Byzantine, Texas

Dr. Yakoob Mar Irenios, Metropolitan of Kochi ( Indian Orthodox Herald ) - HG Dr Yakoob Mar Irenios, Metropolitan of Kochi Diocese and the present Chairperson of the Faith Unity Mission Commission of the NCCI, demits office by April end. It is for the first time that a Malankara (Indian) Orthodox Metropolitan gets to become the Chairperson of the Faith, Unity and Mission Commission, which is of great importance. As Chairperson since 2009 and member of Executive Committee, Dr Mar Irenios, outlines the work he did and explains how the Orthodox Church can play an effective role in future with better planning strategies. Mar Ireanios took charge as Metropolitan of Kochi diocese on April 1, 2009. Earlier, His Grace was the Metropolitan of Madras diocese from 1997. Earlier, in 1993 Mar Ireanios was elevated to the rank of Episcopos and became the Assistant Metropolitan of Malabar diocese. Excerpts from an email interview. Exclusive to IOH. Q: After you took over as chairman of f...

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

H/T: Ad Orientem

Moscow, March 29 ( Interfax ) - Church robes, vessels and books will be sent from Moscow to Father John Tanveer, the only Orthodox priest in Pakistan. Material help was collected by the Cyril and Methodius Mission Charitable Foundation and Missionary Department of Saint Tikhon's Orthodox University of Humanities with the support of the Missionary Commission at the Moscow Diocesan Council, organizers told Interfax-Religion. Last November, Father John came to Moscow and met with the students of the Missionary Department. Powerful monsoonal rains in Pakistan resulted in floods and epidemics of pyrexia. According to the UN data, over two million people suffered from the epidemics, including 500 thousand children. Then St.Tikhon's University students initiated fundraising for the suffering brothers. "Father John with his community asks for prayers. Three hundred people out of five hundred Pakistan Orthodox believers make his parish. The community in the jurisdiction of t...

For background on the events related to this monastery, see here . Constantinople ( sedmitza.ru ) - At a meeting of the Holy Synod of the Orthodox Church of Constantinople, held on March 27, 2012, it was decided to remove from the rank of Metropolitan of Tyana Paisios (former abbot of St. Irene Chrysovalantou Monastery in Astoria, NY) and his assistant bishop of Apameia Vikentios for the appropriation of the church funds, immoral behavior and insubordination to the Holy Synod. Metropolitan Paisios arrived at the meeting of the Synod, while Bishop Vincent refused to leave the United States. Now both are in the category of simple monks, according to the the news agency Romfea.gr.

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

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

( ekathimerini.com ) - Turkey has decided to reopen a former Greek Orthodox seminary on an island off the Istanbul coast, according to a statement made by US President Barack Obama. “I am pleased to hear of his decision to reopen the Halki seminary,” the American President said after a meeting with Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan on the eve of a two-day nuclear security summit in Seoul on Sunday. The European Union has said re-opening Halki seminary, a centre of Orthodox scholarship for more than a century until Turkey closed it down in 1971, is key if Ankara is to prove a commitment to human rights and pluralism and advance its membership bid. During the meeting in Seoul, the two leaders discussed ways to press Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to step aside, including non-lethal assistance to the opposition and getting Iran to stop supporting Assad’s regime. Obama is expected to visit Turkey for the second time in June, Erdogan said.

Almost two years ago Fr. Stephen Burke of St. Anthony's Antiochian Church in Spring, TX was charged with possession of child pornography (see here ). Last week that case was dropped after, I am told, the state found that it didn't have enough evidence to take the case to trial (court case info here ). In the years that I have run this blog I have seen many instances of downloaded child pornography, abuse, and violence at the hands of clergy. I say in the same breath that I have seen a dizzying number of those accusations proved to have been completely baseless. One priest last year was accused of going on vacation and, while visiting a church, chasing a woman around the temple and then assaulting her. That case was dropped when it became obvious her story was a despicable attempt to get money out of the diocese. A few years back a priest was allowed to concelebrate at a parish until it was reported by the media that he was involved in a case of contributing to the delinquency...

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

Moscow, March 22 ( Interfax ) - A picket in defense of Christians' rights in the UK was held near the British embassy in Moscow on Wednesday. The picket was organized by the Orthodox public movement Narodny Sobor in response to the decision made by the British authorities to fire people for openly wearing crosses, Narodny Sobor told Interfax-Religion. The protesters were holding imperial flags saying "Stop the persecution of Christians!" and "Britain! If you ban crosses, ban your flag too!" "The Moscow division of Narodny Sobor is concerned about the recent developments in the EU in general and in the UK in particular, where discrimination against Christians has become commonplace. We consider it our duty to categorically oppose militant atheism and anti-Christian tolerance in any country of the world," the movement says. According to earlier reports, the British authorities intend to defend the legality of the ban on public wearing of cros...

