Orthodoxy in the Outer Banks

As Wikipedia recounts "The Outer Banks (also known as OBX) is a 200-mile (320-km) long string of narrow barrier islands off the coast of North Carolina and a small portion of Virginia, beginning in the southeastern corner of Virginia Beach on the east coast of the United States. They cover most of the North Carolina coastline, separating the Currituck Sound, Albemarle Sound, and Pamlico Sound from the Atlantic Ocean.

The Outer Banks is a major tourist destination and is known for its temperate climate and wide expanse of open beachfront." It is also home to one inchoate mission caring for the people in that expansive area (a mix of seasonal employees and the locals that serve them). As a fundraiser they've trademarked an Orthodox take on the popular OBX decal seen all over the Northeast and are selling these 3" x 4.5" decals for $10. 100% of the proceeds go to Holy Myrrhbearers Orthodox Mission.

If you'd like to order one you can send a check to Holy Myrrhbearers Orthodox Church, 257 Caratoke Hwy Unit C Moyock, NC, 27958 or email here if you'd like to pay by Paypal or some alternate method.

Bulgarian hierarch opposes Halloween and its "pagan origin"

(Sofia Globe) - The Bulgarian Orthodox Church Metropolitan of Varna, Yoan, made a call on October 31 against the growing popularity of Halloween in the country, urging that it not become “part of the Bulgarian soul”.

Yoan, who became head of the church in Varna in December 2013, called on Bulgaria’s children and young people to abide in the “pure and holy Orthodox faith”.

Halloween has become increasingly widespread in Bulgaria in recent years, with children emulating American practices such as trick and treat, the carving of pumpkins and the donning of macabre costumes.

Local media reports on October 31 said that it was outgunning traditional celebrations such as the Day of the Enlighteners on November 1.

Yoan, in a lengthy statement, traced the history of Halloween from medieval English practice that arose around the Roman Catholic observation of All Hallow’s Eve.

He noted that in Rome, Pope Boniface IV in 609 and Pope Gregory III (731-741) had moved the day, on which all saints are venerated, to November 1, to overcome Celtic pagan traditions rooted in Western Europe, Britain and Ireland, maintained by Druids – Celtic priests and magicians.

“Obviously, the date and contents of Halloween are of old and frankly pagan origin,” Metropolitan Yoan said.

Before Christmas, the Celts had celebrated their new year, Samhain, on the night of October 31 to November 1. They marked the end of the world (summer) and the beginning of the dark (winter) part of the year.

“This was the time, as they believed, when between the netherworld and the world of the living boundaries are blurred. Consequently, the living could go into the next dimension, and from there out in the world invaded the dead heroes, mythical characters and many ‘gods’ and ‘goddesses’,” Yoan said.

The night was associated with the strange and often terrifying events that were told in Celtic myths and legends.

Today, neo-pagans, Druids and other religious communities continued to celebrate Samhain, he said.

He quoted the Book of Leviticus, in which the Lord charges through Moses that the Jewish people should not bow their hearts to pagan beliefs and practices, to not be influenced by Egyptian, Canaanite or any other idolatory.

Yoan quoted the Christian bible story of Lazarus, which according to the story saw Lazarus raised from the dead by Jesus. “In it we see that the transition between the world of the living and the world of the dead is impossible.”

While the gospel was the good news of Jesus’s victory over sin and death, Halloween represented the apotheosis of decay and death, which is presented in all its ugliness and hopelessness, Yoan said.

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As close as the Russian Church and the Greek Catholics get

Pictured center Met. Hilarion of the Russian Church and to his right Major Archbishop (read: Patriarch) Sviatoslav of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church in Rome. For context see this post.

Coptic head visiting Moscow

(mospat.ru) - On October 28, 2014, His Holiness Tawadros II, Patriarch of the Coptic Church, arrived in Moscow for his first visit to the Russian Orthodox Church since he was elected to the Patriarchal throne in November 2012.

The official delegation accompanying His Holiness includes Metropolitan Bishoy of Damietta; Bishop Rafeile of Central Cairo, general secretary of the Coptic Church Holy Synod; Bishop Kirolos of Milan; Bishop Serapion of Los Angeles; Bishop Angelos, vicar-bishop in Great Britain; Rev. Angelos Ishak, Patriarchal secretary; Rev. Poules Halim, Patriarchal press secretary; Sister Edrosis Girgis, mother superior of the St. Theodore Convent in Cairo; Prof. Dr. Ishak Ibrahim Agban, Port Said Theological and Pastoral College.

At Domodedovo airport, Patriarch Tawadros II was met by Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, head of the Moscow Patriarchate Department for External Church Relations, Egypt’s Ambassador to Russia Mohamed Abdelsattar Elbadri, Archpriest victor Kulaga, representative of the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia to the Patriarchal See of Alexandria, Hieromonk Stephan (Igumnov), DECR secretary for inter-Christian relations, and Rev. Alexander Vasyutin of the DECR.

Welcoming the high guest, Metropolitan Hilarion expressed hope that His Holiness’s visit to the Russian Orthodox Church will be fruitful and leave good memories.

“We are very glad to come for a visit to your Church. Some members of my delegation have already been here, while the rest, just as I, have come for the first time. I will be glad to meet with His Holiness Patriarch Kirill. We know that visiting the Russian Orthodox Church we are filled with grace”, the Head of the Coptic Church said.

The program of the visit includes a meeting with His Holiness Patriarch Kirill and representatives of the Russian state leadership and visits to churches in Moscow and its region.

The visit of Patriarch Tawadros to the Russian Orthodox Church will be concluded on November 4, 2014.

Pope of Rome meets with Orientale Lumen group

On praying for the dead

I find myself preparing for a funeral later this week and so my mind is spinning through all aspects of death while I am spending the week gathering all the material things together to make this service happen. I came upon this video (one in a series of lessons on Orthodoxy by Archimandrite Vassilios Papavassiliou - a name you might remember from some of his books) and quite enjoyed this primer on the Church and death. Enjoy.

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Toronto diocese holds conference on EP: Finds him important

I'll post videos from the conference when they become available.

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(GOA-Toronto) - With the blessings of His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew and the spiritual leadership of His Eminence Metropolitan Sotirios, the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Toronto (Canada) held a historic and very successful Conference on the Ecumenical Patriarchate with the theme, Reflecting on the Past — Looking Towards the Future.

The Conference was held at the Metropolitan Centre in Toronto and attended by 300 individuals, including many dignitaries.

The day began with introductory remarks from Metropolitan Sotirios and a video address by Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew (here). Four distinguished speakers presented on various subjects that aligned with the Conference’s theme:

• Fr. Maximos Constas, a former Professor at the Harvard Divinity School, who is a monk at the Monastery of Simonopetra on Mount Athos and currently a Senior Research Scholar at the Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology, discussed the historical and ecclesiastical role of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, specifically, St. Proklos of Constantinople.
• The keynote address was delivered by His Eminence Metropolitan Ambrosios of Korea on the Ecumenical Patriarchate’s sacred missionary work. A short but very moving video was also shown about Orthodoxy in Korea.
• Canada’s Ambassador for Religious Freedom, Andrew Bennett, spoke on Truth, Dignity and Justice and on efforts to promote religious freedom around the world, particularly in Turkey.
• The Order of St. Andrew’s National Commander, Dr. Anthony Limberakis, discussed the Order’s efforts to defend, protect and promote the Ecumenical Patriarchate.

A number of prominent North American Orthodox clergymen participated in the Conference including His Grace Bishop Christophoros of Andida, His Grace Bishop Ilia of Philomelion (Albanian Orthodox Church) and His Grace Bishop Andriy of Krateia (Ukrainian Orthodox Church), each of the Ecumenical Throne, as well as His Grace Bishop Georgije of the Serbian Orthodox Church.

Other eminent attendees included His Eminence Thomas Cardinal Collins; Robert W. Peck, Ambassador of Canada to Greece; Alexandros Ioannidis, Consul General of Greece in Toronto; Rev. Fr. Alex Karloutsos of the U.S. Archdiocese; James Anas, President of the Canadian Archons; Efthimia Coutsougeras, President of the Metropolis Philoptochos; Archdeacon Bruce Myers, Representing the Primate of the Anglican Church of Canada; Dr. Karen Hamilton, General Secretary — Canadian Council of Churches; and, Dr. Kenneth Matziorinis, President of AHEPA Canada.

