Antiochian Village Names Director of Sales

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CONTACT: Denise O’Neal

E-MAIL: marketing@antiochian.org

ANTIOCHIAN VILLAGE NAMES DIRECTOR OF SALES

(Ligonier, PA) Antiochain Village Conference & Retreat Center announces the appointment of Anne Peagler as Director of Sales in a new position at the Village to develop new business, to build relationships, and to increase partnerships for the Village.

Anne holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Pittsburgh and from there went on to become Regional Marketing Executive at LendSource Inc. located in Minnesota. Most recently Anne was the National Advertising, Media, and Marketing Director at Mid-Atlantic Unified Health Systems, which is located in New Stanton. She has also served as the Marketing Coordinator and Advertising and Promotions Manager at Southwest Bank in Greensburg and was also employed at the University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg where she was the Director of Conference Services.

“I am excited to be working in this new position,” said Anne. “It is a great opportunity to be part of the continuous expansion process at Antiochian Village”. As Director of Sales Anne plans to create a better awareness of what the Village has to offer through attending community and business functions and visiting such areas as Harrisburg, Washington D.C., Pittsburgh and Johnstown. “My goal is to develop relationships with government, associations, education and corporate groups as well as religious groups who have not yet utilized our facility,” she added.

Antiochian Village Conference & Retreat Center services group meetings, seminars, retreats, workshops and conferences. The Village holds a membership in the Ligonier Valley Association of Churches, Christian Associates of Western Pennsylvania, the Religious Conference Management Association, Laurel Highlands Visitors Bureau, Ligonier Valley Chamber of Commerce, Westmoreland Chamber of Commerce and the Johnstown-Cambria County Chamber of Commerce.

Facilities at Antiochian Village include 100 lodging rooms with private bathrooms, full service banquet halls, 18 meeting rooms with technical support, a new sloped-seat auditorium, free parking, a sports complex, an ecumenical chapel, a 21,000-volume library, the new Antiochian Heritage Museum, and a certified ropes course for organizational development. Antiochain Village is a full-service non profit conference facility with a hospitality ministry and is available for public use. The Village is located on Route 711 six miles north of Ligonier on 300 wooded acres. For information, contact Anne at (724) 238-3677 or anne@antiochian.org .

Call to Prayer for Metropolitan PHILIP and the Holy Synod of Antioch

Metropolitan Travels for Holy Synod Meeting

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

October 4, 2004

We ask all clergy and faithful of our Archdiocese to keep in their prayers—both at home and in the churches—our Father and Chief Shepherd, Metropolitan PHILIP, together with His Beatitude, Patriarch IGNATIUS IV, and all the Fathers of the Holy Synod of Antioch. We pray for Godspeed as our Archbishop and those accompanying him travel to Damascus this week to participate in the meetings of the Holy Synod that begin on Oct. 12, 2004.

Of great significance for our Archdiocese, the Holy Synod will take up ratification of revisions to our Archdiocese Constitution relating to our self-rule status that was previously agreed upon at the October, 2003, meeting of the Holy Synod.

Our new constitution was passed unanimously at a special Archdiocese convention on July 16, 2004, and is already in effect. With the Synod of Antioch’s action next week, we shall be awaiting a delegation of bishops from the Holy Synod to augment our local, North American synod of bishops for the election of three new bishops from the seven candidates nominated by our general assembly in July.

The Patriarchal Holy Synod is a council comprised of all the metropolitan bishops, who are, in turn, representing the synods of their local diocesan bishops. As Metropolitan of the Great City of Antioch (where “the Disciples were first called Christians,” Acts 11.26), His Beatitude IGNATIUS IV serves as President of the Holy Synod and is known as “Patriarch.” The Patriarchate of Antioch “and All the East,” in the global organizational structure of the Orthodox Church, encompasses much of the Middle East and beyond, plus dependencies in the New World (such as our own Archdiocese of North America).

The Synod will meet in Damascus, on Straight Street, where St. Ananias met and healed the would-be Apostle Paul (Acts 9.11). We pray that all-Holy Spirit will guide and strengthen our bishops to do what is right and pleasing to Him, just as He has guided and preserved His faithful through 2000 years, continuously, in this same place.

Conciliar Press Announces Redesign of Again Magazine

PRESS RELEASE

Conciliar Press Announces Redesign of Again Magazine

Thursday, May 6, 2004

BEN LOMOND, CA—Conciliar Press, a leading Orthodox Christian publisher, has announced a major redesign of Again, their flagship quarterly periodical. Again is an Orthodox Christian magazine proclaiming the power of the ancient Christian faith as it is lived today. The mission of Again is to explore the beauty of the Way of Christ and to confront the challenges facing His followers in the 21st century. Again is crisp, readable, balanced, and upbeat—ideal for both Orthodox believers desiring a deeper relationship with God, and for inquirers interested in encountering the enduring wisdom and spiritual tradition of the Orthodox Church.

 

Read the full press release here.

Visit Conciliar Press on the web.

General Assembly Nominates Candidates for New Diocesan Bishops

General Assembly Nominates Candidates for New Diocesan Bishops

On July 16 the Special Convention General Assembly (2004) for the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese approved the Amended Archdiocese Constitution. In accordance with the amended constitution, by the unanimous will of the General Assembly, implementation of the amendments began with the nomination of candidates for the Office of Diocesan Bishop.

Prior to the nomination process (by clergy and laity), candidates were asked to share with the assembly their vision for the future of the Archdiocese. Many of the candidates mentioned Orthodox unity in America. After these brief comments from the candidates, the nomination process proceeded smoothly. Many delegates and attendees commented on the orderliness of the nomination process and the overall joy present. The orderliness and joy are the mark of the Holy Spirit upon the Church as they seek and do God’s will.

About the Nomination Process

According to the Amended Constitution (soon to be posted on Antiochian.org) in the case of a single vacancy for the Office of Diocesan Bishop, three names are submitted to the local Holy Synod, from which the bishops pick one to fill the office. During this nomination process, because three vacancies need to be filled, all seven names of the candidates were submitted to the bishops. This nomination process was about the laity and clergy giving them guidance and lending our voice to the decision on final selection.

