Byzantine, Texas

( Pravoslavie.ru ) - Near the Bulgarian resort of Primorsko an Orthodox underwater Chapel will appear in the coming days, reports Sedmitza.ru. A local clergyman has already blessed the foundation of the construction, stone plinths, the cross, the candle stand, an Icon of St. Nicolas with a bronze frame, and a plate with engraving: "Za Raven Broi" (“May you make the same number of dives as surfaces" ). Construction will begin on June 1, just south of Cape Borun at a depth of 12 meters. Parts of the chapel will be delivered by boat and immersed by parachute. The local diving center has initiated the project. It hopes to help build the church for several days. Divers will be able to light special candles in the Church, which can burn in the water.

Interested in following the peregrinations of seminarians around Russia? There is no better place to go than Reader John's Jordanville Journal . It reads like a delightful travelogue with pictures you actually want to see and entertaining (often self-deprecating) vignettes you want to hear.

( EOCS ) - As everyone knows last week the Boy Scouts of America passed it’s new membership standards (see here ) . The EOCS is an agency of the former SCOBA and current Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of North & Central America. As an agency of the Assembly we must take our direction from them. We have requested guidance from the Assembly and are still waiting to hear from them. We ask that everyone wait until the Assembly addresses the situation until you make a decision on your scouting units. The BSA policy does not take effect until January 1 2014. A EOCS National Board Meeting is scheduled for Wednesday June 12th at St. Demetrios Cathedral in Astoria NY. We will be discussing the membership standards and it’s ramifications then. A official statement will be made after the meeting and posted to this site and our Facebook page.

May 28, 2013 ( Bound4Life ) - Lee Jong-rak is a Korean pastor in South Korea. A simple man with a huge purpose, Pastor Jong-rak saw a devastating problem. He thought of a way he could change it, and he became a prophetic voice to his society. His story is a story of faith. A story of hope. A story of love. And when you hear this heroic tale, you just may never be the same. Lee Jong-rak is the creator of the Baby Box. His Baby Box is the first and only box in Korea that is for collecting abandoned babies who are physically or mentally handicapped or are just unwanted by their mothers. Hundreds of unwanted babies are abandoned on the side of the street in South Korea every year. Jong-rak knew he needed to set up a way to save the lives of these precious babies. He built a drop box on the side of his home with a humble sign reading, “Place to leave babies.” The inside of the box contains a thick towel covering the bottom, and lights and heating to keep the baby comfortable. A be...

The Ethiopian Orthodox Bible Project We are dedicated to making the COMPLETE Ethiopian Orthodox Bible available in the English language. Although unknown to most of the world the Bible of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church contains books that are not to be found in any other Bible canon (with the exception of the Eritrean Orthodox Church which itself split off from the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church and with the exception in the case of some of the books of the EOTC Old Testament accepted by Ethiopian Jews known as Beta Israel who preserve an ancient pre-rabbinic form of Judaism. Already some of these books have been translated into English. Enoch and Jubilees are well known among serious bible scholars. The book of Enoch is quoted in Jude and is also alluded to several times in the New Testament accepted by all Christian churches. Enoch is also quoted approvingly by the early Church Fathers who recognized the Book of Enoch as canonical. Among the Dead Sea Scrolls partial ...

( Romania Insider ) - The Romanian Orthodox Church sent Varsanufie Prahoveanul (in picture), bishop of the Bucharest Archbishopy, to hold the mass at the Rahova Church on Sunday, May 26, where Romanian businessman Gigi Becali, who is a well known financier of the church and is outspoken in his religious views, was imprisoned a week ago. The event was much debated by the Romanian media, with many being outraged that the church had sent its second most important official because of Becali’s large donations. It is as yet uncertain whether Becali actually attended the mass, as some local sources suggest that in the end, he did not show up. Most media comments came as it is the first time after a long while when the Orthodox Church sent one of its top representatives to organize a mass in jail. Becali donated some USD 2 million to the Patriarchy, mainly to build the new cathedral. Gigi Becali owns the football Club Steaua, and is known for his businesses involving the sale of land p...

