Governance

Eastern Orthodox Unity

November 5, 2013 2 Comments

Source: First Things by Ivan Plis October was not a month of especial cooperation in the global Eastern Orthodox communion. Protesting the appointment in March of an archbishop for Qatar by the Church of Jerusalem, the Church of Antioch withdrew its participation from “all the Assemblies of Canonical Orthodox Bishops abroad.” The Antiochian Patriarchate claims sole authority over the small Gulf state though at present it has no parishes of its own there. The assemblies affected by this … [Read more...]

Will the Assembly of Bishops Lay a Foundation for Unity? Why is our Geographic Church in America Subject to Patriarchates Abroad Whose Actions Appear to be Obstructing Unity?

October 31, 2013 43 Comments

Mandate The Assembly has been established in accordance with the Decision of the 4th Pre-Conciliar Pan-Orthodox Conference, convoked in Chambésy, Switzerland, June 6-12, 2009, at which met representatives from all the universally-recognized autocephalous Orthodox churches. These representatives recognized substantial canonical "anomalies" in the organization and life of the Church in these regions, and realized that, though these anomalies had arisen from specific historical circumstances and … [Read more...]

New OCA Guidelines for ordination, appointments, and clergy transfers

October 30, 2013 Leave a Comment

Source: Orthodox Church in America SYOSSET, NY [OCA] - New guidelines for ordination, appointments, and clergy transfers are now available on the web site of the Orthodox Church in America. Also available is a summary regarding the transfer of non-OCA clergy into the OCA. “Revising these guidelines represents a year-long process,” said Archpriest Eric G. Tosi, OCA Secretary. “It involved the Holy Synod of Bishops, canonists, and seminary representatives working through the Board of … [Read more...]

Parishioners learn details of possible priest embezzlement

October 27, 2013 1 Comment

Source: WBLX Local By Alan Silverman WAUWATOSA (WITI) — The Milwaukee County District Attorney’s Office is investigating whether a former priest stole money from Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church in Wauwatosa. Members of the congregation gathered on Sunday, October 27th to learn more about the alleged activity of their former priest, Father James Dokos. Church attorney Emmanuel Mamalakis presented members with the findings and sequence of events that led them to the District … [Read more...]

Church of Antioch may Break off Relations with Patriarchate of Jerusalem

October 25, 2013 3 Comments

Source: Pravoslavie.ru Damascus, October 24, 2013 The Greek Church news agency Romphea has reported the decision of the Synod of the Church of Antioch regarding the issue of jurisdiction over the state of Qatar, stated by the Patriarch of Antioch. Patriarch John X has warned the head of the Church of Jerusalem that if within two months he does not take steps to resolve the problem with Qatar, then the Church of Antioch will have to break off relations with the Church of … [Read more...]

Cleveland to Host First Public Forum on Unity

October 22, 2013 Leave a Comment

Source: Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of North America Editor’s Note: The first Public Forum on Unity and the Assembly of Bishops was hosted by Orthodox Christian Laity on October 25 2012 at St George Antiochian Orthodox Church, Washington D.C. Bishop Maxim, Serbian Orthodox Church Western Diocese, Alhambra, CA and Protodeacon Peter Danilchick were presenters. OCL will present “The Assembly of Bishops and the Future of Orthodoxy in America” on Saturday November 2 at 9:00 am at Holy … [Read more...]

Conflicts Threatening an Orthodox Ecumenical Council

October 21, 2013 19 Comments

Source: Greek Reporter A fierce conflict between the Ecumenical Patriarchate and the Patriarchate of Moscow, that may lead to a new schism, threatens a forthcoming Orthodox Ecumenical Council. The reason is the effort of the Russian Church to degrade the primacy of Constantinople in the Orthodox world and to expand in China and Japan. This expansive strategy has clear political extensions of a geopolitical character, with the assistance of president Putin. Patriarch … [Read more...]

Official Statement from the Meeting of the Holy Synod of Antioch held on October 15-17, 2013

October 18, 2013 Leave a Comment

Source: Patriarchate of Antioch Facebook Page Statement by the Secretariat of Holy Synod of Antioch Balamand, October 17, 2013 The Holy Synod of Antioch held its second session from October 15th through 17th, 2013. His Beatitude Patriarch JOHN X presided over the meeting, with the participation of Their Eminences, the Metropolitans and Fathers of the Holy Synod of Antioch: Spiridon of Zahleh and its dependencies; Georges of Jbeil, Batroun and their dependencies; Yuhanna of Lattakia and … [Read more...]

OCA Holy Synod elects Archimandrite David [Mahaffey] to Alaska See

October 17, 2013 Leave a Comment

Source: Orthodox Church in America SYOSSET, NY [OCA] - Archimandrite David [Mahaffey] was elected by the members of the Holy Synod of Bishops of the Orthodox Church in America to fill the vacant Episcopal See of Sitka and Alaska on Wednesday, October 16, 2013. The election took place during the fall session of the Holy Synod at the OCA Chancery. Delegates to the Assembly of the Diocese of Alaska on September 15, 2012 had nominated Father David, who has been serving as the diocese’s … [Read more...]

OCA Holy Synod began fall session Tuesday, October 15

October 16, 2013 Leave a Comment

Source: Orthodox Church in America SYOSSET, NY [OCA] - The fall session of the Holy Synod of Bishops of the Orthodox Church in America opened on Tuesday, October 15, 2013, and will run through Thursday, October 17. According to Archpriest Eric G. Tosi, OCA Secretary, on Monday, October 14, the eve of the meeting, His Beatitude, Metropolitan Tikhon, will meet with members of the Sexual Misconduct Policy Advisorary Committee (SMPAC), at which time a final revision of the new Policies, … [Read more...]

Eastern Orthodox Unity

Will the Assembly of Bishops Lay a Foundation for Unity? Why is our Geographic Church in America Subject to Patriarchates Abroad Whose Actions Appear to be Obstructing Unity?

New OCA Guidelines for ordination, appointments, and clergy transfers

Parishioners learn details of possible priest embezzlement

Church of Antioch may Break off Relations with Patriarchate of Jerusalem

Cleveland to Host First Public Forum on Unity

Conflicts Threatening an Orthodox Ecumenical Council

Official Statement from the Meeting of the Holy Synod of Antioch held on October 15-17, 2013

OCA Holy Synod elects Archimandrite David [Mahaffey] to Alaska See

OCA Holy Synod began fall session Tuesday, October 15

Governance and Jurisdictional Unity Latest Comments

Conflicts Threatening an Orthodox Ecumenical Council (19)

Eastern Orthodox Unity (2)

Assembly Faces Temporary Withdrawal of Participation by Hierarchs of Patriarchate of Antioch (2)

A Presentation: UPDATE ON THE WORK OF THE ASSEMBLY OF CANONICAL ORTHODOX BISHOPS in NORTH AND CENTRAL AMERICA (2)

Letter from the Secretary of the Synod of Bishops [ROCOR] to the Chairman of the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops in North and Central America (6)

The Primacy of the Ecumenical Patriarchate (3)

An Extraordinary Session of the ROCOR Synod of Bishops is Held (4)

Two Orthodox Hierarchs from the Southern USA Concelebrate Theophany in SE Florida (1)

Bartholomew convokes the Primates of the Orthodox Churches (1)

St. Symeon the New Theologian and St. Photini are the Patron Saints of OCL