It is important to note that the selection process must be in harmony. Again this is the mark of the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Candidates must be willing to stand as nominees for election. The people must voice their choice. Finally, the Hierarchs must concur. As mentioned in a previous article on the convention, this process showed how in a hierarchal church, by the guidance of the Holy Spirit, clergy and laity alike are allowed to participate in the decision process.

The Results of the Nominations

(In order of number of votes received at Special Convention from most to least)

1. Rt. Rev. Archimandrite Thomas Joseph
2. Rev. Fr. Mark Maymon
3. Rt. Rev. Archimandrite Daniel Griffith
4. Rev. Fr. Rafeek Mufarrij
5. Rev. Fr. Andre Issa
6. Rt. Rev. Archimandrite Daniel Keller
7. Rt. Rev. Archimandrite Michel Boghos

 

What Happens Next

At the next meeting of the Holy Synod of Antioch, His Eminence Metropolitan PHILIP will present our amended constitution for ratification. This meeting is expected to take place in October.

Having been passed unanimously by General Assembly and approved by the Metropolitan, the constitution is now in effect. It will be taken to the Holy Synod of Antioch to be ratified and filed at the Patriarchate so they will see that what we have done is consistent with the decree of the Holy Synod of Antioch regarding our self-rule last October.

After the ratification and filing, the Patriarch will send a delegation of up to three bishops from the Holy Synod to join with our bishops here in America in electing three bishops from the seven nominees. After selection, the new Diocesan Bishops will have their consecrations scheduled. It is anticipated that the new bishops will not be in place until approximately one year; therefore the regional structure that we have had will continue to transition into the new diocesan structure through the 2005 parish life conferences.

As part of this transition, Bishop ANTOUN will be enthroned as bishop of the Diocese of Miami and the Southeast. Bishop JOSEPH will be enthroned as bishop of the Diocese of Los Angeles and the West. Bishop BASIL will be enthroned as bishop of the Diocese of Wichita and Mid-America. Other dioceses will be the Archdiocese district in which Metropolitan PHILIP will continue to be Archbishop of New York and Metropolitan of North America. Metropolitan PHILIP’s dioceses will include the New York City Metro Area (including regions of New Jersey and Connecticut near NY City) and the churches in the Washington DC Metro Area and all institutions such as the Antiochian Village and any seminaries or monasteries.

The only enthroning date set so far is for Bishop JOSEPH on Sunday Sept. 12.

The three new bishops will fill the following offices:

The Diocese of Toledo and the Midwest

The Diocese of Ottawa and Upstate New York

The diocese whose jurisdiction will include all of Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Maryland (except Potomac), and Delaware. (The name and title are yet to be determined.)

The vacant Diocese of Worcester and New England will be administered for the time being by the Metropolitan. The Diocese of Eagle River and the Northwest will continue to be administered by the Diocese of Los Angeles and the West for the time being.

Bishops for the two vacant dioceses plus an auxiliary bishop to help the Metropolitan will be elected at a future time.

Click Here to Read a Full List and Description of the Proposed Structure of the self-ruled Archdiocese

General Assembly Unanimously Approves Amended Constitution

General Assembly Unanimously Approves Amended Constitution

The 2004 Special Convention General Assembly for the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese met this Friday July 16, 2004, to review and approve an Amended Archdiocese Constitution and to nominate candidates for the Office of Diocesan Bishop.

The proposed amendments to the Archdiocese Constitution were developed to help enact the self-rule status granted last year to the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America. The amended constitution was presented Friday morning to participants in the Special Convention (including clergy and laity). After an open question and answer session discussion and clarifying the amendments, participants voted unanimously to approve the constitution and submit it to the Holy Synod of Antioch.

 

This General Assembly showed how in a hierarchal church priests and laity alike are allowed to participate in the process of approving the recent great deeds by the visionary leadership within this Archdiocese.

His Eminence Metropolitan PHILIP says, “This is a New Era!”

His Eminence Metropolitan PHILIP addressed the assembly saying, “This is a new era; this is a new day!” “The future of this Archdiocese is not fifty years ago. The future is now….We have much to be done…We must think and act not only for us but for generations to come.”

Read Metropolitan PHILIP's Speech to the General Assembly

2004 Financial Statement Unanimously Accepted - 2006 Budget Unanimously Approved

The Department of Finance presented the 2004 Financial Statement and the 2006 Budget Fiscal Year Budget to the general assembly. Both were unanimously accepted by the assembly.

AOCWNA Announces Million Dollar Orphanages Fund Goal Reached

The Antiochian Orthodox Christian Women of North America announced this Friday that they have met their goal of raising one million dollars for an endowment fund for orphanages. Laila R. Ferris (president AOCWNA), says, “The Endowment Fund for Orphanages will help perpetually care for our orphans for many years to come.”

AOCWNA Announces New Goal to Raise Half a Million Dollars for the Housing Fund for Retired Clergy

AOCWNA rolled out their banner announcement to the general assembly pledging to raise a half million dollars to show they care for those who care for us.

Divine Liturgy Crowns the Closing of the Assembly

Friday’s general assembly was closed by moving comments from Metropolitan PHILIP encouraging all (priest and laity) to go and make disciples of all nations. His Eminence also continued to call upon all Orthodox Christians in North America to work toward the day of Orthodox Unity in America.

 

 

The general assembly events and accomplishments were crowned with Divine Liturgy on Sunday, celebrated by Bishop Joseph presided over by His Eminence Metropolitan PHILIP. Ending with Divine Liturgy put a holy seal on the spiritual deeds accomplished during this blessed General Assembly.

