| Continuing the series of diocesan presentations, videos depicting the life of the OCA’s Romanian Episcopate, the Diocese of the South and the Archdiocese of Washington DC were aired. Archpriest Eric G. Tosi and Priests David Rucker and John Parker described the first-ever OCA Mission School, held in Detroit in the spring of 2015. The highly successful week-long school was entirely supported by a bequest of nearly million received by the OCA. A second Mission School will be offered in a different region in 2016. Newly elected representatives for open Metropolitan Council and Pension Board positions were announced at the conclusion of the session. Archpriests Antonio Perdomo and Thomas Moore were elected Metropolitan Council clergy representatives for six-year and three-year terms respectively, while Priest Elijah Muller will serve as alternate. Elected as lay representatives for six-year and three-year terms respectively were Matushka Kitty Vitko and Larry Skvir. Michael Strelka will serve as alternate. Priest Gleb McFatter and Archpriest John Zdinak were elected Pension Board clergy representatives for six-year and three-year terms respectively, while Matushka Mary Buletza Breton and Barry Gluntz were elected as lay representatives for six-year and three-year terms respectively as lay representatives. Michael Mezmar will serve as alternate. In related news, delegates once again attended their choice of ten different workshops on topics ranging from Clergy Self Help and Parish Finances to Preaching on Campuses and the Use of the Web. The workshops were also offered on Wednesday afternoon to afford participants to attend multiple sessions. Protodeacon Peter Danilchick described the work of the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the United States of America and the direction in which it is heading. Alexei Krindatch, the Assembly’s Research Coordinator, reported on his recent survey detailing giving trends in Orthodox Christian parishes throughout the US. At the outset, he noted that, of all the jurisdictions that participated in the survey, the OCA and its clergy were the most cooperative and responsive. From the data submitted, he concluded that there are two major factors that lead people to give more to the Church—greater Orthodox unity and cooperation and a greater emphasis on mission. [ Several selections of Mr. Krindatch’s various past survey results may be found here .] |
| 602. “Introducing the New Series: Anaphorae Orientales,” OCP 67 (2001) 555-558. 603. “Questions on the Eastern Churches” 1: “ECJ Question Box Rules,” “Prayers Before Communion in the Byzantine Eucharist,” “Clergy Communion at the Byzantine Presanctified Liturgy,” ECJ 8/1 (2001) 123-126 (=123-4, 124-5, 125-6). 604. (Co-editor), Acts of the International Congress Comparative Liturgy Fifty Years after Anton Baumstark (1872-1948), Rome, 25-29 September 1998, edited by Robert F. Taft, S.J. and Gabriele Winkler (OCA 265, Rome: PIO 2001). 605. Co-author with Gabriele Winkler, “Introduction,” Acts of the International Congress Comparative Liturgy Fifty Years after Anton Baumstark (1872-1948), Rome, 25-29 September 1998, edited by Robert F. Taft, S.J. and Gabriele Winkler (OCA 265, Rome: PIO 2001) 9-29. 606. “Anton Baumstark’s Comparative Liturgy Revisited,” in Acts of the International Congress Comparative Liturgy Fifty Years after Anton Baumstark (1872-1948), Rome, 25-29 September 1998, edited by Robert F. Taft, S.J. and Gabriele Winkler (OCA 265, Rome: PIO 2001) 191-232. 607. “Liturgia oriental,” in Diccionario histórico de la Compañía de Jesús. Biografico-tematico, ed. C.E. O’Neill, J.M. Domínguez (Rome/Madrid 2001) 3:2880-2882. 608. “The Liturgy in the Life of the Church,” Logos 40 (1999) 187-229 (reprint of no. 583—appeared in 2001). 609. Review of Michael Kunzler, Archieratikon. Einführung in Geist und Gestalt der bischöflichen Liturgie im byzantinischen Ritus der griechisch-katholischen Kirche der Ukraine (Paderborn: Bonifatius Druck Buch Verlag 1998), OCP 67 (2001) 226-230. 610. Review of Andreas Heinz, Die Eucharstiefeier in der Deutung syrischer Liturgieerklärer. Die Liturgiekommentare von Georg dem Araberbischof (†724), Mose bar Kepha (†903), Dionysius bar Salibi (†1171) (Sophia. Quellen östlicher Theologie, Hrsg. von Andreas Heinz, Bd. 33, Paulinus Verlag, Trier, 2000), OCP 67 (2001) 506-507. 2002 г. 611. “P. Robert Taft, S.J.—Biography,” CCOr 3/3 (2001) – 4/1 (2002) 90-94. |
