The Orthodox Church VOL 44/NO 2 PASCHA/PENTECOST 2008 THE ORTHODOX CHURCH IN AMERICA www.oca.org

Keeping the light of faith alive from Pascha to Pentecost 2 VOLUME 44 2 Official

No. 486 JANUARY 2008 ship, PA/ January 7, 2008. from these assignments and granted a leave of absence DEATHS for six months. He is attached to St. Seraphim of Sarov ORDINATIONS [EYKALOVICH], Hegumen Gennady died in retire- Cathedral, Dallas, TX/ February 21, 2008. FRIESEN, G. Daniel was ordained to the Holy ment on January 10, 2008. May his memory be eter- RELEASED Diaconate on December 23, 2007 by Archbishop Sera- nal! KUCHTA, The V. Rev. Waldemar is released from phim of Ottawa and Canada at St. Herman of Alaska SZYRYNSKI, The V. Rev. Gregory, rector of Holy duties at the Bishop’s Chapel of St. Silouan the Athonite, Sobor, Edmonton, AB, Canada. He is under the Myrrhbearing Women Church, West Sacramento, CA, Johnstown, ON, Canada and from the omophorion of omophorion of Archbishop Seraphim and attached to the died on January 15, 2008. May his memory be eternal! Archbishop Seraphim of Ottawa; transferred to the omo- Archdiocese of Canada. No. 487 FEBRUARY 2008 phorion of Metropolitan Herman; and granted a canoni- GULIN, Nikolai was ordained to the Holy Diaconate cal release to the omophorion of Metropolitan Joseph of on January 19, 2008 by Metropolitan Herman at Holy ORDINATIONS the Bulgarian Eastern Orthodox Diocese of the USA, Trinity Church, Brooklyn, NY. He is under the omophor- BUCK, Theophan was ordained to the Holy Diaconate Canada, and Australia/ February 27, 2008. ion of Metropolitan Herman and attached to the Dio- on February 3, 2008 by Metropolitan Herman at St. TEFFT, Deacon Alexander is released from duties at cese of Washington and New York. Tikhon of Zadonsk Monastery Church, South Canaan, the Bishop’s Chapel of St. Silouan the Athonite, STOICA, Deacon Narcis was ordained to the Holy PA. He is under the omophorion of Metropolitan Herman. Johnstown, ON, Canada and from the omophorion of Priesthood on December 30, 2007 by Bishop Varsanufie ASSIGNMENTS Archbishop Seraphim of Ottawa. He is transferred to of the Romanian Orthodox Church on behalf of Arch- BUCK, Deacon Theophan is attached to St. Tikhon of the omophorion of Metropolitan Herman/ February 27, bishop Nathaniel of Detroit and the Romanian Episco- Zadonsk Monastery Church, South Canaan, PA. Feb- 2008. He is granted a canonical release to the Patri- pate at Radu Voda Monastery, Romania. He is under ruary 3, 2008. archate of Antioch/ February 29, 2008. the omophorion of Archbishop Nathaniel and attached to FILIPOVICH, The Rev. John is released from duties RETIRED the Romanian Episcopate. at St. Michael the Archangel Mission, Houston, TX and RESIGA, The V. Rev. Michael is granted retirement, WASIELEWSKI, Deacon Terenti was ordained to the attached to St. Seraphim of Sarov Cathedral, Dallas, effective January 1, 2008. He awaits assignment. Holy Priesthood on January 27, 2008 by Metropolitan TX/ February 18, 2008. SUSPENDED Herman at St. Nicholas Church, Cohoes, NY. He is GOETTING, Deacon Timothy is released from duties DIEHL, The Rev. Andrew, who was priest-in-charge under the omophorion of Metropolitan Herman and at- at St. Anthony the Great Church, San Antonio, and from of Holy Resurrection Mission, Aiken, SC and attached tached to the Diocese of Washington and New York. the omophorion of Archbishop Dmitri of Dallas and the to Holy Apostles Church, Columbia, SC, is suspended ASSIGNMENTS Diocese of the South. He is transferred to the omophorion from all priestly functions, effective February 21, 2008. BINGHAM, The Rev. John is released from duties at of Archbishop Job and attached to the Diocese of the DEATHS St. Nicholas Church, Langley, BC, Canada and at- Midwest/ February 8, 2008. He is attached to Christ DIMITROFF, The V. Rev. Venseslav, attached in re- tached to St. Herman of Alaska Church, Langley, BC, the Savior Church, Chicago, IL/ February 15, 2008. tirement to St. George Cathedral, Rossford, OH, died Canada. His duties in the Yukon Territory remain the KARBO, The V. Rev. Anthony is released from his on February 27, 2008. May his memory be eternal! same/ January 3, 2008. duties as chaplain at the Protection of the Holy Virgin KULIK, The Rev. Miroslaw, who was awaiting as- BRUNER, Deacon Gregory is released from duties at Monastery, Lake George, CO. He remains Rector of signment, died on February 28, 2008. May his memory St. John the Forerunner Church, Indianapolis, IN and SS. Constantine and Helen Church, Colorado Springs, be eternal! attached to Holy Ascension Church, Albion, MI/ Janu- CO/ February 17, 2008. RADU, The V. Rev. Romulus, attached in retirement ary 28, 2008. KATSILAS, The Rev. Constantine, who was acting to Holy Trinity Church, Miramar, FL, died on February FRIESEN, Deacon G. Daniel is attached to St. Herman rector, is appointed rector of St. John the Divine Church, 11, 2008. May his memory be eternal! of Alaska Sobor, Edmonton, AB, Canada/ December Windsor, ON, Canada/ February 11, 2008. PARISHES 23, 2007. KRETA, Deacon Joseph, who was awaiting assign- DIOCESE OF THE WEST/ New Name. The Ortho- GULIN, Deacon Nikolai is attached to Holy Trinity ment, is attached to Holy Apostles Church, Columbia, dox Mission, Helena, MT is renamed St. Moses the Church, Brooklyn, NY/ January 19, 2008. SC/ February 20, 2008. Strong Mission/ January 31, 2008. KALUZHNYI, The Rev. Alexei is released from duties MILLER, Deacon Kevin, who was attached, is as- at Holy Resurrection Church, Claremont, NH, and from signed to All Saints of Alaska [St. Arseny of Konevits] No. 488 MARCH 2008 his on-loan status to the Diocese of New England and Church, Victoria, BC, Canada/ January 23, 2008. returned to the omophorion of Archbishop Seraphim of POGREBNIAK, The V. Rev. Vadim, who was await- ORDINATIONS Ottawa. He remains attached to the Bishop’s Chapel of ing attachment in retirement, is appointed pastor emeri- KONTOS, Deacon Philip was ordained to the Holy St. Silouan the Athonite, Johnstown, ON, Canada/ Janu- tus of St. Spiridon Cathedral, Seattle, WA/ February 11, Priesthood on March 25, 2008 by Metropolitan Herman ary 8, 2008. 2008. at St. Tikhon of Zadonsk Monastery Church, St. Tikhon’s KLUCHKO, The V. Rev. John is released from duties POWELL, The Rev. Barnabas, in addition to duties at Seminary, South Canaan, PA. He is under the at Holy Resurrection Church, Belle Vernon, PA and St. Michael Church, Pueblo, CO, is appointed chaplain omophorion of Metropolitan Herman. granted retirement/ January 7, 2008. at the Protection of the Holy Virgin Monastery, Lake KSYNYUK, Igor was ordained to the Holy Diaconate SMOLCIC, The V. Rev. Samuel is released from George, CO/ February 17, 2008. on March 8, 2008 by Metropolitan Herman at St. Tikhon duties at Holy Resurrection Church, West Brownsville, RESIGA, The V. Rev. Michael is released from duties of Zadonsk Monastery Church, St. Tikhon’s Seminary, PA and appointed rector of Holy Resurrection Church, at St. Andrew the Apostle Mission, Brooksville, FL and South Canaan, PA. He is under the omophorion of Belle Vernon, PA/ January 20, 2008. granted retirement/ January 1, 2008. Metropolitan Herman. STOICA, The Rev. Narcis awaits assignment/ De- STOICA, The Rev. Narcis, who was awaiting as- URBANOWICZ, Deacon Maximus R. was ordained cember 30, 2007. signment, is appointed pastor of Nativity of the to the Holy Priesthood on March 16, 2008 by Metro- WASIELEWSKI, The Rev. Terenti is appointed acting Ever-Virgin Mary Mission, Cambridge, MA/ March 2, politan Herman at St. Nicholas Cathedral, Washington, rector of St. Nicholas Church, Cohoes, NY/ January 2008. DC. He is under the omophorion of Metropolitan Her- 27, 2008. LEAVES OF ABSENCE man. RETIRED DIEHL, The Rev. Andrew, who was priest-in-charge ASSIGNMENTS KLUCHKO, The V. Rev. John is granted retirement. of Holy Resurrection Mission, Aiken, SC and attached GRIGGS, The Rev. James, who is on loan to the He is attached to St. Basil Chapel, Cranberry Town- to Holy Apostles Church, Columbia, SC, is released Official to 16 PASCHA/PENTECOST 2008 3

The rthodox hurch InThisIssue O C VOLUME 44 2 PASCHA/PENTECOST 2008 The Orthodox Church [ISSN 0048-2269] is published bimonthly by the Orthodox Church in America, PO Box 675, Syosset, NY 11791-0675. 4 “Believe and we will see Him!” Metropolitan Herman’s Paschal message Periodical postage paid at Brentwood, NY and 5 When the light goes out additional mailing offices. Recapturing the joy of the resurrection POSTMASTER: Send address changes to PO Box 675, Syosset, NY 11791-0675. 6 Contemporary Christian Classics Archbishop Gregory [Afonsky]: Christ and the Church His Beatitude, the Most Blessed HERMAN Archbishop of Washington and New York 7 The Cross and Pentecost Metropolitan of All America and Canada Simply inseparable! Primate of the Orthodox Church in America 8 Time to tighten the belt Archpriest John Matusiak Making the best of the recession Managing Editor 9 A return to Tradition Archpriest Leonid Kishkovsky We’ve got a lot to think about Editor 10 Notes from the chancellor’s desk EDITORIAL OFFICE The Orthodox Pastor isn’t just for pastors! Send articles and photos by e-mail to 11 OCA News, Notes, Notices [email protected] or by mail to the following address. • Holy Synod addresses crisis in Alaskan Diocese One Wheaton Center #912, Wheaton, IL 60187 • Metropolitan Council tackles numerous issues 630.668.3071 • [email protected] • Hierarchs celebrate Orthodoxy Sunday SUBSCRIPTION/CIRCULATION • Metropolitan Herman greets Pope Benedict XVI OFFICE • Preparations for 15th All-American Council underway Subscriptions: $30.00/year US, $40.00/year • Other decisions of the Holy Synod elsewhere. To place a subscription, add or change an of Bishops address, or unsubscribe, send an e-mail to • Archbishop Gregory of Alaska [email protected], call 516.922.0550, send a fax to falls asleep in the Lord 516.922.0954, or write to the following address. • Scholarship fund established TOC Circulation Office • Archbishop Anastasios of Tirana PO Box 675, Syosset, NY 11791-0675 attends celebration of centennial of Albanian Orthodoxy in US The Orthodox Church clearly identifies official state- • Bishops Nikon, Ilia issue joint ments and positions of the Orthodox Church in America. The Pittsburgh Hilton, All other materials represent the viewpoint of their centennial encyclical 15th All-American Council site. authors and should not be interpreted as expressing 20 Pages from our past the policy of the Orthodox Church in America or The • 2008 marks anniversaries for OCA seminaries Orthodox Church. 27 North America Printed by TSO General Corporation, Brentwood, • Metropolitan Laurus, ROCOR First Hierarch, falls asleep in the Lord NY 11717. • Museum boasts largest US collection of Russian Icons Our Cover • Orthodox schools conference to be held August 1-2 29 World Briefs FROM • Greek Church elects new Primate PASCHA TO • Bishop tells WCC: “Liberal Christianity will not survive” PENTECOST FEATURES TOPICS Keeping the flame of 2 Official 22 Evangelization faith alive! 4 Editorial 23 Christian Ed 5 Wisdom 24 Youth & Young Adults Photo/ Nathan 18 In Memoriam 25 Chaplaincies Shackelford, 30 Resources Aurora, IL 31 Communities 4 VOLUME 44 2 Editorial Father Leonid Kishkovsky

Pope addresses challenges to Christian faith uring his recent visit to the United States in April 2008, was both caused by, and is reflective of, the unity of the Father, Pope Benedict XVI met with leaders and representatives of Son, and Holy Spirit. Only by ‘holding fast’ to sound teaching [2 D US Christian churches, communities, and organizations. Thessalonians 2:15; cf. Revelation 2:12-29] will we be able to The setting was an ecumenical prayer service at Saint Joseph’s, a respond to the challenges that confront us in an evolving world. parish church in Manhattan founded in the 19th century for Ger- Only in this way will we give unambiguous testimony to the truth man Catholic immigrants. The simple yet dignified ceremony of the Gospel and its moral teaching.” included an address by the Pope. At the beginning of his address, Pope Benedict acknowledged A central theme in the address was the current challenge the ecumenical work of the National Council of Churches, Chris- to Christian faith in secularism and relativism. The passages be- tian Churches Together, the Catholic Bishops’ Secretariat for Ecu- low offer examples of the main thoughts conveyed by the Pope. menical and Interreligious Affairs, and many others. “...Of grave concern is the spread of secularist ideology that After the conclusion of the ecumenical prayer service, the undermines or even rejects transcendent truth. The very possibil- leader of one of the major Protestant churches in the US noted in ity of divine revelation, and therefore of Christian faith, is often a conversation with me that, notwithstanding significant differ- placed into question by cultural trends widely present in academia, ences between the Catholic Church and other Christian churches the mass media and public debate. For these reasons, a faithful and communities, only the Pope can convene the broad spectrum witness to the Gospel is as urgent as ever. Christians are chal- of Christians to an ecumenical prayer service. In attendance were lenged to give a clear account of the hope that they hold [cf. 1 Orthodox (Eastern and Oriental) hierarchs; “main line” Anglican, Peter 3:15]. Protestant, Pentecostal, and conservative Evangelical leaders; rep- “Too often those who are not Christians, as they observe the resentatives of the great diversity of Protestant organizations and splintering of Christian communities, are understandably con- communities; and representatives of ecumenical organizations. fused about the Gospel message itself.... We must first recall that For the Orthodox Churches, the message of Pope Benedict the unity of the Church flows from the perfect oneness of the was welcome. The Pope’s assessment of the present challenges to triune God. In Saint John’s Gospel, we are told that Jesus prayed Christians in mission and in the quest for Christian unity is deeply to His Father that His disciples might be one, ‘just as You are in e shared by the Orthodox. And the Pope’s articulation of the ways and I am in You’ [John 17:21]. This passage reflects the unwaver- in which these challenges must be met is in harmony with the ing conviction of the early Christian community that its unity Orthodox understanding and vision.

