Maronite Patriarch Béchara Boutros Al-Raï visits Russia

(mospat.ru) - On 27 February 2013, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia met with His Beatitude Mar Béchara Boutros Cardinal Al-Raï, Maronite Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, at the Patriarchal residence in St Daniel Monastery. Accompanying the Maronite Patriarch were Archbishop Boulos Sayah, Patriarch’s vicar general; Mr. Walid Ghayad, press officer; Mr. Amal Abi Zeid, executive director of the Maronite Foundation in the World; and Mr. Salim Georges Sfeir, Lebanese businessman.

Ethiopian Church has new Patriarch - Abune Matias

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia (Washington Post) — Ethiopia’s orthodox church has elected a new leader of the influential body in the predominantly Christian nation.

Abune Matias, 71, was Thursday named the 6th Patriarch of the church officially known as the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church.

Abune Matias, currently serving as Archbishop of the church in Jerusalem, accepted the appointment.

The election comes amid disputes surrounding the leadership of the powerful church, which boasts of some 40 million adherents, and a long history of conflict with the central government.

The Ethiopian church was under the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria. In 1959 it broke away to be independent and started appointing its leaders.

Of flowers and hand grenades

In seminary you realize very quickly that everyone is seemingly replete with advice. Professors, bishops, clergy, visiting cognoscenti, et al. will drop in and share their opinions and experiences with you. Only over time will most of us realize that not all advice is of equal merit. Sometimes the advice you get is like a handful of seeds - you plant them in the ground, nourish them with your attention, and they blossoms in your heart. Sometimes the advice you get is a grenade - you pull the pin, wait a moment, and it blows up in your face. Discernment. Among all the tools one can sharpen while in seminary, don't forget discernment.

Lessons from the Past, Contemporary Trends, and Opportunities

Hellenic College Holy Cross is hosting a symposium entitled "Orthodox Liturgy: Lessons from the Past, Contemporary Trends, and Opportunities" in March. Archimandrite Robert F. Taft will be giving the keynote and there are quite a number of intriguing talks lined up. Consider making the trip. Further details available here.

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Friday, March 15, 2013

9:30 am - 10:30 am: Registration & Coffee

10:30 am - 12:00 pm: Keynote Address: The Rt. Rev. Dr. Robert F. Taft, S.J., Professor Emeritus, Pontifical Oriental Institute, Rome, Italy:
"Liturgical Renewal in Orthodoxy: Reflections, Cautions, Suggestions."

12:00 pm – 1:00 pm Lunch (Cafeteria)

1:15 pm – 2:00 pm: Rev. Dr. Alkiviadis Calivas, Professor Emeritus of Liturgics, Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology, Brookline, MA:
“Liturgical Renewal in Orthodox Theology and Liturgical Praxis in Relation to the Sacrament of the Divine Eucharist.”

2:00 pm – 2:45 pm: Rev. Dr. Philip Zymaris, Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology, Brookline, MA:
“Liturgical Renewal and the Reception of Communion: Progress and Challenges.”

2:45 pm – 3:15 pm: Coffee Break

3:15 pm - 4:00 pm: Br. Stavros Winner, New Skete Monastery, Cambridge, NY:
“Liturgical Renewal, Have We Missed the Boat?: Half a Century of Engagement and Πράξις.”

4:00 pm – 4:45 pm: Dr. John Klentos, Graduate Theological Union, Berkeley, CA:
"Reorienting Tradition: Spirituality and Liturgy for a Future Generation."

5:00 pm – 6:00 pm: Vespers

6:00 pm – 7:00 pm: Dinner

7:15 pm – 8:00 pm: Rev. Dr. Stelyios Muksuris, Byzantine Catholic Seminary, Pittsburgh, PA:
“Revisiting the Orthodox Funeral Service: Resurrecting a Positive Thematology in the Rite for the Dead.”

8:00 pm – 8:45 pm: Rev. Fr. Dan Hoarste, Pontifical Oriental Institute, Rome, Italy:
"Lex Cantandi: A 'Catchy' Theology – If Lex Orandi Sets the Tone, Let Cantandi Set the Tune."

8:45 pm – 9:15 pm: Wine & Cheese Reception


Saturday, March 16, 2013

8:00 am – 9:00 am: Orthros, Saturday of Souls

9:00 am – 10:30 am: Divine Liturgy, Saturday of Souls

10:30 am – 11:00 am: Light Buffet Breakfast and Coffee

11:15 am – 12:00 pm: Rev. Dr. Kakhaber Kurtanidze, Ilia University, Tbilisi, Georgia:
“Orthodox Worship in the Georgian Context.”

12:00 pm – 12:45 pm: Ms. Christy Ma, Independent Scholar, Hong Kong:
“Opportunities and Challenges for Liturgical Inculturation in the Mission Church of Hong Kong.”

12:45 pm – 1:45 pm: Lunch (Cafeteria)

2:00 pm – 2:45 pm: Rev. Dr. Stefanos Alexopoulos, Ecclesiastical Academy of Athens, Athens, Greece:
"Liturgical Renewal in Greece: Past; Present; Future?”

2:45 pm – 3:30 pm: Dr. Sr. Vassa Larin, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria:
“Liturgical Crisis in Russian Orthodoxy Today: When Words Lose Their Meaning.“

3:30 pm – 4:00 pm: Coffee Break

4:00 pm – 4:30 pm: Panel Discussion and Conclusion

5:00 pm – 6:00 pm: Great Vespers of Forgiveness Sunday (Chapel)

St. Vlad's creates ties to Romanian Church

Earlier this month St. Vladimir's added a Serbian House of Studies (see here). This is a continuation of that effort.

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(SVOTS) - At the invitation of His Eminence Nicolae, archbishop of the Romanian Orthodox Archdiocese in the Americas, The Very Rev. Dr. John Behr, dean of St. Vladimir's Seminary (SVOTS) traveled to Bucharest to sign a cooperative agreement between SVOTS and the Faculty of Orthodox Theology, University of Bucharest. Dean Behr's visit, blessed by His Beatitude Daniel, archbishop of Bucharest, metropolitan of Muntenia and Dobrudgea, locum tenens of the throne of Caesarea of Cappadocia, patriarch of Romania, began on the Sunday of the Publican and the Pharisee when he celebrated the Divine Liturgy in the Patriarchal Cathedral of Ss. Constantine and Helen.

On Sunday afternoon, His Beatitude hosted Archbishop Nicolae and Fr. John for an extended meeting at the Patriarchal Residence. Patriarch Daniel presented Dean Behr with a pectoral cross and in return, Fr. John offered His Beatitude several SVS Press books, and an icon of St. Vladimir depicted with the seminary's Three Hierarchs Chapel. The Dean also expressed his gratitude to the Patriarch for having blessed the project between the two schools of theology in New York and Bucharest.

"I'm gratified to see that our plans for partnering with overseas schools is bearing fruit," said Dean Behr. "Through these collaborative efforts we will be able to serve the various Orthodox churches in the United States more effectively by enriching the formation of our students, and we will lay the groundwork for ongoing and sustained dialogue with Orthodox schools of theology overseas." The agreement with the University of Bucharest's Faculty of Orthodox Theology is the second one to be formalized this winter; on February 12, 2013, Fr. John and SVOTS Chancellor/CEO The Very Rev. Dr. Chad Hatfield signed a formal agreement with the Faculty of Orthodox Theology at the University of Belgrade to establish a Serbian House of Studies at SVOTS.

