News
AFR Highlights the Work of IOCC in Syria
Syria is in the news a lot these days, but what kind of work is being done by the Church in light of the current circumstances? Listeners may be surprised. In this edition of Ancient Faith Presents, Samer Laham, the Director of the Department of Ecumenical Relations and Development for the Patriarchate of Antioch in Damascus, discusses the ongoing humanitarian work of the IOCC in the country.
Fr. Paul Tarazi's Old Testament Audio Commentary Released
The Orthodox Center for the Advancement of Biblical Studies (OCABS) announces it has released the second and final MP3-DVD volume in Fr. Paul Tarazi's groundbreaking Orthodox Audio Bible Commentary. Ordering information is available on the OCABS website.
As each verse of the Old Testament is read aloud and carefully explained, listeners can hear the story of the Bible unfold in its entirety, while learning relevant historical, linguistic, and literary facts. As attested to by Orthodox liturgical tradition, Scripture is meant to be read aloud to people of all backgrounds. Unfortunately, differences in language, culture, and historical circumstances often obscure the Bible for contemporary listeners. Throughout this series, the speaker repeatedly highlights poetic and literary connections from the original languages, overcoming the problem of translation and helping listeners to encounter the Old Testament as it was heard in its orignal setting.
The approximate running time is 75 hours.
Assembly of Bishops Protests Decision by United States Dept. of Health and Human Services
The Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of North and Central America has issued the following statement of protest:
The Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of North and Central America, which is comprised of the 65 canonical Orthodox bishops in the United States, Canada and Mexico, join their voices with the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops and all those who adamantly protest the recent decision by the United States Department of Health and Human Services, and call upon all the Orthodox Christian faithful to contact their elected representatives today to voice their concern in the face of this threat to the sanctity of the Church’s conscience.
In this ruling by HHS, religious hospitals, educational institutions, and other organizations will be required to pay for the full cost of contraceptives (including some abortion-inducing drugs) and sterilizations for their employees, regardless of the religious convictions of the employers.
The First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution guarantees the free exercise of religion. This freedom is transgressed when a religious institution is required to pay for “contraceptive services” including abortion-inducing drugs and sterilization services that directly violate their religious convictions. Providing such services should not be regarded as mandated medical care. We, the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops, call upon HHS Secretary Sebelius and the Obama Administration to rescind this unjust ruling and to respect the religious freedom guaranteed all Americans by the First Amendment.
Classical Learning Center Doubles Enrollment Again
Anne Van Fossen, M.A., of the Classical Learning Resource Center, writes:
"For the last three years, the Classical Learning Resource Center has focused on teaching live, real-time, online classes in Classical Greek and Latin. We’ve emerged as one of the best online sources available for Latin and Greek instruction. Our student body has approximately doubled for the third year in a row and our new students are just as engaged, inquisitive, and generally delightful as those continuing from last year!
The Classical Learning Resource Center is beginning to gear up for fall of 2012. We’re planning to offer several new classes and part of the purpose of this newsletter is to see how much interest there is in these new course offerings. We’ll continue with our full program of Greek and Latin classes with Latin 4 Kids classes for elementary school and the full 4 year sequence of Latin I, II, III, IV and Greek I, II, III, IV for middle school and high school students and adults. If you haven’t taken a Greek or Latin class with the Classical Learning Resource Center yet we encourage you to begin in 2012.
FSJD Young Adult Retreat in Livonia, MI
The Diocese of Toledo Fellowship of St. John the Divine invites all young adults (ages 18-40) to our spring Young Adult Retreat hosted at St. Mary Basilica in Livonia, MI, the weekend of March 30-April 1, 2012. His Grace Bishop Anthony will be our guest speaker for the weekend leading us in workshops about our faith, along with church services, good food, activities and fellowship time together to enjoy each others company. We invite all young adults (married or single) from our diocese and beyond to join us for this retreat. It is going to be a fun and spiritually fulfilling retreat in which we hope all young adults from our diocese will participate.
The retreat will take place at St. Mary Basilica in (18100 Merriman Road, Livonia, MI). Out of town guests may book lodging at the Detroit Marriott Livonia (17100 Laurel Park Drive North, Livonia, MI) where a block of rooms is reserved under the group code: FSJFSJD at a special rate of $96 per night.