Metropolitan Herman: “Believe and we will see Him!” he Gospel of Saint John tells of Saint Mary Magdalene’s en- Orthodox Christians, we have only just arrived at the celebration of counter with the Risen Christ at the empty tomb. Mary weeps, Pascha. Our fasting, our prayer, our lenten journey is only now fulfilled. T believing that someone had taken away the Lord’s body. Christ “Believe and you will see Him.” The reality of the resurrection, approaches her and asks, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom do witnessed through eyes of faith, changes everything. No longer do we you seek?” Not recognizing the Lord at first, she asks Him if He knows need to be subject to sorrow or fear. Christ is risen, and nothing can take where the body of her Master had been taken. Jesus replies, “Mary!” His victorious gift of everlasting life away from us. The holy confessors and immediately she recognizes Him. and martyrs were well aware of this. This awareness gave them the In this passage, we witness a profound encounter between the Lord courage to stay the course of their faith, under the greatest of hardships. and His servant. Simply by saying her name, Christ transformed her Even facing the threat of death, through eyes of faith, they were acutely lamentation into joy. What a difference even one word, spoken at a aware of the Victor over death strengthening and comforting them. It is critical moment, can make in one’s life. only through our belief that we behold the full splendor and beauty of Writing on this passage, Saint Ambrose of Milan offers an impor- Pascha. With eyes of faith, on Pascha we become witnesses to the tant insight into the nature of faith. He states that by asking Mary, complete and ultimate victory of life over death, of freedom over captiv- “Whom do you seek?” the Lord was in effect saying, “You are the cause ity, of God over the evil one. “Trampling down death by death,” our of your own weeping; you are the author of your own lamentation, Risen Lord and Savior Jesus Christ grants new life to all who believe in because you are disbelieving of Christ. Believe and you will see Him.” Him as King and as God. Looking at the world from the perspective of belief makes a pro- I greet all of you on this radiant feast. May we celebrate the most found difference in what we see. The homeless person that we pass on holy day of Pascha “with faith and with love.” May the triumphant the street, through the eyes of faith, is recognized as a living icon of the brilliance of Christ’s resurrection fill our lives with joy and peace. “Be- Living God. The crying child in our arms, through eyes of faith, is lieve and we will see Him.” embraced as a sacred trust that God has given us to raise according to His With love in the Risen Lord, Way. The struggles and toils of daily life, through eyes of faith, are known to be the Cross which we are called to take up as disciples of the + HERMAN Lord. Archbishop of Washington and New York For most in our society, “Easter” is long gone this year. For faithful Pascha 2008 Metropolitan of All America and Canada PASCHA/PENTECOST 2008 5 W I S D O M That’stheSpirit Father Vladimir Berzonsky from the Fathers St. Cyril of Jerusalem A little while longer the light is with you. Walk while The root of all good works is the you have the light, lest darkness overtake you. hope of the Resurrection; for the expectation of the recompense John 12:35 prompts the soul to good works. For every laborer is ready to endure the toils, if they see their reward in prospect; but when men weary When the light goes out themselves for nought, their hearts soon sink, as well as their bodys. esus is calling His listeners to action. “Walk,” in the passage above, is best trans- St. Romanos the Melodist lated as “keep on walking.” Those who were on the way with Him must keep on go- The women, with mingled joy and J ing wherever He was moving, because He is the Light of the world. To walk away is fear, joy and sorrow, turned away to stray into darkness. If it was confusing to follow Him, it was worse to forsake Him. He from the tomb, as Scripture teaches, was addressing His own people, who couldn’t decide Who or What He was; however, to meet the apostles; time was running out. It wouldn’t be long before others and they said, “Why would make up their minds that He was a threat to their style are you disheartened? of life, and they had to be rid of Him. Why do you hide your For us today, it means that the light of faith can be ex- faces? Lift up your tinguished when we no longer walk with Christ. That real- hearts! Christ is risen! ity comes to me especially on Holy Saturday and Pascha. Form choruses and Those who have made the lenten journey approach the “fin- say along with us, `The ish line” with radiant faces, filled with inner joy, glorious in Lord is risen!’ He has the presence of the risen and living Lord. They listen with shone forth, He Who rapt attention to the ultimate sermon, that from Saint John was created before the Chrysostom, inviting all to the Feast of Feasts. So you started dawn. Do not be at the dawn of Great Lent and stumbled along the way. It’s downcast, but take OK. Come anyway. Or maybe you were away until Cross courage! Spring has Sunday, but picked up from there. Perhaps something came appeared; come to barging into your routine and thwarted your intentions to bloom, ye branches, pray, meditate, and fast, and you couldn’t do so until Palm producing fruit and not Sunday. Never mind. If your intentions were pure, then misery. He offers res- your heart followed suit. Don’t be shy; you are welcome. urrection to the fallen.” In melancholy contrast are those who appear with their baskets to be blessed, but have no interest in the services. St. Philaret of Moscow Orthodoxy is only nostalgia – for them it’s a time to recall their childhood and the The Apostles call themselves Paschal traditions of their parents. They remember the past, but what they recall is a “witnesses of the resurrection” of jumble of long prayers, mostly in a strange language, scents of incense and sounds of Christ, though their ministry was to unfamiliar chanting to which they were required to bow and make some motion before bear witness not of His resurrection their faces with their right hands. I sprinkle their baskets with Holy Water and search in alone, but also of His whole doctrine, their eyes for some flicker of light, but I find either sadness or nothing at all. I look down so important do they deem the truth at their children and grandchildren, wondering and hoping that maybe they will be led of the resurrection to be. And by the Living Light to examine their spiritual heritage one day. indeed, as soon as this truth is The irony of our times is that many in search of a life in Christ have found their way confirmed, so soon is also confirmed to the Orthodox Church. Those who have embraced the true faith exhibit a gusto that thereby the truth of all that which Our invigorates us born into the faith with their enthusiasm, and the light that shines from Lord did and taught. But inasmuch their passion glows and radiates throughout the Church. One need but notice the many as the truth of Christ’s resurrection converts who are in our clergy, even to the rank of episcopacy. Those who entered is important to faith, the truth of our Orthodoxy as adults in America almost exclusively populate our monasteries here. It resurrection is important to our life. seems that we have more success in gaining members from the non-Orthodox than we do When this truth is confirmed, all in rekindling the faith in those who had been baptized in infancy. Christ the Light of the the rules of a holy and godly life world is also the sword Who divides family members between the believers and the become firmly established in us. former believers. Holidays are the worst of times, when those who share the blessed food from the Paschal baskets are not all the same ones who have partaken of the true Bread of Life in the Holy Eucharist. Contemporary VOLUME 44 2 ply exercise wrong judgment. The one, Thus, just as we cannot speak of the Christian holy, catholic, apostolic Orthodox essence of the Holy Trinity, which is the Church, however, can never err, be de- foundation of the Church, so we cannot Classics ceived, or be wrong in her judgment, since speak of our knowledge of the essence of the Church is infallible and forever the the Church – its deepest inner meaning. same in her nature as founded by God. Although we can never know the true es- Archbishop Gregory [Afonsky] The first and most significant dogma sence of the Church, we can perceive much of the Orthodox Church concerns the Holy about its nature through the revealed quali- Trinity. Two unique qualities distinguish ties of the Church itself made known to us Christ and this dogma – its absolute necessity for the through the Holy Scriptures, Holy Tradi- existence of the Church and the absolute tion, and in the teachings of the Church the Church incomprehensibility of its essence. Fathers. The quality of “absolute necessity” lies The doctrine of the Church is not the “This is none other but the house of God, in the fact that the dogma of the Holy Trin- same as the “self-consciousness” or “self- and this is the gate of heaven” [Genesis ity contains within itself the whole essence expression” of the Church. Rather, it ex- 28:17]. of Christian faith, as well as the founda- plains and describes the origin, nature, and tion for all teaching of and about Jesus life of the Church – her goal, purpose, and ince the foundation of the Church, Christ. As such the whole of Christian the means by which her purpose is ful- S theological minds have tried to de- faith, as well as particular doctrinal teach- filled. The dogma also reveals how the fine her essence and essential qualities. ings, depends upon and derives from the Church differs from all that is not the The aim has not been to discern the inner- dogma of the Holy Trinity. This fact has Church, since the Church is not of natural, most mystery of the Church, but to exam- special significance for Orthodox ecclesio- earthly origin. According to the clear ine the divine origin and nature of the logy. teaching of our Savior Jesus Christ, the Body of Christ as revealed through Holy The quality of “absolute incomprehen- deep and mysterious life of the Church is Scripture and Church Tradition. As Or- sibility” lies in the fact that the dogma of permanently and unalterably animated by thodox Christians, we believe that the the Holy Trinity insists that the essence of the divine life of Christ Himself and of the Holy Scriptures are inspired by God Him- the Holy Trinity – God’s self-knowledge Holy Spirit. This divine, mysterious life self and that they reveal to us the way to – is revealed to us neither in the Old nor of the Church cannot be logically defined. salvation. the New Testament. We know that God To understand the reality of the Church We also believe that the truth about exists and that He is the Creator [Genesis and her life, one must actually participate God as the Orthodox Church teaches it and 1:31]; but what God is in His essence is in that life as a member of the living or- the truth about God as revealed in the not, and indeed, cannot be explained. We ganism, which is the Body of Christ. Scriptures are one and the same; for the also know the Holy Trinity to be the di- In the Church’s early history, various Source of truth, both in the Scriptures and vine life of one divine being [Matthew heresies, such as Gnosticism, Montanism, in the Church, is the one Holy Spirit. Our 28:19], but the full mystery of the Trinity Novatianism, and Donatism, tried to per- knowledge of that truth, then, is provided is inexplicable. Nevertheless, the human vert and distort a true understanding of both by the Scriptures and by the Church. intellect tries constantly to fathom this the inner reality of the Church. Similarly, An individual who interprets the Holy dogma, in order to understand and even- in our own day, schismatic or heretical Scriptures in light of his own subjective tually explain these mysteries as far as the groups are trying to present false under- understanding can err, be deceived, or sim- human mind is capable. standings of the Church. Secularism, rela- tivism, and neo-Donatism bring confusion and falsehoods to the minds even of Or- thodox Christians. Neo-Donatists go so rchbishop Gregory [Afonsky] fell far as to speak of the Church as deprived asleep in the Lord on April 15, 2008. A of grace or as being “impure.” The Church From 1973 until his retirement in 1995, he is being replaced by notions of a “Chris- served as ruling hierarch of the Orthodox tian society” or “Christianity-in-general,” Church in America’s “Mother Diocese” of which subvert the image of the Church as Sitka and Alaska. He also engaged in a the source of the written Word of God. It variety of scholarly pursuits and was the is as though the gates of hell were rising author of several books and numerous up against the Church, seeking to sepa- articles on theology and American Church rate her from Jesus Christ and impeding history. her task of promoting salvation, a task This article is adapted from his book, entrusted to her by her Founder. Christ and the Church in Orthodox Teaching Alexander Khomiakov wrote, “the and Tradition, published in 2001 by Saint Church cannot teach against her own Vladimir’s Seminary Press. dogma; she cannot teach against her own Classics to 26 PASCHA/PENTECOST 2008 7 InSites

Priestmonk Calinic [Berger]

The Cross Pentecost

he Cross and Pentecost are inseparable& in Orthodox Christianity. The connection be- tween these two events forms the foundation – the entire paradigm – of our spirituality, T liturgical life and theological reflection, and most especially, our theology of deification. It is only through this relationship that we can understand the is present at Jesus’ incarnation, overshadowing the Virgin Mary many antinomies and even paradoxes of the spiritual life. This [Luke 1:35]; leads the child Jesus to the temple [Luke 2:40]; is means that when God sends us a cross in our lives, it is to prepare upon Him as He reads in the synagogue [Luke 4:18]; descends us to receive the Holy Spirit; and likewise, when He sends us the and rests on Him at His Baptism [Luke 3:22]; leads Him to the grace and power of the Holy Spirit, it will be accompanied by a wilderness to be tempted [Luke 4:1]; casts out devils [Matthew cross. This is so because God wishes us to be inspired, but not 12:28]; is present at His death on the Cross, at which Jesus exalted [2 Corinthians 12:7]. “breathed forth the Spirit” [John 19:30]; and brings about His The inseparable connection between the Cross and Pentecost resurrection from the dead [Romans 8:11]. Conversely, the Spirit in Orthodoxy is based on both the eternal relationship of the Son is sent into the world by the Son; Jesus prays that the Comforter and the Spirit, and their inseparability in the economy – that is, in will come to continue His work and bring His words into remem- the incarnation, ministry, death, and resurrection of the Son of brance, teaching the disciples directly [John 14:16,17,26; 15:26]. God. For all eternity, as we say in the Creed, the Son is “begotten The Spirit in turn is given by the risen Christ: “When He had said of the Father,” and the Holy Spirit “proceeds from the Father.” this, He breathed on them and said to them, ‘Receive the Holy The Holy Fathers further clarified that the Spirit proceeds from Spirit’” [John 20:22]. The Son and the Spirit work together at all the Father to the Son, and rests in the Son, and is manifested from times; they are, says Saint Irenaeus, the “two hands” of the Father. the Son to the Father. The Son and the Spirit dwell in one another Thus it is that in Orthodoxy, we stress not only the insepara- from all eternity, and are always found together. bility of the Cross and the Resurrection, but of the Cross and This eternal inseparability of the Son and the Spirit is mani- Pentecost. True, the Cross – as well as all of Jesus’ unique claims fested in the entire earthly life of the Son of God: the Spirit Pentecost to 8 8 VOLUME 44 2 InSites

Pentecost from 7 about Himself and His teaching – can only be understood in light Tom Ehrich of the resurrection, which confirmed Who Jesus was and all the claims He made about Himself. If there was no resurrection from the dead, Jesus’ teaching and His death on the Cross would have Time to tighten the belt been shrouded in ambiguity. But the resurrection did not answer everything: even though Jesus appeared to His disciples for 40 Making the best of the recession days after His resurrection, the disciples still could not preach about it. Only after the descent of the Spirit on Pentecost did they elt-tightening comes hard to churches. For most congrega- have the tions, the belt is already tight, with spending so low as to power to B be self-defeating. How much more can be trimmed from he Spirit is present at Jesus’ preach the budgets that are barely maintenance-level now? T incarnation, overshadow- resurrection The burden of tightening usually falls unfairly on clergy and ing the Virgin; leads the child and baptize. lay staff. What’s the easiest way to compensate for lagging stew- Only after ardship by members? Cut staff, cut hours, but never, of course, cut Jesus to the temple; is upon Him they had the expectations of performance and availability. as He reads in the synagogue; Holy Spirit Charting a fresh financial course usually brings our junk to descends upon Him at His bap- poured out the surface: festering wounds, unresolved arguments, distrust of on them did clergy, conflicting visions of purpose, and control battles. Who tism; leads Him to the wilder- they continue will have the heart to consider the plunging American economy – ness to be tempted; is present Christ’s work. not even the experts can avoid the word “recession” now – and at His death on the Cross, at Without the make a responsible, faithful response? Churches can deal with Holy Spirit, wars, racial unrest, changing cultural mores, new constituencies, which Jesus “breathed forth there is no hurricanes and death. But they flail and sputter when talk turns to the Spirit;” and brings about His Gospel. money. They become paralyzed when the need to reconsider resurrection from the dead. In Ortho- operational basics becomes inescapable. dox Chris- Recession exposes our fundamental dysfunction. Speaking tianity, we broadly, we don’t get along. Put another way, we don’t “play well expect all the blessings and good things and gifts of God – gifts together.” Clergy and laity are at odds. Lay leadership tends to which come through obedience and love. But we do not expect be weaker than we require. Most members see church as a volun- them without qualification. The one, all-encompassing Gift of tary society that meets their needs, or else they walk. We tend God is His Son in the Spirit – and this gift cannot come without to please people, rather than guide them across wilderness. We the Cross. Hence, the glory of Orthodoxy can never be a “get rich cling to old ways. Except in a few traditions, we tend to accept Gospel,” nor that of any other worldly qualification; rather, the marginal giving, rather than lead people, as Jesus did, to self- glory of Orthodoxy is a mature and grounded glory, a glory which sacrifice and gratitude. And now a recession looms – a recession transcends but does not avoid the misfortunes, disappointments, that probably will cut deeper and last longer precisely because trials, and tribulations of this life, but transforms them. It accepts politicians have worked so hard to deny it and corporate leader- the Cross; it does not flee from it. Neither did Christ avoid it. This ship has been scrambling to hoard cash and lavish one last wad on is a spiritual truth: only in accepting the Cross are we filled with itself. God’s power, and the result is resurrection unto life. What should congregations do? The light of the resurrection, the glory and gifts of God, restore First, let’s to humanity its authentic beauty. For this we prepare through say the word: asceticism and fasting for 40 days, a period of self-denial, purifi- “recession.” cation, and the death of the old man. But this is not done without That means the power of the Spirit and the light of the resurrection. Thus we worsening hear the Church sing, “Let us keep the fast with joy.” Asceticism, unemploy- joy, and beauty are not mutually exclusive. On the contrary, they ment, sag- necessitate each other. This is the unique balance of our Tradi- ging con- tion: the Cross, the Resurrection, and Pentecost, inseparable, as sumer con- God’s great gift for the renewal of man. Thus, on the glorious fidence, cut- Feast of Pascha, Saint Gregory the Theologian exclaimed, “May backs in He Who rose again from the dead recreate me by the Spirit.” capital spending, paralysis in debt markets, unsold houses, de- May we also be so recreated. clining economic activity, corporate and personal bankruptcies, and tough decisions at home. Priestmonk Calinic is pastor of Holy Cross Church, Second, let’s accept that recession is a spiritual and pastoral Hermitage, PA. Recession to 28 9

