Volume 58 No. 8 November 2014

The Clergy SYMPOSIUM VOLUME 58 NO. 8 NOVEMBER 2014 editor’s letter contents COVER: THE CLERGY SYMPOSIUM Encounter God Through the People 3 EDITORIAL by Bishop JOHN of His Church and In Doing His Will 5 THE CLERGY SYMPOSIUM: PASTORAL THEOLOGY AND HEALING by The Very Rev. Joseph J. Allen, Th.D. hat does it take to keep the Church doors 10 BAPTISM AND EUCHARIST: SACRAMENTS OF HEALING open, or, probably more important, what by Paul Meyendorff W does it take to fulfill our Christian respon- 12 ANTIOCHIAN HOUSE OF STUDIES sibly? Keeping our doors open is not enough. We are SO MUCH MORE: REFLECTING THE UNCEASING WORSHIP OF THE to bring Christ to His world and offer this world back HEAVENLY HOSTS to God. Such a commission requires more than mini- by Daniel L. Marchant malist ways of thinking. It takes all of our hearts, all His Eminence the 14 ANTIOCHIAN HOUSE OF STUDIES of our minds, and all of our souls. Rather than asking OUR GOAL: KNOWING GOD Most Reverend what is the least we can get away with, we need to Metropolitan JOSEPH by Sub-deacon Jeremiah Vollman dream together about serving God and serving His The Right Reverend 16 ANTIOCHIAN HOUSE OF STUDIES Bishop ANTOUN THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN AND people. We need to develop a clear vision of what PURITY OF HEART The Right Reverend by Ronnie Long bringing the world to God is all about. We need to ex- Bishop BASIL press God’s saving action in real time and in tangible, The Right Reverend 18 PATRIARCHAL VISIT AND ENTHRONEMENT Bishop THOMAS SCHEDULE OF EVENTS understandable and relational ways. This is what it The Right Reverend 20 ASSEMBLY OF CANONICAL ORTHODOX means to be in the Church, the Church which is apos- Bishop ALEXANDER BISHOPS OF THE UNITED STATES tolic and established by God for the life of the world. OF AMERICA The Right Reverend Bishop JOHN 24 UNITY IN ANTIOCH Researchers have reported that for the first time in by Economos Antony Gabriel The Right Reverend American history, there is no longer a correlation Bishop ANTHONY 26 ANTIOCHIAN WOMEN: NURTURING THE between church attendance and contributions to The Right Reverend SEEDS OF ORTHODOXY the church or support of it. Churches that are full Bishop NICHOLAS by Dianne O’Regan sometimes have smaller receipts than those with few Founded in Arabic as 28 COMING TO LOVE THE TRINITY Al Kalimat in 1905 by Garrett “Justin” Brannon people in the pews. What is behind such a finding is and faithful laity, God works, heals, witnesses and by Saint Raphael (Hawaweeny) a new understanding of membership. People who saves. Through real people gathered in His name and Founded in English as 29 ARCHDIOCESAN OFFICE consider themselves members of a church may not worshiping in correct (Orthodox) ways, God reveals The WORD in 1957 29 DAILY DEVOTIONS by Metropolitan ANTONY (Bashir) translate their idea of church membership to church Himself and sanctifies our space, our time, our selves. 30 ORATORICAL FESTIVAL Editor in Chief The Rt. Rev. Bishop JOHN, D.Min. attendance, work in the church or support. While God is in His Church and His Church is in Him. God 32 COMMUNITIES IN ACTION Assistant Editor Christopher Humphrey, Ph.D. some members come to church but don’t contribute works through His Church. Editorial Board The Very Rev. Joseph J. Allen, Th.D. or support the church, others contribute, but absent Anthony Bashir, Ph.D. We cannot be Christian without the Church that chris- The Very Rev. Antony Gabriel, Th.M. themselves from worship. Church life has changed Letters to the editor are welcome and should include the author’s full name and mates and Christianizes us. As Christians, we do not Ronald Nicola dramatically in the last two decades. Understanding Najib E. Saliba, Ph.D. parish. Submissions for “Communities in Action” must be approved by the local act in isolation or follow our own will. Christians from pastor. Both may be edited for purposes of clarity and space. All submissions, in The Very Rev. Paul Schneirla, M.Div. of the nature of the church has changed. This is true hard copy, on disk or e-mailed, should be double-spaced for editing purposes. the time of the disciples submit themselves to God Design Director Donna Griffin Albert in the Orthodox Church as well. Church leadership and to each other, and are sent by the Church. This be- Member ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION: would do well to understand what the members are ing sent and being responsible to the Church protects The Associated Church Press U.S.A. and Canada, $20.00 thinking and how they behave as a result. An under- Conciliar Press Foreign Countries, $26.00 us from self-delusion and egocentrism. We are all em- standing of how our Orthodox Church members are Ecumenical News International Single Copies, $3.00 powered and directed by Christ through His Church. Orthodox Press Service thinking and how they are influenced by those around The WORD (USPS626-260) is published monthly, except July and August, by the Every generation from the time of Christ has witnessed Editorial Office: Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America at 358 Mountain us will make us pastors better able to teach what is The WORD continuously and consistently to the Word of God who Road, PO Box 5238; periodicals postage paid at Englewood, New Jersey 07631- 2 Lydia’s Path true and wholesome. took on flesh, taught us, suffered for us and died a hor- Westborough, MA 01581-1841 5238 and at additional mailing offices. e-mail: [email protected] Postmaster send address changes to: The WORD, 358 Mountain Road, PO Box The Church provides us with opportunities to serve rible death for us. This He did, so that He could rise for Subscription Office: 5238, Englewood, NJ 07631-5238 God and the world that He created and calls home. us and open for us a way to live in Christ. ISSN 0043-7964 www.antiochian.org. 358 Mountain Road The Church is mystical, inasmuch as God Himself PO Box 5238 The Church gives us opportunities to meet God Canada Post Publication Agreement No. 40043404 Englewood, NJ 07631-5238 touches us and ministers to us through this body Return Canada address to: through worship, study and prayerful support. We American International Mail, STN A – BOX 697, Windsor ON N9A 6N4, Canada established by Him, a body that, like Christ, is both then share with the world on behalf of our Church our divine and human. Through human bishops, pastors, own witness to Christ, and then share God’s own com-

2 November 2014 The Word 3 EDITORIAL

passion and mercy. God is discovered as He reveals Word of God. It is a Church that puts fl esh on God’s Himself to us in the Church and then rediscovered as love and shows God’s action in our lives. In submitting He reveals Himself to others through us. I am saying to God through our submission to each other, let us that we discover God again as He works through us. dedicate ourselves and each other to Christ. It is only He works through us when we serve Him through the in this submission that we can act in Christ both with- Church by caring and witnessing to others. out egotism and in reality. It is only in being sent by God through the visible signs that are our Patriarch, In a few weeks Patriarch JOHN X will come to New Metropolitan, bishops and pastors that we can be the York to install Metropolitan JOSEPH as Archbishop Church and claim our apostolic authority. of New York and Metropolitan of All North America. Patriarch JOHN X is the visible source of Christ’s Together, let us commit ourselves to Christ through our Patriarch The Clergy JOHN X and our We cannot be Christian without the Church that chrismates Metropolitan and Christianizes us. As Christians, we do not act in isolation JOSEPH so that we can encoun- or follow our own will. Christians from the time of the dis- ter God and do SYMPOSIUM ciples submit themselves to God and to each other, and are His will through His Church. Let Pastoral Theology and Healing sent by the Church. This being sent and being responsible to us serve North The Very Rev. Joseph J. Allen, Th.D. America within the Church protects us from self-delusion and egocentrism. Jesus Christ and The theme of this Symposium, “‘For the sick and the suffering …’: MEDICINE, THE- with integrity OLOGY, HEALING,” lies at the epicenter of Pastoral Theology. It involves various terms, Church as lived within the Patriarchate of Antioch and love. Let us share Christ with the countries of sometimes used interchangeably: pastoral care, pastoral ministry, pastoral praxis, from Ss. Peter and Paul until today. Likewise, Metro- North America in which we live and that we love. Let and so forth. Each of these terms – at least for the Orthodox Christian – is related to politan JOSEPH serves as our source and connection us witness to each other, sowing and reaping gener- the more global understanding of ministry and theology. to the Apostolic Church that we are today in North ously, not minimally. America. The Church is a Church that incarnates the Bishop JOHN inistry and theology, in turn, are Pastoral The- 1. The Use of Medical Language in the Life of the ology, and for us in Church leadership, who Church Mseek to be agents of healing in that ministry, We can begin by understanding the medical term so we must know in what kind of “healing” we partici- often used by the Church Fathers for the praxis (prac- pate. Therefore the question before us in this Sym- tice) of this ministry: “The Spiritual Physician” (IatroV posium is, What do we as Orthodox Christians mean ΠneuμatikoV). when we use the term “healing?” By extension, we Pastoral should ask, How are our ministry and theology related St. Gregory Nazianzen in his Flight to Pontos calls the to that understanding of healing? praxis of this Spiritual Physician “the art of arts, and Winter Camp 2015 Marriage the science of science,”1 and St. Gregory of Rome, in From the beginning, we must realize a certain tension Antiochian Village his Pastoral Rule I,2 claims this same healing praxis is and Family is needed: we direct others entrusted by God to our “the art of arts” (arσ eσt artiuμ regiμen aniμaruμ).2 “Becoming Soldiers for Christ” care, both within the Apostolic Tradition, and with the February 13-16, 2015 Counseling Students of ministry and theology, that is, of pasto- 7th-12th graders proper use of the contemporary resources available Sign up now at www.avcamp.org! Certificate to us – sociological, anthropological, psychological ral theology, will quickly realize that this praxis has as Speaker: Dn. Nick Belcher and physiological. To lose this tension is to limit our its paradigm and pattern the ministry of the “Elder,” Program capacity as agents of healing. We need both: the Ap- and, (Abba in the Semitic; Geron in the Greek; Staretz Dean of Students in the Slavonic), so solidly rooted in Eastern Christian- at Hellenic College/ For Orthodox Clergy to be confident in ostolic Tradition and contemporary resources. Holy Cross Seminary supporting Orthodox families and couples. ity. This connection is obvious because the ministry With this in mind, let us focus on three topics: To receive additional information and of the Elder is described precisely by these terms of registration materials, please contact: 1) The use of medical language in ministry and healing, healing, wholeness, and reconciliation. Indeed, since Amy Stiffler, Registar 2) The need for reconciliation through appropriation, and this praxis is always an effort to heal and reconcile, Tel: 724-238-3677 3) The place of the spiritual director and guide as the the traditional literature is replete with meanings that Fax:724-238-2102 [email protected] agent of healing. utilize such medical terminology. St. Anthony of Egypt thus says, “The fathers of old went into the desert,

