THE June 2019 Volume 63 No.WORD 6

“At the Convention… the fullness of the church is expressed in the unity of the church”. Metropolitan JOSEPH on attending the 2019 Convention EDITORIAL Volume 63 No.6 June 2019

COVER: THEWORD METROPOLITAN JOSEPH The Holy Synod Meeting of Antioch

CONTENTS 3 EDITORIAL by Bishop JOHN to Address the

5 GRAND RAPIDS: YOU’LL LOVE IT HERE! Pastoral Challenges 8 THE CHALICE OF JOY by Fr. Peter Kavanaugh Facing Today’s Family 12 METROPOLITAN JOSEPH HOSTS RUSSIAN PATRIARCHAL BISHOPS AND CONSUL GENERAL OF RUSSIA

13 OUT OF YOUR HEAD, INTO THE RHYTHMS by Fr. John Oliver

20 THE SPACE BETWEEN VIRTUE AND PASSION: ST. MAXIMUS THE CONFESSOR by Nicholas A. Pappas

22 ST. CYRIL OF ALEXANDRIA: DEFENDER OF THE THEOTOKOS by Fr. Daniel Daly

28 FOOD FOR HUNGRY PEOPLE PROGRAM

30 COMMUNITIES IN ACTION

Letters to the editor are welcome and should include the author’s full name and parish. Submissions for “Commu- nities in Action” must be approved by the local pastor. Both may be edited for purposes of clarity and space. All ­submissions e-mailed and provided as a Microsoft Word text or editable PDF. Please do not embed artwork into the word documents. All art work must be high resolution: at least 300dpi. atriarch JOHN X of and faith. The Synod Fathers will discuss how Antioch has dedi­ we are to address the current situation regard­ ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION: U.S.A. and Canada, $40.00 cated the next Holy ing the family, and how we might meet the Foreign Countries, $50.00 Single Copies, $3.00 Synod to the Fam­ challenges at the parish and diocesan levels.

The WORD (USPS626-260) is published monthly, except ily. He has called for The subjects of the meeting will be organ­ July and August, by the Antiochian Orthodox Christian concept papers to help ized under four headings: a description of the Archdiocese of North America at 358 Mountain Road, PO Box 5238; periodicals postage paid at Englewood, New the holy ­hierarchs of the current situation by region; contemporary social Jersey 07631-5238 and at additional mailing offices. ­Antiochian Church discuss the developments facing the family; bioethical is­ Postmaster send address changes to The WORD, 358 current challenges facing the fam­ sues; and the possibility of pastoral therapeutic Mountain Road, PO Box 5238, Englewood, NJ 07631- 5238 ily, and people generally, in their interventions. ISSN 0043-7964 www.antiochian.org. rapidly changing social and sci­ After the bishops receive reports on the state Canada Post Publication Agreement No. 40043404 entific dimensions. The bishops of the family in regions throughout the Patri­ Return Canada address to American International Mail, STN A –­ BOX 697, Windsor are ­being asked to reflect on the way in which archate, they will study the phenomena of sec­ ON N9A 6N4, Canada modern concepts relate to our traditional ­values ularization and globalization, and their ­impact