a distant authority, but godly acceptance of the local pastoral leadership. Saint Ignatius always speaks of priests – presbyters, to give their earliest and most accurate title – in the plural, since they formed a united council in the local church. They shared the rule with the bishop, advising him and handling the day-to-day administration. What is particularly interesting in the letters of Saint Ignatius is the relationship of the presbyters with their bishop. That is, the presbyters, with the deacons, formed a single harmonious whole. In his letter to the Philadelphians, Saint Ignatius tells the faithful, “Give heed to the bishop, and the presbytery [note that they form a single council], and the deacons.” To the Trallians, he writes the same thing: “Let all men respect the deacons as Jesus Christ, even as they respect the bishop as a type of the Father, and the presbyters as the council of God and as the college of the apostles.” This unity of the “college of presbyters” with their bishop is seen even more clearly in Saint Ignatius’ letter to the Ephesians, to whom he writes, “It becomes you to run in harmony with the Father Lawrence Farley mind of the bishop. For your honorable presbytery is attuned to the bishop, even as its strings are attuned to a lyre.” The presby- ters are joined to their bishop, he says, just as strings are joined to A return to Tradition the lyre – that is, the presbyters, along with the bishop, form a single instrument, a single united whole. We’ve got a lot to think about This continued to be the practice throughout the entire pre- Nicene period. In his book, Jurisdiction in the Early Church, s I was laid up in bed recently following eye surgery, Gregory Dix makes some illuminating points about the nature of I found myself listening to tapes of Father Alexander the early episcopate and its relationship to the presbyterate, ex- A Schmemann’s classroom lectures I had recorded in 1983. amining their respective functions as found in the prayers of ordi- While his words about the ordination and functions of bishops nation. In the prayers of ordination to the episcopacy, as found in and presbyters helped bring together much of what I had been Hippolytus’ Apostolic Tradition, the bishop is still the local pas- reading in the past, they also seemed to contain a prescription tor of his community. His function is to “liturgize” (i.e., to pre- that could help our beloved Orthodox Church in America today. side at the Liturgy), to “bind and loose” (i.e., to excommunicate One of the earliest functions of a bishop was that of and reconcile penitents to the Church), to “give lots” (i.e., to sumpresbyteros, or co-presbyter. The title, used by Saint Peter in ordain), to “loose every bond” (i.e. to exorcise). In all this we see is first epistle 5:1, reflects the consistent and early apostolic tradi- that the bishop’s function is that of the local pastor. tion that bishops do not rule their churches as pastors in isolation The ordination prayer for presbyters omits all this. This prayer from the presbyters – much less as rulers over them – but along- asks God to “fill [the candidate] with the Spirit of grace and coun- side them. The presbyters, in fact, formed a single group – the sel, that he may share in the presbyterate and govern [God’s] presbyterium of the bishop, his council, apart from whose wisdom people with a pure heart.” The emphasis here is on governing, and guidance he would do nothing. ruling, and administrating – functions crucial in the day-to-day We see this reality reflected in the letters of Saint Ignatius of life of the Church. By “counsel,” the prayer meant “effective Antioch, who was martyred about 107 AD. In his day, the bishop decision-making,” actually ruling in the Church. The presbyters, was the local pastor of the community. All the Christians in a functioning as a college, gave or withheld their consensus for all given city or locality met together on Sunday, ideally in the same that went on. This is seen clearly, Dix says, in such works as the place, sharing the one Eucharist, with the bishop as celebrant and Apostolic Church Order. The presbyterium was responsible to preacher. As the local pastor, it was the bishop who baptized all “give praise and blame for whatever needs it,” to “have the care of the Christians of that city, or who authorized their baptisms. It the Church,” to “punish wrongdoers.” They did not function was the bishop who excommunicated grievous offenders when simply as a rubber-stamp for the bishop; it was they who made the they sinned, and who reconciled them, when repentant, to the decisions. To be sure, the bishop, as the local pastor, possessed communion and fellowship of the Church. Each person in the great moral authority among his flock, and it was this moral au- local community knew his bishop well – not surprisingly, since it thority, derived from his function as pastor and “president of the was the local faithful who chose and elected one of their own to Eucharistic assembly,” that allowed him to exercise effective lead- be their bishop. The letters of Saint Ignatius presuppose this ership. But in all this, he needed the assent of his council of warm and close relationship shared by the bishop, as the local presbyters; he did not function in isolation from them, but in pastor, and his flock. When Saint Ignatius counsels the faithful to unity with them. submit to their bishop, he is not counselling blind submission to Tradition to 30 14 nobility as Prince Dmitri Shahovskoy in he stands out among the OCA’s past hier- NOTES Saint Petersburg in 1902. The Russian archs, although Metropolitan Leonty also Revolution forced his family to flee west- distinguished himself as a writer. from the ward, while young Dmitri served in the Archbishop John’s writing was varied White Army during the Russian Civil War. – literary, theological, critical, and auto- Chancellor’s desk Eventually settling in France, he studied biographical. He himself would probably at Louvain University in Belgium and was want to be remembered as a poet, as he Father Alexander Garklavs a budding writer of poems and articles. In had written several volumes of poetry un- 1926, he went to Mount Athos and was der the Russian pseudonym “Strannik,” tonsured to monastic rank with the name which means pilgrim. After the fall of Not for pastors John. For a while he studied theology at communism, his writings were repub- Saint Sergius Institute in Paris. He was lished and enjoyed popularity in Russia. only ordained to the priesthood by Metropoli- Regrettably, very few of his works have tan Evlogy and sent to serve in Belaya been translated into English. One notable he recent republication of The Tserkov, Yugoslavia. After several years, exception is The Orthodox Pastor. T Orthodox Pastor by Archbishop he was assigned to Berlin and, in 1937, Although the book is meant to be a John [Shahovskoy] is a notable event. The was raised to the rank of archimandrite. work of pastoral theology, it is in many book – one of the very first publications During the war years, Father John as- ways not for pastors only. In fact, it is from Saint Vladimir’s Seminary Press over sisted many needy Orthodox refugees who recommended reading for everyone who 30 years ago – has long been out of came through Berlin, providing whatever takes seriously their life in the Church print. It is still one of the very few works help his resources permitted. He arrived because it outlines the features of what a in the English language in the special- in the US shortly after the war. After a “normal” Orthodox Christian parish com- izes field known as pastoralia, that is, brief assignment in Los Angeles, he was munity should be like. The features that works devoted to issues that face parish elected Bishop of Brooklyn in 1947. For delineate a normal parish are the prod- priests. three years he served as dean of Saint ucts of cooperative efforts by both priest Originally, The Orthodox Pastor was Vladimir’s Seminary. In 1950, he was and parishioners. “Holy is the beauty of published in the Russian language in Eu- elected to the See of San Francisco, where the Orthodox Church, of the icons, the rope during the 1930s. It was written by he remained for almost 30 years. In 1963, architecture, the singing,” he wrote. “But a young priestmonk who realized that his he was elevated to the rank of archbishop. it is not so much by this beauty as by the clerical colleagues, deprived of access to Retiring in 1979, he passed away ten years prayerfulness of the celebrants and by the books about pastoral theology, were in later. pious reverence of the worshippers that a desperate need of such resources to help Archbishop John was the Church’s man is attracted to the Church and made them in their ministries. The book is a representative at ecumenical gatherings faithful to it.” Holiness is only present “quiet classic,” not a world-renowned best-seller, but a sincerely thought out and compelling text that cannot fail to ccording to Archbishop John, inspire a sincere reader. Despite its being “the pastor, the church warden, the parish written with a particular place and time A in mind, the book is really amazing be- council should be like a closely knit family, cause, as Father Alexander Schmemann notes in the book’s introduction, pasto- completely trusting one another and united ral work, “dependent as it is on ever- by the same purpose – to bring holiness into changing ‘situations’ and ‘cultures,’ re- mains essentially the same in all of them, people’s lives.” for its only real object is the human soul and its eternal destiny.” for a significant period of time. While within the context of community. The The book stands by itself as an excep- participating in the work of the Central “pastor, the church warden, the parish tional achievement, but the author is a Committee of the World Council of council should be like a closely knit fam- person of note who has been neither rec- Church, he established contacts with ily, completely trusting one another and ognized nor appreciated as he should be. representatives of the Russian Orthodox united by the same purpose – to bring Archbishop John [Shahovskoy] belongs Church and was instrumental in initiat- holiness into people’s lives.” to that small but outstanding group of ing the dialogue between the Metropolia In addition to the quality of holiness, European-born bishops who came to the and Moscow Patriarchate that led to the Archbishop John noted that a vibrant par- US after World War II and became influ- reestablishment of canonical relations ish will always manifest the “apostolic ential ecclesiastical leaders in what then with the Russian Church. This resulted zeal to attract new souls.” With prophetic was called “the Metropolia” and would in the granting of autocephaly and the insight for American Orthodoxy, he en- become the Orthodox Church in America. establishment of the Orthodox Church in visioned that parish councils must “give Archbishop John’s background is quite America in 1970. His legacy is preserved a part of their time to discussing the most extraordinary. He was born into Russian today in his extensive writings. In this Chancellor to 26 PASCHA/PENTECOST 2008 11 OCANewsNotesNotices I N D E P T H Holy Synod addresses crisis READ the full text of Bishop Seraphim’s March 4 letter to in Alaskan Diocese Bishop Nikolai at www.oca. org/PDF/NEWS/2008/2008- 0307-alaska/archbishop- s this issue of The Orthodox Church seraphim-letter-to-bishop%20 went to press, members of the Holy A report on the May 2008 nikolai.pdf. A Synod of Bishops are making final Holy Synod spring session preparations to attend their regular spring appears on the OCA web READ the full text of Bishop session the OCA Chancery, Syosset, NY, site at www.oca.org. It Nikolai’s March 5 response to on May 13-15, 2008. also will be published in Metropolitan Herman at www. Topping the spring sessions’ agenda the summer 2008 issue of oca.org/PDF/NEWS/2008/2008- will be a final resolution to the crisis in the The Orthodox Church. 0307-alaska/bishop-nikolai- Diocese of Alaska, the OCA’s oldest, that letter-to-metropolitan- led His Grace, Bishop Nikolai of Sitka, absence....” herman.pdf. Anchorage, and Alaska to accept a volun- The letter went on to inform Bishop READ the full text of Metropoli- tary leave of absence at the end of April. Nikolai that, while on leave, he “will, ac- tan Herman’s March 7 re- A brief statement, issued by the Holy cording to the direction of Metropolitan sponse to Bishop Nikolai at Synod after its April 17 special session, Herman, absent [himself] from the territory www.oca.org/PDF/NEWS/ acknowledged the report of His Eminence, of the Diocese of Alaska;” that the diocese’s 2008/2008-0307-alaska/ Archbishop Nathaniel and His Grace, daily affairs would be conducted by an metropolitan-herman-letter- Bishop Tikhon detailing their week-long administrator appointed by Metropolitan to-bishop-nikolai.pdf. visit to Alaska, during which they inter- Herman; and that a committee would be READ the full text of Metropoli- viewed numerous clergy and lay persons. appointed to investigate complaints and tan Herman’s March 7 letter to The report revealed that Bishop Nikolai accusations filed against Bishop Nikolai. the clergy and faithful of the had “agreed to take a voluntary leave of The following day, Bishop Nikolai ad- Diocese of Alaska at www. absence, to be reviewed at the May 2008 dressed a letter to Metropolitan Herman, oca.org/PDF/NEWS/2008/2008- session of the Holy Synod of Bishops, [and formally requesting that “if charges are 0307-alaska/metropolitan- that] His Beatitude, Metropolitan Herman being brought against me, then canonical herman-letter-to-alaska.pdf. takes the responsibility of administrator standards be followed,” while stating that READ about the appointment of the Diocese of Alaska, effective April for canonical reasons he had no intention of Fr. Alexander Garklavs as 17, 2008. His Grace, Bishop Benjamin is of taking a leave of absence or permitting administrator of the Diocese of named to assist Metropolitan Herman in an examination by committee. Alaska at www.oca.org/PDF/ the administration of the Diocese of On March 7, Metropolitan Herman re- NEWS/2008/2008-0308-alaska/ Alaska.” sponded by assuring Bishop Nikolai that metropolitan-herman-letter- Earlier, on March 4, the Lesser Synod the members of the Holy Synod “are not re-fr-garklavs.pdf. met to address the mounting complaints [your] adversaries; we are brothers, and it and concerns filed by Alaskan clergy and is with that spirit that you have asked for READ the March 11 letter of Fr. lay persons. The other members of the our help and we have given our guidance. Garklavs to the clergy and Holy Synod took part in the meeting by “I think you know very well that the faithful of the Diocese of telephone. Subsequently, His Eminence, complaints about your conduct within the Alaska at www.oca.org/news. Archbishop Seraphim, secretary of the Holy diocese are not about your leadership style, asp?ID=1493&SID=19. Synod, addressed a letter to Bishop Niko- bad press, or anything that may be pub- READ the April 17 statement lai, informing him that “[the members of lished on the internet,” Metropolitan of the Holy Synod at www. the Holy Synod] received many letters of Herman continued. “The letters of com- oca.org/news.asp?ID=1528& serious complaint from deaneries, clergy, plaint have been brought by reputable SID=19. and faithful of the Diocese of Alaska.... Not priests and laity alike.” READ the letter of Metropoli- relying on hearsay, yet acknowledging Metropolitan Herman concluded by tan Herman to the clergy and the seriousness of these letters, at your noting that “there are no formal charges faithful of the Diocese of suggestion, all your brother bishops were and our preliminary investigation into the Alaska at www.oca.org/news. contacted, and they unanimously agreed character of the complains should not be asp?ID=1529&SID=19. that the best course of action for you is viewed as taking the place of any statutory that you be placed on a temporary leave of Synod to 14 w w w . o c a . o r g 12 VOLUME 44 2 OCANewsNotesNotices