| Skipping over a great deal of history and grossly oversimplifying, these four waves did not successfully create a single Orthodox administration in this country. As the churches here grew, new churches were established, and more cohesive structures connecting the various churches developed—usually along ethnic lines. This is why a phone book may have “Russian Orthodox,” “Greek Orthodox,” or “Albanian Orthodox” entries. In 1970, many of the Russian churches (both from the original mission and from immigration) desired a uniquely American-run administration, independent of Russia. It was hoped that all of the other groups of Orthodox people would be excited about this idea of “The Orthodox Church in America” and all join together in a single infrastructure. A few Romanian, Bulgarian, and Albanian churches shared this idea, but many Orthodox in America were not thrilled with what is now known as the OCA. After squabbles in the 1920s and 1940s within the Russian churches, the creation of the OCA deepened the existing schism with the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia (ROCOR)—a schism that has since been healed, thank God. (There are a few intramural arguments about the timing and canonical propriety of Moscow creating the OCA, but that discussion is for another time and place.) To this day, there is a multiplicity of “jurisdictions” in this country, with many overlaps and unfortunate situations out of line with canonical norms. Still, we remain a single Church, a genuine expression of the universal Body of Christ, united in our sacraments and faith, and guided by the one Holy Spirit. Administrative unity is on the horizon now. Over the years, several groups have been established to work toward this end; most recently the Episcopal Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of North and Central America was established to determine the way forward, and bind our many people, ethnicities, and clergy together more tightly—and over time, to correct any canonical irregularities that may exist. |
| His Holiness mentioned an educational project of Ss. Cyril and Methodius Theological Institute of Postgraduate Studies – the Summer Institute that offers hospitality to representatives of various Churches who want to learn more about the life of the Russian Orthodox Church. Participating in the Summer Institute programme in Moscow last June was a delegation of the OCA clerics and laypeople led by Bishop Daniel of Santa Rosa. Having noted an important role of the Moscow Representation of the Orthodox Church in America and the Russian Orthodox Church’s Representation in New York, Patriarch Kirill pointed out that the year 2019 marks the 25th anniversary of the OCA Metochion in Moscow. His Holiness expressed his willingness to endorse a project of restoration of the church of the OCA Moscow Representation by contacting representatives of the Moscow city authorities. “We have also received your request concerning the canonization of Archpriest Pyotr Postnikov who had served at this church and had been executed at the Butovo shooting range,” His Holiness added, “We will refer this case to the Canonization Commission which will examine the circumstances surrounding the death of Archpriest Pyotr. We will share with you all the information and I hope nothing will prevent us from complying with your request.” “I am satisfied with the work of our Representation in New York,” Patriarch Kirill also said and noted that Bishop Matthew of Sourozh, the acting representative, had been given a lofty, honourable and important responsibility to maintain and promote brotherly relations between the two Churches. “It is gratifying to see that the Orthodox Church in America is developing. May it continue – God willing,” His Holiness Patriarch Kirill said. His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon of All America and Canada expressed his joy over an opportunity to take part in the celebrations marking the 10 th anniversary of the 2009 Local Council of the Russian Orthodox Church that elected the 16th Patriarch for the Moscow Throne. “I had a privilege, along with His Eminence Archbishop Benjamin of San Francisco to represent the Orthodox Church in America at those enthronement ceremonies. And it as, therefore, a double joy for me to be here this week,” Metropolitan Tikhon said. |
