[ANNISTON, AL | OCA] –- His Beatitude, Metropolitan Jonah, addressed attendees at the Brotherhood of Saint Moses the Black’s Annual Conference at Saint Luke Mission here recently.

The annual gathering explores the rich treasures of ancient African Orthodox Christianity and the experience of today’s African Americans who are discovering their heritage and home in the Orthodox Church.
In addition to delivering the keynote address, Metropolitan Jonah celebrated the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy with nearly 200 faithful in attendance, after which he presented the Brotherhood’s founder and president, Priest Moses Berry of Ash Grove, MO, with a gold pectoral cross.

Metropolitan Jonah delivers keynote address at St. Moses the Black national conference “This was the first time in the Brotherhood’s history that a conference has taken place in the Diocese of the South,” said Priest Basil Henry of Saint Luke’s, who added that the mission community had just moved into its newly renovated temple in early May. With clergy of several jurisdictions participating, “the conference was a radiant experience of grass-roots Orthodox unity in America.”

Source: www.oca.org/news/2170

Official communique from the recent Episcopal Assembly. Truly historic events!

We glorify the name of the Triune God for gathering us at this first Episcopal Assembly of this region in New York City on May 26-28, 2010 in response to the decisions of the Fourth Pre-Conciliar Pan-Orthodox Conference held at the Orthodox Center of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Chambésy, Switzerland, from June 6-12, 2009, at the invitation of His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew.

Gathered together in the joy of the Feast of Pentecost, we humbly recognize our calling, in our unworthiness, to serve as instruments and disciples of the Paraclete, who “holds together the whole institution of the Church” (Hymn of Vespers of Pentecost).

We honor and express gratitude to the Primates and Representatives of the Orthodox Autocephalous Churches who assembled at the Ecumenical Patriarchate from October 10-12, 2008 to affirm their “unswerving position and obligation to safeguard the unity of the Orthodox Church” (Chambésy Rules of Operation, Article 5.1a) and emphasized their will and “desire for the swift healing of every canonical anomaly that has arisen from historical circumstances and pastoral requirements” (Message of the Primates 13.1-2)

We call to mind those who envisioned this unity in this region and strove to transcend the canonical irregularities resulting for many reasons, including geographically overlapping jurisdictions. For, just as the Lord in the Divine Eucharist is “broken and distributed, but not divided” (Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom), so also His Body comprises many members, while constituting His One Church.

We are grateful for the gift of the doctrinal and liturgical unity that we already share, and we are inspired by our leaders, the Heads of all the Orthodox Churches throughout the world, who proposed that which we painfully yearn for in this region, i.e., the “swift healing of every canonical anomaly” (Message of the Primates 13.2). We are also grateful that they established a fundamental process toward a canonical direction and resolution.

We are thankful to almighty God for the growth of Orthodoxy, for the preservation of our traditions, and for the influence of our communities in this region. This is indeed a miracle and a mystery.

During our gathering, and in accordance with the rules of operation of Episcopal Assemblies promulgated by the Fourth Pan-Orthodox Pre-Conciliar Conference, we established:

1. A registry of canonical bishops (Article 6.1)

2. A committee to determine the canonical status of local communities in the region that have no reference to the Most Holy Autocephalous Churches (Article 6.2)

3. A registry of canonical clergy (Article 6.3)

4. Committees to undertake the work of the Assembly, among others including liturgical, pastoral, financial, educational, ecumenical, and legal issues (Articles 11 and 12)

5. A committee to plan for the organization of the Orthodox of the region on a canonical basis (Article 5.1).

In addition to the above, we agreed that a directory would be created and maintained by the Assembly of all canonical congregations in our region.

We as Episcopal Assembly understand ourselves as being the successors of the Standing Conference of Canonical Orthodox Bishops in the Americas (SCOBA), assuming its agencies, dialogues, and other ministries.

