January, 2016 - Orthodox Christian Laity

Monthly Archives: January, 2016

Tom Hanks Leads Cheers for Fr. Bakas

By Webmaster on January 30, 2016 Orthodox News, Orthodox News Top Stories

Source: The National Herald By Vasilis Papoutsis LOS ANGELES, CA – The anniversary dinner to honor Fr. John Bakas, the Dean of St. Sophia Cathedral in Los Angeles, for his 20 years of service was attended by more than 550 guests, including Hollywood dignitaries from the Greek-American community. Academy Award-winning actor Tom Hanks served as the evening’s Emcee and shared stories about Fr. Bakas. His speech was both affectionate and entertaining as he highlighted Bakas’ many accomplishments. Bakas told TNH that he attributed his success to ”the principles and values of his Greek heritage that his parents taught him.” Hanks,…

The Case for Orthodox Christian Unity in the USA

By Webmaster on January 29, 2016 Governance & Unity Essays, Governance & Unity News, Uncategorized

Source: Orthodox Christian Laity OCL has expressed the need for Orthodox Unity in the USA for many years. OCL has kept the issue clearly visible for your consideration. Here are 2 worthy items on the subject from the OCL Archives. Do Old World Patriarchs Really Want Orthodox Unity? Source: The National Herald By George D. Karcazes Special to The National Herald The letter that Archbishop Kyril, Secretary of the Synod of Bishops of the “Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia” recently sent to Archbishop Demetrios of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, as Chairman of the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox…

The court process against Archbishop Jovan and the other Bishops, priests, monastics and believers of the Orthodox Ohrid Archbishopric has begun

By Webmaster on January 28, 2016 Orthodox News, Orthodox News Top Stories

Source: Orthodox Ohrid Archbishopric After seven months of postponing of the scheduled court hearings, today, January 28, 2016, in the Court of First Instance Skopje I in Skopje, the politically rigged court process against His Beatitude Archbishop Jovan of Ohrid and Metropolitan of Skopje, two Bishops, priests, monastics and believers of the Orthodox Ohrid Archbishopric has begun. The hearing was soon done and the trial could have ended in the soonest possible time, but that will not be the case, due to the tendentious delays of the Public Prosecutor, who requested the witnesses that already testified, to be brought to…

ORTHODOX PARISH ASSEMBLIES: 5 BEST PRACTICES

By Webmaster on January 28, 2016 Orthodox News, Orthodox News Top Stories

Source: OrthodoxOutpost.com by ANDREW ESTOCIN The new year is unfolding and many Orthodox parishes in America will be participating in a seasonal ritual known as the parish assembly. Parish assemblies are part of the process in American Orthodox parishes where the community evaluates its health and decides on matters that are the responsibility of the laity. These assemblies are a normal part of the checks and balances of Orthodox life in America. And like every other part of our Life in Christ, parish assemblies are vulnerable to human weakness. Anger, fear, envy and apathy are all emotions people can experience…

ORGANIZATION AND WORKING PROCEDURE OF THE HOLY AND GREAT COUNCIL OF THE ORTHODOX CHURCH

By Webmaster on January 28, 2016 Governance & Unity News, Governance Top Stories

Source: Russian Orthodox Church – Department for External Church Relations The document is approved by the participants in the Synaxis of the Primates of Local Orthodox Churches on January 21 – 28, 2016, in Chambesy, except representatives of the Patriarchate of Antioch. It is published by the decision of the Synaxis of the Primates. Article 1 Introduction By the grace of the Holy Trinity, the Holy and Great Council is an authentic expression of the canonical tradition and perennial church practice as to the functioning of the conciliar system in One Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church and shall be convoked…

Orthodox leaders conclude Geneva meeting in preparation for ‘Great Council’

By Webmaster on January 28, 2016 Governance & Unity News, Governance Top Stories, Uncategorized

Source: Vatican Radio (Vatican Radio) Leaders of the Orthodox Church have concluded a meeting in Geneva, Switzerland in preparation for a historic pan-Orthodox Council scheduled to take place later in the year. Listen to this report by Philippa Hitchen: The meeting, known as a synaxis, took place from January 21st to 28th and was chaired by the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople, spiritual leader of the Orthodox world. It brought together eleven primates of the autonomous Orthodox churches, with two others – Patriarch John X of Antioch and Metropolitan Sawa of Poland – unable to attend for health reasons and…