In that same spirit of collaboration, Dean Behr led a conference for faculty and students in the University's Great Hall on Monday, centered on the topic "Becoming Human," the theme of his soon–to–be–released SVS Press book. During the busy morning, he also met with Theology Faculty Dean The Rev. Dr. Stefan Buchiu and other faculty members, signed the document outlining the cooperative agreement, and joined his Bucharest colleagues for a celebratory lunch.

"In the USA, the Orthodox faith is two centuries old, and the Orthodox faithful come from all over the world, from Romania, Russia, Bulgaria, Serbia, Middle East, so that we all live together," noted Fr. John in his remarks during Sunday's Divine Liturgy. "Living together with various nations, traditions and cultures, our place is a very special one which encourages the experience of the Orthodox faith.

"We are all pilgrims in this world, as one of the fathers of the second century used to say," added Fr. John. "This same early Christian sent a letter to Diogenet in which he said of all Christians: 'Any foreign country is their homeland and any homeland is a foreign country for them.' I am in a foreign country, but I feel as if I am at home in my own country."

Orthodox Inter-Seminary Movement meets at Camp Nazareth

(ACROD) - With the blessing and in the presence of His Grace, Bishop Gregory of Nyssa, Camp Nazareth was the site of a gathering of the Orthodox Inter-Seminary Movement from Fri Feb 22- Sun Feb 24, 2013. In attendance were seminarians from Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology; St Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary; St. Tikhon's Orthodox Theological Seminary; Holy Trinity Seminary (Jordanville); St. Sophia's Ukrainian Orthodox Seminary; Christ the Saviour Seminary and other theological institutions in the USA.

Orthodox Inter-Seminary Movement (OISM) seeks to foster prayer, fellowship, and cooperation among seminarians of the Orthodox Church from across the North American continent. During OISM retreats, seminarians gather together and participate in a simple program which incorporates prayer, reflection, and discussion among the future leaders of the Church.

Bulgarian Church has new patriarch

(Global Post) - Bulgaria's Orthodox Church on Sunday elected metropolitan Neophyte of the northern city of Ruse as its new leader after Patriarch Maxim died last November aged 98 after leading the church for over 40 years.

The bells of the golden-domed Alexander Nevski cathedral in downtown Sofia announced the election of a new patriarch by the 138 delegates at the church council Sunday afternoon.

Shortly after that, council speaker metropolitan Yosif announced that "Ruse metropolitan Neophyte was elected by the clergy and the people as Holy Bulgarian Patriarch and Sofia metropolitan."

Neophyte won support from 90 delegates in a second-round ballot against Lovech metropolitan Gavriil, who was backed by 47 delegates.

A church procession accompanied the newly elected patriarch to the cathedral, where he was enthroned in a sumptuous ceremony.

Neophyte was clad in the green-and-gold patriarchal attire and put upon his head the white veil, symbol of his office.

The charismatic 67-year-old white-haired bishop, born Simeon Dimitrov, was one of the closest to the late Patriarch Maxim, from whom he took holy orders back in 1975.

He is generally acclaimed as an erudite man and one of the best diplomats of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church.

His reputation as one of the most deserving candidates for the patriarchal throne risked being marred last year after revelations that he was among 11 of the 15 top bishops of Bulgaria's Holy Synod -- the Orthodox Church's highest authority -- who were former secret intelligence agents under the Communist dictatorship.

Neophyte's thin file however was later proven to contain mostly reports against him.

"I never wanted to defame anyone or benefit from the privileges of the Darzhavna Sigurnost secret police," he then commented.

Neophyte had asked to be relieved from his duties as agent immediately after the regime fell on November 10, 1989.

The Bulgarian patriarch is elected for life unless he himself decides to step down.

He will now be entrusted with the key task of bringing disillusioned Bulgarians back to the church, which has been slow to play any significant role in society after being severely crippled during the 45-year communist rule.

Neophyte will also have to ward off increasing attempts by newly rich businessmen to meddle in the affairs of the Church seeking to profit from its huge property holdings.

A recent Gallup poll showed that 48 percent of Bulgarians considered the shady business contacts and recent displays of luxurious lifestyle by Holy Synod members as the biggest problem of the Church.

Armenian Supreme Spiritual Council meets

(Armenian-WD) - From February 19-21, His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, presided over a regular meeting of the Supreme Spiritual Council at the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. At the opening of the meeting, His Holiness extended his blessings and appreciation to the Council members for their service.

Archbishop Aris Shirvanian, Vicar General of the Armenian Patriarchate ofJerusalem; and Archbishop Aram Ateshian, Vicar General of the Armenian Patriarchate of Constantinople, served as the co-Chairmen of the meeting. On the agenda were issues related to adoption of the Constitution; life and the spiritual, educational and outreach mission of the Dioceses; activities for the commemoration of the 100th Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide; and current problems.

Patriarchal Vicar, Archbishop Aris Shirvanian; presented a report on the recent activities of the Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem, providing details on the election of the Patriarch-elect, Archbishop Nourhan Manougian. Archbishop Aris informed the Council that the applications for ratification of the new Patriarch have been sent to Israel, Jordan and the Palestinian authorities. It is expected that ratification will be received soon. The Council members accepted the report and once again congratulated the newly elected Patriarch, wishing that the Lord strengthen him in his efforts to lead the hierarchal See.

Archbishop Aram Ateshian, Patriarchal Vicar, presented a report on the Armenian Patriarchate of Constantinople. Archbishop Aram noted that the health condition of Patriarch Mesrob Mutafian remains grave and he is under the constant care of doctors. He also reported on the private efforts for the protection and recovery of the Armenian holy sites. Council members prayed for Gods support for the Patriarch.

Bishop Arshak Khatchatryan, Chancellor of the Catholicosate of All Armenians, presented a report on the 2012 activities of the Mother See, including the educational and ecumenical programs, and the outreach and social missions. 57 Pontifical Encyclicals (Gontags) were issued; 9 priests were ordained, 2 as celibate priests and 7 as married priests, and 35 deacons were ordained. The Total number of ordained clergy is 668, of which 56 are Bishops, 33 are Archimandrites, 61 are Monks, 423 are married Priests, and 95 are Deacons, who serve in the various structures and institutions of the Armenian Church. Currently, there are 220 students enrolled in the religious and educational institutions.

Read more »

Chrysostom as a greeting card message

“A young husband should say to his bride: ‘I have taken you in my arms, and I love you, and I prefer you to my life itself. For the present life is nothing, and my most ardent dream is to spend it with you in such a way that we may be assured of not being separated in the life reserved for us.’”

— St. John Chrysostom

Did the Golden-Mouthed actually say the above? Find out here.

What is the Eucharist?

H/T: Londinopoulos

Fr. Stephen Freeman: Unspeakably Speaking

From the very popular blog, Glory to God for All Things, a treatise on knowing God.

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Eastern Orthodoxy commonly describes its theology as “apophatic.” The word means, “Unspeakable.” It is perhaps the most important point within Orthodox thought: when speaking of God, we are always saying things that cannot be said. It does not mean that nothing should be said (though this is often a good idea). It means that no matter what we say, the subject that lies at the heart of our speech is not the same thing as our speech. We do not worship words – we worship the Word.