The weekend will begin at 7pm on Friday March 30 with the Akatahist/Madeyeh service at St. Mary's, and conclude with a light luncheon after Hierarchical Divine Liturgy on Sunday April 1. A general schedule is included on the registration form, and a more detailed schedule will be posted in early March. There is a $35 registration fee, and we ask that you register by March 23, 2012 (See Registration Form attached).
Archbishop Joseph Interviewed for Assembly of Bishops Series
His Eminence Archbishop Joseph of the Diocese of Los Angeles and the West has been interviewed as part of an ongoing series of interviews with the member bishops of the Assembly of Canonical Bishops of North and Central America. Listen to the interview here.
Fall/Winter 2011-2012 Issue of DIAKONIA Available Online
The Fall/Winter 2011-2012 issue of DIAKONIA is now available online. This issue highlights the North American Board. And The Diocese of New York and the Archdiocesan District, And the Diocese of Charleston, Oakland and the Mid-Atlantic, and contains:
- A message from His Eminence Archbishop Joseph, Antiochian Women Hierarchical Overseer
- A message from His Grace Bishop John, North American Board Spiritual Advisor
- A message from His Grace Bishop Nicholas, Bishop of Brooklyn and Assistant to the Metropolitan
Memory Eternal! + Rev. Fr. Basilios Nassar
Memory Eternal!
Rev. Fr. Basilios Nassar was born on January 1, 1982. He held a Bachelor's degree in Theology form St. John of Damascus Orthodox Institute of Theology at the Balamand University in Lebanon, and a Master's degree in pastoral care form the same university in 2004. He was fluent in Arabic, Modern Greek and the New Testament Greek, as well as a working knowledge of English and Hebrew.
He was ordained a deacon and a celibate priest by His Eminence Metropolitan Elias (Saliba) of Hama, Syria, then he served in his hometown, Kfarbahom, and in the Archdiocese of Hama.He taught Bible Study as well as Byzantine music to different age groups, and established many choirs throughout the Archdiocese. He was loved by youth and adult alike for his pastoral care and love, and that is the reason for his untimely death, as he was trying to help one of his parishioners who was wounded.
Fr. Basilios was at the Metropolis when he was informed by a phone call that a parishioner of his had been wounded and needed assistance. The Patriarchate of Antioch has reported that the 30-year-old priest was killed while giving medical aid to the wounded man.
His funeral took place on January 26th in the Church of Saint George in Hama. The blessed Father Basilios, known in the world as Mazin, was born in the Village of Kfarmpo in Hama. He was a teacher of Byzantine music in the school Saint Kosmas the Melodist which he had founded in the Metropolis.
Fr. Basilios was indeed a faithful shepherd. He will be missed by all who knew him in the Patriarchate of Antioch.
May he rest in peace and may his Memory be Eternal.
Spotlight: Chaplain Fr. Stephan Close's Afghanistan Dispatches
As of January 27, Fr. Stephan Close, Antiochian Chaplain assigned to Afghanistan's Kandahar Air Field Chapel, has written fifteen vivid letters to his Bishop, His Grace Bishop Basil of Wichita. With permission, Antiochian.org is republishing the letters as journal entries, and the regular diary essays compose a moving first-hand account of his life in a war zone.
Fr. Stephan's colorful prose details all the sorrows and joys of a chaplain's life. "It's been a rough week," he writes in Entry 14, "with too many rockets and caskets and trouble and sorrow." Earlier, in his first encounter of the chapel at Kandahar, he explains, "I was able to serve Liturgy with the Romanians yesterday. Their chapel was one of the first constructions when they first came into theater at the beginning of the war (about 10 years now, Lord have mercy on us). It is not a prefab, but was purpose built-some of the interior supports are hewn and fitted, not nailed; a beautiful devotion of handiwork."
Real Break Inserts Available
Camera-ready bulletin inserts regarding the Orthodox Christian Fellowship (OCF) Real Break Program are available for download here.
The Real Break program provides alternatives to the “traditional ” Spring Break for college students. It exists to provide students with the most authentic experience possible, and is modeled as a full Christian lifestyle, which includes fellowship, prayer within community, witness and service. Now is the time for college students across the US and Canada to sign up for Real Break, as the first program begins February 25 and subsequent service weeks are available through March 24.