and the deep concern expressed by all the Metropolitan Council tackles faithful of the Orthodox Church in America, the Metropolitan Council is profoundly numerous issues disappointed by the Holy Synod’s deci- sion to lift the leave of absence of His Grace, Bishop Nikolai before a proper so- Father Andrew Jarmus I N D E P T H lution has been determined, and respect- embers of the Orthodox Church in LOG ON to www.oca.org/ fully asks our hierarchs – in faith, hope, America’s Metropolitan Council PDF/NEWS/2008/2008-mc- and love – to immediately reverse this de- M tackled a number of critical issues spring-meeting-minutes.pdf to cision.” at their spring session at the Chancery, read the minutes of the March Council members also passed a motion Syosset, NY, March 31-April 2, 2008. 31-April 2, 2008 Metropolitan to provide financial assistance to Alaskan In his opening address, His Beatitude, Council minutes. clergy wishing to meet with His Eminence, Metropolitan Herman noted that “the eyes Archbishop Nathaniel of Detroit and the LOG ON to www.oca.org/ of many look to the leadership of the Or- PDF/NEWS/2008/2008-mc- Romanian Episcopate and His Grace, thodox Church in America at this time. spring-meeting-attached- Bishop Tikhon of Philadelphia and East- Some look expecting to see failure, fault, documents.pdf to read docu- ern Pennsylvania during their on-site in- and ‘business as usual.’ Others look hope- ments distributed at the Met- vestigation on behalf of the Holy Synod. fully, giving us the opportunity to demon- ropolitan Council meeting, in- Finances. The Rev. Michael Tas- strate the sincerity of our desire to turn a cluding Metropolitan Herman’s sos, OCA treasurer, reported that revenues corner in our Church’s life. It is our ac- opening address, the Amend- in 2007 exceeded budget by $133,787.00, tions that will show the sincerity and au- ment to the OCA pension plan, while expenses fell below the $149,214.00 thenticity of our efforts.” the treasurer’s report for Janu- budgeted for the year. Despite an antici- Concern for Alaska. In lengthy ary and Feburary 2008, the pated loss of $68,050.00 for 2007, the plenary and executive sessions, Metropoli- communications protocol re: OCA actually ended the year with a sur- tan Council members discussed the crises the Metropolitan Council and plus of $612,648.00, which included the OCA continues to face. While much Chancery personnel, and other $384,496.00 realized from the sale of attention was given to the Diocese of documents. Church-owned former chancellor’s home. Alaska, council members affirmed that the The 2007 surplus was used primarily to re- Alaskan situation was only one part of a READ the treasurer’s prelimi- duce the debt owed to the Honesdale Na- larger struggle the Church is facing. Al- nary financial statements for tional Bank and to settle outstanding bills. though there were divergent and opposing 2007 at www.oca.org/news. Father Michael reported that expenses views on other aspects of the OCA’s crises, asp?ID=1496&SID=19. for the first two months of 2008 were under council members were of one mind in their READ the 2006-2007 financial budget by over $32,000.00. In explaining concerns related to the Diocese of Alaska. report and related financial procedural changes designed to increase In response, council members passed a links at www.oca.org/PDF accuracy and efficiency, he recommended motion supporting the Very Rev. Alex- NEWS/2008/2008-0313- that the certified public accounting firm of ander Garklavs, OCA chancellor, “for the financialstatements/OCA- Weiser LLP be engaged to audit the OCA’s obvious sensitivity and rapport he exhib- FinancialReportfor2007.pdf. books and records for the year ending De- ited in dealing with the people of the READ the Metropolitan Coun- cember 31, 2007. His recommendation was Church in Alaska, and his heartfelt letter cil’s endorsement of the V. endorsed by the Metropolitan Council. to the clergy in Alaska following the deci- Rev. Eric Tosi as OCA secretary In related financial matters, council sion last week of the Holy Synod to release at www.oca.org/news.asp? members approved the disbursement of a Bishop Nikolai from his leave of absence.” ID=1516&SID=19. number of restricted funds for their stated Father Alexander recently had returned purposes. They also decided to begin mak- from a week-long visit to Alaska, during w w w . o c a . o r g ing payments to the 9/11 Emergency Fund which he met with the majority of the that the current crisis in Alaska is a source by approving a payment of $25,000.00 for diocese’s clergy and many laypersons. of paralyzing dysfunction in our whole 2008 of the outstanding $176,000.00 yet In a statement on the crisis in Alaska Church. This problem requires careful in- to be unaccounted for. addressed to the Holy Synod, council vestigation and consideration of fact, and The Very Rev. Michael Westerberg, members expressed disappointment in the we fully understand that the competency pension board group leader, reported that manner in which the hierarchs handled the to take such action rests with the Holy the OCA pension plan has been submitted crisis. The text reads as follows. Synod, to bring it to a decisive outcome for an IRS Determination of its compliance “After long and heartfelt discussion without delay. to tax laws. He noted that, while manda- during our meeting March 31 to April 2, “Taking account of the anxieties, fears, tory, determinations are periodically done 2008, the Metropolitan Council recognizes and pain of the Orthodox faithful of Alaska, on a voluntary basis as part of IRS regula- PASCHA/PENTECOST 2008 Preparations for 15th All-American Council underway15 t the Metropolitan Council’s March31-April 1, 2008 meeting, the Very Rev. Al- A exander Garklavs reported that plans for the 15th All-American Council, slated to convene in Pittsburgh, PA November 10-13, 2008, were progressing positively tions. A letter from the IRS was sent to under the direction of the Preconciliar Commission. pension plan members informing them of Projected preliminary council expenses total $195,038.00 – well below previous this process. councils. Parishes continue to submit their special AAC assessments. Ministries and communica- Metropolitan Council members reviewed the proposed AAC agenda and offered tions. In updating council members of recommendations for amendments that will be referred to the Preconciliar Commis- on the activities of the OCA’s departments, sion. They also recommended the Very Rev. Andrew Jarmus, director of that follow-up reports on the ministries and communications, stated that At a meeting at the Pittsburgh Hilton, 15th three initiatives highlighted the departments, whose ministries had been All-American Council site, Fr. Myron Manzuk, at the 14th AAC in 2005 – frozen during the second half of 2007, were AAC manager; Matushka Myra Oleynik, lay Orthodox unity, missions, and co-chair; Fr. Alexander Garklavs, chancellor; and once again functioning. A revised proto- Christian education – be in- Fr. William Evansky, clergy co-chair, finalized col aimed at improving communications cluded in the AAC agenda. arrangements with Hilton rep Dana Collins [left]. between Chancery personnel and Metro- In order to engage the politan Council members was approved. Church’s membership in pre- Legal issues, ethics commit- senting concerns and sugges- tee. Attorney John Ward, who represents tions to the Preconciliar Com- the OCA in the lawsuit filed by Mrs. Eliza- mission, the Metropolitan beth Kondratick, updated council members Council recommended holding on the status of the suit. In January 2008, “town hall” meetings in sev- an ad hoc legal committee was formed to eral geographic regions prior work on the Kondratick lawsuit with the to the opening of the AAC. central administration. The Metropolitan The recommendation was ac- Council formed a standing legal commit- cepted by the Holy Synod of tee to work with the OCA’s administration Bishops. in such matters. According to the Very Council members also heard a report Rev. Andrew Jarmus, OCA from Mr. Gregory Nescott on the search for director of ministries and communications, “commission members will implement general legal counsel for the OCA. He re- input from these meetings into the agenda of the 15th All American Council.” ported that the search committee unani- Nine meeting sites, including Washington, DC; New England; Eastern Pennsyl- mously had recommended Thaddeus Woj- vania/New York/New Jersey; Ohio; Dallas; Orlando, FL; West coast location; cik of the law firm Eaton & Van Winkle Edmonton, AB, Canada; and Ottawa, ON, Canada, have been suggested. LLP. A member of the OCA, he has exten- On April 7, a consultation was held at the OCA Chancery, at which invited partici- sive experience in not-for-profit law, cor- pants “were able to express their concerns, which were at times in opposition to those porate governance and compliance with of others, in a charitable and gracious manner,” Father Andrew said. Attending the best practices guidelines. Members of the initial meeting were the Very Rev. Michael Dahulich, dean of Saint Tikhon’s Semi- Metropolitan Council endorsed the recom- nary; the Very Rev. Leonid Kishkovsky, director of external affairs and inter-Church mendation to engage Mr. Wojcik as gen- relations; Protodeacon Eric Wheeler, former OCA treasurer; Deacon John Zarras, Met- eral legal counsel, pending approval by the ropolitan Council member; Dr. Paul Meyendorff, Saint Vladimir’s Seminary faculty; Holy Synod of Bishops. and Mark Stokoe, editor of OCANews.org. A detailed report on this initial gathering Council members approved draft pro- may be found on the OCA web site at www.oca.org/news.asp?ID=1517&SID=19. cedures for the work of the OCA’s ethics committee, which was presented by the Rev. Mark Sherman, committee chair. Fa- Other decisions of the Holy Synod of Bishops ther Mark also presented a report on the issue of the appointment and release of Mr. t their special session of April 17, 2008, the members of the Holy Synod of Bishops Paul Bodnar as OCA secretary. Council A made a number of other important decisions. members expressed their gratitude to ethic The hierarchs blessed the recommendation of the Metropolitan Council to appoint committee members for their work. the Very Rev. Eric Tosi as secretary of the Orthodox Church in America. Father Eric, In other matters, Mrs. Carol Wet- longtime rector of Saint Paul the Apostle Church, Las Vegas, NV, is expected to begin more reported that the organizational task his duties in the summer. force continues to function primarily in a Attorney Thaddeus Wojcik, a member of the OCA with vast legal experience, was consultative role. A draft of a human re- named general legal counsel of the Orthodox Church in America. sources policy manual was circulated The Holy Synod also blessed the formation of a standing Metropolitan Council among council members. The draft is be- legal committee, consisting of Gregory Nescott, Sergei Givotovsky and Angela Parks. ing reviewed by a labor attorney. A report on these decisions may be found on the OCA web site at www.oca.org/ Council to 19 News.asp?ID=1528$SID=19. 14 VOLUME 44 2 OCANewsNotesNotices Synod from11 Concurrently, Metropolitan Herman appointed to administer the diocese and addressed a letter to the clergy and faithful that he would be directly responsible to Alaskan diocese of the Diocese of Alaska, stating that “ef- the Primate and the Holy Synod. Subse- or canonical procedures, should they even fective March 4, 2008, His Grace, Bishop quently, Father Eugene declined the ap- be required.” He added that the investi- Nikolai was placed on a mandatory leave pointment, at which time the Very Rev. gating committee will be composed of the of absence and is required to leave the dio- Alexander Garklavs, OCA chancellor, was members of the Holy Synod and empha- cese, during which time there will be a pre- named diocesan administrator. sized that Bishop Nikolai’s leave of ab- liminary investigation into the complaints In a March 11 letter to the Alaskan sence “is mandatory,” and that failure to that were made.” He also announced that clergy and faithful, Father Alexander noted comply could have serious consequences. the Very Rev. Eugene Vansuch had been that Bishop Nikolai had refused to accept the Holy Synod’s decision and had no in- tention of leaving the diocese, adding that Hierarchs celebrate Orthodoxy Sunday “a committee is in the process of being formed, from the members of the Holy embers of the Orthodox Church in America’s Holy Synod of Bishops joined Synod, which will thoroughly investigate M hierarchs of other Orthodox jurisdictions at numerous celebrations of the Sun- the situation in Alaska.” He said that “this day of Orthodoxy Sunday across the US and Canada. method is entirely scriptural and canoni- An historic Divine Liturgy marked the feast at Saint Seraphim Cathedral, Dallas, cal.” Subsequently, Father Alexander TX, where His Eminence, Arch- visited Alaska and interviewed dozens of Archbishop Dmitri [center], Metropoli- bishop Dmitri of Dallas and the concerned clergy and faithful in mid- tan Isaiah, and Bishop Basil enter St. South hosted His Eminence, Met- March. Seraphim Cathedral, Dallas, TX, for the ropolitan Isaiah of the Greek Or- Subsequently, at a special session of the celebration of the Orthodoxy Liturgy. thodox Metropolis of Denver and Holy Synod on March 27, the hierarchs is- His Grace, Bishop Basil of the sued a statement that reads as follows. Antiochian Orthodox Diocese of “The Holy Synod of Bishops is aware Wichita and Mid-America for of the concerns of clergy and faithful of the concelebration of the Divine the Diocese of Alaska. It recognizes the Liturgy. Later that evening, the expressed desire of their diocesan hierarch hierarchs joined clergy and hun- to address these concerns, and to take what- dreds of faithful from the Dallas- ever action is necessary to restore peace. Fort Worth Metroplex for the Therefore, the Holy Synod has designated celebration of Orthodoxy Sunday His Eminence, Archbishop Nathaniel, and Vespers at Holy Trinity Greek Or- His Grace, Bishop Tikhon to enquire into thodox Church. these concerns in the week of March 31, “This is a crowning memory for 2008, and to report to the next regular meet- me to have my dear brothers in ing of the Holy Synod in May 2008. The Christ and friends celebrate the Holy Synod of Bishops, accepting the as- Divine Liturgy together,” said surances of His Grace, Bishop Nikolai of Archbishop Dmitri. full cooperation with the bishops being sent, withdraws the leave of absence previ- ously imposed.” Metropolitan Herman greets Pope Benedict XVI Bishop Nikolai’s subsequent behavior and negative reaction to the withdrawal of is Beatitude, Metropolitan Herman, joined other Orthodox Christian hierarchs at his leave of absence, leading to mounting H an ecumenical gathering honoring Pope Benedict XVI during his first US visit at unrest in the Alaskan Diocese, coupled Saint Joseph Roman Catholic Church, an historic German parish in New York, NY, on with the reported findings of Archbishop Friday, April 18, 2008. Nathaniel and Bishop Tikhon after their Accompanying Metropolitan Herman were the Very Rev. Alexander Garklavs, OCA investigative visit, led to the April 17 spe- chancellor; the Very Rev. Leonid Kishkovsky, moderator of Christian Churches To- cial Holy Synod session, at which Bishop gether in the USA and the OCA’s director of external affairs and inter-Church relations; Nikolai agreed to a voluntary leave of ab- the Rev. John Behr, dean of Saint Vladimir’s Seminary, Crestwood, NY; the Very Rev. sence. At the time this issue of TOC went Chad Hatfield, chancellor of Saint Vladimir’s Seminary; and the Very Rev. John H. to press, Bishop Benjamin and Father Erickson and Dr. Paul Meyendorff, members of the North American Orthodox-Catholic Alexander Garklavs were en route to Theological Consultation. Alaska, while Bishop Nikolai had issued Pope Benedict, who arrived in the US on April 15, also visited Washington, DC statements indicating that he would be before his return to Rome on April 20. leaving Alaska in mid-May. 15

Archbishop Gregory of Alaska falls asleep in the Lord

tastic rank at Saint Tikhon’s Monastery, delighted in attending annual regional South Canaan, PA, receiving the name conferences. He oversaw the complete res- Gregory. In March 1973, he was elected toration of Sitka’s Archangel Michael Ca- Bishop of Sitka and Alaska. He was conse- thedral, which was destroyed by a fire in crated to the episcopacy at Archangel the mid-1960s, and initiated the construc- Michael Cathedral, Sitka, AK, on May 13, tion of Saint Innocent Cathedral, Anchor- 1973. age. He was deeply loved by his flock, Archbishop Gregory Bishop Gregory was instrumental in the especially the diocese’s native population. transformation of Saint Herman’s Pastoral In 1995, Bishop Gregory was elevated uneral services for His Eminence, School, Kenai, AK, which was established to the rank of archbishop by the Holy Synod Archbishop Gregory [Afonsky], re- one month before his election to the epis- of Bishops. Later that year, after 22 years F tired Archbishop of Sitka and Alaska, copacy, into a theological seminary. He of fruitful archpastoral service in Alaska, were celebrated at the Nativity of the Holy oversaw the seminary’s move to Kodiak, he retired due to failing health. Virgin Church, Jackson, NJ, April 18-19, where the campus grew to include class- The author of several books, Arch- 2008. Interment followed in the parish room buildings, dormitories, a library, and bishop avidly researched the history of the cemetery. a museum. As professor of Alaskan Church Church in North America. He served as His Grace, Bishop Tikhon of Philadel- history, dogmatic and moral theology, and episcopal moderator of the OCA Depart- phia and Eastern Pennsylvania, presided canon law, he fully immersed himself ment of History and Archives and chair- at the funeral service, while His Beatitude, into the academic life of the seminary. man of the Canonization Commission. Metropolitan Herman, presided at the Di- Bishop Gregory visited every parish in May Archbishop Gregory’s memory be vine Liturgy on Lazarus Saturday. his geographically far-flung diocese and eternal! Archbishop Gregory fell asleep in the Lord on the evening of April 15, 2008, just days before his 83rd birthday. Scholarship fund established The son and grandson of priests, Arch- bishop Gregory was born George Afonsky n initiative to establish a memorial in Kyiv, Ukraine, on April 17, 1925. Dur- A scholarship fund in memory of His Metropolitan Ireney and ing World War II, he was taken by the Ger- Eminence, Archbishop Gregory, was re- Archbishop Gregory, at the time a man army to labor camps in Germany while cently developed by the late hierarch’s priest, in the early 1970s with the his family remained in the Soviet Union. friends. relics of St. Herman enshrined at St. In 1949, he immigrated to the US, where With the blessing of His Beatitude, Sergius Chapel at the Metropolitan’s he served as choir director at parishes in Metropolitan Herman, “the intent of the residence. New Jersey and Connecticut. scholarship fund will be to provide as- After completing a degree at the Uni- sistance to Orthodox residents of Alaska versity of Connecticut, he attended Saint who require financial aid in pursuing a Vladimir’s Seminary, Crestwood, NY, from seminary education,” said the Very Rev. which he graduated in 1965. Later that Alexander Garklavs, OCA chancellor. year, he was ordained to the diaconate and “The specific details of the scholarship the priesthood by His Beatitude, Metro- fund will be developed and coordinated politan Ireney and assigned to Saint Sergius by the administration of Saint Herman’s Chapel at the Metropolitan’s Residence in Seminary in Kodiak, AK.” Syosset, NY (which in 1974 become the Donations to the Archbishop Gre- OCA Chancery) and served as OCA archi- gory Memorial Scholarship Fund may vist from 1965 until 1971. He went on to be sent to the Orthodox Church in earn a Master of Arts degree from Hofstra America Chancery, PO Box 675, Syosset, University and a Master of Theology de- NY 11791. Please make checks payable gree from Saint Vladimir’s Seminary. to “The Orthodox Church in America” In November 1971, he was assigned rec- and indicate “Archbishop Gregory Me- tor of Saint Nicholas Church, Portland, OR. morial Fund” in the memo line. Shortly thereafter, he was tonsured to mon- 16 Bishops Nikon, Ilia issue Official from 2 Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, is released from attach- joint centennial encyclical ment to the Bishop’s Chapel of St. Silouan the Athonite, Johnstown, ON, Canada and assigned third priest at Annunciation Cathedral, joint encyclical commemorating the centennial of Albanian Orthodoxy Ottawa, ON, Canada/ March 9, 2008. A in North America was issued on March 9, 2008 by His Grace, Bishop KONTOS, The Rev. Philip is attached to St. Tikhon of Zadonsk Nikon of Boston, New England, and the Albanian Archdiocese of the Ortho- Monastery Church, South Canaan, PA/ March 25, 2008. dox Church in America and His Grace, Bishop Ilia of Philomelion of the KSYNYUK, Deacon Igor is attached to St. Tikhon of Zadonsk Albanian Orthodox Diocese of America under the jurisdiction of the Ecu- Monastery Church, South Canaan, PA/ March 8, 2008. menical Patriarchate. MAEV, The Rev. Yuri is released from duties at Holy Virgin Mary Cathedral, Los Angeles, CA and appointed acting rector of The encyclical opens with a verse from Psalm 122: “I was glad when they St. Spiridon Cathedral, Seattle, WA/ March 1, 2008. said, let us enter into the House of The Lord.” MIKITA, The Rev. John, who was awaiting assignment, is The complete text of the encyclical reads as follows. appointed priest-in-charge of St. John of Damascus Mission, Tyler, “The year 2008 marks a century of ministry of the Albanian Orthodox TX/ March 14, 2008. apostolate in North America. For the first time, divine services were cel- PIERCE, The V. Rev. John is released from duties at St. Spiridon ebrated in Albanian in order to Cathedral, Seattle, WA. All his other duties remain the same/ serve Orthodox Christians in March 11, 2008. their own language as the first ROWE, The Rev. Christopher, who was attached, is appointed parish was organized in Boston. associate priest of Holy Trinity Church, Overland Park, KS/ March 7, 2008. Our first priest and, later hier- SCHROEDEL, The Rev. John, who is on-loan to the Diocese of arch, Theophan Stylian Noli, be- the West from the Diocese of the Midwest, is attached to St. gan an extraordinary and multi- Juvenaly Mission, Kona, HI. He remains under the omophorion faceted ministry in 1908 that of Archbishop Job and attached to Christ the Savior Church, served his people here and in the Chicago, IL/ March 11, 2008. homeland in prodigious ways. STEFERO, The V. Rev. John is granted retirement from the US “Over the course of the de- Air Force/ February 1, 2008. He is released from the military cades that followed, we have wit- chaplaincy and attached to St. Sergius of Radonezh Chapel, nessed the rise of multiple juris- Bishops Nikon and Ilia Oyster Bay Cove, NY/ March 26, 2008. the centennial dictions; the intrusion of secu- concelebrate URBANOWICZ, The Rev. Maximus is attached to St. Tikhon of Divine Liturgy, after which their lar revolutions abroad as well as Zadonsk Monastery Church, South Canaan, PA/ March 16, 2008. joint encyclical was read. WESCHE, The V. Rev. Paul, in addition to duties at St. Herman their effect on the faithful here; Church, Minneapolis, MN, is appointed dean of the Minneapolis and the intersect of political and Deanery/ March 13, 2008. patriotic considerations that challenged our communities and often divided WOJCIK, The V. Rev. Thaddeus is released from duties at them. As with all temporal struggles, we have experienced pain as well as Holy Assumption Church, Lublin, WI and as dean of the Minne- triumphs, losses as well as epiphanies. During the last ten decades, we have apolis Deanery and granted retirement/ March 13, 2008. learned many lessons, and we have fallen short in embracing one another more LEAVE OF ABSENCE fervently. Our separations have been due as much to circumstances as to [COOKE], Archimandrite Gabriel, on loan to the Greek Ortho- dox Metropolis of San Francisco, is released from that assignment ourselves. We have shared our experience with others, since we are both and returned to the omophorion of Bishop Benjamin; attached to the singular as well as similar to others. We have been passionate and reasoned, Monastery of St. John of Shanghai and San Francisco, Manton, strident and flexible, in seeking ways to overcome differences. Yet times of CA; and granted a six month leave of absence/ March 12, 2008. disunity have never clouded, nor prevented, our predecessors from fulfilling RETIRED their episcopal roles before Christ to go forth, teach, baptize, and serve those WOJCIK, The V. Rev. Thaddeus is granted retirement. He is entrusted to us and to our forebears. attached to Holy Trinity Church, St. Paul, MN, and granted the “At this time, we remember with prayer our guiding hierarchs, Bishop title of dean emeritus/ March 13, 2008. Theophan [Noli], Bishop Mark [Lipa], Bishop Stefan [Lasko], and the many DEATHS priests and lay men and women of our shared and faithful flock who have gone VANSUCH, The V. Rev. Eugene, rector of St. Vladimir Church, Trenton, NJ, died on March 23, 2008. May his memory be before us to their rest. May their memory ever be eternal. eternal! “Despite the many challenges faced by us all, the clergy and faithful have PARISHES always remained focused on their primary duty: the proclamation of the Gos- DIOCESE OF THE SOUTH/ New Status. St. John of Dam- pel and the salvation they attain through the redemptive act of Our Lord and ascus Mission Station, Tyler, TX is granted mission status and Savior, Jesus Christ. is now known as St. John of Damascus Mission/ March 14, “We commemorate and celebrate this centennial moment with humility, 2008. recalling all that has gone before with the hope that we remain true to the DIOCESE OF THE SOUTH/ New Status. St. Mary Magdalene aspirations and needs of future generations, yet to be saved, nurtured, and Mission, Rincon/ Savannah, GA, is granted parish status and is nourished. now known as St. Mary Magdalene Church/ March 16, 2008. DIOCESE OF WASHINGTON AND NEW YORK/ New Sta- “As those entrusted by God’s Grace to shepherd our communities, we take tus. St. Catherine the Great Martyr Mission, Hagerstown, MD, this opportunity to witness together and to say together with love and hope, is granted parish status and is now known as St. Catherine the that we are one in Our Lord, one in the Eucharist, and one in the sentiment that Great Martyr Church/ March 1, 2008. we leave this day a better place for the generations to come. ‘How good it is NOTE: * indicates non-OCA clergy. when brothers dwell together in unity’ [Psalm 133].” PASCHA/PENTECOST 2008 17

