After months of catechetical and pastoral follow-up, the Archiepiscopal Vicar, the Right Reverend Mitered Archimandrite Dr. Andrew (Vujisi?), traveled to Guatemala in January 2010 and received Msgr. Andrés Girón and Msgr. Mihail Castellanos of the independent Iglesia Católica Ortodoxa de Guatemala (ICOG), into the Orthodox Church. At that time, guidelines were also established to facilitate the reception of the ICOG’s 527,000 members, which are overwhelmingly indigenous. The former ICOG has 334 churches in Guatemala and southern Mexico, 12 clergymen, 14 seminarians, 250 lay ministers, and 380 catechists. It also has an administrative office on 280 acres, a community college and 2 schools with 12 professors / teachers, and a monastery on 480 acres. Fourteen students from Guatemala are now enrolled in the St. Gregory Nazianzen Orthodox Theological Institute Licentiate degree program.

In February 2010, the Right Reverend Mitered Archimandrite Dr. Andrew (Vujisi?) returned to Guatemala and met with clerics and others who assist in the Church’s pastoral work and outreach. He discussed mission and ministry priorities, and economic development with Msgr. Andrés Girón and Msgr. Mihail Castellanos. He met and encouraged the faithful who collaborate in the diverse ministries in Guatemala, visited schools and institutions, and spoke at length with seminarians regarding matters related to the Orthodox faith, especially the importance of the development of an Orthodox phronema, praxis, and liturgical life. His Right Reverence inspected places of worship, liturgical vessels, vestments, etc. in order to assess the needs of the Church in Guatemala. Twelve full sets of vestments for Priests were given to Msgr. Mihail Castellanos. Catechisms were distributed to the lay ministers and catechists.

In his talks with the clergy and faithful of the ICOG, the Right Reverend Mitered Archimandrite Dr. Andrew (Vujisi?) reiterated the message of St. Paul: “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your nous (mind), that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God” (Romans 12: 1-3). He stressed the importance of formulating an Orthodox worldview through prayer, fasting, repentance, struggle against sin and overcoming the passions, participation in the Holy Mysteries, and the reading the Holy Scriptures and the writings of the Holy Fathers. His Right Reverence conducted impromptu question and answer sessions everywhere he visited. Interest and excitement permeated the discussions.

The Right Reverend Mitered Archimandrite Dr. Andrew (Vujisi?) also visited Holy Trinity Monastery (Antiochian Orthodox Church), where he held lengthy discussions with Abbess Inés and Mother María, and later prayed at the magnificent monastery Church, where he blessed the Russian iconographers of the Prosopon School of Iconology. He traveled to Guatemala City and visited the orphanage, Hogar Rafael Ayau, meeting, embracing, and blessing the children, and later having lunch with them. He held meetings with ‘Orthodox seekers’, who represent another 800,000 souls, regarding the straight and narrow path of reception into Orthodoxy. His Right Reverence will return to Guatemala after the Holy and Great Pascha of the Lord for follow-up meetings and discussions.

Source: www.secretariat.orthodoxtheologicalinstitute.org/

TAMPA — Prosecutors will not pursue charges against a Marine reservist accused of beating a Greek Orthodox priest with a tire iron.

Mike Sinacore, head of the felony division of the Hillsborough County state attorney’s office, said his office reviewed the testimony of those involved and the arguments of the attorney for suspect Jasen Bruce.

“After considering the law, the evidence and the information and arguments provided by defense counsel, it is evident that we cannot prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Mr. Bruce committed a crime and acted without legal justification,” Sinacore said today.

Read the full article: suncoastpinellas.tbo.com/content/2010/mar/09/reservist-accused-attacking-priest-wont-be-charged/news/

SYOSSET, NY [OCA] — After discussions that took place at the joint session of the Lesser Synod of Bishops and Metropolitan Council of the Orthodox Church in America at the Chancery here during the first week of March 2010, His Beatitude, Metropolitan Jonah issued the following statement.
“As the Archbishop of Washington, certain matters of the dispute between the Archpriest Raymond Velencia, Pastor of Saint Matthew Church in Columbia, MD, and Kristine Koumentakos fall under our hierarchical/diocesan oversight. This has also been a serious concern within the Chancery of the Orthodox Church in America. Complaints from Ms. Koumentakos were brought to the attention of the administration of the Orthodox Church in America in January 2007. An investigation by the Orthodox Church in America took place in the early part of 2007. Ms. Koumentakos protested that the investigation was incomplete and brought her concerns to the members of the Holy Synod and the Metropolitan Council during the summer of 2007. The response to Ms. Koumentakos by the Orthodox Church in America was inadequate. During that time a private letter containing sensitive information was improperly shared with members of the Metropolitan Council.