2 JanuaryJune 2019 2016 The Word 3 EDITORIAL

on the faith and spiritual life of parishioners and families. The very way peo­ ple think today has changed, as the world has adopted new and different GRAND RAPIDS: ways of living. Worldwide communication has become instantaneous, and many have relationships with a wide circle. The Internet and new global pseudo-family has ­allowed individuals to refashion traditional understand­ YOU’LL LOVE IT HERE! ings of what it means to be human, to love, to be spiritual, to respond to ANTIOCHIAN CONVENTION 2019 The Most Reverend Metropolitan JOSEPH God, and to interact with ­others around them. The bishops will discuss these The Right Reverend things, and their impact on our families and personal identities. Bishop BASIL The bishops will also consider the effects of these phenomena on the self- THE TIME HAS COME AT LAST. FROM JULY 21 TO 28, OUR ANTIOCHIAN ORTHODOX The Right Reverend understanding of men and women, on the family, and on the Church. We Bishop THOMAS ARCHDIOCESE WILL HOLD ITS 54TH BIENNIAL CONVENTION IN GRAND RAPIDS, will then discuss the way in which the sexualization of society has challenged The Right Reverend MICHIGAN. YOUR HOST CHURCH, ST. NICHOLAS, HAS BEEN PLANNING FOR YOUR Bishop ALEXANDER our teachings and family values, the state of education worldwide, and gender ARRIVAL THE PAST FOUR YEARS. WE ARE SO READY TO WELCOME YOU! The Right Reverend confusion. We will also talk about the challenges of mixed marriages within Bishop JOHN multi-religious and inter-religious communities. We will not shy away from The Right Reverend Bishop ANTHONY the reality of the spread of cohabitation, the increased postponement of mar­ The Right Reverend riage, and the challenges of addiction in our parishes and families. Bishop NICHOLAS We will then address the bioethical issues of our time, end-of-life issues, Founded in Arabic as and the positions of various Christian traditions. Al Kalimat in 1905 by Saint Raphael (Hawaweeny) Following this study, the Fathers will examine possible pastoral, therapeu­ Founded in English as The WORD in 1957 tic interventions, as we try to minister to our faithful, calling them to Christ’s by Metropolitan ANTONY (Bashir) abundant life. We will discuss possible positive uses of modern means like

Editor in Chief Bishop JOHN Facebook, Twitter, and websites. We will also look at Christian marriage, the Assistant Editor Christopher Humphrey ways people find spouses today, marriage preparation and enrichment, fam­ Design Director Donna Griffin Albert ily conflicts, meeting the challenges of people with special needs, care for our Editorial Board Fr. Michel Najim elderly, and end-of-life accompaniment. Fr. Patrick O’Grady Fr. Thomas Zain The agenda of this meeting is very ambitious and exciting. We are blessed Fr. Andrew Damick Fr. Nicholas Belcher with leadership in our Church willing to seek practical ways to pastor Christ’s Fr. John Oliver flock. This has long been the brilliance and fame of Antioch. Antioch is and Fr. Chad Hatfield Kh. Erin Kimmet has always been particularly practical, pastoral and faithful. Please pray for Peter Samore our bishops, pastors, theologians, therapists, and physicians, as we take on Ann Bezzerides the challenges of our time. Your witness, love, and support will prepare our Editorial Office: The WORD bishops and faithful to hear the truth of God from God as we gather, as we 2 Lydia’s Path Westborough, MA 01581-1841 have for two thousand years, in synod with faith, humility, openness, and good will. e-mail: [email protected] Subscription Office: 358 Mountain Road PO Box 5238 Englewood, NJ 07631-5238 [email protected] HIS EMINENCE METROPOLITAN JOSEPH THANKS THOSE WHO SENT PRAYERS AND GOOD WISHES ON THE OCCASION OF HIS NAME’S DAY. THROUGH THE INTERSESSIONS OF ST. JOSEPH OF ARI- Our city of Grand Rapids, nestled on the Work, and Raise a Family.” We’re a mid-size MATHEA, MAY GOD GRANT WISDOM AND FOR- banks of the Grand River, in Pure Michigan, community, with all the attributes of a big city BEARANCE TO THE PEOPLE OF HIS HOLY CHURCH has been a best-kept secret for years, but no and none of the negatives. We’re ­family friendly, IN THE SPLENDOR OF HIS EMPTY TOMB. longer. Once known as the Furniture Capitol safe, affordable, and hassle-free, congestion-free, of the World and home of President Gerald smog-free. Ask anyone. We love it here! Ford, we’re now known as the Cool City, Beer Metropolitan JOSEPH visited us recently, City USA, and the “Leading Place to Visit, Live, to put his stamp of approval on our convention

