Blogs

His Grace Bishop THOMAS shares with us this article about St. Raphael originally published in the New York Times in 1895, on the occasion of the "Damascus Preacher" arriving in the city. Thank you Bishop THOMAS, and thank you Vera Acker, secretary of St. Philip's Church in Souderton, PA, for transcribing this piece of history.

Click here to learn more about St. Raphael Hawaweeny of Brooklyn.

From The New York Times, September 15, 1895:

MINISTER FOR SYRIANS

Christian Church to be Filled by a Damascus Preacher.

His Grace Bishop MARK sends his appreciation for the outpouring of prayer and support during his father's illness and repose.

By Fr. George Morelli

An Orthodox Theology of Sexuality

For Orthodox Christians, no discussion of sex whether it is autoerotic, heterosexual, homosexual, bisexual, or the current polyamorous sex, can be divorced from an Orthodox theology of sexuality. All sexuality and sexual behavior is based on divine love; a love that is beyond any human feeling, empathy, or ethical standard, and even approaches the essence of God Himself. St John tells us "... for love is of God ... God is love" (1 John 4:7-8).

Fr. Patrick, one of the most thoughtful and prolific of today's Orthodox Christian writers, is the author of an important new book from Conciliar Media titled Creation and the Patriarchal Histories: Orthodox Christian Reflections on the Book of Genesis. Click here for an excerpt titled Excursus: Esau, the Modern Man. And, click here to order your copy.

"Early Christian writers such as St. Paul saw no dichotomy between the writings of the Law, of which Genesis is the beginning, and the Gospel. Rather, the Gospel is the key to understanding the Law. In Creation and the Patriarchal Histories, Fr. Reardon shows clearly how the proper understanding of Creation and the Fall informs all of Christian doctrine, and how the narratives of the patriarchs from Noah to Joseph pave the way for the salvation history that continues in Exodus." - Conciliar Media Ministries

By Fr. Patrick Reardon

Psalm 90 (Hebrew 91) has always ranked among the more favorite and popular psalms of the Christian people, one of the very few, in fact, about which everyone in antiquity agreed that it should be prayed each day of the week. For all that, Christians have shown themselves less sure about exactly when, during the course of the day, this psalm should best be prayed.

This week Orthodox Christian Network's Come Receive the Light national Orthodox radio program features Dr. Peter C. Bouteneff, teacher of dogmatic theology at St. Vladimir's Orthodox Theology Seminary, speaking about the mystery of death. Dr. Bouteneff teaches, "We do indeed teach and believe in a bodily resurrection. I don't think we have a very clear sign of what that will look like. But we do know that is something we will know and recognize as our own body."

Learn more about this and the other blessed offerings of OCN at their newly designed website, www.myocn.net.

On the weekend of June 14-15, Bishop THOMAS visited the Church of Holy Spirit in Huntington, West Virginia, to celebrate the parish’s patron feast of Pentecost. The weekend began with the celebration of the Soul Saturday Divine Liturgy. Following the service, Sayedna met with parishioners over brunch. During the evening, following Great Vespers, the Parish Council hosted the bishop at Rocco’s Ristorante.

At the end of Matins on Pentecost Sunday, those attending had the joy of seeing seminarian Symeon Kees ordained as subdeacon. Subdeacon Symeon is a third-year seminarian at St. Tikhon’s. His mother and fiancée were also in attendance. After the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy, the parish hosted its annual Pentecost cookout, after which they returned to the church for the Kneeling Vespers of Pentecost.

Although Sayedna was not able to stay and celebrate the Monday of the Holy Spirit, Fr. John Dixon concelebrated the Liturgy with Fr. Mark Elliott of St. George Greek Orthodox Church of Huntington and Hieromonk Alexander of the Hermitage of the Holy Cross Monastery (ROCOR) of Wayne. Although the Orthodox parishes of West Virginia have had a wonderful relationship with the monastery, this marks the first time that permission was granted to concelebrate together since the reunification of the Moscow Patriarchate and ROCOR. It was a joyful and historic event.

On June 30, His Grace writes:

First of all I want to thank the V Rev John Winfrey for the wonderful job St George of Grand Rapids, MI did in hosting this year’s Parish Life Conference. I trust we all had an enjoyable time of fellowship, enlightenment and spiritual renewal.

Second, let us offer our prayers for the newly departed servant of God, the V Rev Fr David Lynch. MEMORY ETERNAL. More information is available here.

Please join me in praying a rope for our brother and concelebrant, The Archpriest David, saying, "O Lord Jesus Christ, grant rest to the soul of Thy departed servant." May his memory be eternal and may you be granted long life.