The Conference was a unique opportunity for participants and interested observers to learn about the Ecumenical Patriarchate, its illustrious history, present-day challenges and sacred role in Christendom, as well as the many honourable and principled initiatives of His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, the 270th successor of St. Andrew the Apostle.

During his concluding remarks, Metropolitan Sotirios specifically thanked Rev. Fr. Fanourios Pappas (Parish Priest at St. Nicholas) and Mr. E. Sotiropoulos, the principal organizers of the Conference. In addition, His Eminence conveyed the love, good wishes and blessings of His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew. He also thanked and glorified the Triune God and requested that participants do the same; after praising God, everyone chanted the blessed Phos Hilaron.

Photos and videos from the Conference are available on the Metropolis website and YouTube channel.

California's Orthodox winery

(OCA-DOW) - "Do you make wine?" It is a question often asked by visitors to Holy Assumption Monastery and St. Simeon Verkhoturksy Church, both located in Calistoga, CA, nestled at the northern end of the Napa Valley. For two years now, the parishioners and nuns have been able to say, "Yes!", thanks to the creation of Calistoga Orthodox Wines, a jointly-managed non-profit company that currently produces two wines - California Kagor Premium Orthodox Chalice Wine and Traditional Blend Chalice Wine.

On Sunday, October 12, Calistoga Orthodox Wines hosted its 3rd annual wine-tasting and silent auction to raise funds for producing the wines. The event at St. Simeon Church featured eight local winemakers pouring their wines for guests, in addition to the chalice wines. Attendees milled about the spacious church lawn underneath globe lanterns from mid-afternoon until well after dark, enjoying an open-flame paella bar, desserts, and live instrumental music. Many took home valuable items donated to the silent auction by local stores and spas. New this year was a children's area, featuring various crafts that the children could make and take home. With over 100 participants, the this year's wine-tasting was the most successful fundraiser yet for Calistoga Orthodox Wines. If you missed the event, mark your 2015 calendar for Columbus Day Weekend, and join us next year!

California Kagor Premium Orthodox Chalice Wine and Traditional Blend Chalice Wine are high-quality wines are made according to the specifications of the Orthodox Church. The Kagor, as its name indicates, is of exceptionally high quality and is made according to the specifications of Tsar Peter the Great and the Russian Church Council of 1915. Please see here for more information on these wines. Proceeds from the sale of the wines benefit Holy Assumption Monastery and St. Simeon Church.

Leo Tolstoy's "Three Hermits"

Many moons ago I posted a video of this "old legend," but I enjoy it so much I thought it time to post the short story itself. Enjoy.

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'And in praying use not vain repetitions, as the Gentiles do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. Be not therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask Him.' -- Matt. vi. 7, 8.

A BISHOP was sailing from Archangel to the Solovétsk Monastery; and on the same vessel were a number of pilgrims on their way to visit the shrines at that place. The voyage was a smooth one. The wind favourable, and the weather fair. The pilgrims lay on deck, eating, or sat in groups talking to one another. The Bishop, too, came on deck, and as he was pacing up and down, he noticed a group of men standing near the prow and listening to a fisherman who was pointing to the sea and telling them something. The Bishop stopped, and looked in the direction in which the man was pointing. He could see nothing however, but the sea glistening in the sunshine. He drew nearer to listen, but when the man saw him, he took off his cap and was silent. The rest of the people also took off their caps, and bowed.

'Do not let me disturb you, friends,' said the Bishop. 'I came to hear what this good man was saying.'

'The fisherman was telling us about the hermits,' replied one, a tradesman, rather bolder than the rest.

'What hermits?' asked the Bishop, going to the side of the vessel and seating himself on a box. 'Tell me about them. I should like to hear. What were you pointing at?'

'Why, that little island you can just see over there,' answered the man, pointing to a spot ahead and a little to the right. 'That is the island where the hermits live for the salvation of their souls.'

'Where is the island?' asked the Bishop. 'I see nothing.'

'There, in the distance, if you will please look along my hand. Do you see that little cloud? Below it and a bit to the left, there is just a faint streak. That is the island.'

The Bishop looked carefully, but his unaccustomed eyes could make out nothing but the water shimmering in the sun.

'I cannot see it,' he said. 'But who are the hermits that live there?'

'They are holy men,' answered the fisherman. 'I had long heard tell of them, but never chanced to see them myself till the year before last.'

And the fisherman related how once, when he was out fishing, he had been stranded at night upon that island, not knowing where he was. In the morning, as he wandered about the island, he came across an earth hut, and met an old man standing near it. Presently two others came out, and after having fed him, and dried his things, they helped him mend his boat.

'And what are they like?' asked the Bishop.

'One is a small man and his back is bent. He wears a priest's cassock and is very old; he must be more than a hundred, I should say. He is so old that the white of his beard is taking a greenish tinge, but he is always smiling, and his face is as bright as an angel's from heaven. The second is taller, but he also is very old. He wears tattered, peasant coat. His beard is broad, and of a yellowish grey colour. He is a strong man. Before I had time to help him, he turned my boat over as if it were only a pail. He too, is kindly and cheerful. The third is tall, and has a beard as white as snow and reaching to his knees. He is stern, with over-hanging eyebrows; and he wears nothing but a mat tied round his waist.'

'And did they speak to you?' asked the Bishop.

'For the most part they did everything in silence and spoke but little even to one another. One of them would just give a glance, and the others would understand him. I asked the tallest whether they had lived there long. He frowned, and muttered something as if he were angry; but the oldest one took his hand and smiled, and then the tall one was quiet. The oldest one only said: "Have mercy upon us," and smiled.'

While the fisherman was talking, the ship had drawn nearer to the island.

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UGCC Patriarch on non-canonical bodies

So, if you want to know what is upsetting Moscow, this is it. Lines like 'Instead, the Ukrainian media spread information that “the hierarch said that the UOC (MP) is the only canonical Orthodox Church in Ukraine.”' are what Russia's External Church Relations group is talking about. Setting aside the polemics associated with the Greek Catholic Churches, I hazard to guess that Rome would be very upset if the Russian Church engaged with sedevacantists and other Catholic splinter groups in the way the UGCC is treating the UOC-KP and UAOC. Again, I'm not entertaining a discussion about the very existence of Greek Catholicism, I'm saying if the UOC-MP is dealing with non-canonical groups and you are giving credence to those groups you should expect the rhetoric to fly. Discuss.

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(RISU) - This is the opinion that Patriarch Sviatoslav (Shevchuk) the UGCC expressed on October 23, during a briefing on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of legalization of the UGCC. The head of the UGCC also commented on yesterday’s words of Patriarch Filaret that someone wanted to put at odds Greek Catholics and Orthodox of the Kyiv Patriarchate.

Note that the reason for that was spreading by the media of the UGCC Patriarch’s words taken out of context that referred to “canonicity” of the Orthodox Churches in Ukraine. In an interview with The Catholic Channel Patriarch Sviatoslav said: “Today it is no secret that the only canonical Orthodox Church in Ukraine, that is the one in full communion with World Orthodoxy is the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate. There are other Orthodox religious communities, which have emerged in the time of independence of Ukraine, at different times and for different reasons, and have dissented from this Patriarchate; other Orthodox Churches consider them non-canonical.”

In an interview with Cardinal Timothy Dolan Patriarch Sviatoslav suggested that the religious situation in Ukraine was not so easy for foreigners to understand. “Yes, he said, in Ukraine there really exists the ‘canonical Church’, which the other Orthodox Churches recognize – the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in union with the Moscow Patriarchate. But we also have a large community of the Church of Kyiv Patriarchate, which is non-canonical for Orthodox world. And also there is a small community of the Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church, which is also considered non-canonical. But despite this, we try to be open to all.”

Instead, the Ukrainian media spread information that “the hierarch said that the UOC (MP) is the only canonical Orthodox Church in Ukraine.”

“I have stressed and I want to stress once again now that we feel absolutely profound respect for all denominations existing in Ukraine,” said the Head of the UGCC.