His Eminence Metropolitan PHILIP - Special Convention Speech - July 16, 2004

Special Convention Speech  

 

July 16, 2004

 

 

 

Beloved Hierarchs, Esteemed members of the Archdiocese

 

Board of Trustees, Beloved Clergy, Parish Councils, Delegates

 

and all Faithful of our God-protected Archdiocese: 

 

 

 

I warmly welcome you to this special Archdiocese Convention.  The last Special Convention was held in the city of

New York in 1966 to nominate candidates to succeed Metropolitan Antony Bashir of thrice-blessed memory.  I bring to you greetings and blessings from our Father in Christ, His Beatitude, Ignatius IV, Patriarch of Antioch and all the East. I have been in touch with His Beatitude almost on a weekly basis and he is very much interested in the work of this convention. 

 

The Book of Acts recorded the trials and tribulations of Peter, John, Paul and the rest of the early Christian community as they preached the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ Jesus.  In Acts 4:31-32, we read:  “And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the Word of God with boldness.  Now the company of those who believed were of one heart and one soul.”  I hope that after our prayers and accomplishments at this convention, the foundations of this fragmented Orthodoxy in

North America will be shaken and all Orthodox will speak the Word of God with boldness and with one heart and one soul. 

 

 

 

My dear brothers and sisters: 

 

About a month ago, the members of our Local Synod and the members of the Board of Trustees, the Governing Council of the Order of St. Ignatius of Antioch, and some of our Villagers and faithful gathered at the Antiochian Village to dedicate our beautiful museum and celebrate the Twenty-fifth Anniversary of our camping program which has touched thousands of young people throughout North America.  We were there on that beautiful mountain with one heart and one soul to witness to Holy Orthodoxy in prayers, in words and deeds.  Now we do have a decent place to house some of our spiritual and cultural heritage. 

 

At the banquet Saturday evening, the Villagers energized the banquet by their youth, hopes and dreams for a brighter future.  I hope the day will come when hundreds of our Villagers will return to that beautiful mountain to renew friendships and collect the precious memories of their camping years. 

 

 

 

Ladies and Gentlemen: 

 

This is a working convention.  Therefore, we have no social events planned except the Bible Bowl and the Oratorical Contest.  We are here to finish the work which we started in

Los Angeles, California.  Remember in

Los Angeles, you voted overwhelmingly for self-rule for this Archdiocese.  In 2002, we sent a delegation to

Geneva, Switzerland, chaired by our brother, Bishop Basil, to discuss this self-rule with a patriarchal delegation and a statement was approved by both delegations.  In 2003, the Geneva Statement was discussed in the Holy Synod of Antioch and a Synodal Document was unanimously approved.  Article VIII of this document states:  “The Patriarchate of Antioch and the Archdiocese shall each amend its constitution in accordance with above.  The Archdiocese shall submit its amended constitution to the Holy Synod of Antioch for approval.  The Arabic text of this resolution and its English translation shall have equal force and validity.”  I made some minor corrections to the Synodal Document which do not violate its substance.

 

Today, we are here first to amend our constitution in order to reflect the Synodal Document.  Second, to nominate three eligible clergymen for the office of bishop in order to fill three vacancies, namely:  The Canadian-American Diocese, the

Pennsylvania and West Virginia Diocese and three, the Midwest Diocese.  Our local Holy Synod, in its session held on Friday, June 4, 2004, decided that His Grace, Bishop Antoun will shepherd the Diocese of the Southeast, temporarily from the Archdiocese headquarters.  In the final analysis, the Antiochian Archdiocese of North American will consist of nine dioceses.  The Diocese of the Metropolitan will consist of the New York Metropolitan area and

Washington, D.C.  The New England Diocese will remain under the omophorion of the Metropolitan for the foreseeable future and the Diocese of the

North West will be under the omophorion of Bishop Joseph for the time being.  Our hierarchs have already met twice as a local synod.  I am thankful for the harmony and unity which exists among us.  All the decisions, which we made, were adopted unanimously. 

 

 

 

Beloved in Christ: 

 

Three years have elapsed since our first vote in

Los Angeles.  These three years have been marked by frustration, tension and disappointment.    But our Church is a church of hope.  In John 5:17, our Lord said:  “My father is still working and I am working.”  If you are in Christ, you do not despair, you do not give up, and you do not surrender.  Christ is working with us and will continue to work with us until the end of time.  He is the foundation and head of the Church.  In I Corinthians 3:11-13,

St. Paul said:  “For no other foundation can any one lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any one builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw – each man’s work will become manifest; for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done.”

 

The Orthodox Church of Twenty-first century

America is destined to chart its own course and shape its own future, despite the obstacles.  We in the Antiochian Archdiocese have reached the point of no return.  Our Mother Church of Antioch is very dear to us and we shall continue to do everything within our power to support our beloved Patriarch in all his endeavors.  The founding of the

University of

Balamand by His Beatitude, Patriarch Ignatius IV, is the greatest event which has happened in

Antioch since the days of Peter and Paul.  This Special Convention is a bright moment in our history.  Let us seize this moment and appeal to our brothers and sisters of other jurisdictions to emulate our example and seize the moment.  In II Corinthians 5:17,

St. Paul said:  “therefore, if any man is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has passed away, behold the new has come.”  Today, I am overwhelmed by a sense of newness.   This is a new era and a new day.   Without the steadfastness and unity of our people which was magnificently demonstrated in Los Angeles and Miami, Florida, and by our hierarchs, clergy, Board of Trustees, parish councils and faithful throughout

North America, this new day could never have been possible. 

 

I would be remiss if I do not express my gratitude to the Archdiocesan department of legal affairs, especially Chancellor Robert Koory and Chancellor Charles Ajalat for reviewing our constitution and proposing to us the necessary amendments.  I also would like to thank our hierarchical assistant, the Reverend Father George Kevorkian and the Very Reverend Father John Abdalah for organizing this special convention.

 

 I do not want you to be under the illusion that our task has been completely accomplished; we have just begun.  The future of this Archdiocese is not fifty years from now; the future is now.  With the new structure of our Archdiocese, the new future bishops, chanceries, organizations and departments, we have much to be done.  We cannot waste time.  Thus, our work begins now.  We must think and act, not only for the moment, but for generations to come.

