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Light of the East Newsletter of the Society of Saint John Chrysostom Western Region Edition Website: www.lightoftheeast.org Volume 10, Number 1-2 Spring / Summer 2015 Bishop of Rome subject of Orientale Lumen By Bob Greenwell A Moleben to the Holy Spirit, asking for guidance, The 19th annual Orientale Lumen Conference, started us off. We also celebrated morning matins held at Catholic University of America in Washing- and evening vespers, as well as an Orthodox Di- ton, D.C., from June 15 to vine Liturgy at St. Nicholas 18, was sponsored by the Cathedral. Jack Figel, con- Orientale Lumen Founda- ference chairman, gave a tion and the national Soci- brief history of the confer- ety of St. John Chrysostom. ences from 1996, and Car- The theme of the confer- dinal Emeritus Theodore ence was “The Bishop of McCarrick of Washington, Rome — Past, Present, and D.C., offered encourage- Future.” ment. Jack then showed Clergy, religious, and a video of Cardinal Kurt faithful from Roman Cath- Koch of the Pontifical In- olic, Eastern Catholic, and stitute for Unity greeting all Orthodox faith traditions the participants and wish- were present. Hierarchical ing us all a very successful attendees included Bish- conference. op John Michael Botean Metropolitan Kallistos of the Romanian Catholic gave an opening statement, Church in North America, stating in part that “... unity while Metropolitan Kallis- is a necessity, it is impera- tos Ware of the Greek Or- tive, and it will be a miracle thodox Church of Great of God. Our human task is Britain presented one of Photo by Victor Vallejo to remove obstacles toward the talks from an Orthodox Metropolitan Kallistos (holding cross, center) leads the this upcoming Divine mir- perspective, and Bishop Divine Liturgy at St. Nicholas Orthodox Cathedral during acle.” He further quoted the Orientale Lumen Conference. Bryan Bayda of the Psalm 118: “It is time for Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church in Canada pre- the Lord to act. Let us open our hearts so that the sented another talk regarding enculturated evangeli- Holy Spirit may act within each one of our hearts.” zation in both Slavic and Western traditions. Bishop John Michael gave a brief introduction Each day began with morning and evening prayer. Continued on Page 4 Happenings! Presbytera Eugenia Constantinou, University SSJC-WR Presentation: of San Diego. Presentation is at 10 a.m., Satur- The Different Translations of Holy Scripture day, Sept. 26 at Holy Angels Byzantine Cath- used by Catholics and Orthodox olic Church (2235 Galahd Road, San Diego). Contact Robert Greenwell at 619-644-3600 or Presented by Professor Michael Barber, John [email protected] Paul the Great University, San Diego, and Page 2 Message from the President of SSJC-Western Region The Society of Saint John Chrysostom Creation is a The Society of Saint John Chrysotom is an Ecumenical group of clergy and lay people that promotes Eastern Christianity and Ecumenical Dialogue between the topic of unity Eastern and Western Churches. It has sponsored the Eastern Churches Journal and the annual Orientale for East, West Lumen Conference. It has been in existence since 1997 in the United States and for over 70 years in England. By the Very Reverend Archpriest George Morelli, PhD The Goals of the Society are to: An exciting convergence of agreement between • Make known the history, worship, spirituality, discipline and theology of Eastern Christendom major Eastern and Western Churches has recently • Work and pray that all Christians, particularly the taken place on a critical contemporary moral issue: Orthodox and Catholic Churches, will attain the care for the environment. Orthodox Metropolitan John fullness of unity which Jesus Christ desires • Develop educational programs that present Zizioulas of Pergamum has labeled the issue in question information about the Eastern Churches “existential ecumenism ” — because it deals with the • Organize and conduct pilgrimages and conferences problem of living out our lives on earth and cosmos, the that encourage ecumenical dialogue • Contribute to fundraising activities that support creation God has given us dominion over. (Gn 1: 28) Eastern Christian communities and other programs in One of the first modern-day alerts of the current en- need of financial aid. vironmental crisis occurred in the message on the Day • Publish books, brochures and other information which help explain Eastern Christianity. of Prayer for Creation in September 1993 by Patriarch • Encourage and support the study of the writings Bartholomew I, Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, and liturgy of Saint John Chrysostom. who wrote, “During this time, brothers and children in • Promote scholarships for the study of Eastern the Lord, when international organizations, inter-state Churches and Orthodox Seminaries. legislation and scientific research programs are united Western Region in jeremiads and lamentations to toll the bell of danger President: The Very Reverend Archpriest George