The various forms of rationalism that have come to dominate modern Christian thought have almost destroyed true theology. Fundamentalist rationalism speaks with an assurance that borders on blasphemy, while liberal angst loses itself within its own rational conundrums. God is not an idea. He cannot be manipulated, studied, poked and prodded nor is the text of Scripture a rational cookbook for the knowledge of God. God transcends human thought, and when known, is only known by way of personal gift.

Such statements are normative in Orthodox teaching. As we approach God we are told to walk slowly, and finally, to stand still. More than “standing” still, we are told to “be still.” The calmness and silence of such stillness refers to the noise of our own reason and emotions. The inner conflict produced by life in the world is easily projected onto the screen of the universe, yielding an imaginary God. Only true stillness can allow the projection to dissipate.

The so-called “Masters of Suspicion” (Marx, Freud and Nietzsche) have long ago demolished certain “gods of men” (in the words of philosopher Paul Ricouer). There is a recognition that many images of God are nothing more than our cultural or psychological projections. Whether as divinized “father figure,” or “wish fulfillment,” such imaginary gods are less than useless for believers. Many things that are attributed to God today (think, “Facebook Meme”), are simply cultural values underwritten with the cachet of religion.

The struggle to know God goes to the very core of our existence. It is not a struggle to believe an idea. It is as much a struggle to know ourselves and our place within creation. It is in this context that the Elder Sophrony will write and speak of “standing before the abyss.” The “abyss” can be many things: human suffering, our own death, the existence/non-existence of God, the opacity of the universe.

The witness of the Christian faith is that the God-who-cannot-be-spoken has made Himself known in the God/Man, Jesus Christ. It also witnesses that through Christ we can have true communion/participation in the life of the God-who-cannot-be-spoken. But this great mystery, which we “proclaim from the rooftops,” remains a mystery into which we enter. The Incarnation does not reduce the mystery and make it manageable: it opens the mystery and makes it accessible.

I now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up in my flesh what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ, for the sake of His body, which is the church, of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God which was given to me for you, to fulfill the word of God, the mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations, but now has been revealed to His saints. To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory (Col. 1:24-27).

Greek Catholic primate: Who are we to say who is canonical?

I can't imagine how profound the reaction would be if the UGCC had actually made some announcement about who is "really" Orthodox. It simply not in the purview of a Catholic hierarch to tell the Orthodox about themselves.

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(RISU) - Patriarch Sviatoslav Shevchuk, head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church (UGCC), expressed his astonishment that the UGCC's statement recognizing the Sacrament of Baptism administered in the Kyivan Patriarchate provoked criticism from the clergy of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church-Moscow Patriarchate (UOC-MP).

The hierarch said so in an interview to Independent Newspaper.

“Frankly speaking, I am surprised at this statement because serious Orthodox theologians can hardly be unaware of the fact that according to the doctrine of the Catholic Church, we recognize the baptism of everyone who administers it in the name of the Holy Trinity with the use of water,” stated Patriarch Sviatoslav as he commented on the report of Metropolitan Volodymyr of UOC-MP at the last Council of the Russian Orthodox Church on the journalist’s request.

The head of the UGCC stressed that the Greek Catholics recognize the baptism of both Protestants and Orthodox.

“According to our doctrine, the denominational affiliation of the baptizer is of no importance here. From the report I got the feeling that the matter is not so much about the Sacrament of Baptism or the theological discussion regarding its authenticity as it is about the fact that I sent the letter to a so-called non-canonical institution. If I offended anyone, I apologize. But they should explain where I am wrong,” noted the hierarch.

In answer to the question if the Moscow and Kyivan Patriarchates are equally canonical institutions for the UGCC, Patriarch Sviatoslav said that it is not within his capacity to define the canonicity of others.

“In order to build correctly the dialogue between churches, one should respect the theology and canons of each other. It is not within our competence to define who is canonical and who is not in the Orthodox world,” concluded Patriarch Sviatoslav.

Patriarch Theodore of Alexandria visits Russian vessel

(mospat.ru) - On 17 February 2013, His Beatitude Patriarch Theodore of Alexandria, currently on a missionary trip in Africa, celebrated the Divine Liturgy in the Greek church in Dar es Salaam, the largest city of Tanzania, on his Name Day, together with hierarchs and clerics of the Patriarchate of Alexandria.

Attending the service were Orthodox Tanzanians, diplomats, citizens of Russia, Ukraine, Greece, Serbia and Romania, as well as the crew of ‘Marshal Shaposhnikov’, a large destroyer of the Russian Navy currently on a visit to Tanzania.

That same day in the evening His Beatitude visited the vessel. Seven salvos were fired in his honour. Accompanying Patriarch Theodore were Metropolitan Dimitrios of Irenupolis (Patriarchate of Alexandria), and H.E. Alexander Rannikh, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Russian Federation to the United Republic of Tanzania.

The captain greeted His Beatitude on behalf of the crew. The Primate of the Church of Alexandria talked with them in the Russian language.

The Science of Pornography Addiction

In Russia a separation in law for pilgrims and tourists?

MOSCOW, February 19 (RIA Novosti) – Russia needs legislation to separate pilgrimage from tourism, the head of the pilgrimage center of the Moscow patriarchy said on Tuesday.

“Pilgrimage and tourism are incomparable. They cannot be mixed, but are not separated by law. Only religious organizations should be involved in pilgrimage activities,” Hieromonk Nikodim (Kolesnikov) said, adding that the Russian Orthodox Church is working to draft amendments to the law on tourism.

“By law, religious organizations have no right to organize tours [for pilgrims], so the legislation has to be amended,” his said.

According to him, tax benefits are needed to develop pilgrimage tourism, and only believers and theology teachers or students can work as tour guides.

“Some people go to pray and others go sightseeing. They do not feel comfortable together,” Hieromonk Nikodim said.

Femen repeat topless stunt in Notre Dame cathedral

Almost all the photos of the event available online are too outlandish to republish here. Imagine women wearing almost nothing cavorting and yelling inside and outside the cathedral. It's undeniably repulsive.

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(Voice of Russia) - Here is another example of the European double standards: in France the very same politicians who recently admired the Pussy Riot act in the Christ the Savior Cathedral now criticize the Femen activists for their act in the Notre Dame Cathedral.

New details of the disgraceful act performed in the Notre Dame Cathedral by the topless activists of the Femen movement are coming to light. To remind our readers, by partaking in public nudity inside France’s main cathedral, they marked the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI, who the Femen activists consider to be a homophobe and anti-feminist. It was not just that seven French women and a Ukrainian managed to get inside the cathedral unhindered, undress down to their pantyhose and start clanging the bells with wooden sticks. It turned out that the police only took them to the police station to establish their identity and check their documents. When all of this came to light, the French started saying the same things that they previously disliked hearing in Moscow – for example, suggestions came up that in a mosque for a similar act they would have been hung by their naked breasts. References were made to the XIX century laws that protect cathedrals from desecration. And who is saying all this? Those are the very same French citizens who a few months ago called the Pussy Riot trial an inquisition and called the Russian Orthodox Church a medieval organization. Christine Boutin, who used to work for the government of François Fillon, sees the approach of the apocalypse in what is going on in France. It all came together – the law on same-sex marriages, the resignation of the Pope and the scandal in the country's main cathedral.

