Byzantine, Texas

Moscow, August 21 ( Interfax ) - The Belarusian Orthodox Church called on the clergy to refrain from participating in political life and urged its flock not to follow provocations amid the events taking place in the country. "We are again reminding the clergymen about the promise they gave before God not to participate in the political life of society, not to be a temptation and an object of people's division," the synodal department of the Belarusian Orthodox Church said in a release issued on Friday. According to the report, the Orthodox Church "believes it is not consistent with its mission to call for participation or non-participation in political rallies, but it strongly condemns all types of violence, fanning hatred and intolerance against anyone, doctors, police, teachers, authorities, or some other social groups." The document says the Belarusian Orthodox Church hopes that the relevant bodies will investigate "outrageous situations of cruelty"...

Warning: There is some occasional upspeak that, while it drives me to distraction, might not bother you in the least. An Introduction to The Ethiopian Liturgy by Augustine Dickinson from SMP1102 - Introduction to Eastern Christian Worship, Instructed by Dr. Brian Butcher, Sheptytsky Institute, Toronto, Canada, May 2020.

( Romanian Patriarchate ) - The law establishing August 16 as “The National Day of Remembrance of the Brâncoveanu Martyrs and of Awareness of Violence against Christians” was ratified by Romania’s President on July 16, 2020. The date was chosen to coincide with the date when the Romanian Orthodox Church commemorates the Holy Brâncoveanu Martyrs, canonized in 1992. The aim of the national day is to inform the public, including young people, about the role of Christianity in the history of Romania and of the nature and extent of anti-Christian persecution, which continues to these days. “The Holy Brâncoveanu Martyrs exemplarily illustrated martyrdom as the ultimate proof of love for Christ in the history of the Romanian Christianity”, is stated in a press release of the Romanian Patriarchate, which has welcomed the establishment of the remembrance day. “That is why the proclamation of a national commemoration day for their martyrdom should be for us an opportunity to become more aware of...

( HCHC ) - On Friday, August 7, 2020, at a special executive session, the HCHC Board of Trustees unanimously passed a resolution declaring “financial exigency” at the institution, allowing the School to initiate a restructuring designed to meet the serious fiscal challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, strengthen academic quality, and grow into the future. This process of restructuring, although challenging, is necessary for HCHC to continue to build on the recent progress that has been made. As President George M. Cantonis has stated, “Maintaining academic excellence and fiscal prudence must always be top priorities in all of our reorganization plans.” The declaration of financial exigency was necessitated by a projected budget deficit significantly worsened by COVID-19. HCHC would have been unable to fund this deficit and, due to its probationary status, a deficit budget would seriously threaten the institution’s accreditation. All of HCHC’s expenses were evaluated, but the largest expe...

The below from one of the terminated professors. Prayers for all the professors who lost their employment. Much is said about the problems at HCHC, but I for one would love to have a well-managed and well-attended Orthodox place of higher learning for our youth. THIS IS HOW HELLENIC COLLEGE, INC TERMINATED THE  SERVICES OF THE SIX TENURED PROFESSORS TO THE SCHOOL.  "In your meeting with George Cantonis yesterday you were notified that Tuesday, August 11, 2020, was your last active employment date with Hellenic College Holy Cross. I am attaching a scan of your Separation Agreement, and I will overnight the originals of the Agreement and your final checks to your home. Please pay special attention to sections 8, 9, and 10 regarding Confidentiality and Non-Disparagement.  As explained you have up to 45 days to accept the Agreement, however, you will not begin to receive Severance Payouts until 7 days after you have signed the Agreement. It's required that you remove all pers...

( OCA ) - The Board of Trustees of Saint Herman Seminary has announced a search for a new Dean of the Seminary.  After a long tenure as Dean of the Seminary Archpriest John Dunlop has decided to step down and pursue other interests. The successful candidate will be an ordained priest with a solid background in Orthodox Theology and a degree from an Orthodox institution of higher learning, preferably a doctorate.  He will be asked to perform in a variety of areas ranging from administration of the seminary, student relations, teaching, community involvement to fund raising.  He will do his best to live up to the mission of Saint Herman Seminary and the vision of His Eminence, Archbishop David, Seminary Rector. Interested candidates can send their Curriculum Vita to Archbishop David at his email: otyetz@hotmail.com or my postal mail: 7031 Howard Ave., Anchorage, AK 99504.  All questions and inquiries should be sent to the same addresses. Salary, benefits and housing wi...