Assembly of Bishops Secretariat Meets at Antiochian Parish in Riverside
Assembly of Bishops SecretariatThe Secretariat of the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of North and Central America held its annual "face-to-face" meeting, January 24th and 25th, 2012. The hosts for this year's "face-to-face" meeting were Father Josiah Trenham and the congregation of St Andrew Church in Riverside, CA. An overview of the work accomplished at the Riverside meeting will be included in a soon-to-be issued media release which will report to the Church-at-large on the work of the Assembly during the past year.
The Secretariat, which also meets monthly via teleconference, consists of Bishop Basil (Secretary of the Assembly of Bishops), Archbishop Antony, Bishop Andonios, Bishop Maxim, Father Mark Arey, Father Nicholas Ceko, Father Josiah Trenham, Hierodeacon Benedict (Armitage), Protodeacon Peter Danilchick, and Messrs. Alexei Krindatch, Alex Machaskee, Eric Namee and Constantin Ursache.
Institute for Orthodox Studies in Cambridge offers February Module
The Institute for Orthodox Christian Studies (IOCS), Cambridge, UK, invites long distance learners to join its on-line course. The IOCS brings the most distinguished teachers of Orthodoxy from the Cambridge classroom to home computers across the US. Each student is assigned his or her own personal tutor, can attend lectures online, and receives both access to Orthodox study materials and entrance to discussion forums.
Join this highly regarded virtual Orthodox university for a unique and fascinating exploration of the faith. Students can enroll now for the February Distance Learning Module. For more details or to register please visit our website.
Two Dioceses Co-Host Spring Youth Gathering
Bethesda Marriot Suites, Venue for GatheringSs. Peter and Paul Antiochian Orthodox Church in Potomac, MD, is hosting the spring gathering for both the Diocese of Charleston and the Diocese of New York youth.
Highlights will include:
• Unlimited Bowling Friday Night for $10
• Registration Cost: $35
• Registration Includes Breakfast and Lunch Saturday at the Church Hall
• Registration also includes Dinner and Hafli Saturday Night with live entertainment
• In lieu of the humanitarian activity, each teen from each church is asked to bring a canned food to be donated to a shelter at a later date.
HOTEL INFORMATION
Hotel Accommodations: Bethesda Marriott Suites
6711 Democracy Boulevard, Bethesda, MD 20817
(301) 897-5600
• Hotel Rooms at $89 per night
• Rooms can accommodate more than 4 people – All are Suites
• Group Code for Hotel Reservation: SPPSPPA
• Registration Due by April 13th for guaranteed room rate
CrossRoad Applications for High School Juniors and Seniors Available
Brookline, MA—Hellenic College Holy Cross, the oldest and largest Christian Orthodox institution for higher learning in North America, invites Orthodox Christian students from the United States and Canada to take part in a summer vocation exploration program that integrates faith, learning, and service. In its ninth year, the CrossRoad summer institute has proven to be a successful program preparing teens for leadership in the Church and in their communities.
One of the vibrant programs of HCHC’s Office of Vocation & Ministry (OVM), CrossRoad offers participants access to HCHC’s distinguished faculty instruction and enthusiastic graduate students who serve as staff. Since the program is on HCHC campus, participants experience the beautiful campus that is within minutes of Boston.
In addition to participating in theology classes, CrossRoad students attend Vespers each evening at neighboring parishes in the Boston area and engage in community service.
Blessed Name's Days to Bishops Antoun and Anthony!
January 17th is the celebration of St. Anthony the Great and the name's days of His Grace Bishop Antoun of the Diocese of Miami and of His Grace Bishop Anthony of the Diocese of Toledo. May God grant them many years!
APOLYTIKION OF ST. ANTHONY THE GREAT, TONE 4
Thou didst become like the zealous Elijah in his condition, and followed John the Baptist in his upright ways, becoming a dweller in the wilderness and an establisher of the universe by thy prayer, O Father Anthony. Wherefore, intercede thou with Christ God to save our souls.
Spotlight: Special Olympics Needs Your Help!
Special Olympics Coaches at Antiochian VillageA January 12, 2012 Special Olympics update for 2011 Donations reveals that many parishes have contributed to NAC SOYO's 2012 ministry.
The first table in the Special Olympics 2011 Donations pdf shows those parishes and individuals that have contributed to NAC SOYO’s 2012 Special Olympics Ministry through the October 16, 2011 collection. We thank all of you for your generosity. Is your parish among them? Refer to this list to find out.