“We have now come to a fork in the road. France faces a choice. We are being pulled towards a liberal, or more precisely, libertine philosophy, which was established in France after 1968 and was modeled on the Anglo-Saxon path. According to that philosophy, a human being becomes only a relative value. If this philosophy wins, everything will be destroyed. Those women who take part in such actions, they symbolize this view of a human being, this understanding of his value."

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Last time liturgy served some 947 years ago in Oxford

(Oxford Times) - OXFORD’S Keble College played host to a very special ceremony when it welcomed Bishop Jerome of Manhattan, of the Russian Orthodox Church.

When His Grace celebrated a Western Orthodox Episcopal Liturgy on Friday, it was the first time the service had been held in the UK since 1066.

Before then the church in the UK was Orthodox, but the Norman Conquest saw the Roman church take over.

Father Stephen Platt, parish priest at the Russian Orthodox church St Nicholas the Wonderworker in Marston, Oxford, said: “Orthodox services generally have an Eastern origin, while Catholic and Anglican churches have services which originate in Ancient Rome.”

Philip Pughe-Morgan, who came from Weston-super-Mare for the service, said: “Many people are put off by what they see as a form of worship which doesn’t relate to their traditional culture.

“The Russian Church has now introduced a mission to offer worship in the form and culture of these islands which developed here in the early centuries.”

During his visit, Bishop Jerome also met members of the public at St Barnabas Church in Jericho.

Ice sculptures in the Republic of Sakha

(NBC News) - Ice sculptures constructed for the celebration of Orthodox Epiphany stand on the Lena river, outside Yakutsk in the Republic of Sakha, northeast Russia, on Jan. 17. The coldest temperatures in the northern hemisphere have been recorded in Sakha, in the Oymyakon valley, where, according to the United Kingdom Met Office, a temperature of -90 degrees Fahrenheit was registered in 1933 - the coldest on record in the northern hemisphere since the beginning of the 20th century. Yet despite the harsh climate, people live in the valley, and the area is equipped with schools, a post office, a bank and even an airport runway.

The short phelonion of the ordained Reader

Bulgarian Church nominates three candidates for patriarch

Sofia (Focus) - The Holy Synod published on its official website a communication on the election of three candidates for the patriarchal throne. The communication of the Holy Synod said: Today, February 16, 2013, the Synod Office after long hours of voting followed the meeting of the previous day, the Holy Synod of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church - Bulgarian Patriarchate nominates three candidates for the patriarchal throne.

These are (in order of seniority):

~ His Eminence Metropolitan bishop Neophyte of Ruse

~ His Eminence Metropolitan bishop Galaktion of Stara Zagora

~ His Eminence Metropolitan bishop Gabriel of Lovech

By their beards ye shall know them.

OCA "Holy Conversations" plan moving forward

(OCA) - One of the goals of the Strategic Plan adopted by delegates to the 16th All-American Council in 2011 focuses on developing diocesan level, full day “Holy Conversations” on contemporary moral issues, including marriage and human sexuality and beginning and end-of-life issues.

“The purpose of these Holy Conversations is to better communicate Orthodox Christian teachings on these issues and to discuss how they can be applied faithfully, charitably and effectively,” said Priest John Vitko, who chairs the Strategic Plan Committee. “An implementation team, led by Priest Caleb Abetti, rector of Saint Jacob of Alaska Mission, Northfield Falls, VT, has been working on identifying an appropriate format for conducting such conversations.”

With the blessing of His Eminence, Archbishop Nikon, the Diocese of New England will pilot the first of these Holy Conversations at White River Junction, VT, on Friday evening and Saturday, March 1-2, 2013. The gathering will focus on the Orthodox Christian understanding of marriage and human sexuality.

According to Father John, the Holy Conversation will consists of four main sections: (1) opening remarks by Archbishop Nikon; (2) keynote talks by Archpriests John Behr and Andrew Tregubov, who will present the Orthodox understanding of marriage and human sexuality as reflected in the Fathers and in iconography; (3) a panel discussion with Dr. Albert Rossi, Matushka Jennifer Mosher, Priest Theophan Whitfied and Sister Nonna Harrison; and (4) speaker and panel led workshops in which participants will discuss the subject in small groups.

All interested Orthodox Christians are invited to attend. Additional information, including a detailed agenda and registration forms, may be found at ocaconversations.org.

Are gators Lenten fare?

H/T: CMR

Calendar Reform in the Orthodox Church

(HTS) - A lecture from Protodeacon Serge Arlievsky delivered at Holy Trinity Orthodox Seminary on February 7 (Gregorian) January 25 (Julian), 2013. The full title is "Shattering Orthodox Unity: Motivations behind the Calendar Reform in the Orthodox Church.

Custody of the Holy Land officially greets Armenian Patriarch

(Custodia Terrae Sanctae) - Tuesday, January 29, the Custody of the Holy Land, represented by its Vicar, Fra Artemio Vítores, paid a visit to the Armenian Patriarchate to congratulate His Beatitude, Nourhan Manougian ler, elected January 24, 2013, as the 97th Apostolic Armenian Patriarch of Jerusalem, succeeding Torkom Manougian II, who died on October 12, 2012, at the age of 93.

In speaking to Fra Artemio, the Patriarch renewed his desire that the two fraternities maintain the good relations that have united them for centuries.

In fact, throughout history and in spite of theological debates, the two communities have been able to establish fraternal bonds of understanding, making an interchange of services when the political situation of the country was precarious.

The Franciscans are particularly grateful to the Armenians, who accepted them after their expulsion from the Cenacle in 1551, protecting the friars for eight years. The Armenians, in fact, offered property to the friars within the walls of the Quarter, not far from the Convent of Monastery of the Archangels.

Recently, this hospitality was in part returned to the Armenians, when H.B. Torkom Manougian II was able to complete his long life at the Infirmary of the Convent of St. Saviour in Jerusalem; He was visited regularly by his fraternity, as well as by the friars living in the Infirmary, who surrounded him each day with their prayers.

Certainly, the custody will be present on the day of the official Enthronement of His Beatitude Nourhan Manougian. This day will provide a new opportunity for joyful sharing.

My eyes have seen your salvation

Prayer of St. Simeon

Now let Your servant, depart in peace, O Master, according to Your word. For my eyes have seen your salvation which you have prepared before the face of all people. A light of revelation for the Gentiles, and the Glory of Your people Israel.

Russian Church continues work on new catechism

I've been following (and posting) the work of this commission in creating a new catechism for the Russian Church. It looks like pressure is now being applied to get this thing to print without further delay.

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(mospat.ru) - Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk chaired a meeting of the Synodal Biblical and Theological Commission’s working group for drafting the ROC’s up-to-date Catechesis. The meeting took place on February 12, 2013, at the Department for External Church Relation.

The meeting focused on the need to implement the recent Bishops’ Council’s decision concerning the deadline for drafting the Catechesis. The Biblical and Theological Commission was instructed to have the drafting completed by the next Bishops’ Council.

Metropolitan Hilarion informed the meeting about the progress made in the work on the Catechesis. A report on the readiness of some sections of the Catechesis was made by S. Kravets, director of the Orthodox Encyclopaedia Center. The meeting considered the method of the drafting and steps for speeding it up in the light of the Bishops’ Council’s decision.

The working group for drafting the modern Catechesis of the Russian Orthodox Church was set up by the Holy Synod Decision of December 25, 2009.

Serbian House of Studies to be established at St. Vlad's

This link might also prove informative.