“I apologize, on behalf of the Orthodox Church in America, to Kristine Koumentakos and to her family, for the lack of pastoral attentiveness and sensitivity to the matters at hand. The lawsuits that came about as a result of the disagreement between Ms. Koumentakos and Father Velencia were most unfortunate and should have been avoided. At this time the Orthodox Church in America is in the process of revising and updating its Policies, Standards and Procedures that address questions of alleged misconduct. Together with that there is an ongoing review of how to respond to complicated pastoral issues, conduct pastoral investigations, provide pastoral comfort and address allegations of misconduct. We will do all in our power to insure that the response and intervention in such matters of alleged misconduct will be ethical, professional and proper, as is befitting the Gospel of Our Lord Jesus Christ and the teachings and canons of the Orthodox Church.”

Source: www.oca.org/news/2099

BBC News — A US congressional panel has described the killing of Armenians by Turkish forces during World War I as genocide, despite White House objections.

The resolution was narrowly approved by the House Foreign Affairs Committee.

Turkey, a key US ally, responded by recalling its ambassador in Washington for consultations. It has fiercely opposed the non-binding resolution.

The White House had warned that the vote would harm reconciliation talks between Turkey and Armenia.

The resolution calls on President Barack Obama to ensure that US foreign policy reflects an understanding of the “genocide” and to label the World War I killings as such in his annual statement on the issue.

It was approved by 23 votes to 22 by the committee.

Within minutes the Turkish government issued a statement condemning “this resolution which accuses the Turkish nation of a crime it has not committed”.

The statement also said the Turkish ambassador was being recalled for consultations.

A Turkish parliamentary delegation had gone to Washington to try to persuade committee members to reject the resolution.

Turkey accepts that atrocities were committed but argues they were part of the war and that there was no systematic attempt to destroy the Christian Armenian people.

The Armenian government welcomed the vote, calling it “an important step towards the prevention of crimes against humanity”.

In 2007, a similar resolution passed the committee stage, but was shelved before a House vote after pressure from the George W Bush administration.

‘Too important’

During his election campaign Mr Obama promised to brand the mass killings genocide.

Before the vote, committee chairman Howard Berman urged fellow members of the committee to endorse the resolution.

“I believe that Turkey values its relationship with the United States at least as much as we value our relations with Turkey,” he said.

The Turks, he added, “fundamentally agree that the US-Turkish alliance is simply too important to get side-tracked by a non-binding resolution passed by the House of Representatives”.

In October last year, Turkey and Armenia signed a historic accord normalising relations between them after a century of hostility.

Armenia wants Turkey to recognise the killings as an act of genocide, but successive Turkish governments have refused to do so.

Hundreds of thousands of Armenians died in 1915, when they were deported en masse from eastern Anatolia by the Ottoman Empire. They were killed by troops or died from starvation and disease.

Armenians have campaigned for the killings to be recognised internationally as genocide - and more than 20 countries have done so.

Source: news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8550765.stm

A letter to the editor in The National Herald’s Feb. 20-26 issue described a practice in Vermont where allegedly the local priest was allowing parishioners to take communion from a plastic spoon which was later discarded (see the original article in The National Herald). Concerned laity reacted (see examples here, here and here).

National Herald Article on Vermont Plastic Spoon Communion Controversy (enlarge)

The Greek Orthodox Bishop for the Vermont parish where the practice was taking place, Metropolitan Methodius, late yesterday issued the following response:

A Press Release from the Metropolis of Boston

On October 8, 2009, The Metropolis of Boston issued the following statement:

“The Center of Disease Control (CDC), fearing an H1N1 Pandemic, strongly discourages participation in group activities, recommending individuals, (especially children) with colds or the flu remain at home and follow the instructions of their medical doctors.  Many faithful have approached our Parish Priests expressing concern about their participation in worship services, especially in the sacramental life of the Church.  While the warnings of the medical community should be heeded by persons with colds and flu-like symptoms, people, in general, should not panic but carry on with their usual activities, including going to church and receiving Holy Communion.

“It should be noted, that the Church has always been clear in its belief that diseases are not transmitted from the Holy Chalice which we believe contains the very Body and Blood of our Savior.  Hence, the distribution of Holy Communion was never a question even when various diseases ravaged the world.  As is well known, Priests consume what remains in the Chalice at the end of the Divine Liturgy, regardless whether it was celebrated in a parish church, a hospital or hospice chapel.

“Orthodox Faithful have always acted responsibly.  As we face the reality of the present flu pandemic fears, Orthodox Christians are urged to use discretion as they follow the directives of the medical community.”

Regrettably, a priest serving in New England — surely pressured by well meaning parishioners concerned with the outbreak of the H1N1 flu pandemic — utilized plastic spoons to distribute Holy Communion.  This unacceptable violation of Church order was addressed in accordance with Ecclesiastical procedure.