Moreover, at the formal request of the Hierarchs who have jurisdiction in Canada, the Assembly will submit to the Ecumenical Patriarch, in accordance with the rules of operation (Article 13), a request to partition the present region of North and Central America into two distinct regions of the United States and Canada. Additionally, at the request of the Hierarchs who have jurisdiction in Mexico and Central America, the Assembly will likewise request to merge Mexico and Central America with the Assembly of South America.

As Orthodox Hierarchs in this blessed region, we express our resolve to adhere to and adopt the regulations proposed by the Pan-Orthodox Conferences and approved by the Autocephalous Orthodox Churches, and to do everything in our power by the grace of God to advance actions that facilitate canonical order in our region.

We confess our fidelity to the Apostolic Orthodox faith and pledge to promote “common action to address the pastoral needs of Orthodox living in our region” (Chambésy, Decision 2c). We call upon our clergy and faithful to join us in these efforts “to safeguard and contribute to the unity of the Orthodox Church of the region in its theological, ecclesiological, canonical, spiritual, philanthropic, educational and missionary obligations” (Article 5.1) as we eagerly anticipate the Holy and Great Council.

The Assembly concluded with the celebration of the Divine Liturgy on Friday, May 28, 2010 at the Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Archdiocesan Cathedral in New York City. During the Liturgy prayers were offered for the repose of the eleven victims of the current ecological disaster in the Gulf Coast, for the consolation of their families, for all those adversely affected by this catastrophe, as well as for all people living under conditions of war, persecution, violence, and oppression.

Of the sixty-six Hierarchs in the region, the following 55 were present at this Assembly:

Archbishop Demetrios, Chairman
Metropolitan Philip, Vice Chairman
Archbishop Justinian, Vice Chairman
Bishop Basil, Secretary
Archbishop Antony,Treasurer
Metropolitan Iakovos
Metropolitan Constantine
Metropolitan Athenagoras
Metropolitan Methodios
Metropolitan Isaiah
Metropolitan Nicholas
Metropolitan Alexios
Metropolitan Nikitas
Metropolitan Nicholas
Metropolitan Gerasimos
Metropolitan Evangelos
Metropolitan Paisios
Archbishop Yurij
Bishop Christopher
Bishop Vikentios
Bishop Savas
Bishop Andonios
Bishop Ilia
Bishop Ilarion
Bishop Andriy
Bishop Demetrios
Bishop Daniel
Bishop Antoun
Bishop Joseph
Bishop Thomas
Bishop Mark
Bishop Alexander
Metropolitan Hilarion
Bishop Iov
Bishop Gabriel
Bishop Peter
Bishop Theodosius
Bishop George
Bishop Ieronim
Metropolitan Christopher
Bishop Maxim
Archbishop Nicolae
Bishop Ioan Casian
Metropolitan Joseph
Metropolitan Jonah
Archbishop Nathaniel
Archbishop Seraphim
Bishop Nikon
Bishop Tikhon
Bishop Benjamin
Bishop Melchisedek
Bishop Irineu
Bishop Irinee
Bishop Michael

Summary: +Philip criticizes America’s exclusion from Chambesy proceedings, questions dissolution of SCOBA, rejects term “diaspora”, calls for Central America to be part of the South American episcopal assembly, and proposes no canonical bishop be excluded from Executive Committee. Lastly, he calls for the Ecumenical Patriarch to move to America.

___

“Your Eminence, Archbishop Demetrios, Primate of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, and Brother Bishops:

My opening remarks this morning are taken from the Vespers of Palm Sunday, “Today the Grace of the Holy Spirit has gathered us together.” How wonderful and pleasing to God for all of us to meet and discuss matters related to the life of our Church on this particular continent. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Chairman of SCOBA for his hard work to make this gathering possible.

The literature which we received from Chambesy via the Greek Archdiocese of America, raises some important questions.