Archbishop Anastasios of Tirana attends celebration of centennial of Albanian Orthodoxy in US oston’s Saint George Cathedral was his homeland had been subjugated for five filled to capacity on Sunday, March centuries under Ottoman rule, during B 9, 2008 as the centennial of the Al- which time the use of the vernacular had banian Orthodox Church in North America been surpressed,” said the Very Rev. was celebrated with a festive hierarchical Arthur Liolin, archdiocesan chancellor. Divine Liturgy. “The movement in the US helped foster His Beatitude, Archbishop Anastasios the independence of Albania in 1912 and of Tirana and All Albania, attended the the formation of an indigenous and auto- Liturgy, concelebrated by His Grace, cephalous Albanian Orthodox Church in Bishop Nikon of Boston, New England, the homeland.” and the Albanian Archdiocese and His In 1913, one year after he graduated Grace, Bishop Ilia of Philomelion of the from Harvard, Father Theophan visited Al- Archbishop Anastasios of Albanian Orthodox Diocese of America bania for the first time. After his return to Tirana and All Albania communes during centennial under the Ecumenical Patriarchate. the US during World War I, he was ap- Divine Liturgy. Bishop Nikon welcomed Archbishop pointed head of the Albanian Orthodox Anastasios on behalf of His Beatitude, Mission by His Eminence, Metropolitan Metropolitan Herman, Primate of the Or- Platon of North America, in 1919. Eventu- banian after he returned to Boston to over- thodox Church in America. ally he returned to Albania, where he was see his US-based church.” In the presence of hundreds of diocesan consecrated Bishop of Korca and Durres in Bishop Theophan’s academic works clergy, lay leaders, and faithful, a joint cen- 1923. One year later, he was named the were vast and widely recognized. tennial encyclical by Bishops Nikon and nation’s first democratic premier. “His doctoral thesis at Boston Univer- Ilia was read. “A prodigious scholar, he translated sity on Albania’s 15th century national It was in March 1908 that the first Di- many liturgical books and hymnals from hero, George Castriioti Skanderbeg, be- vine Liturgy in the Albanian language was Greek into Albanian, and later into En- came a classic, while his scholarly work, celebrated in Boston by the Rev. Theophan glish,” said Father Arthur. “He also be- Beethoven and the French Revolution for [Fan] Stylian Noli. came a noted translator of Shakespeare, the New England Conservatory of Music, “This was a significant moment, since Ibsen, Cervantes, and Longfellow into Al- was later published and received accolades from George Bernard Shaw, Thomas Mann, Boston’s impressive St. George Cathedral was filled beyond capacity and Jan Sibelius,” Father Arthur added. for the centennial Divine Liturgy. Saint George Cathedral and Bishop Theophan’s historic connection to Alba- nia became a symbol for democracy in the homeland when the nation began to shed its communist past in 1990. Father Arthur, who also serves as dean of the cathedral, was the first clergyman to enter the for- merly atheist nation in 1988, helping to foster improved relations with the US. “Today, Albania has emerged from its isolation and is considered one of the staunchest allies of the US in the Balkans, while also seeking membership in the Eu- ropean Union,” Father Arthur said. Following the Divine Liturgy, guests gathered at Anthony’s Pier 4 on Boston harbor for a gala centennial banquet. The proceedings were aired on the BBC and the Voice of America’s TV. Ongoing centennial year events, which include an exhibition in Boston that opened on May 4, will conclude with a grand gala at the World Trade Center on September 27, 2008. 18 VOLUME 44 2 InMemoriam Editorial request: Please inform the TOC editorial office at 630/668-3071 or [email protected] when a death occurs so announcements may be made on the OCA web site and in TOC in a timely manner.

The Very Rev. Romulus Radu The Rev. Miroslaw Kulik MIRAMAR, FL – The Very Rev. Romulus Radu fell asleep in the PORTAGE, PA – The Rev. Miroslaw Lord here on February 11, 2008. Kulik, 46, unexpectedly fell asleep in Born August 31, 1909 in Ohaba-Forgaci, Timis, Romania, he the Lord at his home here on February graduated from the Theological Faculty at the University of 28, 2008. Cernauti in 1934. The following year, he married the former Born and raised in Poland, where Alexandrina Mondoc. In 1938, the couple adopted their only he received his seminary training and son, Traian. was ordained to the diaconate and Father Romulus was ordained to the diaconate and priesthood priesthood, Father Miroslaw and his by His Grace, Bishop Andrei of Arad in May 1936. In addition to family immigrated to the US in 1997. his parish assignments, he served as defender at the spiritual court After his reception into the Orthodox in Timisoara from July 1953 until December 1966, when he and Church in America, he was assigned his family immigrated to the US. rector of Saint Michael Church, Por- After initially serving in the Romanian Patriarchate’s Mis- tage, PA, and Saints Peter and Paul Church, Vintondale, PA. He sionary Episcopate in Hollywood, FL, he was received into the also served as rector of Saint John the Baptist Church, Edwardsville, Romanian Episcopate of the Orthodox Church in America in 1972. PA, and the Nativity of Saint Mary Church, Masontown, PA. He served as administrator and later rector of Saint Thomas Church, Father Miroslaw is survived by his wife, Matushka Eva, and Saint Louis, MO, Missouri, until April 1975, at which time he was their children Andrew, Anna, and Barbara. reassigned to Saint Andrew Church, Terre Haute, IN. He retired Funeral services were celebrated March 2-3, 2008, at Saint from active ministry on January 1,1982. Michael Church, Portage, PA. Interment followed at Holy Trans- After the repose of his wife, Father Romulus retired to Miramar, figuration Monastery Cemetery, Ellwood City, PA. FL, and was attached to Holy Trinity Church, where he was deeply May Father Miroslaw’s memory be eternal! respected by the clergy and faithful. Funeral services were celebrated February 13-14, 2008, at Holy The Very Rev. Eugene Vansuch Trinity Church, Miramar, FL, with interment at Saint Mary Cem- EASTON, PA – The Very Rev. Eu- etery, Vatra Romaneasca, Grass Lake, MI. gene Vansuch, 66, rector of Saint May Father Romulus’ memory be eternal! Vladimir Church, Trenton, NJ, and former executive director of the Fel- The Very Rev. Venseslav Dimitroff lowship of Orthodox Stewards, fell ROSSFORD, OH – The Very Rev. Venseslav Dimitroff, 84, re- asleep in the Lord at his home here on tired rector of Saint George Cathedral here, fell asleep in the Lord Sunday, March 23, 2008. on February 28, 2008. Born in Campbell, OH, the son of Born in Bourgas, Bulgaria, in 1923, Father Venseslav spent the late Michael Vansuch and Mary his early childhood in Edirne, Turkey, where his father was prin- [Racz] Vansuch, who survives him, cipal of the Peter Beron Bulgarian High School. At the age of Father Eugene graduated from Young- seven, he and his family moved to Plovdiv, Bulgaria. In 1944, stown University in 1965 and Saint just days before the communist takeover of the country, he and Vladimir’s Seminary, Crestwood, NY, in 1967. He was a member his family returned to Istanbul, Turkey. of the seminary’s cross-country octet. After serving in the Turkish military, he married the former After his marriage to the former Frances Papaharalambos, he Marina Veneziani in 1955. In 1961, he was ordained to the priest- was ordained to the priesthood on March 12, 1967. hood in the Ecumenical Patriarchate and served Istanbul’s Saint Father Eugene served several parishes, including the Nativity John of Rila Church in the Bulgarian Exarchate until July 1975. of the Virgin Mary Church, Madison, IL; Saint George Church, In 1973, he was elevated to the rank of archpriest by His Holiness, Trumbull, CT, where he also served as chaplain for the Trumbull Patriarch Maxim of Bulgaria. Fire Department; Saint John Chrysostom Church, Philadelphia, In August 1975, he immigrated to the US and was named rec- PA; Saint John the Baptist Church, Nanticoke, PA; and Saint tor of Saint George Cathedral, which he served until his retire- Nicholas Church, Bethlehem, PA. He also started a parish in the ment in August 1995. Diocese of the South. In 2005, he was appointed executive direc- In addition to his wife, Popadia Marina, Father Venseslav is tor of the Fellowship of Orthodox Stewards until his assignment survived by a daughter, Kathy. as rector of Saint Vladimir Church, Trenton, NJ, in 2007. Funeral services were celebrated at Saint George Cathedral, He served the Church in a variety of other capacities during Rossford, OH, March 3-4, 2008, with interment at Toledo Memo- his 41 year ministry. He was the long-time national spiritual rial Park, Sylvania, OH. advisor for the Federated Russian Orthodox Clubs, today’s Fel- May Father Venseslav’s memory be eternal! lowship of Orthodox Christians in America. He was a member PASCHA/PENTECOST 2008 19 InMemoriam and secretary of the board of trustees of Saint Herman’s Seminary, assignment by teaching, organizing vacation Church schools, sing- Kodiak, AK. At Saint Tikhon’s Seminary, South Canaan, PA, he ing the responses at weekday services, and volunteering in vari- served as senior professor of canon law and Church history. He ous capacities. The center of her life was the Church and her was active in local Orthodox clergy associations and the Lehigh family. Valley Council of Churches. He also served on numerous com- After Father Cyril fell asleep in the Lord while serving as rec- mittees and diocesan councils, as well as serving as a member of tor of Archangel Michael Church, Burbank, IL in 1985, Matushka the OCA’s Metropolitan Council, administrative committee, and Alexandra became an active member of Saint Luke the Evange- preconciliar commission. list Church, Palos Hills, IL, where she continued to share her tal- Father Eugene was an avid sports fan, enjoying the Cleveland ents in many ways. In 2005, she was diagnosed with nonalco- Indians and Browns as well as Youngstown University and Ohio holic cirrhosis of the liver, which had gone undetected for several State University athletics. He particularly enjoyed watching his years. This disease, combined with diabetes, a recent stroke, and children play sports and followed their achievements as they were a serious infection, weakened her heart and led to her repose. growing up. Matushka Alexandra is survived by her daughter Anthea Father Eugene will be lovingly remembered by his mother, Catherine, Palos Hills, IL; sons Andrew Avvakum, Lisle, IL, and Mary, Campbell, OH; his beloved Matushka Frances; sons Basil the Rev. Alexander Cyril and his wife Oksana, Wheeling, IL; her Vansuch and his wife Katherine of Vermont; the Rev. Jason sister, Irene Christensen, Staten Island, NY; her niece and god- Vansuch and his wife Katia, Norwich, CT; and Damian Vansuch daughter, Lydia Christensen, Evergreen Park, IL; and several other and his wife Anastasia, Allentown, PA. He is also survived by his nieces and nephews. brother Nicholas Vansuch and his wife Monica, Howland, OH; Funeral services were held at Saint Luke Church, Palos Hills, four grandchildren and fifth to be born soon; and numerous aunts, IL, February 3-4, 2008, with interment next to her husband at uncles, nieces, nephews, and cousins. Evergreen Cemetery, Evergreen Park, IL. Funeral services, at which His Beatitude, Metropolitan Herman, Donations in Matushka Alexandra’s memory may be made to presided, were celebrated at Saint Nicholas Church, Bethlehem, Religious Books for Russia, Inc., PO Box 466, LaGrangeville, NY PA, on March 27, 2008. After the celebration of the Liturgy of the 12540. Presanctified Gifts the following morning, interment took place May Matushka Alexandra’s memory be eternal! at Union Cemetery, Hellertown, PA. Memorial contributions may be made in care of the Connell Preoteasa Olga Grigorescu Funeral Home, Inc., 245 E. Broad St., Bethlehem PA 18018 for FREMONT, CA – Preoteasa Olga Grigorescu, wife of the late future distribution to the churches Father Eugene loved and served. Very Rev. Gheorghe Grigorescu, fell asleep in the Lord here on May Father Eugene’s memory be eternal! February 12, 2008. Born Olga Ionescu in Scurtesti, Romania, on September 1, Matushka Alexandra Lukashonak 1921, she and her husband were married in 1939. After immigrat- GLENVIEW, IL – Matushka ing to the US, her husband was accepted into the Romanian Epis- Alexandra Lukashonak, 70, the wife copate of the Orthodox Church in America in 1990 and assigned of the late Rev. Cyril Lukashonak, fell to Holy Cross Mission, San Jose, CA, which he served until his asleep in the Lord at Glenbrook Hos- retirement in 2000. pital here on Thursday, January 31, After Father Gheorghe’s death on October 7, 2005, she was 2008. cared for by the Very Rev. and Preoteasa Constantin Lapustea. Born Alexandra Avvakumovna She was preceded in death by her only child, Gabriel, in 2002. Hawryluk in Staten Island, NY, the She is survived by her daughter-in-law, Viorica, and grandchil- daughter of Ukrainian immigrants, she dren Mihaela and Lucian. was a graduate of the Latin American Funeral services were celebrated at Holy Cross Mission. Institute, New York, NY. She was a May Preoteasa Olga’s memory be eternal! member of Manhattan’s Holy Virgin Protection Cathedral, where she and her husband were married in Council from 13 1962. Answering the call to serve in the Church, she worked self- Metropolitan Council meets lessly to support her young daughter Anthea and husband while Issues related to strategic planning, including the pursuit of he studied at Saint Vladimir’s Seminary, Crestwood, NY. It was Orthodox administrative unity and the function and location of during the Lukashonaks’ years at the seminary years that their the OCA chancery, were discussed. Council members will formu- first son, Andrew, was born. late a process for developing a strategic plan, with the goal of After Father Cyril’s graduation from the seminary, ordination, initiating this process at the 15th All-American Council. and assignment as the first full-time rector of established Holy Committees were formed to evaluate costs associated with Resurrection Mission, Mt. Prospect, IL [today Holy Resurrection the current location of the OCA Chancery and examine areas of Church, Palatine, IL], Matushka Alexandra gave birth to their cooperative ministry with other Orthodox jurisdictions and second son, Alexander. She took an active role in every parish agencies. VOLUME 44 2

