| St Photini, The Samaritan Woman Commemorated February 26 The New Testament describes the familiar account of the " woman at the well " (John 4:5-42), who was a Samaritan. Up to that point she had led a sinful life, one which resulted in a rebuke from Jesus Christ. However, she responded to Christ's stern admonition with genuine repentance, was forgiven her sinful ways, and became a convert to the Christian Faith - taking the name 'Photini' at Baptism, which literally means " the enlightened one " . A significant figure in the Johannine community, the Samaritan Woman, like many other women, contributed to the spread of Christianity. She therefore occupies a place of honour among the apostles. In Greek sermons from the fourth to the fourteenth centuries she is called " apostle " and " evangelist. " In these sermons the Samaritan Woman is often compared to the male disciples and apostles and found to surpass them. Later, Byzantine hagiographers developed the story of the Samaritan Woman, beginning where Saint John left off. At Pentecost Saint Photini received baptism, along with her five sisters, Anatole, Photo, Photis, Paraskeve, Kyriake, and her two sons, Photeinos and Joseph. She then began a missionary career, traveling far and wide, preaching the good news of the Messiah's coming, His death and resurrection. When Nero, the emperor of Rome, began to persecute Christians, Photini and her son Joseph were in Carthage, in Africa, where she was preaching the Christian gospel. After Jesus appeared to Photini in a dream, she sailed to Rome. Her son and many Christians from Africa accompanied her. Photini's arrival and activity aroused curiosity in the capital city. Everyone talked about her, " Who is this woman? " they asked. " She came here with a crowd of followers and she preaches Christ with great boldness. " Soldiers were ordered to bring her to the emperor, but Photini anticipated them. Before they could arrest her, Photini, with her son Joseph and her Christian friends, went to Nero. |
| Orthodoxy has always formed a close bond with society and culture so that the faith is connected with life, not just with Sunday morning. Actually the modern nation state, with its sharply defined boundaries, is a relatively new development. Things were more flexible in ancient times. But Orthodoxy has associated itself with modern nations too. That’s why we have the national Bulgarian Orthodox Church, the Romanian Orthodox Church and so on. However, patriotism can also be dangerous. Father Schmemann wrote in his Journal that one of the worst things that ever happened to Orthodoxy was its identification with modern nations, so that people cannot distinguish between the two – like those who think that to be really Orthodox you’ve got to be Greek or Russian or whatever, or like some evangelicals who can’t seem to separate their Christianity from Americanism (of a particular type). When my wife and I were first looking at Orthodoxy 30 years ago a Ukrainian Orthodox woman, a good friend (memory eternal, Helen+), asked me, “Why do you want to be Orthodox? You’re not Ukrainian.” Someone I know was interested in Orthodoxy and visited a Greek church, where the priest told him, “I’m glad you visited. Now go back to your own church where you belong.” This attitude is called Phyletism (“tribalism”): the odd notion that Orthodoxy is limited to a particular tribe or culture or nation. It was condemned at a pan-Orthodox council in Constantinople in 1872. The great danger of Phyletism is that it limits Orthodox people to one narrow national way of looking things. Orthodoxy is multi-cultural: for all the world, all peoples. Orthodoxy is super-cultural: wider, broader, deeper, higher, wiser than any one nation or culture. Our Lord Jesus made this clear regarding Jewish tribalism. How often he made foreigners the heroes: the Good Samaritan, the Samaritan leper who alone returned to give thanks, the Roman centurion of whom he said. “I tell you many will come from east and west and sit down with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in kingdom of heaven, but the sons of Kingdom [the Jews, or us if we are unfaithful] will be cast out into the darkness”. John the Baptist warned,“If God needs sons of Abraham, he can raise them up out of these stones.” And so it is if God needs Americans… or if he needs Orthodox. Orthodoxy in America |
| Metropolitan Hilarion and Franklin Graham Speak on Peacemaking Role of Christians in Global and Regional Conflicts Today Source: DECR Photo: mospat.ru On March 4, 2019, a round-table conference took place at the Ss Cyril and Methodius Institute of Post-Graduate Studies (CMI) on Peace-making Role of Christians in the Global and Regions Conflicts Today, organized by the CMI and the Moscow Patriarchate department for external church relations (DECR). Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, DECR chairman and CMI rector, in his remarks, underscored the importance of peace-making service, ‘This mission is especially relevant in our days since the surrounding world is full of enmity and divisions’. Speaking about the work of Billy Graham, he described him as ‘as a striking example of cooperation between Christians in the Western world in the cause of peace-making and attempts to establish constructive relations with the USST’. He also noted that ‘the advocacy of the Gospel’s ideals of peace brings forth its good fruits today too’. Speaking about today’s joint activity of Christians, His Eminence pointed to the projects for aid to persecuted Christians in the Middle East and Syrian children who suffered as a result of armed actions. ‘It is quite evident that today no country can on