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(OCA-DOS) - St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary, Yonkers, NY, and the Faculty of Orthodox Theology at the University of Belgrade have made a formal agreement to work together with the aim of establishing a Serbian House of Studies on the campus of St. Vladimir’s Seminary. The House of Studies has several goals, including the promotion of sustained dialogue and educational exchanges between Orthodox Christians in America and Serbia.

The Serbian House of Studies is one of many endeavors outlined in the Seminary’s newly crafted “SVS Strategic Plan 2020,” and the first to be implemented. The Strategic Plan—which sets forth the Board’s vision for St. Vladimir’s Seminary for the next decade—actually calls for several such foreign houses of study, together comprising “The International Center of Orthodox Christian Studies,” eventually to be located in the historic stone “Germack Building” on campus.

The agreement between St Vladimir’s Seminary and the University of Belgrade had been in negotiation for some time, including review and reception by the Holy Synod of the Serbian Orthodox Church. An opportunity to formally sign the agreement came when His Grace, the Right Rev. Maxim, bishop of the Western American Diocese of the Serbian Orthodox Church in North and South America, and a member of the Board of St Vladimir’s, together with Protopresbyter Stauvrophor Dr. Predrag Puzović, dean of the Faculty of Orthodox Theology, University of Belgrade, visited St Vladimir’s for the Feast of the Three Hierarchs.

“There are many advantages to our envisioned ‘International Center,’ said The Very Rev. Dr. John Behr. “Firstly, these houses of study will ‘formalize’ our existing relationships with other Orthodox schools around the world; ultimately, St. Vladimir’s will be the only place on the planet where Orthodox Christian faculty and students are living, working, and studying while fostering international dialogue.

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Oh teachers of the whole world, pray for us!

The three most great luminaries of the Three-Sun Divinity have illumined all of the world with the rays of doctrines divine and true; they are the sweetly-flowing rivers of wisdom, who with godly knowledge have watered all creation in clear and mighty streams: The great and sacred Basil, and the Theologian, wise Gregory, together with the renowned John, the famed Chrysostom of golden speech. Let us all who love their divinely-wise words come together, honoring them with hymns; for ceaselessly they offer entreaty for us to the Trinity.

- Apolytikion: First Tone

Moscow says change in Pope of Rome won't hurt relations

Due to the difference in conciliar structure between the Orthodox and Catholics, it's hard to say that a new pope won't mean a radically new relationship with the Orthodox Church. A new pope means a new church in a much more significant way than a new patriarch means a new church. The current Pope's reverse course from the innovations spurred by varied "interpretations" of Vatican II could be tossed out quite easily. It will be interesting to see if the new pontiff will be a continuation of this correction or a return to the rupture of pronounced novelty and false inclusiveness.

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Moscow, February 11 (Interfax) - The Moscow Patriarchate hopes relations between the Orthodox and Roman Catholic Churches will be developing as previously when a new pope is elected.

"There are no reasons to expect any radical changes in the Vatican's policy and attitude to the Orthodox Churches. Continuity has always been maintained in the Roman Catholic Church. Pope Benedict XVI has been doing his best to be a worthy successor to his predecessor," the Department for External Church Relations' secretary for Inter-Christian Relations Archpriest Dimitry Sizonenko told Interfax-Religion.

The positive trend in Orthodox-Christian relations will "continue by inertia."

Vatican spokesman Federico Lombardi said earlier on Monday that Pope Benedict XVI had announced he was stepping down. He said in a statement for the press that he lacks strength to do his job.

"A Journey of Faith" Orthodox Missions Among the Turkana

A trailer for a larger video to be released...

Patriarch John X of Antioch enthroned

DAMASCUS (AFP) — The new Greek Orthodox Patriarch Yuhanna X Yazigi appealed for dialogue in Syria at his enthronement in Damascus on Sunday as machine gunfire rang out in the distance, a sharp reminder of the raging war.

"We believe that Syria, the government and the people, will find the gate of salvation through dialogue and a peaceful political solution to avert violence and re-establish the stability and peace Syria has always known," said Yazigi, who took the name of John X.

But outside the Holy Cross church in the heart of Damascus, weapons did the talking as clashes raged between the army and rebels in the nearby district of Jobar.

"God is not pleased when he sees the society we share with our non-Christian brothers shattered over politics. Among us and among them there are people who subscribe to fundamentalist tendencies that have nothing to do with religion," he said.

Snipers were deployed on the rooftops around the church when dignitaries from Middle East churches arrived, including Maronite Patriarch Beshara Rai, on a historic visit from neighbouring Lebanon.

Guests bearing official invitations were whisked through metal detectors at the door, but their chauffeurs were prohibited from parking in the area while throngs of devotees had to watch the liturgy on a giant screen outside.

Presidential Affairs Minister Mansour Azzam, a key adviser to Bashar al-Assad, was among ministers representing the embattled government at Yazigi's enthronement as Patriarch of Antioch and All the East.

The ceremony came just a day after warplanes raided southern districts of Damascus, the latest chapter in the nearly two-year conflict in which the United Nations says that more than 60,000 people have been killed.

Many Syrian Christians have distanced themselves from the revolt, which morphed into an insurgency amid a harsh crackdown on peaceful protests, but others have taken Assad's side, fearing a rise of Islamism or an Iraq scenario.

Lebanese Christians, on the other hand, are deeply divided over the Damascus regime, which dominated Lebanon militarily and politically for 30 years before its troops withdrew in 2005.

Patriarch Rai is the first Maronite patriarch to visit since Syrian and Lebanese independence seven decades ago. He said he came to "meet the Christians, notably the 60,000 Maronites," stressing that the Church is "always against war and for dialogue".

"Every person that is killed, every time blood is spilled, tears flow from the eyes of Christ. Human life is invaluable, and there are no so-called reforms, human rights or democracy that are worth the blood of one innocent man," he said.

On Saturday the Lebanese patriarch called for reforms in Syria, saying they are "necessary, but should not be imposed from the outside."

Pope of Rome to step down

(pravoslavie.ru) - Pope Benedict XVI said Monday he lacks the strength to fulfill his duties and on Feb. 28 will become the first pontiff in 600 years to resign. The announcement sets the stage for a conclave in March to elect a new leader for world's 1 billion Catholics.

The 85-year-old pope announced the bombshell in Latin during a meeting of Vatican cardinals, surprising even his closest collaborators, even though Benedict had made clear in the past he would step down if he became too old or infirm to do the job.

Benedict called his choice ``a decision of great importance for the life of the church.''

Indeed, the move allows the Vatican to hold a conclave before Easter to elect a new pope, since the traditional mourning time that would follow the death of a pope doesn't have to be observed.

It will also allow Benedict to hold great sway over the choice of his successor. He has already hand-picked the bulk of the College of Cardinals _ the princes of the church who will elect the next pope _ to guarantee his conservative legacy and ensure an orthodox future for the church.

There are several papal contenders in the wings, but no obvious front-runner _ the same situation when Benedict was elected pontiff in 2005 after the death of Pope John Paul II.

The Vatican stressed that no specific medical condition prompted Benedict's decision, but in recent years, the pope has slowed down significantly, cutting back his foreign travel and limiting his audiences. He now goes to and from the altar in St. Peter's Basilica on a moving platform, to spare him the long walk down the aisle. Occasionally he uses a cane.