PAGES tion of retired Bishop Arseny [Chahovtsev] manent accreditation in 1966 and 1973 from our past opened at Saint Tikhon’s Monastery. respectively through the Association of Dr. Bensin personally spearheaded the Theological Schools in the United States monumental task of making Saint Vladi- and Canada; and nurtured a new Ameri- Alexis Liberovsky mir’s Seminary a reality within a year. can-born generation of faculty. At the same Bishop Makary [Ilyinsky], former dean of time, the demographics of the student body Saint Platon’s Seminary, became the changed to include an increasing number 2008 marks seminary’s first dean. Metropolitan of converts, women, and married students. anniversaries for Theophilus [Pashkovsky], the Church’s Pri- SVS Press became one of the leading pub- mate, celebrated the seminary’s opening lishers of English-language Orthodox theo- OCA seminaries service at Brooklyn’s Holy Trinity Church logical literature, and the seminary’s repu- on October 3, 1938, while classes began tation as a leading center of Orthodox his year marks the 70th anniversa- the following day in the parish house of thought continued to grow. Building on ries of Saint Tikhon’s and Saint Vladi- Christ the Savior Church on East 121 Street these significant developments, Saint T mir’s Seminaries and the 35th anni- in Manhattan. Originally, the seminary ac- Vladimir’s Seminary continued to prosper versary of Saint Herman’s Seminary. cepted high school graduates who, while and grow under its successive deans: Fa- The Church in North America had been pursuing a five-year course of study at the ther John Meyendorff [1984-92], Father without a functioning theological school seminary, also attended Columbia Col- Thomas Hopko [1992-2002], and Father for nearly a decade and a half by the time lege, with which academic affiliation had John Erickson [2002-2007]. The develop- of the Sixth All-American Sobor [Council] been established. In 1939, the seminary ment of a far-reaching strategic plan and a in October 1937. Saint Platon’s Seminary moved to temporary quarters at General successful capital campaign financed con- in Tenafly, NJ – originally located in Min- Theological Seminary. During the tenure struction of a new library in 2002 and mar- neapolis, MN – had been forced to close in of its second dean [1944-47], ried student housing. Under the leader- 1923 due to organizational difficulties and Archimandrite Dionysius [Diachenko], ship team appointed in 2007 – Father John financial turmoil in the North American Saint Vladimir’s moved to quarters rented Behr, dean, and Father Chad Hatfield, chan- Church after the Russian Revolution in from Union Theological Seminary, where cellor – a new curriculum, carefully devel- 1917. At the same time, the steady stream it would remain until the acquisition of its oped over several years, was implemented. of clergy and theologically educated lay own campus some 15 years later. During Saint Tikhon’s Seminary. As leaders sent from Russia to serve in North the tenure of the seminary’s third dean a young priest in 1905, Bishop Arseny had America had come to an end. Thus, the [1947-50], Bishop John [Shahovskoy], a been the driving force in realizing the vi- need for institutions offering theological provisional charter was granted by the sion of Saint Tikhon, Archbishop of North formation had become a major concern for Board of Regents of the University of the America, to establish a monastery in South the Church during preparations for the 1937 State of New York on June 18, 1948, offi- Canaan, PA. More than three decades later, Sobor. cially establishing the seminary as “an in- after his retirement from archpastoral min- The Pre-Sobor Commission asked Dr. stitution of higher learning.” istry in Canada, Bishop Arseny was called Basil Bensin, who had helped to organize The seminary’s permanent charter from to oversee the establishment of a pastoral the seminary in Minneapolis in 1905 and New York State, granted in 1953, was school at Saint Tikhon’s Monastery. His had taught there for several years, to pre- achieved through the efforts of its fourth skillful leadership was recognized with his pare a report to the Sobor advocating the dean, Father Georges Florovsky [1950-55], elevation to the rank of Archbishop in establishment of an academically-oriented whose leadership reoriented the seminary 1939, while the school was granted semi- theological school, similar to Russia’s theo- towards becoming an accredited graduate nary status by the Church’s hierarchy in logical academies, to educate clergy and school. The growing number of faculty 1942. Archbishop Arseny continued to lead lay leaders for the Church’s increasingly members arriving from Europe in the 1950s the seminary until his death in 1945. sophisticated North American flock. Hav- further elevated the seminary’s academic Throughout its history, Saint Tikhon’s ing also heard similar proposals for the es- standards and enhanced its reputation. Seminary has reaped the unique benefits tablishment of pastoral schools at Saint In 1955, Father Georges was succeeded of its location at the monastery. In its early Tikhon’s Monastery, South Canaan, PA, by Metropolitan Leonty [Turkevich], while decades, the school was almost exclusively and in Chicago, Sobor delegates unani- Father Alexander Schmemann, who served devoted to priestly formation, and its fac- mously decided to accept all three propos- as dean from 1962 until 1983, became the ulty was staffed primarily by local clergy. als and appointed commissions to explore dynamic force guiding the seminary’s day- There were several outstanding theologians the feasibility of establishing schools in to-day life. among the faculty, most notably, Saint the three locations. In 1961, the seminary acquired a per- Nikolai Velimirovic, the Serbian bishop Saint Vladimir’s Seminary. manent campus in Crestwood, NY. In ad- who spent the last five years of his life as a While plans for a theological school in Chi- dition to the expansion of the physical monastic elder, teacher, and seminary rec- cago proved unfeasible, Saint Vladi-mir’s plant, the seminary successively secured tor before his death in 1956. Under the Seminary in New York City opened on state accreditation for the granting of vari- leadership of Archbishop Kiprian [Boris- October 3, 1938. Three weeks later, on Oc- ous degrees from the 1960s through the evich] as rector [1961-80], the academic tober 24, a pastoral school under the direc- 1980s; obtained provisional and then per- direction of the seminary began to change. 21 Humble beginnings New buildings were constructed. A charter was received from the State of Pennsylva- nia in 1967. Academic affiliation was achieved with Kings College in Wilkes- Barre in 1970 and Marywood College (later university) in Scranton in 1975, allowing students to obtain accredited degrees from these schools in conjunction with their seminary studies. In the 1980s and 1990s, a new crop of faculty members with ad- vanced academic degrees made it possible for the seminary to receive accreditation from the State of Pennsylvania to grant the Hierarchs, clergy, and seminarians in procession during the dedica- Master of Divinity degree in 1988. Under tion of the new campus of St. Vladimir’s Seminary, Crestwood, NY, in October the current administration, which includes 1962. Father Michael Dahulich, dean, and Father Alexander Golubov, academic dean, the seminary received accreditation from the Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada in 2004, mak- ing Saint Tikhon’s a full-fledged graduate school of theology. In recent years, the jurisdictional affiliation of the seminary’s student body has become far more diverse, and the majority of its students are mar- ried. As a result, the seminary is develop- ing plans for married student housing and a new library in the near future. Saint Herman’s Seminary. The five years of archpastoral ministry in Alaska of Bishop Theodosius [Lazor] – 1967 through 1972 – prepared the ground- work for the decision of the 1972 Alaskan diocesan assembly to establish a pastoral school for the training of clergy, lay assis- The first graduates of St. Tikhon’s Seminary, holding diplomas, with tants, educators, and singers. As Bishop [from left] Archbishop Arseny, Metropolitan Theophilus, and Bishop [later Theodosius had already been transferred Metropolitan] Leonty, faculty members, and other students at commencement to the see of Pittsburgh, Father Joseph Kreta, ceremonies in 1941. who provisionally administered diocesan affairs in the absence of a ruling bishop, Bishop Gregory, rector, with Fr. Paul Merculieff, faculty member; Fr. was charged with implementing the Joseph Kreta, dean; and students of St. Herman’s Seminary in the school’s assembly’s decision. Alaskan clergy and first chapel at Wildwood Station, Kenai, AK in 1974. laity serving the Church had not had the opportunity to obtain formal training in Alaska since the early 20th century, when a school in Unalaska closed. Few Alas- kans had the means to pursue seminary edu- cation in the lower 48 states. Classes at Saint Herman’s Pastoral School began on February 11, 1973, at Wildwood Station, a former military instal- lation in Kenai. Just months later, the school was recognized as a diploma grant- ing institution by the State of Alaska. Later that year, Bishop Gregory [Afonsky] was consecrated as the new hierarch of Alaska. He served as seminary rector and, with Pages to 28 22 VOLUME 44 2 Evangelization

when He called His first apostles. 5. It’s not about the mort- Getting down to basics gage! Parishes that see increasing mem- bership as a means by which expenses can Principles of evangelization: Part 1 be “spread out” amongst a greater number of people aren’t evangelizing. And they ver the years, a lot has been written “all the earth and their words to the ends of won’t grow! and spoken about evangelization the universe” after Pentecost. Just as we 6. Seeking out those who’ve O and Church growth. Countless cannot separate Christ from His resurrec- moved to the ‘burbs is not evange- books, pamphlets, articles, seminars, work- tion, we cannot separate our faith in and lization. It’s outreach, for sure, but not shops, boot camps, and consultations have experience of the risen Christ from our call- evangelization. Of course, there are always appeared since the All-American Councils ing to proclaim them. Our faith is reduced those who, in moving to the suburbs, have held in 1983 and 1986 introduced the to an intellectual exercise when we fail to lost their ties with the Church and whose themes of Church growth and evangeliza- share it with those who have yet to dis- faith lies dormant. They need to be evan- tion respectively. cover and experience it in its fullness. The gelized – or re-evangelized, so to speak – In this and the next few issues of The Good News is not “our little secret.” and should never be overlooked. Evange- Orthodox Church, we will present a vari- 4. Proselytization and evan- lization is not limited to the unchurched ety of principles gleaned from the writings gelization are not the same or non-Orthodox; there are many “lapsed” and gatherings of the past 25 years. thing. Evangelization is the act of pro- Orthodox Christians, and they should be 1. Evangelization is Ortho- claiming the Gospel to those who have yet invited once again to “come and see.” dox. We who claim to hold the fullness to hear it, either in part or in its entirety. Older parishes that abandon their old of the Gospel – the Evangelion – and the Proselytization focuses on encouraging neighborhoods are not necessarily evan- apostolic faith simply cannot say that evan- those of other faiths to reject their tradi- gelical-minded. Too often transplanted gelization is “something only Protestants tions, not out of a desire to embrace the parishes lack a sense of real mission to their do.” Christ charged His disciples – and us fullness of the Gospel and its truth, but for new communities and remain content to – to “teach all nations” long before Protes- the sake of making converts. Evangeliza- serve “our people,” albeit in new surround- tantism emerged some 1500 years later. As tion involves a running to Christ; pro- ings, but not “outsiders.” True evangeli- the Church that first received the Gospel, selytization focuses on running away from zation is aimed at reaching the unchurched, should we not be the first to share it? something. True evangelization involves not just maintaining the roster. 2. Evangelization is every- a commitment to lead others to the full- In the next issue of The Ortho- body’s “job.” The attitude that claims ness of truth not by bashing or demoniz- dox Church, we’ll take a look at essential “evangelization is the job of the clergy” is ing, but by extending the same invitation prerequisites that must be in place if evan- dead wrong. Everyone is called to proclaim to “come and see” that Christ extended gelization and growth are to take place. the Good News of Jesus Christ and to reach out to others. Simply stated, those who have heard the Gospel are expected to share Portland site of DCE regional conference it. After all, it is good news, and as with all good news, it is designed to be shared, not PORTLAND, OR – Members of the OCA Department of Christian Education held in secret. conducted a regional conference at St. Nicholas Church here April 12, 2008. Evangelization and the growth it pro- Titled “In the Beginning,” the conference considered how the book of duces cannot be delegated to “clergy spe- Genesis can help students navigate their lives, tips for lesson planning, and cialists,” like care for the heart can be del- related themes. Presentations were given by department members Valerie egated to cardiologists. Much of the day- Zahirsky, Daria Petrykowski, and Victoria Jones. to-day to work of evangelization can and The fifth in a series must be done by the laity, who far outnum- of regional DCE ber the clergy and who have far more con- conferences, the pro- tacts with the unchurched than the clergy. gram was very well To claim that evangelization is strictly for received. One partici- the clergy is akin to the 70 disciples claim- pant stated in the ing that evangelization was solely the end-of-day evalua- “job” of the apostles! tion, “The conference 3. Evangelization is not op- was wonderful. From tional. Christ’s death and resurrection the keynote address took place publicly because they affected to the workshops, the public – so publicly, in fact, that the everything went to- proclamation of the apostles went out into gether beautifully.” PASCHA/PENTECOST 2008 In this section Christian Ed 22 Evangelization 23 Christian Ed “Lecture” isn’t a dirty word 24 Youth & Young Adults 25 Chaplaincies Keeping it short, sweet, and simple

Valerie Zahirsky Lecturing is certainly not a novel the lecture method to generate something method of teaching. And if we look at the positive for our students – and that is result very Church school teacher tries to account of Pentecost in the Book of Acts, enough. avoid doing the “same old thing” for instance, we’ll see that it netted the E week after week. Teachers work hard apostle Peter 3,000 new converts in a Valerie Zahirsky is a member of to give their lessons variety in order to keep single day! Even if the results in our class- the OCA Department of Christian their students interested. There are lots of rooms are not quite that stellar, we can use Education. teaching methods and approaches from which to choose, and a good lesson will usually include several. IMPORTANT POINTS IN LECTURE PLANNING But teachers need not and should not Length. Five minutes abandon that tried-and-true method – the is the max a teacher should lecture. Used properly, a well-planned lec- lecture to elementary school ture can be an excellent way of teaching students. Middle and junior and can offer solid educational opportuni- high school students will ben- ties to students. efit from lectures of up to ten One advantage of the lecture is that it minutes, while high school allows the teacher to highlight key points students can be attentive for about a topic. Students could miss these in up to 15 minutes. These times their independent reading, internet re- refer to uninterrupted lectur- search, or creative projects. If a topic is ing; a lecture can run longer somewhat complicated, the teacher can when questions or discussions choose the best way to “walk through” it are included to break up the with students in a lecture. Left on their spoken presentation. own to do research, students might get Outlining the topic. Probably the hardest part of deciding what to say is bogged down in details, become con- deciding what to leave out. A lecture should include only information that is fused by differing explanations or defini- critical for students to know. The outline also should indicate the amount of time to tions, or have their enthusiasm simply be allotted to each point. For middle and junior high school students, copies of the sink under the weight of too much infor- outline can be handed out so that students have a basis for taking notes. mation. Creating a script and notes. Writing a complete script is helpful to the Lectures also give teachers the chance teacher in thinking through exactly what the lecture will contain. But for the to enhance the information they present classroom presentation, never, ever, read the script! Instead, refer to notes based on with their own personal experiences. The the script. Nothing is more deadly than reading a less-than-spontaneous lecture. struggles of a saint, for example, may have Deciding on supplements to the lecture. Visuals, such as maps been inspirational to a teacher, who can and charts, or the writing of significant words, names, and definitions on a chalk- share his or her inspiration with students board or screen, can enhance a lecture and help keep students attentive. These, when relating the life of the saint. If a obviously, must be thought out and prepared in advance. teacher enjoys history, his or her enthusi- Finding a “hook” to generate interest. There are many opening asm can enliven a lecture on a particular “hooks” that can focus the students’ attention. Ask a question. Show a video clip period of time in the Church’s life. or an artifact related to the topic. Make a statement and ask the students to decide Flexibility is another advantage of the as they listen to the lecture whether they agree or disagree. Give the students lecture method. A teacher can present in- something to listen for, to decide, or to determine as they listen to the lecture. They formation in a lecture to the whole class or will be challenged to accomplish this “job” and focus their attention on what is to small groups. Often in our Church school being said in order to do so. classes, we find students with varying lev- Checking the students’ level of understanding. Teachers should els of knowledge about specific topics. A plan, at the end of the lecture, a way of discovering how much their students under- lecture can help one group catch up to stood – and whether they have understood correctly. Pose questions to the group. another’s level of knowledge, while those Give a brief quiz. Or divide students into pairs to think about and then answer a with more information engage in a related question related to the topic of the lecture. activity. 24 VOLUME 44 2 Youth & Young Adults

ferent faith traditions in a private, non- threatening environment. Starting a conversation That’s why it’s vitally important for the Church to engage teens where they spend Keeping young people engaged in the Church most of their time. And, in this new realm of electronic Seraphim Danckaert when it comes to the internet, cell phones, media, it’s not enough to simply speak to iPods, and video games. (or at!) young people. Teens are attracted he numbers are astounding. Accord- All of these forms of media are actually to a form of media that emphasizes partici- ing to a variety of surveys conducted fora. They are an electronic means for teens pation and community. They don’t just T over the last few years, the average to interact with each other, form friend- want to watch or listen; they want to join American teenager spends more than ships, meet new people, exchange ideas the conversation, comment on the program, 72 hours a week using “electronic me- and – yes! – learn about their faith. and create their own show! dia.” According to the Barna Research In fact, according to a 2007 survey from But the numbers alone don’t tell the full Group, teens in particular use the internet the Pew Internet and American Life story of teenage media use, especially as a way to explore their own faith and dif- Project, 64 percent of “on-line teenagers”

Striking a balance There’s nothing like an old-fashioned lock-in or retreat to build friendships – and faith!

