Source: Orthodox Christian Laity Orthodox Christian Laity (OCL) calls upon the Orthodox Church in America (OCA) during this most difficult period to be transparent about the reasons for the resignation of Metropolitan Jonah. We call upon the Synod and the Metropolitan Council to be open and transparent in all matters relating to Church Governance in order to retain the confidence of the people whose support they must have in order for the Church to grow and serve the needs of the faithful.
Source: TANJUG BELGRADE — Serbian Orthodox Patriarch Irinej called for unity among Serbs, adding that the Church (SPC) would never agree or come to terms with Kosovo “being given away”. Irinej called on the people to be united in politics and everything else, because the Serbs are a small people and the only way to survive was through unity and some values the world would understand and support. “It is unrealistic to us, and I think the Serbs and the SPC, which has always been with the people, will never agree to what can be read in the press nowadays…
Source: Orthodox Church in America On Tuesday evening, July 10, 2012, members of the Holy Synod of Bishops of the Orthodox Church in America, officers of the Church, and members of the Metropolitan Council met via conference call to discuss the recent resignation of Metropolitan Jonah. His Eminence, Archbishop Nathaniel, Locum Tenens, chaired the conference call, in which most members of the Holy Synod participated. Also participating in the meeting were General Counsel Thaddeus Wojcik and Archpriest Leonid Kishkovsky. In executive session, Metropolitan Council members were briefed on the details of the resignation and evolving plans for the transition during…
Source: Orthodox Church in America SOUTH CANAAN, PA [STOTS] STOTS board members participate in DC seminar. At its June meeting, the Board of Commissioners of the Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada [ATS] voted to extend Saint Tikhon’s Orthodox Theological Seminary’s next accreditation visit by two years, from Fall 2014 to Fall of 2016. In their decision, the Board of Commissioners accepted the recommendations of an ATS site team that visited the seminary in February 2012. During their visit, the ATS tean found that significant institutional progress had been made in the past two years under…
Source: Orthodox Church in America SYOSSET, NY [OCA] On Monday, July 9, 2012, His Beatitude, Metropolitan Jonah and the members of the Holy Synod of Bishops met via conference call to further discuss His Beatitude’s resignation, as reported earlier on the web site of the Orthodox Church in America. The hierarchs issued the following statement at the conclusion of their meeting. “To the Venerable Clergy, Devout Monastics, and Pious Faithful of the Orthodox Church in America: “Beloved in Christ, Glory to Jesus Christ! Glory Forever! “On Friday, July 6, 2012, His Beatitude, Metropolitan Jonah, tendered his resignation as Primate of…
Source: Orthodox Church in America SYOSSET, NY [OCA] In a letter addressed to the members of the Holy Synod of Bishops dated Friday, July 6, 2012, His Beatitude, Metropolitan Jonah tendered his resignation as Primate of the Orthodox Church in America.His Beatitude composed and signed the letter at his residence in Washington, DC, in the presence of Archpriest John Jillions, OCA Chancellor. On Saturday, July 7, the letter was presented to the Holy Synod in the course of a conference call in which all of the hierarchs participated, except His Eminence, Archbishop Alejo of Mexico City. The text of His…
Source: Orthodox Church in America SYOSSET, NY [OCA] The Lesser Synod of Bishops of the Orthodox Church in America met at the Chancery of the Orthodox Church in America here on Thursday, July 5, 2012. In addition to His Beatitude, Metropolitan Jonah, others present included His Eminence, Archbishop Nikon of Boston, New England, and the Albanian Archdiocese; His Eminence, Archbishop Tikhon of Philadelphia and Eastern Pennsylvania; and His Eminence, Archbishop Benjamin of San Francisco and the West. Also in attendance were the OCA’s officers—Archpriest John Jillions, Chancellor; Archpriest Eric G. Tosi, Secretary; and Melanie Ringa, Treasurer—and Archpriest Leonid Kishkovsky, Director…
Source: Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America PHOENIX – The official business of the 41st Clergy-Laity Congress concluded Wednesday July 4, 2012 with the plenary session which lasted all day and was the culmination of the forums, meetings of the committees, workshops, receptions and social events of fellowship–all of which contributed to a very productive and successful Congress, inspiring the delegates and participants to spread the message, Chosen and Appointed by God to Go and Bear Fruit. The Clergy-Laity Congress was attended by 790 participants, 651 of which were registered delegates from 326 parishes. The National Philoptochos Convention had the second…
Fr. Peter Guillquist Source: Orthodox Christian Laity | George Matsoukas The Orthodox Christian Laity (OCL) Board was blessed to have Father Peter Gillquist as an advisor for more than 12 years. From day one, when I met him, he was bigger than life. Physically he was tall, robust and exuberant in nature. He reminded me of Paul Bunyan. He energized our board when he attended meetings and was our featured speaker at open forums and programs. He truly transcended all the Orthodox Christian groupings that exist in America. The Holy Spirit, present everywhere, and filling all creation, brought Father Peter…
Source: Musings from the Fourth Rome Fr. Peter E. Gillquist, a retired clergyman of the Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese of North America, fell asleep in the Lord last night [July 1, 2012] at the age of seventy-three. Born into a Lutheran family, the future priest went on after university to become a full-time staff member of the Evangelical Protestant Campus Crusade for Christ, eventually becoming one of the organization’s regional directors. He also worked as a senior editor for Thomas Nelson Publishers, being involved in the 1970s on the overview committee for the New King James Version Bible. While still working…
Source: Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America PHOENIX – The 41st Biennial Clergy-Laity Congress of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America officially began its work this morning at the JW Marriott Desert Ridge Hotel. It was highlighted by the Keynote Address of His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios of America presented to an audience of more than 1,200 participants. It is customary for the official opening to be attended by delegates, clergy and laity, of both the Clergy-Laity Congress and National Philoptochos Convention. Archbishop Demetrios defined the mission and outlined the steps necessary for the fulfillment of the theme of this Congress with…
Source: Orthodox Church in America PORTLAND, MAINE [OCA/SVOTS] On Tuesday morning, June 26, 2012, Dr. Veselin Kesich, 91, Professor Emeritus of New Testament at Saint Vladimir’s Seminary, Crestwood, NY, fell asleep in the Lord surrounded by his children Carol and Gregory at his residence here. After suffering from a heart ailment for many years, he passed away while under hospice care. Professor Kesich was beloved by generations of alumni of SVOTS, not only for his academic expertise but also for the hospitality and love he demonstrated to students, along with his wife, Lydia (+ 2006), over the several decades they…