The second table shows those parishes that have yet to send in their contributions and we ask that you help us meet our $2,000 shortfall by sending in your contribution for the money collected, or if you did not take the requested collection, please consider a donation to help this ministry.
Do you know a young person in your parish who you think would be a particularly effective and dynamic Special Olympics Coach? Please refer them to the following application, or have them contact:
V. Rev. Dr. Joseph F. Purpura
Department of Youth Ministry
Office: 1-781-255-1757
Cell: 1-617-803-5567
e-mail: frjoseph@orthodoxyouth.com
OCN's Share the Light Sunday Highlights Heroes
On Share the Light Sunday, January 15, 2012, the Orthodox Christian Network is encouraging parishes to announce that in 2012, OCN will be honoring its first ever hero. This person must be nominated by someone other than a family member and must have distinguished him or herself in Christian love and service to others. Any of our listeners around the world will be able to nominate candidates online during the year of 2012. The Board of Directors and staff of OCN will review and select 10 candidates to be put before our international listening audience, who will then choose the winner. The winner will be a special guest on Come Receive the Light and will receive a free cruise.
Save the Date: Canadian Orthodox Men's Retreat, April 20-22
The Sanctum Retreat Centre of Caroline, Alberta, will host the ninth annual Orthodox Men's Retreat of St. John the Baptist, on April 20-22, 2012.
Guest speaker, Conciliar Press author and priest Fr. Lawrence Farley, will speak on the Divine Liturgy. Indicating the pan-Orthodox character of the event, the announcement reads, "With the Blessings and support of our Bishops, and the support of our parishes and parish clergy, Very Reverend Father Taras Krochak, and Reverend Father Timothy Charpko – St. Vladimir’s Ukrainian Orthodox Congregation, Reverend Father Ibrahim Chahoud - Antiochian Orthodox Church of the Annunciation, Reverend Father Obrad Filipovic – Serbian Orthodox Church of St. Simeon, Reverend Father Demetrios Rougas – St Demetrios Greek Orthodox Congregation, Reverend Father Phillip Erikson – St. Peter the Aleut OCA Congregation, and Very Reverend Father Michael Lupu - St. Mary’s Romanian Orthodox Congregation, the Orthodox retreat committee invite you to the ninth annual Orthodox Men’s Retreat of St. John the Baptist – 2012."
In addition to the liturgical worship and retreat lecture sessions, the retreat committee notes, there will be ample time for quite time meditation and prayer. The retreat property is set in serene surroundings, and hot tubs are available so retreat attendees are encouraged pack swimming trunks.
Antiochian Chaplain Fr. Stephan Close Reports From Afghanistan
Fr. Stephan speaks to servicemen and women in AfghanistanBishop Basil shares the letters of Fr. Stephan Close, Antiochian Chaplain and Lieutenant Colonel in the US Air Force recently assigned to Afghanistan.
Contact Fr. Stephan at frstphn@gmail.com, and Kh. Annette at annette_close@yahoo.com.
Entry 17, January 31
Your Grace and my Brothers in Christ: According to the plan of the day’s events, I had walked through the morning’s chilly sunshine to visit some of my units. Stuck my nose in on some soldiers fixing an old truck; a labour of love, they were actually fixing it up. Under the hood will work an air cleaner painted bombastic yellow. I visited our Medical Evacuation folks and we read some scripture, I gave Sunday’s sermon a test run and we prayed. I stopped by the folks who run the freight terminal and heard their stories and commiserated with their frustrations. At the passenger terminal, they were busy but glad to see their chaplain for a moment.
Memory Eternal! + Very Reverend Father Harold Dunaway
Memory Eternal!
From the Diocese of Los Angeles and the West:
It is with extreme sadness that we inform you that our beloved brother in Christ, Father Harold Dunaway, Dean Emeritus of St. John Cathedral in Eagle River, Alaska, fell asleep in the Lord on Tuesday, January 3, 2012. His Eminence, Archbishop Joseph has asked the parishes to remember him in your prayers for the departed for the next 40 days and to hold a special Trisagion for his eternal life. May God receive him in His Heavenly Kingdom and may his memory be eternal.