Your unworthy father in Christ,

+MARK

On Sunday, June 29, our brother Fr. David Lynch, 72, retired from St. Augustine Church of Denver, CO, fell asleep in Christ. Condolences may be sent to Kh. Martha Lynch the Lynch family at mchoban@ameritech.net.

His Grace Bishop BASIL passed on these thoughts from Fr. David's daughter Margaret:

"The long battle for my dear father has come to an end.  At 5:30pm this evening, Fr. David (Charles) Lynch, fell asleep in the Lord.  He ran the good race and crossed the finish line.  He was surrounded by his family and Fr. Pat Reardon who offered prayers for him the whole day and at the moment of his departure.  We gave dad our love and told him to tell everyone already departed hello and that we see him again when it's our time.  He is now in the Loving Hands of the Lord Whom he has served his whole life. He made us so proud with how hard he fought to come back; we were proud to stand by him as he worked so hard day after day to recover.  One thing I know for sure is this didn't happen for lack of prayers, faith, hope or love.  Your outpouring of love and concern has been a cushion for us; we couldn't fall completely down during this because we kept hitting this cushion around us.  And it was an encouragement to him.  Every card, email and message was passed onto him and we heard from a lot of people; that was so good to hear for him to hear from so many people."

The following information regarding funeral arrangements has been released:

Funeral Arrangements for Fr. David (Charles C.) Lynch (1936-2008)

Wake

Wednesday July 2, 4:30pm-8:30pm
Holy Resurrection Orthodox Church
1449 N. Quentin Road
Palatine, IL 60067

Funeral

Residents of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, spend their days piling debris outside their ruined homes. One woman who lost everything only cared about not finding her favorite picture of her daughter. “This is a vibrant community, which has been changed forever. People try to go about their daily lives and they can’t deal with a lot of what’s hitting them emotionally right now,” says Father Chris Flesoras, a member of International Orthodox Christian Charities’ (IOCC) Emergency Response Network, known as the “Orthodox Frontline,” which is providing trauma counseling and coordinating resources with other charities on the scene.

Also, learn about the first response team from IOCC to the flood ravaged areas via this Ancient Faith Radio podcast with Fr. Haralambos (Bob) Fox, who is on assignment in Cedar Rapids, IA.

The staff at Antiochian Village report that the beginning of summer has been a blessed one at the Village, where Bishop THOMAS much of mid-June with the staff and campers. Not only has he served the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy on Wednesday, June 18, along with daily Orthros and Vespers, but he has been active among the youth. While walking the grounds of the camp, he has spent much of his time speaking with the young boys and girls about their experiences. On occasion, Bishop THOMAS will also jump into one of the activities with the campers. His sermons have not only been inspiring, but well received; as campers have already put to use his teachings.  The campers have truly responded to Bishop THOMAS in the most loving way, and God willing, he will be visiting the Village as often as possible for the remainder of the summer.

One camper had this to say:

"This morning, Hierarchal Liturgy was celebrated.  Bishop Thomas led us through our first liturgy for the summer season at camp, and it turned out to be a beautiful one.  All dressed in our best, we were able to have our photographs taken today with photographer Bill. Afternoon programs were as usual, but the evening brought a different outlook on entertainment: Movie Bag Night.  Each cabin is given 8 items from their brother or sister cabin, and must make a scene from a movie using those items. It was a fun filled night with a lot of laughs."

More memories of Bishop THOMAS' time at Antiochian Village have been preserved online by the Village here.

“Therefore take no thought, saying, what shall we eat? or, what shall we drink? or, wherewithal shall we be clothed? For after all these things do the nations of the world seek.” (Matt. 6:31-32)

Seest thou how again He hath both shamed them the more, and hath also shown by the way, that He had commanded nothing grievous nor burdensome? As therefore when He said, "If ye love them which love you," it is nothing great which ye practice, for the very Gentiles do the same; by the mention of the Gentiles He was stirring them up to something greater: so now also He brings them forward to reprove us, and to signify that it is a necessary debt which He is requiring of us. For if we must show forth something more than the Scribes or Pharisees, what can we deserve, who so far from going beyond these, do even abide in the mean estate of the Gentiles, and emulate their littleness of soul?

He doth not however stop at the rebuke, but having by this reproved and roused them, and shamed them with all strength of expression, by another argument He also comforts them, saying, "For your Heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things." He said not, "God knoweth," but, "your Father knoweth;" to lead them to a greater hope. For if He be a Father, and such a Father, He will not surely be able to overlook His children in extremity of evils; seeing that not even men, being fathers, bear to do so.