 

In conclusion,  I am reminded of the story of Marshall Lyautey, who once asked his gardener to plant a tree.  The gardener objected that the tree was slow to grow and would not reach maturity for a hundred years.  The

Marshall replied, “in this case, there is no time to waste, plant this morning.”  Today, in a world of fragmented Orthodoxy on this continent and abroad, we have no time to waste, let us plant our trees this morning.  Thank you. 

 

His Eminence Metropolitan PHILIP Hosts His Eminence Archbishop DEMETRIOS

On Monday Sept. 27, 2004, His Eminence Metropolitan PHILIP hosted His Eminence Archbishop DEMETRIOS, Primate of the Greek Orthodox Church in America, at the Archdiocese Headquarters in Englewood, New Jersey. Accompanying Archbishop DEMETRIOS was His Grace Bishop DIMITRIOS of Xanthos, and participating from the Antiochian Archdiocese was His Grace Bishop ANTOUN. Metropolitan PHILIP and Archbishop DEMETRIOS discussed several items of utmost importance to the Orthodox Church both here in America and abroad. The meeting can be characterized as fruitful and successful. Following the meeting, all the participants joined together for lunch at the Archdiocese Headquarters.

Left to right: Bishop ANTOUN, Archbishop DEMETRIOS, Metropolitan PHILIP, Bishop DIMITRIOS

Archbishop DEMETRIOS Confers with Metropolitan PHILIP

 

IOCC Providing Aid to Victims Of Hurricane Charley

INTERNATIONAL ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN CHARITIES (IOCC)

110 West Road, Suite 360 , Baltimore, Md. 21204 — Tel: (410) 243-9820 — Fax: (410) 243-9824

Web: www.iocc.org — E-mail: news@iocc.org

For Immediate Release

August 17, 2004

IOCC PROVIDING AID TO VICTIMS OF HURRICANE CHARLEY

Baltimore , MD – International Orthodox Christian Charities (IOCC) is working with its domestic disaster response partners to help victims of Hurricane Charley by providing critical assistance to those hardest hit by the storm.

The death toll this morning from Hurricane Charley now stands at 19, according to Florida law enforcement officials. Authorities are estimating total property damage in the billions of dollars, though it could be some time before final fatality and damage figures are known, since access to many areas is still cut off. Hundreds of thousands remain without power in parts of Florida, and it could take weeks before power is restored in some areas.

Working through one of its primary domestic disaster response partners, Church World Service (CWS), IOCC is supporting the work of disaster response liaison teams to identify members of communities already vulnerable before the disaster, and to assess and help meet both their short and long-term unmet recovery needs.

This aid work will focus on all areas of Florida affected by the hurricane, including the Gulf Coast, and will involve collaboration with local disaster response groups like Florida Interfaith Networking in Disaster (FIND), the Florida Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (VOAD) and IOCC’s local Orthodox Church partners.

IOCC is the humanitarian aid agency of the Standing Conference of Canonical Orthodox Bishops in the Americas (SCOBA). All of its assistance is delivered solely on the basis of need.

Donations for IOCC’s Hurricane Charley Disaster Response Fund may be sent to IOCC, marked “Hurricane Charley,” P.O. Box 630225, Baltimore, M D . 21263-0225. Donations may also be made online at www.iocc.org or by calling toll-free 1-877-803-IOCC (4622).

###

For media inquiries related to IOCC efforts to aid Hurricane Charley victims, please contact Colin McGinnis at IOCC Headquarters at 1-877-803-4622 or cmcginnis@iocc.org.

Letter from His Eminence Metropolitan PHILIP Special Olympics

Beloved in the Lord:

Greetings in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I pray you and your families are in good health. Once again we come to that time of year when our teens raise money for Special Olympics Awareness Day. This year is special in that we are celebrating the 25th anniversary of our SOYO’s ministering to Special Olympics. As we mark this milestone, we cannot but think of the countless lives we have touched and also how our lives have been touched by these special children of God. This past year, from August 13-21 our Antiochian Village became a gathering place for these children, and we welcomed them, through your support, with open arms.

Each year our own teens participate in the training and help the official staff of the Special Olympics to teach these beautiful children to compete in and enjoy what many of our own children take for granted. As a result, our own teens learn from the Special Olympians as well. It is indeed a learning experience for all involved. May God bless these young people and may we continue to encourage them to do what it well pleasing to His holy name.

Your Father in Christ,

Metropolitan PHILIP

Primate

Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America

Letter of Patriarch Ignatius to General Assembly

Damascus, July 9, 2004

 

 

 

Beloved Brother Archbishop Philip (Saliba)

 

Metropolitan of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of

North America

 

 

We greet you in The Name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

 

 

On the occasion this special convention of your Archdiocese, we seize the opportunity to address, through you, esteemed and honorable brother, the faithful flock of this beloved Archdiocese, to emphasize on the following:

 

 

1         Based only on the ecclesiological grounds and from this single perspective we consider and deal with the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of

North America as one of the Archdioceses affiliated to the Patriarchate of Antioch.

2         The Holy Scripture, the Sacred Tradition, the Holy Canons, the Constitution of the

Church of

Antioch and its bylaws are the sole references of government to all our Archdioceses. Any dissidence to this context is considered as a violation to our constituency.

3        The Holy Synod of the

Church of

Antioch is the ultimate authority from which all ecclesiastical privileges proceed. This Holy Synod holds alone the competence of making and implementing resolutions all over the see of  Antioch. Your membership, beloved brother, in the Holy Synod is the only guarantee of keeping tight the organic ties uniting all of us in the

Church of

Jesus Christ. Likewise the absolute compliance to the authority of the Holy Synod, guarantees the safekeeping of the bonds of unity in the Church as well the governance, of the church matters decently and in order. What affects the authority of the Holy Synod affects the essential nature of the relation that unites us in the Body of Jesus Christ by the community of the Holy Spirit. We are sure that you are eagerly devoted to keeping strong these bonds of unity. Be assured also of our attachment to the unity and the peace of the Church. We will spare no effort to maintain the purity and the integrity of the Lord's legacy, as well.