4 June 2019 The Word 5 Convention 2019

plans. He told us, “In Grand Rapids, we the best talent in our Archdiocese. are making history. Because of this con­ At the “Hafli- Yallah…Let’s Dance,” vention, Orthodoxy will be heard.” He there will be a Moroccan theme, with went on to proclaim, “I need the peo­ henna artists, a belly dancer, Ara­ ple. The people need the hierarchs. The bic music for our dabke, and mazza. clergy and people together, that’s why Then, instead of the typical banquet, we need this Convention.” Sayidna af­ we’ll light the night with a Dinner- firmed why it’s important we allattend­ Dance Gala – few speeches, exquisite AC2019. “We go to the Convention to food, and an emotional look back at please God and to bring more unity in 40 years of memories of the Antioch­ our life and in our societ­ y. All of us are ian Village. one group, one family, one Archdio­ We have excursions to the Ford cese.” We belong together. Presidential Museum,­ to an origi­ We’ve been having the time of our nal Frank Lloyd Wright house, and life preparing for AC2019. The­hotel a tour of the Grand Rapids Her­ itage rooms are top notch (4-star, 4-dia­ Hill District. We’ll take you to mond) at hugely discounted prices. The the Frederick Meijer­ Gar­ dens and Grand River runs alongside the hotels Sculpture Park, among the top-30 and convention center, and the cafés, must-see ­locales in the world. And pubs, boutiques, museums, urban mar­ you can’t leave Grand Rapids with­ ket are all within walking distance. out experiencing unsalted, shark- We’re maintaining all the spiritu­ free Lake Michigan, with the longest al traditions of the Convention, like freshwater shoreline anywhere. We’re Bible study and services, Bible Bowl stealing you away to the beaches and and O­ ratorical Festival, but we added bringing a towel for you. If you can’t something new: “Nightly Chats with go, extend your trip to Michigan and ­Sayidna” and “Ask Abouna.” There is at visit one resort town after a­nother, least one workshop or event in which minutes from each other, up and every person can take part. For the first down the Michigan Coast. You won’t time, we have a special workshop for believe how stunning, breathtaking priests, put on by Faithtree. the area is: a summer place like no At Kids’ Club, young children will other. learn how to worship through their AC2019 is about all of us An­ five senses, and tour the Children’s and tiochian Orthodox being tog­ ether, Public Museums. To celebrate 50 years to meet new friends and rekin­ of SOYO, there will be an All-Teen dle old friendships; to get to know Dance. The Young Adults will tour na­ our ­beloved ­hierarchs and clergy; tionally-renowned breweries in Grand to ­worship, learn, grow in our faith, Rapids. At the Family Riverwalk Street compete, and have great fun with Fair, we’ll serve up tacos and sliders, each other. If you’re not here in beer kegs and jugglers, balloon and Grand Rapids with us, it just won’t face artists, and stilt walkers. There will be the same without you. You’ll love be a wonderful Archdiocese Women’s it here! Go to ac2019gr.org for all Lunch and an Order of St. Ignatius things convention: register, book Dinner. We’ll be going “from Broadway your hotel, purchase an event pack­ to Grand ­Rapids” with a high-­caliber age and buy other tickets, and get musical production, f­eaturing some of ready to roll.

6 June 2019 The Word 7 THE CHALICE OF JOY Fr. Peter Kavanaugh, Pastor

“Shine! Shine! O New Jerusalem! The glory of the Lord has shone upon you! Exult and be glad! It is the day of resurrection! Let us be illumined for the feast! Pascha! The Pascha of the Lord!” There is no joy without Pascha, and there is no Pascha without joy. Christ has broken open the tomb. It was once a place of death. It is now a womb of light. The stone blocking the tomb was the stone blocking our souls. Now it has been rolled away, and the gates of heaven are open. There is no sweeter joy than the joy of Pascha, and it pours out for us to take. If we let that joy in our heart, we will taste the resurrection in every drink and hear its music in every breeze. Pascha is a chalice of joy, and we must never stop drinking from it. What did they see in the tomb? “An angel of the Lord … his countenance like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow” (Matthew 28:2–3). Artists travel the world to find the right kind of light, and spend their lives in hope