“It became quite obvious for me that someone really wants to extend this conflict, which now exists in Ukraine between the Ukrainian society and the external aggressor, to religious grounds, thus fuelling the inter-religious and inter-confessional conflict in Ukraine. And here I agree with Patriarch Filaret that someone really wants to put the religious environment at odds. And today I say – you lose! We understand it and won’t rise to provocations,” said Patriarch Sviatoslav.

“Today we, the Orthodox Churches, the Catholic and Protestant Churches, are all unified as never before. This unity in the religious environment, such practical ecumenism that we have today, has probably never existed for the past 25 years,” the hierarch summed up.

St. George manhole covers offend some in Moscow

Moscow, October 24 (Interfax) - The Orthodox Gonfaloniers Union calls blasphemous the project of Moscow canalization manholes depicting St. George the Victory-Bearer designed by the Art Lebedev Studio (see here).

"We consider the manholes a blasphemous abuse of religious feelings: depiction of the saint covers a manhole, the impurities will flow under it, the depiction is intentionally perverted, the depiction of the saint will be trampled upon," head of the Orthodox Gonfaloniers Union and the Orthodox Brotherhoods Union Leonid Simonovich-Nikshich said in his statement conveyed to Interfax-Religion on Friday.

According to him, the project is a subject to Article 148 of the Russian Criminal Code (Public actions expressing evident disrespect to society aimed at insulting religious feelings.)

"We ask Moscow mayor office to renounce these canalization manholes, otherwise we reserve the right to turn to the General Prosecutor Office in connection with intentional insulting of religious feelings," the statement reads.

The Art Lebedev Studio reports that design of the manholes covered was ordered by the Industry, Housing and Utilities Department. The series includes ten covers dedicated to one of the main Moscow symbols - St. George the Victory-Bearer.

Eastern Catholicism and the Second Vatican Council

If you want to see how truly complex the relationship is between the Eastern Catholic Churches and the Roman and Orthodox Church, this is the video series to watch. The first video (a talk delivered by Fr. Brian E. Daley, S.J.) is a good history lesson for those unfamiliar with the self-identification of the Eastern Catholics and how Rome and Orthodoxy have seen them. "Uniatism" is a major sticking point right now and will continue to be until some consensus is reached, Greek Catholicism becomes a thing of the past, or Orthodoxy miraculously decides that it's "no big deal."

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Innovation? No, thanks says St. Maximus

H/T: Classical Christianity

Often what makes news in the Catholic and Protestant worlds doesn't resound quite the same way in Orthodoxy. That's not to say Orthodoxy lacks its faults in execution (this blog is full of snapshots of such moments), but that things like an "Extraordinary Synod on the Family" get a muted response from the laity. Why? Because Orthodoxy is loathe to do anything new. If we can't find a biblical, patristic, or conciliar precedent for something it's not going to go very far. Even if we look to the Great and Holy Council set for 2016, we aren't going to see anything new I hazard to guess. We're going to see consensus on points that need consensus and some flowery wording on, as the agenda puts it, "Proclaiming Christian ideals to the work of Justice and Human Rights" and "Presence of the Orthodox Church in the World Council of Churches" among other similar "timely" topics. The hot button topic of autocephaly and who grants it didn't even make it onto the schedule.

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"[T]hose who have itching ears and itching tongues are those who wish only to hear or or tell of something new, who are always delighted by innovations, and in relocating the boundaries established by their fathers — to use a biblical phrase — and who take pleasure in the ephemeral and exotic, and who rise up against whatever is well known, well established, and unchanging, as being dull, commonplace, and of no value. They would gladly embrace the latest fashion, even though it were demonstrably false and could bring no benefit to the soul."

- St. Maximus the Confessor

Ambiguum 13

Pope of Rome to visit Turkey

(Hurriyet Daily News) - Pope Francis is set to become the fourth Pope to visit Turkey, after the Vatican published details of an upcoming three-day visit to Ankara and Istanbul.

Vatican spokesman Father Federico Lombardi said on Oct. 21 that Pope Francis was scheduled to touch down on Turkish soil on Nov. 28 in Ankara, before leaving the country from Istanbul on Nov. 30.

“Accepting the invitation of the president of the [Turkish] Republic, of His Holiness Bartholomew and the president of the [Turkish] Bishops’ Conference, Pope Francis will make an apostolic visit to Turkey from Nov. 28 to 30, traveling to Ankara and to Istanbul,” read the statement issued by Lombardi.

On the first day of his visit in the capital, the Pope is expected to visit the Anıtkabir, the mausoleum of the founder of the Turkish Republic Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, before meeting President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu, and Directorate of Religious Affairs (Diyanet) head Mehmet Görmez.

Pope Francis will then fly on Nov. 29 to Istanbul, where he is scheduled to visit the Hagia Sofia Museum and the Sultan Ahmet Mosque (Blue Mosque).

The Pontiff will hold a Holy Mass at the Catholic Cathedral of the Holy Spirit and privately meet Orthodox Patriarch Bartholomew I later in the day.

He will also sign a Common Declaration towards religious unity and have lunch with Bartholomew I on the last day of his visit, during which he is scheduled to make three speeches.

Pope Francis will be the fourth Pope to visit Turkey after Pope Paul VI in 1967, Pope John Paul II in 1979 and Pope Benedict XVI in 2006.

The visit will come three days after he addresses the European Union Parliament in Strasbourg, France, at a difficult time for people of various religions in the Middle East and at a time when Turkey is hosting more than 1.5 million Syrian refugees.

Syria’s civil war has left more than 191,000 people dead since it began over three years ago, according to a U.N. report released in August.

Iraqi Christians have also fled their homes in fear of their lives in the face of attacks by Islamic State of Iraq and Levant (ISIL) militants, with most of them arriving in Turkey.

Asked whether the Pope may visit refugees from Syria or Iraq during his visit to Turkey, Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin told reporters that it had not been ruled out as “the program has not yet been defined.”

A U.S.-led coalition is continuing to strike ISIL targets in Iraq and Syria in an effort to help Iraqi government forces and Kurdish security forces fighting the terrorist group.

Turkey declared on Monday that it will help Kurdish security forces (known as Peshmerga) to cross the border and pass from Iraq to Syria, where Kurds are fighting ISIL militants in the border city of Kobane.

OCA's Diocese of the West gets aux. bishop

(OCA) - On Tuesday, October 21, 2014—the opening day of the fall session of the Holy Synod of Bishops of the Orthodox Church in America—His Grace, Bishop Irénée of Québec City and Igumen Paul [Gassios] were canonically elected to the vacant Episcopal Sees of Canada and Chicago and the Midwest. In addition, the Holy Synod elected Igumen Daniel [Brum] to serve as Auxiliary to His Eminence, Archbishop Benjamin of San Francisco and the West as Bishop of Santa Rosa, CA.

Bishop Irénée, who had been serving as Administrator of the Archdiocese of Canada, was nominated by delegates to the Extraordinary Archdiocesan Assembly held in Gatineau, QC on October 2, 2014. Igumen Paul, who had served as Administrator of the Diocese of the Midwest, was nominated by delegates to the Special Midwest Diocesan Assembly held in Broadview Heights, OH, on October 7.

Born in Montréal, Quebec on December 25, 1948, Bishop Irénée received a BA in Slavic Studies from the University of Ottawa in 1971, after which he began studies at Holy Trinity Seminary, Jordanville, NY. He was accepted as a novice at Holy Trinity Monastery and placed under the spiritual guidance of Archimandrite Kiprian. In 1974, he was tonsured a Rassophore monk. The following year, he was tonsured a Stavrophore monk with the name Irénée, in honor of the sainted hieromartyr of Lyons.

In 1978, he was blessed to serve in France. In May of the same year, he was ordained to the diaconate in Brussels, Belgium, and in August to the priesthood in Geneva, Switzerland. He continued to serve in France until 1982, at which time he returned to Canada to serve Montréal’s French mission. He and the mission’s faithful were received into the OCA in 1986.

In 1992, Hieromonk Irénée was elevated to the dignity of Igumen by His Grace, Bishop Seraphim of Ottawa, to care for the French language monastics in Québec. He also served as a supply priest to the parishes in Montréal, Ottawa, Toronto and Québec City.

