19, 2010
Commemoration of the
Asia Minor Holocaust

To the Most Reverend Hierarchs, the Reverend Priests and Deacons, the Monks and Nuns, the Presidents and Members of the Parish Councils of the Greek Orthodox Communities, the Distinguished Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, the Day, Afternoon, and Church Schools, the Philoptochos Sisterhoods, the Youth, the Hellenic Organizations, and the entire Greek Orthodox Family in America

Beloved Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Today, Sunday September 19, has been designated by the Holy Eparchial Synod as a day of commemoration of the Asia Minor Holocaust, a great catastrophe of incalculable proportions which was tragically forced upon the Greek populations of Turkey in the years following the World War I. Over a period of a few years, over one and a half million Greeks, families and communities that had been in Asia Minor for millennia, were expelled or killed. As in the case of the tragedy in Smyrna in September of 1922, many had to flee in fear, as the perpetrators of ethnic cleansing destroyed homes and livelihoods and met resistance with executions. Others died trying to escape or during the arduous journey to Greece. Farmers and merchants, clergy, mothers and children, old and young, all faced destitution, disease, suffering, and death.

Lives were lost and irreparably altered; homelands were taken away, injuring both physical and spiritual identities; and the impact and tragedy of this catastrophe has continued for decades. It is fitting that on this day we offer prayers of remembrance and memorial for all who suffered in this great Holocaust, for so many innocent and peaceful people. We do this in love and respect for the lives and struggles of our fathers and mothers and our brothers and sisters in Christ. We also observe this commemoration as a witness to the truth of the Gospel which affirms life and love, and with hope that the powers and authorities of this earth will lament the evils of the past and embrace tolerance, civility, and inviolable acceptance of liberty for all people.

On behalf of the Hierarchs of the Holy Eparchial Synod, I ask all of our parishes to offer petitions, memorial services and other commemorations for this day of remembrance and request that special programs are organized to increase awareness and to promote action against all threats of ethnic cleansing or genocide at any place and for any peoples. As Orthodox Christians, as Greek Americans, and as people of truth, faith, and love, may we know both the blessings and tragedies of the past, may we share in the power and presence of our Lord, and may we pray to God and labor in this world for conditions of peace and freedom so that all may come to a knowledge of the significance of love and for the need for a creative co-existence of peoples.

With paternal love in Christ,

†DEMETRIOS
Archbishop of America