8 June 2019 The Word 9 The Chalice of Joy

of ­capturing it. Imagine the light on that morning ­grumble even in heaven, so that heaven becomes in Christ. Everything is transformed in the paschal whole world a living sign of it. when the ang­ el ­announced the news. Lightning is hell. No, Christ invites us to a different life, and that light. Christ is risen from the dead and we are risen Glory to Thee; on my knees, I kiss the traces of Thine thrilling and sublime. Snow is pure and refresh­ is the life of Pascha. with him. unseen hand. ing. This is the light of the resurrection. His words The Pascha light has been lit and burns in our “I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall Glory to Thee, enlightening us with the clearness of are no less profound: “Do not be afraid” (Matthew hearts. We must feed that flame day and night. This be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with eternal life. 28:5). There is no room for fear in the resurrection is our work in Pascha. “Whatever is true, whate­ver the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with Glory to Thee for the hope of the unutterable, imper- light. It is thick with joy. is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure … think the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh ishable beauty of immortality. The angel’s countenance was like lightning, but about such things” (Philippians 4:8). For forty days himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth Glory to Thee, O God, from age to age. what did that compare to the voice of Christ, whose we fasted. Now, for forty days, we feast. Our labor herself with her jewels” (Isaiah 61:10). How could a man write these words, tortured in first word was: “Rejoice!” It is not a trite greeting. through Lent was to detach from our pleasures, Are you tempted to be dour and depressed? a concentration camp? How else, but through the He is announcing something new. In the beginning, from food, drink, and celebration. Now, the Church Do you know what Pascha means? The tomb is indelible joy of Pascha? We, too, must drink from God spoke and created the heavens and the earth. tells us to return to our pleasures, but with a new Today, God speaks, “Rejoice!” pointing to the qual­ mindset. With the same vigor that we fasted, we ity of a new heaven and earth. When the pr­ ophet must now cherish the good in creation. What is the writes, “The Lord hath reigned, he is clothed in universe, but one banquet table laid out for our joy? majesty” (Psalm 93:1), he is speaking of Pascha. Feast and give praise. ­Today, the world is lit in beauty; it is beauty per­ Jesus met the apostles saying, “‘Rejoice!’ So they meated with the paschal light. Rejoice! It is Pascha! came and held Him by the feet and worshiped” We may enter that New Jerusalem today, and no (Matthew 28:9). Worship is the only attitude fit “Rejoice!” longer turn back. for the soul. Worship Christ when you savor your He spoke, “Rejoice!” and they knelt at his feet coffee and accomplish your daily routines. Worship and worshiped. Wonder is not a strong enough Christ when you step outside and feel the sunlight ­empty and there is no longer death. St. Paul told that chalice. We must turn to the joy of Christ and word for what they felt. Adoration does not do it or the shade of the clouds. Worship Christ when us to be Pascha Christians when he wrote to the let it take us. justice. “Into the region of awe, in deepest solitude you meet your loved ones, co-workers, or enemies. It Corin­thians: “The first man was of the earth, made there is a road right out of the self, a commerce with is the Day of Resurrection and there is no room for of dust; the second Man is the Lord from heaven. … the naked Other, imageless … unknown, unde­ bitterness. It is Pascha, and there is not enough time As was the man of dust, so also are those who are Christ is Risen from the dead! fined, desired” (C. S. Lewis). The mystics all grasp at to waste in hurt and sadness. Our God who says, made of dust; and as is the heavenly Man, so also words to explain their encounter with God. Every­ “Open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it” (Ps. 81:10), are those who are heavenly” (1 Corinthians 15: 27– Christ is Risen! 28). When we were dead, in the tomb, choked by sin and fear, we were made of dust. Christ saved us The light of Pascha from that dour life when he rose from the dead. We “Do not be afraid” (Matthew 28:5). need no longer turn back to the dust. Let the dust shines in ­everything! be dust. Let yesterday keep its hurts. Let yesterday There is no room for fear in the resurrection keep its bitterness. Today is the day of Resurrection. Christ is Risen! In 1940, Fr. Gregory Petrov died in a Soviet light. It is thick with joy. prison camp. Among his possessions was found a The hope he offers poem, the Akathist of Thanksgiving. Behind those frozen walls, the saint wrote these piercing words: burns in our hearts! thing falls short, yet the encounter is always at hand. offers us the chalice of Pascha joy. Open your hearts Thou hast brought me into life as into an enchanted You do not need to climb a mountain or retreat to and He will pour. paradise. We have seen the sky like a chalice of deepest Christ is Risen! a cave to find it. When the resurrected Christ first A philosopher once insisted, “Fairy tales say that blue, where in the azure heights the birds are singing. spoke, “Rejoice,” he offered us a new life. We can apples were golden only to refresh the forgotten We have listened to the soothing murmur of the forest There is no more death, enter that joy now and any moment when we bring moment when we found that they were green. They and the melodious music of the streams. We have tasted our heart to Pascha. make rivers run with wine only to make us remem­ fruit of fine flavor and the sweet-scented honey. We can all is beautiful! Christ’s first word, “Rejoice,” gives us a direc­ ber, for one wild moment, that they run with water­ ” live very well on Thine earth. It is a pleasure to be Thy tion. We cannot call ourselves Christian if we are (G.K. Chesterton, Orthodoxy). This is the Pascha guest… Christ is Risen! Glorify Him! bitter and glum. There is no room for grumbling in theme. We should come through this season as Glory to Thee for the warmth and tenderness of the paradise. If we spend our lives now with our eyes changed men and women. We must spend our lives world of nature. Fr. Peter Kavanaugh, Pastor cast towards our feet, then we will remain with our learning to see in the simple apple and common Glory to Thee for the numberless creatures around us. St. Benedict Orthodox Church, Wichita Falls, Texas eyes cast downwards for eternity. A grumbler will stream the light of Pascha. Everything is beautiful Glory to Thee for the depths of Thy wisdom, the