( Orthodoxy in China ) - On May 23, 2013 in Khabarovsk's Nativity Cathedral, on completion of the prayer before the start of the Conference on the work of the Russian-English and English-Chinese dictionary of Orthodox vocabulary, the icons of Hieromartyr Mitrophan of Beijing and 221 Chinese martyrs were consecrated. Fr. Dionisy Pozdnyaev, rector of the SS Peter and Paul parish in Hong Kong (China) led the prayer service and the blessing of the icons. It is noteworthy that during the prayer service one of the conference guests read the prayers beginning with the "Trisagion" to "Our Father" in Chinese. The icon of the 222 Chinese martyrs and the separate image of the martyr Mitrophan (Ji) were painted by the nun Irina (Moroz), a Khabarovsk iconographer now living in Vyatka. The icons for the Khabarovsk seminary chapel arrived in Khabarovsk on the eve of the "Days of China " as part of the III-local Cyril and Methodius conference. Information: ...

( mospat.ru ) - 25 May 2013 marked the centenary of canonization of the holy martyr Hermogen , Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia. With the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill, Metropolitan Juvenaly of Krutitsy and Kolomna celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the Patriarchal Cathedral of the Assumption in the Moscow Kremlin.

More "wisdom" available here .

( OCA ) - A brief statement with regard to the retirement of His Eminence, Metropolitan Jonah was issued by the Office of Archpriest John Jillions, Chancellor of the Orthodox Church in America, on Monday, May 27, 2013. The text of the statement reads as follows. “At the invitation of His Beatitude, Metropolitan Tikhon, His Eminence, Metropolitan Jonah met with a number of members of the Holy Synod of Bishops of the Orthodox Church in America at Saint Tikhon’s Monastery, South Canaan, PA and reached an understanding with the Holy Synod concerning his retirement. Following their meeting, Metropolitans Tikhon and Jonah, together with hierarchs of the Holy Synod and guest hierarchs, including His Eminence, Metropolitan Hilarion, First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, concelebrated the Divine Liturgy marking the 109th annual Pilgrimage to the monastery.”

In our house this is cause for a discussion about who is the parent and who is the underlin... er child. Regardless, all children do this and it's hilarious.

Tbilisi, May 23 ( Interfax ) - Constantinople recognizes the jurisdiction of the Georgian Orthodox Church in Abkhazia, Catholicos-Patriarch Ilia II of Georgia said on Thursday. "We had a meeting with the Ecumenical Patriarch. We considered various issues and accord emerged on everything. I am grateful to His Holiness for this support. He said repeatedly that Constantinople recognized the jurisdiction of the Georgian Orthodox Church in Abkhazia and, with God's help, everything will end peacefully," the Georgian Patriarch said. Patriarch Ilia II said that it was planned to organize his visit to Abkhazia in the company of Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew. The Georgian patriarch will also introduce during his visit to Sukhum his personal representative among clerics, natives of Abkhazia. "All local Orthodox Churches and the entire world recognize Abkhazia as a part of the Georgian Church, a canonical part. Everyone admits this and so all issues existing in Abkh...

( Pravoslavie.ru ) - His Beatitude Patriarch Theophilus of Jerusalem has arrived in Moscow for his official visit. The program of the visit of the head of the Church of Jerusalem includes: celebrations of the Day of Slavic Writing and Culture, visits to the Holy Trinity-St. Sergius Lavra, and holy places of St. Petersburg and Valaam Monastery. His Beatitude Patriarch of the holy city of Jerusalem and all Palestine was ceremoniously met at Vnukovo airport. In the evening the delegations of the Jerusalem and the Russian Orthodox Churches will hold discussions in the throne room of the Patriarchal residence, reports Sinfo. On May 24, in the morning, in the Patriarchal Dormition Cathedral in the Moscow Kremlin, his Beatitude Patriarch Theophilus of Jerusalem and his Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and all Russia will serve a Divine Liturgy after which the Cross procession will proceed from the Church of the Theophany to Slavyanskaya square, where the heads of the Russian and the ...

