Browsing: Governance & Unity News

Source: Peter Anderson, Seattle USA The Holy Synod of the Moscow Patriarchate held its summer meeting on July 25, 2024.   Journey Entry 78 of the minutes of the meeting announced an important decision relating to Metropolitan Hilarion of Budapest and Hungary.  http://www.patriarchia.ru/db/text/6146121.html  A Google translation of the complete text of the entry is as follows: HAD A JUDGMENT on the state of affairs in the Budapest-Hungarian Diocese. RESOLVED: To form a Commission to study the situation in the Budapest-Hungarian Diocese. For the duration of the work of said Commission, temporarily remove Metropolitan Hilarion of Budapest and Hungary from the administration of the…

Source: Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America Story and photos by Dn. Peter Samore Photo album “We must examine our ministry in light of this good shepherd, Raphael. He laid down his life for his people, dying young. Do we do the same?” On the night of July 25, and into July 26, the 22nd biennial Clergy Symposium concluded with the celebration of a vigil for St. Raphael, bishop of Brooklyn, at Ss. Peter and Paul Church at the Antiochian Village. It was served in the presence of the saint’s newly exhumed relics. In the Hierarchal Divine Liturgy, His…

Source: The National Herald By Theodore Kalmoukos BOSTON – Archbishop Elpidophoros of America aims to transform the Hellenic Cultural Center NYC of the Archdiocese which is located in Astoria, even changing its name, including the name of the chapel within it. We reveal today that his plan, which he presented as a proposal at the Executive Committee meeting of the Archdiocesan Council on Sunday, June 30, shortly before the start of the Clergy-Laity Congress in San Diego, involves the renovation and conversion of the interior spaces of the Center into rooms and apartments. This is similar to what he did…

Source: Orthodox Church in America BROADVIEW HEIGHTS, OH [OCA]  The 2024 Parish Development Forum recently welcomed clergy and laity attendees from multiple Orthodox jurisdictions and eight OCA Dioceses to explore the Forum theme of “Our Parish and the Future: Equipping to Serve Christ in a Secular World.” Host parish for the Forum was Archangel Michael Church in Broadview Heights, OH. The Forum was once again sponsored by the OCA’s Archdiocese of Western Pennsylvania, the Diocese of the Midwest and the Bulgarian Diocese. Archpriest Stephen Frase, Rector Saint Gregory of Nyssa Church in Columbus, OH clergy co-chair of the Forum, noted “A significant portion of…

Source: Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America ​View the Adult Camp Vimeo Registration is open for Adult Camp at Antiochian Village, open to anyone over the age of 21 who wants to spend a weekend in the beautiful natural setting of Antiochian Village Camp and grow in the Orthodox Christian Faith. This year’s dates are Sept. 20 – 23, and the featured speaker is Fr. Raphael Daly, pastor of St. Luke Church in Erie, Colo. Whether you are 21, 51, or 101 years old, you’re never too old experience the joy of being a child again! Come and enjoy fellowship with each other: daily services, Christian…

Source: Public Orthodoxy Daria Morozova Visiting Researcher at the University of Exeter (UK) The “Edict” of the World Russian People’s Council caused controversial reactions on the side of theologians. Some were quite unexpected, like the essay by Rev. Dr. John Chryssavgis entitled “Casting the First Stone of Heresy.” Together with the corresponding image, this title represents patriarch Kirill as an unfortunate harlot, at whom the bloodthirsty crowd of the Pharisees throws its stones. This cannot but look puzzling for someone who two years ago had to flee from the Russian rockets blessed by the patriarch. For it is not the patriarch on…

Source: St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary St Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary (SVOTS) has entered a new phase of leadership, following this summer’s retirement of seminary president The Very Rev. Dr Chad Hatfield. The new leadership team is undertaking steps to ensure a smooth transition and renewed focus on the seminary’s mission during this important stage for SVOTS’ future. Effective July 1, Academic Dean Dr Ionuţ-Alexandru Tudorie has assumed the additional role of interim president and CEO of SVOTS, to which he was unanimously appointed by the seminary’s Board of Trustees. “It is always difficult and challenging when a long-tenured and respected leader, such…

Source: Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America July 8, 2024 – The leader of the Turkish-occupied part of Cyprus Ersin Tatar criticized His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America’s recent statements concerning the Turkish occupation of Cyprus in an interview with nationally-broadcast Turkish TV channel Ulusal Kanal. Tatar called His Eminence’s statements “unfortunate”, “extremely wrong,” and accused him of “distorting the issue” regarding Cyprus. Tatar’s condemnation follows an array of accusations from nationalistic elements in the Republic of Turkey regarding His Eminence’s attention to the Turkish invasion of Cyprus at the 2024 Clergy-Laity Congress. In His Eminence’s remarks at the “Cyprus: Land…

Source: Public Orthodoxy Rev. Dr. John Chryssavgis Executive Director of the Huffington Ecumenical Institute at Holy Cross School of Theology For Metropolitan Seraphim of Piraeus (in the Church of Greece), unfortunately, the list of alleged insults and provocations is quite extensive and diverse, ranging from anti-Semitism to Islamophobia, as well as from racism to homophobia, and many others. He is wont to speak of these matters with reproaches which, if they were merely unfortunate or tragic, might be glossed over and scoffed at. Unfortunately, however, they are deeply harmful, if not extremely dangerous. The metropolitan is primarily known for his…

Source: Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America The sun shone warmly on faithful and clergy as they gathered outside the soon-to-be inaugurated Leadership 100 (L100) Exhibit Hall for the 2024 Clergy-Laity Congress. Friendly reunions and chatter continued on as hierarchs began to arrive and mingle with the crowd. Before long, it was time for the official ribbon-cutting ceremony, led by His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America, together with the Patriarchal Representatives to the Congress, Their Eminences Archbishop Nikitas of Thyateira and Great Britain and Metropolitan Cleopas of Sweden and All Scandinavia, the hierarchs of the Holy Eparchial Synod, L100 Chairman Dimitrios…

Source: Peter Anderson, Seattle USA What a surprise!!!  Something few expected.  Today, June 30, Metropolitan Daniil of Vidin was elected the new patriarch of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church (BOC).  It was an extremely close election.  According to the charter of the BOC, Daniil was elected by the Patriarchal Electoral Church Council.  Aside from the Bulgarian bishops, this council consists of three clergy, two laypersons, one monk, and one nun from each of the dioceses of the BOC, except for Sofia.  The Sofia diocese has six clerics, four laypersons, one monk, and one nun.  In addition there is one representative from…

Source: Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America Originally published on May 15, 2024 During Holy Week, ecclesiastical media reported news of the ordination of a liturgical deaconess in one of the churches in Zimbabwe, Africa, affiliated with the Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria. I won’t delve into the subject of ordaining a deaconess. That’s a matter I’ll leave to theologians and synods, for now. In this article, I’ll simply raise some questions stemming from this event. Such an event requires Orthodox consensus, as any ecclesiastical action outside Orthodox consensus and unanimity poses a danger and leads to undesirable consequences. How…