its own help restore Syria and resolve the situation in the Middle East’, he said speaking on the cooperation with, among others, the Billy Graham Evangelical Association. Therefore, the Moscow Patriarchate calls upon the world community and Christian confessions to unite their efforts for this work’. Among other important projects is the support for Ukrainian refugees rendered together with the Association and the Samaritan’s Purse charity. His Eminence reported about the humanitarian, psychological and spiritual aid which has been given through common efforts to dozens of thousands of victims. Rev. Franklin Graham, too, pointed to the importance of common peace-making work, saying that ‘we should pray that God may soften the hearts of the leaders of our countries. The world is very small and the key accent of peace is the Church. We should call upon people to reconcile with God’. In his opinion, the cooperation between Christian Churches, resulted, among other things, in the publication of the presented book and the realization of joint projects open up great opportunities for future initiatives. |
| We all need to have a more positive outlook toward the people of our cities. We cannot look down on them, despise them, fear them, ghettoize them. We need to care about them as a Church. Photo: http://www.saintspeterpaulchurch.com/ My own special experience has involved working out one scenario for regenerating an old urban parish. In the Orthodox Church in America, our pattern for the past 50 years has generally been to establish new missions or to transplant parishes in suburban settings, or more recently in localities that never had any Orthodox presence before. I’m not criticizing this. But it has not expanded our mission and witness broadly enough because almost invariably our outreach has been to upwardly mobile or comfortably settled white Americans. In many cases, we have just given up on the city or left aging parishes in the inner city to decline and wither away. (Saints Peter and Paul in Detroit is prime example of this.) Saints Cyril and Methodius Church in Milwaukee was just such an aging parish considering flight to minority-free suburbs in 1984. Proponents of this move explicitly referred to getting away from “Hispanics.” But we chose to stay where we were, three miles southwest of downtown in a blue collar, largely Mexican-American neighborhood, with some mixture of Puerto Ricans, whites, and African-Americans. We got involved with the neighborhood, determined not just to “exist” here as an “island,” but to interact positively with and to enhance the quality of life in the neighborhood. We offered a weekly free After School Arts program for 15 years, sponsored neighborhood clean-up and block watch, provided a free summer Block Party for over 15 years, conducted free ESL classes for the last couple of years, worked on urban issues like public education and immigration, and made and served meals at a women’s homeless shelter for 20 years. These activities have not drawn many Latino parishioners into what is an Anglophone church. But they have put us on the map in the city and among people who care about the city. We have presented ourselves as good neighbors, like the Samaritan of the Gospel. And the outreach activities have provided our parishioners with opportunities to serve Christ in His people. This positive, proactive mindset has bolstered parish morale and vitality, and this in turn has made the parish attractive to newcomers, particularly young singles and families, and to seekers who value positive engagement with humanity. A side effect: no one has time for or interest in parish politics. The size of the parish has doubled since 1984. |
| Assembly of Bishops Announces Peace of Mind, a Training Program in Mental Health First Aid Source: Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America Photo: antiochian.org GARRISON, NY – The Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the United States of America announces Peace of Mind, a groundbreaking program for increasing mental health literacy and reducing mental health stigma within the Orthodox Christian Church. Peace of Mind was approved by the Assembly of Bishops’ Executive Committee in January of 2022 in direct response to findings from the 2021 Mental Health Needs Assessment. This composite program is designed to equip clergy and ministry leaders in Mental Health First Aid™ through the lens of Orthodox Christian pastoral care. By bringing together a research-based mental health crisis intervention course and a theologically-grounded pastoral care presentation, Peace of Mind demonstrates how caring for those with mental health needs is an opportunity to be the Good Samaritan in the world. Fourteen uniquely qualified Orthodox Christian individuals were selected from across the United States to serve as Facilitators. The four-day Facilitator training intensive was held at Saint Basil Academy from June 21-24, 2022. Cohort members successfully met the requirements to become Certified Adult Mental Health First Aid Instructors (via the National Council for Mental Wellbeing) as part of their role of as Peace of Mind Facilitators. The resounding feedback from Facilitators-in-training, trainers, coordinators, as well as the Executive Director of Saint Basil Academy, Fr. Costas Sitaras, reflected that Peace of Mind is the fulfillment of a shared vision and prayer to improve how Orthodox Christians can understand, love, and support anyone who is experiencing a mental health concern. Peace of Mind will be available to clergy and employed ministry leaders (pastoral assistances, youth directors, etc.) in the form of one- or two-day event packages through the Assembly of Bishops as early as September 2022. With an event-planning timeline of approximately two months and a maximum capacity of 30 participants, churches are encouraged to group together by geographic location and submit an event request as early as July 2022. More information on Peace of Mind, including a checklist of how to host an event in your parish or area, can be found online at: www.assemblyofbishops.org/peaceofmind . |