In April 2009, the Holy Synod of the OCA elevated Igumen Irénée to the dignity of Archimandrite and elected him as an Auxiliary Bishop in the Archdiocese of Canada with the title of Bishop of Québec City. In October 2009, ten bishops participated in his consecration to the episcopacy at Ottawa’s Annunciation Cathedral. On October 1, 2010, the Holy Synod appointed Bishop Irénée as Administrator of the Archdiocese of Canada.

Igumen Paul was born to Nicholas and Georgia Gassios, natives of Castanea, Greece, in Detroit, MI on April 6,1953. He, his parents, and his sister Agatha lived in Detroit until their move to the suburbs in 1973.

As an infant, he was baptized with the name Apostolos, in honor of the holy Apostle Paul, at Saints Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Church, Detroit, MI—his home parish for the first 28 years of his life.

He graduated from Detroit’s Cooley High School, where he was a member of the National Honor Society, in 1971, after which he enrolled in Wayne State University as a history and psychology major. After his graduation in 1976, he worked with emotionally and physically abused children. He furthered his education at Wayne State, from which he received a Master of Social Work degree in 1980, and continued to work in his chosen field.

In the mid-1980s, he became a member of Holy Transfiguration Church, Livonia, MI. He began theological studies in September 1991 at Saint Vladimir’s Seminary, Yonkers, NY, from which he received his Master of Divinity degree summa cum laude and served as valedictorian in 1994. He was ordained to the priesthood by His Eminence, the late Archbishop Job of Chicago and the Midwest, on June 25, 1994.

After ordination, he was assigned Priest-in-Charge of Saint Thomas the Apostle Church, Kokomo, IN, which he served until June 2005, after which he resided at Saint Gregory Palamas Monastery, Hayesville, OH until May 2006. He briefly served as Rector of Archangel Michael Church, St. Louis, MO and the Nativity of the Holy Virgin Church, Desloge, MO before his transfer to the OCA’s Bulgarian Diocese and assignment as Dean of Saint George Cathedral, Rossford, OH in 2007. In August 2014, he was named Administrator of the Diocese of the Midwest and relocated to Chicago.

On October 20, 2014, he was tonsured to monastic rank with the name Paul, in honor of Saint Paul the Confessor, Patriarch of Constantinople.

Igumen Daniel [Brum] was born in Fresno, CA, on November 16, 1954, the oldest of three children born to Orville Antonio and Marjory Brum. He was raised in Riverdale, CA—a community predominantly comprised of Portuguese-American families—where he graduated from high school in 1973.

Raised in the Roman Catholic tradition, he enrolled at Saint Patrick’s College Seminary, Mountain View, CA, where, during his freshman year, he first encountered the history of the Orthodox Church and frequently attended services at Saint Nicholas Church, Saratoga, CA, at that time under the rectorate of Mitered Archpriest George Benigsen, who welcomed him and encouraged him to explore Orthodox Christianity further. In the early 1970s, he began reading the Church Fathers and tried to integrate what he was learning of Orthodoxy into his regular courses of study.

He received a BA in Humanities, with specialization in history, philosophy and English literature, from Saint Patrick’s College Seminary in 1977, after which he entered Saint Patrick’s Seminary, Menlo Park, CA, where he continued the study of Church history. In 1981, he received his Masters of Divinity degree and was ordained to the Roman Catholic priesthood. After ordination, he served in a variety of capacities and was especially involved in the Portuguese-American community. He also served as diocesan Director of Vocations and as editor of the Portuguese-language page of the diocesan newspaper.

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Serbian Patriarch Irenaeus at Mt. Athos

(spc.rs) - Since Patriarch Paul as the primate of the Serbian Church did not visit Mount Athos, and that Patriarch German visited Mt. Athos in 1978, this is the first visit of the Serbian Patriarch to Mt. Athos after 35 years. According to the Athonite laws all primates of the Local Orthodox Churches when they enter the ground of Mount Athos they should visit its seat –capital town of Karyes. Patriarch Irenaeus was welcomed by protos – administrator of Mount Athos fathr Symeon from the holy monastery of Dionysiou (one-year mandate was given to representatives of the five Athonite monasteries: Saint Lavra, Saint Paul, Hilandar, Vatopedi and Dionysiou).

More on Met. Hilarion's visit to Rome

(mospat.ru) - On October 6, 2014, Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, head of the Moscow Patriarchate’s department for external church relations visited Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI at his residence in the Vatican. The DECR chairman is in Rome for the Extraordinary Assembly of the Synod of Catholic Bishops, with the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia.

(mospat.ru) - Answering questions from the interviewer, Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, head of the Moscow Patriarchate’s department for external church relations, attending the plenary session of the Third Extraordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Catholic Bishops as representative of the Russian Orthodox Church, spoke on the Christian understanding of the institution of the family and the stand taken by the Russian Orthodox Church with regard to the civic conflict in Ukraine.

– Your Eminence, please tell us which practices of the Orthodox Church with regard to the family and marriage can be adopted by the Catholic Church?

– I think, in the first place, it is necessary to renounce the rigorist approach. We have common church rules and a common understanding of marriage: marriage is the union of man and women, and it should be one and the only. At the same time however, in practice there is a great deal of situations where this doctrine is not observed for various reasons. Then the problem moves from doctrinal to pastoral plane, in which the Orthodox Church has accumulated a certain experience, first of all, sometimes using the principle of akriveia – the strict adherence to the rules and sometimes the principle of oikonomia – condescension for human weakness.

In the discussions I have heard here today, the question was raised whether divorced spouses may be allowed to take Holy Communion and to make Confession. It seems to me that this question should be subjected to a thorough study, and we are ready to present our pastoral experience to our Catholic brothers.

I think, it is absolutely inadmissible to replace the Sacrament of Holy Communion with what some speakers have called “spiritual communion”, for it cannot be a substitute at all. And here we have a great space for cooperation and exchange of opinions.

– After the week of the Synod’s meetings a so-called “post-debate report” has come out to provoke mixed reactions here. Is there anything confusing for you personally in it?

– Honestly speaking, I have had no time to read this report, but I have heard today numerous reactions to it, which will be published as well. From this reaction I have gathered that there is a considerable divergence of opinion among Catholic hierarchs, which is to be taken into account in drafting the final document. I have a feeling that the opinions expressed in that document were not final and some of the attitudes expressed may be incorrectly interpreted in it.

- Catholic communities in many European countries give their churches to Orthodox believers to use, including the faithful of the Russian Orthodox Church. In Russia, Ukraine and Byelorussia are there Catholic communities which have no churches of their own while at a given settlement there is an Orthodox church. Do you think such practice is possible there, but the other way round?

- In each particular place, the problem should be resolved on the basis of pastoral wisdom and the mood of the faithful, and we should be sure that the implantation of a community into the soil of the other will not harm them both and will not become a cause for conflicts and misunderstandings between different communities.

- Your Eminence, what role can the Church or Churches play in settling the conflict in Ukraine?

– First of all, Churches should not interfere in a political confrontation. I have spoken about it openly today, referring to the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church.

I believe our mission and our mandate, which we have received from the Lord Himself, is to unite people, to reconcile them. We should not go into details of the political process nor associate ourselves with a particular side of a conflict – let politicians and journalists do it. We should be open to people of any political orientation except for anti-human or chauvinistic one and support those who stand on the opposite sides of a barricade.

Such was and is the stand of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate, which does not wish to identify with a particular segment of the political spectrum but supports all people. It should be mentioned that the faithful of our Church (I say “our” because the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate is part of the one multinational Russian Orthodox Church), unfortunately, have found themselves on the different sides of the barricades. We should be fully aware of this and do everything to prevent the civic conflict from turning into an armed confrontation, to resolve all the controversies through negotiations so that people will not have to pay such a high price for their convictions.

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And so it begins...

(The Spokesman-Review) - The owners of the Hitching Post wedding chapel filed a federal lawsuit against the City of Coeur d’Alene Friday, claiming that the city is unconstitutionally forcing them to violate their religious beliefs by performing same-sex marriages.

Owners Donald and Evelyn Knapp say in the lawsuit that they believe marriage is a sacred covenant between a man and a woman.

