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Moving Ahead in Unity

By Webmaster on June 21, 2013 Governance & Unity Essays, Governance & Unity News, Uncategorized

Pentecost 2013 As we take leave of the Paschal Liturgical Cycle of Lent through Pentecost, I want to take this opportunity to reflect upon a book I re-read during this period: Christ in Our Midst by Father Theodore Stylianopoulos. The book was written in 1980, and I was familiar with it when I was putting together the Chapter on “Spiritual Renewal” in the OCL publication “Project for Orthodox Renewal”. You can read this work online on our website. The discussion and insights presented in Christ In Our Midst, which was written by Father Ted as he worked on the Commission…

Church Leadership Should Modify its Policies

By Webmaster on June 20, 2013 Governance & Unity Essays, Governance & Unity News, Uncategorized

Source: The National Herald by Theodore Kalmoukos, Special to The National Herald The preservation of small Greek Orthodox parishes, and their ability to continue to exist in the United States, is very serious matter which should concern all of us as members of both the Church and the Greek American Community. Some of our small parishes have already gone down on a withering path. Among them are parishes which flourished in the past, especially during the early decades after their establishment by Greek immigrant pioneers. With the passing of time and changing of demographic circumstances, and the loss of jobs…

Two Tennessee Orthodox Churches of Different Jurisdictions Unite

By Webmaster on June 20, 2013 Governance & Unity News, Governance Top Stories

Source: Holy Resurrection Orthodox Church The following is the statement made by Fr. Stephen Mathewes to the parish on Sunday, June 9th: To my most beloved brothers and sisters in Christ, Christ is risen! Holy Resurrection has had a long history. A convoluted one, shall we say. For 15 years, faithful and tremendously dedicated people have labored in this humble little vineyard to make it a true Orthodox community—a part of the great worldwide Church. There have been many struggles, many crises, many ups and downs. More than once, the end was thought to be near, only for this plucky…

His All-Holiness Bartholomew receives Patriarch John of Antioch

By Webmaster on June 17, 2013 Governance & Unity News, Governance Top Stories, Uncategorized

Οn Saturday, June 1, 2013, His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, together with members of the Holy and Sacred Synod and other Hierarchy of the Ecumenical Throne, welcomed His Beatitude Patriarch John X of Antioch to the Phanar. Patriarch John of Antioch was making his first stop in his Irenic Visitations following his election last December. Patriarch John and his entourage were received in a spirit of warm fraternal love and honor. The members of the delegation from the Church of Antioch included Metropolitans Elias of Tyre and Sidon and Saba of Bosra, Bishop Efraim of Seleucia, Frs. Silouan Oner and Michel…

OCA Treasurer’s report for first quarter of 2013 available

By Webmaster on May 30, 2013 Governance & Unity News, Governance Top Stories

Source: Orthodox Church in America SYOSSET, NY [OCA] The report of Ms. Melanie Ringa, Treasurer of the Orthodox Church in America, for the quarter ending March 31, 2013 is now available on-line. In her introductory notes, Ms. Ringa noted that “the operating budget that was passed last fall was a deficit budget,” adding that “several additional expenses were added at the spring Metropolitan Council meeting held in February [2013].” While the budgeted operating deficit for Q1-2013 was $87,034.00, the actual deficit was $151,608.00. Across all funds, the deficit for the first quarter is $139,826.00. The complete report may be accessed…

Metropolitan Tikhon, Holy Synod members meet with Metropolitan Jonah

By Webmaster on May 27, 2013 Governance & Unity News, Governance Top Stories

Source: Orthodox Church in America SYOSSET, NY [OCA] – A brief statement with regard to the retirement of His Eminence, Metropolitan Jonah was issued by the Office of Archpriest John Jillions, Chancellor of the Orthodox Church in America, on Monday, May 27, 2013. The text of the statement reads as follows. “At the invitation of His Beatitude, Metropolitan Tikhon, His Eminence, Metropolitan Jonah met with a number of members of the Holy Synod of Bishops of the Orthodox Church in America at Saint Tikhon’s Monastery, South Canaan, PA and reached an understanding with the Holy Synod concerning his retirement. Following…

OCA Lesser Synod members receive updates from OCA officers

By Webmaster on May 24, 2013 Governance & Unity News, Governance Top Stories

Source: Orthodox Church in America SYOSSET, NY [OCA] Members of the Lesser Synod of Bishops of the Orthodox Church in America received updates from the Church’s officers during their meeting at the Chancery here May 21-22, 2013. According to Archpriest Eric G. Tosi, OCA Secretary, “the purpose of the meeting was to continue the work of the Holy Synod between sessions, address critical concerns, and plan for upcoming meetings.” The meeting was chaired by His Beatitude, Metropolitan Tikhon. Also in attendance were His Eminence, Archbishop Nathaniel; His Eminence, Archbishop Benjamin; and His Grace, Bishop Melchisedek, who attended some of the…

A Reflection: Orthodox Christian Unity is Proper Response for Global and Fragmented World

By Webmaster on May 21, 2013 Governance & Unity Essays, Governance & Unity News

by George Matsoukas, Executive Director of Orthodox Christian Laity The Orthodox Christian Church is in the Paschal Season. Having attended the many services of preparation for the Resurrection of Christ and as we await Pentecost, we know that the Holy Spirit is present everywhere and that brothers and sisters must dwell together in unity, which is the Christian norm. During this season, we must continue to pray that the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops finds the humility to move ahead with their work of developing the blueprint and foundation for a unified Church in the United States. We must pray…

Metropolitan Tikhon hosted by Antiochian Metropolitan Philip

By Webmaster on May 15, 2013 Governance & Unity News, Governance Top Stories, Uncategorized

Source: Orthodox Church in America ENGLEWOOD, NJ [OCA] – For the first time since his election as Primate of the Orthodox Church in America in November 2012, His Beatitude, Metropolitan Tikhon was the guest of His Eminence, Metropolitan Philip at the offices of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America here on Tuesday, May 14, 2013. Metropolitan Tikhon was accompanied by Archpriest John Jillions, OCA Chancellor; Archpriest Leonid Kishkovsky, OCA Director of External Affairs and Interchurch Relations; and Subdeacon Roman Ostash. Joining Metropolitan Philip in welcoming the OCA delegation were His Grace, Bishop Nicholas, Auxiliary-Brooklyn and Resident Assistant to…

[UPDATED] Patriarch of Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria meets with Pope Francis in the Vatican

By Webmaster on May 8, 2013 Governance & Unity News, Governance Top Stories

Source: Vatican Information Service [UPDATED – See Related Story at bottom of article] Vatican City, 8 May 2013 (VIS) – From 9 to 13 May, His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark, head of the Coptic Orthodox Church of Egypt, will come to Rome to meet with His Holiness Pope Francis. The Coptic Orthodox Church of Egypt has about ten million faithful. This large membership makes the Coptic Church one of the most important elements in the ecclesial landscape of the Middle East where, in recent times, Christian communities are having…

Resurrection Pastoral Letter – Archbishop Nathaniel

By Webmaster on April 27, 2013 Governance & Unity Essays, Governance & Unity News

Grace, Mercy and Peace from God, and from us our fatherly love and hierarchal blessing. CHRIST IS RISEN! “We believe that having died with Christ we shall return to life with him; Christ, as we know, having been raised from the dead, will never die again. Death has no power over him anymore. When he died, he died, once for all, to sin, so His life now is life in God; and in that way, you too must consider yourselves to be dead to sin but alive for God in Christ Jesus” (Rom. 6: 8-11). Dearly Beloved: You heard these select…