ONE, Despite the vitality and the dynamic nature of Orthodoxy in North America, no member of SCOBA, not even the chairman of SCOBA, was consulted about what was discussed in Geneva. We received rules from our brothers in Switzerland which we have nothing to do with. We have been on this continent for more than two hundred (200) years. We are no longer little children to have rules imposed on us from 5,000 miles away. Orthodoxy in America has its own ethos. We have our own theological institutions, and we have our own theologians, authors, publications and magazines. We do not intend to be disobedient to the Mother Churches; we just want to dialogue with them and give them the opportunity to know us and understand us. We have been here for a long, long time and we are very grateful to the Almighty God that in our theology and worship, we do express the fullness of the Holy Orthodox faith.

Fifty years ago our hierarchs, may their souls rest in peace, founded SCOBA which has done a splendid job despite our external limitations. We have established the Orthodox Christian Education Commission which is chaired by a Greek Orthodox gentleman. We have established the International Orthodox Christian Charities which is directed by Constantine Triantafilou, a very good Greek Orthodox. We have established the Orthodox Christian Mission Center which is doing an excellent job and we have done many other things which time does not permit me to enumerate.

My dear brothers,

We are faced now with a very serious procedural nightmare. We are, supposedly, here to discuss a new organization to replace SCOBA. The question is: Was SCOBA dissolved and if so, by whom? And when?? SCOBA has a constitution which is fifty years old. If this constitution has to be amended, let us then amend it according to correct procedures. No one can dissolve SCOBA except SCOBA itself. SCOBA has organized Bishops’ Assemblies before Chambesy told us to do so. The first Assembly was held at the Antiochian Village in Ligonier, Pennsylvania in 1994, under the chairmanship of our brother, Archbishop Iakovos, of blessed memory. The second Bishops’ Assembly was convened in Washington, D.C. and the third Bishops’ Assembly was convened in Chicago, Illinois, both under the auspices of SCOBA and the Chairmanship of His Eminence, Archbishop Demetrios.

TWO - The second point which I would like to note is concerning the term “Diaspora” which was used several times in the literature which we received from Geneva. I remember, there are many of you who were at the Antiochian Village in 1994 and should remember that the term “Diaspora” was unanimously rejected by our assembly. We are not in Babylon; we are in North America, the new world. We are dealing here with second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth generations of American Orthodox and they refuse to be called “Diaspora.”

I believe that some of our churches in the Old World are in “Diaspora.” In Jerusalem, for example, we have 2,000 Orthodox Christians left. In Constantinople, the glorious capital of the Byzantine Empire, I was told that there are only 2,000 Greek Orthodox left. And the Turkish Government, until now, refuses to let us open that famous Theological School of Khalki, despite the intervention of the presidents of the United States. In Iraq, hundreds of Christians were slaughtered and thousands had to flee Iraq to the Syrian Arab Republic. We are free here in North America — free to teach, free to preach, free to worship, free to write books and sometimes criticize even the presidents of the United States. We have the full freedom of expression in accordance with the United States Constitution. It is important to note here that the Holy Synod of Antioch, to my knowledge, never discussed the Chambesy decision and the rules of operation in order to formally bless this effort.

THREE - Some of the communiqués which were issued by the fathers in Geneva were good. I don’t understand, however, why Central America was joined to North America. The Antiochian Metropolitan of Mexico and Central America informed me that he wanted to be with the Orthodox Bishops of South America. The reason is: he has nothing in common with North America because he represents a different culture all together. As a matter of fact, he traveled to Brazil to attend the Bishops’ Assembly which met at the Antiochian Orthodox Cathedral in Sao Paulo.

I hope that, in the future, this matter could possibly be addressed. In the communiqué which was issued from Geneva dated June 6-12, 2009, I read something very interesting and very hopeful. It says and I quote: “The conference expresses the common desires of all Orthodox Churches for a solution to the problem of the canonical organization of the Orthodox “Diaspora,” in accordance with the ecclesiological and canonical tradition and practice of the Orthodox Church.” The same communiqué includes these bright words: “The mission of the Bishops’ Assemblies is the proclamation and promotion of the unity of the Orthodox Church, the common pastoral ministry of the Orthodox faithful in the region, as well as the common witness to the world.” Here we see a clear emphasis on the unity of the Orthodox Church. What is needed is the translation of these inspiring words into concrete action.

