Orthodox Christian Laity (OCL) calls upon the Orthodox Church in America (OCA) during this most difficult period to be transparent about the reasons for the resignation of Metropolitan Jonah. We call upon the Synod and the Metropolitan Council to be open and transparent in all matters relating to Church Governance in order to retain the confidence of the people whose support they must have in order for the Church to grow and serve the needs of the faithful.
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Source: Orthodox Church in America On Tuesday evening, July 10, 2012, members of the Holy Synod of Bishops of the Orthodox Church in America, officers of the Church, and members of the Metropolitan Council met via conference call to discuss the recent resignation of Metropolitan Jonah. His Eminence, Archbishop Nathaniel, Locum Tenens, chaired the conference call, in which most members of the Holy Synod participated. Also participating in the meeting were General Counsel Thaddeus Wojcik and Archpriest Leonid Kishkovsky. In executive session, Metropolitan Council members were briefed on the details of the resignation and evolving plans for the transition during…
Source: Orthodox Church in America SYOSSET, NY [OCA] On Monday, July 9, 2012, His Beatitude, Metropolitan Jonah and the members of the Holy Synod of Bishops met via conference call to further discuss His Beatitude’s resignation, as reported earlier on the web site of the Orthodox Church in America. The hierarchs issued the following statement at the conclusion of their meeting. “To the Venerable Clergy, Devout Monastics, and Pious Faithful of the Orthodox Church in America: “Beloved in Christ, Glory to Jesus Christ! Glory Forever! “On Friday, July 6, 2012, His Beatitude, Metropolitan Jonah, tendered his resignation as Primate of…
Source: Orthodox Church in America SYOSSET, NY [OCA] In a letter addressed to the members of the Holy Synod of Bishops dated Friday, July 6, 2012, His Beatitude, Metropolitan Jonah tendered his resignation as Primate of the Orthodox Church in America.His Beatitude composed and signed the letter at his residence in Washington, DC, in the presence of Archpriest John Jillions, OCA Chancellor. On Saturday, July 7, the letter was presented to the Holy Synod in the course of a conference call in which all of the hierarchs participated, except His Eminence, Archbishop Alejo of Mexico City. The text of His…
Source: Orthodox Church in America SYOSSET, NY [OCA] The Lesser Synod of Bishops of the Orthodox Church in America met at the Chancery of the Orthodox Church in America here on Thursday, July 5, 2012. In addition to His Beatitude, Metropolitan Jonah, others present included His Eminence, Archbishop Nikon of Boston, New England, and the Albanian Archdiocese; His Eminence, Archbishop Tikhon of Philadelphia and Eastern Pennsylvania; and His Eminence, Archbishop Benjamin of San Francisco and the West. Also in attendance were the OCA’s officers—Archpriest John Jillions, Chancellor; Archpriest Eric G. Tosi, Secretary; and Melanie Ringa, Treasurer—and Archpriest Leonid Kishkovsky, Director…
Source: Orthodox Church in America PORTLAND, MAINE [OCA/SVOTS] On Tuesday morning, June 26, 2012, Dr. Veselin Kesich, 91, Professor Emeritus of New Testament at Saint Vladimir’s Seminary, Crestwood, NY, fell asleep in the Lord surrounded by his children Carol and Gregory at his residence here. After suffering from a heart ailment for many years, he passed away while under hospice care. Professor Kesich was beloved by generations of alumni of SVOTS, not only for his academic expertise but also for the hospitality and love he demonstrated to students, along with his wife, Lydia (+ 2006), over the several decades they…
Source: Orthodox Church in America SOUTH CANAAN, PA [OCA] STOTSWalkers set out on 11-mile route from Saint John Church, Mayfield, PA to Saint Tikhon’s Monastery. For the 108th consecutive year, hundreds of faithful flocked to the annual pilgrimage at Saint Tikhon’s Monastery here over Memorial Day weekend. The pilgrimage officially opened on Friday afternoon, May 25, 2012, with the arrival of the Myrrh-Streaming Iveron Icon of the Mother of God from Hawaii at the monastery entrance arch. The icon, which will visit numerous parishes in the northeast US in early June, was available for veneration throughout the pilgrimage. The highlight…
Source: Orthodox Church in America RIVES JUNCTION, MI [OCA] Holy Dormition of the Mother of God here provided the setting for the Spring Session of the Holy Synod of Bishops of the Orthodox Church in America May 7-10, 2012. In addition to reviewing a variety of matters affecting the life of the Church, the hierarchs participated in the daily cycle of services at the monastery, including the Divine Liturgy, which provided an essential spiritual dimension to their undertakings. They also visited the Ascension of the Lord Monastery, Clinton, MI, and the Vatra, the headquarters of the OCA’s Romanian Episcopate, Grass…
Source: Orthodox Church in America ROSSFORD, OH [OCA] His Beatitude, Metropolitan Jonah, and the members of the Holy Synod of Bishops of the Orthodox Church in America will consecrate Archimandrite Alexander [Golitzin] to the episcopacy at Saint George Cathedral here Saturday, May 5, 2012. On October 4, 2011, the members of the Holy Synod canonically elected Archimandrite Alexander to the vacant See of Toledo and the OCA’s Bulgarian Diocese. The election followed a year-long search on the part of the diocese, during which a number of candidates to fill the See proclaimed vacant upon the repose of His Eminence, the…
Source: Orthodox Church in America UNALASKA, AK [OCA] Graffiti sprayed on the historic Holy Ascension of Our Lord Cathedral here in late April 2012 has “sparked outrage,” reported the Alaska Dispatch. While the words “Dutch” and “Duncha,” written in a childish scrawl in gray spray paint, were quickly removed, the painful emotions among parishioners and other local residents lingers. “I was very upset and hurt,” Vince Tutiakoff, parish committee president, told Dispatch reporters. “This is the first time in all my years that someone has ever desecrated the church.” He and four other men removed the graffiti. The stately Russian-Colonial…
Source: Orthodox Church in America SOUTH CANAAN, PA [OCA] His Beatitude, Metropolitan Jonah celebrated the preparatory rites for the Consecration of Holy Chrism on the morning of Great and Holy Monday, April 9, 2012, at Saint Tikhon of Zadonsk Monastery here. The Rite will conclude with the actual consecration of the sacred oil during the Vesperal Liturgy of Saint Basil the Great on Great and Holy Thursday, April 12. The blessing of the ingredients took place before the celebration of the Hours and the Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts. The consecration of Holy Chrism is reserved to autocephalous churches. Parishes…
Source: Orthodox Church in America SYOSSET, NY [OCA] The complete minutes and reports of the spring 2012 session of the Metropolitan Council of the Orthodox Church in America are now available and posted in PDF format on the OCA web site. Also posted are the report of the Strategic Planning Committee and working group powerpoints in PDF format. Minutes Committee Reports Officers’ Reports Additional Reports Working Groups PowerPoints