so that man might sober up in time before the coming Morelli, PhD. of mass chaos, which would threaten universal order Vice President: Very Reverend Archpriest Ramon and balance in the various so-called ‘eco-systems,’ not Merlos Secretary: Anne Petach only of our planet, but of the entire cosmos. Assistant Secretary: Diane Alves The words of Pope Francis I of Rome in his encyclical Treasurer: Robert Greenwell Laudato Si now add to this. The theological connection Sgt. at Arms / Parliamentarian: Mark Hartman Catholic Liaison: Msgr. Dennis Mikulanis to God’s creative act recorded in Genesis can be imme- Chaplains: diately seen in the Holy Father’s words: “This sister [our Archimandrite James Babcock (Eastern Catholic) earth] now cries out to us because of the harm we have Very Reverend Ramon Merlos (Orthodox) Fr Cávana Wallace (Roman Catholic) inflicted on her by our irresponsible use and abuse of the goods with which God has endowed her.” Light of the East The papal encyclical is not a scientific treatise, but a Official newsletter of the Society of Saint John moral challenge to be aware of our past sins and re- Chrysostom. Western Region is published quarterly by pent for them by reversing the ills we have inflicted. In the Western Region of the SSJC and is distributed free this regard, the Holy Father references Patriarch Bar- of charge to all SSJC members and through churches throughout the Western Region of the USA. tholomew, who informs us: “For human beings ... to Editor: Jim Trageser, [email protected] destroy the biological diversity of God’s creation; for Executive Editor: Archimandrite James Babcock, human beings to degrade the integrity of the earth by [email protected] causing changes in its climate, by stripping the earth of Distribution: PO Box 189, Temecula, CA 92593 Membership: Robert Greenwell, 2700 Katherine its natural forests or destroying its wetlands; for human Street, El Cajon, CA 92020 beings to contaminate the earth’s waters, its land, its [email protected] air, and its life – these are sins.” For “to commit a crime Continued on Page 7 Page 3 The Society of St. John Chrysostom-Western Region presents “The Different Translations of Holy Scripture used by Catholics and Orthodox” Saturday, September 26, 2015. 10a.m.- 12:30 p.m. Parish Divine Liturgy is at 9: a.m. All are welcome. Holy Angels Byzantine Catholic Church 2235 Galahad Rd, San Diego, CA 92123 Office: 858-277-www.holyangelssandiego.com Contact: Robert Greenwell: (619) 644-3600; [email protected] Michael Barber, PhD Professor of Theology & Scripture, John Paul the Great University, San Diego Presbytera Eugenia Constantinou, PhD Adjunct Professor of Biblical Studies, University of San Diego A freewill offering will be taken Directions: 805 FWY; exit Murray Ridge Rd. N. on Murray Ridge to Encino (short distance). Rt. on Encino, then (shortly) Rt. on Galahad Rd. Left on Regency into Church parking lot. Passenger drop-off is on lower level, at rear. The Society of St. John Chrysostom-Western Region business meeting immediately follows. Those staying for the meeting should bring a packed lunch. The Society of St. John Chrysostom-Western Region, is an ecumenical organization of laity and clergy of the Eastern and Oriental Orthodox Churches and the Eastern Catholic and Roman Catholic Churches which was established to make known the history, worship, spirituality, discipline and theology of Eastern Christianity, and to work for the fullness of unity desired by Jesus Christ. Page 4 Conference reports on efforts to restore full communion Continued from Page 1 that our conferences are having reverberations. The The First Vatican Council of 1869-1870 was the Eastern Catholic bishops are now the fifteenth “re- fourth period. It did not define the pope as infal- gion” at the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, as lible (this is a common misconception), only the opposed to the prior fourteen regions based solely apostolic church. on geography. The fifth period is the early modern period, in- Jack showed another video of the pilgrimage to cluding the reform of the Eucharist by Pope Pius X. Rome and Constantinople last October. Pope The sixth period extended from John XXIII Francis is the third pope to join in St. Andrew’s feast, shared by all on Nov. 30. Pope Francis and Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew exchanged greetings. Francis stressed the service of the pope ‘If we are to unite, we must first love one to the whole church, not “ruling over it.” Another another. If we are to love one another, we must pilgrimage is planned for Oct. 17-28, 2016, with an first get to know each other. It must be person to Orientale Lumen IV Conference in Constantinople person.’ (Istanbul). – Metropolitan Kallistos Ware Father Ron Roberson, secretary to the ecumen- ical commission of the USCCB and moderator for the conference, gave a brief introduction. He said that Pope Paul VI said in 1967 that the bishop of through Paul VI, including the second Vatican Rome could be the greatest obstacle to unity of Council and its early implementation.