4 November 2014 The Word 5 CLERGY SYMPOSIUM

and when they were made ‘whole,’ they became Things “old” and things “new:” they are both to be mode is best understood by looking at its major con- sin and disorder have broken in upon the world. One ‘physicians,’ and returning again they made others adapted to the settings in which we find others who cerns, and the connection of faith to healing is the first would not say, “You have cancer because you’ve done whole; therefore it is said, ‘Physician heal thyself.’3 seek healing and reconciliation. concern to consider. “In what ways are we to under- something wrong!” If we were to state such a direct, Abba Apollo, in the same source, is quoted as stating While this is no easy task, we can remember the truth stand the linkage of faith and healing?” causal relation between sin and disease, would we not be like Job’s friend, who said, “Whoever perished, that when a spiritual father asks questions in order to that, though the specific problems and challenges Let us begin with the Scripture. In the New Testament being innocent?” (Job 4:7)? In other words, he was guide and direct a faithful person, he is like a “wise we face in life today may differ from those of ages one author has found sixteen instances of deliverance saying, “Job, you must have done something wrong, physician.” In the Slavic tradition, St. John of Kro- past, the human search and yearning for healing and from disease and demonic possession, and over forty nstadt uses this same term, now directly relative to the something evil!” We can well understand Job’s vehe- wholeness, which has always marked sincere persons of deliverance from physical death.5 The point, how- Father-Confessor, “a spiritual physician to whom one mence: “You are all physicians of no value!” (13:4). in every age, continues to mark them today – and will ever, is that the healing of each somatic disease and can show his wounds without shame … trusting and for the remaining future. Further, whatever we appro- alleviation of suffering in the Scripture is related to the C. Faith is no guarantee of our somatic healing, nor confiding in him.”4 And finally, looking still deeper, we priate from contemporary resources in our ministry presence of God in Christ, and deliverance by Him, does it promise to be. Nor is faith dependent upon

find that the usage of this term was already rooted in of healing must be transparent to Christ’s own work. and to the healing of all of life through the restora- our healing, or the cessation of suffering. Indeed, one the ancient philosophers. For example, Socrates saw As the Apostle Paul states: “God who has reconciled tion of the cosmos. That is, it is related to the ulti- may suffer more because of his faith. Were we to be himself as the “sage” who was the IatroV thV yucuV, Himself through Christ … has given to us this ministry mate meaning of life. Again, in the New Testament relieved of such suffering, then Christ, the martyrs, the ”soul healer” or “physician of the soul.” of reconciliation” (diakonia thV katallaghV) “diako- the connection is at once causal and symbolic. Thus and all those “made perfect in faith,” as we say in the The use of medical language in such literature there- nia katalangis” (2 Corinthians 5:18). Jesus sends His disciples “to preach the Kingdom of Anaphora, would not themselves have suffered. For God, and to heal the sick” (Luke 9:2). Note: we see the Christian, it may be a case not of “Shall I suffer or fore leads us to a deeper level of care and healing; it is To study the “ministry of reconciliation” is to study one “to preach” and “to heal” in the same sentence! not,” but “How shall I suffer when it is given to me?” the first focus in the exploration of Pastoral Theology of the varieties of ministries which have been given to and Healing. the Church by God (1 Corinthians 12:4–5). The scope For the purposes of our Symposium, however, we D. Disease comes to man because, as St. John Chrys- 2. The Need for Reconciliation Through Appropriation of these ministries, of course, is variously described: ask: How can we interpret such a connection for our ostom aptly notes, everything is liable to its connatural at one point it may mean the “offices” (bishop, pres contemporary ministry, and, in particular, for the work evil and malady. (For example, corn is susceptible to Considering our second topic, we note the critical - of the Spiritual Director – in whatever form it takes mildew, wood to rot, and the body to disease.) Here need for appropriation relative to reconciliation, that byter, deacon); at another, it indicates the functions of – in today’s world? To begin with, we must make sin as disease and death enter in the causal sense! A is, relative to healing and ministry. We must learn to “all the people of God,” clergy and laity alike; at still some observations about this connection of faith and disorder proper to man is touched by an outside evil, make our care appropriate to the case that lies before other times, it might suggest the exacting functions healing, so that we are not trapped in “magic” and like spoiled or poisoned food touching that part of us if we want healing to occur. For example, it would of the “apostles, preachers, teachers,” as in the sub- misunderstanding: the body that will respond to that spoiled food. One’s be naïve for anyone today in service to the church Apostolic church. These are all part of the “gifts,” the soul, however, if it is exempt from evil, cannot be af to pretend that new things are not constantly being “charismata” of God’s grace: “Having gifts that differ A. As has been said, the healing actions of our Lord - according to the grace given to us,” Paul enjoins, “let fected by an outside evil. In other words, Chrysostom learned, that such newer understandings are not im- Jesus Christ, the Eternal Logos, manifest the Kingdom us use them” (Romans 12:6–8). says, we can do something about what is in us. Here portant, or that none of these ought to be pressed of God in our midst, and the connection is obvious. enters the patristic insistence on the agaqon – ag- Father Elias Bitar, Music into our contemporary ministry, in light of our concern Although we focus at this time on the ministry of rec- Professor, entertain- B. All healing can be causally and symbolically linked ing the students at the Students entertaining the athon (the good) and areth – arete (virtue). Chryso- for healing. How fitting are the words of our Lord in onciliation in relation to pastoral healing, the truth is graduation celebration. student and faculty at the with the act of God, even though mediated through stom asks: Why was Adam mastered by evil but not Graduation Celebration the Gospel: that the appropriation and application of this variety human resources and elements, such as doctors and Job – particularly since Adam was given everything? Father Joseph and St. of gifts is at the heart of all our theological praxis. Stephen’s graduate, Pela- His Grace, Bishop JOHN, “Therefore every scribe who has been medicines. Suffering and disease, unlike healing, how- Similarly in the Old Testament, Joseph’s brothers in- gia yu Chuan, in the Icon presenting Graduation Studio. Pelagia lives in Certificates to gradu- trained for the Kingdom of Heaven, is like 3. The Place of the Spiritual Director and Guide ever, cannot easily be seen as the act of God in par- jured him, yet he was not injured. Taiwan and uses the icon ates at ceremony. He is the master of the household who brings out ticular instances. “Sin and death” and their relation skills and knowledge gar- assisted by Director of The third mode of ministry, the practice of Spiritual E. Pain, as C. S. Lewis well notes, is a “megaphone nered from her Iconology Residency, Cheri Mul- of his treasure things that are old and things are indeed the heart of the theological matter, but the Direction and Guidance, is even more personal, and specialization to partici- lins and AHOS Director of God”! When I am in pain, my brain tells me that that are new (Matthew13:52). relation can best be understood as universal, that is, pate in church icon proj- Father Joseph Allen. demands even more careful appropriation. This third something is wrong, and I scream. In a larger sense, ects around the world. applying to humankind in general. We recognize that

6 November 2014 The Word 7 The Lenten Prayer of St. Ephraim the Syrian gives us to be made: the “congruence” of the pastor as he a lead, as it reminds us that every person has a way appropriates God’s healing grace, and the issue of of seeing himself in relation to others, a “self-image.” failure to cure. In all cases, he who seeks to be an “Who am I” in relationship to God, other humans, the agent of healing must reflect what God Himself has world? This self-image includes our understanding of done for us. ourselves. What is our role, our capacity, our direc- First, we must project what the kerygma proclaims: tion? No one should pretend that this self-image is Deus pro nobis, God for us! Each act of the pastor-in- not important: threats to our self-image are threats relationship implicitly bears what the kerygma explic- to our very being. Whether or not this should be the itly declares! God is with us! case, it is a fact. Our being itself includes our self-im- age, our self-interpretation. St. Ephraim, in this sense, An important aspect of our reflecting God’s concern is asking us to look at ourselves precisely. and healing is that of congruence. God does not cease to be Himself while sharing in human existence. As we do that, we learn that one of the most impor- God continues to be at one with Himself, being “He tant things that could happen when a person comes who is”; He never loses His inner unity and integrity. to the pastor for spiritual direction is that he is getting This is the divine congruence. The Spiritual Director sarcasm of his wife and “curious” friends. “You are so Clergy in the his self-image out before himself. Thereby he sees it Ss. Peter and Paul reflects this truth in his own dealings as he relates to miserable, Job, why do you not just curse God and for what it truly is: self-interpretation through other- Chapel at Vespers the suffering and sin of another, remaining who he is. die. “Get out of your misery!” As we hear God’s voice, interpretation. This is known in the Desert Literature The person entrusted to his care must sense the inner however, another deeper meaning comes: God says as therapia Theon, the “Therapy of God.” What is congruence of the Director. He must know that he is to Job, “Where were you when I laid the foundation of false and sinful in our self-image? What is grandiose, in the presence of one who is in touch with himself the earth?” (Job 38:41). Besides the mystery of God’s proud? Where is the discrepancy between what we and his own life, even as he encounters the other’s creative work, Job now discovers his own humanity, are and what we pretend to be? Then again, when do estrangement. Being in the presence of a congruent and remembers that “man is born into trouble” (5:7) we slothfully become “satisfied,” forgetting that we person – one who is who he is, and knows who he – neither taken out of the world, nor removed from are never totally defined by what we are, but by what is – undoubtedly has the potential for healing. The contact with disease and evil, but greeted at that very we desire to become? congruent person can be a “handle” onto which I can point with God’s care. For the Christian, God’s care Here the role of the pastor as Father-Confessor and hold. He can be the otherness that I need. He can re- is demonstrated in the Incarnation of Jesus Christ, Spiritual Guide is obvious. He is someone I trust, to main separate and not so identified with me so as to which leads to the Cross and Resurrection. Could not whom I can disclose my “self” with all my sins. Of all lose that self-congruence. our response to the human failure to cure, then, be things, he represents God and the Church! When we The pastor does not, and should not, embody fear to like that of Job: “Behold, I am of small account; what talk with him (and we do not mean here only in the Top: Gathering of suffering is a “scream” that something is wrong with share another’s fear, but must learn to share the expe- shall I answer thee? I lay my hand upon my mouth!” Clergy at the Symposium sacrament of Confession, or the mystery of repen- General Assembly our world, that we need help, that as the Trisagion rience, that is, to “co-suffer,” yet remain distinctively (Job 40:4)? tance, which can begin this talk, but not limit it), we Prayer says, “there is no man who lives and sins not, himself as “other.” Though participating, he never ne- NOTES: Bottom: His Grace When we arrive at this point, we are “healed,” even if can hear what we are saying. Furthermore, he can 1 Nicene and Post- Bishop JOHN address- and Thou only art without sin” (“without sin” mean- gates his own identity. This paradigm, as we saw, is we are not “cured.” ing the Symposium help us to interpret what we are really saying. What Nicene Fathers ing whole, perfect). Sometimes only this megaphone learned in the meaning of God’s incarnation in Christ; (NPNF), Series 2:7, “idols” have we created in order to avoid coming The Very Rev. Joseph J. Allen, Th.D. 203-207. can bring us to our knees. Our hope is informed by God “healed” us by becoming man (vere homo), but St. Anthony’s Antiochian Orthodox Church to grips with ourselves? What “idols” have we cre- the saying of St. Gegory Nazianzen: “What is not as- also because He remained God (vere Deus). Director of Theological and Pastoral Education 2 Ancient Christian ated that keep us from the painful truth about what Writers 9 ACW0, “Pas- sumed cannot be saved.” Christ assumed our mortal- is required for us to “cooperate” with God (synergy)? We may – and often will – fail to heal, that is, cure, but toral Rule 1” 11, New ity, and is thus our hope in immortality. we must insist that, in our all-too-human failings, God York: Paulist Press What is needed for healing in each case is a re-or- 1950 may still heal. When we fail, then, we can again turn These are some of the central aspects of the linkage dering of our self-image – and it must be a constant 3 APOTHEGMATA of faith and healing in our concern for ministry and re-ordering. This very personal relationship and com- for hope to the example of Job. Job’s pleadings are PATRUM, ed. Heden theology, of which the contemporary Spiritual Direc- like a theorem: he is innocent and struck down with Waddell, London: munion with a Father-Confessor can release a person 1972. tor and Spiritual Father must be aware. misfortune and illness. The Almighty God does not and lead to such healing. 4 The Spiritual Coun- answer his plea for a cure. Is God unjust? To understand those five points, however, raises the sels of Father John Conclusion: Congruence and the Failures to Cure Kronstadt, New York: question: “What does the Spiritual Director in the An upright and God-fearing man, Job has lost every- SVSP, 122. In the end, the only thing that heals is God’s grace, Orthodox Christian tradition bring to other persons? thing: his cattle and asses, his servants and camels, 5 H. Wheeler Robin- and that is the case even if we are not cured. In light What does his relationship to those given to his care and then his sons and daughters. As if that is not son, Redemption and of this truth, there are two concluding observations Revelation (New York: enough, he falls sick with “sore boils from the sole by God mean in terms of healing?” Harper and Brothers, of his foot to the crown” (2:7). And then comes the 1942).