( mospat.ru ) - Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk gives answers to the most interesting questions of visitors to the website of the Synodal Information Department under its Topical Interview project: 1. What does the Russian Orthodox Church participate in the World Council of Churches for? What are the contacts with the Catholics for? What is so valuable in what they have? - Alexy, St. Petersburg The World Council of Churches (WCC) is a major Christian forum which has become a unique platform for regular meetings of representatives of various Churches and communities. Almost all the Local Orthodox Churches, all the Oriental (non-Chalcedonian) Churches and a variety of Protestant churches are members of this organization. The Roman Catholic Church, while not a WCC member, participates in the work of the Faith and Order Commission. Therefore, thanks to this organization, Christians from all over the world have an opportunity to conduct dialogue, seeking to overcome the existing ...

( The Art Newspaper ) - While a storm of media attention followed the arrest of members of the feminist punk band Pussy Riot when they protested against the re-election of Vladimir Putin as Russian president, a Moscow court has upheld a decision that a pro-religious t-shirt design constitutes an extremist work and should be banned. The t-shirts, bearing the logo “Orthodoxy or Death”, are designed by Igor Miroshnichenko, a former underground artist and fashion designer who became a Russian Orthodox Christian monarchist. They feature a cross, skulls, crossbones and knives, and have been openly displayed by Orthodox activists protesting against the band Pussy Riot, the members of which are being prosecuted for performing a “prayer” against Vladimir Putin in Moscow’s Christ the Saviour Cathedral in February. Now, the Moscow City Court has upheld a lower court’s ruling that t-shirts bearing the logo are extremist. The logo is on a Russian Justice Ministry certified list of extremist l...

( Fund for Assistance ) - A powerful 7.4 earthquake shook Mexico on Tuesday spared the small ROCOR mission in Mexico City, headed by Archimdnrite Nektariy (Haji-Petropoulos). “Thanks to God nothing very serious happened,” wrote the abbot to the Fund for Assistance in an email. “All our religious items fell to the ground, icons, bookshelves, lampadas, candelabra, furniture, kitchenware etc. Lots of broken glass and loose bricks everywhere; the major damage was in the cupola. Phone lines, Internet and electricity were interrupted for many hours. But all our parishioners are fine, just very scared. We have already had 15 aftershocks. “ Why they can't go on without your help... Holy Trinity Skete was established in 2007 and swiftly became the spiritual heart of the Russian Diaspora, which serves the needs of local Russians, Serbs, Bulgarians, Moldavians and Mexicans. The monastery is very active in the local community: it provides medical and psychological aid in Russia...

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

In the US it's as simple as ABC ("Anything but Catholic" as the popular phrase goes). The UK has decided to expand this clearing of the public square to be simply "Anything but Christendom." Moscow, March 13 ( mospat.ru ) – People in the Russian Orthodox Church are amazed at the loyalty that the British authorities, who have forbidden wearing crosses at work, have shown towards other religious and non-religious symbols. ‘This decision of the British authorities cannot but give rise to anxiety, especially given the existence of other tendencies aimed at liberation of human instincts in the European society today. Why then is the public demonstration of one’s involvement in the gay culture considered a norm whereas the wearing of a cross is not? Indeed, there is a diversity of symbols connected with the gay culture, but just try to sack a person who openly demonstrates his sexual orientation. Clearly he will make a row and will certainly manage to be reinstat...

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

Congratulations to my friends Fr. David Wooten and Hieromonk Innokenty (Reichert) who were ordained over the weekend! Many years to the newly ordained, Fr. Innokenty (pictured second from the left)! Fr. David and his lovely family.

H/T: OBL News ( Ahram Online ) - "Don’t say the pope died ... The pope is in heaven!" chanted thousands of Coptic Christians who had gathered at Cairo's Abbassiya Cathedral to pay their final respects to Pope Shenouda III who died on Saturday. His body was placed on St Mark's seat at dawn on Sunday and will be embalmed to preserve the body until the funeral on Tuesday. It is said that the pope wished to be buried at Anba Bishoy Monastery in Wadi Al-Natroun. Following Shenouda's death, the eldest member of the Holy Synod's archbishops will become acting pope until a new patriarch is seated. If the eldest archbishop, Anba Mikhail of Assiut, who was consecrated in 1946, declines to undertake the role, Archbishop Anba Pachomeus of Beheira, who was consecrated in 1971 and is the second eldest member of the Holy Synod, will become acting patriarch for two months until a new pope is elected. According to Coptic Orthodox tradition, the pope is elected by a ...