From the blog Eclectic Orthodoxy, " What is Orthodox hell? " What is the Orthodox doctrine of hell? I honestly do not know. I do know what many Orthodox have taught about hell during the past seventy-five years or so, and I know something about what the Church Fathers taught about it during the first millenium of the Church’s history; but I cannot tell you what the Orthodox Church authoritatively and irreformably teaches about hell. My ignorance on this question is partly determined by the fact that a huge portion of the Eastern theological patrimony has never been translated into English. I read neither Greek (modern or patristic), Russian, Romanian, Serbian, or Syriac. I suspect that my position is not that different from most other English-speaking Orthodox believers, including the clergy. The fact that so much theological reflection is inaccessible to us puts us at significant disadvantage. This doesn’t mean that the ordinary American parish priest does not believ...

When time and money allow, I think I'll pick this up. A reasonable $20 on Amazon . ( Wipf and Stock ) - Harbor for the Poor: A Missiological Analysis of Almsgiving in the View and Practice of John Chrysostom by Eric Costanzo . Urban poverty in the developed world is an ever-present problem, and Christian approaches to poverty throughout history have much to teach us. The practice of almsgiving, which is the consistent practice of giving and sharing resources to meet the needs of the poor, is a sadly neglected part of this Christian heritage. This book explores the Christian lifestyle of almsgiving through the study of John Chrysostom. The sermons and writings of John Chrysostom (c.347-407 CE), pastor in Antioch and archbishop of Constantinople, contain perhaps the greatest concentration of teaching on almsgiving in all of Christian literature. John's teaching on almsgiving was both biblical and practical, and his ministry helped strengthen care for the poor throughou...

I'll be there! ( OCA ) - Final preparations for the 109th Annual Pilgrimage to Saint Tikhon of Zadonsk Monastery here over Memorial Day weekend, May 24-27, 2013, are underway. “It is always a joy to welcome hierarchs, clergy and faithful from the Orthodox Church in America, other Orthodox jurisdictions and guests from near and far,” said Igumen Sergius, the Monastery’s Abbot. A detailed schedule of the weekend’s divine services and other events is available here ( PDF ). In related news, Saint Tikhon’s Seminary will hold its 71st annual Commencement on Saturday, May 25. The day will open with the celebration of the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy at 9:00 a.m. and continue with graduation ceremonies at the Monastery Bell Tower at 1:00 p.m. Saint Tikhon’s Monastery is the oldest Orthodox Christian monastic community in North America. Saint Tikhon’s Seminary, established in 1938, is celebrating its 75th Anniversary in 2013.

( Zenit.org ) - Over two thousand people marched through the streets of in a candlelit procession praying for the release of two Syrian bishops who were abducted a month ago in Aleppo in Syria. On April 22, Syrian Orthodox Metropolitan Mar Gregorios Yohanna Ibrahim and Greek-Orthodox Bishop Boulos al-Yazigi were kidnapped by unknown abductors during a humanitarian mission. There has been no news on the whereabouts of the two prelates since their abduction. According to Fides News Agency, the March was attended by various leaders and representatives of Churches and ecclesial communities in Jordan. The procession began at the Greek Orthodox Cathedral of the Presentation of Jesus in the Temple and ended at the Syrian Orthodox Church of St. Ephrem. A statement signed by the bishops and heads of Churches condemning the kidnappings was read by Archbishop Maroun Laham, Patriarchal Vicar for Jordan of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem. Calling the kidnappings of the two prelates “u...

( ROCOR ) - On Sunday, May 21, 2013, the Sunday of the Holy Myrrh-Bearing Women, His Grace Bishop Agapit of Stuttgart celebrated Divine Liturgy (and all-night vigil the evening before) at the Russian St Mary Magdalene, Equal-to-the-Apostles Convent in Gethsemane, Jerusalem. He was joined by Archimandrite Roman (Krassovsky) and other clergymen of the Russian Ecclesiastical Mission in Jerusalem of the Russian Church Abroad and a multitude of worshipers.

( Malankara-NAD ) - His Grace Zachariah Mar Nicholovos, Metropolitan hosted a luncheon in honor of the newly enthroned Primate of the Orthodox Church in America, His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon at the Diocesan Chancery in Muttontown, New York. Other honored guests in attendance included His Eminence, Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan, Eastern Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church of America; His Grace, Bishop Anoushavan Tanielian, Vicar, Eastern Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church of America; His Grace, Bishop David, General Bishop and Patriarchal Exarch, Coptic Archdiocese of North America, His Grace, Bishop Mark of Baltimore,Orthodox Church in America; Archpriest Leonid Kishkovky, OCA Director of External Affairs and Interchurch Relations; and Archpriests John Behr and Chad Hatfield, Dean and Chancellor of Saint Vladimir’s Seminary, Yonkers, NY. During the luncheon guests discussed the problems facing Christians all around the world. The persecution of Coptic Christians i...