8 November 2014 The Word 9 CLERGY SYMPOSIUM Baptism and Eucharist: Sacraments of Healing Paul Meyendorff

Healing lies at the very center of the Church’s ministry. Even a quick review of Scrip- ture and early Christian writings makes this clear, and there is no rite or sacrament which does not contain some reference to healing. We have but to listen to the Sunday gospel readings or hear the words of liturgical prayers to realize just how frequently the theme recurs. Thus the specific rite of healing, the “Anointing of the Sick,” is but one small aspect of this ministry.

he very purpose of the Church is to heal us, to This is achieved for us when we come to know Christ, overcome the rift between God and humanity when we become one with Him and with one an- T which is caused by our sin and leads to death. other. Everything that the Church does, all its sacra- This is achieved precisely when we are united to one mental and liturgical life, all its teaching, is directed another and to God in the Body of Christ, which is the at restoring the proper relationship between God Church. In His high-priestly prayer, our Lord prays for and creation, which has been corrupted through our all His followers, sinfulness. This is the real meaning of Christian heal- ing, and it involves the whole person. The locus of this That they may all be one; even as You, Fa- ther, are in Me, and I in You, that they also healing ministry is the Church’s sacraments, and par- may be in Us, so that the world may believe ticularly in its rites of initiation, Baptism/Chrismation, our lives alone, to suffer and die a meaningless death. and the Eucharist is the realization of this communion. that You have sent Me. The glory which You and in the Eucharist. Rather, in the Church, our suffering and death become True healing is precisely the restoration of communion have given Me I have given to them, that a means to victory, following in the footsteps of Christ, with God, the restoration of the proper relationship In Baptism, Christians abandon their old life, in which His death on the cross and His resurrection. Through between God and humanity. Every time that we re- they were under the sway of sin and death, and en- Baptism, we are healed, and we are charged to bring ter into a new life, where sin and death have been this healing ministry to the world around us: to our defeated. In Baptism, we enter into a new relation- family, to our neighbor, to all whom we encounter. ship with God, with Christ, in which sin, sickness, and death no longer dominate. We become children of While Baptism and Chrismation are the means by God, heirs of the Kingdom, members of Christ’s body, which we become members of the Church, the Body the Church. This new relationship is to endure forever, of Christ, the Eucharist is the means by which this and neither sickness nor death can destroy it. Bap- membership is realized and continues to be lived out. tism, therefore, is the sacrament of healing par excel- In fact, all the sacraments of the Church, as well as the lence, a healing aimed at the whole person, body, daily and weekly cycles of prayer, have the Eucharist soul, and spirit. as their goal. We are the Church precisely when we gather together, Sunday after Sunday, to celebrate Baptism, therefore, is the paradigmatic healing sacra- the mystery of Christ’s incarnation, death, and resur- ment. Fallen humanity is recreated; our sins are for- rection on our behalf. In the Eucharist, we not only given; the image of God in us is restored; real, inti- remember these events, but we become partakers of mate communion with God, destroyed because of Metropolitan JOSEPH Christ, sharing in His divine nature “for the healing and Archdiocese they may be one even as We are one, I in sin, is again made possible. The sickness and death Hierarchy presiding them and You in Me, that they may become of soul and body.” It is precisely in the Eucharist that which once ruled our lives are defeated, in the sense ceive communion, we receive this grace of healing. As Metropolitan at the Symposium perfectly one, so that the world may know the famous fourth-century dictum of St. Athanasius is addressing the Clergy that they, just like the cross, become a means of vic- with Baptism, this healing affects the entire person, that You have sent Me and have loved them realized: “God became man, so that man might be- for the first time tory and a passage into the Kingdom. The brokenness with salvation, our entrance into the Kingdom, as its even as You have loved Me (John 17:21–23). come god.” This is the basis for the Orthodox teach- of our human existence is abolished as we are incor- ultimate goal. ing about divinization, or theosis. Jesus Christ is here asking for nothing less than the porated into the Church, the Body of Christ, through 1. On the Incarnation, 54 healing of the whole world, all humanity, all creation. which we are saved. We are no longer left to live out Humanity is created to be in communion with God,

10 November 2014 The Word 11 HOUSE OF STUDIES

So Much More: Reflecting the Unceasing

Worship of the Heavenly Hosts Daniel L. Marchant

usic played an important role in my life and of what we had been searching for our entire lives. in my journey into Orthodoxy. Having grown After Matins, we went to a required weekday chapel M up in various evangelical Protestant denomi- service at the University. The difference was day and nations, I have seen almost every style of music imag- night. The lack of order, beauty, and reverence, stood inable used in churches: from classical music and tra- in stark contrast to what we had just experienced at ditional hymns, to country music, and even rock and the Orthodox Church. That experience did much to roll, complete with smoke hasten our journey to- machines and flashing wards Orthodoxy. strobe lights. What I gained from the My first exposure to the Byzantine Musicology music of the Orthodox pro gram was not just the Church came when I was ability to chant and to a teenager. A family friend read Byzantine pneu- who had recently convert- matic notation, but also ed to Orthodoxy invited an understanding of my us to a concert. My father previous experiences. As and I went, even though an evangelical Protes- at the time, I had very lit- tant, I had no developed tle interest. I didn’t think “philosophy of music.” I the music would be “rel- viewed music as a funda- evant” or “speak to me.” mentally neutral medium, music theory and had played the violin for over fifteen After all, it was just a small used only to accompany years, I did not have much formal experience with vo- choir from some Russian the text of a song and at- cal music. So in addition to learning the Byzantine no- monastery called Valaam. tract the listener. Having tation, I was still learning about Byzantine chant itself, (I had no reason to really seen the true light and and even about vocal technique. It took a lot of hard know or understand what having found the true work, but, through the patience of my instructors, Fr. that was). faith, I have now come to Elias Bitar and Stratos Mandalakis, and the grace of understand that the music From the moment the God, I was able to learn and to grow. of the Church’s worship is choir started singing, I I would recommend this program to those who have capable of so much more. found myself transport- an interest in learning more about Byzantine chant and It can affect the emotional ed to a different place. I Byzantine notation and have some previous musical and spiritual state of a couldn’t explain it at the experience. I would especially recommend it for those File:Manuscript of Byzantine music. Scribe Hieromonk. person, bringing him or time, but there was some- Ananias Snaites in Cyprus. 18th c. (8383262679).jpg who chant in their parishes. I would like to thank all her into an attitude of rev- thing special about the the faculty for the knowledge and wisdom they have erent worship. Further, it music I heard that night, and I will never forget that shared over the course of my studies. I will truly miss can reflect to the Church the unceasing worship of the experience. the opportunity to study with such great men of God. heavenly hosts and elevate the worshipper into heav- Several years later, while a student at Liberty Universi- en itself. Finally, its beauty can transmit the glory of the ty (the world’s largest evangelical Christian university), This speech was delivered August 28, 2014 at the Divine to those who await His great and rich mercy. commencement of the Byzantine Musicology Track of the I found myself attending a weekday Matins service at St. Stephen’s Program, part of the Antiochian House of Studies. The Musicology program proved to be challenging. Holy Trinity Orthodox Church in Lynchburg, Virgin- In the first place, I came to the program from a small ia. At this point my wife and I were still evangelical Western Rite mission, so I did not have much practical Protestants. We were struck by the beauty and rever- experience with Byzantine chant. Also, while I knew ence of the services and found in them a fulfillment Upper left: Daniel Marchant, Byzantine Musicology Student, addressing the student body at graduation.

12 November 2014 The Word 13 HOUSE OF STUDIES HOUSE OF STUDIES

Sub-deacon Our Goal: Knowing God Jeremiah Vollman

Your Graces, Very Reverend Fathers, Fathers, Deacons, beloved brothers and sisters in Christ: Glory be to God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, both now and forever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

have been afforded the honor of sharing a few man might become god.” We strive to know God, Upper left: William Boyd entertaining the thoughts as a representative of those who are rather than to know about God – this is the truest attendees at the AHOS graduating from the “Applied Theology” pro- theological endeavor. One of my favorite quotes, at- Graduation Ceremo- I nies with selections in gram this week. I hope to reflect concisely on some tributed to St. Isaac the Syrian, is this: “I do not desire Chinese from the Divine Liturgy and from opera. of the principles and themes, and I hope that you, my to count milestones, but to enter the marriage cham- colleagues, find them to be consistent with your ex- ber.” (Cherri, this doesn’t mean that I don’t want my Upper right: Bishop THOMAS presenting perience as a student. certificate of completion!) Intimacy by way of union Graduation Certificate with God is our goal. to Octavian Gabor. I have now been here for two consecutive weeks, so I Bottom: Happy Gradu- begin by asking forgiveness of those who have been Theology and anthropology (our understanding of ates for the 2014 class celebrating! They are stuck with me this whole time – please forgive me for what it means to be human) are necessarily bound Ramez Mikhail, Nicholas any and all offenses. It has been a joy to be with you; together. The latter cannot exist without the former, Siniari, Chris Dillon, Keith Melville, Ronnie Long I hope that in some way I have conveyed the love of especially in light of the Incarnation. Here the Logos (kneeling), Joseph Henre, Jim Atty, Michael Abraha- Christ to you, as you have to me. united Himself with humanity to become the The- mson (kneeling), Bruce anthropos (the God-Man), that all humanity – and Plympton, Octavian Next I would like to express gratitude: thank you to Gabor, Gorgi Gurcinovski. our administrators (Fr. Joseph, Archdeacon Peter, creation, we might add – might return to its natural Cherri, and Mary), to our most capable instructors, state. Our theology and anthropology are inextricably and to the Antiochian Village staff. Thank you to our bound to one another precisely by the reality of love, fathers in Christ, Sayidna JOHN, Sayidna NICHOLAS as love is the communion of persons. The ability both – and Sayidna THOMAS (who was here last week) to give and to receive, love is the constant and unend- – thank you for your loving leadership and living ing reciprocal exchange of what is ours, one to the e xample of “applied theology.” It has been a gift to other. This is at the heart of our effort, of the Christian us that we could spend time with you, to get to know life. I hope that love, the eternal virtue, will remain you personally. our constant motive, in that “God is love.” My prayer is that true love will be both our source and our goal, We have undertaken a course of study in Applied our means and our end. Theology. This term doesn’t simply connote the application of language and concepts to paper, but We have learned that experience is a prerequisite to the offering of life to lives, the offering of person (or leadership. We cannot lead others where we ourselves self), to persons (or others). What we seek first is not have not been. Some entry into the mystery of the Holy to write papers, but to be written upon with the Spirit Trinity is necessary; it is necessary that one has em- of the living God. (2 Corinthians 3: “You are a letter of barked on the healing journey of salvation. So, by the Christ … written not with ink but with the Spirit of the grace of God – which is His very presence in our lives living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of – may we become effective workers in the vineyard. human hearts.”) Through the course of our study and I will conclude with a couple of quotations. In the guided projects we have heard repeatedly that our beautiful words of Fr. Joseph Antypas, “Our goal is goal is the experience of union, and that our theology not to harvest, but to sow.” In the words of our Met- is not a matter of abstraction (though it may seem ropolitan JOSEPH: “If you desire to grow in your re- to be abstract at times); the famous statement of St. lationship with God, fall on your knees in repentance, Athanasius reflects this: “God became man, so that then stand up and get to work: we have much to do.”

14 November 2014 The Word 15 HOUSE OF STUDIES

Your Graces, Reverend Clergy, The Kingdom Classmates and Friends: I consider of Heaven and it a great honor to be standing in front of you this evening, though Purity of Heart I am not worthy of such a task. Ronnie Long Forgive me as I try to summarize the thoughts of my classmates and my thought on our time in the St. Stephen’s Course of Studies.

A fter being asked to speak, I began refl ecting on my journey and asked some of my classmates for their own refl ections. We all have come here from different backgrounds, with different intentions, but we share a common goal. St. John Cassian says our ultimate goal is the Kingdom of God, and our immediate goal is purity of heart. Some here tonight are on the path to the priesthood; some will be ordained deacons or sub-deacons; some are here to become better equipped in lay ministries in the Church. Some of us have grown up in the Church; others like myself are converts who have fi nally found our home in the Orthodox Church. Some here tonight are inquiring into the Orthodox faith. Still, the goal is the same: purity of heart and the Kingdom of God. We have been encouraged along this path by our We have experienced the love of of God, we know that we do not Above: Keith Buhler receiving his Master’s teachers and mentors. Your Graces and Reverend Cler- Christ expressed to us through our do this alone, but as co-travelers, Degree and Cross from Bishop THOMAS, as- gy, you have led us on this path through your love and mentors and teachers. Some of you brothers and sisters in Christ. sisted by Father Joseph have described our time here in and Cheri Mullins. example. We have struggled through our readings, Even if our intentions and desires Residency at the Village as a place writing papers and completing the projects. We have are not fulfi lled, may we never of safety and freedom from fear. It been encouraged and taught and have grown to love lose sight of our singular goal has been described as a place of each other in our time here at the Village. of purity of heart leading to the love. Your Graces and Reverend As I have refl ected on our time in the St. Stephen’s Kingdom of God. As the Apostle says in Hebrews, Clergy, thank you for showing us the love of Christ Program and have listened to others’ experiences as “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a and demonstrating the power of the Gospel through well, I have been reminded of the Gospel of our Lord: cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, your teaching, and through your interaction with us in the Good News that, in and through Christ, we can be and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with the classroom, the lobby and at table. Your love and healed, made whole and set free from the tyranny of endurance the race that is set before us, looking to encouragement truly have been appreciated. sin and death. (This morning’s Matins Gospel is a great Jesus, the founder and perfecter, of our faith, who for summary of these things: the healing of St. Peter’s Fellow classmates, thank you for the laughter, the the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, mother-in-law and of the sick and demon-possessed.) discussions, and your love and encouragement. All of despising the shame, and is seated at the right had of This week and throughout the course of studies we these have been living images of the love of Christ the throne of God.” have been reminded of these things and exhorted in and the power of the Gospel. As we move forward light of them. in our struggle for purity of heart and the Kingdom

16 November 2014 The Word 17 Patriarchial Visit and Enthronement Schedule of Events DECEMBER 5-7 AT ST. NICHOLAS ANTIOCHIAN ORTHODOX CATHEDRAL OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK

Preparations are underway for the visit of His Beatitude, JOHN X, Patriarch of Antioch and All the East and the upcoming enthronement of our new Metro- politan JOSEPH. Hierarchs and guests will be with us from all over the world. The following is the public schedule for the weekend.