“Performing same-sex wedding ceremonies would thus force the Knapps to condone, promote and even consecrate something forbidden by their religious beliefs and ordination vows,” the suit reads.

The city passed an ordinance prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation in 2013. It applies to housing, employment and “public accommodation.” Religious entities are exempt from the ordinance. But in May city attorney Warren Wilson told The Spokesman-Review that The Hitching Post, which is a for-profit business, likely would be required to follow the ordinance.

According to the lawsuit, a man called the business Friday to ask about a same-sex wedding ceremony and was turned down. The Knapps are now asking for a temporary restraining order against the city to stop it from enforcing the ordinance. Violation of the ordinance is a misdemeanor punishable by fines and jail time.

“The Knapps are thus under a constant, coercive and substantial threat to violate their religious beliefs due to the risk that they will incur the penalties of jail time and criminal fines for declining to speak a message and perform a wedding service that contradicts their religious beliefs and ministerial vows,” the suit reads.

When reached by phone late Friday afternoon, Coeur d’Alene Mayor Steve Widmyer said he was not aware of the lawsuit and had no comment.

The city’s ordinance is a violation of the couple’s First and Fourteenth Amendment rights along with a violation of the Idaho Free Exercise of Religion Protected Act, the lawsuit said.

The lawsuit was filed by Georgia and Arizona-based attorneys for Alliance Defending Freedom in partnership with Coeur d’Alene attorney Virginia McNulty Robinson. The group’s website defines ADF as a “legal ministry that advocates for the right of people to freely live out their faith.”

Ground blessing service for Ground Zero church

Protests outside Bayonne Coptic church lead to arrests

(nj.com) - The Coptic Orthodox Archdiocese of North America is "saddened and dismayed" by the actions of those who protested at a Coptic church in Bayonne this past Sunday, according to a statement released to The Jersey Journal on Thursday.

"As congregants of the church, we attend the holy liturgy to worship God with one heart and one spirit, seeking the Lord's grace and forgiveness," Bishop Karas wrote in the two-page statement. "The actions of those who shouted and protested inside the church, disrupting the service, showed no regard for the holy eucharist on the altar. The actions of the protesters in insulting and cursing in the church and at the clergy is both inappropriate and against ecclesiastic law."

The first protest in what is expected to be a series of weekly demonstrations occurred this past Sunday, when a throng of churchgoers demanded their leaders bring back Father George Greiss to the St. Abanoub & St. Antonious Coptic Orthodox Church at 1325 Kennedy Blvd.

On Oct. 1, the Coptic church's pope, Pope Tawadros II, issued a Papal Decree reassigning Greiss to a church in South Carolina, according to Joseph Ghabour, a spokesman for the Coptic Orthodox Church of St. Mark's in Jersey City.

Greiss' reassignment came after he spent 17 years at St. Abanoub & St. Antonious, which Ghabour said has been "the subject of unrest for more than 14 years," posing "numerous challenges" to Coptic church leaders.

In a letter sent to The Jersey Journal on Tuesday, Ghabour stated that the Bayonne church faces "administrative, financial, engineering, spiritual and behavioral challenges that require special managerial expertise and spiritual leadership." When contacted, he did not provide details on the issues cited, nor did he say if any complaints had been filed against Greiss.

Read more »

Russian Church speaks very plainly to Catholic Synod

As always, Met. Hilarion was exceedingly direct in his address to the Catholic hierarchs assembled to discuss the Church and the family. It will be no surprise, then, that he brings up Uniatism as a stumbling block to further rapprochement.

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(mospat.ru) - GREETING ADDRESS BY METROPOLITAN HILARION OF VOLOKOLAMSK TO THE THIRD EXTRAORDINARY GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE SYNOD OF CATHOLIC BISHOPS ON PASTORAL CHALLENGES TO THE FAMILY IN THE CONTEXT OF EVANGELIZATION

Your Holiness,

Your Beatitudes,

Your Eminences and Your Excellencies:

Allow me first of all to greet you on behalf of the primate of the Russian Orthodox Church, His Holiness Kirill, Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia.

The topic of the family is one of the most acute and vital today. It is an indicator of the moral state of the society in which we live.

We have anxiously watched as abuse of the notions of freedom and tolerance has been used in recent years to dismantle the basic values rooted in religious traditions. There is an increasingly aggressive propagation of the idea of moral relativism applied also to the institution of the family held sacred by all of humanity.

In quite a number of countries in Europe and America, despite numerous protests, same-sex unions are approved and recognized on the level of the state. In some places, the right of same-sex partners to adopt children has already been fixed legally and implemented, including through the use of “surrogate motherhood” technology.

At the same time, traditional families built on the notion of marriage as union of man and woman become weaker and weaker. Instead of concern for their consolidation, there is the propaganda of so-called “free relations”. The notions of fidelity, mutual respect and responsibility of spouses are replaced by the imposition of hedonism and calls to live for one’s own self.

Children are no longer seen as the desirable fruit of spouses’ mutual love. The right of abortion, restricted by almost nothing, has become widespread, and has led to the legalization of the destruction of millions of lives. Among the serious problems is the existence of orphans whose parents are still alive, and abandoned and lonely disabled children.

The ideas of moral relativism have also affected many Christians who in words confess the Church’s teaching on the family but in deed refuse to follow it.

Asserting the sanctity of marriage based on the words of the Saviour Himself (see Mt. 19:6, Mk. 10:9), the Roman Catholic Church and the Orthodox Church traditionally place personal responsibility above egotistical interests. To cultivate in a Christian this responsibility before the family, society and the surrounding world is the most important tasks for Churches today. The protection of human dignity and affirmation of the lofty value of love realized in the family is an integral component of the Gospel message that we are called to bring to people.

In November 2013, the Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate and the Pontifical Council for the Family led by Archbishop Vincenzo Paglia held in Rome a conference on ‘Orthodox and Catholics Protecting the Family Together’. In the final statement, we underlined “our conviction that we bear a common responsibility for making marriage and family life the way to sanctity for Christian families”.

The time has come for Christians to join efforts and come out as a united front for the noble goal of protecting the family when confronted by the challenges of the secular world for the sake of preserving the future of civilization. It is the field in which our alliance may become really needed.

We should together defend our positions both in dialogue with the legislative and executive authorities in particular countries and on the platforms of international organizations, such as the UN and the Council of Europe. We already have a certain experience of such cooperation; it is enough to recall the well-known case of Lautsi versus Italy.

It is essential not to confine ourselves to noble appeals, but to press in every possible way for the legal protection of the family. It is necessary to restore in our society the awareness that freedom is unthinkable without responsibility for one’s actions.

The Orthodox Church consistently proclaims the ideal of the one and only marital union concluded once and for all. At the same time, conceding the weakness of human nature, in exceptional cases the Orthodox Church allows for a new church marriage in the instance of the breakup of the first marriage. In this our Church follows the principle of oikonomia, guided as she is by the love of the sinner who is not to be deprived of the means of salvation. In today’s world, in which the strict observance of the church ordinances becomes increasingly rare, the practice of oikonomia, which has existed in Orthodoxy throughout the centuries, may become a valuable experience in settling the pastoral problems of the family.

The Orthodox Church has accumulated a rich experience of pastoral care for the family. She has always preserved the institution of married clergy. As a rule, the families of priests are large and their children are brought up in the spirit of Christian devotion and faithfulness to church teaching. A priest with his own experience of family relations and parenting can better understand family problems and give his spiritual children the necessary pastoral aid. I believe it would be useful to notice this experience, which is also present in the Catholic Churches of the Eastern Rite.

Speaking about the Churches of the Eastern Rite, I would like to digress from the forum’s topics and to touch upon an issue that has become today a stumbling block in the relations between the Orthodox and the Catholic Churches. It is the problem of Uniatism which has become once again more acute as a result of the recent events in Ukraine. Regrettably, the conflict in that country, which has already taken the lives of thousands, from the very beginning has acquired a religious dimension.

A significant role in its conception and development has been played by the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church. From the very first days of the conflict, the Greek Catholics identified with one of the sides of the confrontation. Contrary to the respect for canonical norms prevailing in relations between the Catholic Church and the Orthodox Church, the Greek Catholics have entered into active cooperation with the Orthodox schismatic groups.

