Browsing: Governance & Unity News

Source: Western American Diocese of the Serbian Orthodox Church in North and South America Reflections from the Holy and Great Council at the Orthodox Academy in Crete, June 17-26, 2016. by Bishop Maxim. 128 pages, soft bound, published in 2016 • price $15. Diary of the Council emerged from the need of its author to appropriate the problematic of the Holy and Great Council which the Orthodox Church held 2016 in the historic land of Crete. The author of these notes, disinterested in the luxury of introspection, wants that the readers understand them as well-intended and sincere, because they were written…

Source: Orthodox Church in America SYOSSET, NY [OCA]  Minutes and reports of the Spring Metropolitan Council meeting, held September 19-22, 2016, are now available.  See related story. The Metropolitan Council is the permanent executive body of the Church Administration which exists for the purpose of implementing the decisions of the All-American Council and continuing its work between sessions.  Members include the Metropolitan, who serves as Chair; the Chancellor, the Secretary, and the Treasurer; one priest and one layperson elected by each diocese; and three priests and an equal number of laypersons elected by the All-American Council. Minutes Committees/Departments Reports Officers’ Reports…

Source: Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America NEW YORK – The Holy Eparchial Synod of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America convened for its regular meeting at the Synodal Chamber of the Archdiocesan headquarters in New York on October 12th and 13th 2016.  His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios, Geron of America presided at the meeting with the participation of all the Members of the Synod. The Synod deliberated extensively on many matters including the following: Discussed Liturgical matters related: a) to the implementation of the edition of the approved by the Ecumenical Patriarchate text of the Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom…

Source: Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Atlanta My Beloved Ones, I am writing to you during a very active time in the life of our Metropolis. I have just returned from Detroit, where I was blessed to be a part of the 7th Annual Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops, which includes all Orthodox Bishops from across the United States, whether they are Greek, Russian, Antiochian, what have you. Over the course of the past six years we come up with ideas to “unify” our churches. I use the word unify in quotations for you to understand that I am speaking from…

Source: The Huffington Post October 7, 2016 Rev. Dr. John Chryssavgis, Archdeacon of the Ecumenical Patriarchate Heracles Filios of «Light from the Phanar» speaks with Rev. Dr. John Chryssavgis, Archdeacon of the Ecumenical Patriarchate Note: This interview originally appeared in Greek on August 30, 2016 at http://fanarion.blogspot.com It is an immense privilege and blessing to welcome Fr. John Chryssavgis, Archdeacon of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, to «Fos Fanariou» (Light from the Phanar) for an extremely interesting and important interview. This conversation sheds light on a historical event in the life of the Orthodox Church, namely the Holy and Great Council that took place…

Source: Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops in the USA Thursday, October 06, 2016 To our beloved Orthodox Christians throughout the United States of America: Forbearing one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit. (Ephesians 4:3) Beloved brothers and sisters in the Lord, We, the members of the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the United States of America, gathered in Detroit, Michigan, for our seventh annual meeting on October 4-6, 2016 greet you with love in Christ as we offer glory and thanksgiving to Him. Forty-one hierarchs assembled in order to recognize and reinforce our unity…

Source: Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the USA Thursday, October 06, 2016 ADDRESS OF THE CHAIRMAN HIS EMINENCE ARCHBISHOP DEMETRIOS OF AMERICA at the 7th Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the United States of America Detroit, MI (October 4-6, 2016) *** Your Eminences, Your Excellencies and Your Graces, most beloved and respected brothers and Hierarchs of the Assembly of the Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the United States of America, welcome to the 7th Annual General Assembly. Having approached and partaken in the Holy Eucharist as members of the Body of Christ, we convene here in Detroit, Michigan. It…

Source: Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the USA Detroit, October 5 – The Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the United States began the 2nd day of its annual meeting with a special forum dedicated to the important subject of religious freedom. Three highly accomplished scholars presented: Dr. Charles Haynes, Director of the Religious Freedom Center and Vice President of the Newseum Institute, delivered an overview of the First Amendment to the United States Constitution and its central role in protecting the free exercise of one’s faith in America’s public square. He encouraged the hierarchs to study how Orthodox…

Source: Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the USA The Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the United States of America convened their 7thAnnual General Assembly Meeting in Detroit on October 4, 2016 with the celebration of the Divine Liturgy at the Antiochian Basilica of Saint Mary in Livonia, Michigan. The Bishops commenced their work with an opening address by the Assembly Chairman, His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios, who greeted and welcomed the hierarchs, encouraging them that “…when we speak together as an Assembly of Bishops, we do so with the authority of the Church; we do not speak as jurisdictions or merely…

Source: Orthodox Christian Laity Being an Assembly of Bishops in a geographic area (USA)  where the Church is administratively managed in a state of canonical disorder, allowing parallel jurisdictions and more than one bishop in one city; and, since the Council held in Crete in June 2016 did not address these issues;   how will the Assembly proceed?  Will it address the real issues that bring about canonical order?  Will it establish clear rules of procedure and parliamentary order?  Who will replace Bishop Basil of Wichita as Chair of the Secretariat?   How will the dissenting Georgian, Russian, Antiochian and…

Source: The National Herald by Amb. Patrick N. Theros, Special to The National Herald In recent weeks Russian and European websites have posted a scurrilous fabrication linking the Ecumenical Patriarchate to Fethullah Gulen, the exiled Turkish cleric and educator, accused by Turkish President Erdogan of orchestrating the failed coup. The article in question was falsely attributed to retired American Ambassador Arthur Hughes. The fabricators hacked Amb. Hughes’ email and to lend credibility created a false Facebook account in his name carrying the same story. Hughes, who is an old colleague and good personal friend, has repeatedly denied he wrote the article and…

Source: Orthodox Church in America HUNTINGTON, NY [OCA] –  The Metropolitan Council of the Orthodox Church in America concluded its fall session at Immaculate Conception Seminary here on Thursday, September 22, 2016. The meeting was chaired by His Beatitude, Metropolitan Tikhon.  In attendance were His Eminence, Archbishop Benjamin and His Eminence, Archbishop Michael of the Standing Synod and the OCA’s Officers—Archpriest John Jillions, Chancellor; Archpriest Eric G. Tosi, Secretary; and Melanie Ringa, Treasurer. According to Father Eric G. Tosi, the session opened on Tuesday, September 19 with a one-day retreat on Christian Leadership led by Protodeacon Peter Danilchick and Charles…