| • “Most absolutely!” • “Yes, despite my critiques. The Good News was proclaimed, the sacrament was shared, and people who remained strangers to me but are known by God gathered to worship.” What one thing will you remember about all this in seven days’ time? Orthodox Parish Experiences • “Being grilled by the priest. I’m happy to be identified as a goat to be kept separated from the sheep, but in guarding the integrity of communion, Father should lighten up.” (OCA Parish in another Diocese) • “The joyful singing of the choir, which was at times almost indecently passionate!” • “The profusion of icons in the church.” • “Christianity isn’t just about “right now”; it’s also about 2,000 years of worship and striving after beauty.” Non Orthodox Experiences • “The ringing of the bell during the moment of silence, despite the whispering.” Links to Various Orthodox Mystery Worshipper Summaries OCA, Canada OCA Seattle Greek Orthodox Scottsdale AZ Greek Orthodox Portland MN CarpathoRussian Mission Lafayette IN Russian Orthodox London UK and Greek Orthodox Westfield NJ Code for blog Since you are here… …we do have a small request. More and more people visit Orthodoxy and the World website. However, resources for editorial are scarce. In comparison to some mass media, we do not make paid subscription. It is our deepest belief that preaching Christ for money is wrong. Having said that, Pravmir provides daily articles from an autonomous news service, weekly wall newspaper for churches, lectorium, photos, videos, hosting and servers. Editors and translators work together towards one goal: to make our four websites possible - Pravmir.ru, Neinvalid.ru, Matrony.ru and Pravmir.com. Therefore our request for help is understandable. For example, 5 euros a month is it a lot or little? A cup of coffee? It is not that much for a family budget, but it is a significant amount for Pravmir. If everyone reading Pravmir could donate 5 euros a month, they would contribute greatly to our ability to spread the word of Christ, Orthodoxy, life " s purpose, family and society. |
| Emily Waters as the new Acting ORSMA Coordinator , and the management of Westwood. He offered a lengthier report on the OCA Archives giving updates on the relocation process and the proposals received in response to the Request For Proposals published in 2021. Two members of the Metropolitan Council also offered a report on a recent visit to the Florovsky Library at Saint Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary where the Seminary proposes to house the OCA Archives. In considering that the proposal from Saint Vladimir’s and the on-site evaluation of physical facilities effectively demonstrate their storage space to provide for necessary environmental protection and accessibility of the Archival material, and since Saint Vladimir’s commits to continuing the digitization project and applying for new grants for the benefit of the Archives, a resolution was presented for the Metropolitan Council to authorize the Chancellor and Secretary of the Orthodox Church in America to engage Saint Vladimir’s in logistical and contractual discussions for the purpose of preparing a written agreement, for presentation and approval of the Metropolitan Council in summer 2022. Also in this case, the resolution was overwhelmingly adopted but is not to be considered considered final until approved by the Holy Synod next month. Andrew Smith, Treasurer of the Orthodox Church in America, offered his report in which he reviewed current financials, proposed amendments to the 2022 budget, and introduced representatives from Satty & Partners who reported on the external audit. Ms. Maha Adranly, one of the three internal auditors, presented the auditing report noting the good health of the finances of the Orthodox Church in America, and thanking Mr. Andrew Smith and Ms. Susan Wisnewski for their hard and diligent work. Mr. Smith also offered an update on the Metropolitan Council external review of the OCA Pension Plan which is currently being conducted by Cheiron, Inc.. Among the other reports received and presented, Deacon Peter Ilchuk, All-American Council Manager, updated the Council on that plans for the upcoming 20th All-American Council in July 2022, and submitted the draft of the AAC Agenda prepared by the Preconciliar Commission and which will be presented to the Holy Synod next month for final approval. |
