Source: Fordham University Though Syriac Christianity is one of the oldest Christian cultures, many people in the West are unaware of its existence and unfamiliar with its traditions. If we recognize, however, that some of Syriac Christianity’s most important ancient centers—Nineveh, Babylon, and Beroea—are today’s Mosul, Baghdad, and Aleppo, we get a better understanding of how it is imperiled by today’s violent conflicts. Now, some of the most beautiful and sophisticated Syriac manuscripts of the ancient world are at risk of being lost forever, said one of the world’s leading experts on Syriac texts. Columba Stewart, O.S.B., professor of theology…
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Source: New Ostrog Poverty is an abortionist. While Canada and America have low rates of spontaneous abortions: only between 12-25%, poorer nations have rates much, much higher. Spontaneous abortions take place more among the poor, the malnourished, those who have no access to proper medical care, (those working for minmimum wages, for example) than among any others. America has the largest number of children living in poverty than has any other nation in the Western World. Many of those children become post-birth “abortions” because of their poverty and lack of free access to adequate health care and nutrition. Poverty is…
Source: Ancient Faith Radio January 16, 2017 Length: 21:06 We interview Alexei Krindatch, the Research Coordinator of the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the United States of America, about a new map posted to the Assembly website titled “Orthodox Bishops and Parishes in the United States.” CLICK HERE to listen to the interview.
Source: The Orthodox Evangelist By the V. Rev. Fr. Timothy Cremeens, PhD Dean – Holy Resurrection Orthodox Cathedral, Wilkes-Barre, PA To the Christian believers gathered in the Church at Corinth, the Apostle Paul wrote, “For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified” (1 Corinthians 2:2). He likewise writes to the Church at Galatia, “But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world” (Galatians 6:14). The Cross is the indispensable center of the…
Source: Orthodox Christian Laity For 30 years, OCL has been promoting unity, transparency, accountability and lay involvement in Church life at all levels to make these priorities a reality in the administrative life of the Church. OCL completed its Annual Meeting in Cottonwood, Utah on November 19, 2016, and began thinking about itsplans for next year’s meeting. The board members came away with a renewed and intensified commitment to keeping the hierarchy, clergy and laity informed about the progress that the Assembly of Bishops is making to develop a canonical blueprint for administrative unity. For 7 years, the Assembly has been…
Source: Foreigners & Friends Magazine Romania’s president has called for tolerance and acceptance of minorities. The statement was connected to a pending case about same-sex marriage at his country’s highest court. Klaus Iohannis, who is part of the German minority in Romania, as well as a Lutheran, and who therefore belongs to two minorities himself, stated: “Tolerance and acceptance of others are vital. These are the values I believe in.” Iohannis, whose comments were unconventional, compared to those of most eastern European presidents or politicians, also sharply criticized parts of the Christian Orthodox Church of Romania. “Religious fanaticism does not help society.…
Source: Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Atlanta My Beloved Ones, I am writing to you during a very active time in the life of our Metropolis. I have just returned from Detroit, where I was blessed to be a part of the 7th Annual Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops, which includes all Orthodox Bishops from across the United States, whether they are Greek, Russian, Antiochian, what have you. Over the course of the past six years we come up with ideas to “unify” our churches. I use the word unify in quotations for you to understand that I am speaking from…
Source: Religion Dispatches BY KATHERINE KELAIDIS SEPTEMBER 27, 2016 The Russian government’s shutdown of the country’s top LGBT website, BlueSystem, is just the latest entry in its gruesome record with respect to LGBT rights. While the time for passive concern by all parties has long past, it is a matter of utter amazement that American Orthodox Christians—even the most conservative—are not more vocally horrified about events in Russia. The complicity of the Russian Orthodox Church and Patriarch Kyrill of Moscow in Russia’s systematic persecution of its LGBT citizens speaks to a deep crisis in Orthodoxy’s encounter with the modern world.…
Source: The National Herald by Amb. Patrick N. Theros, Special to The National Herald In recent weeks Russian and European websites have posted a scurrilous fabrication linking the Ecumenical Patriarchate to Fethullah Gulen, the exiled Turkish cleric and educator, accused by Turkish President Erdogan of orchestrating the failed coup. The article in question was falsely attributed to retired American Ambassador Arthur Hughes. The fabricators hacked Amb. Hughes’ email and to lend credibility created a false Facebook account in his name carrying the same story. Hughes, who is an old colleague and good personal friend, has repeatedly denied he wrote the article and…
Source: Orthodox Church in America SYOSSET, NY [OCA Youth] Every year, parishes across North America honor their college students at the outset of the fall semester. This year, the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the United States of America has designated October 2 as College Student Sunday. “Orthodox Christian Fellowship continues to provide students with opportunities to encounter Christ and grow in their Orthodox faith through their growing network of campus OCF chapters led by talented students, clergy and lay advisors, as well as through programs such as regional retreats, college conference, ‘Real Break,’ and the summer leadership institute,”…
Source: Orthodox Christian Laity ATTENTION OCL MEMBERS! NOTICE OF ANNUAL BUSINESS MEETING (click here for PDF version) The Orthodox Christian Laity will hold its Annual Business Meeting on Saturday, November 19, 2016 at noon (12:00 pm) at St Anna Greek Orthodox Church, 3015 E Creek Road, Cottonwood Heights, UT 84093. This annual business meeting is held in conjunction with the 29th Annual Program Meeting: The Day After the Holy and Great Council: Process, Outcomes, and Transformation. Business Meeting Agenda: Update of OCL Activities Treasurer’s Report Report of the Nominating Committee Election of Directors Old Business New Business If you are unable…
Source: Ancient Faith Radio Archpriest Patrick B. O’Grady offers an Antiochian perspective on the “Holy and Great Council” currently taking place in Crete. Fr. Patrick is the pastor of St Peter the Apostle Antiochian Orthodox Church in Pomona, California, and Associate Fellow of The Antiochian Orthodox Institute, La Verne, California. Listen Here (Audio courtesy of Ancient Faith Radio) Transcript Harbinger of Storm or Passage to Calm? by Patrick B. O’Grady, Archpriest The Antiochian Orthodox Institute, La Verne, California “When we had sailed slowly many days, and arrived with difficulty off Cnidus, the wind not permitting us to proceed,…