Browsing: Governance & Unity Essays
Child of Governance
Source: Public Orthodoxy Dr. George Demacopoulos Fr. John Meyendorff & Patterson Family Chair, Co-Director of the Orthodox Christian Studies Center, Fordham University According to the New York Times, young, conservative men are flocking to the Orthodox Church because it provides an all-too-rare space that celebrates masculinity. This “Orthodoxy as Masculinity” narrative is not new. It has been pushed by social media monetizers and tabloid reporters for a few years. And there is some truth to it—there is an aggressive online “Orthobro” culture, consisting of recent male converts. The uptick in male seekers to the Church is, at least in part, explained by the…
A Sermon for Antiochian Village In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Your Eminence, Your Grace, Reverend Fathers, beloved brothers and sisters in Christ, Good morning! Today, in this short sermon, I would like to share a few reflections on the legacy of St. John Chrysostom—from Antioch to America—and how his vision continues to shape the life of the Orthodox Church in our land. The Prayer for Unity in the Liturgy At the very beginning of the Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom, the deacon or priest proclaims in the Great…
Source: Orthodox Observer The first panel of the Orthodox Observer’s conference “Do the Divine and Digital Intersect?” was entitled “Theological Responses to the Socioeconomic Implications of AI.” In it, Dr. Taylor Nutter and Dr. Mark Graves give presentations and participate in a Q&A with the audience.
Source: Solia Calendar 2015 – Romanian Orthodox Episcopate of America – pages 200-252 The following paper was written by Rev. Dr. Gabriel Gardan with the blessing of His Grace, Bishop Petroniu of Salaj (Romania) in honor of the 30th Anniversary of the Enthronement of His Eminence, Archbishop Nathaniel on November 17, 2014. FROM DREAM TO REALITY: ORTHODOX UNITY IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA[i] Rev. Dr. Gabriel-Viorel Gârdan, University Lecturer Faculty of Orthodox Theology in Cluj-Napoca, Romania The number of researchers who are focusing on the life of the Orthodox communities on the North American Continent[ii] is increasing considerably, and…
Source: Orthodox Christian Laity By Dr. Gayle E. Woloschak Over the years, many people have complained to me that our Orthodox Church has not achieved unity in America after decades of work. For example, the Orthodox Christian Laity (OCL) has published pamphlets, held conferences, and engaged in dialogue with parishes about unity throughout its 40-year existence. I remember attending an OCL conference in Chicago in my youth, after which I was inspired (and even to this day remain inspired) to strive for unity in the Church. Nevertheless, it is easy for those who have worked for so long to become…
Source: St. Phoebe’s Center for the Deaconess September 23, 2025 Dear Supporters of the St Phoebe Center, This report is an update following the Orthodox Church in America’s (OCA) 21st All American Council (AAC) held in Phoenix AZ in July of 2025. We offer this update in love for the Church and with our prayers for its flourishing in America and everywhere. Earlier this year, many of you who are members of the OCA provided the St. Phoebe Center with your responses to the Metropolitan’s solicitation for reflections on the life of the Church in advance of the AAC. Thank…
Source: The National Herald By Theodore Kalmoukos The fifth visit of Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew to the United States, and given that our own Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America is an ecclesiastical eparchy of the Ecumenical Throne, provides an opportunity to offer a concise retrospective and journey through the history of the Ecumenical Patriarchate for the fuller information of the Greek-American Community. We begin by noting that the natural and geographical location of Constantinople is of decisive importance, which explains the pivotal role it has played in world history. Built on a “hilly peninsula” of seven hills—hence its name “City of…
Source: The National Herald PRINCETON, NJ – In honor of His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew’s visit to the United States commencing September 14, the Gennadius Library of the American School of Classical Studies at Athens has released its latest short film featuring a personal reflection by His All-Holiness. In this extraordinary piece, the Ecumenical Patriarch contemplates the enduring richness and resilience of Greek language, culture, and thought, and their continuing relevance in today’s world. Selections from this interview were featured in the short film, ‘Guardians of Hellenism: The Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople’ which premiered at the American School’s Gala this…
Source: Orthodox Christian Studies Center – Fordham University Click here or on the image below to view the PDF
Source: Suprasl: A World Fellowship of Orthodox Youth SUPRASL, Poland – On the first day of the Ecclesiastical New Year, September 1, 2025, SUPRASL: A World Fellowship of Orthodox Youth will initiate a worldwide prayer campaign for the unity of the Orthodox Church and for God’s creation. The campaign, an idea of the participants of the fourth annual SUPRASL World Gathering which took place this past July in Supraśl, Poland, calls upon the entire faithful—hierarchs, clergy, and laity—to unite in daily prayer at a common hour. The initiative draws direct inspiration from a prayer campaign for Orthodox missions launched…
Source: Public Orthodoxy Originally published on June 5, 2025 A recent editorial in the Wall Street Journal “Are Americans Really Losing Their Religion?” shared results from the largest ever survey of Americans who identify as “Nones”, either atheist, agnostic or having no particular religion. While this population has grown tremendously in recent times, an interesting point came out of the data: a full two thirds of these folks say they feel drawn toward spirituality but are much more resistant to the idea of organized religion. It struck me that in this age of anxiety, mental illness and isolation people indeed yearn for a connection to…