The Joint Commission for Orthodox-Catholic Dialogue, as far back as 1993 in Balamand, recognized that Uniatism is not the way to unity. We are grateful to our Catholic brothers for their open recognition of the mistakenness of Uniatism. And we have to state regrettably again that Uniatism does not bring the Orthodox and the Catholics any closer to each other; on the contrary, it divides us.

On behalf of the Russian Orthodox Church, I would like to address the representatives of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church present in this hall with an appeal to renounce any statements on political topics and any visible forms of support of the schism as well as calls to create “one Local Church of Ukraine”. For standing behind this call is a simple truth, the wish to tear away the Orthodox faithful in Ukraine from their Mother Church, the Moscow Patriarchate, with which Ukraine has been bound by age-old blood ties.

The principal mission of the Church is to serve the cause of people’s salvation. The mandate given to us by God does not presuppose interference in political and civil conflicts. In a world in which there are so many divisions, in which the very foundations of the survival of human civilization, including the institution of the family, are under threat, Christians are called to be “the salt of the earth” and “the light of the world” (Mt. 5:13-14), bringing all to the love of each other and to unity in Christ.

We can do much together, also for the protection of the Christians who have become today victims of persecution. In Iraq and Syria and in a number of other countries in the Middle East and Africa, Christians are subjected to genocide. We should do all that depends on us to stop the killing of Christians, to stop their mass exodus from the places where they have lived for centuries, to draw the attention of the whole world community to their calamitous state.

I wish you all, dear brothers, God’s blessing and success in your efforts!

Ultra Spirituality

"Russophobia" and the world stage

Moscow, October 16 (Interfax) - Director of the Human Rights Center at the World Russian People's Council Roman Silantyev urges OSCE to consider the problem of Russophobia.

Meeting with the OSCE officials on tolerance and non-discrimination on Wednesday in Moscow, Silantyev suggested to set up a post of OSCE head representative on the problem of Russphobia, "which is actively instigated in Europe."

He was surprised with the fact that anti-Semitism and Islamophobia were divided in separate sectors and entrusted to different curators while "the only person is charged with a great massive of other problems in this sphere."

Mufti of Moscow, the Central Region and Chuvashia Albir Krganov noted that hatred was instigated not only to Russians, but also to other peoples of Russia, for instance, to Chechens and Tatars. He suggested calling such a personal representative "an expert on defamating peoples of Russia."

Earlier, OSCE chairman appointed three personal representatives on tolerance and non-discrimination: Rabbi Andrew Baker (the USA) - on combating anti-Semitism, Professor Talip Kucukcan (Turkey) - on combating intolerance to Muslims, professor Alexey Avtonomov (Russia) - for combating racism, xenophobia and discrimination and also intolerance to Christians and representatives of other religions.

Personal representatives annually visit OSCE countries-members to analyze the existing problems, defining positive examples and working out recommendations to governments in the field of tolerance and non-discrimination.

Houston subpoena travesty continues drawing attention

For a little background and then the letter from the Texas Attorney General to the City of Houston. When government officials start demanding homilies we should all begin to worry.

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(Houston Chronicle) - Houston's embattled equal rights ordinance took another legal turn this week when it surfaced that city attorneys, in an unusual step, subpoenaed sermons given by local pastors who oppose the law and are tied to the conservative Christian activists that have sued the city.

Opponents of the equal rights ordinance are hoping to force a repeal referendum when they get their day in court in January, claiming City Attorney David Feldman wrongly determined they had not gathered enough valid signatures to qualify for the ballot. City attorneys issued subpoenas last month during the case's discovery phase, seeking, among other communications, "all speeches, presentations, or sermons related to HERO, the Petition, Mayor Annise Parker, homosexuality, or gender identity prepared by, delivered by, revised by, or approved by you or in your possession."

The subpoenas were issued to several high-profile pastors and religious leaders who have been vocal in opposing the ordinance. The Alliance Defending Freedom has filed a motion on behalf of the pastors seeking to quash the subpoenas.

Plaintiff Jared Woodfill said the subpoena impinges on protected religious freedoms.

"This is the city trampling on the First Amendment rights of pastors in their churches," Woodfill said.

The city attorney's office has not responded to requests for comment.

And also...

Austin (Texas Attorney General) - Attorney General Abbott today asked that the Houston City Attorney to immediately withdraw the subpoenas sent last month to several Houston-area pastors seeking sermons, notes and other information.

In his letter to the city attorney, Attorney General Abbott said, “Whether you intend it to be so or not, your action is a direct assault on the religious liberty guaranteed by the First Amendment. The people of Houston and their religious leaders must be absolutely secure in the knowledge that their religious affairs are beyond the reach of the government.”

Dear Mr. Feldman:

Your office has demanded that four Houston pastors hand over to the city government many of their private papers, including their sermons. Whether you intend it to be so or not, your action is a direct assault on the religious liberty guaranteed by the First Amendment. The people of Houston and their religious leaders must be absolutely secure in the knowledge that their religious affairs are beyond the reach of the government. Nothing short of an immediate reversal by your office will provide that security. I call on you to withdraw the subpoenas without further delay.

I recognize that the subpoenas arise from litigation related to a petition to repeal an ordinance adopted by the city council. But the litigation discovery process is not a license for government officials to inquire into religious affairs. Nor is your office’s desire to vigorously support the ordinance any excuse for these subpoenas. No matter what public policy is at stake, government officials must exercise the utmost care when our work touches on religious matters. If we err, it must be on the side of preserving the autonomy of religious institutions and the liberty of religious believers. Your aggressive and invasive subpoenas show no regard for the very serious First Amendment considerations at stake.

A statement released by the Mayor’s Office claims that the subpoenas were prepared by outside lawyers and that neither you nor Mayor Parker was aware of them before they were issued. Nevertheless, these lawyers acted in the City’s name, and you are responsible for their actions. You should immediately instruct your lawyers to withdraw the City’s subpoenas. Religious institutions and their congregants should never have to worry that a government they disagree with will attempt to interfere in their religious affairs. Instead of safeguarding that trust, you appear to have given some of the most powerful law firms in Houston free rein to harass and intimidate pastors who oppose City policy. In good faith, I hope you merely failed to anticipate how inappropriately aggressive your lawyers would be. Many, however, believe your actions reflect the city government’s hostility to religious beliefs that do not align with city policies.

I urge you to demonstrate the City’s commitment to religious liberty and to true diversity of belief by unilaterally withdrawing these subpoenas immediately. Your stated intention to wait for further court proceedings falls woefully short of the urgent action needed to reassure the people of Houston that their government respects their freedom of religion and does not punish those who oppose city policies on religious grounds.

Sincerely,

Greg Abbott

Attorney General of Texas

The new direction: Antiochian monasticism in America

(antiochian.org) - This summer at the Summer Meetings at the Antiochian Village in Ligonier, Pennsylvania, His Eminence Metropolitan Joseph announced the new Antiochian Women Project for 2014-2015 which will incorporate his vision for the Antiochian Archdiocese well into the future. Over the next year, the Antiochian Women will work towards "Nurturing the Seeds of Orthodoxy Across North America".

The Project is two-fold:

• "Regional Camping and Learning Centers" – His Eminence's vision is to offer Orthodox programs throughout all of North America and the ultimate establishment of facilities to house these events.
• "Monastic Communities" – The vision is to make Antiochian Orthodox monastic communities prevalent across our continent.

Throughout our work on this Project, let us recall the parable of the mustard seed where Jesus said, "To what shall we liken the kingdom of God? ... It is like a mustard seed which, ... when it is sown, it grows up and becomes greater than all herbs, and shoots out large branches, so that the birds of the air may nest under its shade." (Mark 4:30-32.)

We as Antiochian Women must help to nurture these mustard seeds, and Orthodoxy, across North America.

We would urge you to read the full description of the Project (PDF), and then download the promotional poster (PDF) to be shared with the contact person at your church or mission. Please ask the women to display the poster in a prominent place and to start planning events that will highlight our Project: "Nurturing the Seeds of Orthodoxy Across North America".

Also remember that March is "Antiochian Women's Month". More information will be forthcoming, but we recommend that you start the planning and fundraising for this Project now. Most importantly, everyone in the parish – men, women and children – should know about the Project.