His 89-year-old brother, Georg Ratzinger, said doctors had recently advised the pope not to take any more trans-Atlantic trips.

``His age is weighing on him,'' Ratzinger told the dpa news agency. ``At this age my brother wants more rest.''

Benedict emphasized that carrying out the duties of being pope _ the leader of more than a billion Roman Catholics worldwide requires ``both strength of mind and body.''

``After having repeatedly examined my conscience before God, I have come to the certainty that my strengths due to an advanced age are no longer suited to an adequate exercise of the Petrine ministry,'' he told the cardinals...

Complete story here.

Theological Disambiguations by Fr. Vladan Perisic

(SOC-WAD) - It is a great pleasure to see this work published, making available some of the most important writings of Fr Vladan Perisic over the last couple of decades available, together in one volume, to an English speaking audience. Fr Vladan’s work is well known in Serbia, and in broader academic and ecumenical circles. But it can now receive the much wider readership that it deserves, and, as a collected volume, its scope, coherence, and significance is sure to receive the recognition it deserves.

The eighteen essays collected here treat diverse topics, from academic theology (and its place in the Church) to questions of life and death, from historically oriented studies, on Sts Ignatius and Gregory Palamas, to contemporary issues, such as human rights and ecology. Each of them is characterized by meticulous scholarship and great insight, clarity of thought and expression.

While treating diverse topics, there is nevertheless an underlying unifying approach, one that is captured well by the arresting title of this book: Theological Disambiguations. The title, of course, calls to mind the great (and dense) work of St Maximus the Confessor, the Ambigua. It is characteristic that this saint, the most profound theologian among the Fathers, does not attempt to construct an overarching edifice of systematic theology, as has become the practice over the last centuries, but rather explores particular theological points, taking his lead from difficult statements of St Gregory the Theologian, and in doing so leads the reader to a more expansive theological vision, in which the original point of difficulty becomes recontextualized and greater insight into the breadth and depths of the wisdom of God is attained. Fr Vladan’s approach is similar, taking various issues that have become problematic due to the modern polarization between faith and reason, and seeking to resolve the problematic by working carefully through the issues involved and finding a standpoint prior to the opposition, so opening out a more comprehensive horizon.

Of particular interest is Fr Vladan’s assertion that the proper context of Christian theology is philosophy. Much of late twentieth-century theology has been devoted to exploring the fact that all theology is necessarily contextual, for it is always—from the apostles and evangelists themselves to contemporary thinkers— articulated by historically, geographically, and sociologically situated human beings. Against the tendency to then re-contextualize theology within different anthropological, sociological, cultural, and political contexts, Fr Vladan argues, rightly, that the proper context for theology is in fact philosophy. While every theologian certainly thinks, speaks, and writes in a particular socio-political situation, the problems address, as theology, belong to a different realm. To use Fr Vladan’s image: the evangelist John, the “Theologian”, asserts “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us” (Jn 1:14), not “the Word became a Jewish rabbi and dwelt in first-century Judea”; as true as the second statement is, it is not theology, whereas the first statement is properly theological, reflected upon intensely in the theological debates of the following centuries, concluding that the enfleshed Word defines for us both what it is to be God (he is consubstantial with the Father) and what it is to be human (he is consubstantial with us), in one, and as such is “the image of the invisible God” (Col. 1:15). After a couple of centuries of intense theological scholarship, which has resulted in the fragmentation of the discipline of theology into a variety of fields (Scriptural study, liturgical study, patristics, systematic reflection, etc.) that are often unable to understand each other, understanding the proper nature of theological discourse, as theology, is one of the most pressing contemporary issues. This “unconventional handbook” has much to offer, as we begin to learn again how to speak true theology.

Patriarchate of Antioch launches enthronement website

(antiochian.org) - The Patriarchate of Antioch and All the East has brought online a special website dedicated to the enthronement of His Beatitude Patriarch John X, which will take place this Sunday, February 10. The site is available in English, Spanish and Arabic. Site available here.

Sworn in by iPad? Not a fan, people.

NBC40.net

ATLANTIC CITY (NBC 40) - Atlantic City promoted several firefighters to the rank of Battalion Chief and Fire Captain thanks to some quick thinking and technology. At Friday morning's promotion ceremony, it was realized no one had brought a bible to City Council chambers, where the brief ceremony was held. After some quick thinking, the Bible app was pulled up on an iPad, which was then used to swear in the eight officers to their new positions.

Promoted to the rank of Battalion Chief were Joseph Haney, Allen Huggins, William Brooks, Angelo DeMaio, and Thomas Culleny, Junior.

Promoted to the rank of Fire Captain were Jeffrey Bird, James Gillespie, and Joseph Daily.

No one saw this coming... everyone saw this coming.

MIAMI (Reuters) - A Florida judge has approved the adoption of a 22-month-old baby girl that will list three people as parents on her birth certificate -- a married lesbian couple and a gay man.

The decision ends a two-year paternity fight between the couple and a friend of the women who donated his sperm to father the child but later sought a larger role in the girl's life.

The ruling means the child's birth certificate will include a biological father and both women as parents in an unusual arrangement approved recently by a Miami-Dade Circuit Court judge.

The women, Maria Italiano, 43, and Cher Filippazzo, 38, had made several unsuccessful attempts to become parents using fertility clinics.

They then turned to Italiano's hair dresser, Massimiliano Gerina, and asked if he would provide his sperm for artificial insemination.

"When push came to shove, they figured he would understand the situation," said Kenneth Kaplan, an attorney for the women.

"The mistake they made, however, was there should have been a written document spelling out what his rights and responsibilities were going to be."

According to Filippazzo, the three reached a verbal agreement before Italiano became pregnant. Filipazzo said the agreement meant she would adopt the baby and the two women, a longtime couple, would raise the child together.

But shortly before the baby was born, Gerina decided he wanted to be considered a parent and not a sperm donor. The women disagreed. Under Florida law, sperm donors have no legal rights to children.

Gerina hired a lawyer, setting off nearly two years of legal wrangling.

Under the judge's decision, the two women will have sole parental rights, although Gerina will be allowed to visit the child. He will not be expected to provide child support.

"We're trying to do the right thing for Emma," Filippazzo said. "We want Emma to have it all, and we believe by doing it this way, including him in a birthday or Thanksgiving, it'll be a nice addition for her."

"We believe the best interest for Emma is for him to have a role in her life, but not as a parent," she said. "The role is this is mommy's good friend who helped your moms have you because they wanted you so badly."

Ukrainian Church: Ok to conduct services in Ukrainian

The Ukrainian language issue has been a big one in the canonical/non-canonical church bodies debate. This is no small proclamation.

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(RISU) - The administrator of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church-Moscow Patriarchate, Metropolitan Antoniy of Boryspil, stated that the Ukrainian language can be used in the services in UOC-MP churches, reported ТSN.

“In the territory of Ukraine, there are parishes where the services are conducted in Hungarian, Romanian, Church Slavonic and Ukrainian. The question of the choice of language of the service is not an issue for the church conscience,” noted the hierarch.

“This is a question of a cultural and not religious character. For it is very important that the priest should be able to hear a confession in Ukrainian, for example,” explained the metropolitan.

"If two thirds of the parishioners prefer services in Ukrainian or another language, there will be no problem,” he added.

The metropolitan said that the UOC-MP celebrates services in Ukrainian mostly in the Volyn region. Such parishes also exist in Kyiv.

