Browsing: Governance & Unity News

Polycarp Books “I believed, and so I spoke.” (2 Cor. 4:13) Recently, we received and included into the Heritage Center collection the book, “The Servant of All – Archbishop Nathaniel Popp: Thirty Years of Leadership, 1980-2010,” edited by Ian G. Pac-Urar, Polycarp Books, 2011, 388 pages. The book includes an “Editor’s Note” and a “Foreword” by the Archbishop of Washington and Metropolitan of all America, Jonah, and five Appendices. The book includes articles, letters and addresses selected from the writings of Archbishop Nathaniel of the Romanian Orthodox Episcopate of America (“Vatra”). As it is said in the Editor’s Note: “The…

Note: This is a historical response to the recent declaration of Pope Benedict XVI who, in reference to his document “Dominus Iesus” written when he was prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, stated that Christian denominations were not true churches but merely ecclesial communities. Pope Benedict referred to the Orthodox churches as having “many elements of sanctification and of truth” but were “wounded” because they did not recognize the primacy of the Pope. By V Rev Dr Miltiades B. Efthimiou If you are a Lutheran, your religion was founded by Martin Luther, an ex-monk of the…

Source: The Salt Lake Tribune | By Rosemary Winters A rift in the Salt Lake Valley’s Greek Orthodox community could be further ruptured or mended as members gather Sunday to debate the governance of their church. For the first time in two years, according to court documents, the Greek Orthodox Church of Greater Salt Lake is holding a general assembly, a democratic meeting that allows members in “good standing” to vote. The special meeting has prompted dueling mailings, rumors of a protest and even a request for a court-ordered delay. The parish, which includes Holy Trinity Cathedral in downtown Salt…

On 2 November 2011, Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Department for External Church Relations (DECR), visited the St. Petersburg Theological Academy with the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia and at the invitation of Metropolitan Vladimir of St. Petersburg and Ladoga, and discussed the upcoming Great and Holy Council. Metropolitan Hilarion met with the members of the Academic Board, faculty and students of the Academy. Attending the meeting were Archbishop Ionafan of Tulchin and Bratslav and Bishop Amvrosiy of Gatchina, rector of the St. Petersburg Theological Academy and Seminary. Metropolitan Hilarion…

WINNIPEG — A high-ranking former orthodox archbishop, who has pleaded not guilty, must wait until the new year to learn if he’ll go to trial on historical Manitoba sex abuse charges. Seraphim Storheim appeared in a Winnipeg courtroom this week for the start of his preliminary hearing to determine whether there is sufficient evidence for the case to proceed. A court-ordered ban prevents specific details from being published. Defence lawyer Jeff Gindin told the Winnipeg Free Press the evidence was presented on Thursday and Friday but the case has now adjourned until Jan. 18 for lawyers to make final arguments.…

NEW YORK – Vice President Joe Biden visited today Archbishop Demetrios of America, Primate of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese in Archdiocesan headquarters in Manhattan. The two discussed the matter of religious freedom and the Ecumenical Patriarchate and other issues of mutual interest regarding security and peace in the Balkans and the Eastern Mediterranean. Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America Headquarters 8-10 East 79th St. New York, NY 10075 United States Source: Greek Orthodox Archdiocese

Source: Orthodox Church in America SYOSSET, NY [OCA/Priest John Vitko] The draft Strategic Plan for the Orthodox Church in America was a major focus of the recent 16th All-American Council. Four of the eight plenary sessions focused in part or in-to on the Strategic Plan. The heart of these activities were two three-hour long workshops focused on each of the 10 top priority goals – with participants having the opportunity to further develop the goals and to identify initial projects that they, the participants, networked together could do to help achieve the goal. The Strategic Planning workshops were very well…

Source: National Herald | By Theodore Kalmoukos BOSTON, MA – Metropolitan Methodios of Boston though a letter dated Oct. 11, 2011 has begun a second round of crisis at the historic Greek Orthodox parish of St. George in Lynn, MA. He continues the controversy he started last December about a $20,000 increase to the parish’s annual contribution to the Archdiocese which the parish cannot afford and has refused to pay. Through the letter, Methodios reinstated the sanctions against the parish and its priest, Rev. George Tsoukalas, which he had imposed last December 20. To Tsoukalas, Metropolitan Methodios admonished that on…

[SYOSSET, NY – OCA] On Friday, October 21, 2011, Archpriest Eric G. Tosi, Secretary of the Orthodox Church in America, announced that Archpriest John A. Jillions has accepted the position of Chancellor. Selected from a slate of several applicants, Father John was confirmed by the Holy Synod of Bishops upon the recommendation of the Metropolitan Council at their fall sessions. A life-long member of the Orthodox Church in America, Father John was born in Montreal, Quebec, Canada in 1955. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics from McGill University. In 1980, he received the Master of Divinity degree…

The Holy Eparchial Synod of the Holy Archdiocese of America convened its regular meeting on October 12-13, 2011, at the Synodal Chamber of the Holy Archdiocese in New York. His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios of America presided and all Members of the Synod participated. Prior to the commencing of the Meeting of the Synod, Members had the opportunity to hold a special meeting with Rev. Father Stratton Dorozenski, Chairman of the Archdiocese Benefits Committee, during which relevant issues were discussed. They also met with Rev. Father James Kordaris, Director of Stewardship, Outreach and Evangelism, and were informed on the work being…

By Ann Rodgers, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette With work under way for the demolition of the Civic Arena, Orthodox Christians are gathering in Pittsburgh to remember a historic faith event that took place there in 1963. Nearly 14,000 Orthodox — including 12 bishops, 150 priests and a 1,000-voice choir from all ethnic backgrounds — packed the arena with the dome open. It remains the largest Orthodox gathering in America, according to organizers of this weekend’s conference. The organizers of the 1963 event, mostly veterans of World War II who had founded the Council of Eastern Orthodox Youth Leaders of the Americas, hoped…

From St. Vladimir’s Seminary Struggling with disease and terminal illness is part of the human condition, but dealing with suffering in a redemptive, Christian way presents a special challenge.  To help its seminarians, clergy, health professionals, and friends better understand how to approach and manage human suffering, Saint Vladimir’s Seminary here will offer a free seminar Friday, October 21, from 9:15 a.m. to 11:45 a.m., titled “Spiritual Issues in Suffering and Palliative Care. [YONKERS, NY – SVOTS] Drs. Daniel and Jane Hinshaw, both medical doctors and Orthodox Christians, will lead the seminar.  Daniel B. Hinshaw, M.D., is Professor of Surgery at…