| The Metropolitan Council heard a report from Archpriest Thomas Soroka, Project Manager for the OCA Departments , on the various completed, ongoing, or pending projects or tasks of the six currently active Departments of the Church. Archpriest Nicholas Solak made a presentation for the Office of Pastoral Life and provided an update on the Thriving in Ministry and the Clergy Synaxis programs. Additionally, the Council heard a report from Deacon Jacob Frimenko who shared the results of a survey sponsored by the Clergy Synaxis program. Each report was followed by questions and deliberations by the Metropolitan Council. In conclusion, His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon thanked the Council for its positive and productive work and closed the meeting with prayer. Minutes and reports from the 2022 Spring Session of the Metropolitan Council will be posted on the OCA website as they become available. Tweet Donate Share Code for blog OCA Metropolitan Council Meets for its Regular Spring 2022 Session Pravmir.com team The regular Spring Session of the Metropolitan Council of the Orthodox Church in America took place on Wednesday and Thursday, February 9-10, 2022. Due to ongoing limitations and concerns caused by the pandemic, these meetings were conducted by video conference. Under the presidency of His ... Since you are here… …we do have a small request. More and more people visit Orthodoxy and the World website. However, resources for editorial are scarce. In comparison to some mass media, we do not make paid subscription. It is our deepest belief that preaching Christ for money is wrong. Having said that, Pravmir provides daily articles from an autonomous news service, weekly wall newspaper for churches, lectorium, photos, videos, hosting and servers. Editors and translators work together towards one goal: to make our four websites possible - Pravmir.ru, Neinvalid.ru, Matrony.ru and Pravmir.com. Therefore our request for help is understandable. For example, 5 euros a month is it a lot or little? A cup of coffee? It is not that much for a family budget, but it is a significant amount for Pravmir. |
| Leading up to this most recent problem, there has existed for several years now a repeated pattern by Metropolitan Jonah of taking other unilateral actions that were contrary to the advice of the Holy Synod and/or the Church’s lawyers, which prolonged or caused litigation involving the OCA, which substantially increased legal fees, which created confusion in negotiations, and which exposed the OCA to otherwise avoidable additional financial and legal liability. He withheld information from his brother bishops and from the Church’s lawyers concerning litigation matters, and matters which might have resulted, and still might result, in litigation. He has spoken unilaterally with and provided sensitive information to opposing counsel and opposing parties concerning pending and threatened litigation, although he had specifically been warned many times of the perils in doing so. He gave to unauthorized persons a highly sensitive, painstakingly detailed internal Synodal report concerning numerous investigations into sexual misconduct, risking leaks of names of alleged victims and alleged perpetrators. While those who now possess the report are wrongfully in possession of OCA property, they have not yet returned their copies of these highly confidential and sensitive documents, further exposing our Church to potential legal liabilities. What we have said here is based on the Metropolitan’s own words, both during numerous Holy Synod and Metropolitan Council meetings, and established in documentary evidence. We cannot release that publicly, and the Metropolitan Council members have legal and moral obligations to maintain in confidence information pertaining to threats to individuals and alleged crimes. We have however been communicating with and will continue to communicate with law enforcement authorities. Our request for Metropolitan Jonah’s resignation, or that he take a leave of absence for treatment, came at the end of a rather long list of questionable, unilateral decisions and actions, demonstrating the inability of the Metropolitan to always be truthful and accountable to his peers. The Metropolitan’s freely-chosen resignation has been characterized by him and others as the result of politics and internal discord among the members of the Holy Synod. Quite to the contrary, the other members of the Holy Synod stand firmly together in our unanimous astonishment at the Metropolitan’s actions. We cannot stress enough that while the most recent events are likely the most dangerous for the Church, these represent only the latest in a long series of poor choices that have caused harm to our Church. We understand and agree that an ability to work or not work well with others, or a challenged administrative skill set, or Metropolitan Jonah’s refusal to comply with the recommendations of the treatment facility, while not the reasons for his requested resignation, were fundamentally related to the consequences of his actions. |