New West Coast Orthodox Institute Announces February Symposium
San Francisco, California
The website sforthodoxinstitute.org announces, "The Sts. Cyril & Athanasius Institute for Orthodox Studies in San Francisco is a new institution in development for the furtherance of Orthodox study and life. And while we are aimed at providing resources and a context for national development (through national and international conferences, fora and publications, etc.), we are nonetheless also specially focused on fostering Orthodox education in western North America - a region currently under-served in this regard. From our base in this region to reach out to support the educational mission of the Church throughout the country through Regional Centers."
In keeping with the Institute's goals, the site adds, "The first regional symposium of the new Sts. Cyril & Athanasius Orthodox Institute will take place Friday-Saturday, 17th-18th February 2012, on a theme critical to both the study and experience of Orthodox Christian life: the symbolism and inner meaning of the Divine Liturgy." Titled Living Symbol: Exploring the Inner Meaning of the Orthodox Liturgy, the "three-part symposium will provide participants with a rich exposure to the dynamic meaning of the various actions, movements and events of the Church's chief liturgical celebration, drawn both from the explanations of the Fathers as well as the vibrant liturgical heritage of the local Orthodox Churches."
Among the speakers is Antiochian Archdiocese priest the Very Rev. Archpriest Josiah Trenham, who will address the topic, "The House of God: A Consecrated Temple & Consecrated People."
IOCC Recruiting Volunteers for 2012 Orthodox Action Teams
Since the devastating hurricanes in 2005, International Orthodox Christian Charities (IOCC) has provided over 600 volunteers and thousands of man-hours to help surviving families along the Gulf Coast rebuild their lives by constructing new homes or doing critical renovations to existing ones. Working in partnership with Habitat for Humanity, IOCC expanded its efforts last year by sending Orthodox Action Teams to build homes in Houston.
For 2012, IOCC will extend its humanitarian reach with more home construction and restoration projects set for Houston and for Minneapolis, which suffered a destructive tornado last summer. IOCC is currently recruiting volunteers for one week of active service in Houston or Minneapolis. You do not need to be skilled – just energetic! Activities vary depending on location and construction schedules, but can include siding, roofing, framing, landscaping, painting and support.
For details and a list of teams and dates, visit the IOCC's website.
Many Years to His Grace Bishop Basil!
January 1st is the celebration of St. Basil the Great and the name's day of His Grace Bishop Basil. May God grant him many years!
Apolytikion of St. Basil, Tone 1
In all the earth that received thy sayings, thy melody did resound, O righteous father, through which thou didst go about and proclaim, as worthy of God, the nature of creatures, cultivating the character of mankind, O thou of kingly Priesthood, Basil. Wherefore, plead thou with Christ God to save our souls.
Liturgical Calendar for 2012
Church Calendar for the Year 2012
Memory Eternal! + Kathy Meyer
WALTERBORO: Katharina Louise Welge (Kathy Meyer) passed away Friday evening at Trident Medical Center in Charleston. She was 77 years old and a resident of the Village at Summerville.
Katharina was born in Butler, Illinois on November 24, 1934, and a daughter of the late William Welge Sr. and Annie Katherine Kunz Welge. A graduate of Rubicam Business College, she spent the early years of her adult life working in St. Louis, the Bahamas and San Francisco. Later, she became the Secretary for Metropolitan Philip, a position she held for over 42 years. Kathy was adored and loved by the Priests and the Church Hierarchy throughout North America and the Middle East.
She is survived by her sister Dorothy W. Kaiser and husband Eugene of Walterboro and by her brother John Vance Welge and wife Nancy of Layton, Utah. There are many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her siblings William Welge Jr. and Margaret May Landry.
Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, January 4, 2012, at 11:00 am at Parker Rhode Chapel in Walterboro, SC. The family will receive friends Tuesday evening from 7-8 p.m., with Trisagion prayers at 7:30 p.m., in the chapel of the funeral home. The burial will take place later in the week at Ware’s Grove Cemetery in Butler, IL. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Antiochian Village, c/o the Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese, 358 Mountain Road, POB 5238, Englewood, NJ 07631-5238. Condolences may be sent to her sister Dorothy (Mrs. Gene) KAISER at genemac@lowcountry.com. Online condolences may also be left for the family at www.parkerrhodenfuneralho.... The Parker-Rhoden Funeral Home, 117 Paul Street in Walterboro, SC is in charge of arrangements.