| Photo: antiochian.org At a gathering of Orthodox Christian hierarchs and clerics with leaders of the diplomatic community in New York City, His Eminence Metropolitan Joseph, primate of the Antiochian Archdiocese, called for the members of United Nations to end violence and suffering around the world. “We are next door to the United Nations, and I hope that our prayer will be heard for the safety of the entire community, the entire nation, and for the inspiration of the U.N. to do something and help us in this endeavor,” Sayidna Joseph said. The Joint Commission of Oriental and Eastern Orthodox Churches brought the religious and diplomatic leaders together for the 11th annual “Orthodox Prayer Service and Reception for the United Nations Community” at St. Vartan Armenian Apostolic Cathedral on Tuesday night, November 14. It focused on the continuing humanitarian crisis in Syria and Iraq. In his remarks, Sayidna Joseph recalled the parable of our Lord, God and Savior Jesus Christ about the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37), in which our Lord taught that anyone suffering next to us is our neighbor and in need of our help. “Everywhere with suffering people, they are my people, and actually, they are your people as well,” Sayidna said. “Mercy and justice: this is our call, this is our cause, this is our mission, whether we are diplomats or clergy or laity,” His Eminence continued. “If we do nothing for these suffering people, then it’s another crime. God Himself became the Good Samaritan, and we learn from Him how to be ‘good Samaritans. " ” As vice chairman of the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the United States of America, Sayidna Joseph has always pledged to the diplomatic community his personal support and guidance to create peaceful solutions to end violence worldwide, especially in the Middle East. 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. |
| Tweet Нравится The statement of Patriarch Kirill in connection with tragic events in Syria Moscow, June 25, 2013 His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia has made a statement about the tragic events in Syria: Right Reverent Archpastors, Reverent Fathers, dear brothers and sisters! For almost two years there have been military operations in Syria. Tens of thousands of people have been killed during this time; many old people, amongst whom are women and children, that is, civilians. The majority of the Syrian people are our brothers in faith: in the city of Damascus is the center of one of the most ancient Orthodox Patriarchates—the Patriarchate of Antioch. Human blood is currently being shed in the streets of this city which remembers the Apostle Paul, and the ascetic labors of ancient saints. On this Biblical land where Orthodox Christians and Muslims peacefully lived side-by-side, shrines and churches are being desecrated, Christians are being driven from their homes, persecuted, often tortured and killed. Houses have been destroyed, the infrastructure wrecked, there has been lack of food and medicaments, and many people have become homeless. Some have gone to their relatives, some have found refuge in special refugee centers, and others had to flee to neighboring countries, where usually nobody is waiting for them. Our [Russian] people experienced similar things not long ago. During the Revolution, the Civil War and persecution of the Church, thousands of our compatriots were killed. There were many hierarchs, priests, and monks among them. We honor the labors of New Martyrs and Confessors of Russia. In addition, we must not be indifferent when innocent blood is being shed again today. We cannot stop this war but can pray hard so that it may end soon, and we can give aid to the suffering people, amongst whom are our brothers in Christ. Our Lord Jesus Christ in the parable in of the Good Samaritan (Lk. 10:29-37) indicates to us clearly who is our neighbor: anyone who needs help. Even if he or she has different views from us, has a different faith and lives in a different place; because the man who suffered from the hands of thieves proved to be just such a neighbor for the Good Samaritan. |
| His Holiness Patriarch Kirill’s appeal regarding tragic events in Syria admin 26 June 2013 June 25, 2013 His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia made an appeal with regard to tragic events in Syria. Your Graces the archpastors, all-honourable fathers, dear brothers and sisters! Syria has been suffering from ongoing hostilities for nearly two years. Tens of thousands of people have died, many of them were civilians – old people, women and children. Our brothers in faith constitute a considerable part of the Syrian people: the centre of an oldest Orthodox Patriarchate, Patriarchate of Antioch, is located in the city of Damascus. At present human blood is being shed in the streets of this city which remembers St Paul and heroic deeds and labours of ancient saints. Orthodox Christians and Muslims used to live side by side in peace in this Biblical land where the shrines are being desecrated, churches are being profaned, and Christians are being driven out of their houses, persecuted and often tortured and killed. Houses are