Announcement of the Sacred Synaxis of the Primates of the Orthodox Churches

By Webmaster on January 28, 2016 Governance & Unity News, Governance Top Stories

Source: Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America SYNAXIS OF THE PRIMATES OF THE ORTHODOX CHURCHES Chambésy, 21-28, 2016 COMMUNIQUÉ At the invitation of His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, the Synaxis of Primates of the Orthodox Autocephalous Churches took place at the Orthodox Center of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Chambésy, Geneva, from 21st to 28thJanuary, 2016. The following Primates attended: Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew Patriarch Theodore of Alexandria Patriarch Theophilos of Jerusalem Patriarch Kirill of Moscow Patriarch Irinej of Serbia Patriarch Daniel of Romania Patriarch Neophyte of Bulgaria Patriarch Ilia of Georgia Archbishop Chrysostomos of Cyprus Archbishop Anastasios of Albania Archbishop Rastislav of the…

Continue to Pray for the Unity of the Orthodox Church as the Patriarchs and Hierarchs Prepare for the Great and Holy Council in June 2016

By Webmaster on January 28, 2016 Governance & Unity Essays, Governance & Unity News

Source: Orthodox Christian Laity A PRAYER FOR ORTHODOX UNITY (OCL Pamphlet on Unity and Self Governance, 2000) O All Holy Trinity, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, we your faithful children beseech you to forgive us the sin of divisiveness, which is rooted in our hearts, our dioceses and land. Implant in our lives the holy vine of unity which only you can bestow on those who have come together in your name. Enlighten us with your grace, so that we may come to the knowledge of your truth and move our hearts to respond with trust and total obedience to…

Atlas of America’s Orthodox Christian monasteries a “first”

By Webmaster on January 26, 2016 Orthodox News, Orthodox News Top Stories

Source: Orthodox Church in America BROOKLINE, MA [OCA] The first-ever Atlas of American Orthodox Christian Monasteries will make its debut in February 2016. Edited by Alexei Krindatch, Research Coordinator for the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Christian Bishops of the USA, the 150-page volume is available on-line for $19.95 from Greek Archdiocese Holy Cross Bookstore. Drawing on his extensive research, as well as fascinating stories and “insider” anecdotes, Mr. Krindatch offers readers a scholarly introduction into traditions of Eastern Christian monasticism and a history of Orthodox Christian monasteries in America. It also features a comprehensive directory of nearly 80 monasteries across…

Greek Archdiocese Mourns the loss of Father John Romas, the Parish Priest of St. Nicholas Greek Church in Manhattan, that was destroyed on 9/11

By Webmaster on January 26, 2016 Orthodox News, Orthodox News Top Stories

Source: Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America NEW YORK – It is with deep sorrow that the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese announces the passing of Rev. Father John Romas on Sunday January 24, 2016. Father John fell asleep in the Lord shortly after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and reposed peacefully at White Plains Hospital, N.Y. Father John Romas (Ἰωάννης Ραμπαούνης) was born on April 10, 1929, to Demetrios and Vasiliki Rambaounis (Ραμπαούνη) in Dorvitsa, Nafpactias, Greece. Upon completion of his high school education, he went on to complete a four-year program at the Hephaestus School of Mechanics, in Athens, Greece. He arrived…

THE HOLY AND GREAT SYNOD WILL TAKE PLACE IN CRETE IN JUNE 2016

By Webmaster on January 24, 2016 Governance & Unity News, Governance Top Stories, Orthodox News, Orthodox News Top Stories

Source: MYSTAGOGY The Holy and Great Synod of the Orthodox Church will meet in June this year, according to the Athens News Agency-Macedonian Press Agency (ANA-MPA). A decision was made as the Primates are gathered in a Synaxis at the Orthodox Center of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Chambesy, Geneva, whose work is done under the presidency of Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew. Of course, for the Holy and Great Synod of the Orthodox Church to meet in June, during the period of Pentecost (06/19/2016), the Primates in Geneva must definitely choose the themes and regulations. The decision to convene the Holy and…

FIVE BEST PRACTICES FOR THE GREAT COUNCIL OF THE ORTHODOX CHURCH

By Webmaster on January 23, 2016 Governance & Unity Essays, Governance & Unity News

Source: OrthodoxOutpost.com Posted by Andrew Estocin Pentecost 2016 will mark the opening of the Great and Holy Council of the Orthodox Church. It has been over 1,000 years since the Eastern Orthodox Church has held a Great and Holy Council. The world has certainly changed in the past millennium. Electricity, flight and the Western Hemisphere are all examples of things that were unknown to the participants in the last Council. Needless to say there is some catching up to do! Despite all of these changes, the question today is a simple one. Is the Church truly what it says it…

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Monthly Archives: January, 2016