Other pleasing words appeared in Article III of the rules which state: “The Episcopal Assembly will have an executive committee composed of the Primatial Bishops of each of the canonical churches in the region.” From this text, I understand that no canonical bishop should be excluded from the assembly. If we share the same Eucharistic table which is the highest expression of Orthodox unity, can’t we work together on the Executive Committee?

Article XII of the rules is very promising. It states, “The Episcopal Assembly may establish its own internal regulations in order to supplement and adjust the above provisions, in accordance with the needs of the region and in respect to the Canon Law of the Orthodox Church.”

My dear brothers,

You can see that Article XII of the rules is very flexible and it gives us the freedom to “establish our own internal regulations.” Thus, no Primate of any jurisdiction should be excluded from the Executive Committee. Furthermore, the Executive Committee should be strong enough to prepare an adequate agenda for these Episcopal Assemblies. The Mother Churches must realize that Orthodoxy in America is the best gift to the world. And instead of being crushed by the burdens of the past, let us formulate a clear vision for the future. Thomas Jefferson, one of the fathers of our American revolution, once said: “I love the visions of the future rather than the dreams of the past.”

If I have a vision for the future, it is this: Jerusalem has less than 2,000 Orthodox left. Istanbul has 2,000 Greek Orthodox left. The future of Orthodoxy in the Middle East is uncertain. Thus, for the sake of international Orthodox unity and Orthodox unity in North America, we should with one voice, beg His Holiness, the Ecumenical Patriarch to leave Istanbul and move to Washington, D.C. or New York City and head a united Orthodox Church in this hemisphere. All of us, I am sure, will be blessed to be under his omophorion and Orthodox unity in North America will cease to be a dream, but a reality.

My dear brothers,

If we do not bury the burdens of the past between certain autocephalous churches, such burdens will bury us, and Orthodoxy in this country and throughout the world will become an insignificant dot on the margin of history.”

Source: www.antiochian.org/node/23042

NEW YORK — The first Episcopal Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Hierarchs in North and Central America was convened today by His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios of America at the Helmsley Park Lane Hotel in New York City.

This Assembly is the result of the decision of the Fourth Pre-Conciliar Pan-Orthodox Conference, which met in Chambésy Switzerland in June of 2009, after the extraordinary Synaxis of all the Heads of the Autocephalous Churches convened by His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew. This Assembly, one of twelve that will be convened around the world in regions where there is no single Orthodox presence, will consist of the active canonical bishops who reside in the region designated as North and Central America. In every Assembly, the chairman will be the senior bishop of the Ecumenical Patriarchate.

Following a short prayer service, Archbishop Demetrios delivered his Keynote Address to the Assembly, the text of which can be found in its entirety at edit.goarch.org/news/addressassembly/view

Photos are available at: photos.goarch.org/main.php?g2_itemId=3009

SYOSSET, NY [OCA] — The Episcopal Assembly of the canonical Orthodox bishops of North America will be convened in New York City May 26-27, 2010 and will conclude on May 28 with the celebration of the Divine Liturgy at the Holy Trinity Cathedral of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese. The convener of the Assembly is His Eminence, Archbishop Demetrios of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese, acting as Exarch of the Ecumenical Patriarch. Some sixty canonical Orthodox hierarchs are expected to attend the assembly.

The bishops of the Orthodox Church in America, led by their Primate, His Beatitude, Metropolitan Jonah, will participate in the Episcopal Assembly, with a deep desire to make a good contribution to the fruitfulness of the gathering.

Metropolitan Jonah issued the following statement: “The Orthodox Church in America has been and is now committed to Orthodox unity and mission in North America. In preparation for the Episcopal Assembly, special prayers have been offered in parishes of the Orthodox Church in America. May the gifts of the Holy Spirit showered on the Church of Christ at Holy Pentecost be fully manifested in the Episcopal Assembly and then multiplied for the glory of God in common mission and witness.”