Conversion--a topic that repeatedly comes to mind as I write curricula--“If our children (and adults) aren’t converted to Christ, what difference do these lessons make?” I came across a Protestant theologian, Scot McKnight, who used the term, “liturgical conversion.” In a few sentences, he noted that liturgy uses ritual and symbol, and then went on the next category. I was left with the desire to explore “liturgical” conversion, and I will do so with this blog which will contain authors, key passages of their works, and initial thoughts. If this topic interests you, please contribute to the blog by sending comments to aodce@aol.com.

I will also blog passages from the works of Harakas, Coniaris, and Boojamra. In addition, I have found insights in, The Transforming Moment, by James Loder. The book that began this exploration is, Turning to Jesus: The Sociology of Conversion in the Gospels, by Scot McKnight. He is the one who posits three models of conversion, one of which is “liturgical.” I have used it as a point of departure for my study, “Liturgical Conversion.”

Turning to Jesus: The Sociology of Conversion in the Gospels,

(Scot McKnight, WJK Press, Louisville 2002).

Scot McKnight is the Karl A. Olsson Professor of Biblical and Theological Studies at North Park University.

Note: these are direct quotes, but emphasis is mine. Page numbers precede quotes.

Introduction

1 In abstract terms there are three orientations to conversion: socialization, liturgical acts, and personal decision. Each is aligned with a major component of the church, and each appears to be allergic to the others.

Question 1: What is liturgical conversion? Can we nurture it?

The Holy Synod of the Patriarchate of the Great City-of-God Antioch and all the East met in mid-June at the Balamand under the presidency of His Beatitude, The Most Blessed Patriarch IGNATIUS IV.

Among the agenda items were elections for the widowed Metropolitical Sees of Western Europe, which is headquartered in Paris, France and formerly headed by the late Metropolitan GABRIEL (Saleeby), and of Akkar, which is headquartered in Halba, north Lebanon and formerly headed by the late Metropolitan PAUL (Bandaly).  The secretary of the Holy Synod, The Very Reverend Economos George Dimas, announced the following:

1 - Elected Metropolitan of Akkar on June 17th is His Eminence BASIL (Mansour), 46, former Titular Bishop of Tartous.  His enthronement will take place on July 5th.

2 - Elected Metropolitan of Western Europe on June 17th is His Eminence JOHN (Yaziji), 53, former Titular Bishop of al-Hosn.  His enthronement in Paris will take place on September 21st.

Many years to Metropolitan BASIL and Metropolitan JOHN!

His Grace Bishop Maxim of the Western American Diocese of the Serbian Orthodox Church urges all Orthodox faithful to offer prayers for the protection of the St. Herman of Alaska Serbian Orthodox Monastery in Platina, California. Wild fires are quickly approaching the Monastery grounds and the Monastery is in great danger of being burned down. The monastic community has been evacuated and are seeking refuge in the neighboring parish of Redding, CA. For updates as they are available, visit this page.

Update Wednesday, June 25, 2008: Fr. Damascene informed His Grace Bishop Maxim that he called Platina this morning and was told that the fire is not spreading in the direction of the Monastery. Fr. Damascene and Monk Paisius have left for Platina to talk with firefighters and forest rangers. The other monks will remain in Redding until further notice.

By Aristeides Papadakis

From The Word, 1959

The holy icons are part of the worship of the Church and as such are of tantamount importance to the individual, theologically and spiritually. As a spiritual force, they are part of one’s prayers, a link between the soul and the spiritual cosmos; a place of meeting between the Christian who venerates them and the holy personage depicted in them. In other words, the icon is a means of communion as Father Bulgakov notes, unlike the Latin statue which is a means of evocation and teaching. Doctrinally it is intrinsically Orthodox in its conception, for it speaks of the piety and devotion of the Orthodox world and of the hauntingly wondrous miracle of the Incarnation proclaimed by the Church of Christ. It is not a quixotic symbol used by the Church, but a valid object through which are made manifest many of the dogmas of the Church:  Through the face of Christ the icon perpetuates the incarnation; through the icons of the saints is revealed the sanctification that a believer is capable of achieving.  In this sense, many icons (such as the Old Testament Holy Trinity of Rublev) are theological masterpieces. For through color and design they depict the doctrines of the Church.

In order to understand the paragon of Christian art — Eastern icon — one must realize that the Church, from its inception, defended the very existence of the icon. Furthermore, through the 2nd Council of Nicaea (787), the Church has canonized the significance, holiness and theology of the icons. And she thus displayed in actuality, the excellence of her aesthetical and theological judgment. Consequently, icon veneration cannot be attacked without heresy.

The schedule for this year's Parish Life Conference is now available.