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In a recent conversation about parenting one of my adult daughters commented that children mostly learn by copying — so whatever we want our children to be like, that is what we as parents have to try to be. It seems to me that Fr. Steven is especially right about the relationship with God. If we as parents really loved God more than anybody and anything maybe our children would also.
We all learn best by example (i.e. mentoring). Remember the words of St. Seraphim of Sarov, “Save yourself and you will save a thousand around you.”
I’ve not read the entire article yet. I will read. But I’d like to say that I feel intensively theese problems. I am brazilian and member of Antiochian Greek Orthodox Church here.
I was born in Catholic Church. I knew and I love the Bizantine rite, but, in issue of active participation of the faithfull, I think we have to learn with the western church.
In my parish we rarely see a young in the Liturgy. About the language, the Orthodox Church was historicaly the pioneer. The history of Cyril and Methodios is the biggest witness. The translation from greek to arabic is another importante example. In Brazil the Antiochian Church is the pioneer in producing the liturgical text in Portuguese. However, it seems to me that the priest don’t make a good use of those translation because they don’t give to the liturgy a didactical role it could have. Another problem is that the adult laity love to include many prolonged chants, normaly in arabic along the liturgy. In general I see the people just seeing the liturgy, not participating. I’d like very much to efectively participate in Liturgy.
It is inconceivable for me to even think that those people who captured these holy men would think that they would gain something from this act of violence, God Is God to all of us and heaven cry’s vengeance to those who violate God’s servants (Bishops)As another human being of the Christian Faith I pray those holy men to be released from this abduction immediately with no delay of thought. May God Hold The Bishops in the palms of his hands and keep them safe from harm, and May peace, love, and understanding be with you all.
Priest Jacobs
I love the idea of the 2 churches coming together in Tennessee. I would like to be a part of it. I live in Ambridge, PA. things are very difficult for me. I’m in a fiery trial and need to move. I’m under too much stress.
Well done, Fr. Stephen Mathewes. May the Lord bless your work!! Love, Presbytera Adina, Fr. John, and little Auxentios Afendoulis
What a tragedy-that is how to spread Orthodoxy lets have a fight between Jerusalem and Antioch!
Old Rome lost its place as “first among equals” becuase it had become a backwater, and was replaced by New Rome (Constantinople) because it was then capital of the Orthodox Empire. Istanbul is now a backwater, is capital of nothing other than a majority Muslim country, which places the Patriarchate of Constantinople as well as the Orthodox Church in jeopardy. The status of “first among equals” (not “Leader of the Orthodox Church,” not “Pope of the East,” not “Younger Brother to the Pope of Rome”) should be reassigned to an Orthodox Church that is not beholden to an anti-Christian government, a Church that actually has people and parishesd on its “home territory,” a Church that does not seem to place union with Rome over every possible other thing, a Church that is not crazed about imposing its “jurisdiction” over the entire “barbarian” world. The Patriuarch of Moscow and All Ruys comes to mind. Greek sentimentality over “Constantinople,” which no lonmger exists, does no goods thing for the Orthodox Church,
M.WOERL,you are exactly correct in your assessment of the major problem facing ORTHODOXY.THE AB OF THESSALONKA(DEMETRIUS)has turned over in his grave numerous times .IN 800+AD THE AB sent two brothers to the slavs,etc,to evangelize them.THEY created a language for them to understand and comprehend.
I live 40 minutes from an Orthodox Church in TX. I am not Orthodox, but want to be. My wife is not able to travel. Is it possible that new parishes will be added?
For the people that have dismissed the PEW Report as sensationalized and inaccurate, have you forgotten what was published on the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese website? It is also referenced here on the OCL website at http://ocl.org/an-important-challenge-for-greek-orthodox-christianity/ . The title is “An Important Challenge for Greek Orthodox Christianity“.
Let me give a quote: “In a startling find, statistics disclose over 60% of Greek Orthodox families of the last generation and 90% of Americans with Greek roots are no longer in communion with the Church.”
It baffles me how a few people seem to deny the fact that our Church is in a crisis. Although the title refers to this as a “Challenge”, it seems to me that a challenge unaddressed becomes a crisis. We all know that the men that occupy the executive positions of the membership of the Holy Synod are right on top of things and pro-actively address issues expeditiously.
See my point?
Stay Home & Pray . Cut out the Middle Man .God will Hear You. You don’t need the Smoke & Mirrors, Hypocrisy and the Circus the Church Offers!
Try to be as open minded as New Pope Francis if you want to expand your followers! This is the 21st Century where Here Say & Archaic Beliefs are becoming Obsolete!
It is no brainer. Unity is always better and stronger than dis-unity. Unity brings strength and focus, common purpose, brotherhood and true witness to society. Dis-unity and fractional disorganization brings mistrust, segragation, loss of purpose and makes our Church irrelevant. How can we witness and show Gospel love if we can’t even unite as brothers and sisters in the common faith? Let us defeat fear and plow ahead in the Holy Spirit!