We herewith enclose a true copy of the Synodical Resolution of October 9, 2003, kindly requesting Your Eminence, its distribution among the participants of the special convention, when reading this letter to them, so that they get a clear understanding of our stand.

 

 

Finally, we assure you of our deep love and of our confidence that we are together seeking the same aims. Likewise, your assistants and the faithful people of this thriving archdiocese are entrusted of this same strive. God has been and will always be, glorified by your deeds, since we are altogether laboring for the wellbeing of Christ's Church.

 

 

We bless your actions towards this aim and heartily pray the Lord to grant Your Eminence always the required strength, to rightly dividing His Word of truth.

 

Pray for us. You are always remembered in ours.

 

Ignatius IV

 

Patriarch of

Antioch and All the East

 

 

 

 

Letters of Correspondence Between His Eminence and Fr. George Dimas, Secretary to the Holy Synod Of Antioch

Local Synod Inaugural Mtg

1st Meeting of the Local Holy Synod of the Self-ruled Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese of North America

 

 

 

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

January 2, 2004 – Englewood, New Jersey

 

HISTORIC FIRST MEETING OF THE LOCAL HOLY SYNOD OF THE SELF-RULED ANTIOCHIAN ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN ARCHDIOCESE OF NORTH AMERICA HELD ON DECEMBER 29TH AND  30TH, 2003.

 

 

The first meeting of the Local Holy Synod of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America was held on Monday December 29th and Tuesday December 30th, 2003 at the Archdiocese Headquarters in Englewood, New Jersey.  The meeting was historic in that it represented the first time that the bishops have met as a Local Holy Synod, after the granting of self-rule status to the Archdiocese by the Holy Synod of Antioch in October of 2003.

 

His Eminence Metropolitan PHILIP, Primate of the Archdiocese, presided.  In attendance were three of the Antiochian Bishops of North America: His Grace Bishop ANTOUN, His Grace Bishop JOSEPH, and His Grace Bishop BASIL.  His Grace Bishop DEMETRI was not in attendance.

 

The focus of this meeting was to reach agreement on several very important topics which will allow the orderly implementation of self-rule.

 

First, the plans for the Special Convention were discussed.  This Special Convention will be convened in Pittsburgh, PA during the weekend of July 16 – 18, 2004.  The Special Convention will have two primary agenda items, which will be discussed and voted upon by the entire General Assembly of the Archdiocese.  First, the approval of amendments to the Archdiocese Constitution which are necessary for the implementation of self-rule.  Second, the nomination of candidates who will stand for election as Diocesan Bishops of this Archdiocese.  The Local Holy Synod of the Archdiocese of North America will elect the new Diocesan Bishops sometime after this Special Convention.

 

Second, two documents were reviewed which put forth the Rights and Responsibilities of the Metropolitan, and the Rights and Responsibilities of the Diocesan Bishops.  These documents specify, in detail, the working relationships between the Primate of the Archdiocese, and his Diocesan Bishops, who will receive enhanced responsibilities within their diocese.  These documents were approved unanimously. 

 

Third, the bishops reviewed a document which specifies the proposed structure of the Archdiocese.  Each Diocese was identified, along with the Cathedral which will serve as the seat of the Diocesan Bishop, and the geographical boundaries of each diocese.  This document was also approved unanimously.

 

The final discussion involved the status of Bishop DEMETRI.  The Synod agreed on a course of action but will postpone implementation until January 23, 2004, which is the scheduled date for the court case to be heard.  This postponement will insure that there is no interference in any way with the legal proceedings.  However, the latest date for the implementation of the course of action will be February 23rd, 2004.  Until that time, Bishop DEMETRI’s status will remain as it was specified in the Metropolitan’s letter of July 14th, 2003.  To quote from that letter “I have also directed Bishop DEMETRI not to preach or preside at any liturgical service during the time that he is under treatment or this matter is under investigation.”

 

With the enthusiastic and focused leadership of His Eminence Metropolitan PHILIP, this meeting of the Local Holy Synod of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America was conducted with an intense spirit of love, brotherhood, and cooperation.  This allowed important issues to be debated constructively, and agreements to be reached which will pave the way for the new era of self-rule for this Archdiocese.

 

It is expected that the next meeting of the Local Holy Synod will be held in conjunction with the spring meeting of the Archdiocese Board of Trustees which will be held at the Antiochian Village in Ligonier, Pennsylvania from June 4 – 6, 2004.

Local Synod Met October 29 in Naples, Florida

The Antiochian Orthodox Parish of St. Paul, Naples Florida was our host for an historic weekend of events from October 29 through 31, 2004. During this weekend the Local Synod of this Archdiocese had its meeting, as well as the Board of Trustees. The weekend concluded with an outdoor Divine Liturgy, and the groundbreaking prayers that marked the start of the construction of the new St. Paul church complex.

On Friday, October 29, 2004, the Local Synod of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America met for their regular Fall meeting. However, this meeting was anything but “regular”. The meeting table was adorned with the Holy Gospel, the Precious and Lifegiving Cross, Icons of our Lord and the Theotokos, and candles. The meeting began with the opening prayer, led by His Eminence, Metropolitan PHILIP. Also in attendance were Bishop ANTOUN of the Diocese of Miami and the Southeast, Bishop JOSEPH of the Diocese of Los Angeles and the West, and Bishop BASIL of the Diocese of Wichita and Mid-America. The prayers included the chanting of the Troparion and Kontakion of Pentecost, as a reminder that the work of the Synod is inspired by the Holy Spirit. The main item on the agenda was a report by His Eminence on his trip to the Middle East to attend the meeting of the Holy Synod of Antioch, and the election of three new Diocesan Bishops.