( The Guardian ) - One month after two Orthodox Christian bishops were kidnapped by gunmen in Syria, officials say they still have no idea what has happened to the missing prelates. The clerics, the most senior church officials to be targeted since civil war engulfed the country, have not been heard of since their abduction at gunpoint in the northern city of Aleppo on 22 April. "We are deeply worried for the lives of archbishop Mor Gregorius Yohanna Ibrahim of the Syriac Orthodox Church and bishop Boulos Yazigi of the Greek Orthodox Church," said Katrina Lantos Swett, who chairs the US Commission on International Religious Freedom (Uscirf). "These two religious leaders put aside their own safety by travelling to one of the worst areas of fighting to help those Syrians left with few basic necessities after more than two years of war," she said in a statement released on Tuesday. "The United States and the international community must leave no stone unt...

( ACN ) - A leading Coptic Catholic bishop has expressed hopes that a historic meeting between two popes may lead to the Coptic Orthodox Church recognising Catholic baptism. Bishop Kyrillos William of Assiut described the meeting between Catholic Pope Francis and Coptic Orthodox Pope Tawadros II earlier this month as a “watershed” in ecumenical relations – and expressed optimism that the two Churches would grow closer. One key contention between the churches is that the Coptic Orthodox Church does not recognise Catholic baptism. Catholics converting to marry Coptic Orthodox Christians have to be rebaptised. Such conversions are not unusual, as anyone marrying outside the Coptic Orthodox Church, or one of its sister Oriental Orthodox Churches, is barred from the sacraments. Rumours in February 2010 that Pope Shenouda III would allow marriage between Catholics and Orthodox, because of the two Churches’ theological and doctrinal closeness, were quickly quashed by Coptic Orthodox ...

( Armenian-WD ) - On Tuesday, May 14, 2013, Sourp Hovhaness Mgrditch (St. John the Baptist) Church was consecrated in the city of Abovyan, in Armenia’s Kotayk region, by His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians. 

I have been asked no fewer than three times to post this article from the blog Ancient Christian Wisdom entitled " Divergent Interpretations of the Same Statistics: Differing Suggestions from Christianity and Sociology ." I have acceded below. It is a fine post and well worth reading. Please do give the blog a read, too, as it is worth following. Statistics often present a sobering mirror of our society and the problems that people face. A friend of mine recently sent me an interesting New York Times article by Ross Douthat entitled, “All the Lonely People.” Douthat notes that since 2000, the suicide rate among men aged 35-54 in the United States has increased 30% while the rate for men in their 50’s increased 50%. This is indeed a disturbing trend. Douthat cites University of Virginia sociologist Brad Wilcox who perceives a link between the rise in suicides and weakened social ties as well as economic difficulties. While sociological interpretations about the environ...

It's time once again to ask readers to comment with links to blogs they enjoy and think others might as well. In a continuing effort to expand the resources this blog uses for content it helps quite a bit to have new blogs, news sites, etc. to pull from. So, comment away!

WASHINGTON ( LA Times ) — The Supreme Court has agreed to revisit the issue of church-state separation and decide whether a town council can begin most of its monthly meetings with a prayer from a Christian pastor. Thirty years ago, the court upheld a state legislature's practice of beginning its session with a nondenominational prayer. The justices said that "to invoke divine guidance on a public body entrusted with making laws" did not violate the 1st Amendment's prohibition on an "establishment of religion." But since then, several lower courts have said that a city council or county board may violate the 1st Amendment if its opening prayers favor one religion. What does this even mean? "Lord God, as you are present with us and only us at First Baptist Church on Mockingbird Lane I ask you, please convert dear Councilman Gupta from his vile cow worshipping. And, Lord, bless this city council meeting that it may outlaw dancing and the devil...