Russian Church representatives going to Rome

(mospat.ru) - In the evening of October 14, 2014, Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, head of the Department for External Church Relations, arrived in Rome for an official visit, which will last till October 18.

With the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia, the DECR chairman, acting as a representative of the Russian Orthodox Church, will attend the plenary session of the Third Extraordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Catholic Bishops on Pastoral Challenges of the Family in the Context of Evangelization and address the meeting. During his visit, Metropolitan Hilarion will meet with Pope Francis, Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, Vatican’s Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin, President of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity Cardinal Kurt Koch, and will deliver a lecture at the opening of academic year at the Southern Italy Faculty of Theology in Naples.

Metropolitan Hilarion will be accompanied by Hieromonk Stephan (Igumnov), DECR secretary for inter-Christian relations, Rev. Alexiy Dikaev, staff member of the secretariat for inter-Christian relations, and Hierodeacon Nikolay (Ono), postgraduate of the Ss Cyril and Methodius Institute of Post-Graduate Studies.

Ground Zero shrine update

(St. Nicholas WTC) - His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios of America extends an invitation to all of the faithful of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese to join him along with the Holy Eparchial Synod in New York on October 18 to bless the hallowed and sacred ground upon which St. Nicholas National Shrine at the World Trade Center will be built.

Blessings aplenty

Extremely important talk being given at St. Vlad's

(OCA) - On Friday, October 24, 2014, Saint Vladimir’s Seminary here will host a one-day seminar titled “Pastoral Counseling Following Abortion and Other Crises,” specifically designed for pastors, trained counselors and parish lay ministers engaged with those suffering from post-abortion distress and other trauma.

Dr. Theresa Karminski Burke, founder of Rachel’s Vineyard, the world’s largest ministry dealing with post-abortion healing, will lead four sessions: “The Need for Post-Abortion Counseling,” “Pregnancy Loss and Suicide,” “Crash Course in Trauma (PTSD),” and “Brain Science: How Emotional Trauma Impacts the Brain.”

Dr. Burke, who holds an MA and PhD in Counseling Psychology from Immaculata University, has lectured and trained professionals nationally on the subject of post-abortion healing, and her programs offer a unique sensory-based treatment that integrates emotional, psychological, and spiritual dimensions. She is a Nationally Certified Psychologist, Certified Diplomat of the American Psychotherapy Association, Licensed Professional Counselor, Board Certified Clinical Psychotherapist, and Diplomat of the American Board of Forensic Counselors.

The Saint Ambrose Society, a student-run pro-life group at Saint Vladimir’s, is sponsoring the seminar. The Society’s President, Seminarian Ignatius Green, said the group is especially pleased to present the opportunity because “nearly every priest will meet women who are suffering with the consequences of abortion, and this workshop will show how clergy and others engaged in healing ministries can more effectively minister to women who are seeking emotional and spiritual healing.”

Pastors, counselors, lay ministers, and seminarians of all faith communities are welcome to the seminar, which will be held from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. in the Metropolitan Philip Auditorium of the John G. Rangos Family Foundation Building, top floor.

To register, send an e-mail to SAS@svots.edu by October 20. The $30.00 registration fee includes lunch. Please mail check payable to “Saint Vladimir’s Seminary” (memo: SAS) to Saint Ambrose Society, 575 Scarsdale Road, Yonkers, NY 10707.

Flyers for downloading are available here (PDF).

Chrysostom on the blasphemer: "Smite him on the face!"

For context on this amazing quotation, see one of my favorite blogs Roger Pearse.

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But since our discourse has now turned to the subject of blasphemy, I desire to ask one favor of you all, in return for this my address, and speaking with you; which is, that you will correct on my behalf the blasphemers of this city.

And should you hear any one in the public thoroughfare, or in the midst of the forum, blaspheming God; go up to him and rebuke him; and should it be necessary to inflict blows, spare not to do so.

Smite him on the face; strike his mouth; sanctify thy hand with the blow, and if any should accuse thee, and drag thee to the place of justice, follow them thither; and when the judge on the bench calls thee to account, say boldly that the man blasphemed the King of angels!

For if it be necessary to punish those who blaspheme an earthly king, much more so those who insult God. It is a common crime, a public injury; and it is lawful for every one who is willing, to bring forward an accusation.

Let the Jews and Greeks learn, that the Christians are the saviours of the city; that they are its guardians, its patrons, and its teachers.

Let the dissolute and the perverse also learn this; that they must fear the servants of God too; that if at any time they are inclined to utter such a thing, they may look round every way at each other, and tremble even at their own shadows, anxious lest perchance a Christian, having heard what they said, should spring upon them and sharply chastise them.

- St. John Chrysostom

Catholics seek advice on divorce from Oriental Orthodox

Long Branch, NJ (SCOOCH) – Members of the Standing Conference of Oriental Orthodox Churches convened with their Roman Catholic counterparts last week on Thursday October 2 and Friday October 3 at the Stella Maris Retreat Center in Long Branch, New Jersey to discuss issues pertaining to the Holy Mystery of Marriage.

The purpose of the ongoing North American dialogue between the Roman Catholic Church and the Oriental Orthodox Churches is to learn from one another’s experiences in matters related to pastoral care. Theological debate and discussion do from time to time ensue, but it is not the primary purpose of the meeting. This year’s topic was the subject of marriage, specifically how each church prepares their faithful to enter into the Holy Mystery of Marriage and how each church deals with the subject of divorce.

Both communions agreed on the sacred, eternal and indissoluble nature of marriage, but both also acknowledged the need to minister to those faithful whose human frailties have led them – for whatever reason – to separate from their spouse and who still wish to remain within the communion of the Church. The delegates also reviewed the findings of the recent Oriental Orthodox-Roman Catholic International Dialogue convened in Kerala, India and discussed significant recent events in the lives of their churches.

The delegates of the Armenian Apostolic Church announced at the meeting that their church will soon be canonizing martyrs from the Armenian Genocide of 1915. The Armenian Church hasn’t canonized any new saints in 600 years, and its theologians are presently investigating the procedure by which to recognize sainthood. The two Armenian Catholicoi, H.H. Karekin II of Holy Etchmiadzin and H.H. Aram I of the Great House of Cilicia, and both of their Holy Synods are working together on this monumental event and will declare the canonization jointly on April 23, 2014. The two Catholicoi will also celebrate a Divine Liturgy together.

Other topics discussed included the ongoing genocide being carried out against the Christians of the Middle East, the recent and widely applauded In Defense of Christians summit held in Washington, DC, and the prodigious and heroic efforts of H.H. Moran Mor Ignatius Aphrem II Karim, Patriarch of Antioch and all the East, who has been working tirelessly not only to create awareness in the West of the plight of the Middle East’s indigenous Christians but also to heal the schism within the Syriac Orthodox Church of India.

Orthodox seminary in Smolensk gets Catholic assistance

(ACN) - Currently, there are about 100 young men preparing for ordination at the Orthodox seminary in Smolensk. This city which, according to the earliest documentary evidence, dates back to the year 863, is situated in the west of Russia, close to the frontier with Belarus. Ever since the early 1990s ACN has been supporting the seminary, which was reopened in 1988. Before the communist October 1917 revolution, Orthodox priests had been trained here for over 200 years. However, when the building was finally returned after the collapse of communism, it was in an utterly derelict and desolate condition. In re-establishing the seminary, they had to start again almost from scratch. ACN helped for the furnishing and equipping of the seminary, and we continue to help to this day for the training of its future priests. One of the fruits of this aid is that the seminary maintains close contacts with the Catholic parish in the city.

The young men preparing for ordination in the seminary of Smolensk today were all born during the difficult era immediately after the collapse of communism. Not a few of them had to find their own way to God, since their own parents and grandparents had already grown up in an atheist system. What they all share in common is the fact that, one day during their lives, they reached a point when they realised that God was calling them.