The results of the election were as follows:

Rt. Rev. Thomas Joseph as the Bishop Elect for the Diocese of Pittsburgh and the East

Rev. Fr. Mark Maymon as the Bishop Elect for the Diocese of Toledo and The Midwest

Rt. Rev. Rafeek Mufarrij as the Bishop Elect for the Diocese of Ottawa and Upstate NewYork

It has since been confirmed that the consecration of these Bishops Elect will take place at the Patriarchal Cathedral in Damascus, Syria on December 3^rd, 4^th, and 5^th, 2004.

The meeting of the Archdiocese Board of Trustees was held during the evening of Friday, October 29^th, and continued to the morning of Saturday, October 30^th. The main order of business was to consider and discuss the proposed changes to the amended Constitution that have been suggested as a result of the meeting of the Holy Synod of Antioch, which concluded on October 14, 2004. The Board decided to submit these proposed changes to the Department of Legal Affairs for consideration. The Department of Legal Affairs will make a recommendation to the Board of Trustees at their Spring meeting in June, 2005. Finally, the Board of Trustees will recommend final action to be taken by the General Assembly of the Archdiocesan Convention, scheduled for July, 2005. The Board also heard reports from the following Archdiocesan departments: 2004 Parish Life Conferences, Antiochian Village Camp, Antiochian Village Heritage & Learning Center, Antiochian Village Council, Finance, Antiochian Women, Christian Education & Tithing, Youth & Parish Ministry, Order of St. Ignatius, Planning & Future Development, and Communications & Information.

This historic weekend continued with a banquet on Saturday evening for the celebration of the 45^th Anniversary in the priesthood of Very Rev. Joseph Shaheen, pastor of St. Paul Antiochian Orthodox Church of Naples, Florida.

The events concluded with an outdoor Divine Liturgy on the site of St. Paul Church, presided over by His Eminence, Metropolitan PHILIP, and the prayers for groundbreaking for the new St. Paul Church, which is to be constructed.

Truly this was a blessed and historic set of events for the self-ruling Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America.

Metropolitan PHILIP Hosts Dinner

 

 

Metropolitan PHILIP Hosts Dinner
To Discuss Situation in Lebanon and Middle East

From left to right are: His Excellency Bishara Merhige, Minister of the Lebanese Government Metropolitan PHILIP Mr. Monsour Harik

Monday April 5, 2004
Archdiocese Headquarters in Englewood, NJ

Metropolitan PHILIP hosted a dinner on Monday April 5th, 2004, attended by His Excellency Bishara Merhige, Minister of the Lebanese Government, and Mr. Monsour Harik, where they discussed the current situation in Lebanon, the explosive environment in the Middle East and the effect that these events are having on the Church.

Metropolitan PHILIP's Pascha Message, 2004

Pascha 2004

“He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities, the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned, every one to His own way; and the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.” (Isaiah 53:5-6)

“O Christ Saviour, we were but yesterday buried with Thee, and we shall rise with Thee in Thy Resurrection. We were but yesterday crucified with Thee: glorify us with Thee in Thy kingdom.”
(Verse from the Third Ode of the Paschal Canon)

Beloved Hierarchs, Clergy, Trustees, Parish Council Members, and All Faithful of our God-Protected Archdiocese:

Christ is Risen!

I greet you with the Paschal greeting, praying that our Risen Lord will bless you and your families as we celebrate His glorious Resurrection from the dead. As we live in the midst of a world plagued by war, famine, crime and moral decay, we have no other hope than to look to our Lord who destroyed death and gave new life to all. This new life and hope should strengthen us to overcome all of these destructive forces and, in fact, enable us to speak out against them. Indeed, as Christ ended the “wailing of Eve by His Resurrection,” we must also “proclaim that the Saviour is risen from the dead.”

May the eternal light of the Empty Tomb shine in your hearts and in the hearts of people everywhere.

Wishing you a glorious Paschal season, I remain
Yours in the Risen Lord,

Metropolitan PHILIP
Primate, Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America

Metropolitan Reviews Progress with University of Balamand President

 

 

Metropolitan Reviews Progress with
University of Balamand President

From left to right are: Dr. Elie A. Salem (President of the University of Balamand), Metropolitan PHILIP and Mr. Fawaz El Khoury (Member of the Archdiocese Board of Trustees)

Monday April 5, 2004
Archdiocese Headquarters in Englewood, NJ

Metropolitan PHILIP hosted a luncheon for Dr. Elie A. Salem (President of the University of Balamand – Lebanon) and Mr. Fawaz El Khoury (Member of the Archdiocese Board of Trustees), where the current status and future plans for the University were discussed. By the grace of God, and with much continued hard work, the University of Balamand will continue to shine forth as a bright beacon of education and understanding for people of diverse backgrounds and faiths.

Metropolitan's Message Regarding Special Archdiocese Convention

 

 

Metropolitan's Message Regarding Special Archdiocese Convention
 

 

 

February 3, 2004

TO BE READ FROM THE PULPIT AND PUBLISHED IN THE CHURCH BULLETIN

 

Beloved Hierarchs, Clergy, Trustees, Parish Council Members and All Faithful of this God-Protected Archdiocese:

Greetings and Blessings to all of you in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ!

 

As we wrote in our letter of December 31, 2003, we are calling a Special Convention of this Archdiocese in order to proceed with the implementation of our Self-Rule status.  This Special Convention will be held from Friday July 16th through Sunday July 18th, 2004 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.  Delegates are expected to arrive in Pittsburgh on Thursday July 15th.  Please make your reservations early for this historic Special Convention by using the following hotel information:

Hilton Pittsburgh

Gateway Center, Downtown

Call 1-800-445-8667 by June 15, 2004 to make your reservations

and secure the special room rate of $99.00 per night plus tax.

Tell the operator that you are with the Antiochian Orthodox Church.

Transportation – Shuttle from Pittsburgh International Airport is available

at a cost of $16.00 one way, or $30.00 round trip.