( AOB ) - Monday, May 20, 2013 - 2013 Prison Ministry Awareness Sunday Encyclical June 9, 2013 Be diligent to come to me quickly; for Demas has forsaken me...only Luke is with me. - 2 Timothy 4:9-11 To the Most Reverend Clergy, Venerable Monastics and Devout Laity of the Orthodox Churches in North and Central America: Dearly Beloved Brothers and Sisters in Christ, Christ is Risen! We greet you in the surpassing joy of the Risen Christ. By the grace of God, we are blessed to observe the Sixth Sunday of Pascha, which this year falls on June 9, as Prison Ministry Awareness Sunday. We embrace the diakonia of prison ministry in keeping with the example of our Risen Lord Jesus Christ, the Great Physician of our souls, who did not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance; who ate in the houses of thieves and forgave the sins of harlots; and who said that, when we visit those in prison, we are in truth visiting Him, the Lord of Glory. Rejection and isolation are exp...

Aside from the particular politics of those involved, it is flabbergasting that a government official would ask about someone's prayer life. To approach the relations of the person being prayed for and the person praying as a line of questioning is at once surreal and deplorable. ( Weekly Standard ) - Perhaps no other IRS official is more intimately associated with the tax agency's growing scandal than Lois Lerner, director of the IRS’s Exempt Organizations Division. Since admitting the IRS harassed hundreds of conservative and Tea Party groups for over two years, Lerner has been criticized for a number of untruths—including the revelation that she apparently lied about planting a question at an American Bar Association conference where she first publicly acknowledged IRS misconduct. Still, Lerner has her defenders in the government and the media. Shortly after the scandal broke, The Daily Beast published an article headlined "IRS Scandal’s Central Figure, Lois Lerne...

When my firstborn was delivered a tornado was inbound. The sky turned green and we were quickly moved to a room without a window. My son's tempestuous personality is occasionally linked with this storm that flattened buildings, destroyed churches, tore the tops from everything that had one, and led to the deaths of a few and injuries of quite a number of others. People in Texas and Oklahoma know about sheets of rain that flood roads in moments, of hail the size of softballs, of lightning that shakes valuables off the walls, of winds that make a 30-year roof laughable. I have huddled with my children in the family "safe spot" of our home. I have seen the funnel cloud form and turn towards me. I have outrun a tornado in my car. I know the fear. May God protect these people in harm's way. A Prayer in the face of inclement weather O Master, Lord our God, Who through Thy consubstantial Word, Who is without beginning, and Thy life-giving Spirit, Who is equal in...

( TED ) - How do you read a two-thousand-year-old manuscript that has been erased, cut up, written on and painted over? With a powerful particle accelerator, of course! Ancient books curator William Noel tells the fascinating story behind the Archimedes palimpsest, a Byzantine prayer book containing previously-unknown original writings from ancient Greek mathematician Archimedes and others.

From the blog Seeking the Kingdom, a post entitled Comparing Two Translations of a Kontakion on the interesting changes that take place when things get translated. Interesting to compare these two translations of a kontakion for Sts. Constantine and Helen (May 21). In strikingly military language, the kontakion connects St. Constantine and his mother to the precious Cross - fitting, since St. Helen discovered the precious Cross, and St. Constantine converted to Christianity (and made Christianity legal) after seeing a vision of the Cross promising victory through the sign of the Cross. First, for the benefit of those who can read Greek, here's the original text: Κοντακιον, Ηχος γ᾽. Η Παρθενος σημερον. Κωνσταντινος σημερον συν τη μητρι τη Ελενη, τον Σταυρον εκφαινουσι, το πανσεβασμιον ξυλον, παντων μεν των Ιουδαιων αισχυνην οντα, οπλον δε πιστων Ανακτων κατ᾽εναντιων. Δι᾽ ημας γαρ ανεδειχθη, σημειον μεγα, και εν πολεμοις φρικτον. My addition for additional reference: ...

O God of spirits and of all flesh, Who hast trampled down death and overthrown the Devil, and given life to Thy world, do Thou, the same Lord, give rest to the souls of Thy departed servants in a place of brightness, a place of refreshment, a place of repose, where all sickness, sighing, and sorrow have fled away. Pardon every transgression which they have committed, whether by word or deed or thought. For Thou art a good God and lovest mankind; because there is no man who lives yet does not sin, for Thou only art without sin, Thy righteousness is to all eternity, and Thy word is truth. For Thou are the Resurrection, the Life, and the Repose of Thy servants who have fallen asleep, O Christ our God, and unto Thee we ascribe glory, together with Thy Father, who is from everlasting, and Thine all-holy, good, and life-creating Spirit, now and ever unto ages of ages. Amen. - Prayer for the Departed ( NBC News-Photo Blog ) - Sophia Phillips receives a flag from Brig. General James...