Friday, December 5th If you have any questions, do not hesitate to e-mail Hotel Information for Enthronement Weekend 6:30 p.m. Great Vespers with Artoklasia for the Archpriest Thomas Zain at [email protected], Feast of St. Nicholas or call the Cathedral at 718.855.6225 and leave a and Patriarchal Visit message in his voice-mail. Saturday, December 6th Greetings to you and your families as we begin a new ecclesiastical year. We wanted to 9:00 a.m. Orthros Finally, to honor Metropolitan JOSEPH on this auspi- share with you information for your hotel reservations at the Brooklyn Marriott. The rate is $299 a night, plus tax. The deadline for reservations is November 7, 2014. If, by the time cious occasion, we are preparing a commemorative 10:00 a.m . Divine Liturgy for the Feast of St. Nicholas, you receive this, the hotel is sold out, you may also check availability at the following journal to mark this historic event. Please refer the ad Patron Saint of the Mother Cathedral two hotels in close proximity to the Cathedral and the Marriott: form on the next page if you would like to express 4:30 p.m. Prayer of Thanksgiving and Enthronement your congratulations to our new Metropolitan and Sheraton Brooklyn, 718.855.1900, www.sheratonbrooklyn.com of Metropolitan JOSEPH. welcome our father in Christ, Patriarch JOHN X. Nu Hotel (A boutique hotel just down the block from the Cathedral), 718.852.8585, nuhotelbrooklyn.com 7:00 p.m. Reception at the Brooklyn Marriott We look forward to welcoming you to the “Mother Rooms are being held at the Brooklyn Marriott Hotel. Show will be going on during that time, if you are 8:00 p.m. Gala Banquet at the Brooklyn Marriott Cathedral” of the Archdiocese to witness this historic The rate is $299 a night, plus tax. The link to make a res- interested. event and feast day weekend with our Patriarch and Sunday, December 7th ervation is https://aws.passkey.com/event/11950815/ We also have a small number of rooms set aside at the our new Metropolitan. 9:15 a.m. Orthros owner/13490/home. This link can also be accessed Marriott Courtyard LaGuardia Airport Hotel for $99 a directly via www.antiochian.org in the enthronement night, plus tax. This might be an affordable option for 10:30 a.m. Patriarchal Divine Liturgy COMMEMORATIVE JOURNAL ORDER section of the website. You can also make a reservation those driving to New York, as not only will the rooms by calling the hotel directly at 718.246.7000. Rooms Banquet tickets are $200/person and can be obtained be less expensive, but the parking will be more af- Commemorative Journal Deadline: are being held under the name of “St. Nicholas Instal by mailing a check made out to “St. Nicholas Cathe- - fordable. It is about 10 miles and a 15-to-45-minute November 7, 2014 lation.” The deadline for room reservations is Novem- dral” to the following address: drive to the Cathedral, depending on traffic. There ber 7, 2014; however, the hotel is filling up fast and should be very light traffic on Saturday and Sunday St. Nicholas Antiochian Orthodox Cathedral You may also register for the Commemorative Journal they may sell out before that date. morning, but there may be heavier traffic in the eve- Attn: Banquet Committee on-line at www.antiochian.org/enthronement The link to make reservations at the Brooklyn Marri- nings. Car service is also available from the hotel for Please makes checks payable to 355 State Street ott is https://aws.passkey.com/event/11950815/own- a fee, for people who might be sharing the cost of Brooklyn, NY 11217 Antiochian Archdiocese er/13490/home a room and transportation, making it a still more af- Memo: Commemorative Journal fordable option. To make a reservation at the Marriott Please clearly print the names of those attending, as Mail to Antiochian Archdiocese The closest airport to St. Nicholas Cathedral and the Courtyard LaGuardia, please call the hotel directly at well as a phone number and e-mail address, if pos- 358 Mountain Road Brooklyn Marriott is LaGuardia (LGA) and then JFK. 718.446.4800. The provisional reservation is under sible, so we can acknowledge your reservation. You Englewood, NJ 07631 You can also use Newark (EWR) airport, but will have the name “St. Nicholas Cathedral.” The deadline for may also purchase banquet tickets with a Visa or to cross tunnels and bridges and pay tolls to get to this hotel is November 1, 2014, and the number of Mastercard credit card on the Cathedral website by Brooklyn. The Cathedral and the hotel are less than rooms is very limited. We were able to secure this choosing the “Donate Now” button on the bottom one mile from each other. The rate is available a little great rate thanks to the generosity of the owner, who before and after the weekend (you can see on the of the home page. The Cathedral website is www. is a parishioner in one of our deanery parishes. interactive calendar) in case any of you want to enjoy stnicholascathedral.org. Be sure to note in the memo all that New York has to offer during the Christmas We look forward to welcoming you to this historic section the same information above. Deadline for season. The Christmas tree at Rockefeller Center will event and weekend with our Patriarch and our new banquet reservations is November 21, 2014. be lit earlier that week, and the Radio City Christmas Metropolitan.

You may also see www.antiochian.org/enthronement for all of the latest information regarding the enthronement, If you need car transportation while in New York, or going to and from the Airport, or have any other needs while as well as web links to all of the forms. Contributions to the Commemorative Journal are tax-deductible. in New York, you may call Hassan Fattouh at 718.757.8383 to discuss various options.

18 November 2014 The Word 19 Visit & Enthronement From the Assembly of the Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the United States of America Preparatory Committee, with a view to overcoming existing canonical anomalies