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

( Yahoo News ) - Egypt's Coptic Pope Shenuda III, spiritual leader of the Middle East's largest Christian minority, died on Saturday at the age of 88 after a battle with illness, leaving the country's Copts in mourning. He had suffered health problems for years and recently stopped receiving treatment for liver failure and tumours or swelling in his lungs because he was too feeble, the Coptic Church said. The pope's health deteriorated Saturday after he suffered "a severe heart attack", sources at the church told the official MENA news agency. "The last days were the hardest in the Pope's life, as he was unable to walk," said a church statement carried by MENA. Shenuda was forced to cancel a weekly sermon last week over health concerns. A funeral will be held on Tuesday at the papal headquarters for Shenuda, who was named pope of Alexandria in 1971. There was no word on when clergy and laity would convene to begin the process of c...

HYANNIS ( Cape Cod Online ) - How about a free pizza with that vasectomy? That's the unusual deal being offered by Urology Associates of Cape Cod as a lighthearted way to raise awareness about the procedure and drum up business. Call it a pie for the sterile guy. And there's also a basketball tie-in. With March Madness — the NCAA basketball tournament — set to unfurl over the next few weeks, practice administrator Evan Cohen sees the vasectomy deal as a case of perfect timing. Men need a few days of recovery after a vasectomy, so what could be better than hanging out on the couch, watching some hoops and chowing down a free pizza? "It does actually come with one topping. Maybe you can put some meatballs on it," joked Cohen. The practice has launched a zippy commercial video promoting the deal. In it, an attractive woman fiddles with a basketball while a female voice says, "Hey guys! Want to watch the college basketball tournament guilt-free?" A...

( civil.ge ) - In a message to Russian President-elect Vladimir Putin, Patriarch of the Georgian Orthodox Church, Ilia II, congratulated him with election victory and told him that Georgia would never tolerate “tearing away” Abkhazia and South Ossetia. “I think that your huge experience will contribute to strengthening of peace and welfare in your country,” the Georgian Church leader says in the message posted on the Patriarchate’s website. “Russians and Georgians are brethren in religion, which makes us closer, but neither Georgia nor our Church will ever put up with tearing Abkhazia and Tskhinvali region away from the soil of our homeland.” “But I think that despite of all the difficulties, Russia and Georgia are fully capable to restore good relationship, which can take place only if a historic justice prevails.” “I am sure, that sooner or later Georgia’s territorial integrity will be established, but it will be good if it happens in a period of your rule. I wish you hea...

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

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

( GOA-Chicago ) - It is sometimes very difficult to understand why Turkey refrains from reforms in various fields. In the past, we used to think that Turkey was lagging behind in reforms because of the attitudes of the Kemalist elites. However, in this Turkey of 2012, where non-Kemalist actors almost completely dominate the political scene, more persuasive answers are needed. It is no longer possible to blame the Kemalist elites. Thus, the question is this: Why do conservative actors who grew up in Islamic circles fail to avoid Kemalist traps? The problems that beset the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople are typical instances of problems attributable to reforms not initiated. Why does Turkey still not recognize that this church is ecumenical? More, why is Turkey still not ready to recognize this institution's rights, including its right to educate a new generation of clergy? As I said above, why Turkey has not solved these problems might have been easy to explain in t...

Take the time to read this document. You will find some surprising information about church growth, jurisdictional data, the use of English, and the importance of "ethnic identity," which for me proved very enlightening. ( AOB ) - Assembly of Bishops Research Coordinator Alexei Krindatch has released a new 40-page report titled, Five Interesting Facts About Orthodox Church Geography and Demography in the United States. The report includes the following sections: Orthodox Church Membership in America Orthodox Church Geography in America Orthodox Church Attendance in America Ethnic Culture in American Orthodox Churches Orthodox Monastic Communities in America Download it now in PDF format here .