Bay area youth enjoy lock-in Teens from parishes of several jurisdictions in Northern California held a two-day lock-in and service project focusing on the great “I AM” statements of Christ in Sacramento, CA, April 11-12. For two years, Bay Area parishes have hosted youth events on a rotating basis. Lock-ins, retreats, service projects, DC/NY youth discuss their faith at pre-lenten retreat. and a BBQ are held annually. The youth also participate in the regional St. Eugene camp each July. In the immediate future, a BBQ will be sponsored by the Parents joined the teens for the Sunday Liturgy. OCA’s St. Christina of Tyre Mission in Fremont, CA, where A summer retreat will be held in East Meadow, NY. Fr. K. Michael Anderson is pastor. Lock-in a first for SC teens For the first time, Diocesan teens attend pre-lenten retreat the Good Seeds youth group of Holy Apostles Church, Over 40 teens from the Diocese of Washington and New West Columbia, SC, held their first teen lock-in February York enjoyed a pre-lenten retreat titled “Jesus, Others, and 15-16, 2008. Yourself” in Princeton, NJ, February 8-10, 2008. Fr. Thomas Moore, pastor, and Dn. Joseph Kreta led Besides discussions and services, the youth enjoyed discussions on the meaning of the Cross and Great Lent, team-building activities, skits, basketball, and Spiderman 3! services, and fellowship activities. The teens also enjoyed an outing to the South Carolina State Museum, a picnic, and a variety of games during the gathering. California teens combine faith with service at lenten lock-in.

South Carolina teens enjoy their first lock-in. PASCHA/PENTECOST 2008

engage in at least one type of content cre- ation. They write their own blogs, make and post their own videos, and create their own photo albums. And, even more significantly, they are looking to be included. The survey dis- covered that content creation is not just about sharing creative output; it is also about participating in conversations fueled by that content. With all of this in mind, the Orthodox Christian Network [OCN], a media minis- “Come, receive try of the Standing Conference of Canoni- the Light!” Fr. cal Orthodox Bishops in the Americas, has Eugene Lahue passes started a new, user-driven on-line program on the Paschal light for Orthodox Christian teenagers and during outdoor services young adults. in Kabul, Afghanistan Called OTTO – Orthodox Teen Talk [right] while Fr. Peter Online – OCN provides a bi-weekly Baktis blesses familiar podcast that features a pan-Orthodox Paschal foods marking group of teens from around the country the end of the lenten who discuss real-life issues in an open and fast at Baghdad’s honest manner with at least one Orthodox Camp Victory [above]. priest. Recent topics have included drugs, drinking, abortion, dating, and peer pres- sure. Chaplaincies The teens themselves develop the top- ics for discussion, contribute their own opinions, and share their own life experi- ences related to the discussion. This al- lows young people to find their own voice “Their proclamation has gone and to develop their own Orthodox Chris- tian response to some of the most pressing out into all the earth!” issues of the day. Given today’s on-line culture, that’s Proclaiming the resurrection in the war zone critical. And, in line with the internet’s tradi- s countless Orthodox Christians Zealand army corps who fought at Galli- tion of inclusion, all Orthodox Christian across North America celebrated poli, Turkey during World War I – which teens are welcome to participate! If a A Pascha with family and friends in was observed by Australian troops. young person in your parish would like to familiar surroundings, Orthodox Christian Meanwhile, Command Chaplain Eu- join the conversation, just ask; if the mem- chaplains were bringing the joy of the Res- gene Lahue celebrated Paschal services for bers of your youth group would like to pro- urrection to military personnel in some of Orthodox Christian personnel at NATO In- duce their own episode, it can be arranged. the world’s most volatile regions. ternational Security Assistance Force head- When it comes to teenage media con- Joining the chaplains, members of the quarters in Kabul, Afghanistan. The cel- sumption, the numbers are astounding – US armed forces, and civilians at Paschal ebration of services on a makeshift outdoor but so too are is opportunities to engage services were Orthodox service men and altar in no way diminished the solemnity teens in the life of the Church. women from a host of countries. of the Feast of Feasts. Just sign on-line and join the conversa- Soldiers and civilians from Ukraine, Po- And, of course, despite the miles that tion. land, Romania, Bulgaria, and Australia separated the troops from their homes, the To listen to the existing episodes of gathered at Baghdad, Iraq’s Camp Victory traditional breaking of the lenten fast fol- OTTO visit www.MyOCN.net. – the site of Saddam Hussein’s former Al lowed services in both locations as the Faw Palace – as US Army Chaplain Peter chaplains blessed and shared Paschal food! Seraphim Danckaert is an OCN Baktis celebrated the Paschal Matins and In both instances, the light of the Risen staff member. For more info on OTTO Liturgy. By coincidence, Pascha coin- Christ transcended time and space as the and teens and media, contact him at cided with ANZAC day – the commemora- chaplains’ proclamation literally went out [email protected]. tion of soldiers of the Australian and New “into all the earth!” 26 VOLUME 44 2 Chancellor from 10 their good qualities.” The Orthodox Pastor is neither a pastoral handbook, nor is it Not for pastors only an outline of liturgical services, a list of topics for homilies, or a essential work of the Church – attracting new souls to the faith.” legalistic-administrative how-to-do-it handbook. It only sketches Not only priests but “all parish workers must take part in mission- out “pastoral problems,” avoiding rigorous and mechanical ques- ary activities.” Now unquestionably understood as a critical com- tions and answers. It is precisely the absence of those things that ponent of parish growth, missionary outreach is the cornerstone makes The Orthodox Pastor so special and so accessible, even to of a spiritually healthy community whose influence will spread. lay readers. It is a book that reminds us, priests and parishioners “A parish that strives for such activity, for true understanding of alike, that at the heart of Christian community life is joy. “Truth the purpose and meaning of the earthly Church’s existence, will is joyful,” writes Archbishop John. “And its knowledge cannot be a wondrous blessing for the world around it.” be but joyful.” The book emanates with radiance and love. It There is that famous saying, “The kind of priest a parish has is speaks with apostolic vibrancy about life transfigured: “The the kind of parish a community becomes.” Of course, the parish Apostles had not only wisdom but love and spiritual power as priest has tremendous influence on the parish. But the commu- well.” Spiritual life arises out of that power, which priest and nity also has great influence on its pastor. In many places, pastors parishioners alike are challenged to maintain. The living souls – and parishioners constitute true parish families, where bonds of that is, the people of God who are members of a parish – are intimacy and trust are as deep as in any biological family. Here it “witnesses to Truth,” abiding in the wisdom that stands beyond helps to think about the marriage-like relationship that exists be- reason, the ability to love others “in spite of their errors and im- tween the priest and his parish. Just as today’s marriages are chal- perfections.” lenged by the stresses of modern life, today’s pastors and parishes Archbishop John reminds us that the Orthodox Christian par- deal with stressful issues on many different levels. Today’s North ish is a microcosm of the heavenly Kingdom. It is the physical American parish, situated in a complicated modern society with and psychological arena in which turmoil, challenges, and battle- well-educated and sophisticated parishioners, requires an equally fields become grace-filled, peaceful camp grounds. It is the spiri- sophisticated, well-educated, energetic, multi-tasking, and com- tual reality of perfection perceived in anticipation of the final petent pastor. Both pastor and parish engage each other as they things. It is the vantage point from which we can all stand before confront the challenges of maintaining centuries-old Orthodox the Face of the Lord. In an 1947 essay titled “On Prayer,” Arch- Christian tradition in the context of a rapidly changing society. bishop John wrote that, in standing before God, “everything small “What,” asks Archbishop John in his book, “is there to add to is perfected; everything imperfect becomes great.” That mysteri- this?” Everything has been laid out by the apostles, but proclaim- ous purification, which occurs when we approach Our Lord with ing the apostolic revelation is ongoing and “of many words di- true humility, is the guarantee that as long as the world exists, rected to the good and of expressing the old and the eternal in a there will be true-believing Christians who will gather together new way and applying it to the new conditions under which the in worshipping communities where a designated person will be Church lives and suffers.” chosen to lead them in organized and effective prayer. That per- Archbishop John’s book is notable in that it is thoroughly son is, of course, the priest, a person whose “authority rests not spiritual and theological, yet fully attuned to the dramatic social upon his rank but on the practice of his fatherly love for a man’s changes which were only beginning when the book was written. soul.” Love is mutual by definition; not static and not unful- “Free from all worldly ‘modernity,’ a pastor should know the con- filled. This love is the origin and goal of human existence; it is ditions of modern life,” he writes. “A pastor is not ‘outside life;’ distorted and absent in the world, but made evident in the Church, he is merely outside its vanities. His direct task is not to invent in each Orthodox Christian community. new methods of social organization, but to make the most of ev- The Orthodox Pastor is a small but powerful testimony of ery given social organization in order to teach men to be faithful those communities that stand as “precious jewels among weeds” to God. He educates men in all conditions of life and on every and as reminders to pastors and parishioners alike that every par- path of it to be followers of Christ’s spirit. Like the Lord Jesus ish, while unique and special, is indeed “a ladder to the Kingdom Christ Himself, the priest teaches men not what social forms they of God.” should adopt, but in what way they should relate to one another in society.” Classics from 6 The inter-connectedness between pastor and parish and their mutual dependence on each other exists as a spiritual reality – not psychological or physiological, as in a biological family. Spiri- Christ and the Church tual kinship binds “brothers and sisters in Christ” with a greater faith.” We firmly believe that our Orthodox Church of today is degree of permanence than any genetic relationship. In a chapter the very same Church that was founded by Jesus Christ and His called “The Second Birth” in the second art of The Orthodox apostles. In the Church we preserve and proclaim basic beliefs Pastor, Archbishop John discusses the mysterious properties of and truths of God’s revelation that must never be replaced or spiritual kinship. He indicates that the process of awakening oc- deformed, despite whatever pressures contemporary history may curs as the conscience becomes “sensitive to good and evil,” while bring to bear. recognizing how in isolation we are “powerless in the struggle The dogma of the Church is remembered and beautifully ex- with sin and evil.” The qualities needed to overcome that struggle pressed in a morning prayer: “First of all, remember, O Lord, are humility and suffering. “The process of spiritual birth is con- Your Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church, which You have pur- nected with suffering,” he writes, adding that those who are born chased with Your own blood. Protect and strengthen her, and in the spirit “do not regard themselves as having ‘attained’ any- grant her to grow upon the earth. Preserve Your Church in pu- thing; they see their deficiency in everything; they do not notice rity, in peace, and in safety, from the gates of hell, by the divine other people’s failings but, on the contrary, are always struck by grace and power of the Holy Spirit.” PASCHA/PENTECOST 2008 27

Holy Trinity Monastery March 20-21. NorthAmerica Upon learning of Metropolitan Laurus’ repose, His Beatitude, Metropolitan Herman, addressed a letter of condolence to His Eminence, Archbishop Hilarion of Metropolitan Laurus, ROCOR First Sydney and Australia-New Zealand, ROCOR senior hierarch. Hierarch, falls asleep in the Lord “We join you and the hierarchs, clergy, and faithful of the Russian Orthodox is Eminence, Metropolitan Laurus, Church Outside of Russia in prayer for the First Hierarch of the Russian Ortho- repose of the soul of the newly departed H dox Church Outside of Russia, fell Metropolitan Laurus,” Metropolitan asleep in the Lord at Holy Trinity Monas- Herman wrote. “On behalf of the Holy tery, Jordanville, NY, on Orthodoxy Sun- Synod of the Orthodox Church in America, day, March 16, 2008. the clergy and faithful, I express our sym- Born Vassily Skurla in Ladimirovo, pathy and condolences. Czechoslovakia, on January 1, 1928, he “The death of Metropolitan Laurus is was drawn to monastic life as a young a great loss for all of us. He labored boy. In 1939, with the blessing of his fa- diligently for long decades – first as a ther, he joined the Monastery of Saint Job monastic and then as a hierarch. He of Pochaev in Ladimirovo where, five years crowned his service in Christ’s Holy later at the age of 16, he became a novice. Church with his courage in achieving Facing the approaching German-Soviet reconciliation within the Russian Ortho- front during World War II, he and the other dox Church,” Metropolitan Herman con- members of the monastic brotherhood fled tinued. “At every stage of his ministry, he Czechoslovakia via Germany and Switzer- maintained monastic humility, simplicity, land in 1946, eventually arriving at Holy Metropolitan Laurus and joy. May God in His mercy and love Trinity Monastery, Jordanville, NY. grant that all of us will continue on the In March 1948, he was tonsured to cal Communion in Moscow, Russia, and way of reconciliation which the late First monastic rank and given the name Laurus. participated in a joint Liturgy with His Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church The following year, he took the lesser Holiness, Patriarch Aleksy II at Moscow’s Outside of Russia pursued with evangeli- schema and was ordained to the diaconate. Christ the Savior Cathedral. cal hope and faithfulness. May his memory In 1954, he graduated from Holy Trinity Funeral services were celebrated at be eternal!” Seminary and ordained to the priesthood. He was elevated to the rank of hegumen in Metropolitan Herman and clergy of the Orthodox Church in America 1959. The following year he was appointed celebrated a panikhida for the repose of ROCOR First Hierarch, Metropolitan dean of the seminary. In 1966, he was el- Laurus, at Holy Trinity Monastery, Jordanville, NY, on March 20, 2008. evated to the rank of archimandrite. Archimandrite Laurus was elected Bishop of Manhattan and appointed sec- retary of the Synod of Bishops in 1967. Nine years later, he was elected abbot of Holy Trinity Monastery and appointed Bishop of Syracuse and Holy Trinity. In 1981, he was elevated to the dignity of arch- bishop. In October 2001, after the retirement of His Eminence, Metropolitan Vitaly, Arch- bishop Laurus was elected Metropolitan of Eastern America and New York and First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia. In 2006, Metropolitan Laurus chaired the ROCOR’s fourth All-Diaspora Coun- cil, which approved reconciliation and nor- malization of relations with the Moscow Patriarchate. On May 17, 2007, he partici- pated in the signing of the Act of Canoni- 28 VOLUME 44 2 NorthAmerica MA museum boasts largest US collection of Russian icons hile today’s skyrocketing air ton, MA, will prove to be a most respect- – the only one of its kind in the US – was W fares make a trip to Moscow’s able alternative! founded by Gordon Lankton, chairman Tretyakov Gallery cost prohibitive, a visit Housed in a fully renovated 150-year- of Nypro, Inc., who became fascinated to the Museum of Russian Icons in Clin- old former mill since 2006, the museum with icons during his many visits to his company’s Moscow facility. Over 250 Miniature folding iconostasis, circa 1780, from the museum’s collection. icons, tracing the development of iconog- raphy from the 15th century right up to the present, are currently on display in the 4,800 square foot facility. Located at 203 Union St., Clinton, MA, the museum is open Tuesday through Saturday from 11:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. Information on special programs is avail- able on the museum’s web site at www.museumofrussianicons.org.

