Source: Orthodox Church in America SYOSSET, NY [OCA] A message from Archpriest Alexander Rentel, Chancellor of the Orthodox Church in America: On Wednesday, November 13, 2019, the Holy Synod of Bishops of the Orthodox Church in America concelebrated the Divine Liturgy for the feast of Saint John Chrysostom. At the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy His Eminence Archbishop Michael of New York and New Jersey, Secretary of the Holy Synod, read a proclamation of the Holy Synod announcing the anniversary celebrations for the Canonization of Saint Herman of Alaska, and the reception of the Tomos of Autocephaly. In its proclamation, the Holy Synod…
Browsing: Orthodox News
Source: Friends of ASOR By Joan E. Taylor Everyone knows what Jesus looks like: he is the most painted figure in all of western art, recognized everywhere as having long hair and a beard, a long robe with sleeves (often white) and a mantle (often blue). But what did he really look like, as a man living in Judaea in the 1st century? This subject has long been of interest. I have already written on John the Baptist and his clothing, but not about Jesus. Nevertheless, over the years, numerous television documentaries have asked me for guidance on dramatizing aspects of ancient life. In…
Source: Orthodox Christianity Podgorica, Montenegro – Despite strong protests from the hierarchs, clergy, monastics, and faithful of the Serbian Orthodox Church, the majority religion in the country, the Montenegrin Parliament adopted the anti-Church law “On Freedom of Religion and Belief and the Legal Status of Religious Communities” yesterday. Large crowds of Orthodox faithful took to the streets in several cities and towns to protest the new law, which resulted in the Montenegrin police severely beating His Grace Bishop Metodije of Diokleia and several faithful with batons, reports the official website of the Metropolis of Montenegro. “The bishop and individual believers…
Source: Orthodox Christianity AFRICA – Last week, an open letter from 27 African Orthodox priests from Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia was published in which the signatories express their disagreement with their Patriarch’s decision to recognize the schismatic “Orthodox Church of Ukraine” and to commemorate its primate, Epiphany Dumenko. The priests also note that the decision to recognize the schismatics was made without consulting the African clergy and laity, although they make up the majority of the Church. The clerics write with respect and restraint: “We would like to express our opinion and say that we do not agree with…
Source: Oinos Educational Consulting by Frank Marangos, D.Min., Ed.D., FCEP Click the photo above to View an uplifting video. Music provided by Amy Grant. “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.” Matthew 8:20 Christmas is a time of festive excitement and anticipation. For the nation’s homeless families and individuals, however, it is a particularly emotional and painful season of the year. While many of us are spending time with loved ones, the poor, hungry, and homeless are struggling with the devastating effects of loneliness, isolation and sleep…
Source: OCA Diocese of the West NATIVITY OF OUR LORD 2019 To the Reverend Clergy and Faithful of the Diocese of the West Dearly beloved: Christ is Born! Glorify Him! There shall come forth a Rod from the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots… The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, the leopard shall lie down with the young goat, the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them. The cow and the bear shall graze; their young ones shall lie down together; and…
Source: Orthodoxy in Dialogue As a living art that has existed for more than 2000 years, Byzantine chant is a significant cultural tradition and comprehensive music system forming part of the common musical traditions that developed in the Byzantine Empire. Highlighting and musically enhancing the liturgical texts of the Greek Orthodox Church, it is inextricably linked with spiritual life and religious worship. This vocal art is mainly focused on rendering the ecclesiastical text; arguably, the chant exists because of the word (‘logos’), since every aspect of the tradition serves to spread the sacred message. As a living art that has…
Source: Everyday Saints, by Archimandrite Tikhon In a town in Byzantium, there was once a bishop who was very much beloved by the townsfolk, but then something terrible happened: whether through his own weakness or light-heartedness or through the conniving of the devil, this bishop fell into the sin of fornication. On a Sunday, when the entire town had gathered for the Divine Liturgy, the bishop addressed the people and removed his bishop’s stole, the symbol of his episcopal rank, said: ” I can no longer be your Bishop, for I have fallen into the sin of fornication.” At first,…
Source: The Ascetic Experience Elder Archimandrite Ephraim (Ioannis Moraitis – June 24, 1927) was an archimandrite and former abbot of Philotheou Monastery on Mount Athos, the spiritual guide of four monasteries on Mount Athos and of eight women’s convents in Greece, as well as the founder of 19 monasteries in the United States and Canada. He resided in Arizona at St. Anthony’s Greek Orthodox Monastery until his repose (December 7, 2019). Elder Ephraim was a hieromonk for 71 years and an elder for more than 50 years. He was a disciple of Saint Joseph the Hesychast of Mount Athos and…
Source: Orthodox Christian Prison Ministry To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven. (Ecclesiastes 3:1) Dear Friends of Orthodox Christian Prison Ministry, For over five years, I have been privileged to serve as the part-time Executive Director of OCPM. As a priest and retired federal prison chaplain, I have dedicated much of my life and ministry to serving those in jails and prisons. It has been a blessing to see the impact OCPM has made in the lives of so many, through its noble mission: To serve those who are incarcerated and their…
Source: Meduza Patriarchal Commission on Family Issues The Russian Orthodox Church now formally opposes new draft legislation in Russia that would increase penalties on domestic violence. In an announcement by the Patriarchal Commission on Family Issues and the Protection of Motherhood and Childhood, the Church argues that the bill recently published by the Federation Council “contains a number of legal defects that make its adoption unacceptable.” Specifically, the church commission says the legislation “disregards universally recognized legal principles of common sense, justice, and equality,” and warns that its implementation “can and will lead to grave and mass violations of the…
Source: Orthodox Christian Laity It’s time to prepare for and soon celebrate the Nativity and Theophany of Our Lord in our holy Orthodox Church. Year-end is also a time to review the events and accomplishments of the past year. Regarding Orthodox Christian Laity (OCL), we finished the year in an upbeat mode! I am excited to serve as president again in the coming year and am encouraged by the active support and involvement of the board members. It’s been an exciting year! Our 32nd Annual Meeting in Houston was historic, especially considering the thoughtful message delivered by His Eminence, Metropolitan…