To our beloved Orthodox Christian faithful throughout the United States of America: of the Orthodox Autocephalous Churches and the Pan-Orthodox Preconciliar MESSAGE in the United States. We reaf�irm ourMESSAGE commitment to the decisions of the Primates Conferences. In this regard, we engaged in constructive deliberation on the vision of our Church in the United States in light of Orthodox ecclesiology and canon law, [Let us] maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace (Ephesians 4:3) To our beloved Orthodox Christian faithful throughout the United States of America: To our beloved but also in view of Orthodox recent immigration Christian developments faithful and trends. throughout the United States of America: In declaring our common faith and professing our pastoral witness, we [Let us] Beloved maintain brothers the and sisters unity in the of Lord, we, the the members Spirit of in the bond of peace the Assembly [Let us] maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace pray for the families of our faithful, who face unprecedented and unfathomable of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the United States of America, gathered in Dallas, (Eph. 4.3) challenges from diverse contemporary societal trends, especially as a result (Eph. of the 4.3) Texas, for our Fifth Annual Meeting on September 16 – 18, 2014, greet you with increasing eclipse of the Christian family and its traditional values. Therefore, we paternal love, as we offer glory and thanks to our Triune God. emphasize the primacy and priority of the family in Christian life, remembering Thirty-eight bishops convened in the unity of our holy Orthodox faith, mindful Beloved brothers and sisters in the Lord, Beloved brothers and sisters in the Lord, of our responsibility to each other and to the whole Church as the Body of Christ. We opened our Assembly with the celebration of the Divine Liturgy and the sharing that the �irst man and woman created in the image and likeness of God constituted We, the members of the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the We, was concerned the about His members family on the precious of and life-givingthe Assembly Cross. of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the of the Holy Eucharist at the Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church in Dallas, Texas, as a family, that the Incarnate Word was born into a family, and that the cruci�ied Lord United States of America, gathered in Dallas, Texas, for our fifth annual meeting on United States Finally, of we agreed America, on the following gathered resolutions: in Dallas, Texas, for our fifth annual meeting on guests of Metropolitan ISAIAH of Denver. Even as our Church honors the holy and 1) We unanimously agreed on our fervent support for the convocation of the September 16-­‐18, 2014, greet you with paternal love, as we offer glory and thanks September Holy 16-­‐18, and Great Council 2014, in 2016 greet and entreat all you those responsible with paternal for its realization love, as we offer glory and thanks sin and death. to our Triune precious God. Cross, we celebrate the universal and de�initive victory of God over evil, to our Triune to work God. in a spirit of unity and harmony in order to bring this blessed occasion to We express our deep gratitude to all those who labored for this Fifth Annual fruition without any delay or hindrance. Meeting of the Assembly. We recognize the new First Vice-Chairman of the Assembly, Thirty-­‐eight bishops convened in the unity of our holy Orthodox faith, Thirty-­‐eight 2) We deplore the ongoingbishops violence and convened extreme bloodshed in throughout the the unity of our holy Orthodox faith, Metropolitan JOSEPH, Primate of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of world. In the Middle East, hostility and brutality are occurring among members mindful of our North America, responsibility recently elected to to succeed each Metropolitan other PHILIP of and thrice-blessed to the whole Church as the Body of mindful of our responsibility to each other and to the whole Church as the Body of of different religions, sometimes supposedly in the name of religion. We pray for memory. May our Lord Jesus Christ grant repose to our brother and concelebrant, Christ. We opened our Assembly with the celebration of the Divine Liturgy and the Christ. We peace opened and justice in this our region, Assembly for protection of with Christian and the other celebration minorities in of the Divine Liturgy and the Metropolitan PHILIP. The Assembly also welcomes its Second Vice-Chairman, newly the ancient lands of Syria, Iraq, and Palestine, as well as for the cessation of racial sharing of the consecrated Holy Bishop Eucharist JOHN of Naro-Fominsk, at the Administrator Holy of the Trinity Patriarchate of Greek Orthodox Church in Dallas TX sharing of the Holy Eucharist at the Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church in Dallas TX discrimination, partisan extremism, and religious fanaticism. We especially decry Moscow’s parishes in America, and expresses its thanks to Archbishop JUSTINIAN, as guests of our host, Metropolitan Isaiah of Denver. Even as our Church honors the as guests the of violence our of the so-called host, Islamic Metropolitan State, commending Isaiah our brothers of and sisters Denver. in Even as our Church honors the who has returned to Russia. Finally, we greet the latest member of our Assembly, the region to work as apostles of peace. holy and Bishop precious SABA, representing Cross, the parishes we of the celebrate Patriarchate of Georgia the in universal the USA. and definitive victory of God holy and precious Cross, we celebrate the universal and definitive victory of God 3) In Ukraine, we have watched for months with mounting dismay and grief over evil, sin In and the death. opening session, our Chairman Archbishop DEMETRIOS underlined over evil, sin and death. our responsibility as bishops in witnessing to the Gospel and manifesting God’s love We express in our world. our Therefore, deep in our conversations, gratitude carried to out in all a spirit of those mutual trust who labored for this fifth annual We the express armed con�lict our and unjusti�iable deep gratitude bloodshed among to our own all brothers those and who labored for this fifth annual We call upon all parties to deepen the present truce; may church and government and fraternity, we focused on issues related to the role of our Church in society, such sisters. We appeal for humanitarian support of the innocent victims of this con�lict. Assembly Meeting. We recognize the new First Vice-­‐Chairman of the Assembly, Assembly leaders Meeting. in the region We recognize be a force of restraint the and reconciliation. new First Vice-­‐Chairman We pray for dialogue of the Assembly, as the advancement of religious education and relations with other churches and and understanding in this land, whose Christian roots date to over one thousand Metropolitan Joseph, religions. We heard Primate reports from of the directors the of Antiochian the Assembly’s seven Orthodox agencies, Christian Archdiocese of Metropolitan Joseph, Primate of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of years ago. May God bring unity and peace to the church and people in Ukraine. with an overview of their history and current activities. The agencies include the North America, recently elected to succeed Metropolitan Philip of blessed memory. North America, 4) We recently fervently appeal elected once again for to the release succeed of our brother Metropolitan bishops in Philip of blessed memory. International Orthodox Christian Charities (IOCC), Orthodox Christian Mission Syria, the Greek Orthodox Metropolitan PAUL (Yazigi, brother of His Beatitude May our Lord Center (OCMC), Jesus Orthodox Christ Christian Network grant (OCN), Orthodox eternal Christian repose Fellowship to our brother and concelebrant May our Lord Jesus Christ grant eternal repose to our brother and concelebrant Patriarch JOHN X of Antioch) and the Syriac Orthodox Archbishop JOHN (Ibrahim), (OCF), Orthodox Christian Education Commission (OCEC), Orthodox Christian Metropolitan Philip. The Assembly also welcomes its Second Vice-­‐Chairman, newly Metropolitan as well Philip. as of all kidnapped The persons. Assembly also welcomes its Second Vice-­‐Chairman, newly Prison Ministry (OCPM), and Eastern Orthodox Committee on Scouting (EOCS). 5) Moreover, we regret that our brother Archbishop JOVAN of Ohrid remains consecrated Bishop In particular, John we recognized of our responsibility Naro-­‐Fominsk, to address primarily Administrator domestic, of the Patriarchate consecrated Bishop John of Naro-­‐Fominsk, Administrator of the Patriarchate imprisoned in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM), and we but also, by extension, global issues, as the Orthodox Christian community of a Moscow’s parishes in America, and expresses its thanks to Archbishop Justinian, Moscow’s implore parishes the authorities in in FYROM America, for a prompt and and fair resolution expresses to this issue. its thanks to Archbishop Justinian, nation that plays a decisive role in our world. We are cognizant of this vocation 6) We are deeply concerned about the reported dramatic rise of those who and obligation, especially as we await the Holy and Great Synod of the Orthodox label themselves as religiously indifferent, agnostic or atheist. We commit ourselves Autocephalous Churches scheduled for the Spring of 2016 in Istanbul. Over the to raising greater awareness and striving for more ardent preaching of the Christian gospel, while calling upon our faithful to increase their vigilance and continue and proposals for consideration by the Synod, through its special Pan-Orthodox next months, we shall have the opportunity to submit speci�ic recommendations growing in their understanding of our Church’s teaching and tradition. In conclusion, we ask for the prayers of our precious and beloved Orthodox Christian communities, which have enjoyed an uninterrupted presence there for faithful, as we continue the ministry of our Lord Jesus Christ, who went about all over two thousand years. Recent hostility not only against Christians and Yazidis, Galilee, teaching in the synagogues, proclaiming the Gospel of the Kingdom, and but also against Muslims, has shocked the entire civilized world. MESSAGE Echoing theSTATEMENT statement of His Beatitude ON Patriarch THE JOHN MIDDLE X EAST of the Greek the abundant blessings of our merciful God be with you all. Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch and All the East, as well as the other Patriarchs healing every disease and every in�irmity among the people (Matthew 4:23). May Blessed are the peacemakers of the East (August 14, 2014), we lament and denounce the egregious and To our Archbishop beloved DEMETRIOS, Orthodox Chairman Christian faithful Archbishop Kyrill throughout the United States of America: barbarous incidents in the area, involving religious intolerance (Matt. and 5.9) fanaticism, Metropolitan JOSEPH, 1st Vice Chairman Bishop PETER that erode the social fabric and unity of the region, destroying churches, shrines [Let us] maintain the MESSAGE unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace MESSAGE Bishop JOHN, 2nd Vice Chairman Bishop THEODOSY and monuments, which are the common heritage of all Christians and, indeed, all Bishop BASIL, Secretary Bishop NICHOLAS (Eph. 4.3) We, humanity. the members of the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the Metropolitan ANTONY, Treasurer Bishop LONGIN Along with His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch BARTHOLOMEW, “we To our beloved Orthodox Christian faithful throughout the United States of America: To United our States beloved of Orthodox America, Christian gathered faithful in throughout Dallas, the Texas, United States of America: on September 16-­‐18, 2014, [Let us] Metropolitan maintain IAKOVOS the unity of the Bishop MITROPHAN Spirit in the bond of peace [Let cannot us] remain maintain indifferent or the silent unity before such of irrational the persecution, Spirit cultural in the bond of peace Beloved brothers Metropolitan ISAIAH and sisters in the Lord, Bishop MAXIM prayed “for intolerance the and appalling peace loss of life, of especially the when caused whole by religious world” hatred (from the Divine Liturgy of St. John Metropolitan ALEXIOS Archbishop NICOLAE We, the members of the Assembly (Eph. of 4.3) Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the Chrysostom) and decried the brutal and bloody violence (Eph. in the Middle East. 4.3) Metropolitan NIKITAS Bishop SABA Syria, Libya and Egypt, and especially in Palestine and Lebanon, demonstrate the and racial hostility” (August 13, 2014). The recent horri�ic events in Iraq and United States Metropolitan of NICHOLAS America, gathered in Bishop Dallas, DANIIL Texas, for our fifth annual meeting on The dire consequences barbarity of remaining perpetrated complacent in the against face of evil. Christians, Muslims and vulnerable Metropolitan SAVAS Metropolitan TIKHON Beloved September brothers 16-­‐18, and 2014, sisters greet in the Lord, you with paternal love, as we offer glory and thanks Beloved communities brothers in and the sisters Middle in the Lord, East by the self-­‐named Islamic State in Iraq and Syria Bishop DANIEL Archbishop NATHANIEL Autocephalous Churches (March 9, 2014), which called “for the immediate In this regard, we af�irm the Message of the Primates of the Orthodox to our We, Triune Bishop SEVASTIANOS God. the members of the Archbishop Assembly NIKON of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the (ISIS) as We, cessation well of militarythe as action, members other liberation of captives, jihadist of and the establishment Assembly groups of peace in has of claimed Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the numerous innocent lives and Bishop GREGORY Archbishop BENJAMIN the region through dialogue,” stressing “that Christians in the Middle East are a United States Thirty-­‐eight of America, bishops gathered convened in Dallas, in Texas, the for unity our fifth annual meeting on of our holy Orthodox faith, United driven States countless of people America, from gathered their in Dallas, homes. Texas, It has for also our fifth annual meeting on threatened the existence of Bishop THOMAS Archbishop MELCHISEDEK leaven of peace” and emphasizing that “peace for all people also means peace for September mindful of 16-­‐18, Bishop our JOHN 2014, responsibility greet to you each with Bishop other MARK paternal and love, to as the we offer glory and thanks whole Church as the Body of September Christian communities, Christians.” 16-­‐18, 2014, which greet enjoy you an with uninterrupted paternal love, presence as we offer glory and thanks there for over two Bishop ANTHONY Bishop MICHAEL Therefore: to Christ. our Triune We God. opened our Assembly with the celebration of the Divine Liturgy and the to thousand our Triune years. God. Recent hostility not only against Christians and Yazidis, but also Bishop NICHOLAS Bishop ALEXANDER Thirty-­‐eight Metropolitan HILARION bishops convened Bishop in DAVID the unity of our holy Orthodox faith, Thirty-­‐eight their safety, committing ourselves bishops to work for convened peace and justice in in the region. the unity of our holy Orthodox faith, sharing of the Holy Eucharist at the Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church in Dallas TX against Muslims, 1) We af�irm has our solidarity shocked with the Christians entire in the Middle civilized world. East and pray for 2) We support international efforts to resolve the Israel-Palestine issue, mindful as guests of our of our responsibility host, Metropolitan to each other Isaiah of and Denver. to the Even whole Church as the Body of as our Church honors the mindful Echoing of our the responsibility statement to of each His other Beatitude and to Patriarch the whole Church as the Body of John X of the Greek ensuring the security, freedom and human rights of their peoples, and bringing Christ. holy We and opened precious our Cross, Assembly we with celebrate the celebration the universal of the and Divine Liturgy and the definitive victory of God Christ. Orthodox We peace Patriarchate to opened the Holy Land. our of Antioch Assembly and with All the the celebration East as of well the Divine Liturgy and the as other Patriarchs of 3) We encourage all people of good will to support agencies, already hard at sharing over of evil, the sin Holy and death. Eucharist at the Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church in Dallas TX sharing the East of (August the Holy 14, Eucharist 2014), at we the lament Holy and Trinity denounce Greek the egregious and barbarous Orthodox Church in Dallas TX work throughout the region, in their efforts to assist the displaced populations in as guests We of express our our host, deep Metropolitan gratitude Isaiah to all of those Denver. who Even labored as our Church honors the for this fifth annual as incidents guests in order of that the they our may area, return host, to including their Metropolitan homes. religious Isaiah intolerance of Denver. and Even fanaticism, as our Church honors the that erode 4) We urge governments and authorities to insist upon the fundamental holy Assembly and Meeting. precious We recognize Cross, we the celebrate new First Vice-­‐Chairman the universal of and the definitive victory of God Assembly, holy social fabric and precious and unity Cross, of the we region, celebrate destroying the universal churches, and definitive victory of God shrines and monuments, human rights and religious freedom of all, urgently establish the rule of law, over Metropolitan Assembly evil, sin of Joseph, Canonical and death. Primate Orthodox of Bishops the of Antiochian the United States Orthodox of America Christian Archdiocese of over which evil, are and sin the immediately and death. common desist from heritage supporting of extremist all groups Christians and oppressive and, indeed, all humanity. North We America, express recently our Statement deep elected gratitude on to the Middle to succeed all East Metropolitan those who labored Philip for this fifth annual of blessed memory. We Along express with His our All-­‐Holiness deep gratitude Ecumenical to all Patriarch those who Bartholomew, labored for this fifth annual “we cannot 5) We urge the United Nations and the international community, and governments, whether through �inancial means or military arms. Assembly May our Meeting. Lord We recognize Blessed Jesus are Christ thethe peacemakers. grant new First Vice-­‐Chairman eternal (Matt. 5.9) repose of to the Assembly, our brother and concelebrant Assembly remain indifferent especially Meeting. the government or We recognize silent of our United the before States of new America, such First Vice-­‐Chairman to irrational establish policies persecution, of the cultural intolerance Assembly, that promote peace and justice for all in the region, while refraining from all forms Metropolitan Metropolitan Joseph, Philip. Primate The Assembly of the also Antiochian welcomes Orthodox its Second Christian Archdiocese of Vice-­‐Chairman, newly Metropolitan and appalling Joseph, loss Primate of life, of the especially Antiochian when Orthodox caused Christian by Archdiocese of religious hatred and racial We, the members of the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the United of violence. North consecrated America, States Bishop of America, recently gathered John elected in Dallas, of Texas, to on Naro-­‐Fominsk, September succeed 16–18, Metropolitan 2014, prayed Administrator “for Philip of blessed memory. of the Patriarchate North hostility” America, (August recently 13, 2014). elected The to recent succeed horrific Metropolitan events Philip in Iraq and Syria, Libya of blessed memory. the peace of the whole world” (from the Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom) and Greek Orthodox Metropolitan PAUL (Yazigi) and the Syriac Orthodox Archbishop May Moscow’s our Lord parishes Jesus in Christ America, grant and eternal expresses repose its to thanks our brother and concelebrant to Archbishop Justinian, May Egypt, our and Lord 6) especially We �irmly Jesus reiterate in our Christ Palestine call for the immediate grant and release eternal of Lebanon, our brothers, repose the demonstrate to our brother and concelebrant the dire consequences decried the brutal and bloody violence in the Middle East. JOHN (Ibrahim), both of Aleppo in Syria, who were kidnapped on April 22, 2013, Metropolitan Philip. The barbarity The perpetrated Assembly against Christians, also welcomes Muslims and vulnerable its Second Vice-­‐Chairman, newly Metropolitan of remaining as well Philip. as complacent the release The of all innocent in Assembly the captives. face of evil. also welcomes its Second Vice-­‐Chairman, newly consecrated communities Bishop in the John Middle East of by the self-named Naro-­‐Fominsk, Islamic State in Iraq Administrator and Syria of the Patriarchate consecrated Bishop Finally, above and John beyond our of appeal andNaro-­‐Fominsk, prayer for peace and justice, Administrator of the Patriarchate (ISIS), as well as other jihadist groups, has claimed numerous innocent lives and mindful that “what is impossible with men is possible with God” (Luke 18.27), we Moscow’s parishes driven countless people in from America, their homes. It has and also threatened expresses the existence its of thanks to Archbishop Justinian, Moscow’s place parishes our ultimate hope in in “God, whoAmerica, is the source ofand peace” (Rom. expresses 16.20). its thanks to Archbishop Justinian, Metropolitan PHILIP. Father Michel Najim, who deliv- As the evening was drawing to a close, His Beatitude Economos Antony Gabriel Unity in Antioch ered an outstanding lecture on pastoral life, met with signaled for us to come and talk with him. As during His Beatitude several times. This was especially poi- previous meetings, he took our hands, looked into our gnant: while Father Najim had his tenure as Dean of eyes and told us to trust him to do the right thing by the Balamand Theological Institute, His Beatitude was this Archdiocese. Lo and behold, on July 4, 2014, the his student. There remains a special bond. Holy Synod almost unanimously elected Archbishop JOSEPH as the new Archbishop of New York and After each session we would take in common our fast- Metropolitan of All North America. ing meals of Ss. Peter and Paul, during which His Be- atitude would come to each table to greet us. Follow- Where certain issues remain to be resolved, the Patri- This past June 25 This worldwide Conference of Antiochians was called Prior to the Liturgy, the Patriarch and Dr. Elie Salem ing this period, on Sunday after the Liturgy, Fawaz El arch overlooked certain rumors and contentions, and to the 28th, 2014, by His Beatitude JOHN X to bring together Antiochi- were accompanied by the scouts and their band to Khoury invited our group to go to Restaurant Ehden it is his leadership that is essential for the fi nal result. the North Ameri- ans to engage in dialogue, exchange ideas, and to the unveiling of the largest wall mosaic in the entire and arranged for a sumptuous lunch. While the dele- The election of Archbishop JOSEPH as Metropolitan can Archdiocese unite the Family of Faith. Consistent with the theme Middle East. His Beatitude then ascended the stage gation stayed at a hotel in Byblos, I was a guest at the does not mean that we love any of the other candi- participated in a “Unity in Antioch,” His Beatitude invited all the Patri- where, in the center, he vested as the Vesting prayers home of my former parishioner, Elias Abu Shaheen, dates any less. The Holy Spirit has revealed Himself conference at the archs of Antioch and All the East: the Melkite, Syriac were chanted by the Balamand Choir and recited by in Amioun, Lebanon. His hospitality, along with the in the past two elections, fi rst with His Beatitude and Balamand Univer- Orthodox, the Maronite and the Syriac Catholic. Each the clergy. This is reminiscent of the manner in which help and kindness of Jacques Sarraf and Nabil Nahas now with Metropolitan JOSEPH. sity entitled: UNITY spoke about the need for unity among the Christians the Russian Patriarch is vested by his clergy. of Beirut, and of Kal Kardous and family of Beit Meri, I was in Lebanon the previous month, invited by the IN ANTIOCH. On of the Middle East, especially in view of the tumult in The Balamand Choir, which delighted us with a con- allowed me to attend the sessions while enjoying the Honorable Gebran Bassil, Foreign Minister, to partici- Sunday, June 29th, their region, and as well as the command of Jesus. cert in the Balamand Abbey the previous day, chanted comforts of home and Lebanese hospitality. pate in the Worldwide Conference on the Diaspora. the conference This was certainly a gracious act on the part of His the entire Liturgy, beginning with the Great Doxology. One of my parishioners, Mirna Abboud, lost her moth- It was during this trip that I was able to spend quality culminated with a Beatitude, and most likely the fi rst such event! They On the previous day, too, we were bused down to the er, who lived in Douma. Michel Sarkis, who was visiting time with His Eminence Metropolitan ELIAS (Audi) of massive Hierarchal also met before the Holy Synod, demonstrating their unveiling of the commemorative stone that marks the from Montreal, made himself available so that I could Beirut. Later I was invited to Damascus at the request Liturgy under a desire to pursue unity. place where the new Balamand Medical Center will large tent celebrat- visit her. At the same time I visited the home of the late of His Beatitude JOHN X for a lengthy meeting. Gaz- In the Synod itself there were interesting presenta- be built. ing the Feast of Metropolitan ANTONY Bashir. It will become a muse- ing into the eyes of His Beatitude, one connects imme- tions, each called an “Axis,” which dealt with the fol- Ss. Peter and Paul, Of course, the Vespers for the Feast of Ss. Peter and um. They have also named a Senior Citizens Complex diately with a person of great integrity and spirituality. lowing themes: the Patrons of our Paul were celebrated in the ancient Balamand Church after him. While I was in Douma, I also discovered that His Beatitude took notes and was particularly interest- • Activation of consultation and interaction among Patriarchate. dedicated to our Lady, the Mother of God. As in Ves- they have a church that is for the Tibshraeny family. ed in the work of the Antiochian Heritage Foundation. parishes and dioceses, as well as amelioration of the pers, during the Hierarchal Liturgy the many clergy All my life I was told that the Tibshraenys came from It was then that he extended to me an invitation to dioceses complementing one another processed and “celebrated” with military precision, • Financial and Wakf Property Development Baskita. I was also able to pay a visit to the Convent attend the Conference. Following the meeting, I was • Social Work unusual for those of us who have been in the Mid- of Our Lady of the Presentation in Asrafi eh, where my hosted at a lunch with Bishop EPHRAIM (Malouli) and • Effective Presence in Society dle East previously. During both services, we were grandmother’s fi rst cousins, Mother Mary Jo and Bela- his team. We spent a warm afternoon touring the Pa- • Communication and Media pleased to hear the melodious singing of Metropoli- gia Tibshraeny, lived for many years until their repose. triarchate to see the work of His Beatitude. tan DAMASKINOS of Brazil. We were broken up into smaller groups, prede- A pilgrimage here is always a treat. Driving back to Beirut, I mused about my previ- termined by our personal interests. Some very in- As the Holy Synod was to be held at the Balamand be- Speaking of consecrated nuns, I had a blessed encoun- ous meetings with the late Patriarch IGNATIUS IV, tense discussions ensued. Later, each group leader ginning July 3, the American delegation to the Con- ter with Mother Belagia Sayyaf of Maaloula, who told and I realized “there is a new man in town.” I found presented the consensus of the group’s discussions ference was very thoughtful in its deliberations with of the horrors of their captivity, and the new Mother it quite amazing that our new Patriarch has broken and observations. His Beatitude and members of the Holy Synod. The Superior of Our Lady of Seydnaya Monastery, who fresh ground in constructing new institutions, which Patriarch took time during the Conference to see us The Hierarchal Liturgy celebrated in the open air un- told of their miraculous deliverance from the rebels. he blessed with great fanfare at a reception. All the in different groups. Vicar-General Father Thomas Zain, der a huge tent with most of the Hierarchs of the Pa- All this brought home the trauma of the war in Syria. while he has had to cope with the uncertainty of the Protosyngelos Father Timothy Ferguson, and I met whereabouts of his brother and the tenuous situation triarchate was impressive. The backdrop was a large On Monday, June 30, Dr. Elie Salem hosted a large with the Patriarch and discussed the Archdiocese, its in Syria. screen of the Iconostasis. Each Bishop commemorat- gathering of the administration, faculty and other future, the election of a new Metropolitan, all of these ed His Beatitude, in the language of his diocese/arch- members of the delegation, along with all the bish- From all my meetings with His Beatitude, I saw that things against the backdrop of memories of Metro- diocese, thus signifying the multi-cultural dimension ops. Upon our arrival, Dr. Salem said that without the we are witnessing the work of a real visionary. He is politan PHILIP of thrice-blessed memory. of the Patriarchate. bold initiative of Elias Abu Shaheen, together with the earnest in his love and determined in his will to lead My book, The Ancient Church on New Shores: An- This unity in diversity was evident in other ways at the support of our Patriarch of thrice-blessed memory, the Patriarchate into the Twenty-First Century. tioch in North America, was distributed among the IGNATIUS IV, the University of Balamand would not Balamand. It was shown in the Eucharist that knitted Economos Antony Gabriel bishops and received with great enthusiasm. It details us together as a family. At the Sacred Liturgy, every- have been built. the history of the Antiochian Church in North America thing was transformed; it was an apotheosis of glory. and provides insight into the legacy of our beloved