The Metropolis expresses its regret that this lapse of judgment resulted in widespread controversy, and is appalled that some individuals questioned whether this practice was authorized.  It expresses its fervent prayer that those who arrive at rash judgments hurling paranoid condemnations in the press and on the internet will rather invest their time in prayer and self examination during the Great Lent.  They should reflect on the countless passages in the New Testament which urge the followers of the Nazarene to avoid gossip and the sin of judging others.  Let us all etch in our hearts and souls the prayer of St. Ephraim,

O Lord and Master of my life,
Give me not the spirit of laziness,
curiosity, lust for power, and idle talk.
But give to me your servant a
spirit of prudence, humility,
patience, and love.
Yes, Lord and King grant me to see
my own faults and not to
judge my brother.
For You are blessed unto the ages of ages.  Amen.

Read the original original press release.

FENTON, MI [OCA] — Archpriest John Behr, dean and professor of patristics at Saint Vladimir’s Seminary, Crestwood, NY, will speak at two Orthodox Christian parishes in the Flint area in March.

On Friday, March 12, Father John will speak on “Hesychasm: The Still Small Voice” at Saint George Antiochian Orthodox Church, 5191 Lennon Road, Flint. His talk will follow the singing of the Akathistos Hymn at 7:00 p.m.

On Saturday, March 13, Father John will speak on “The Mystery of Christ: Life in Death” at Saint Mary Magdalene Church [OCA], 2143 South Long Lake Road, Fenton. His talk will be at 4:00 p.m., followed by the celebration of Great Vespers at 6:00.

Father John’s talks are free of charge and open to the public, in addition to all Orthodox Christians. Free-will offerings will be taken at the services.

For additional information, contact Archpriest Paul Jannakos at 810-845-9015.

The OCA’s Metropolitan Jonah will be conducting a two day lenten retreat in the Baltimore-Washington area.

The topic is: “Three Foundations of Orthodox Spirituality – Reaction, Resentment, and Inner Stillness.”

The retreat is centrally located in the Baltimore-Washington metropolitan area at the Orthodox Church of St. Matthew in Columbia, Maryland. The retreat begins Friday evening, March 12th, with Vespers at 7pm, a lenten dinner, and discussion. Day two begins Saturday morning, March 13th, with Liturgy, a lenten brunch, and discussion. The cost is $30 per person for both days or $20 for one day if registered before March 5th. Prices increase by $5 after March 5th.

Call or write Melissa Edens at (443) 919-7091 or tillie2@ix.netcom.com to reserve a space today.

The Orthodox Church of St. Matthew is located at 7271 Eden Brook Drive, Columbia, MD 21046 www.stmatthewoca.org

AOI Observer reports this interview: “For many years I was a zealous Muslim, as were my wife and children. I was born in the UK, but during my life I have travelled a lot in Muslim countries. I knew both British and Muslim culture. <…> For the past two years, I was an advisor on Islam to the Archbishop of Canterbury. Two days ago, I called him to tell him I was entering Orthodoxy in the Russian Church.”

Read the full interview here: www.aoiusa.org/blog/2010/02/a-muslim-preacher-converts-to-orthodoxy/

SYOSSET, NY [OCA] — In response to a growing need for content and materials geared towards young adult and college ministry, the Orthodox Church in America’s Department of Youth, Young Adult and Campus Ministries has launched a new blog, “Wonder.”

The blog, accessible at www.ocawonder.com, is also of value to those who minister to this age group.

“It is our hope that this project will give our youth a ‘good defense’ for the tough questions and harsh realities that this world offers,” said Protodeacon Joseph Matusiak, department chair. “We hope these articles will spur discussion and provide material for those engaged in campus and young adult ministry.”

Every month, “Wonder” will feature four articles on a specific theme, blending theological and academic articles with practical ideas for ministry.

“Suggestions and submissions from readers are always welcome,” said Mr. Andrew Boyd, a department member who co-moderates the blog. “We’re hoping that the blog will generate dialogue and two-way communications.

For additional information, contact Protodeacon Joseph at jmatusiak@oca.org.

The surviving pages of the world’s oldest Christian Bible have been reunited — digitally. The early work known as the Codex Sinaiticus has been housed in four separate locations across the world for more than 150 years. Starting Monday, it became available for perusal on the Web at www.codexsinaiticus.org. Codex Sinaiticus, which loosely translated means “the book from Sinai,” was discovered at the Orthodox Monastery of Saint Catherine at Mount Sinai by German Bible scholar Constantine Tischendorf in the mid-19th century.

Read the full article: abcnews.go.com/Technology/International/wireStory?id=8010414