Parking is $24.00 per day for valet – local garages are also available

 

All parishes and missions must be represented at this special convention, either in person, or by valid proxy.  Official proxy forms will be mailed in late April or early May.  All pastors are expected to attend in person.  No community will be seated at the special convention unless all of the following obligations have been met:

 

1.       All 2003 assessments, tithes, and special trays have been paid in full.

2.       All 2004 assessments, tithes, and trays are up-to-date at the time of the convention.

3.       A Statistics and Census Report has been filed with the Archdiocese office for the year ending December 31, 2003.  These reports were due by Feb. 1, 2004.

 

Please note that the schedule of the Clergy Symposium will be different this year.  Normally it would run from Monday afternoon through Friday.  This year, it will start on Sunday afternoon, July 18th, and end on Thursday, July 22nd.  All clergy should be sure that their schedule accounts for this change.

 

Praying that our Lord will bless our planning and deliberations for the glorification of His Holy Church, I remain

 

Your Father in Christ,

 

 

Metropolitan PHILIP

Primate

Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America

 

Agenda for the Special Convention

Metropolitan's Message Regarding the Film, “The Passion of The Christ.”

 

 

Metropolitan's Message Regarding the Film, “The Passion of The Christ.”
 

 

 

March 2, 2004

TO BE READ FROM THE PULPIT AND PUBLISHED IN THE CHURCH BULLETIN

 

 

Beloved Clergy and Faithful of our Archdiocese:

Greetings and blessings to you in the spirit of this Holy and Great Lenten season.

Shortly after the beginning of our journey with our Lord to Calvary and the empty tomb, Mel Gibson released his excellent film, “The Passion of The Christ.” This film raised many favorable, and at the same time, controversial questions; thus, I decided to see this movie and form my own opinion. The following is my observation:

I think that Mel Gibson has done an outstanding job. Ninety-five percent of the film is based on the biblical accounts recorded in the Gospels. We cannot distort history nor can we betray the hymnology of our church and the story which we relive every year during Holy Week. I advise our clergy and faithful to see this movie and share the suffering of our Lord and the joy of His Glorious Resurrection.

Yours in the Triumphant Christ,

Metropolitan PHILIP
Primate
Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese
of North America

New Home Consecrated for the Oldest Parish

Pictorial Review

Consecration and 75^th Anniversary Celebration
St. George Antiochian Orthodox Christian Church
Portland, Oregon

September 17-19, 2004

 

 

O Master, Lord our God, Hope of all the ends of the Earth, hear us sinners who make our supplications unto Thee, and send Thine all-Holy and Adorable and Almighty Spirit, and sanctify this temple and this altar table. Fill it with the Light Everlasting; elect it for Thy dwelling-place; make it the abode of Thy Glory. ...
                                   _{Excerpt from one of the prayers of consecration}

St. George Orthodox Church of Portland was the first Antiochian parish on the west coast when it was established in 1930, when Syrian Orthodox Christian immigrants paid $700 for a church building on Southeast 62nd, near Foster. The parish moved to larger quarters in 1965, buying a church building at 115th and Holgate, but it did not take long to outgrow it. In 1998 Metropolitan PHILIP broke ground for the construction of a traditional Orthodox church at Northeast 162nd. The community began using the new temple in 2001 as finishing touches and hall construction continued, culminating in a joy-filled celebration September 17-19, 2004.	Exterior view of the newly consecrated church temple and fellowship hall/classroom buildings of St. George Orthodox Church at 2101 NE 162nd Ave (at St. George Street) PO Box 20695 Portland, OR 97294 (503) 255-6055 www.stgeorgeportland.org V. Rev. Father Alban West, pastor
The celebration opened Friday evening, Sep. 17, with a gala dinner for the entire parish and the arriving bishops, clergy, relocated parishioners and friends.
The next morning, the church school children and then the teens had some tough questions for Metropolitan PHILIP and Bishop JOSEPH in the new church. Here an inquisitive boy asks his Eminence if his crown were heavy. Metropolitan PHILIP brought out his mitre and showed it to the children. (Maybe the lad will be a bishop someday, so he can have his own?!)
Metropolitan PHILIP, Bishop JOSEPH and Fr. Alban pose with the younger children and their teachers in front of the iconostasis. The iconostasis came from the church on Holgate Blvd, but the icons are all new. Additional iconography in the apse and on the walls throughout the temple will be completed over time, as funds allow.
Saturday evening, following Great Vespers, the parish celebrated with a Banquet in the new church fellowship hall. In his banquet keynote message, his Eminence challenged the parish not rest at having built a building but to be the living, breathing Body of Christ, bearing witness to Him in a world that so desperately needs the truth and moral guidance of the Orthdodox Faith. He urged those gathered to work for full administrative unity of all Orthodox in North America, so that thereby we may speak with a clear voice. The Archbishop also bestowed the Antonian Gold Medal, the highest award for laity, upon William F. Bitar, a humble and tireless member of the parish who headed the building committee.
Near the end of the Matins service (morning prayers) on Sunday, Sep. 19, Metropolitan PHILIP presided at the consecration of the new church temple, with Bishop Joseph, Fr. Alban and many clergy from local sister parishes and from the around the west coast concelebrating. Here, Metropolitan PHILIP, vested in a savanon, washes the new altar table. Protosyngellos of the Archdiocese, Fr. Paul Doyle, who pastored the Portland parish from 1977 to 1985, and others look on.
Fr. Alban West, Pastor of St. George parish, and other clergy join in washing the altar. The consecration service is modeled after baptism. In a sense the altar and the entire building are baptized and made Christian. They are now dedicated to the service of God alone, reclaimed for His Kingdom.
Bishop JOSEPH joins the Archbishop in drying the holy table. Bishop JOSEPH had been enthroned just one week earlier as the first Bishop of the Diocese of Los Angeles and the West. He also serves as locum tenens for the new Diocese of the Northwest (that encompasses Portland) until a new bishop is installed. First the altar is washed with soap and water. Then it is dried, washed again with rosewater and dried yet again.
The holy table is then vested with the white inner garment (à la the baptism gown), anointed with the holy chrism, and then fully dressed in its outer garments. The tabernacle, Gospel book, candlesticks, etc. are placed onto the altar, each item being individually blessed with holy water. In the square cavity in the center of the holy table are sealed relics of a saint and a list of all parish members at this time.
The Metropolitan then went throughout the temple anointing its walls with the holy chrism. He used a sponge soaked in chrism at the end of a long pole. In this view one can also clearly see the beautiful, fully 'dressed' altar table within the sanctuary.
Metropolitan PHILIP chrismates the walls of the baptistery transept/apse. The new temple features a full-size, sunken adult baptistery.
A packed and overflowing crowd follows the clergy as the Archbishop anoints all the walls with chrism.
Some of the architectural features and scale of the new church may be observed in this view. The temple is bright yet warm and graceful.
Following the consecration, the Divine Liturgy began, where thanks was given to the Lord in the Eucharist, with the offering of the Gifts and the sacrifice of praise.
At the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy Fr. Paul Doyle and Fr. James Bernstein (Dean of the Pacific Northwest parishes) escorted Fr. Alban to stand before Archbishop PHILIP, and the latter blessed him, elevating Fr. Alban to the dignity of Archpriest (proto-presbyter to be precise). It came as a total surprise to Fr. Alban. Normally pastors are not eligible for elevation until they have served well for a minimum of ten years. His Eminence noted this fact and declared, "Sometimes we need to make exceptions, because Fr. Alban is an exceptional priest."