24 November 2014 The Word 25 ANTIOCHIAN WOMEN is to make Antiochian Orthodox monastic communi- Donations may be made by means of the Antio- ties ubiquitous across our continent. chian Women’s chapter in your church, or directly to the North American Board (NAB) Treasurer Anne Nurturing the Seeds of Orthodoxy Metropolitan JOSEPH seeks to encourage and in- Bourjaily-Thomas, at 590 Solon Road, Chagrin Falls, Dianne O’Regan spire us to plant the seeds for this project. Antiochian Ohio 44022. Checks should be made payable to Orthodoxy was planted in North America over 100 “NAB Antiochian Women” and marked “Project years ago when our blessed St. RAPHAEL (Hawawee- 2014–2015.” ny) arrived in the United States, having traveled as a he past year has been overwhelming for the these years, the women throughout the United States priest from Russia. He crisscrossed the United States With this project, His Eminence Metropolitan JOSEPH Antiochian Women and for our beloved Arch- and Canada have raised over three million dollars to- and Canada and gathered the Antiochian Ortho- has given us a new vision for the life and future of the T diocese. Last March, we experienced the pass- wards their annual projects, humanitarian programs dox faithful into parish communities, which continue Self-Ruled Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdio- ing of His Eminence Metropolitan PHILIP into eternal and scholarships. to grow to this day. Over the years, the Antiochian cese of North America. The Antiochian Women urge life. In the cycle of services in the Orthodox Church, For our last project to “Help the Orphans of War in Archdiocese has gone from worshiping in individual you to embrace this vision. His Eminence left this earthy world on a Wednesday Syria,” the women raised almost $300,000. This was homes, to missions and churches. The Antiochians, evening during the Lenten Period, when our churches Dianne O’Regan the largest figure ever raised in the history of the who came from Syria and Lebanon, have welcomed St. Michael Orthodox Church, Louisville, Kentucky across the Archdiocese were celebrating the Liturgy Vice President/Project Coordinator, North American Board of the Antiochian Women in just one year (and we were only people of all ethnic and religious backgrounds into of the Pre-Sanctified Gifts. Under the guidance of our Antiochian Women given the task last summer by Sayidna PHILIP). One the fold. The Archdiocese has grown from a handful “ To what shall we liken the kingdom of God”...It is like a mustard seed which when it is sown, it grows up, and becomes greater than all herbs, and shoots out large branches, so that the birds of the air may nest under its shade”.”

hundred percent of these funds will be given directly to of parishes to at least 260 churches and missions Patriarchal Vicar Metropolitan SILOUAN, the Antio- the Antiochian Patriarchate to be used for the orphans. as of 2014. chian Archdiocese celebrated its first Pascha in forty- eight years without Sayidna PHILIP. Our Holy Ortho- We now look forward to a new project, and a new Are we to sit by now that we have achieved dox Church, however, has gone on, as it has for over vision, as His Eminence Metropolitan JOSEPH may such magnificent growth? Are we to be two thousand years, and the Antiochian Archdiocese lead us. For 2014–2015, the Antiochian Women will satisfied and now give ourselves rest? Of is now blessed to be led by His Eminence Metro- work on “Nurturing the Seeds of Orthodoxy Across course not! In the parable of the mustard politan JOSEPH. North America.” seed, Jesus said, “To what shall we liken the kingdom of God? … It is like a mustard seed which, In 1973, the organization known as the Antiochian Our project has two goals. The first is the ultimate when it is sown, grows up, and becomes greater than Orthodox Christian Women of North America was establishment of “Regional Camping and Learning all herbs, and shoots out large branches, so that formed under the vision of Metropolitan PHILIP. Over Centers.” Metropolitan JOSEPH’s vision is to offer programs throughout all of North America that focus the birds of the air may nest under its shade” on Orthodoxy – our way of life, our worship, and our (Mark 4:30–32). We must use the talents that faith. We must reach out to children and adults of all God gave us by blessing us with the magnifi- ages. Our intention is to promote and develop our cent gift of Orthodox Christianity. Let us nurture Holy Orthodox Faith which, like the mustard seed in these mustard seeds, let us spread the word of our Christ’s parable, will grow and thrive. faith to the peoples of North America. The second goal of this project is the establishment Materials have already been mailed to all Antiochian of monastic communities. Monasteries are where the Women Diocesan Presidents, Vice Presidents/Project Gospel is lived on a daily basis. The monks and nuns Coordinators, and Spiritual Advisors, and individual within the walls pray for us and the world unceasingly. parishes may have already received this information. Monasteries are also where we go for spiritual nour- Each church and mission should start planning now ishment and refreshment, a place of beauty and holi- for “Antiochian Women’s Month” in March. We urge ness. Overseas, Antiochian monasteries are plentiful, all of the faithful of the Antiochian Archdiocese to but in North America they are sorely lacking. The goal embrace this project.

