Browsing: Governance & Unity News

Source: Orthodox Church in America SYOSSET, NY [OCA]  The final draft of the revisedStatute of the Orthodox Church in America, slated to be presented for adoption at the upcoming 18th All-American Council (AAC) in Atlanta, GA July 20-24, 2015, is now available on-line. The release of the revised Statuteis in accordance with Article XIIIof the current Statute, which stipulates that all proposed amendments must be released at least 60 days prior to the All-American Council.  A detailed introduction to the document will be posted as soon as it is available. The proposed text of the revised Statute was finalized at…

Source: The National Herald By Steve Frangos, TNH Staff Writer Of all the many cultural institutions Greeks brought with them to North America none will prove more lasting than their efforts at permanently establishing in this nation the Eastern Orthodox Church. To be sure, Greek immigrants did not accomplish this goal alone, nor were they even the first among the various branches of the Eastern Orthodox faithful to do so. Yet it is also clear, to any who attend church even on an irregular basis that we are now every much in a period of transformation. Two issues occupy the…

Source: WISN 12 News MILWAUKEE —A  pastor at the Milwaukee’s Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church said he’s being forced out after exposing embezzlement allegations against a former priest. As WISN 12 News previously reported, the Rev. James Dokos is awaiting trial on theft charges. Now, the priest who exposed the case told WISN 12 News reporter Nick Bohr he is facing retaliation from his superiors. Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church is a landmark, but it’s recently been the focus of unwanted attention. Dokos was charged last year with embezzling tens of thousands of dollars to pay personal bills, including steak dinners and jewelry.…

Source: The National Herald April 25 – May 1, 2015 edition To the Editor: The removal of Fr. Angelo Artemas and his replacement with Fr. James Dokos by Bishop Kantzavelos has caused irreparable and immeasurable harm to my parish, Sts. Peter and Paul in Glenview, IL. The spiritual damage of being ministered by a priest for two years who has been charged with felony theft by the Milwaukee, WI District Attorney is incalculable. My parish lost 54 donor families between 2012 and 2014. The scandal has divided the faithful between those who are calling for the removal of the Bishop/Chancellor…

Source: Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the USA The Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the USA has launched a study on Orthodox Parish Life in America. All Orthodox parishes in the US are invited to take part in this study. When completed and published, it will provide a comprehensive picture of Orthodox parishes in 21st century America. The study explores various questions, including engagement of youth and young adults in Church life, usage of social media, and programs run by parishes. The study is conducted as an online survey, which is to be completed by parish clergy. The survey…

Source: Orthodox Church in America SYOSSET, NY [OCA]  On Sunday, April 26, 2015, His Beatitude, Metropolitan Tikhon, concelebrated the Divine Liturgy with His Holiness and Beatitude, Catholicos-Patriarch Ilia II of All Georgia and Archbishop of Mtskheta and Tbilisi, at the Cathedral of the All Holy Trinity in Tbilisi, the Georgian capital. [See related story and photos.] At the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy, Metropolitan Tikhon addressed His Holiness, the text of which appears below. ADDRESS OF HIS BEATITUDE, METROPOLITAN TIKHON CATHEDRAL OF THE ALL HOLY TRINITY, TBILISI, GEORGIA April 25, 2015 Your Holiness, Christ is risen! It is with deep…

Source: Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America NEW YORK— A few days before the U.S. Supreme Court hears oral arguments on the rights of states to define marriage as the union of one man and one woman, more than 30 religious leaders representing tens of millions of US citizens from diverse faith communities throughout the United States have reaffirmed their shared commitment to marriage and religious freedom. An open letter entitled “The Defense of Marriage and the Right of Religious Freedom: Reaffirming a Shared Witness” was issued to all in positions of public service on April 23. Archbishop Demetrios of America,…

Source: Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America NEW YORK – The Holy Eparchial Synod of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America convened for its regular spring meeting at the Synodal Chamber of the Archdiocesan headquarters in New York on April 20th, 21st and 22nd, 2015. His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios of America presided at the meeting with the participation of the Members of the Synod. The Synod deliberated extensively on many matters including the following: 1) The Holy Synod discussed the progress of the publication of the text of the Divine Liturgy of Saint John Chrysostom in Greek and English, which has…

Source: Orthodox Church in America SYOSSET, NY [OCA]  At the invitation of the His Holiness Karekin II, the Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, His Beatitude, Metropolitan Tikhon and a delegation from the Orthodox Church in America, will arrive in Armenia on Tuesday, April 21, 2015, where they will participate in the commemoration of the 100th Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide in the Ottoman Empire during World War I. Accompanying Metropolitan Tikhon are Archpriest John Jillions, OCA Chancellor, and Subdeacon Roman Ostash. Metropolitan Tikhon will be among the heads and representatives of Churches and presidents, prime ministers, and others…

Source: Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the USA Can Orthodox weddings be celebrated on Saturdays? Are group confessions permissible? How are catechumens prepared for reception into the Church? The answers to these questions and others depend on which Orthodox jurisdiction you call home. While there are vast areas of agreement in the Orthodox Church, there are variations in practice across jurisdictions in the United States as pertain to baptism, marriage, confession, and other sacraments of the Church. As the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the United States of America strives to manifest the unity of Orthodoxy, it is…

Source: Greek Orthodox Christian Clergy and Laity We, Greek Orthodox Christians of the Metropolis of Chicago, will no longer accept what we believe is the continual financial and spiritual abuse of both clergy and laity, by the current Hierarchs of the Metropolis of Chicago. With this goal, a group of dedicated and committed individuals began a campaign to inform the church / laity of serious aberrations in our Greek Orthodox community, and to correct some of the financial and spiritual abuses rampant in the Chicago Metropolis, that is spreading to other jurisdictions. The success of this website to inform the…

Source: Orthodox Church in America SYOSSET, NY [OCA]  Bright Friday, April 17, 2015 is the deadline for submitting proposed resolutions for the 18th All-American Council, slated to convene in Atlanta, GA July 20-24, 2015. Proposed resolutions should be sent via e-mail to resolutions.18aac@oca.org or in hard copy to the Resolutions Committee, 18th All-American Council, c/o the Chancery of the Orthodox Church in America, PO Box 675, Syosset, NY 11791.  After review by the Resolutions Committee, they will be published/posted by May 15, 2015—60 days before the AAC per Article III, Section 5, Part E and Article XIII, Sections 1-2 of…