Source: Daily Mail Shootings happened at main cathedral on the island of Sakhalin Nun and churchgoer killed, while six others were wounded Suspect believed to be employed as private security guard Killings happened at a time when Russian security forces on high alert for the Winter Olympics in Sochi But officials say there is no apparent link to the Games By SHARI MILLER A man employed as a private security guard opened fire in a Russian Orthodox cathedral on the island of Sakhalin, killing a nun and a churchgoer and wounding six others. The shooting occurred on Sunday at a time…
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Source: Order of St Andrew the Apostle – Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate Istanbul, Turkey On behalf of the Order of Saint Andrew the Apostle, on January 30, 2014, the Honorable B. Theodore Bozonelis, Archon Ekdikos and Regional Commander of New Jersey, attended a conference in Istanbul, Turkey sponsored by Bilgi University Faculty of Law in partnership with Community (Minority) Foundations and the Council of European Human Rights (the Venice Commission). The topic of the conference was Legal Entities of Non-Muslims: “Problems and Rights”. Laki Vingas, as the duly elected representative of all Minority Foundations to the government of Turkey’s General…
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 Bishops in North and Central America is disappointing. But, it probably should have been expected. In his letter, Kyril echoes the sentiments of Bishop Danili of the “Bulgarian Diocese in the USA and Canada” which were also in a letter apparently presented to Archbishop Demetrios and his “Committee for…
Source: The National Herald BY THEODORE KALMOUKOS Salt Lake City, UT – Following the violence at the Prophet Elias Church on January 19, Divine Liturgy, services there and at the other Salt Lake City Church, Holy Trinity, are being celebrated with plainclothes police officers on hand. The January 19 violence was a clash between supporters of Rev. Michael Kouremetis and Parish Council members, including President Demetrios Tsagaris. When parishioner Steven Zervos and former Parish Council President Jim Mylonakis attacked – both physically and verbally – other Councilmembers, including Tsagaris, the police were called, according to signed statements by eyewitnesses. The…
Source: Orthodox Church in America Originally posted on January 24, 2014. SYOSSET, NY [OCA] – The Holy Synod of Bishops of the Orthodox Church in America has received information regarding Archbishop Seraphim (Storheim), who is on suspension from his position as Archbishop of Canada. In court proceedings that took place earlier today—Friday, January 24, 2014—in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Archbishop Seraphim was found guilty of one count of sexual assault. He also was acquitted of one count of sexual assault. Sentencing will take place later this year. He remains free on bail. Separately and apart from the court proceedings, Archbishop Seraphim remains suspended,…
Source: The National Herald BY THEODORE KALMOUKOS NEW YORK – The crisis that started a year and a half ago at the Holy Trinity Archdiocesan Cathedral in New York continues to deepen due to the strong contentiousness between the Cathedral’s Presiding Priest Anastasios Gounaris and the Parish Council, as it was manifested yet again during the council’s meeting on January 23. Gounaris dismissed Steve Hantzarides from his position as Administrative Director at the Cathedral, without the knowledge, approval, or even the notification of the Parish Council. The Council members became extremely upset, despite the fact that they also wanted Hantzarides…
Source: Eastern American Diocese – ROCOR Approximately 2,500 churches and monasteries comprise a melting pot of cultures and liturgical traditions that define Orthodox North America. 1,000 of those churches belong to the Russian Orthodox Church and the Orthodox Church in America, both of whom are deeply rooted in the 1,000 year history of Orthodox Russia. One of the most visible signs of similarity between these jurisdictions is the Russian style of liturgical singing, which is vastly different from the Greek and Antiochian traditions. OCA and Russian churches predominantly sing the services a cappella, which requires a choir and a competent conductor.…
Source: The Baltimore Sun Originally published on December 29, 2013. Oversaw major contracts for Maryland’s transit projects By Erica L. Green, The Baltimore Sun Nicholas James Kiladis, a former contracts administrator for the Maryland Transit Administration, died Dec. 25 at Oak Crest, a long-term care facility in Parkville, of complications from a brain injury he suffered in November 2012. He was 79. Mr. Kiladis was born in Somerville, Mass., in 1934 to Greek immigrants. He graduated from Somerville High School, where he participated in glee club and marching band, while also working at his father’s diner in East Boston. He obtained a…
Source: Orthodox Church in America ELLWOOD CITY, PA [OCA] – The nuns of the Orthodox Monastery of the Transfiguration here recently began a new ministry—live streaming and recording of chapel services for the elderly, ill, those away from home, and those who for other reasons are unable to attend services at their parish. The nuns broadcast select services—usually Vigils and Liturgies for Sundays and the Great Feasts, Vespers on two weekday evenings, and weekday Liturgies—many of which are then archived for future viewing. “All that is required is a high speed internet connection and a computer,” said Mother Magdalena. “If…
Source: Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of North and Central America Archbishop Demetrios of America, Chairman of the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of North and Central America, has issued the following statement in response to the temporary withdrawal of the Hierarchs of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America from their participation in the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of North and Central America. The Synod of the Patriarchate of Antioch, in October 2013, decided to temporarily withdraw from all Assemblies of Canonical Orthodox Bishops around the world because of a jurisdictional issue in the Middle East. The statement…
The Board and Members of Orthodox Christian Laity (OCL) want to thank all of the donors who responded to our November, year-end tax deductible donation request. The total amount received from our membership, friends and board members was $55,167. An anonymous donor offered to match funds received before December 27, 2013, and the total amount matched by this challenge during the December three week challenge grant cycle was $8,155. We are grateful to all those who contributed prayers, time, talent and resources to help OCL during the past year. We look forward to keeping you informed with Orthodox News (orthodoxnews.org)…
Source: MYSTAGOGY By His Eminence Metropolitan Hierotheos of Nafpaktos and Agiou Vlasiou At times, as in our days, there arises the issue of the privilege of honor of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, the so-called Primacy, which is not just an honor of politeness, but it has specific canonical responsibilities. It is known that the primacy of honor of the Ecumenical Patriarchate is safeguarded by the Ecumenical Synods. In the 3rd Canon of the Second Ecumenical Synod it was ruled: “The Bishop of Constantinople, however, shall have the primacy of honor after the Bishop of Rome; because Constantinople is New Rome.” Canon…