| All the activities of SCOBA have provided rich opportunity for clergy and laity to join together in pan-Orthodox witness. These activities also served to deepen a desire for greater Orthodox unity. The initial achievements of SCOBA occurred at a time when the Orthodox Churches on a global level were also engaged in a process of renewed conciliarity. Between 1964 and 1968, four pan-Orthodox conferences took place and began to address issues affecting all the autocephalous Orthodox Churches. These meetings led to the establishment of a conciliar process designed to prepare for the convocation of a Great and Holy Council. Among the topics which deserved attention by the churches was the so-called “Diaspora» the developing Church in America, Western Europe, and elsewhere. In the light of these developments, the bishops of SCOBA in 1965 proposed to the autocephalous churches that it should be recognized as an episcopal synod having full authority to govern the life of the Church in America within the jurisdiction of the ecumenical patriarchate. A similar proposal was made in 1968 with the request that the American situation be placed on the agenda of the global pan-Orthodox conferences. While no action was taken by the ecumenical patriarchate or the other autocephalous churches, the appeals of SCOBA indicated that the situation in the United States could not be long ignored. The conciliar process both in America and at the global level was, to an extent, disrupted in 1970 when the patriarchate of Moscow moved to grant autocephaly (selfgoverning status) to the Russian Orthodox metropolia. From then, the metropolia has been known as the Orthodox Church in America (OCA). This action regularized the formal relationship between the metro- polia and the Church of Russia which had been lost in 1924, but the grant of autocephalous status to the OCA was not recognized by the ecumenical patriarchate or by most of the other autocephalous churches. This disputed status of the OCA immediately increased tensions among the jurisdictions in the United States. |
| Some “Not-So-Obvious” Facts about American Orthodox Christianity Contemporary Issues Last Updated: Feb 8th, 2011 - 05:50:02 Some “Not-So-Obvious” Facts about American Orthodox Christianity May 1, 2010, 10:00 Discuss this article Printer friendly page Source: The Patriarch Athenagoras Orthodox Institute The “Orthodox Church Today” study released by the Patriarch Athenagoras Orthodox Institute (Graduate Theological Union) disproves many stereotypes and provides groundbreaking insights into the life of one of the least known American faith traditions – Orthodox Christianity. With its historical roots in nineteenth century Russian Alaska, today Orthodox Christianity in the USA accounts for about 1,200,000 – 1,300,000 faithful worshipping in 2,200 – 2,300 local parishes (congregations) spread all across the nation. There is no single “American Orthodox Church:” Orthodox Christians in America belong to nearly twenty different Orthodox Churches or “jurisdictions” – the word Orthodox use instead of Protestant “denominations.” The “Orthodox Church Today” is the first national survey-based study of the ordinary parishioners in the two largest Orthodox Christian Churches in America: the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America (GOA) and the Orthodox Church in America (OCA). Here are some interesting facts about the American Orthodox Christian community. 1) The common stereotype is that the Orthodox Churches in the USA are “ethnic” Churches of certain immigrant communities. The study shows that this not the case anymore. Nine out of ten parishioners in both GOA and OCA are American-born. Further, today, more than one-quarter (29%) of the GOA and a majority of OCA (51%) members are converts to Orthodoxy – persons born and raised either Protestants or Roman Catholics. 2) Not all Orthodox are equally “Orthodox.” The study found that the gaps between the “left” and the “right” wings in American Orthodoxy are wide and that American Orthodox Christians are deeply divided among themselves in their personal “micro-theologies.” Answering the question “When you think about your theological position and approach to church life, which word best describes where you stand?” the relative majority (41%) of church members preferred to be in the safe “middle” and described their theological stance and approach to church life as “traditional.” At the same time, quite sizeable factions identified themselves as being either “conservative” (28%) or “moderate-liberal” (31%). |
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