SYOSSET, NY [OCA/Office of the Metropolitan] — On May 1, 2010, the Metropolitan Council and Holy Synod of Bishops of the Orthodox Church in America approved settlement of lawsuits between the Church and its former Chancellor, Robert Kondratick, and his wife Elizabeth. According to the terms of the settlement, the OCA will pay $250,000.00 to the Kondraticks in exchange for mutual releases of liability. The settlement does not constitute an admission of liability by any party.

As background to this settlement, the following is a timeline of events:

On March 16, 2006, Robert Kondratick was dismissed as Chancellor of the Orthodox Church in America.

On July 31, 2007, Robert Kondratick was deposed as a priest by the Holy Synod, following a trial before a Spiritual Court.

On December 13, 2007, following his appeal, his deposition was upheld by the Holy Synod.

On December 14, 2007, Elizabeth Kondratick filed suit against the OCA, seeking payment with interest on a $250,000.00 promissory note relative to improvements made by the Kondraticks to the OCA-owned residence in which they lived.

On May 16, 2008, the OCA filed suit against Robert and Elizabeth Kondratick, seeking an accounting of Church funds and other relief.

On August 15, 2008, Robert Kondratick filed suit against the OCA, Faith Skordinski and Fr. Andrew Jarmus, seeking damages of $26 million and alleging, among other claims, he was defamed and wrongfully terminated from his position as Chancellor.

On April 29, 2010, at a court conference with a Nassau County, NY judge and the parties, a settlement of the pending cases was discussed.

On May 1, 2010, in a conference with 27 of the 33 members of the Metropolitan Council and members of the Holy Synod participating, a settlement agreement was discussed and approved by the Metropolitan Council, and thereafter approved by the Holy Synod, subject to the details being worked out by a committee representing the Church.

This settlement was signed and executed on May 21, 2010 by the responsible authorities of the Church.

(SYOSSET, NY, OCA) — The Orthodox Christian Fellowship — a pan-Orthodox agency under the auspices of the Standing Conference of Canonical Orthodox Bishops in the Americas — is seeking college and university students interested in serving on its Student Advisory Board [SAB].

OCF offers students the opportunity to lend their voice to this ministry by serving on the Student Advisory Board (SAB). The SAB was instituted in 2002 with an enthusiastic and God centered group of young people. This inaugural SAB initiated integral OCF programming such as Day of Prayer and organization of the regional OCF structure. These student leaders have now moved on to leadership within the Orthodox Church serving in positions such as the OCF Board of Directors and Greek Archdiocese Department of Internet Ministries.

Subsequent SAB’s have continued the inspiring vision set forth by the fist SAB. Do you have the interest, the passion, and the dedication to be apart of the newest chapter in the Student Advisory Board? Applications are now available. Click here for further information concerning SAB available positions and job expectations.

www.ocf.net/wikis/sab/default.aspx

Source: www.oca.org/news/2154

More than 50 active Orthodox Bishops in North America will convene in New York City for a historic meeting  May 24th to May 28th.  As Fr. Peter-Michael Preble says on his blog:

“Please pray for our church leaders that the power of the Holy Spirit will come upon them and the meetings will be fruitful.”

Amen!

Some links to recent articles and resources to understand these historic events:

• orthodoxhistory.org/2010/05/our-best-chance-yet-an-historical-reflection-on-administrative-unity/ #">Our Best Chance Yet: an historical reflection on administrative unity (OrthodoxHistory.org)
• What’s the Future of Orthodox Unity in America? (OrthodoxyToday.org)
• The Changing Face of Orthodox Christianity in America (catholic.org)
• Essential Documents for Understanding the Process (Orthodox Christian Laity)
• Our Best Chance Yet (Ancient Faith Radio)
• The Road to Unity (Ancient Faith Radio)
• Unraveling Chambesy - Administrative Unity In Our Time (Ancient Faith Radio)
• Fourth Pre-Conciliar Pan-Orthodox Conference in Chambesy (SCOBA)

(GOA, New York) — More than 50 hierarchs will take part in the first Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops in North and Central America, to be convened by His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios of America in New York City, May 26-28.