Percentage of children in my Sunday school classes over the years that read the Bible at home ever... maybe 5%. ( YouTube ) - Footage of the reaction of the Chinese Christians after seeing a Bible for the first time. Share this video to awaken the church and make them value the freedom that we take for granted.

( ROEA ) - The 10th annual Clergy Confertreat of the Romanian Orthodox Episcopate of America was held at the Franciscan Renewal Center in Scottsdale, Arizona, February 11-14, 2013. The forty-eight participants included His Eminence Archbishop Nathaniel and His Grace Bishop Irineu, together with priests, deacons and preotese of our Episcopate. On Monday, an opening supper and welcome by Fr. Ian G. Pac-Urar was followed by an evening of fellowship, as clergy renewed acquaintances with their brothers and shared their experiences over the previous year. Tuesday’s sessions included seminars on Sexual Misconduct and Clergy Professional Ethics, Healthy Boundaries and Boundary Violations, Power and Vulnerability, and Mandatory Reporting. Fathers Ian G. Pac-Urar and James Barkett presented the sessions. By attending Tuesday’s sessions, participants fulfilled the new 5-hour Continuing Education requirement in Professional, Legal and Ethical Issues adopted by the Holy Synod of Bishops on Ja...

( Vatican Radio ) - Catholic and Orthodox leaders are meeting in the Turkish city of Istanbul this week for a seminar on religious freedom, 1,700 years after Emperor Constantine granted freedom of conscience and ended persecution against Christians in the Roman Empire. The meeting, jointly organized by the Ecumenical Patriarch of Istanbul Bartholomew 1st, spiritual leader of the Orthodox world, and the Council of European Bishops Conferences or CCEE, will take place on May 17th and 18th, focusing on the historical, legal and political aspects of religious freedom in Europe and beyond. The Ecumenical Patriarch will open the meeting, which will commemorate the Milan Edict of Toleration in 313 which had such a pivotal impact on the development of European society. Participants will examine current questions of religious freedom from three perspectives: that of the religious communities, including the Jewish, Muslim, Orthodox and Catholic communities; the reality of religious freedom ...

( YouTube ) - Fr. Mark Hodges of St Stephen's Orthodox parish in Lima speaks at Baptist Palm Sunday service. As concerned as any Orthodox would be about the attendance of an Orthodox Christian clergyman to a Heterodox liturgical service and praying with the people present. He does raise some very important points as to what are the foundations for any sort of Christian unity, the practice and beliefs of the ancient Christians of Apostolic time, who were the ones that imparted to the world the salvific Faith in Christ. However his tone and stance is certainly not that which is characteristic of an Orthodox clergyman, but it is probably due to Fr Mark's intuition of his audience. Yet one cannot help feel that things come across a bit too touchy feely with its emotional sentimentality that the Orthodox phronema frowns at as a means of liturgical devotion. Nevertheless we place this clip as a means for reflection on the questions of ecumenism and Christian unity.

( SNAS ) - In a natural progression of growth and expansion of mission, St. Nersess plans to move to a new campus in Armonk, NY, in mid-2014. However, we will always remember our roots when in 1961 we called Evanston, IL our home before relocating to New Rochelle, NY in 1978. This latest transition will allow the seminary to continue to grow and provide our Seminarians with improved learning and living facilities. In the last two months, construction permits have been secured, the land has been cleared of trees and foliage, and digging has commenced where the new theological building will be constructed. Fr. Mardiros Chevian, the Dean of St. Nersess, continues to carry out the vision of Archbishop Tiran Nersoyan, founder of St. Nersess, by overseeing the training of young men to become parish priests. He will reside on the new campus, just as he did when he directed St. Nersess throughout the 1980s. By living on campus, he will oversee and supervise the daily life of the St. Nerse...

