Browsing: Governance & Unity News

Source: Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America With the blessings of His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America, Exarch of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, the Rev. Dr. Nicholas G. Louh and Presbytera Dr. Roxanne Louh led the John Halecky, Jr. 20th Annual National Archon Lenten Retreat from April 19 to 21, 2024. The Retreat was held at the Dormition of the Virgin Mary Greek Orthodox Church of the Hamptons, hosted by Rev. Protopresbyter Alexander Karloutsos, Archon Spiritual Advisor, and Father Constantine Lazarakis, who served as Retreat Pastors. Fr. Nicholas and Dr. Roxanne, a clinical psychologist, addressed over 100 participants both in person and…

Source: St. Phoebe Center for the Deaconess St. Phoebe Center Zoom Event – Sunday, May 19, 7 pm Eastern (Sunday of the Myrrhbearers) Does the Church really need a female diaconate? Couldn’t lay people just do this type of work? These are questions that have been posed to us.  While the St. Phoebe Center wholeheartedly supports lay ministry in the Church, we also acknowledge a place for ordained ministry as well. This seminar will focus on the question of the diaconate more broadly as well as the female diaconate specifically. We will first contextualize the issue—examining the order and its…

Source: Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America The Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Chicago today released its 2023 Annual Impact Report entitled “Embracing Our Christ-Centered Vision.” First released in 2021, the Annual Impact Report’s original purpose is to share the data, information, and trends related to the sacramental, ministerial, and financial health of the Metropolis of Chicago and its parishes. “The current vitality of the Metropolis of Chicago, as expressed in our Annual Impact Report, flows from many sources but, above all, it comes from our clergy and laity centering Christ in their lives every day. It is my deep-seated belief that…

Source: Public Orthodoxy by Gayle Woloschak The Orthodox Church has generally taken a pro-life stand with regard to life in the womb, but the Church has not officially commented on embryos that remain in the test-tube or in freezers as “leftovers” following the In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) procedure. For the Church, the personhood and the ensoulment of the embryo have been issues of theological debate over the years, with room for continued dialogue and discussion. When giving a blessing for IVF, many Orthodox bishops have asked couples to implant only one embryo into a woman’s womb at a time in…

Source: National Catholic Reporter Vatican City — The most important outcome of the current Synod of Bishops on synodality is the synodal process itself and not the hot-button topics discussed, Pope Francis said. With the second synod assembly scheduled for October, the pope said the synod process is approaching its “most challenging and important” stage — the point at which it must become “prophetic.” “Now it is a matter of translating the work of the previous stages into choices that will give impetus and new life to the mission of the church in our time,” he told members of the…

Source: The National Herald By Theodore Kalmoukos BOSTON – Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew will be absent from the major Conference, with the theme ‘Protection of Religious Freedom, Democracy, and Human Rights’ organized by Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate that will take place May 26 to 29, 2024. The Order Saint Andrew of the United are the lead organizers under the leadership of Dr. Anthony Limberakis, Megas Aktouarios and National Commander in the U.S., and the Very Reverend Alexander Karloutsos, the Order’s Spiritual Advisor. Participating are the orders of the Archons of Greece, Canada, Europe, and Australia. Dr. Limberakis is president of…

Source: Public Orthodoxy by Very Rev. Dr. John Behr Regius Professor of Humanity at the University of Aberdeen In recent days several articles have appeared on this site raising profound, difficult, and unsettling questions. Sr. Vassa bravely asked whether “heresy” is a charge that can be applied to the “Edict” of the XXV “All-World Council of the Russian People,” approved under the chairmanship of Patriarch Kirill of Moscow on March 27, 2024, concluding, rightly, that it does indeed express, in the words of St. Basil about heresy, “a clear difference in the very faith of God” (see also this analysis by Serhii Shumylo).…

Source: Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America Hellenic College Holy Cross will once again recognize a couple for their exemplary vision and leadership in the Church. Helen and Archon Louis Nicozisis will each receive an honorary doctorate from Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology at the upcoming 82nd Commencement on May 18, 2024. This highest honor the school can bestow will be granted to them for the impact they have made at Holy Cross and across the Archdiocese in the field of missions and evangelism. Partners in life and service for sixty years, Archon Primikirios Louis and Helen Nicozisis have…

Source: Public Orthodoxy by Rev. Dr. John Chryssavgis Executive Director of the Huffington Ecumenical Institute at Holy Cross School of Theology In previous years, weeks, and days, I have seen—and, in one instance, supported—a variegated condemnation of the Moscow Patriarch—his preaching and practice alike—as heretical. The “Russian World” ideology has been denounced as unorthodox and heretical. The “Edict” of the World Russian People’s Council has been characterized as distorted doctrine. And the commemoration of Patriarch Kirill has been called in question. All of the above have been justly promoted and justifiably promulgated, among others, by dear friends across the globe. While I am not…

Source: Public Orthodoxy by Sister Vassa Larin Liturgiologist and Founder of Coffee with Sister Vassa I presented the following paper on February 17, 2024 in Wheeling, IL, at a conference entitled “We’re Not Alone.” The conference was organized by laypeople of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia (ROCOR), concerned about the church issues arising from Putin’s war against Ukraine. The topic of the paper, “The ROCOR and Western Values: Past and Present,” needs reflection, because Patriarch Kirill and the Putin regime have repeatedly justified the invasion of Ukraine as some kind of effort to save Ukraine from the influence of…

Source: Orthodox Church in America SPRINGFIELD, VA [OCA]  On April 2-4, 2024, the Holy Synod of Bishops of the Orthodox Church in America met for its Regular Spring 2024 Session in Springfield, VA, under the presidency of His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon. The meetings of the Synod were preceded by a special joint meeting in which the Bishops were joined by the Church Officers, the Diocesan Chancellors, the General Counsel, and representatives of the Pension Board. The joint meeting began on Monday, April 1, with an education session led by Mr. David Jarrett, FSA, EA, MAAA, FCA, Principal and Consulting Actuary. This presentation…

Source: Orthodox Church in America To the Clergy, Monastics, and Faithful of the Orthodox Church in America, My Beloved Children in the Lord, CHRIST IS RISEN! INDEED HE IS RISEN! Now all is filled with light: heaven and earth and the lower regions. Let all creation celebrate the rising of Christ: in him we are established. (St. John of Damascus, Paschal Canon, Ode Three) Today we greet the most radiant feast of feasts, the king and lord of days, the Pascha of Christ our true God. Standing in the light of the Resurrection, we glimpse the true and unfading joy of the…