10 June 2019 The Word 11 Metropolitan JOSEPH Hosts Out of Your Head, Fr. John Oliver Russian Patriarchal Bishop and Consul General of Russia Into the Rhythms ON THE CYCLES OF THE HOLY CHURCH

is Eminence Metropolitan JOSEPH hosted a paschal luncheon for His Grace Bishop MATTHEW of Sou­ rozh, and the Consul General of Russia in New York City, His Excellency Ser­ gei K. Ovsyannikov, at the Archdiocesan Headquarters in Englewood, New Jersey on Tues­ day, May 7, 2019. Bishop MATTHEW serves the Russian Patriarchal parishes in Great Britain, but is also serving as the Interim Administrator for the parishes in the U.S.A. and Canada. Also present were V. Rev. Fr. Thomas Zain, Vicar General of the Antiochian Archdiocese, Rev. Fr. Mark Rashkov, the Chancellor of the Russian Patriarchal parish­ es in the U.S.A., and Russian Vice-Consul Alexey Topolskiy. After exchanging paschal greetings, the lead­ ers discussed various issues of importance in the Orthodox Christian world, including the ­ongoing D. Albert Photo by Jordan ­ecclesiastical impasse in Ukraine, the meeting long the coast of Mt. Athos, over­ still within the created. in April between the Patriarchs of Antioch and looking the rich blue A­ egean Theology, in contrast, is experience of God, ­Jerusalem in Cyprus, and the ongoing armed con­ Sea at sunset, a novice arrived ­encounter with God, transfiguration in God, im­ flict in Syria. His Eminence expressed his grati­ at his elder’s cell to discover mediate vision of the uncreated, personal Divine. tude to His Excellency for all Russian President him on his patio overlooking Theology is the inner life of the Church. We call to Vladimir Putin and his government have done to the magnificence. “What are mind the familiar observation of the fourth-­century help al­ leviate the suffering in Syria, and their great you doing, ­Father?” The elder, Evagrios Ponticus: “If you are a theologian, you will ­efforts in helping to stabilize that country, and in before turning into his cell to begin evening prayers, pray truly; if you pray truly, you are a theologian.”1 driving out the terrorist groups that have wreaked replied, “Masevo elie” – “I am gathering fuel.” Where the concerns of metaphysics lie with the havoc on peoples of all faiths – and especially the What is the difference between metaphysics and ­created, the concerns of theology lie with the Un­ Syrian Christians. theology? Metaphysics may be understood as investi­ created – with the Uncreated, yes, but also with The leaders also discussed the upcoming pil­ gation into being, into the relationship of mind and those created conditions in our lives necessary for the grimage to Russia by His Eminence and a group of matter, into hidden qualities of not uncreated but ­Uncreated to be known in the physical here and now. twenty-five clergy, Archdiocesan trustees and other created reality. The word comes from Aristotle who, So, theology cares about conditions such as prayer, pilgrims, that will take place from May 13 to 27. His apparently, never used it; the fourteen books of his love, work, rest, purity of heart, asceticism, moral Holiness Patriarch KIRILL of Moscow and all Rus’ Metaphysics were given that title by an editor a hun­ ­choices – even entering the symphony of nature – in invited His Eminence to participate in his name- dred years after the books appeared. Instead, to de­ its pursuit­ of the uncreated. To turn a familiar phrase, day celebration on May 24 (Old Calendar) and to scribe his interest in the causes and principles of all metaphysics studies this and that, while theology is visit the holy places of Moscow and St. P­ etersburg. things he used words like first philosophy, first science, encounter with the other. After exchanging gifts, the leaders enjoyed a won­ wisdom, and, yes, even theology. These terms, however, Metaphysics or theology: which was our good father­ derful lunch prepared by the Archdiocesan staff. shared a common meaning: metaphysics studies the on his patio practicing? Maybe both, for he took into physical and what is after or beyond the physical, yet himself all that he encountered in the cr­ eated world

