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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…
Source: The Orthodox World By Evagelos Sotiropoulos “Therefore whatever they tell you to observe, that observe and do, but do not do according to their works; for they say, and do not do” (Matthew 23:3). The reaction of the Moscow Patriarchate to the recent decisions by the Ancient Patriarchate of Alexandria, as well as the Church of Greece, to formally recognize the Orthodox Church in Ukraine (OCU) and its primate, Metropolitan Epiphanios of Kyiv and all Ukraine, reminds me of the Bible passage above. Last November, in my article “Caring for the Church of Ukraine: Constantinople’s Calmness Carries the Day” published in Providence…
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,…
Elder Ephraim in repose
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…
His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew speaking at the European College of Bruges on the topic The Role of the Churches in Europe Today. Photo Metropolis of Belgium
Source: The National Herald By Theodore Kalmoukos BRUSSELS – His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew delivered a speech at European College of Bruges on the topic The Role of the Churches in Europe Today attended by hundreds of students, professors, diplomats and many others who are interested on the subject. His All-Holiness was on an official visit to the Holy Metropolis of Belgium on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the creation of the Metropolis. Patriarch Bartholomew was warmly received by all and the president of the College hosted a luncheon in his honor. Patriarch Bartholomew, who speaks eight languages, spoke…
Metropolitan Seraphim of Piraeus. Photo: Romfea
Source: Orthodox Christianity Piraeus, Greece – The results and consequences of the meeting of the hierarchs of the Greek Church on Saturday remain unclear. As OrthoChristian reported yesterday, the press team created by the Bishops’ Council announced that the Greek Church recognized the so-called “Ukrainian Orthodox Church” (OCU), thought this interpretation of the councils’ proceedings was later called into question. Both Metropolitan Seraphim of Piraeus and Metropolitan Seraphim of Kythira revealed that, in fact, the hierarchs did not vote on the matter of recognizing the OCU, and thus it cannot be said that recognition happened. Met. Seraphim of Piraeus issued another statement today,…
I had originally intended that this column would further explore the importance of women in the early church but will offer it in the coming weeks. What blew me off course was a recent column by a regular writer of the National Herald, Mr. Theodore Kalmoukos. His column called attention and inveighed against the bishops and metropolitans for their failure to speak up and address serious matters which could lead to the eventual demise of the Greek Orthodox Church in America. Kalmoukos called them “a scattered village with nine small archdioceses and nine little archbishops” who almost brought the church…
Metropolitan Peter of Prespa-Pelagoniski
Source: Orthodox Christianity Prespa, North Macedonia — “There is a sense that the Patriarchate of Constantinople will launch formal talks on autocephaly,” Metropolitan Peter of Prespa-Pelagoniski of the schismatic “Macedonian Orthodox Church” (MOC) told reporters recently, as reports Romfea. There have been no official contacts or meetings yet, the MOC hierarch stressed, though he said there has been an informal expression of a desire by Patriarch Bartholomew himself to resolve the issue of the Serbian-Macedonian schism. “There is a disposition by the Patriarchate of Constantinople to resolve the issue of the autocephaly of our church in one of the future sessions of the…
Source: Orthodox Christian Laity Will YOU Play a Part? Have you considered including OCL in your long-term financial plans? Dear OCL Supporters and Friends, The Orthodox Christian Laity (OCL) movement is the remnant of the optimism of the CEOYLA and GOYA movements which fostered and personified Orthodox Christian Unity. These groups peaked in the mid-20th Century and then were marginalized by the hierarchy in the 1970’s. OCL picked up where they left off and was formed in 1987. OCL is keeping its eye on the prize: Orthodox Christian Unity as The Way Forward. Otherwise, Orthodox Christianity in the USA will…