Source: The National Herald
His Eminence Metropolitan Nathanael of Chicago. (Photo provided by The Metropolis of Chicago)
BOSTON – The Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew has dismissed Metropolitan Nathanael of Chicago from his position on the Holy Synod of the Phanar through a pittakion—an official Patriarchal letter—without providing any explanation, The National Herald has learned.
The Patriarchal letter, exclusively obtained by The National Herald, states:
“Most Reverend Metropolitan Nathanael of Chicago, beloved brother in the Holy Spirit and co-liturgist of Our Modesty, grace to Your Eminence and peace from God.
Through these Patriarchal Letters, we inform Your Eminence that, for reasons held by Our Modesty, we relieve you of your Synodal duties, in which you will be replaced by another hierarch of the Mother Church.
We invoke upon you the Grace and infinite mercy of God.”
The letter was conveyed to Metropolitan Nathanael via Archbishop Elpidophoros of America, according to sources, with the news surfacing publicly during Archbishop Elpidophoros’ name day celebration at the Archdiocesan Cathedral of the Holy Trinity in New York on Saturday, November 2nd.
Phanar officials noted to The National Herald that a similar action hasn’t occurred since 1959, when Patriarch Athenagoras sent dismissal letters to Synodal Metropolitans, paving the way for Iakovos’ election as Archbishop of America.
Attempts to reach Metropolitan Nathanael by phone and in writing went unanswered at the time of publication.
9 Comments
I was deeply disappointed to see this posting on Metropolitan Nathaniel. Admittedly, he will be deeply missed by many in the Chicago Metropolis especially the youth of his churches and recognized and respected members of the religious community of greater Chicago.
This decision made by a prelate, 5,473 air miles from Chicago, is reckless and uncalled for. Therefore, it may be time for American Greek Orthodox to wake up and demand autocephaly and separation from self-centered foreign influences before it’s too late and the American church experiences even more loses.
Peter, if I am not mistaken he is still the bishop of the diocese. However, I agree, we need to be a united autocephalous church.
It seems Bart plans to put Evangelos in Atlanta and reject Sebastian as he did for Archbishop. … We need to now demand Bart retire and be replaced by Zembillas. Although Zembillas is leftist, he is brilliant and perfectly suited for the patriarchate.
Metropolitans of geographic areas in the USA, Canada and South America who sit on the synod in Istanbul travel back and forth monthly. Some have attributed the ill health that caused the resignation of Metropolitan Alexios of Atlanta to his strenuous travels back and forth when it was his turn to sit on the synod. Modern technology is available to assist members who are thousands of miles from Istanbul to follow the meetings.
The canonical good order of the Orthodox Christian Church in the United States requires that all the bishops living in the USA should be the synod of the Church in the USA. Bishops residing and serving in the USA should not be appointed by Patriarchs living outside of the USA. Orthodox Christian unity in the United States means that a local synod governs and shepherds those in their geographic area and the bishops living here elect their own head.
George,
I agree with you wholeheartedly. However, the survival of the hierarchs overseas depends on the American church to lobby with our government and to provide financial support.
Severing ties is difficult for the American church because of the very effective propaganda and threats of excommunication and canonical nonrecognition coming from overseas. It’s a dilemma that has become difficult for the US church. Therefore, as the saying goes: “it is what it is.”
Wlhat ever happened with the process of creating a new charter for the GOA? Who is invovlved in this process? The NY Clergy Laity Congress provided excellent input in the only session and opportunity for us to participate in the process. What is holding up the process? Why is it a secret?
It is high time that we American Orthodox believers were governing ourselves. This minor but confusing example of archaic, distant governance is another of an irregular series of examples that makes this need clear. Yet many of our most prominent American lay leaders do not seem to see that. Perhaps that is because they are blinded by old thinking, much of which is counterproductively ethnocentric.
Here’s a prime example: The fears that a unified American Orthodox Church would weaken American support for the Ecumenical Patriarchate, as well as other Orthodox Churches in the Old World, and that efforts to advocate for American Orthodox unity are somehow disloyal and dangerous, are completely misplaced and based on very superficial and ethnocentric thinking. To the contrary, a strong, organized, unified voice of Orthodoxy, emanating from these shores, would be a far greater bulwark for the Ecumenical Patriarchate – and for the ancient sees of Antioch, Alexandria, and Jerusalem, which are even more beset in their own unique ways – than anything that individual ethnic groups would ever be able to muster.
If the Archons of Saint Andrew could see the power that would emanate from them standing shoulder-to-shoulder with all the other commited Orthodox of these shores, they would begin to understand that we – the Orthodox of North America – are a new, potentially powerful body of Orthodox Christians, who require a new, self-governing American Orthodox church.