( mospat.ru ) - Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, head of the Moscow Patriarchate Department for External Church Relation, speaks about the visit of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia to China in his interview to Olga Samsonova, RIA Novosti news agency. Your Eminence, what is the status of the Orthodox Church in China? Is it recognized by the state? The Chinese Autonomous Orthodox Church was founded in 1956. At that time the situation in the country was already quite complicated and the Chinese Church did not manage to obtain registration as a religious association. However, later, in the years of ‘the Cultural Revolution’, almost all of its structure was destroyed; many churches were demolished; the clergy were deprived of the opportunity to celebrate. It was only in the 80s that the religious policy of the state changed. It was permitted, for instance, to resume divine services in the church of the protecting Veil in Harbin, where Father Gregory Ju had se...

My legs are quivering already. I was sore forever last year and this was not helped by my poor choice of footwear. That said, I fondly remember the experience and encourage others to come. ( OCA ) - The community of Saint Tikhon’s Monastery and Seminary extends a most cordial invitation to all to attend the 109th Annual Pilgrimage over Memorial Day weekend, May 24-27, 2013. “It is always a joy to welcome hierarchs, clergy and faithful from the Orthodox Church in America, other Orthodox jurisdictions and guests from near and far,” said Igumen Sergius, the Monastery’s abbot. A detailed schedule of divine services for the weekend is available here (PDF). Updates will appear as they become available on the Monastery’s website . Saint Tikhon’s Monastery is the oldest Orthodox Christian monastic community in North America. In related news, Saint Tikhon’s Seminary will hold its 71st annual Commencement on Saturday, May 25. The day will open with the celebration of the Hierarchic...

( OCA ) - For the first time since his election as Primate of the Orthodox Church in America in November 2012, His Beatitude, Metropolitan Tikhon was the guest of His Eminence, Metropolitan Philip at the offices of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America here on Tuesday, May 14, 2013. Metropolitan Tikhon was accompanied by Archpriest John Jillions, OCA Chancellor; Archpriest Leonid Kishkovsky, OCA Director of External Affairs and Interchurch Relations; and Subdeacon Roman Ostash. Joining Metropolitan Philip in welcoming the OCA delegation was His Grace, Bishop Nicholas, Auxiliary-Brooklyn and Resident Assistant to Metropolitan Philip; Archpriest Thomas Zain, AOCA Vicar General; and Archpriest George Kevorkian, AOCA Assistant to the Metropolitan. A warm atmosphere provided the context for substantive conversations about the current plight of Christians in the Middle East—and specifically the situation of the two Syrian hierarchs who remain in captivity—as...

( PNN ) - The Heads of Churches and Patriarchs in Jerusalem condemned in a statement the brutal treatment of the clergy, people, and pilgrims in the Old City of Jerusalem during Holy Saturday last week, Holy Land Christian Ecumenical Foundation said in a press release. "A day of joy and celebration was turned to great sorrow and pain for some of our faithful because they were ill-treated by some Israeli policemen who were present around the gates of the Old City and passages that lead to the Holy Sepulcher," Heads of Churches said in a statement. "We understand the necessity and the importance of the presence of security forces to ensure order and stability, and for organizing the celebration of the Holy Fire at the Church of the Resurrection," They continued, "Yet, it is not acceptable that under pretext of security and order, our clergy and people are indiscriminately and brutally beaten, and prevented from entering their churches, monasteries and convent...

JERUSALEM ( AP ) — Orthodox Christians visiting the Holy Land often return home with more than just spiritual memories. Many drop by a centuries-old tattoo parlor in Jerusalem's Old City, inking themselves with a permanent reminder not only of their pilgrimage but also of devotion to their faith. The same Jerusalem family has been tattooing pilgrims with crosses and other religious symbols for hundreds of years, testament to the importance of the ancient ritual. While Catholics can get a written certificate of their pilgrimage to Jerusalem, Orthodox Christians opt for a tattoo, a permanent reminder of their visit. In contrast to the bustling streets of the Old City outside, the Razzouk parlor is quiet, with only the buzz of an electric needle zigzagging across a pilgrim's arm. Pilgrims said the pain of the needle is worth the sacrifice. "The pain I feel is like the pain that Jesus Christ felt when he was on the cross with his crown of thorns," said Etetu Leg...