Source: S.O.B.E.R. Moving Story of Greek Orthodox Family’s Struggle with Addiction A story of addiction told by a mother (Anita Baglaneas Devlin) and her son (Michael Devlin Jr.). [subscribe2]
Source: Orthodox Church in America SOUTH CANAAN, PA [STOTS Communications] Thirty students representing five Orthodox seminaries were hosted by their peers at Saint Tikhon’s Seminary here October 23-25, 2015 for the bi-annual gathering of the Orthodox Inter-Seminary Movement [OISM]. Participating schools included Saint Vladimir’s Seminary, Crestwood, NY; Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology/Hellenic College, Brookline MA; Holy Trinity Seminary, Jordanville, NY; Christ the Saviour Seminary, Johnstown, PA; and Saint Herman’s Seminary, Kodiak, AK. Founded in the 1960s and revived in 2003, OISM fosters fellowship and cooperation among Orthodox seminary and theology students. “The recent weekend seemed to do exactly…
Source: The Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople The Oxford Union (November 4, 2015) Distinguished members of the Oxford Union, Esteemed administrators, faculty and friends of the University, Dear students, It is a unique pleasure and a great privilege to be invited to address this historic academic union. We express our wholehearted gratitude to our hosts and organizers of this exceptional opportunity in a city where over forty years ago, the official theological dialogue between the Orthodox Church and the Anglican Communion was established. Introduction Many of you will no doubt be surprised that a religious leader concerned with “spiritual” or pastoral…
Source: St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Seminary #GivingTuesday to benefit Makarios Seminary in Kenya On Tuesday, December 1, St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary (SVOTS) will continue its new tradition of participating in #GivingTuesday, a national movement that celebrates generosity. “Giving is at the very foundation of St. Vladimir’s Seminary’s mission, so we are enthusiastic again this year about taking part in this day dedicated to philanthropy,” said seminary Chancellor/CEO the Very Reverend Dr. Chad Hatfield. “Our professors give their hearts to teach the gospel of Christ. Our students give their time to prepare for service in the…
Source: Orthodox Church in America Court finds “most serious” aggravating factors in Kodiak’s Russian Orthodox Cathedral vandalism KODIAK, AK [Diocese of Alaska Communications] In a dramatic affirmation of the core beliefs of the Orthodox Christian community, Superior Court Judge Frank A. Pfiffner ruled yesterday that defendant Arkimedes Garcia acted with “gross religious disrespect” when he vandalized Kodiak’s Holy Resurrection Cathedral in June. [See related story.] Garcia pled guilty to a single consolidated charge of criminal mischief in the third degree, a Class C felony, on October 20, 2015. In a non-jury trial on October 30, ruling Judge Pfiffner agreed with…
James Koulogeorge
Source: Orthodox Christian Laity IN MEMORY: JAMES KOULOGEORGE James Koulogeorge, a founding member of Orthodox Christian Laity and the last living founding member of Saints Peter and Paul Greek Orthodox Church in Glenview, IL, fell asleep in the Lord on Thursday, October 29, 2015. Jim served as the first President of OCL from 1987-88 and as Treasurer until 2012. He was a passionate advocate of Orthodox Christian Unity in the United States. He was a devout Orthodox Christian. He and his wife Mary were the respected elders of the community. Jim and Mary represent the “great generation” of Orthodox faithful…
Source: Orthodox Christian Laity A DECLARATION OF AMERICAN ORTHODOX UNITY NOW [A Case Study that was discussed at the Annual Meeting of the Orthodox Christian Laity in San Diego, CA on November 7, 2015 – We invite your comments.] Amidst great spiritual and practical need, this declaration has been written to send out a clarion call for unity – unity in practice and unity within hearts – among American Orthodox Christian believers. Such unity is inevitable, it is the right thing, and it is based on the historic precedents of the Orthodox Church throughout the ages. It is also urgent,…
Source: Orthodox Church in America OCA Holy Synod releases Position Paper on Canonical Regional Planning SYOSSET, NY [OCA] The Holy Synod of Bishops has released the text of a Position Paper delivered in response to the plan presented by the Committee for Canonical Regional Planning during the sixth annual meeting of the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops in the USA in Chicago on September 15, 2015. The text was reviewed during the Holy Synod’s fall session held in Detroit October 19-23. [See related stories here and here.] The text reads as follows. POSITION PAPER OF THE ORTHODOX CHURCH IN AMERICA…
Source: Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the USA The North American Orthodox-Catholic Theological Consultation issued a statement today on the occasion of its fiftieth anniversary. The Consultation was the first official dialogue between theologians of the Orthodox and Catholic churches to be established in modern times. It held its first meeting in September 1965 under the leadership of Archbishop Iakovos (+2005) of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of North and South America and Bishop Bernard Flanagan (+1998) of Worcester. For fifty years, the Consultation has brought Orthodox and Catholic theologians together to engage in theological dialogue and discuss issues of…
Source: Orthodox Christian Laity “ORTHODOX WORKING TOGETHER” Open Forum Discussion Related Articles “Orthodox Working Together” – Annual OCL Meeting and Forum – Orthodox Christian Laity [subscribe2]
Source: BBC News By Dr Rowan Williams Former Archbishop of Canterbury Christianity has a history that most of us know little about. A history that spreads eastward as well as westward, writes former Archbishop of Canterbury Dr Rowan Williams for BBC Newsnight. We would probably take it for granted that someone reading a religious text in Arabic would be a Muslim – but the truth is that you will find plenty of Christians reading their Bibles and books of prayers in the language. It is a sharp reminder of the diversity that once marked the Arabic-speaking world. It is a…
Source: Orthodox Church in America SYOSSET, NY [OCA] The Holy Synod of Bishops of the Orthodox Church in America concluded its fall session at Saint Andrew House, Detroit, MI, on Friday, October 23, 2015. His Beatitude, Metropolitan Tikhon, presided at the sessions. Among the decisions and actions taken by the hierarchs were the following. After concluding a Church Court held on October 19, the hierarchs canonically deposed the retired Archbishop Seraphim from the status and all sacred functions of the episcopacy, removed him from the ranks of the clergy, and returned him to the status of a lay monk. [See…