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

( The Telegraph ) - In a highly significant move, ministers will fight a case at the European Court of Human Rights in which two British women will seek to establish their right to display the cross. It is the first time that the Government has been forced to state whether it backs the right of Christians to wear the symbol at work. A document seen by The Sunday Telegraph discloses that ministers will argue that because it is not a “requirement” of the Christian faith, employers can ban the wearing of the cross and sack workers who insist on doing so. The Government’s position received an angry response last night from prominent figures including Lord Carey, the former Archbishop of Canterbury. He accused ministers and the courts of “dictating” to Christians and said it was another example of Christianity becoming sidelined in official life. The Government’s refusal to say that Christians have a right to display the symbol of their faith at work emerged after its plans to le...

( FT ) - Two members of an all-girl punk band have been jailed and may face stiff prison sentences for a prank-like performance inside Moscow’s main Orthodox cathedral last month. The harsh treatment of the musicians seemed to signal a rising intolerance for dissent in the wake of Sunday’s presidential elections which won Vladimir Putin a third term as Russian president. It is also a test of sorts for radical feminism – a fringe ideology in macho Russia, yet one which seems to be catching on amid three months of protests against the Kremlin. In a separate incident, three other feminist activists were in administrative detention after a topless protest on Sunday in the polling station where Mr Putin voted and shouting, “I’ll steal for Putin!” and trying to make off with ballot boxes. They said they represented Ukrainian feminist activist group Femen, which also stripped off in front of the Christ the Saviour cathedral on December 9. While the Kremlin has not reacted to the Fem...

( Entrance of the Theotokos ) - The Reverend Schema-Abbess Aemiliane and her Sisters, under the guidance of the Most Reverend Archimandrite, Elder Dionysios, by the Mercy of God are now moved into the Mother of God’s new home on a magnificent property near Libertytown, Maryland, only an hour north of DC and 45 minutes west of Baltimore. Thank you to the many donors who got us this far and thank you for your prayers! The church and the many buildings perfectly facilitate the Sisters’ monastic presence and services, expanding their capacity to receive and serve Orthodox pilgrims and seekers and to be a beacon of Orthodox Christianity near Washington, D.C. A creative lease with a contract to purchase has made it possible to move in without a loan with the stipulation that we pay the remaining balance over the next 24 months. Our goal is to raise $2 million to secure the monastery’s home and perform some much needed maintenance. See inside for more information about the 131 acre ...

I'm sure my Serbian brothers are just delighted to hear about this. ( OCA ) - Accompanied by Archpriest Arthur Liolin, Chancellor of the Albanian Orthodox Archdiocese, and many faithful from Boston’s Saint George Cathedral, Her Excellency, Madame Atifete Jahjaga, President of the Republic of Kosova, visited the grave of Archbishop Fan Noli here on the afternoon of Sunday, March 4, 2012. Ordained to the priesthood in 1908 and consecrated to the episcopacy in 1923, Archbishop Fan was the first Albanian Orthodox bishop in the US. At various points in his life, he had served in a wide variety of religious, political, literary, and diplomatic roles in the US and his homeland. In 1924, he served as prime minister and regent of Albania. Harvard educated, he was well known for his translation of the Divine Liturgy into the Albanian language, as well as for his numerous translations of other religious and liturgical texts. [Historical background may be found in an article on oca.org...

Quite a change from Khrushchev's: "Gagarin flew into space, but didn't see any god there." Moscow, March 6 ( Interfax ) - Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia decided to decorate first woman-cosmonaut and State Duma MP Valentina Tereshkova with a church order for Glory and Honor (1st degree). Such a decision was taken regarding how much Tereshkova made for "Motherland and the Russian Orthodox Church," the Patriarch said in his message dedicated to the cosmonaut's jubilee, the Moscow Patriarchate reports at its website. "Your life is connected with the history of Cosmonautics. Having made a solo flight in space in 1963, at dawn of outer space exploration, you are still a symbol of high spiritual treats of a Russian woman ready for selfless heroism not only in Russia but in the whole world," the document reads. Today Tereshkova celebrates her 75th birthday. Order for Glory and Honor is the second important order of the Russian Churc...

St. Basil, fool for Christ Thus speaks the great Apostle Paul who in the beginning was guided by worldly wisdom, which is against Christ, until he recognizes the falsehood and decay of the wisdom of the world and the light and stability of the wisdom of Christ. Then, the holy apostle did not become angry with the world because they called him "a fool for Christ's sake" neither did he, in defiance of the world, hesitate to be called by this name. It is not of any value to us how the world is going to regard or call us. However, it is important, and extremely important, how the holy angels in the heavens will regard and call us when, after death, we meet with them. This is of crucial importance and everything else is nothing. Either we are fools for the world because of Christ or we are fools for Christ because of the world. O how short-lived is the sound of a word of the world! If the world would say to us "fool," the world will die and its word will die...

