Browsing: Orthodox News Top Stories

Source: Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America NEW YORK – The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America expresses its deepest regret for the unexpected and continuing daily reading of the Koran in Hagia Sophia. The United States, as well as Germany and Greece have already officially expressed very clear protests which emphasize verbatim: “We would encourage Turkey to preserve Hagia Sophia in a way that respects its tradition and also its complex history” and also stress that “Hagia Sophia is a World Heritage Site designated by UNESCO, and we wish Hagia Sophia be used in a way that does not alter its…

Source: Change.org June 9, 2016 An Open Letter of the Orthodox Christian Scholars around the World to the Holy and Great Council of Crete –  Sign this petition We, the undersigned international group of Orthodox scholars, address this letter to the leadership of the Orthodox Church, to all Orthodox Christians around the world, and to all people of good will. We write out of profound concern for our Church, whose unity makes the new life in Christ visible to all humanity. We pray that the impending Council, so much anticipated and so long prepared, will bear forth the fruits of…

Source: Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the United States of America The Joint Committee of Orthodox and Catholic Bishops met on May 22-24, 2016 at the Saint Methodios Faith and Heritage Center in Contoocook, NH. The Joint Committee was established in 1981 by the Standing Conference of Canonical Orthodox Bishops in America, now the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the United States, and by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. The Joint Committee is the first formal gathering of Orthodox and Catholic bishops blessed and supported by both churches, and is co-chaired by His Eminence Cardinal Sean O’Malley…

Source: Crisis Magazine FR. ALEXANDER F. C. WEBSTER AND BOB MILLER Fifty years ago, tens of thousands of young American men burned draft cards in public protests against the Vietnam War, while throngs of American women were burning certain items of clothing to encourage “women’s liberation.” If young women from 18 to 26 are compelled this summer by the U.S. Congress and president to register for Selective Service in another military draft someday, then a new resistance movement would be in order—this time women burning their selective service cards and refusing to comply with a U.S. defense policy that is…

Source: BBC News Magazine If you want to visit Mount Athos the first step is to submit a copy of your passport to the Mount Athos Pilgrims’ Bureau. Each day, 100 Orthodox and 10 non-Orthodox male pilgrims are admitted for a three-night stay in one of the peninsula’s 20 monasteries. Women will not be granted a permit and must stay behind as their male friends board the ferry at one of the two closest ports. Mount Athos has barred women for more than 1,000 years – they are not allowed within 500m of the coast. According to Dr Graham Speake,…

Source: The National Herald Originally published on May 14, 2016, page 14. By Chris Chiames I have worked for over 30 years in the field of public relations, including high profile assignments in government and industry. Effective communication is a two-way model. It often starts with listening before speaking in order to assess, understand, and connect with your audience. Not simply to say what someone wants to hear, but to be able to engage and create a conversation and build the relationship. When church leaders look out over empty pews and come up short on fundraising goals, they might want…

Source: Orthodox Observer by Metropolitan Isaiah of Denver Over the past several years it appears that a number of persons who have been recognized as Orthodox Christians have taken their lives, as well as some who leave in their wills that they wish to be cremated. On the basis of these two realities, it is obvious that many of our people have no understanding of the sanctity of the human body and have not been educated on the seriousness of these matters relative to the fact that they consider themselves members of the Church. In the matter of suicides, if…

Source: Orthodox Church in America YONKERS, NY [SVOTS Communications]  His Beatitude, Metropolitan Tikhon, has announced that the Board of Trustees of Saint Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary here voted to implement a new model for governance at the seminary.  The new model, adopted by the Board at its semi-annual meeting on May 19–20, 2016, will be effective as of May 27, 2016, and will include a newly defined Chief Executive Officer (CEO) position at the top of its organizational structure. Components of the new model will be implemented over the next several months. “As the President of the Board of Trustees at…

Source: Orthodox Church in America SYOSSET, NY [DCE]  While the late Protopresbyter Thomas Hopko was working on the revised edition of his four-volume series, The Orthodox Faith, he decided that adding discussion questions to the texts would enhance the books’ usefulness.  Subsequently, he asked the Orthodox Church in America’s Department of Christian Education [DCE] to develop study resources/questions for each volume. “Father Thomas especially wanted the History volume to include questions because it is the longest one and is the most thoroughly revised and expanded, through his efforts and those of Dr. David C. Ford of Saint Tikhon’s Seminary,” said…

UPDATE:  (Source) A time of visitation will be held Thursday, May 26, 2016 from 6:00 to 6:30 P.M. at Saints Markella and Demetrois Greek Orthodox Church, 104 Bryn Mawr Boulevard, Mary Esther, Florida 32569, with a Trisagion Service to follow at 6:30 P.M. A reception will follow services. An Orthros Service will be held Friday, May 27, 2016 at 9:00 A.M. with the Divine Liturgy at 10:00 A.M. and the Funeral Service to follow at 11:30 A.M. Interment will follow at Destin Memorial Cemetery. Expressions of love and sympathy can be viewed or submitted at online@www.mclaughlinmortuary.com or www.McLaughlinMortuary.com.   Orthodox Christian Laity (OCL) has…

Source: HOPE Association The nonprofit organization enlists ultra marathoner Levi Rizk to run across America to gain awareness for the cause Washington D.C., May 17, 2016 – The HOPE Association, a nonprofit service organization based in Washington D.C., will launch two pediatric mobile health clinics in early 2017 that will serve low-income families in the D.C. and Los Angeles communities. The two HOPE pediatric mobile health clinics will provide several free services to uninsured children, such as well-visits, physicals, immunizations, screenings, urgent care, psychological services, sick visits and more. Serving patients from birth to age 21 directly in their neighborhoods at no…

Source: Pemptousia Hollywood actor Jonathan Jackson, recipient of five Emmy Awards, at an interview given to “Pemptousia” during his recent visit to the Monastery of Vatopaidi – Mt Athos, sends a personal message to his Orthodox brothers in Greece