This Assembly is the result of the decision of the Fourth Pre-Conciliar Pan-Orthodox Conference, which met in Chambésy Switzerland in June of 2009, after the extraordinary Synaxis of all the Heads of the Autocephalous Churches convened by His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew. This Assembly, one of twelve that will be convened around the world in regions where there is no single Orthodox presence, will consist of the active canonical bishops who reside in the region designated as North and Central America. In every Assembly, the chairman will be the senior bishop of the Ecumenical Patriarchate.

The Assembly will convene at the Helmsley Park Lane Hotel, where accommodations and arrangements have been coordinated by the staff of the Archbishop. The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese, through the Leadership 100 grant to the Office of Inter-Orthodox, Ecumenical and Interfaith Relations, is underwriting much of the expense, with other funds coming from a variety of Pan-Orthodox sources.

In discussing the Assembly at the May 7 meeting of the Archdiocesan Council in Atlanta, Archbishop Demetrios explained that the nature of the assembly is as “a temporary, not a permanent institution. It is simply preparatory to facilitate the process of an ecumenical council (in the future) that will decide the final form of the existence of the Church in a particular country.” His Eminence further explained that the assembly is to meet annually and is not a continuation of SCOBA. Rather, it works to “prepare a plan for dealing with anomalies, such as more than one bishop in a given locale and other things that interfere with the life of the Church.” It is also designed “to project a unified witness of the faith.” As such, the Archbishop called the work of the Assembly “tremendously important. The function and outcome of this first meeting will determine how it continues in the future.”

The Archbishop also said the following: “The leadership of His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew in convening the Heads of world Orthodoxy is truly visionary. This vision of the unity of the Church has been confirmed from ages past, and with the Ecumenical Patriarchate leading the way, we will aspire to manifesting our unity in Christ based on the greatest commandment of all; to love one another.”

(OCA) — On Saturday, May 8, over 1000 faithful including nine bishops, a 125 clergy, and 100 seminarians and their families gathered at Saints Peter and Paul Church, Jersey City, New Jersey and celebrated the consecration of its new hierarch, His Grace, MICHAEL as the Bishop of New York and the Diocese of New York and New Jersey.

The consecrating hierarchs included His Beatitude, Metropolitan Jonah, Archbishop Nathaniel, Archbishop Seraphim, Bishop Nikon, Bishop Tikhon, Bishop Benjamin, and hierarchs of the Antiochian Archdiocese, Bishop Mark and Bishop Thomas.

In keeping to tradition the newly consecrated Bishop Michael in turn ordained students of St. Tikhon’s Seminary:  to the priesthood, Father Danial Doss and to the diaconate Thaddeus Franta.

A banquet with over 600 attendees followed with a program consisting of reflections and congratulations given by His Beatitude, Metropolitan Jonah, His Grace, Bishop Tikhon, a seminary classmate of Bishop Michael, Archimandrite Matthias Moriak, Priest John Weir, who represented the St. Tikhon’s Seminary Students, and Protodeacon Peter Skoog, who had served with Bishop Michael when he was a parish priest.

Bishop Michael, humbled and grateful, announced that with the gifts he is receiving in an endeavor the revitalize parishes; he is creating a fund to supplement the priests’ salaries.  He said his work as bishop and this day, is not about me; it is about the church.

On Sunday, May 9, the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy was celebrated by His Beatitude at the Holy Virgin Protection Cathedral, and Bishop Michael was enthroned and given his archpastoral staff.  Archbishop Nathaniel, Archbishop Justinian, Archbishop of Naro-Fominsk, Administrator of the Patriarchal parishes in the USA, Bishop Melchisedek, Bishop Mark of Toledo, Bishop Seraphim , Former Bishop of Sendai, and fifteen priests and six deacons joined the celebration. During the Liturgy, Bishop Michael ordained Seminarian John Dimantis as deacon.  A reception followed at the cathedral center.

Source: nynjoca.org/news_100508_1.html