The metropolitan also pointed to the need of church work abroad, in the countries where many Ukrainians live.

Russian Church declares China & Japan its canonical territory

In a move sure to aggravate the Ecumenical Patriarchate, the Russian Church has declared Japan and China their own. One wonders what the Metropolitanate of Hong Kong will have to say. This is not a new debate between the two Churches, but this declaration is a new chapter in that disagreement.

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Moscow, February 6 (Interfax) - China and Japan are part of the canonical territory of the Moscow Patriarchate, the new edition of the charter of the Moscow Patriarchate says.

The document was adopted by the Bishop Council in Moscow on February 2-5 and was published on the website of the Russian Church.

Among the countries included in the canonical territory of the Moscow Patriarchate are Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Moldova, Azerbaijan, the Baltic states, Central Asia (all these countries, except for China and Japan, were included in the previous edition of the charter).

The Russian Church began its activities in China in the 17th century, when Russian priest Maxim Leontyev arrived in Beijing. The Russian Spiritual Mission to China was founded in 1713.

On November 23, 1956, the Holy Synod decided to transfer all Orthodox churches in China to the Chinese Orthodox Church, which was granted autonomy.

In 1997, the Synod of the Russian Church decided that because the Chinese church did not have its head, its flock was placed under the care of the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia until his election by the Local Council of the Chinese Orthodox Church in accordance with the Orthodox rules.

Orthodox faith was also brought by Russian missionaries to Japan.

The creation of the Russian Spiritual Mission in Japan was preceded by the creation of a Russian consulate in Japan in 1859 and the appointment of Iosif Goshkevich first consul in the city of Hakodate. He was accompanied by Vasily Makhov, a doctor and orthodox priest. Father Vasily had to return to Russia in 1860 due to his illness and was replaced with father Nikolay (Kasatkin), who later became future educator of Japan.

Fr. Alexander Atty steps down from St. Tikhon's deanship

(OCA) - It is with heavy hearts that the Saint Tikhon’s community learned of the Very Reverend Dr. Alexander Atty’s decision to step down as Dean and Chief Operating Officer of the Seminary due to issues of illness.

In a statement released to the community on Tuesday evening, Father Alexander said: “I feel at this time that my physical struggles make it impossible for me to devote the time and energy necessary to the Seminary and, most importantly, to the student body.”

Father Alexander went on to describe the great blessings he had received in serving the students of the Seminary and asked for the community’s prayers for both him and his family.

The Saint Tikhon’s community wishes Father Alexander all of God’s choicest blessings as he undergoes medical treatment, and asks for the prayer’s of the entire Church.

Words by the President of the Seminary, His Beatitude, Metropolitan Tikhon and the Rector of the Seminary, His Grace, Bishop Michael, are posted on the Seminary web site (here).

Two sides to Orthodox-Greek Catholic relations in Ukraine

Moscow, February 7 (Interfax) - Apostolic Nuncio to Moscow Archbishop Ivan Yurkovich believes that problems in relations between Orthodox and Greek Catholics in western Ukraine have been leveled out today.

"Those difficulties of the early 1990s today have been eradicated in many ways and there are many contacts, especially of personal and informal character, between the two Churches," he said in his interview published by NG-Religii paper.

The nuncio noted that many people who knew the situation better than he did shared this opinion.

According to Yurkovich, who was the Vatican's representative to Ukraine in 2004-2011, "it is important not to draw attention to the past in nuncio's mission in countries with such a difficult history."

"I have always avoided historical arguments and suggested focusing on plans for the future," he said. "I have always been impressed how many Catholics in Ukraine and Byelorussia live in mixed marriages. It means that ordinary people live together quite naturally, without problems. They know good qualities of one another and are not afraid of marrying, though they remain faithful to their confession and live in confessional diversity."

Tense relations between Orthodox believers and Greek-Catholics (Uniates) in western Ukraine are one of the main obstacles in the dialogue between the Moscow Patriarchate and the Roman Catholic Church.

Sed contra...

Moscow, February 7 (Interfax) - The Russian Orthodox Church does not entirely share the optimism of the Vatican's representative to Russia Archbishop Ivan Yurkovich about improving relations between Orthodox believers and Uniates in Ukraine.

"In many ways, we managed to overcome difficulties in relations between Orthodox and Greek-Catholics in Ukraine that existed in early 1990s, but we have to accept that today we face new challenges," Secretary for Inter-Christians Relations of the Synodal Department for External Church Relations Archpriest Dimitry Sizonenko told an Interfax-Religion correspondent.

Thus he commented Yurkovich's words published today by the NG-Religii paper. According to the apostolic nuncio "those difficulties of the early 90-s today have been overcome in many ways and today there are many contacts, especially of personal and informal character, between the two Churches."

The Moscow Patriarchate representative says that the Primate of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church "not without grounds is concerned with the attempts of the Greek Catholic Church to set up and develop its structures in regions where Orthodox believers make a majority."

Besides, Father Dimitry further said, "we can't help mentioning one more injury that needs healing," - church schisms.

The interviewee of the agency said that in their speeches the UGCC official representatives said they were striving to reach unity among Orthodox believers in Ukraine, "but in practice they do things aimed at reaching the contrary result."

As an example, the priest pointed out to the UGCC head Archbishop Svyatoslav Shevchuk's recent statement when he said that they accept the Baptism carried out in churches of the Kiev Patriarchate not recognized in Orthodox world.

At first glance, Father Dimitry said, this statement did not contain anything new as since St. Augustine's times the Roman Church has based on the teaching that the Sacrament of Baptism cannot be repeated and accepted any Baptism held observing certain conditions.

"However, in context of the current Ukrainian situation it sounds only as a witness to their interest in strengthening positions of shismatics," the Moscow Patriarchate representative said.

Russian Church: Closer to Catholics, distant from Protestants

Moscow (AsiaNews) - Relations between the Russian Orthodox and Catholic Church in recent years are experiencing a "positive trend," due to the "clear recognition of the need to join forces in defence of traditional Christian values ​​and counter some threats of modernity, such as the 'aggressive secularism which threatens the moral basis of social and private life, the crisis of family values ​​and the persecution and discrimination of Christians in the world". This overview of inter-Christian dialogue, and in particular with the Catholic Church, was given by the Patriarch of Moscow, Kirill, as he opened the Council of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church on February 2nd.

In his speech, published on the Patriarchate website, Kirill recalled some of the events in ecumenical dialogue with Catholics. Among these, the work of the the Joint International Commission for Theological Dialogue between the Orthodox Church and the Roman Catholic Church, that aims to outline "a common position on a number of topical issues including family, church and state relations, the moral and spiritual reasons for the economic crisis. "

Kirill highlighted his visit to Poland in August, the first as head of the Russian Orthodox Church and the 'historical' signature together with the President of the Polish Bishops' Conference, Msgr. Jozef Michalik, of a joint statement. The document is defined by the Patriarch as "the reflection of a mutual desire to forgive offenses and heal past wounds that have obscured relations between the Russian and Polish peoples." The two churches have thus traced a common path with respect to issues such as secularism, abortion, euthanasia and the family.

In his message, the Patriarch hopes for continued good relations with the ancient Churches of the East, "especially at a time like this where countries once considered Christian are turning in a hostile manner on Christians themselves." The reference is to the situation of the community in the Middle East and Africa, victim of targeted attacks by Islamic fundamentalism. Kirill has thus called for "solidarity between Christians in protecting the dignity of believers and to condemn hatred and vandalism against places of worship."