ruined, infrastructure is destroyed, people lack for food and medicaments; and many are homeless. Some people have gone to their relatives, others have found shelter at special centres, still others had to flee to neighbouring countries with nobody to welcome them there. Our people endured similar hardships not long ago. Thousands of our compatriots, many bishops, priests, monks and laypeople among them, were killed in the years of revolution, civil war and persecutions against the Church. We venerate the exploit of the Russian new martyrs and confessors, and we must not be indifferent when we see innocent blood being shed. We cannot stop this war, but we can pray zealously for its soonest cessation and help the suffering people, including our Christian brothers. Our Lord Jesus Christ tells us in His Parable of the Good Samaritan (Lk 10:29-37) who we should regard as our neighbor: the one who needs help, even if he or she has another views, confesses another faith or lives in another place. Such was the man, who had suffered at the hands of robbers, for the Good Samaritan. |
| Archive Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk celebrates Divine Liturgy at the Trinity Church in Pyongyang and visits Russian Embassy in Pyongyang 26 November 2018 year 11:19 On 25 November 2018, Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Department for External Church Relations (DECR), and Archbishop Sergy of Solnechnogorsk, administrator of the Moscow Patriarchate’s parishes in the East and Southeast Asia countries celebrated Divine Liturgy at the Church of the Life-Giving Trinity in Pyongyang together with Rev. Feodor Kim, senior cleric of the church; archpriest Sergy Yakutov, rector of the Intercession Church in the city of Ussuriisk, Vladivostok diocese; Archpriest Dimitry Fedorin, dean of the first church district in Vladivostok; priests Vladimir Jang and Vasily Hwang; hierodeacon Yuvenaly (Lapshin) a cleric of the Church of the Life-Giving Trinity in Ostankino, Moscow; and deacon Pavel Pak and Georgy Yun. Fervent prayer was offered for the assassinated servant of God Andrei, a hero of Russia and Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Russian Federation, who was killed in the line of his diplomatic duty in Ankara. Russian Ambassador to the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea in 2001-06 H.E. Andrei Karlov paid special attention to the construction of a Russian church in Pyongyang. After the divine service Metropolitan Hilarion addressed the worshippers. He conveyed greetings from His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia who gave us his blessing to celebrated Divine Liturgy in this church so dear to His Holiness. He came here as the DECR chairman first to make arrangements for the construction of the church and then to consecrate it. Now His Holiness prays for this church, its clerics and parishioners and hopes to visit the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and celebrate divine service here. Metropolitan Hilarion dwelt upon the parable of the Good Samaritan told by Jesus Christ, saying that this parable has a special meaning as the Lord has taught us how to treat our neighbours. The truth is simple: our neighbor is a person who needs our compassion and support, our kind words be which we can share with him our experience of religious life. |
| Metropolitan Tikhon Issues Archpastoral Letter in Response to Pittsburgh Synagogue Tragedy Source: OCA Pravmir.com team 01 November 2018 Photo: oca.org In a letter dated October 30, 2018, His Beatitude, Metropolitan Tikhon responded to the tragic murder of eleven members of the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh, PA’s historic Squirrel Hill neighborhood on Saturday, October 27. “We abhor and condemn this wicked deed, and reject its false justification,” Metropolitan Tikhon stated in part. “Instead, we offer the hope that can be found in God alone.” The complete text appears below and in PDF format . Archpastoral Letter of His Beatitude, Metropolitan Tikhon in Response to the Tragic Murders at Pittsburgh’s Tree of Life Synagogue October 30, 2018 10/028 To the Clergy, Monastics and Faithful of the Orthodox Church in America, On Saturday, October 27, 2018, as congregants at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh were observing the Jewish Sabbath, a man of violence entered into their midst and murdered eleven men and women at worship. Before finishing his acts of horror, he wounded several others, including four brave police officers who had rushed to the scene. Reports indicate that this man had the sole intention of killing members of the Jewish community, and that he shouted “all Jews must be killed” while he committed this atrocity. The Orthodox Church in America grieves with the families of the murdered. We pray fervently to God for the healing of the wounded, and consolation for all who are affected. The perpetrator of this barbarous crime sought to falsely justify his actions with a particular hatred for a Jewish organization that gives support to refugees and immigrants of diverse nationalities, races, and religions, thus fulfilling the command of God himself who said to the people of Israel through the Prophet Moses, “The stranger who sojourns with you shall be to you as the native among you, and you shall love him as yourself; for you were strangers in the land of Egypt [Leviticus 19.34].” Orthodox Christians have received this same teaching in the parable of the Good Samaritan, in which our Lord teaches us that the “neighbor” we are enjoined by God to love is hidden in the “other,” who is a human being of a different nationality, race, or religion. |
|
|
