Source: Orthodox Church in America OCA Holy Synod holds Spiritual Court in case of former Archbishop Seraphim of Canada WINDSOR, ONTARIO, CN [OCA] On Monday, October 19, 2015, the Holy Synod of Bishops of the Orthodox Church in America convened a Spiritual Court at Saint John the Divine Church, Windsor, Ontario, Canada, to hear the case of Archbishop Seraphim, retired Archbishop of Ottawa and Canada. The Holy Synod of Bishops will render a decision in due course. [subscribe2]
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Source: Orthodox Church in America DETROIT, MI [OCA] Members of the Holy Synod of Bishops of the Orthodox Church in America will hold their annual Fall Session at Saint Andrew’s House here Monday, October 19 through Friday, October 23, 2015. Among the many items on the agenda are: the reports of Archpriests John Jillions and Eric G. Tosi, OCA Chancellor and Secretary respectively, and Melanie Ringa, OCA Tresasurer. Ms. Ringa will present the 2016 budget as passed by the members of the Metropolitan Council at their meeting in late September 2015 [see related story], which reflects the new finance plan…
Source: Orthodox Christian Laity BE INFORMED – Orthodox Christian Unity in the USA A STUDY GUIDE to HELP YOU UNDERSTAND THE CONTEXT AND WORK OF THE ASSEMBLY OF CANONICAL ORTHODOX BISHOPS IN THE UNITED STATES. IT IS TIME FOR THE LAITY TO ACT! The Assembly of Bishops of the Orthodox Church in the USA is a work in progress. The Assembly has concluded its 6th Meeting held on September 15-17, 2015. The bishops could not reach a consensus and move ahead to develop a blueprint for a unified Orthodox Christian Church in the USA. Many see the Church as a…
Source: Orthodox Christian Laity Trying to Understand the Work of the Assembly of Orthodox Bishops and the Antiochian Orthodox Reaction In light of the aftermath of the meeting of the Assembly of Bishops September 2015, certain questions have been brought to mind about where we are at this point in time and how we got here. In an effort to help people understand the situation, we are responding to questions that have been presented to us. We hope that these questions and responses will help you draw your conclusions on the dynamics of Orthodox Unity up to this point in…
Source: Orthodox Christian Laity by George Matsoukas The case for Unity among the Orthodox Jurisdictions is made more manifest by the sabotaging of the Assembly of Bishops by the Antiochian Archdiocese. The dispute between Old World Patriarchs undermines the establishment of canonical order in the USA. The dispute over Qatar appears to be the reason why the Patriarchate of Antioch changed its mind and negated its signature on the Chambésy Accord of 2008. The act and statement presented to the Assembly of Bishops are contrary to the integrity and history of the Antiochian Archdiocese that brought seekers home to the…
Source: Orthodoxy and Heterodoxy by Seraphim Danckaert Orthodox Christians often find themselves answering the following question: why is Orthodoxy divided along ethnic lines into different churches? At least officially, the answer to that question has been quite clear: we are not divided; we are one Church, united in faith and worship, with an administrative structure that organizes itself along local lines, in accordance with the ancient traditions and canon law of the first millennium of Christian history. In recent years, however, there’s been a problem: while the answer given above is true in theory, it’s often not implemented in practice.…
Source: Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the USA Friday, September 18, 2015 The Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the United States of America concluded its sixth annual meeting on Thursday, September 17 in Chicago. The Assembly issued a message to the faithful, which can be read here. In other business, the Legal Affairs Committee presented a five-step plan to the Assembly for consideration. The hierarchs unanimously authorized the committee to commence with the first three steps of the plan, in which the committee will assess, gather and analyze the relevant legal documents of the Assembly’s various jurisdictions. The hierarchs…
Source: Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America Statement of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America to the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops in the United States Regarding the Draft Proposal of the Committee on Canonical Regional Planning Presented at the Meeting of the Assembly of Bishops Convened in Chicago, IL September 15-17, 2015 The Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America has always prayed for and been committed to unity and cooperation of all of the Orthodox Christians in North America. The unity that we seek is true Orthodox unity based on mutual respect, love and cooperation…
Source: Ecumenical Patriarchate From August 29-September 2, 2015, at the invitation of His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, a Synaxis of Hierarchs of the Ecumenical Throne gathered from all over the world at the Church of the Holy Trinity in Taksim Square. His All-Holiness delivered the Keynote Address to over 140 Hierarchs of the Throne, speaking to developments and challenges of the Ecumenical Patriarchate and the Orthodox Church in general during recent years. Introductions were presented by senior Metropolitans on ecclesiastical, pastoral and theological initiatives and ministries, including the forthcoming Holy and Great Council, the regional Assemblies of Bishops, the World…
Source: Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the USA Chicago, IL– The Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the United States of America convened for a second day on Wednesday, September 16 in Chicago, IL. Before beginning the day’s meetings, the hierarchs offered a service of supplication to the Mother of God. In the first session of the day, the hierarchs engaged in a candid and lengthy discussion on the Committee for Canonical Regional Planning’s proposal, discussing in greater depth the opinions that had been offered on Tuesday. After deliberation, the hierarchs unanimously agreed that the Committee for Canonical Regional…
Source: Orthodox Church in America HUNTINGTON, NY [OCA] Members of the Metropolitan Council of the Orthodox Church in America will gather for their fall session at Immaculate Conception Seminary here September 21-24, 2015. “As customary, the session will open with a one-day retreat,” said Archpriest Eric G. Tosi, OCA Secretary. “Dr. Mary Ford, Associate Professor of New Testament and Hermeneutics at Saint Tikhon’s Seminary, will speak on the ‘Proper Interpretation of the Book of Revelation,’ while Archpriest Dr. John Behr, Dean of Saint Vladimir’s Seminary, will deliver a presentation titled ‘Becoming Human.’” Regular sessions will begin on Tuesday morning. His…
Source: Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the USA Assembly of Bishops USA Convenes Sixth Annual Meeting in Chicago Chicago, IL–The Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the United States of America convened its sixth annual meeting Tuesday, September 15 in Chicago, IL with 45 hierarchs in attendance. The day began with a celebration of the Divine Liturgy at St John the Baptist Orthodox Church in Des Plaines, IL. Archbishop Demetrios, Chairman of the Assembly, opened the meeting. His remarks can be read here in their entirety. General business followed, including acceptance of the minutes from Assembly V, a financial…