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I say "forefront," I mean "leaning over the precipice and wondering if their necks will break their fall." ( ENS ) - The Episcopal Church’s House of Bishops concluded a two-day online meeting by voting July 29 on measures that commit it to confronting racism among its own members, as well as on a pastoral letter that raises concerns about the deployment of federal forces to quell local unrest in places like Portland, Oregon. The bishops also spent much of the day’s session discussing ways the coronavirus pandemic has upended traditional liturgical practices, but several voiced opposition to opening the door to more controversial practices, such as virtual Eucharist. Many congregations have been unable to gather in person for Holy Eucharist since the initial widespread suspensions of in-person worship in mid-March to help slow the virus’ spread. The Communion discussion responded to one half of the theme for this House of Bishops meeting: “Communion, Divine and Human...

( UOC-Youth ) - The Consistory Office of Youth & Young Adult Ministry in collaboration with St. Sophia Ukrainian Orthodox Theological Seminary is pleased to announce a Youth Ministry Certification program. Delegates of the UOC-USA Youth Sobor have repeatedly offered resolutions requesting advanced education for youth workers; we developed this course to address their requests and to help support this ministry that is so vital to the health of our parishes. It is our responsibility to provide our youth with the best personal relationships with their faith and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. St. John Chrysostom tells us, "This, then, is our task: to educate both ourselves and our children in godliness; otherwise what answer will we have before Christ's judgment seat?" ( Homily on Ephesians 6:1-4) The certification program is comprised of four courses offered over a two semester period. We hope to supplement this base course with continuing education components in the ...

( OCA ) - The Department of Liturgical Music and Translations of the Orthodox Church in America has released a new series of liturgical texts for the feast of the Glorification of Venerable Herman of Alaska, Wonderworker of All America (commemorated on August 9) in honor of the 50th anniversary of his glorification. At the request of His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon, the texts for the cycle of liturgical services commemorating St. Herman were composed by Hieromonk Herman (Majkrzak) and Priest John Mikitsh. Future plans include the composition of services texts for other American saints and complied into a supplemental Menaion and to be published by St. Tikhon’s Monastery Press.  The texts provided are copyrighted by St. Tikhon’s Monastery Press and are for the use of parishes and institutions in the Divine Services. As was reported earlier, the Holy Synod of Bishops of the Orthodox Church in America at the spring meeting decided to postpone the celebrations for the Fiftieth Annive...

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The Academy is offering classes online this year. If you are interested in an Orthodox distance education program (either a la carte or comprehensive), they are accredited and accepting applications . Give them a call! ( St. John-SF ) - Saint John of San Francisco Orthodox Academy is a pan-Orthodox co-educational, non-profit, full-time, college-preparatory day school founded in 1994 for grades K-12, with its academic calendar scheduled around the Orthodox calendar of feast days and services. The language of instruction is English. The Academy aims to participate with parents in the development of children with classical minds, Christian hearts, and community spirits who are well informed in both liberal arts and modern sciences, and are equipped with the knowledge of Orthodox faith and ethics that will enable them to live as devout Orthodox Christians. A Classical curriculum focuses on developing the whole child (paideia), which affords opportunities to address all aspects of educatin...

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Rome, Aug 5, 2020 ( CNA ) - After at least one explosion occurred at the ports of Beirut on Tuesday, a Maronite Catholic cardinal has said the local Church needs support to help the people of Lebanon recover from this disaster. “Beirut is a devastated city. A catastrophe struck there because of the mysterious explosion which occurred in its port,” Cardinal Bechara Boutros Rai, Maronite Patriarch of Antioch, said Aug. 5. “The Church, which has set up a relief network throughout Lebanese territory, today finds itself faced with a new great duty which it is unable to assume on its own,” the statement of the patriarch continued. He said after the Beirut explosion, the Church stands “in solidarity with the afflicted, the families of the victims, the wounded, and the displaced that it is ready to welcome in its institutions.” The blast, which occurred at Beirut’s port, has killed at least 100 and injured thousands, flooding hospitals. The death toll is expected to climb further, as emergency...

Moscow, August 3 ( Interfax ) - Chairman of the Russian patriarch's commission on family affairs Archpriest Dimitry Smirnov believes that it is possible for families to limit the number of children they want to have, but this should not be done using contraception. When asked in an interview with the Prikhozhanin (Parishioner) journal whether an Orthodox family can somehow try to limit the number of children it would like to have, Father Dimitry said that "yes, it can, but only through abstention, rather than by using contraception." The archpriest also spoke against shaping family life only around children. "Everything in a family, including the children, should center on Christ. But if everything is focused on the children, then we'll raise selfish people," he said. When commenting on how to choose a future spouse, Father Dimitry disagreed with the term "life companion," saying that "a companion is something temporary, while marriage is perm...

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