From the blog Orthodox Women ... Each year during Lent, many of us are blessed with the service of compline at least on Mondays during the fast, if not also on Tuesdays and Thursdays. The service is customary for the end of the day (after Vespers and before the Midnight Office) and is celebrated regularly in the monasteries. There are reader versions available (see here ) which we may also do in our own homes as our evening prayers.The English word “compline” actually comes from the latin completorium, which means “at the end of the work day.” The service focuses around a theme of repentance, entreating the Lord to forgive us of our numerous sins during the course of the day and to protect us from the ‘evil fantasies of the night’ and ‘the darts of the evil one which are insidiously thrown against us’ Compline is sectioned into the following part... Complete post here .

( RISU ) - In an interview to Radio Freedom, Metropolitan Volodymyr, the head of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church-Moscow Patriarchate (UOC-MP), said that he governs the church according to the established rules. “It is being governed by the ruling bishop, the Primate, that is by me,” said the metropolitan. He also stressed that he governs the Kyivan Eparchy. “The Kyivan Eparchy as well as all the last eparchies of the UOC are subject to the common laws governing the whole church. One cannot single out a particular eparchy enjoying autonomy. The final word rests with the governing bishop,” stated Metropolitan Volodymyr. Last October, the Primate was hospitalized. In the beginning of last December, he was transferred from the intensive care unit to a rehabilitation ward where he stays now. In February, a session of the Holy Synod of the UOC-MP was held despite the Primate’s prohibition. The Synod, in particular, decreed to dismiss the primate’s secretary, Archbishop Oleksandr Draby...

The part that I find most heartening out of this ordeal is how the priest said, "Go tell your mother, we're celebrating the liturgy right now." and carried on with the service. ( WNEP ) - Fire interrupted a church service in Luzerne County today when the church rectory caught fire. It happened during 11 a.m. mass at St. John the Baptist Orthodox Church in Nanticoke. Firefighters said neighbors saw smoke coming from the rectory and called 911. The priest said he learned about the fire in the middle of the church service. “My son came rushing in to tell me the rectory was on fire, and I said 'go tell your mother, we're celebrating the liturgy right now.' And I said 'is everybody safe,' and I knew all of my children were safe. My next concern was for my firefighters. I'm the Nanticoke city fire chaplain,” said Father Adam Sexton. Luckily, no one was hurt in the fire. Firefighters believe the flames started in the basement of the rector...

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

The Triumph of Orthodoxy From the Synodikon of the Seventh Ecumenical Council As the Prophets beheld, As the Apostles taught, As the Church received, As the Teachers dogmatized, As the Universe agreed, As Grace illumined, As the Truth revealed, As falsehood passed away, As Wisdom presented, As Christ awarded, Thus we declare, Thus we assert, Thus we proclaim Christ our true God and honor His saints, In words, In writings, In thoughts, In sacrifices, In churches, In holy icons. On the one hand, worshipping and reverencing Christ as God and Lord. And on the other hand, honoring and venerating His Saints as true servants of the same Lord. This is the Faith of the Apostles. This is the Faith of the Fathers. This is the Faith of the Orthodox. This is the Faith which has established the Universe.

After a short delay, nominations are now open! To nominate an entrant simply click on the below link. Multiple nominations are welcomed and encouraged. Nominations aren't votes, you are putting people on the ballot to be voted on later (during the voting phase). We will be accepting participants until April 1st. The categories this year remain the same from last year's awards. Eastern Christian New Media Awards Please mention this site to friends, post referrals on your blogs, and mention it in your podcasts.

( pravoslavie.ru ) - On the Saturday of the first week of Great Lent, we commemorate an event which occurred in the year 356—a miracle of Great Martyr Theodore the Tyro ("the Recruit"), which continues to have great significance for Orthodox Christians even today, perhaps especially today. Fifty years after the death of St Theodore, the emperor Julian the Apostate (361-363), wanting to commit an outrage upon the Christians, commanded the city-commander of Constantinople during the first week of Great Lent to sprinkle all the food provisions in the marketplaces with the blood offered to idols. St Theodore appeared in a dream to Archbishop Eudoxius, ordering him to inform all the Christians that no one should buy anything at the marketplaces, but rather to eat cooked wheat with honey (koliva). In memory of this occurrence, the Orthodox Church annually celebrates the holy Great Martyr Theodore the Recruit on the first Saturday of Great Lent. On Friday evening, at the Div...