Source: Christianity Today by Weston Gentry [originally posted 8/27/2012] Metropolitan Jonah, by most accounts the highest-ranking, evangelical-friendly archpriest in North America’s Eastern Orthodox Church, resigned under duress in July. His removal has observers less concerned about his leadership shortcomings, which allegedly led to his removal, than about the widening gap between conservatives and the Orthodox Church. “His efforts were the most explicit attempt by any Orthodox hierarch to join with evangelicals and other conservatives in a common social agenda,” North Park University professor Brad Nassif said of Jonah’s nearly four-year tenure as primate. Jonah, a former Episcopalian, was especially popular…
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Source: Orthodox Church in America SYOSSET, NY [OCA] The Department of Youth, Young, Adult, and Campus Ministries of the Orthodox Church in America announces its 2012 YouTube Challenge for high school and college students. “A new program of the department, the YouTube Challenge invites high school and college students to respond to scriptural questions with a short video,” said Andrew Boyd, department chair. “A team of judges, lead by Priest Sergius Halvorsen, Homelitics Professor at Saint Vladimir’s Seminary, will offer feedback. Videos may be submitted either by individuals or by groups, such as an OCF chapter or parish youth group.”…
Source: Orthodox Church in America SYOSSET, NY [OCA] It has come to the attention of the Chancery of the Orthodox Church in America that individuals, including some OCA clergy, have been receiving e-mails and telephone calls from an unknown individual or individuals presenting themselves as members of the Holy Synod of Bishops requesting emergency funds for various causes and asking that funds be directed to specified venues. These appeals are scams and should not be honored. None of the members of the Holy Synod are soliciting funds by e-mail or phone. Those receiving such calls or e-mails, or desiring additional…
Source: Orthodox Church in America ANCHORAGE, AK [OCA Diocese of Alaska] Delegates to the Assembly of the Diocese of Alaska, which met here on September 15, 2012, voted to present the name of Archpriest David Mahaffey in nomination to fill the vacant Episcopal See of Sitka and Alaska of the Orthodox Church in America. Father David’s name will be presented by His Eminence, Archbishop Benjamin, Locum Tenens of the Diocese of Alaska, at a future meeting of the Holy Synod of Bishops for consideration and canonical election. Born in Altoona, PA in 1952, Father David was received into the Orthodox…
Source: Orthodox Church in America SYOSSET, NY [OCA] Prayers for the 17th All-American Council and the Election of the New Metropolitan of All American and Canada were issued by the Chancery of the Orthodox Church in America here during the second week of September 2012. These petitions have also been approved by the Holy Synod of Bishops and are to be included in the Litany of Fervent Supplication at all Divine Services, beginning immediately. PRAYERS FOR THE 17TH ALL-AMERICAN COUNCIL AND THE ELECTION OF THE METROPOLITAN OF ALL AMERICA AND CANADA Furthermore we pray You, O Lord our Almighty and…
Source: The National Herald MAGGIE MICHAEL,Associated Press CAIRO (AP) — Christians gathered Friday in front of a Cairo cathedral holding signs denouncing a film that mocked the Prophet Muhammad amid fears that Muslims will take out their anger on Egypt’s minority community. The country’s 8 million Coptic Christians were already feeling increasingly cornered amid the rise to power of hard-line Islamists in Egypt following the ouster of Hosni Mubarak. Now U.S. authorities have identified a self-described Coptic Christian living in California as the key figure behind the inflammatory film, and the community at home fears it will bear the brunt…
Source: Reuters By Edmund Blair Egypt’s Coptic Orthodox Church will choose a new pope on December 2, after Pope Shenouda who led the church for four decades died in March and left many Christians worrying about their rights under an Islamist-led government. Many Christians, who make up about tenth of Egypt’s 83 million people, are concerned by the rise of Islamists who swept to power in parliamentary and presidential elections. President Mohamed Mursi has insisted he will be a leader for the whole nation, but some Christians fear a creeping imposition of conservative religious codes on society. Egypt’s state news…
Source: The Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of North and Central America The Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of North and Central America held its third annual meeting for all member hierarchs, that is, all active canonical bishops in its region. The meeting was held from September 10-12, 2012, at the Chicago O’Hare Hilton in Chicago, Illinois. Forty-three bishops were in attendance. The first plenary session opened on Monday morning, and began with prayer, followed by an address to the assembled hierarchs by the Chairman of the Assembly, Demetrios, Archbishop of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese and Exarch of the Ecumenical…
Source: Orthodox Christian Laity The Recognition Programs Coordinator of iUniverse has informed George E. Matsoukas that his book, A Church in Captivity: The Greek Orthodox Church of America, is now part of the Reader’s Choice Recognition Program. Upon its publication in July 2008, iUniverse honored the publication with its selection as an Editor’s Choice book. The book is also included in the Spring Arbor database catalog of Christian Bookstore vendors. Reviews of “A Church in Captivity: The Greek Orthodox Church of America” “These personal essays … are recommended reading for any … Christian interested in the perspective of an objective protagonist of recent Orthodox Church history in America. The author is…
Source: Orthodoxy Today By Fr. Steven C. Salaris So why do 60% of our college youth leave Orthodoxy? Last year, I attended a clergy gathering where we had several “workshops” discussing the importance of Orthodox Christian Fellowship (OCF), ministry to college students, and what I call “The 60%.” This term derives from a recent study revealing that 60% of college students never return to church after college. This sad data applies to Orthodox Christians, too. When discussing this with others, my scientific brain (I’m a former biology professor) wanted data to back up the claim. I wanted to identify the…
Source: Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America Official Charter of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America Article 1 Preamble and Canonical Jurisdiction a. – The Holy Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America (“Archdiocese”), with its headquarters located in the City of New York, New York, United States of America, is an Eparchy of the most Holy, Apostolic and Patriarchal Ecumenical Throne of Constantinople (“Ecumenical Patriarchate”), which is the first-ranking see of the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church whose head is Christ. b. – The Archdiocese, being Hierarchical, as an Eparchy of the Ecumenical Throne, is governed by the Holy Scriptures, Sacred…