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STATEMENT OF ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN LAITY ON THE INVASION OF UKRAINE

By Webmaster on April 29, 2022 Governance & Unity Essays, Governance & Unity News, OCL News, Orthodox Christian Laity

PRESS RELEASE WEST PALM BEACH, Fla., April 28, 2022 — The Orthodox Christian Laity (OCL) denounces the horrific and unprovoked invasion of Ukraine by the Russian military under the orders of President Putin and the attempt to bestow religious legitimacy to the war by Patriarch Kirill of Moscow. The indiscriminate and unjustifiable bombing of innocent civilian population centers including schools and hospitals, the rapes, mass executions and war crimes committed by Russian soldiers have shocked the entire world. Millions have been forced to flee their homes as refugees from a brutal war in which Orthodox Christians have been ordered by…

ST PHOTINI, THE SAMARITAN WOMAN – PATRON SAINT OF OCL

By Webmaster on February 26, 2022 OCL News, Orthodox Christian Laity, Orthodox News, Orthodox News Top Stories

Commemorated February 26 St. Photini’s Life The New Testament describes the familiar account of the “woman at the well” (John 4:5-42), who was a Samaritan. Up to that point she had led a sinful life, one which resulted in a rebuke from Jesus Christ. However, she responded to Christ’s stern admonition with genuine repentance, was forgiven her sinful ways, and became a convert to the Christian Faith – taking the name ‘Photini’ at Baptism, which literally means “the enlightened one”. A significant figure in the Johannine community, the Samaritan Woman, like many other women, contributed to the spread of Christianity.…

NEW BOOK: Under One Roof – Uniting the Orthodox Church of America [View the Video Trailer!]

By Webmaster on January 28, 2022 Governance & Unity Essays, Governance & Unity News, OCL News, Orthodox Christian Laity

Source: BookLocker Under One Roof: Uniting the Orthodox Church of America by George E. Matsoukas This collection of essays written between 2012-2020 addresses the status of the Orthodox Church in the U.S. and emphasizes the mission of Orthodox Christian Laity (OCL): unity, accountability, conciliar governance, education and renewal. CLICK HERE TO ORDER About the Book This is the second collection of essays, compiled from opinion columns written during the period 2012-2020, when George Matsoukas served as executive director of Orthodox Christian Laity (OCL). The first collection, “A Church in Captivity: The Greek Orthodox Church of America,” is also a collection…

Some Thoughts at Year End

By Webmaster on December 31, 2021 Governance & Unity Essays, Governance & Unity News

After ten years of meetings, the Assembly of Bishops still finds bishops communicating with each other difficult. The rules governing how to reach decisions are impossible. The Assembly needs to develop communication skills that enable each bishop to stay focused, to hear one another, and to debate and reach conclusions. In-service programs with guides that have communication skills would be a useful exercise. We are no closer to canonical unity of Orthodoxy in the USA and throughout the world where Orthodox Christians reside in pluralistic societies. The largest grouping in the USA is in financial difficulty caused by undertaking an…

Highlights of OCL’s 34th Annual Program and Meeting

By Webmaster on December 10, 2021 OCL News, Orthodox Christian Laity, Orthodox News, Orthodox News Top Stories

Source: Orthodox Christian Laity Preliminary Minutes of 34th Annual Business Meeting Eve of the feast of St. Nicholas, December 5th, 2021. Following the 34th Annual Program Meeting on the topic of “The Role of Servant Leadership in Fostering Church Unity” presented by Protodeacon Peter Danilchick (view a recording of the presentation here: https://youtu.be/sT7sfRbcUIg), the Annual Business Meeting was called to order by President Argo Georgandis Pyle at 7:34 pm. The meeting was via Zoom. Participants included: David Oancea, Executive Director, Archbishop Nathaniel, Fr. Nicholas Greanias, Argo Pyle, Peter Petkas, William Souvall, Gayle Woloschak, George Pontikes, George Karcazes, Alice Kopan, William…

In Memory of Peter N. Marudas

By Webmaster on November 26, 2021 OCL News, Orthodox Christian Laity, Orthodox News, Orthodox News Top Stories