Almost everything we can see from the hierarchs of the Old World is clear evidence that we are badly, even criminally governed. The established canon laws and traditions of Orthodoxy are completely ignored by this foreign governance: for example, competing bishops of various jurisdictions in the same cities confuse the faithful and waste resources and opportunities. The bloodiest war of the 21st Century is being fought between two Orthodox countries, with the active connivance of national Orthodox leaders. Ancient Patriarchs are playing childish games, vying for power and influence against each other. And distant leaders of the mother churches in the Old World constantly make bad decisions and bad appointments for their American constituent churches, and when these errors are recognized, almost always double down on those decisions, fearing to lose face or some of their authority, rather than remedy the error for the good of their American flock. All these things, and others like them, are destructive to the continued growth of American Orthodoxy. Our children disgustedly turn away from active participation, or leave altogether. And the inspiringly large numbers of American converts to Orthodoxy, and seekers of revelation who are in their own initial stages of being drawn to our ancient worship and truth, become confused and bewildered and wonder what these internecine disputes are all about and why our ancient unity is not emphasized more.
We cannot wait long for independent, local governance. Our obvious decline in numbers and in devotion cannot be ignored, lest we disappear as a strong religious and moral voice for Christ in these increasingly secular times. Churches are on the verge of closing in many places, where vibrant communities existed through the 20th Century. In these places, the immigrant pioneer builders, and their institution-building children, have passed on, and far too few of the next generation have stayed, partly because of errors of the past, and partly because of our distant, totally unconnected governance of today.
The Orthodox Christian Laity, who hosts this website, has for almost forty years led Pan-Orthodox efforts for better church governance, for the historically correct level of lay participation in this governance; for accountability, transparency, and, ultimately, American Orthodox unity.
I am not a member of OCL, but I have long admired and still today applaud the efforts of the people who are. It is clear to me that they are devout, honest, intellectual leaders who only want to serve their respective churches and to help lead their American coreligionists to a stronger, more Christ-centered future.
On these pages is a remarkable document put forward over two years ago by OCL, “A Declaration for Orthodox Christian Unity in America.” It has received many hundreds of signatures, from people all over this country – brave hierarchs, famous theologians, priests, lay leaders, and quiet communicants alike – all of whom see a brighter Orthodox future in our unity. I have not yet affixed my signature to it, but now I will.
When I do, I will join the enlightened call of these committed Orthodox – a call that I believe all Orthodox in this country should want to join, and will join as the unity of our voices makes clear its wisdom and virtue – to our Assembly of Bishops to do simply and exactly what it was cleated to do, to bring canonical order, administrative unity, and good local governance to the Orthodox Church in America. The Assembly of Bishops was created in 2009 in Chambesy, Switzerland by the Assembly of the 14 autocephalous Orthodox churches for this very purpose.
The specific call is for this body of some 60 American bishops that comprise the Assembly of Bishops, to convene, declare itself a synod, elect its own leaders, declare us a local Orthodox Church under the ancient rules and traditions of Orthodoxy, and proceed to lead us American Orthodox believers into a new era of faith, love, unity, and achievement.
This needs to happen soon. What can we do to help people see that clearly, and act on it?
I have said and written repeatedly, that our hierarchs seem to only pay attention to one thing: money. As long as the parishes continue to freely send money to the bishops, they will continue to ignore the laity. However, if the laity were to place money in an escrow account and insist that it only be released when the hierarchs actually listen to the laity and act accordingly, allowing there to be openness, accountability, and integrity, only then there will be a change in how the Church in North American is governed. Otherwise it will be business as usual.
To Cato the Younger,
You are right on the money in your summary of our current Orthodox reality in America, and other areas of the so-called “Diaspora”. I’m delighted you will be signing the Declaration, and I would encourage all readers to do the same, assuming you are in agreement.
I would further encourage you and other like-minded Orthodox Christians in the USA to take the next step. As you mentioned, OCL has been at the forefront of advocating for proper canonical order for 37+ years. Most of the founders of this most worthy movement have passed on. We need the next generation of faithful supporters to not only read OCL’s terrific material, but to actively help us in our mission.
You clearly have a very good understanding of where Orthodoxy in America is currently, and where it needs to go to reach its full potential for doing good worldwide. The thoughts you expressed are in complete harmony with OCL’s goals.
I am personally inviting you, and others who might be interested, to join one or our upcoming Zoom Board meetings. We are actively looking for thoughtful, committed, and faithful new Board members who share our passion for a properly administered, united Orthodox Church in the USA.
If you, and other readers, are interested in learning more, please respond and we will make sure you get an invitation to our next Board meeting. It would be good for us to meet each other and let God take it from there.
Hopefully we will be meeting each other via Zoom in the coming weeks. Thanks, have a wonderful Christmas season, and God Bless.
In Christ,
Bill Souvall, OCL President