In the second week of 2022, Orthodox Christian Laity’s Board met to review the past year and begin planning an agenda for the new year. During a discussion about Orthodox administrative unity in America and the general feeling of frustration with progress in that direction, one Board Member (Dr. Gayle Woloschak) drew our attention to the fact that the Assembly of Bishops USA has taken steps in the right direction through its establishment of fourteen committees, six agencies and commissions, and six affiliate ministries and associations (read about these initiatives here and here). She reminded us that the process of…
Browsing: Unity
Source: Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the USA CLICK HERE to view the Committees of the Assembly of Bishops that are working on the essential building blocks for an administratively-united Orthodox Church of America.
Source: Kyiv Post By Padraig Purcell “We, Ukrainians, are well aware of the price of independence – or rather, its pricelessness – and therefore treat it with special reverence,” said Metropolitan Epiphanius, elected head of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in a social media message on Dec. 15. He rejoiced in the celebration of the third year since the meeting that united three Ukrainian Orthodox churches into one larger independent Ukrainian Orthodox Church. Kyiv’s ancient and beautiful Saint Sophia’s Cathedral hosted the signing of the agreement between the churches to unite on Dec. 15, 2018. This led to the confirmation of independence…
Source: Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the USA 1.5 Million Orthodox Christians The Assembly of Bishops ministers to the collective 1.5 million Orthodox Christians throughout the United States of America 57 Bishops The Assembly of Bishops is comprised of all the Eastern Orthodox Bishops actively engaged in the United States of America 1 Church The Assembly of Bishops is the primary and official forum for Orthodox Christian Unity in the United States of America
Source: Orthodox Christian Laity Presentation by Protodeacon Peter Danilchick on December 5, 2021 at 6:00 pm Eastern Time via ZOOM Followed by a Panel Discussion with George Karcazes, Alexei Krindatch and Dr. Gayle Woloschak For more than three decades, Orthodox Christian Laity (OCL) has presented informative and educational programs annually and at other times featuring distinguished speakers, thoughtful panels and relevant topics in fulfillment of its mission. This mission includes: advancing the renewal of the Orthodox Christian Church in America by advocating that the laity remain part of the conciliar governance process which provides balance to the hierarchy and clergy,…
Source: Orthodox Christian Laity Thank you to the thirty respondents who provided thoughtful answers to two questions in a survey distributed at the end of June 2021. The voice of the Orthodox faithful reveals a sampling of grassroots understanding and passionate opinions about this important issue. 1) In your opinion, what major obstacles must be overcome to administratively unite the Orthodox Church on the American continent? Have everyone recognize the status of the OCA. (1) The fear of losing money and “handing over ” assets to some other authority. (2) The clergy are more opposed to giving up their ethnic…
Source: Orthodox Christian Laity The Decision of The Fourth Pre-Conciliar Pan-Orthodox Conference in June 2009 affirmed: “…that it is the common will of all of the most-holy Orthodox Churches that the problem of the Orthodox Diaspora be resolved as quickly as possible, and that it be organized in accordance with Orthodox ecclesiology, and the canonical tradition and practice of the Orthodox Church…The work and the responsibility of these Episcopal Assemblies will be the concern for manifesting the unity of Orthodoxy, the development of common action of all the Orthodox of each region to address the pastoral needs of Orthodox living…
Source: Orthodox Christian Laity In May’s “eblast”, we promised to share the results of the two-question survey regarding positive results of a united Orthodox Church of America. We heartily thank all of you readers who made the time to complete the short survey and share your valuable opinions and insights! Results of Survey Of 57 responses, 82.8% agreed that the following are benefits of a united Orthodox Church of America: 1) Essential ministries and programs are no longer duplicated by multiple Orthodox jurisdictions. 2) Civil government and society value the Church for its Orthodox faith and life instead of as…
Source: OCP Pan-Orthodox Media Network Lebanon: Patriarch John X of Antioch has urged unity with the Syriac Orthodox Church. The Primate of the Antiochian Greek Orthodox Church was speaking at the consecration ceremony of the Syriac Orthodox Archbishops in Lebanon (25/6/21). Patriarch said he was hopeful in evading obstacles to achieve unity with the Syriac Church. According to a report published by the official portal of the Syriac Orthodox Church Patriarch John X in his speech stated that “I assure Your Holiness that your celebration is ours. When I heard the Homologia, except for the part about the ecumenical councils, I felt as if I am…
Source: Orthodox Christian Laity PLEASE TAKE A MINUTE TO RESPOND TO THE ONE-MINUTE SURVEY AT THE END OF THIS ARTICLE The Local Parish If you are reading this article, you are most likely a member of a local parish in one of the jurisdictions of Orthodox Churches in North America. Before the pandemic, and now that society is beginning to open up again, you regularly attend a local Orthodox parish, which is your church family. During the pandemic, you may have “attended” services via ZOOM or other online platforms and had the opportunity to “virtually visit” other parishes. Your Role…
Source: Russian Orthodox Church In his interview for Romfea Greek news agency, Metropolitan Isaiah of Tamassos and Oreini, hierarch of the Church of Cyprus, emphasized that by recognizing the schismatics in Ukraine the Patriarchate of Constantinople showed disregard for the religious rights of 13 million believers of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church who do not want to sever relations with the Russian Church. The hierarch pointed out that certain geopolitical processes have had their impact on the current situation in the Orthodox world and said that when it comes to the Ukrainian ecclesiastical issue it is erroneous to confuse the “the…