26 November 2014 The Word 27 The Hospitality of Abraham (Old Testa- ARCHDIOCESAN DAILY DEVOTIONS ment Trinity). Late XV Coming to Love the Trinity – early XVI centuries. DECEMBER 2014 State Tretyakov Gallery Garrett “Justin” Brannon OFFICE V. Rev. Fr. George Alberts ORDAINED VAIR, Deacon Mark, to the holy priesthood by Bish- 1. 1 TIMOTHY 1:1-7; LUKE 19:37-44 (FAST) op THOMAS, on September 14, 2014, at Holy Cross 2. 1 TIMOTHY 1:8-14; LUKE 19:45-48 (FAST) Church in Linthicum, Maryland. He is completing his “I love the Trinity.” I remember God. Is God omniscient? So is 3. 1 TIMOTHY 1:18-20; 2:8-15; LUKE 20:1-8 (FAST) the fi rst time I heard Protestant the Logos. Is God omnipotent? studies at St. Vladimir’s Seminary. apologist James White say that. So is the Logos. Is God love? So 4. GALATIANS 3:23-29; MARK 5:24-34 (FAST) TRANSFERRED At the time, I was a Oneness is the Logos. The Father sent his GUIRHUIS, Priest James, to the assistant pastorate of 5. 1 TIMOTHY 4:4-8, 16; LUKE 20:19-26 (FAST) Pentecostal, and when I heard Son into the world as an act of All Saints Church, Raleigh, North Carolina, effective 6. HEBREWS 13:17-21; LUKE 6:17-23 (FAST) the term “Trinity” I thought of benevolence. The Son willingly September 15, 2014. an overly systematized gospel was crucifi ed for us, as an act of 7. EPHESIANS 5:8-19; LUKE 13:10-17 (FAST) MEYERS, Priest Nikolai, to the pastorate of St. George infused with platonic and neo- benevolence. His resurrection 8. 1 TIMOTHY 5:1-10; LUKE 20:27-44 (FAST) platonic philosophy, replete with was the overthrow of death on Church, New Hartfort, New York, effective September technical jargon that was more or our behalf. Only God could save 15, 2014. 9. GALATINAS 4:22-31; LUKE 8:16-21 (FAST) less invented by abstract theo- me from the depths of my spiri- KJENDAL, Priest Benjamin, to the pastorate of St. 10. 1 TIMOTHY 5:22-6:11; LUKE 21:5-7, 10-15, 20-24 logians. Terms that could not be tual depravity. Why should I trust Michael Church, Cotuit, Massachusetts. (FAST) another creature with my “ . . and that which is in this cup the precious Blood of Your salvation? I cannot. I can RETIRED 11. 1 TIMOTHY 6:17-21; LUKE 21:28-33 (FAST) only trust God. Only the MANIKAS, Very Rev. Nicholas, from St. Michael Church 12. HEBREWS 13:17-21; LUKE 6:17-23 (FAST) Christ, changing them by Your Holy Spirit.” Uncreated could recreate Cotuit, Massachusetts, with the honorifi c title Emeritus. 13. GALATIANS 5:22-6:2; LUKE 13:18-29 (FAST) the creature, so I knew found in Holy Scripture were some of my major stum- that if Jesus were to save me, Jesus, the Son, must 14. COLOSSIANS 3:4-11; LUKE 14:16-24 (FAST) bling blocks: “Eternally-begotten Son”; “hypostatic be God. 15. 2 TIMOTHY 2:20-26; MARK 8:11-21 (FAST) union”; “homoousios”; and “perichoresis.” Now I know that my salvation was the personal work of 16. 2 TIMOTHY 3:16-4:4; MARK 8:22-26 (FAST) I had no love for this dogma, any more than I had love the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, and for the manual to my car. It was all merely technical, so I have come to a place where I can say, “I love the 17. 2 TIMOTHY 4:9-22; MARK 8:30-34 (FAST) traditionalist “theobabble,” interesting to some, but Trinity.” My God is no longer some mere mental exer- 18. TITUS 1:5-2:1; MARK 9:33-41 (FAST) not necessary for me. Even when I came to acknowl- cise, but the Redeemer of my soul, and my family. This 19. TITUS 1:15-2:10; MARK 9:33-41 (FAST) edge that Modalism didn’t quite satisfy the mean- is not merely an act of the past – an obscure, faceless ing of Scripture, and thought I accepted a Trinitarian Jew nailed to a tree, for the huddled masses of human- 20. GALATIANS 3:8-12; LUKE 13:18-29 (FAST) construct, I couldn’t say that I loved the Trinity. At this ity – but is personal. When I was baptized, the Holy 21. HEBREWS 11:9-10, 17-23, 32-40; MATTHEW 1:1-25 point, the Trinity was an unfortunate concession to an- Spirit came upon me in the waters and cleansed me of cient theologians. my sins, and empowered me to live a holy life. Before (FAST) I taste the body and blood of Christ, I am reminded As I studied the Orthodox writers, I came to love Saint 22. HEBREWS 3:5-11, 17-19; MARK 9:42-10:1 (FAST) once again that my salvation is a Trinitarian effort, as Justin the Martyr, who explained to me that the Logos 23. HEBREWS 4:1-13; MARK 10:2-12 (FAST) Father Steven prays to the Father that the Holy Spirit was the only way to know truth. God sent the Logos would descend upon the gifts and “make this bread 24. HEBREWS 1:1-12; LUKE 2:1-20 (STRICT FAST) into the world to reveal the truth to the hearts of men, the precious Body of Your Christ . . . and that which is that there is only one God and all other gods are de- 25. GALATIANS 4:4-7; MATTHEW 2:1-12 in this cup the precious Blood of Your Christ, changing monically possessed replicas of the vain imaginations them by Your Holy Spirit.” THE NATIVIY OF OUR LORD of mankind. This, of course, was told to us earlier by the prophets as they were inspired by the Spirit of I can say now with full affection and true adoration: I 26. HEBREWS 2:11-18; MATTHEW 2:13-23 prophecy. How could I know truth if not for the col- love the Trinity. 27. ACTS 6:8-15; 7:1-5, 40-60; MATTHEW 21:33-42 laborative work of the Father, the Logos, and the Spirit Garrett “Justin” Brannon 28. GALATIANS 1:11-19; MATTHEW 2:13-23 of prophecy? All Saints of North America Antiochian Orthodox Church Maryland Heights, Missouri 29. HEBREWS 8:7-13; MARK 10:46-52 As I read Athanasius, I came to understand that the Logos was fully God in every way that the Father is 30. HEBREWS 9:8-10, 15-23; MARK 11:11-23 31. HEBREWS 10:1-18; MARK 11:23-26

28 November 2014 The Word 29 ORATORICAL CONTEST

recreating us as vessels of Himself. As Saint Paul writes, and his remarks about the legitima- All Things are Possible “It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me” cy of our church and theology has (Galatians 2:20). Through the death of our selfishness brought my spiritual life years of tur- through Christ … during Liturgy, our will aligns with the Lord’s will. Our moil. It is almost impossible for me love transmits His love, and our charitable demeanor to show love for him; however, that is channels His peace into the world. only because I forget to look past his ur world, despite its claim to modernity, con- all to save us from sin and death. Christ put into ac- biting remarks and cold deeds to rec- As we leave the Liturgy to serve our neighbors, Christ tinues to engage in the traditional debate tion the definition of love He gave to His disciples. He ognize the imprint of Christ in him. O will walk alongside us. He will be crucified with us when over humanity’s purpose. Some say, “Our told them, “Greater love has no one than this, than This young man is my brother, and we reach our Golgothas in the world. He will strength- existence is a fortunate, scientific coincidence, and to lay down one’s life for his friends” (John 15:13). As my pride or hatred will not change en us with His grace so that we can reenact His sacri- the universe has no deeper meaning.” Others affirm, Christians, we must imitate Christ’s sacrifice. We must that fact. If I truly desire to take up fice. It is only after having given all of our heart, soul, “Truth is subjective, so everyone should decide their resist our egos, which beckon us toward selfishness my cross and follow Christ (Luke mind, and strength to God, to become Christ’s abode, paths for themselves.” Others suggest, “There can’t and pride, to become God’s faithful servants. We must 9:23), if I truly want to be a child of that we can give all of ourselves to our neighbors and be a God, but we should still try to get along and be be moved by divine love and approach our own Gol- God, then I must be crucified for all properly serve them. nice.” Our race cannot seem to come to a consensus gothas to be crucified, and to face our fears and self- my brothers and sisters – even my on life’s meaning. This dissonance of ideas leads to a ish reservations. We must learn how to give all of our- Yet even when we receive Christ into our lives, we still worst enemy. I should not ignore him when he greets Kamal Hourani, 16, is world suffering from confusion and dissatisfaction, be- selves – all of our life – to further the good of others. hold back from fully serving humanity. We selectively from St. George Church me, or insult him when he makes a mistake. I cannot in Boston, Massachusetts serve our neighbors. Everyone can love their friends cause none of these ideas guides humans to fulfill their Unfortunately, we can be tempted to believe that we harbor dark thoughts toward him or curse at him under and family, but few want to be crucified for strangers, nature. When we rebel against the nature God “hard- can neglect this self-sacrifice in our spiritual lives. We my breath. Rather, I should engage him in a meaningful those who have wronged us, those we deem morally wired” us with – a nature seeking union with God – we believe that if we actively attend church services, sing conversation once in a while and try to understand his corrupt, or our worst enemies; as Christians, however, can’t harvest true joy from life. As Blessed Augustine along to the hymns, and participate in various parish suffering, so I can show him compassion and serve him we cannot choose not to love some people. Christ tells of Hippo says, “Our hearts are restless, until they find organizations, then we are justified in the eyes of God. better. I never said that unconditional love was easy us, “If you love those who love you, what credit is that their rest in Thee (God).” We think that these practices prove to God that we are to practice, but it is necessary. Loving our enemies is to you? For even sinners love those who love them” Christians should not fall into our world’s rut of confu- righteous and dedicated to Him, but this is a twisted what sets Christians apart from the rest of the world. (Luke 6:32). sion, because Christ makes our life’s mission obvious. perspective of Christianity. In his first epistle, St. John If we don’t have this spiritual quality, what credit do He commands us, “You shall love the Lord your God the Beloved writes, “Whoever does not practice righ- Christians are called to a greater standard: to imitate we have? with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all teousness is not of God, nor is he who does not love the unconditional love of God himself. Christ died for Brothers and sisters in Christ, this conference has your strength, and your neighbor as yourself” (Luke his brother” (1 John 3:10). Our relationship with God all mankind, including the unrepentant thief, the ag- granted us a precious opportunity to return to the ba- 10:27). Love is the entire foundation of our existence is the same relationship as the one we share with our gressive Roman soldiers, and the hypocritical Jewish sics of our faith and reflect on the significance of love. summed up in a beautiful, four-letter package, the neighbors. If we separate the two bars of the cross by leaders. God loves each individual as His child, regard- I must ask myself: Have I ignored the significance of chief of virtues, the fount of our joy, the connection be- ignoring our personal relationships, we no longer have less of his or her morality. Christ, speaking of His Fa- love in my spiritual life? Do I exalt our religious prac- tween God and man, and the executioner of our egos. a cross to carry at all. Thus love is the purest form of ther, says, “He makes His sun rise on the evil and on tices over true Christian living? When have I neglected Love is what defines our Christian lives, but, if we are to worship toward God, and service is the focal point of the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust” the gifts Christ gives me in the Divine Liturgy? Why do embrace it as our driving virtue, we must understand the Christian life. (Matthew 5:45). Someone’s sins cannot and should not I prevent Christ from living in me? Which Golgothas cost them our unconditional love. As Saint John of Kro- what love in action looks like so that we can practice it. These facts, however, do not diminish the importance do I avoid? Whom do I marginalize in my life because nstadt says, “Never confuse the person, formed in the As always, Christ provides an example for our way of of our beloved church services. On the contrary, the Di- my pride bars me from loving them? What can I do to image of God, with the evil that is in him: because evil life. His Crucifixion is the perfect template of love that vine Liturgy is the foundation to our spiritual integrity, break the chains that hold me back from commending is but a chance misfortune, an illness, a devilish rev- we must imitate every day. Consider the shape of the the channel through which God endows us with His di- all of my life to Christ our God? We must ask ourselves erie. But the very essence of the person is the image of Crucifix: the Tree’s vertical bar stretches from the earth vine energy. Without God’s grace, we cannot hope to these questions and seek repentance for the unloving God, and this remains in him despite every disfigure- to heaven and represents our relationship with God. burn with the same love He has, for “every good and decisions we have made in our lives. If we approach ment.” Elder Thaddeus, a recently deceased Serbian The horizontal bar hovers over the world’s surface and every perfect gift is from above.” Only God can sanc- God with a contrite and humble heart, Christ will raise monk, expands on this point. He informs us that when symbolizes our personal relationships. The bars of the tify us and kindle our love, which is the heavenly gift. us up from our spiritual darkness into His sanctifying Christ’s love is manifested in us “we see no difference cross – these two relationships – converge at a cen- This sanctification, this kindling of our burning love, is light. Then, we can receive Him back into our lives, between people: everyone is good, everyone is our tral point, on which hangs Christ, who fully bears the effected by our contact with Christ in the Liturgy. The take up our crosses, and sacrifice our lives for our brother, and we consider ourselves to be the worst of burden of both relationships, who carries His cross by Lord deigns to make His abode in us through our fer- neighbors. This is our purpose as human beings. We all men – servants of every created thing.” obeying the Father and serving all of humanity. But His vent prayers, our hearing of the Gospel, and our par- must accept our crosses and attain Christ’s standard of cross was heavy. As Christ approached His Passion, taking of the Holy Eucharist. Our bodies become His The words of Christ and these Saints pose a personal unconditional love, for, as Saint Paul says, without love, He feared the coming trial, yet divine compassion and throne, from which He can guide our lives as the King challenge for me. One of my peers at school often in- we are nothing (1 Corinthians 13:2). prayer moved him to submit to the Father’s will. He of All. Our imperfections are swallowed up by His di- sults my faith and my intelligence for following God, suffered spitting, scourging, and slaps, but endured vinity, like a drop of water lost in an ocean of perfume,