Finally, in his message to the Council, the Patriarch criticized the Protestant communities, which "continue on the path of liberalization, especially in ecclesiology and moral teaching." His criticisms are directed at the "blessing of homosexual unions and ordination of people who have openly admitted a non-traditional sexual orientation" that is becoming "the norm for several Protestant communities in the West". For this reason, he said, trying to achieve a common doctrinal position with these churches "has lost its meaning."

In the final resolution of the Council of Bishops, which ended on Feb. 5, the orthodox bishops subscribed to these positions, however, they also raised "concerns" regarding the theological Orthodox-Catholic dialogue. The Council notes "differences of approach" in the dialogue itself and expresses "doubts" regarding documents produced on the theme of Primacy in the universal Church, conciliarity (sobornost), orthodox doctrine and canonical tradition. The bishops stressed the need to make the process "more transparent." They propose the inclusion of all bishops in the discussion of documents prepared by the committees responsible for the theological dialogue with Catholics. This consultation is justified, by "the primary importance of these decisions and the responsibility of bishops to preserve the purity of the Orthodox faith and the peace and unity of the Church."

Coptic Pope Tawadros II on Egypt's new government

AL-MUHARRAQ MONASTERY, Egypt (Washington Post) - Egypt’s Coptic patriarch delivered a cautious but unusually sharp criticism of the nation’s Islamist leadership in an interview with The Associated Press on Tuesday, dismissing the new constitution as discriminatory and rounds of national dialogues sponsored by the president as meaningless.

Pope Tawadros II’s dive into politics came as he tried to energize the spiritual solidarity of a demoralized community with a visit to a historic monastery that no Coptic pontiff has been to in decades because of security tensions in southern Egypt.

He joined the black-robed monks in a two-hour pre-dawn prayer at the ancient Virgin Mary chapel in the al-Muharraq monastery, said to be on a site where the Virgin Mary took refuge with Jesus and her husband Joseph from Roman persecution.

Tawadros has taken an unusually vocal political activist stance since being enthroned in November as the spiritual leader of the Copts, the main community of Egypt’s Christians.

His papacy comes as Christians are increasingly worried over the rise to power of Islamists in the country and the rule of President Mohammed Morsi, who hails from the Muslim Brotherhood.

In a show of his more assertive stance that Christian complaints must be better addressed, Tawadros appeared less patient with media events that project a false harmony between Egypt’s Muslim and Christian leaders.

His late predecessor, Shenouda III, would often receive Muslim leaders at his cathedral after significant attacks on Christians as a demonstration of unity.

Asked by the AP if he would do the same, Tawadros did not respond directly but said, “Realistically, we want actions not words. We don’t want a show. Egypt has changed, we live in a new Egypt now.”

Morsi is facing mounting criticism to his rule by the mostly secular and liberal opposition who accuse the Brotherhood of monopolizing power and an independent media that is ruthlessly ridiculing him.

Read more »

New initiatives from annual OCN board meeting

(antiochian.org) - The Board of Directors of the Orthodox Christian Network (OCN) met in Ft. Lauderdale, FL at the network’s headquarters in St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church on January 26, 2013. His Grace Bishop Peter (ROCOR), the official episcopal liaison of the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of North and South America, attended the meeting and opened the proceedings with prayer.

Executive Director Fr. Christopher Metropulos noted that OCN and affiliated radio stations are now heard by over 2.6 million listeners in over 200 countries. He also cited the working relationships established between OCN and all of the Orthodox Christian jurisdictions of the Assembly of Bishops, which enables news and edifying podcasts, videos, and blogs to be shared with the faithful through multiple OCN delivery platforms.

After the meeting, the Board of Directors announced the following initiatives:

• Starting in February, listeners will be able to hear broadcasts of "Come Receive the Light" in Greek, Spanish, and Russian. In addition, launch of OCN’s iPhone app is now complete and a new Android app is now available.
• OCN has launched the OCN Webstore (see here); purchases will benefit OCN’s worldwide ministry at no additional cost to the shopper.
• A new podcast, “Our Life in Christ and in America,” will be hosted by Antiochian Orthodox Christian Bill Hinkle, former Minority Whip in the Washington state legislature, and Fr. Constantine Papademos, pastor of Saint Katherine Greek Orthodox Church in Elk Grove, CA and the longest serving chaplain of the California State Assembly in its history.

About your boring job...

Written "To a certain engineer who complained about his boring job," St. Nikolai wrote the following. Each job contains some vein of gold that can be found after some effort is put into mining for it (to borrow from St. John Chrysostom's imagery). Hopefully the below is helpful for other and not just for me.

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You complain that you are tired of your job. All other activities seem more interesting to you, and you, and you are troubled and anguished about not being able to find something better. I thought about this for a long time before picking up my pen to answer you. I tried to put my self in your place, and to play your part. I imagined myself at your worksite, in the locomotive car, in the midst of the roar of the machine and the pounding of the wheels. Sweaty, covered in soot, I cheerfully looked ahead. Behind me was arrayed an entire little people: old people, parents and children, nobility, diplomats, officials, peasants, workers, and day laborers. They had all been thrown together by circumstance, and they all depended on me. Some talked among themselves and some were lost in thought, but each was mentally striving to get to his final destination. Whether he gets to that station depends on me, and I depend only on God. The passengers could not even imagine how much they depended on me. They were not thinking of me - they didn't even know me. And that is precisely what made me happy. When the train was ready to move, no one came to look at me, or to make my acquaintance. No one asked, "Is our engineer crazy? Is he intoxicated? Is he blind? After all, we have entrusted him with our lives! He is the most important person in the galloping city of which we have become residents for a time." Such thoughts did not even occur to them, and that made me immeasurably happy. It makes me happy that so many people without even a glance entrusted their lives to me, to me, a stranger hidden in the heart of the locomotive. Trembling with joy, I began to thank the Lord: - O great and wondrous God! Glory and praise to Thee, for giving me life, and intellect, and such an important job! You gave me a task very much like Thy work, o God. After all, Thou o Lord, hidden, invisible and unknown, operate the machine of the world with Thine Holy Spirit. It is enormous, Thy passengers are without number. Thou art the [locomotive] Engineer for the entire world. Many, many travelers do not even think about Thee, do not consider the Mystery of Thine existence, but with trust sit down in Thy train and go, and go. And that most gladden Thee, immeasurably gladden Thee. Thou knowest where to grant rest to Thy passengers, where to feed them, and whom to discharge, and where. Frankly, they know little about the remarkable final destination toward which Thy marvelous train is moving, but they trustingly enter, trustingly travel, and trustingly alight. They put their trust in Thee, to the hidden, invisible, unknowable! I thank Thee a thousand times and bow before Thee, my All-seeing and All-powerful Creator and Engineer. In all of the dangers threatening this my journey, I place my hope in Thee alone. Only Thou canst help me bring it to its final destination without losing any of my passengers.

My young friend, what better job are you seeking? Is there any other better than yours? The Apostle Peter was a fisherman, and the Apostle Paul wove mats. Consider how much more important and interesting your job is than theirs, and thank Providence Who entrusted you with such an occupation.

Wishing you health, and may the blessings of the Lord be upon you!

- Missionary Letters of St. Nikolai of Žiča

"About a boring job"