One of these men is 27-year-old Filaret. He comes from a family in which nobody was a believer. Despite this, he was baptised at the age of four. Speaking of his childhood, he says: "I was healthy, very strong, played sport, and it seemed as though there were no obstacles in my life that I could not overcome." But when he reached the age of 14 he became ill. For a long time the doctors could not reach any kind of diagnosis, but it turned out that he was suffering from a form of polyarthritis which affected first of all the spinal column and then the joints. "I couldn’t come to terms with this; I tried to fight my illness and intensified my training. But then, for the first time, I really understood what it means to be helpless", he recalls. The experience changed him. "When I think of myself and of my friends, I realise that we all had our dreams and our own ideas of happiness, but we were seeking happiness where it cannot actually be found. No wonder that it was precisely then that I began to think about God, the meaning of life and the origin of the world. This search led me to discover the Gospel, and my whole value system changed completely. What had happened to me was something quite inexplicable. I sat at home and read the Bible endlessly. It became the purpose and the guide of my life." The sickness grew worse. By the age of 19 the young man could scarcely walk. "The Gospel was my only consolation. It was precisely during this time that I prayed as never before, but I didn’t go to church. At the time I wanted to become a doctor, so that I could help people. Then one day I heard about the Orthodox monks and I realised that they were living in the way that I too would like to live. I got to know Father Ermogen, a priest and monk who was the leader of a monastic community. First of all I went to Confession and received Communion, then in 2010 I was received into the monastery. Soon after this I came to understand that I really can serve God and help people by becoming a priest." So it was that in 2011 he entered the seminary in Smolensk. For Filaret the whole thing is a "huge act of divine Providence". He adds, "The way of life, the teaching and the academic staff are an immeasurable source of profit to me, and they are forming me as a person and also as a future priest."

In order to equip these future priests with a truly broad horizon, the seminarians are all encouraged, during their training, to acquaint themselves with the works of Western theology too. For this reason the Rector wishes to supplement the seminary library, for example with the works of Joseph Ratzinger / Pope Benedict XVI and other noted Catholic theologians. The Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need will be supporting this project with a grant of $7,000.

Catholics look to Orthodox for guidance on divorce

(Crux) As summer turns to autumn, the most compelling storyline in Rome is a highly anticipated summit of Catholic bishops from around the world, which shapes up as a key test of how much the status quo in the Church has been upended by a charismatic pope from a foreign land who’s taken the world by storm.

Called a “Synod of Bishops”, the meeting seems destined to grapple with the contentious issue of the Church’s ban on divorced and remarried Catholics receiving Communion. Although the Vatican’s German doctrinal czar warns no change is possible, his admonition does little to stifle the debate.

A cardinal considered a lion of liberal European Catholicism uses a platform in Rome to argue for a more compassionate approach, based on the Orthodox model of penance after a first marriage breaks down. More conservative prelates insist that any liberalization would run afoul of a teaching that comes from Jesus himself: “What God has joined, let no one separate.”

As anyone who’s been paying attention knows, those lines fit like a glove in the run-up to this year’s Synod of Bishops on the family in Rome Oct. 5-19, convened by Pope Francis.

In fact, however, they date to October 1999 and that year’s Synod of Bishops on Europe, called by Pope John Paul II. At the time, luminaries of the left such as Cardinals Godfried Danneels of Brussels and Carlo Maria Martini of Milan were pushing to re-open a question that John Paul’s Vatican had declared closed five years before.

In 1993, three German bishops had put out a pastoral letter addressed to Catholics who divorce and remarry without obtaining an annulment, a declaration from a church court that a marriage never existed because it didn’t meet one of the tests for validity, such as informed consent. The bishops said if such Catholics decide in conscience their first marriage was invalid, with the counsel of a priest, they can receive communion...

Complete article here.

Something to get your blood flowing this morning

"Teaching Liturgy" in Mechanicsburg

(OCA-DEPA) - On Sunday, September 7, Holy Apostles Mission a held a "teaching liturgy." Marking the first day of Church School, Proskimedia was served in the middle of the Church where Fr. Timothy explained how the Gifts are prepared. Later during the Divine Liturgy, instead of a sermon, Fr. Timothy explained the parts of the liturgy.

Russian Church: spiritual weapons greater than nuclear

Moscow, October 9 (Interfax) - Loss of spiritual weapon is the most terrific thing for Russia, head of the Synodal Department for Church and Society Relations Archpriest Vsevolod Chaplin believes.

"They try to deprive Russia of its spiritual weapon, which, I believe, is more powerful than nuclear one," Father Vsevolod said on air his program Vechnost i Vremya (The Eternity and Time) at the Spas TV-channel.

According to him, notions of good and evil are leveled down with the term "tolerance," moreover it is packed with such an opinion that "tolerance is refusing the monopoly on truth."

The priest believes that spiritual weapons is a kind of standing in truth "when we claim that we know truth for all, not only for our people."

Father Vsevolod also said that nuclear weapon is not a panacea.

"It is enough to buy a leading group of society - those who lack ideas and are ready to sell their ideals for a certain sum of money - in order to relieve from competitors the civilization that strives to be the only center," he said and added that "it is rather simple to buy a part of our elite," and in this case no weapon would help us.

Russians circle wagons in response to pan-Orthodox meeting

(mospat-usa) - On Tuesday, October 8, at the invitation of His Eminence Metropolitan Hilarion of Eastern America and New York, First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia, His Grace Bishop John of Naro-Fominsk participated in a meeting of the ROCOR Synod of Bishops held in Cleveland, Ohio.

Bishop John discussed with the Hierarchs from ROCOR the outcomes from the recent meeting of the Assembly of Canonical Bishops held in Dallas this past September.

St. Tikhon's: new effort underway to get more female students

(STOTS) - St. Tikhon’s Seminary is very pleased to announce the LuAnn Motel Scholarship Fund established 2014 by the Motel family, husband Donald, sons, Dr. Peter Motel, Andrew Motel, Esq. and Stephen Motel, and daughter, Dr. Marta Motel Grewell in loving memory of their Wife and Mother LuAnn. The scholarship is to aid one or more female students studying at St. Tikhon’s Seminary enrolled in the Master of Divinity Program.

LuAnn’s life was a living tribute to the service of others in both her church life as one of the founding members and later church Warden of St. Herman’s Church, Gradyville, Pa and her professional life as an oncology nurse at Hahnemann Hospital in Philadelphia. What set her apart much like the Myrrh bearing women was her incredible strength and lack of fear no matter what cross was laid before her. She was an inspiration to all who knew her and the establishment of this scholarship Fund in her Memory is true testimony of the incredible love and respect of her family who will continue to honor her through helping others complete their studies at the Seminary and go on to serve the church.

Initial funding of this scholarship of $25,000.00 has been given by the Motel Family. Anyone can contribute to this fund as even the smallest gift will allow us to continue to help our female students and encourage more to consider attending the Seminary.

If you would like to establish your own scholarship to honor a special person please contact Fr. Dennis Swencki, CFO /Development Director at St. Tikhon’s Seminary 570-561-1818 ext 7. The Seminarians truly welcome your gifts and your expression of love and care for them as they begin their life long service in our Holy Orthodox Church.

V. Rev. Dennis Swencki

CFO St. Tikhon's Seminary

OCA's Midwest diocese nominates Archpriest Paul Gassios

(OCA) - One hundred and three clergy and lay delegates representing parishes throughout the Orthodox Church in America’s Diocese of the Midwest gathered at Archangel Michael Church here on Tuesday, October 7, 2014, for a special Assembly at which Archpriest Paul Gassios was nominated to fill the vacant See of Chicago and the Midwest.

Father Paul’s name will be forwarded to the Holy Synod of Bishops for canonical election.

His Grace, Bishop Alexander of Toledo, Locum Tenens, opened the Assembly immediately after the celebration of the Divine Liturgy.

For several months, Father Paul has served as Administrator of the Diocese of the Midwest.

Raised in a Greek Orthodox family, Father Paul became a member of the Orthodox Churh in America in the mid-1980s. He received a Master of Social Work degree from Wayne State University and was awarded the Master of Divinity degree from Saint Vladimir’s Seminary in 1994. After his ordination, he served in the Diocese of the Midwest as rector of Saint Thomas the Apostle Church, Kokomo, IN for 11 years and as rector of Archangel Michael Church, St. Louis, MO, for an additional seven months. In 2007, he was transferred to the OCA’s Bulgarian Diocese and assigned Dean of Saint George Cathedral, Rossford [Toledo], OH.