Pages from 21 Recession from 8 Orthodox schools conference to be held Anniversaries Time to tighten the belt Father Joseph Kreta, the first dean, he crisis. Those who bought the “prosperity August 1-2 guided the school through its formative gospel” have some theological rethinking years. The seminary moved to a site adja- to do. Young capitalists who have known ith the help of the Virginia H. Farah cent to Kodiak’s Holy Resurrection Church good times will struggle existentially when W Foundation, the Orthodox School in 1974. Two years later, it was recognized clicks and cliques don’t pay the rent. Fami- Association will hold its second annual as a theological seminary by the Holy lies built on “shopping together” will have conference at Hellenic College, Brookline, Synod of Bishops. The faculty included only each other, plus a stack of bills, to MA, August 1-2, 2008. graduates of the OCA’s other seminaries. triage. Cult-like devotion to the housing Two plenary addresses – “The Peda- Some faculty members, notably Father market will yield scant hope or meaning. gogy of Saint John Chrysostom” and “Clas- Michael Oleksa, a reknowned Alaskan his- People need real bread. sical Education and the Orthodox Mind” torian and native cultures expert, remained Third, it is time to nurture community, – will be delivered by Dr. Anne Bezzerides in Alaska for the long-term. The seminary opening the doors wide to a troubled world and the Rev. Dr. Demetrios Constantelos. has played a key role in reviving Church and then engaging new and old in basic Individual seminars will explore topics life in Alaska. At the time of the seminary’s Christian gifts: love, hospitality, care-giv- ranging from organizing capital campaigns establishment, the diocese was served by a ing, sharing travails, listening. This isn’t a to methods of teaching various disciplines. handful of clergy, many from the lower 48 time to be perfecting doctrine or polishing states. Today, dozens of native clergy pas- institutional brass. “We invite everyone to join us as we tor Alaska’s nearly 100 churches, while Fourth, this is a time to reconsider op- examine the patristic educational counsels seminary-trained lay readers and catechists erational basics. Cutting to the chase: do that will keep us consistent with our faith serve communities without resident priests. we need the inefficient facilities that we and the organizational models and practi- The Orthodox Church in America’s have inherited? Do we need to continue cal skills that will make our schools a solid seminaries are indispensible in preparing being in business only one day a week? and attractive option to all Americans,” educated hierarchs and clergy and learned The answers aren’t necessarily “No,” but said Bryan Smith, association director. lay leaders, teachers, and others devoted nothing, not even a beloved sanctuary, gets The association serves as a resource to to various forms of ministry. The seminar- a free pass. North America’s growing number of Ortho- ies provide spiritual formation through the Finally, we have got to stop fighting dox schools. It’s first conference, held in integration of academic study, worship, ser- over control. If we can’t work together – Fort Worth, TX in 2007, attracted adminis- vice, and fellowship within the context of clergy and laity, conservative and liberal, trators and teachers from over 20 schools. the Christian community. May the semi- traditional and conservative, new and old Registration forms and general infor- naries continue to lead the entire Church members, male and female, rich and poor – mation on Orthodox schools may be found in theological discourse to uncover the rev- then we have nothing to offer a broken on the association’s web site at www. elation of the Church’s genuine, timeless, world. Our fights have corrupted most orthodoxschools.org, or by contacting the and unchanging Holy Tradition in ways of human history. Enough of these association at 7601 Bellaire Drive South, meaningful for contemporary society. shameful and arrogant conflicts! Fort Worth, TX 76132; 617/850-1315; Alexis Liberovsky is the archivist Tom Ehrich is a writer for Religion info@ orthodoxschools.org. of the Orthodox Church in America. News Service. G E N E V A 29 Bishop tells WCC: WorldBriefs “Liberal Christianity G R E E C E will not survive” is Grace, Bishop Greek Church elects new primate H Hilarion [Alfa- yev], the Moscow n February 7, 2008, just one week Patriarchate’s repre- after the funeral of His Beatitude, sentative to the Euro- O Archbishop Christodoulos of pean institutions, Athens and All Greece, members of the warned about the Holy Synod of the Church of Greece “danger of liberal elected His Eminence, Metropolitan Christianity” at the Ieronymos of Thebes, 70, as the opening session of Church’s new Primate. the central commit- Archbishop Christodoulos fell tee of the World asleep in the Lord on January 28, 2008, Bishop Hilarion Council of Churches after a six-month bout with cancer. in Geneva, Switzer- Seventy-four bishops participated land, on February 13, 2008. in the election of Metropolitan Iero- “The liberalization of moral standards, initi- nymos, who received 45 of 74 votes ated by some Protestant and Anglican communi- during a second round of balloting. ties several decades ago and developing with ever- “I accept this high office and honor Archbishop Ieronymos increasing speed, has now brought us to a situation to uphold the holy traditions of the where we can no longer preach one and the same Greek Orthodox Church,” he said in accepting the post. code of moral conduct,” he said. “We can no longer The election was closely watched in Greece, where Orthodox Christianity speak about Christian morality, because moral stan- is recognized as the “prevailing religion” in the constitution. Ninety-seven dards promoted by ‘traditional’ and ‘liberal’ Chris- percent of the country’s native-born population has been baptized in the tians are markedly different, and the abyss between Orthodox Church. these two wings of contemporary Christianity is Born in 1938, the new archbishop pursued postgraduate studies in Aus- rapidly growing. tria and Germany after completing studies in philosophy and theology at the “We are being told by some allegedly Chris- University of Athens. He abandoned a promising academic career after enter- tian leaders, who still bear the titles of Reverends ing the ministry. and Most Reverends, that marriage between a In 1981, he was unanimously elected Metropolitan of Thebes after serv- woman and a man is no longer the only option for ing as abbot of two monasteries and as chief secretary of the Church of Greece’s creating a Christian family, that there are other pat- Holy Synod. terns, and that the Church must be ‘inclusive’ As Metropolitan of Thebes, he renovated and revived over 20 monastic enough to recognize alternative life-styles and give communities. In addition to scholarly pursuits on a variety of theological, them official and solemn blessing,” Bishop Hilarion social, and historical disciplines, he established numerous boarding schools, continued. “We are being told that human life is orphanages, homes for the elderly, rehabilitation centers for the mentally no longer an unquestionable value, that it can be challenged, a drug prevention center, food kitchens for the poor, and a variety summarily aborted in the womb, or that one may of other social and charitable ministries. have the right to interrupt it voluntarily, and that Upon learning of the election, His Beatitude, Metropolitan Herman, sent Christian ‘traditionalists’ should reconsider their a congratulatory message to Archbishop Ieronymos, the text of which reads as standpoints in order to be in tune with modern de- follows. velopments. We are being told that abortion is “It is with great joy that I greet you on the occasion of your election as acceptable, contraception is agreeable, and eutha- Archbishop of Athens and All Greece. Although we do not know each nasia is better still, and that the Church must ac- other personally, it is clear from your reputation as a churchman, an adminis- commodate all these ‘values’ in the name of hu- trator, and an academic that you are a truly worthy candidate for the office man rights. of Primate of the Church of Greece. We are particularly impressed with the What, then, he asked, is left of Christianity? work that you accomplished establishing numerous and varied philanthropic “In the confusing and disoriented world in and pastoral institutions in your service as Metropolitan of Thebes and which we live, where is the prophetic voice of Chris- Levadeia. tians? What can we offer, or can we offer anything “On behalf of all the hierarchs, clergy, and faithful of the Orthodox Church at all to the secular world, apart from what the secu- in America, I offer prayers that our ever-merciful Lord will continue to bless lar world will offer to itself as a value system on your work as you apply your talents to this new yoke of service, leading the Geneva to 30 Orthodox Church in Greece.” 30 VOLUME 44 2 R E S O U R C E S bishop’s part is simply the essential sacra- New Orthodox Study Bible with mental act of laying on hands, but he can- Old Testament now available not exercise this power at his own discre- tion, but only with the consent of his The fruit of over 20 years of labor by many of the best Ortho- Church.” Once again, we see the bishop dox Christian theologians of our time, the long awaited and his presbyters functioning as a unity, Orthodox Study Bible combines an original translation of like “a single lyre with its many strings.” the Old Testament from the Septuagint with the popular Things were soon to change under New Testament and Psalms pub- Constantine. The needs of the Imperial lished several years ago. The edition State required a single liaison of local is available from most Orthodox ven- Church with distant Emperor; this liaison dors and on-line at www.conciliarpress.com. was the bishop, and juridical authority came to be concentrated almost solely in Jacob’s Well back in print him. What was originally the bishop’s After an absence of several years, Jacob’s Well, the moral authority among his flock became official publication of the Diocese of Washington and his legal – and State enforced – jurisdic- New York is back in print. Read the latest issue in tion. This was natural enough in Byzan- PDF format at http://dcnyoca.org. tium, but it forms no essential part of the bishop’s office. And Byzantium is long dead. The American eagle, I notice, has Geneva from 29 but one head. against the challenges that it faces,” Bishop The Church in North America might Liberal Christianity Hilarion stated that “it is not our task to well consider a return to our original Tra- which society should be built? Do we have defend Sharia law, or to commend alterna- dition regarding the functioning of the of- our own value system which we should tive life-styles, or to promote secular val- fices of bishop and presbyter – not as an preach, or should we simply applaud ev- ues. Our holy mission is to preach what exercise in ecclesiastical archaeology, but ery novelty in public morality which be- Christ preached, to teach what the apostles as part of our recovery of spiritual health comes fashionable in the secular society?” taught, and to propagate what the Holy Fa- and vitality. It is not a question of “return- Bishop Hilarion also challenged what thers propagated. It is this witness which ing artificially to the third century,” but of he called a “‘politically correct’ Christian- people are expecting of us. having credibility and fulfilling Christ’s ity... which not only so easily and readily “I am convinced that liberal Christian- will in the 21st century. That is, I suggest surrenders itself to secular moral standards, ity will not survive for a long time,” Bishop that we take our conciliar nature more seri- but also participates in promoting value Hilarion concluded. “A politically correct ously than we have before, that bishops systems alien to Christian tradition. Christianity will die. We see already how and their presbyters strive to nourish a close “We are facing a paradoxical situa- liberal Christianity is falling apart and how personal relationship, that bishops seek out tion,” he explained, observing that “Brit- the introduction of new moral norms leads and utilize the wisdom which God has ish secular politicians who share Christian to division, discord, and confusion in some placed in the presbyters for their guidance convictions are concerned about the ris- Christian communities. This process will and support and for the health of the ing Christianophobia in the UK and ini- continue, while traditional Christians, I Church. The bishops’ dioceses have ex- tiate a debate on this issue in Parliament, believe, will consolidate their forces in or- panded far beyond what the pre-Nicene calling for recognition of the country’s der to protect the faith and moral teaching Church ever imagined – one bishop of the Christian identity” while, “at the same time, which the Lord gave, the Apostles OCA has a diocese that spans the conti- the Primate of the Church of England calls preached, and the Fathers preserved.” nent, while another oversees a diocese of for ‘a constructive accommodation with some 16 states. There is no way our bish- some aspects of Muslim law.’ Tradition from 9 ops can effectively function as the “local “I am sure I will be told that Christian- pastor” of all the faithful in their vast terri- ity must become more tolerant and all-in- A return to Tradition tories. With such expanded responsibili- clusive, that we Christians should no longer Dix gives two examples of this; I will ties, the bishops therefore need our love, insist on our religion as being the only true quote one. Saint Cyprian of Carthage or- support and prayers – even more. Part of faith, that we should learn how to adopt dained a subdeacon and a reader, but ne- this loving support includes the guidance other value systems and standards,” Bishop glected first to secure the assent of his of their presbyterial college. The bishop is Hilarion continued. “My question, how- presbyterium. He therefore sent anxious not only the father to his diocese; he – like ever, is: when are we going to stop making apologies to his presbyters for having done Saint Peter – is also sumpresbyteros, or co- Christianity politically correct and all-in- this, excusing himself and saying that this presbyter, called to act in concert with the clusive; why do we insist on accommodat- was done in time of emergency [cited as other members of his college. If the bishop ing every possible alternative to the cen- Epistle 28]. Dix comments, “Cyprian’s and his presbyters could function as a unity, turies-old Christian tradition? Where is the excuse that the presbyters had previously like a single lyre with its many strings, what limit, or is there no limit at all? agreed to the men’s fitness for these orders a song of praise might arise to God! Observing that “many Christians makes it all the more strange to us that he worldwide look to Christian leaders in the should think it necessary to excuse him- Fr. Lawrence Farley is rector of St. hope that they will defend Christianity self at all.... In the pre-Nicene Church the Herman Church, Langley, BC, Canada. PASCHA/PENTECOST 2008 Communities Send photos and news to TOC Communities, One Wheaton Center 912, Wheaton, IL 60187 or to [email protected].

Grants available to further the mission of Orthodoxy WILLIAMSPORT, PA – Financial support is now available from the Ganister Orthodox Foundation for organizations Choir director’s compositions with innovative approaches to advancing the mission of Orthodoxy in the US. The deadline for submitting grant premiered in Joliet, IL applications is July 31, 2008. Recipients will be announced JOLIET, IL – The 25-voice choir of Lewis University, in the fall. Lockport, IL, performed a concert of Orthodox hymns at St. Founded in 2001, the Ganister Orthodox Foundation Nicholas Church here recently. is a component of In addition to featuring classic works by Kedrov, the First Commu- Arkhangelsky, and Tchaikovsky, the choir premiered original nity Foundation of compositions by the parish’s former choir director, Stephen Pennsylvania, lo- J. Platko. Twenty-two selections from Mr. Platko’s collec- cated in Williams- tion, Orthodox Musical Offering 2008, are the end result of port, PA. collaboration with his brother, the late Fr. John Platko of Recent grants Overland Park, KS, himself a noted composer, who fell have been awarded asleep in the Lord in 2005. One of the hymns, The Jesus to Ancient Faith Prayer, was composed as a prayer for healing within the Radio, to support Orthodox Church in America. the purchase of Fr. John E. Kuchta is rector of St. Nicholas parish. digital recorders for The collection is available free of charge to parishes and worldwide distribu- San Francisco’s Raphael choirs who send a request to Mr. Platko at splatko@comcast. recently received a tion; Raphael House, House net; 815/254-4865. San Francisco, CA, Gannister Foundation grant to to sponsor intern- sponsor internships for live-in ships for resident volunteers. Ambassador bids farewell to volunteers; and St. Tikhon’s Seminary, South Canaan, PA, to finance an Moscow Representation church off-site education program for those pursuing the diaconate. MOSCOW, RUS- Favor is given to proposals that address priority needs of SIA – On April 2, the Orthodox Church in America, especially those that do 2008, His Excel- so in catalytic ways. The selection process also weighs lency, William leadership experience within each organization, clarity of Burns, Ambassador goals, the presence of a stable funding base, and faithful- of the US to the ness to the teachings and ministry of the Church. Appli- Russian Federa- cants must articulate how their undertaking will have a tion, visited the positive impact on a specific priority need, without OCA’s Representa- duplicating other programs or projects already serving the tion Church of St. Church. Catherine the Great Applicants must be qualifying 501c(3) organizations as Martyr to bid farewell to the parish dean, Archimandrite described under IRS Section 509(a)(1). Grants will not be Zacchaeus. considered for endowments, ongoing operational support, Fr. Zacchaeus offered sincere thanks for the cooperation annual campaigns or event sponsorships, debt reduction, that took place between the OCA Representation and the US research grants, or support of individuals. Embassy during Ambassador Burn’s diplomatic service in To receive a grant application, contact Julie Adams, Russia. The Ambassador avidly supported projects initiated First Community Foundation of Pennsylvania, 330 Pine St., by the parish, including the annual September 11 memorial Suite 401, Williamsport, PA 17701. Applications will be service for the Innocent victims of terrorism around the world reviewed and recommendations made by the advisory board and the annual prayer service for World AIDS Day. of the Ganister Orthodox Foundation, a donor-advised Fr. Zacchaeus presented the Ambassador with an icon component of the First Community Foundation of Pennsyl- of St. Catherine and wished him success in his future vania. diplomatic work at the US Department of State. 32 Communities

Gas tanks recycled into church bells at Canadian parish LANGLEY, BC, CANADA – What does today’s commit- ment to recycling have to do with the ancient faith of the Orthodox Christian Church? “Bells!” says Matushka Donna Farley, whose husband is rector of Saint Herman Church here. And on Sunday, April 6, 2008, the parish’s faithful gathered around Fr. Lawrence Farley as he blessed a set of six bells fashioned out of high quality, recycled steel oxygen cylinders donated by Air Liquide. “A team of parishioners and friends began by cutting the bottoms of the cylinders, grinding each one to a different size to produce a variety of tones,” said Matushka Donna. “Sandblasting and painting completed the process. Now, instead of sitting in a landfill, there are six more ‘voices’ proclaiming the glory of God.”

Fr. Lawrence with some of the bell-making and tower- building team admire recycled bells!

Deacon Kurt Jordan cuts each cylinder to a different length to produce a variety of tones.

A modest tower at the church’s entrance was built to house the bells, each of which is named in honor of one of the North American saints. “We thought it fitting that the largest, deepest bell be named in honor of our parish’s patron, Saint Herman of Alaska,” Matushka Donna added. At the end of the blessing rite, percussionist Dan Steenburgh struck the bells for the first time with mallets as the faithful entered the church for the Divine Liturgy. He learned how to ring the bells from the monks at Holy Transfiguration Monastery, Gibsons, BC, who also had made bells from recycled cylinders.