Source: The Christian Science Monitor In a fundamental shift in American Protestantism, hundreds of churches across the country are allowing people in the pews to deliver sermons and handle pastoral duties. G. Jeffrey MacDonald FEBRUARY 6, 2017 BETHEL, VT.—After a week of painting art by day and playing saxophone in a funk band by night, Katie Runde still manages to roust herself for church. One big reason: On any given Sunday, she’s either giving the sermon at Christ Episcopal Church in this central Vermont town, or she’s listening as a friend takes a turn from the pulpit. As two dozen…
Browsing: America
Source: The National Herald By Dennis Menos In the history of the Orthodox Church, the year 2016 could have been momentous. It was, after all, the year of the Holy and Great Council (HGC), the once in a millennium mega event that was designed to bring together all fourteen Orthodox Autocephalous Churches in a grand demonstration of unity. Sadly, it did not turn out to be. Four Churches boycotted the event, in the process providing evidence of the disunity that sadly afflicts today the Orthodox Church. The degree of disunity, demonstrated by the absence from the Council of the Patriarchates…
Source: Religioscope BY RICHARD CIMINO, 24 NOVEMBER 2011 A popular monk has become the center of growing controversy in the Greek Orthodox Church over his charismatic leadership and strict ascetic teachings. Known as Elder Ephraim, the Greek monk has spearheaded a monastic movement in the U.S. Since 1989, Elder Ephraim and his followers have established 18 monasteries in North America, attracting both cradle and convert Orthodox Christians to its strict ascetic practices. The “Ephraimite” monasteries stress reclusive living, fasting, bodily mortification, vigils, and constant recitation of the Jesus Prayer, according to sociologist Frances Kostarelos of Governors State University. In a…
Source: LaCroix International The US Congress is examining a proposed law that would assign supervision of the construction of Christian churches in Egypt to the American Secretariat of State, despite opposition from Egyptian Christians. Jenna Le Bras, Cairo Egypt In the street that opens on to Bab El Louk Place in central Cairo, a dozen armed police stand outside the Church of St Mary and St John the Baptist. The building, which has still not been completed although construction began in 2008, shines like a beacon in the Cairo sky on the Coptic Church’s Christmas eve, January 6. Although it is still…
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: Orthodox Christian Laity The Assembly of Bishops will meet during the first week of October in Detroit. How will this meeting be different from all other such meetings? Where is the leadership? The work of the Holy and Great Council has been completed, and little action was taken to address the uncanonical situation of the parallel jurisdictions that make up the Orthodox Christian Church in the USA. This situation is unacceptable, because it keeps our message, outreach and mission fragmented and wastes the resources of the lay stewards of the Church. This fragmentation continues to cause a decline in…
Source: Orthodox Christian Laity 2016 is a historic year for Orthodox Christianity throughout the world. After over 1,200 years since the Seventh Ecumenical Council was held in Nicea (now part of Turkey) in 787, the Orthodox Church has scheduled the Holy and Great Council. The meeting, which has been in the planning stages for more than fifty years, will be held from June 16-27, 2016 in Crete at the Orthodox Academy of Crete. This event will provide the opportunity for the hierarchs and representatives of all of the autocephalous churches to approve the establishment of a unified Orthodox Church in…
Source: Orthodox Church in America BROOKLINE, MA [OCA] The first-ever Atlas of American Orthodox Christian Monasteries will make its debut in February 2016. Edited by Alexei Krindatch, Research Coordinator for the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Christian Bishops of the USA, the 150-page volume is available on-line for $19.95 from Greek Archdiocese Holy Cross Bookstore. Drawing on his extensive research, as well as fascinating stories and “insider” anecdotes, Mr. Krindatch offers readers a scholarly introduction into traditions of Eastern Christian monasticism and a history of Orthodox Christian monasteries in America. It also features a comprehensive directory of nearly 80 monasteries across…
Source: The National Herald BY CONSTANTINE S. SIRIGOS NEW YORK – Amidst a busy schedule during her recent visit to New York, the First Lady of the Republic of Cyprus Andri Anastasiades experienced the love and warmth generated by a special program of music and poety and time spent time with the students, staff and supporters of the day school of the Archdiocesan Cathedral of the Holy Trinity. Dean of the Cathedral Fr. John Vlahos expressed his joy over the visit, which included a tour of the Cathedral School, and institution which emerged from difficulties of a few years past…
Source: The National Herald BY CONSTANTINE S. SIRIGOS NEW YORK – Archimandrite Vasileios, former Abbot of the Iveron Monastery of Mouth Athos, was the keynote speaker at the annual celebration of Greek letters on the occasion of the Feast Day of the Three Hierarchs presented by the Archdiocese of America. Guests were welcomed to the nave of Holy Trinity by the Dean of the Cathedral, Fr. John Vlahos after a performance of the Archdiocesan Byzantine Choir. Archbishop Demetrios offered closing remarks. The feast day of the three fathers of the Orthodox Church, St. Basil the Great, St. Gregory the Theologian…
Source: Orthodox Christian Network By Seraphim Danckaert in The Sounding Several years ago, Orthodox peoples in America were happy to see coverage of our faith on broadcast television when CBS aired a documentary about life on Mt. Athos. Although such mainstream coverage is rare, it is not entirely without precedent. Decades earlier, Fr. Alexander Schmemann, the long-time dean of St. Vladimir’s Seminary and a major voice in 20th century Orthodox Christianity, used to appear on a CBS program called “For Our Times.” Shortly after Fr. Schmemann’s death, the show aired a documentary about his life and influence, “a recollection of…
Source: Patristic Nectar Publications / Ancient Faith Radio by Fr. Josiah Trenham This lecture by Fr Josiah has been delivered in various venues throughout the country, and an earlier version of the lecture was published in the St. Vladimir’s Theological Quarterly (Vol. 50, No. 3, 2006). The lecture is a theological commentary on the un-canonical arrangement of the Orthodox Church. It is a honest and bold attempt to articulate the evils of jurisdictionalism, and a call to canonically normalize post-haste before further negative consequences afflict the life of the Church in America. March 31, 2013 Length: 1:01:25 Direct link Play…