12 June 2019 The Word 13 Out of Your Head

before him – the Aegean blue, the buttery glow and anti-intellectual?” The question meant that either the noticing these cycles of nature: “The sun rises and rhythm, the weekly rhythm, the monthly rhythm, warmth of the setting sun, the breeze – and carried host knows nothing of either religion or history – the sun goes down, and hastens to the place where it the yearly rhythm. There is order to many things in within him as he turned inside to light the lamp­ ada an ignorance that is, itself, anti-intellectual – or, he ­rises. The wind blows to the south, and goes round to ­nature: night follows day, summer follows spring, sea­ before his icons to resume his search, his fellow­ knows, and was simply being provocative and unfair. the north; round and round goes the wind, and on its son follows season, tides rise and fall and rise again. ship, his worship of the Uncreated. This water and Either way, the debate of what it means to be a per­ circuits the wind returns. All streams run to the sea, To live within these rhythms of nature and not fight that shoreline inspired his reach for the wholly Other son of faith in the modern age falls backward as once but the sea is not full; to the place where the streams them is to accept reality. You see?” Who is beyond all waters and all shorelines. again valuable airtime is wasted on the false binary of flow, there they flow again” (1:5–7). “Yes,” the man replied. “And the Church?” UNNECESSARY CHOICES either physical reality or spiritual perspectiv­ e. It’s not just nature that relies on cycles. How “Yes, God has established rhythms in His Church, Does it have to be this way? Like our Athonite ­often have successful people attributed their success too. Live these rhythms with natural and unforced When our culture does its thinking – if it does ­father on the patio – whose delight in the created one to certain things they do every day, or on a r­ecurring attention, and you will grow in holiness without great any thinking at all – it often thinks in unnecessary minute fueled his desire for the Uncreated the next basis? Cyclically, they revisit their goals, or take a risk, unnatural effort. As with the natural world, to live binar­ ies. Important debates lie stripped of complex­ – can we, in a precise and careful sense, have the best or work a little bit on a big problem, or ­focus on im­ these rhythms in our spiritual world and not fight ity and reduced to absurdly conflicting choices: Is of both worlds? Maybe nothing brings that exquisite portant things. To what do they attribute their suc­ them is to accept reality. As the Apostle said, you technology good or bad? Immigration – yes or no? possibility closer to us than the divine services of the cess in work? To consistently entering these c­ycles, must ‘redeem the time for the days are evil’” (Ephe­ Should we support business or protect the environ­ holy Orthodox Church. these rhythms, these fundamentals. sians 5:16). The elder helped the man return home All that we do on ment? Is America getting better or worse? Is Google THE CYCLES OF EARTH And that most glorious creation of all – the with a new way of living his life. this beautiful earth making us smarter or dumber? One of these unneces­ ­human being – relies on cycles within his or her body We will take the hand-off from our wiseelder ­ and – a planet “charged sarily binary questions – science or religion? physical Maples trees are among the first to reveal a during every twenty-four hour period: appropriation, consider these four cycles – daily, weekly, monthly, with the grandeur of or spiritual? the observable or the invisible? – forces