On November 20, 2021, Peter N. Marudas, beloved husband of Irene K. Marudas; devoted father of Nick Marudas and his wife Angela, and Kyriakos Marudas and his wife Monica; cherished grandfather of Mary Marudas and Peter Marudas; dear brother of Tom Marudas, fell asleep in the Lord. He is also survived by many nieces, nephews and cousins. Friends may call at Ruck Towson Funeral Home on Wednesday, November 24, from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 pm. Service and Interment are private. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Greek Orthodox Cathedral of the Annunciation (annunciationbaltimore.org)…

The Challenge of Orthodox Christian Outreach

By Webmaster on October 16, 2021 Governance & Unity Essays, Governance & Unity News, Orthodox News, Orthodox News Top Stories

Source: Orthodox Christian Laity Originally posted on July 7, 2015 but still relevant today! The Challenge of Orthodox Christian Outreach The Challenge of Outreach, written in 1997, by Nikolas K. Gvosdev, Ph.D., foreshadowed the recent PEW Report on Christianity in America. The study was prepared at the request of Archbishop Spyridon. Too bad it got lost in the shuffle. We have posted it for your consideration and interest. CLICK HERE to read this excellent report. George Matsoukas

Venerable Simeon the New Theologian – Commemorated October 12 (Patron Saint of OCL)

By Webmaster on October 12, 2021 OCL News, Orthodox Christian Laity, Orthodox News, Orthodox News Top Stories

Source: Orthodox Church in America Saint Simeon the New Theologian was born in the year 949 in the city of Galatea (Paphlagonia), and he was educated at Constantinople. His father prepared him for a career at court, and for a certain while the youth occupied a high position at the imperial court. When he was fourteen, he met the renowned Elder Simeon the Pious at the Studion Monastery, who would be a major influence in his spiritual development. He remained in the world for several years preparing himself for the monastic life under the Elder’s guidance, and finally entered the…

OCL Correspondence with Archbishop Elpidophoros Regarding the GOA’s Process of Creating a New Charter (UPDATED)

By Webmaster on June 30, 2021 Governance & Unity News, Governance Top Stories

Source: Orthodox Christian Laity CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE FOLLOWING LETTERS AND RESPONSES COMPILED IN A BOOKLET AS AN OCCASIONAL PAPER UPDATE: Letter #7 – Orthodox Church in western, pluralistic democracies / Conciliarity and balanced co-ministry (#7) Letter of June 8, 2021 June 8, 2021 Translation of the Relics of Theodore the Commander; Kalliope the Martyr; Melania the Righteous His Eminence, Archbishop ELPIDOPHOROS The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America 10 East 79th Street, New York, NY 10021 Your Eminence, Christ is risen! The Orthodox Christian Laity (OCL) again wishes you good health in these pandemic times as we continue with…

In Memory: John Junior Regule

By Webmaster on March 29, 2021 OCL News, Orthodox Christian Laity

Source: Dignity Memorial John J. Regule, 92, of The Villages, FL and formerly of Sharon, PA, fell asleep in the Lord on the morning of Wednesday, March 24, 2021. Born in 1928 in Sharon, PA, John was the son of immigrant parents from Romania. His parents owned the LyJor (named for his parents Lydia and John Regule) Gas Station, Hotel, and Restaurant Bar in Sharon. After graduating from Sharon High School (PA), Westminster College (PA), Bachelor of Arts, and the University of Pittsburgh (Juris Doctor), he was drafted into the U.S. Army and served at the end of Korean War…

Bloody Brilliant! Celebrating Dr. Angelyn Konugres (and Other Trail-Blazing Women Past, Present, and Future)

By Webmaster on March 12, 2021 OCL News, Orthodox Christian Laity

Source: Medium OCL shares the story of one of its former First Ladies ….Angelyn Konugres Coupounas….a thoughtful, compassionate, wise, and loving Orthodox Christian role model. by Kim Coupounas In honor of International Women’s Day, rather than spotlighting an emergent woman leader, I want to shine a bright light on a pioneering woman who’s been paving the way for women and girls (including me) for almost 100 years – my dear friend, role model, and mother-in-law, Dr. Angelyn Konugres. The matriarch of my husband’s extended family, Dr. Konugres turned 97 this past October. Variously known by family and friends as mom, Dr. K, Lyn, Aunt…