On Looking into “Xenophobia in the Cloak of Progress – How English Liturgies Hurt the American Orthodox Church” by Katherine Kelaidis A Response by P. Stamatis, M.A. The above article appeared on the Public Orthodoxy site on March 12, 2025. At first glance, the intriguing title pulled me in to read, only to become confused by the attached sub-title: “How English Liturgies Hurt the American Orthodox Church.” If the author ascribes to the Orthodox Church in America the moniker “American,” how can using the English language hurt the Orthodox Church? That’s like saying: “How Greek Liturgies Hurt the Greek Orthodox…
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Source: Institute for Orthodox Christian Studies Cambridge We are delighted to present this forthcoming series of Lenten lectures entitled ‘St Catherine’s Circle’. St Catherine’s Circle honours the memory and example of our patron saint by celebrating the contributions of contemporary Orthodox women in scholarship, teaching and intellectual enquiry. This series of talks from women scholars will offer something for everyone: whether you want to deepen your understanding of Orthodox Christian faith and practice, discover little-known stories from the Church’s history and contemporary life, or explore the insights that the Orthodox tradition can bring to current debates and concerns. Lectures will take…
Source: Orthodox Christian Laity This video presentation produced on the occasion of Orthodox Christian Laity’s 20th Anniversary includes: 1) A New Era Begins – The story of the historic Ligonier Conference on Unity 2) Welcome Home – The story of the Evangelical Orthodox Church
Source: Orthodox Christian Network (OCN) The Black American Orthodox Experience, a collaboration of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America and the Orthodox Christian Network, recently released the first two episodes of its third season. In the first episode of “The Black American Orthodox Experience” (season 3), Rev. Fr. Samuel Davis introduces the new season with a deep dive into the life and the legacy of Archimandrite Raphael Morgan, the first Black Orthodox priest in America. In the second episode, Fr. Samuel celebrates the stories of pioneers, heroes, and freedom fighters and the Maliotis Cultural Center presents a compelling exploration of the Black American Philhellenes,…
Source: Orthodox Reality Do you wonder what American Orthodox Church members think of and want from their bishops? What changes in their Churches do U.S. Orthodox Christians desire the most? If so, download and read this newly released article: https://ocl.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/KrindatchLaityOnDesirableChangesInBishops.pdf You will find why fewer than half of U.S. Orthodox parishioners (47%) fully approve of their bishops and express positive sentiments towards them. The article offers many insights into what bishops “should” or “should not” do from the perspective of Orthodox Christian laity. The findings presented are based on the analysis of answers to the survey question, “If you could…
Source: Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate For over a century, the Theological School of Halki was one of the foremost Orthodox seminaries anywhere in the world, training hierarchs and clergy for the Church around the globe. Turkish authorities, however, forced it to close it in 1971, and since then, numerous efforts to reopen it have come to naught. In recent months, there have been new discussions regarding its eventual reopening. The Theological School of Halki has a most illustrious history: from it have graduated two saints, Saint Chrysostomos of Smyrna and Saint Raphael of Brooklyn, as well as six Ecumenical Patriarchs, including…
Source: Peter Anderson, Seattle USA Normally, the election of a new member of the Holy Synod of a Local Orthodox Church would not be considered important news. However, in Bulgaria, it is important. The Holy Synod of the Bulgarian Patriarchate is sharply divided into two wings. One wing favors the Ecumenical Patriarch and the recognition of the OCU. Its primary members are Metropolitans Nikolai, Anthony, Naum, Cyprian, Yakov, and Arseny. The other wing is headed by Patriarch Daniil and does not recognize the actions of the Ecumenical Patriarch in Ukraine. Each new Synod member can have an effect on the…
Source: Amazon A new book by educator and former Illinois elected official Michael J. Bakalis is causing a growing discussion and debate among religious leaders of the Eastern Orthodox Church in the United States. Bakalis has served as Illinois State Superintendent of Education and Illinois State Comptroller. President Carter appointed him deputy undersecretary to the United States Department of Education. He later became a professor at Northwestern University and is currently the president of a not-for-profit educational management and consulting organization. Michael Bakalis’ book, A Church at the Crossroads: The Crisis in American Orthodox Christianity and the Decisions Needed for…
Source: The National Herald Analysis by Theodore Kalmoukos The passing and particularly the Funeral Service of the late Archbishop Anastasios of Albania offers a unique opportunity to begin a new chapter in the restoration of the unity of the divided Orthodox Church in the world. Let me address the issue: Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew was the first to express his intention to travel to Albania for Anastasios’ funeral service—a decision both correct and commendable. In the face of the enigma and universal reality of death, everything else must take a secondary position, or relationships and stances must be reassessed. I am…
Source: Jerusalem Patriarchate The Holy Synod was convened on Thursday, December 26, 2024, and was presided over by His Beatitude Patriarch Theophilos III. Guided by the suggestions of His Beatitude, the Holy Synod undertook the following decisions: 1. To convene a Theological Conference in the Monastery of the Holy Cross, in memory and honour of the 1700th anniversary of the First Ecumenical Council at Nicea in Constantinople, which denounced Arianism as a heresy and enshrined the divinity of Christ by invoking the term Homoousion (Greek: “same in being, same in essence”) in a statement of faith known as the Creed…
Source: Orthodox Times On December 26, 2024, Metropolitan Sawa of Warsaw and All Poland met with the newly elected Central Board of the Orthodox Youth Brotherhood in Poland. Prior to the meeting, members of the Board began their term with a prayer service at the academic chapel dedicated to Sts. Cyril and Methodius in Warsaw. The service was conducted by the spiritual advisor of the Central Board, Archpriest Paweł Szwed. During the meeting, the youth introduced themselves to His Eminence, presented their action plan for the coming year, and received valuable advice regarding the Brotherhood’s current affairs and its proper…
Source: Peter Anderson, Seattle USA On December 19, President Putin held his annual end-of-the -year question-and-answer session. This year it was a combination of a press conference and an “open line” where the Russian public could telephone and ask questions. The session lasted for more than four hours. The official transcript of the entire session is found at http://www.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/75909. During the session, there was a question relating to the religious situation in Ukraine. The question was asked by Alexandra Suvorova, one of the moderators of the session. The question and answer are as follows: Suvorova: There was also a question…