Notice of Special Convention - May 25, 2004

 

May 26th, 2004

TO BE READ FROM THE PULPIT AND PUBLISHED IN THE CHURCH BULLETIN

NOTICE OF SPECIAL CONVENTION

To:  Venerable Hierarchs, All Reverend Clergy, Archdiocesan Trustees, Parish Councils, and

       Faithful of our Archdiocese

Greetings and Blessings in the Name of our Lord and God and Saviour Jesus Christ!

This letter serves as the official notice of our Special Convention of 2004.  This Special Convention will be held at the Hilton Pittsburgh, Gateway Center, Downtown, from July 16-18, 2004, and is being hosted by the parish of St. George, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.  The purpose of this Special Convention is to implement the self-rule status of our Archdiocese.

We would like to direct your attention to the following important matters:

1.  All parishes and missions are required to send official delegates to vote in behalf of your community.  All parishes and missions are entitled to one vote for each one hundred baptized persons, or fraction of one hundred that exceeds fifty persons.  The official Census Report that you submitted as of December 31st, 2003 is used to determine this number.  You must submit the names of your official delegates to the Department of Statistics and Credentials, using the form that was sent to you in early May, 2004.  If necessary, you may assign your votes by proxy using the proxy forms which have already been sent to you by the Department of Statistics and Credentials.  All delegate forms and proxy forms must be returned by June 30, 2004.

2.  All Reverend Clergy and delegates must be in Pittsburgh no later than Thursday evening, July 15th, 2004.  This will insure that we can begin our General Assembly promptly at 10:00 a.m. sharp on Friday July 16th, 2004.

3.  The current Archdiocese assessment is $30.00 per baptized Orthodox person, regardless of age (except for tithing communities who are contributing 10% of their budgets).  In order for your community to be seated at this Special Convention, all of the following must be in order:

          (a)  You must have paid your entire 2003 assessment and Special Trays in full

          (b)  Your 2004 assessment and Special Tray payments must be up to date as of the

                Convention

          (c)   You must have submitted a valid Census Report as of December 31st, 2003

4.  It is the sacred obligation of the clergy, and lay delegates to attend this Special Convention.  It is also the sacred duty of every Parish Council to pay the expenses for their pastor to attend this Special Convention.

5.  A Special Convention is called for a very specific purpose.  As such, no resolutions will be accepted either in advance, or from the Convention floor.

6.  The following items are enclosed with this letter:

          (a)  A Schedule for the Special Convention

          (b)  An agenda for the Special General Assembly

          (c)  A list of names and biographies for the candidates for the office of Diocesan

                Bishop.  Your delegates will vote to nominate candidates who will be submitted to

                the Local Synod of this Archdiocese for election of new bishops.

          (d)  An Advance Registration Form for those attending the Convention

      Please note that a copy of the Archdiocese Constitution showing the proposed

      Amendments required to implement self-rule will be sent to you by mid-June, after it is

      Approved by the Board of Trustees.  Your delegates will be asked to vote to approve this

      New Constitution.

7.   Every person attending this Special Convention will be asked to pay a special registration fee of $20.00 in order to help us cover the expenses for this Special Convention.  You will be issued a registration badge, which will be required in order to enter any of the Convention events.  There will not be much time at the Convention for the registration process, so we are asking you to help us by registering in advance.  Please follow the instructions on the enclosed “Advance Registration Form”, and send the form and your payment as soon as possible.

This Special Convention is an historic event in the life of this God protected Archdiocese.  We urge you to properly prepare yourselves, and to participate fully in the work which must be done.

Praying that our Lord will bless your preparations, and your travel to Pittsburgh, I remain

Your father in Christ,

Metropolitan PHILIP
Primate
Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America

 

---

 

Related Information:

Proposed Structure of the self-ruled Archdiocese - July 27th, 2004

Proposed Structure of the self-ruled Archdiocese

July 27^th, 2004

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Diocese of New York and

Washington D.C. – 12

 

Title: Archbishop of New York and Metropolitan of All

North America

 

Seat: St. Nicholas Cathedral,

Brooklyn, NY.

 

Extent of Jurisdiction: Metropolitan area of New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, and Metro Washington D.C, as well as the

Antiochian

Village.

 

 

 

The Diocese of Toledo and the

Midwest - 41

 

Title: Bishop of Toledo and  the

Midwest

 

Seat: St. George Cathedral of

Toledo, OH.

 

Extent of Jurisdiction: Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Eastern Missouri,  Illinois, Eastern Iowa, Minnesota, Kentucky, and

Fargo ND.

 

 

 

The Diocese of

Miami and the Southeast - 39

 

Title: Bishop of

Miami and the Southeast

 

Seat: St. George Cathedral,

Miami, FL.