30 November 2014 The Word 30 The Word 31 ropolitan PHILIP (+2014) to allow remembers, “Fr. Paul’s favorite COMMUNITIES IN ACTION suitable congregations to take up phrase when asked how he was, its practice and development, and was always ‘never better, never serving as the Vicar-General of the better.’” Antiochian Archdiocese’s Western lent facility located about eighty- Faith.” In addition, some of the Married for 70 years to Khouria Rite parishes for many years. five miles south of Edmonton, clergy even played soccer and ca- Shirley, who reposed in 2012, Fr. Alberta. noed with the campers. A charter member of the Ortho- Paul raised three children with his dox-Anglican, Orthodox-Roman wife: Dorothy Downie Orrill and The camp was sponsored by St. On the first evening of the camp, Catholic, and Orthodox-Polish Peter Christian Schneirla, and the Philip Church in Edmonton and one of the clergy spoke to the Catholic Theological Dialogues, late William Sutfin Schneirla, Jr. Annunciation Church of Calgary, campers about the life and legacy Fr. Paul had been a General Board Bishop JOHN, Bishop of Worces- but campers also came from Sas- of our Father Metropolitan PHILIP Member of the National Council ter and New England, and the katoon, Saskatchewan, and Van- of thrice-blessed memory, and to- of Churches since the 1940s and episcopal overseer of the West- couver, British Columbia. There gether we prayed the Trisagion was the last surviving member of ern Rite, presided at his services, were 23 campers, which, for a first prayers for the peace of his soul. Very Reverend Paul the original founders of the Stand- along with Fr. Michael Ellias, (Sec- camp, seems to be a pretty good Also, Chris Shahid gave an inter- Schneirla Falls Asleep ing Conference of Orthodox Bish- retary of the Archdiocese) and Fr. turnout. This is especially true if esting talk on the life and ministry in the Lord ops in America (SCOBA). In 2007, Robert Stephanopoulos. St. Mary’s you consider the long distances of St. Innocent (the patron saint of SCOBA, the predecessor to the Church will hold a 40-day memorial some of the campers had to travel CSI). Then we all joined together The Very Reverend W.S. Paul Assembly of Canonical Orthodox service with the Trisagion Prayers to come to camp: those from Sas- in a service of supplication to St. Schneirla, longtime pastor at St. Bishops in the United States of in late October or early November. katoon drove for over seven hours, Innocent. Mary Church, Brooklyn, New York, fell asleep in Christ on Saturday, America, recognized Fr. Paul in a and those from Vancouver about St. George in Fishers By the end of the week, many for- September 20th, 2014, at the age Resolution of December 10 that twelve hours. Opens Its Doors mer strangers had become good of 98. May his memory be eternal! cited his “lengthy and extraordi- Although the travel times were friends, and everyone was eager nary” support for inter-Orthodox The events of May 10–11, 2014, Father Paul was ordained an An- long, the camp was worth it. The to come back next year. So many development and communication. were the culmination of many campers got to swim and canoe in people worked long hours and tiochian priest in 1943, and served Father Paul also taught Old Tes- years of hard work by the clergy the sparkling and warm waters of contributed funds to make this parishes in Iron Mountain, Michi- tament at his alma mater, St. and faithful of St. George Ortho- Gull Lake. They also spent one af- camp successful that I could never gan, and Allentown, Pennsylvania, Vladimir’s Seminary, for many dox Church, Fishers, Indiana. Dur- ternoon rock-climbing, and on the thank them all. I would like, how- before moving to New York to years. Former Dean and Peter M. ing that weekend, the parish cele- rainy day played games in the very ever, especially to thank Chris Sha- serve at St. Mary’s, Brooklyn, from Gramowich Emeritus Professor of brated the Thyranixia, or Opening large gymnasium. Did I mention hid from the Antiochian Village, 1951 until his retirement in August Church History, the Very Rev. Dr. of the Doors, of our new temple. the food? From caramel oatmeal who did an excellent job running 2002. He served in many capaci- John Erickson, remembers him Led by Fr. Nabil Hanna, the par- in the morning to build-your-own the daily program and even pinch- ties within the Archdiocese for 71 as “urbane, witty, and well-read.” ish welcomed His Grace Bishop burritos and roast-your-own hot hit as a cabin counselor when the years. He was the first chairman of “Father Paul’s familiarity with all ANTHONY and many clergy from dogs over an open fire, everyone need arose. Most of all, however, the Department of Christian Edu- aspects of twentieth-century Or- Orthodox jurisdictions in central had plenty of good food to enjoy. I need to thank Nellie Salloum for cation, the dean of the Atlantic thodoxy was legendary,” Fr. John Indiana to the formal opening of One camper did remark as he was the hours and hours of preparatory Deanery, the editor of The WORD continues, “but conversations with this new temple in the northeast going up for seconds: “But it’s still work she put into making Camp St. magazine, and the Archdiocese’s him were not limited to ecclesias- Indianapolis suburbs. In 2004 the not as good as my Mom’s.” Innocent a reality. Ecumenical Officer. tical matters. They could include parish purchased ten acres of land As a young man, Fr. Paul convert- Three clergy attended the camp Now we all can hardly wait until anything from the gold fields of at this site, with a goal of building a ed to Orthodoxy from a Protestant and provided morning and eve- next summer. Since the first year of Alaska (where he was born) to temple faithful to the Byzantine ar- CAMP ST. INNOCENT background, and thus, years after ning liturgical services and daily Camp St. Innocent has been such a Pharaonic Egypt. chitecture and iconography of our his ordination, a visit to one of the During the last week of August, instruction for the campers, along success, I suspect that many more forefathers. Designed by Christ J. Western Rite parishes within the Father Paul’s pastoral ministry also with the blessing of His Eminence with lots of cheering and support campers will join us next year. Kamages of CJK Design in Califor- Romanian Orthodox jurisdiction deserves special mention. It ex- Metropolitan JOSEPH, Camp St. during the game times. During nia, the church blends sixth-centu- in Paris, France, kindled his inter- tended beyond the usual church Innocent (CSI) took place, the first the daily teaching time, the clergy ry Byzantine architecture, exempli- est in the Rite. Subsequently, he contexts. He seemed to sense Antiochian camping event in West- spoke about the meaning of faith, fied by the Hagia Sophia Cathedral wrote and lectured extensively on when a parishioner or friend was ern Canada. The camp took place as the theme of the camp was in Constantinople, with the design the topic, encouraging Metropoli- in need of a cheery phone call. at the Gull Lake Centre, an excel- “CSI: Investigating the Power of of churches of roughly the same tan ANTONY (+1966) and Met- St. Vladimir’s Librarian Eleana Silk

32 November 2014 The Word 33 COMMUNITIES IN ACTION

period in Syria. The interior was On Saturday, May 10, 2014, Bish- Sarah, were chrismated into the beautifully painted with iconogra- op ANTHONY, Fr. Nabil and many Orthodox faith in 2006. A former phy during the summer of 2013 by guest clergy joined nearly five hun- Lutheran pastor, he arrived in In- Dr. George Kordis from the Uni- dred faithful to open the doors of dianapolis after receiving instruc- versity of Athens and his team of the new temple officially. Follow- tion in Orthodoxy, in part, through iconographers. ing the short service, the ribbon Fr. James Ellison of St. Nicholas

was cut by Bishop ANTHONY, Fr. Church in Urbana, Illinois, near Nabil, and several parishioners where they lived at the time. NOVEMBER IS A TIME and representatives from the con- During the dinner following Lit- struction crew and town of Fishers. urgy, the Parish Council again sur- TO GIVE THANKS Among the first to cut the ribbon prised Fr. Nabil with a cash gift to was Ruth George, 98, who was allow him and Kh. Elaine to take a ten years old when the first church trip to the Holy Land in the near The Order Contributes to: building was consecrated in 1926, future. The weekend was the cul- and who has now witnessed her mination of one and a half years of Heritage & Learning Center Internet Ministry Library Books Marriage and Parish Family Ministries third church-door-opening at the construction overseen by project Museum Acquisitions Clergy Symposium & Convention Assistance parish. She also read a prayer she manager David Mouck, who also wrote for this special occasion. Departmental Conferences Married Seminarian Assistance Preceding this event, the Parish supervised the construction of St. Antiochian Village SOYO Leadership Training Once the doors were opened, the Council and Building Committee Andrew Orthodox Church in River- Summer Camp Scholarships Youth Workers Training faithful streamed into the church hosted Bishop ANTHONY at a side, California. Christian Education Fund Syrian Relief for Great Vespers. At the conclu- dinner to celebrate the comple- Parish Development Fund Task Force for Jerusalem sion of Vespers, everyone assem- In all, the weekend was a great way tion of construction and to pres- Youth Ministry College Conference bled in the parish hall for refresh- for the parish to celebrate the end ent Fr. Nabil with the first of a few Archdiocese Administrative Services Project Mexico ments and fellowship. of major construction on this mag- Missions and Evangelism IOCC surprises that weekend. Since it nificent new temple and to open Antiochian House of Studies Balamand Theological Academy was Mother’s Day weekend, they The following day, May 11, 2014, our doors, not only for ourselves, Planning and Development The Treehouse Orthodox Family Ministries arranged a visit from Fr. Nabil’s Bishop ANTHONY presided at the but for the whole community. mother, Lucy Hanna, from St. An- Hierarchical Divine Liturgy. Dur- drew Church, Riverside, California, ing this liturgy, one of our faithful, so that she could be a part of the James Childs, was ordained to the weekend celebrations. diaconate. Dn. James and his wife, For more information call 201-871-1355, or e-mail: [email protected] or visit www.orderofstignatius.org.

THE ORDER • 358 MOUNTAIN ROAD • ENGLEWOOD, NJ 07631

34 November 2014 THE WORD 358 Mountain Road PO Box 5238 Englewood, NJ 07631-5238

Patriarchial Visit and Enthronement Schedule of Events DECEMBER 5-7 AT ST. NICHOLAS ANTIOCHIAN ORTHODOX CATHEDRAL OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK Preparations are underway for the visit of His Beatitude, JOHN X, Patriarch of Antioch and All the East and the upcoming enthronement of our new Metropolitan JOSEPH. Hierarchs and guests will be with us from all over the world. The following is the public schedule for the weekend:

Friday, December 5th Commemorative Journal Deadline: 6:30 p.m. Great Vespers with Artoklasia for November 7, 2014 the Feast of St. Nicholas You may also register for the Commemora- Saturday, December 6th tive Journal on-line at www.antiochian.org/ 9:00 a.m. Orthros enthronement 10:00 a.m. Divine Liturgy for the Feast of Please makes checks payable to St. Nicholas, Patron Saint of the Antiochian Archdiocese Mother Cathedral Memo: Commemorative Journal 4:30 p.m. Prayer of Thanksgiving and Mail to Antiochian Archdiocese Enthronement of 358 Mountain Road Metropolitan JOSEPH Englewood, NJ 07631 7:00 p.m. Reception at the Brooklyn Marriott 8:00 p.m. Gala Banquet at the Brooklyn Marriott Sunday, December 7th 9:15 a.m. Orthros 10:30 a.m. Patriarchal Divine Liturgy Banquet tickets are $200/person and can be obtained by mailing a check made out to “St. Nicholas Cathedral” to the following address: St. Nicholas Antiochian Orthodox Cathedral Attn: Banquet Committee 355 State Street Brooklyn, NY 11217 Visit & Enthronement