change in seasons. Airplane pilots report that, from which is eating and digestion; assimilation, absorp­ yearly – so that we may not only find a good way of God,” as the poet Gerard Manley us to put all our epistemic eggs in one basket:­ search­ above, a forest in early fall looks like a green suit tion and use; and elimination, cleansing and waste. living our lives, but also encourage anyone in our care Hopkins describes it ing for knowledge with, as C. S. Lewis’s Screwtape wearing a red-gold cap. As days gradually shorten, Then, appropriation again. When these ­bodily cycles to find a good way to live theirs. – depends on cycles, might say, either the materialists or the magicians. sap flows more slowly from the ground up, affect­ are working well together, they help resist disease, THE DAILY CYCLE or rhythms, that our The question, however, seems to forget that great ing upper branches first. Top leaves receive more sun­ maintain weight, and keep a person in good work­ creative God embeds men of religion have been scientific and great men of light, maturing faster and completing their life-­cycle ing order. To the Orthodox way of living there is a daily in it: humans, plants, animals, water, air, science have been religious: before leaves further down, bringing the change in Now, if the Lord has embedded cycles into nature, cycle, realized in both communal and individual set­ soil, rocks. • St. Luke of Simferopol, an accomplished color. After this, winter. Then, spring and summer. where we deal with life; and into our work, where we tings. When we speak of the communal daily cycle, surgeon and academic, was at the same time Then, fall again. deal with the mind; and into our anatomy, where we we speak of what Syriac Christians call the shehimo a saintly bishop, while Galileo, the ­father of Thus, a rhythm or cycle. A cycle is “a repeating deal with the body; might He also have embedded prayers – a word that means common or ordinary, re­ modern astronomy, was, in his own way, de­ pattern” – more fully, “a recurring period of time in cycles into His Church, where we deal with the most ferring to those seven offices of prayer offered on­ or voutly Catholic; which certain events or phenomena repeat in the important creation of all – the soul? dinary days when no feast is being cele­brated. “Seven same order and at the same intervals.” times a day I praise Thee because of Thy righteous • St. Porphyrios nourished his mind on med­ THE RHYTHMS OF CHURCH 3 ical and physics textbooks, while ­Johannes All that we do on this beautiful earth – a plan­ judgments” seems to be referring to that Hebrew et “charged with the grandeur of God,” as the poet Let’s bring these two ideas together: using the reckoning of a twenty-four hour day into seven of­ Kepler, known for his laws of planetary mo­ 2 tion, devoted his science to articulating how Gerard Manley Hopkins describes it – depends on created to reach for the Uncreated, as did our good fices of prayer, so that the remembrance of God may the life of the Trinity was reflected in every cycles, or rhythms, that our creative God embeds in monk on the patio, and the cycles within the Church never be far from head, heart, and hand. That daily level of creation; it: humans, plants, animals, water, air, soil, rocks. All that heal that precious cosmos of the human­ soul. rhythm has come down to us as the communal ser­ • St. Anatolius of Alexandria, the pious interact to make up and sustain these basic ­cycles The story is told of a worldly man who went to vices of Vespers, Compline, Midnight Office, Matins, bishop of Laodicea, found time to write of nature. The carbon cycle, the nitrogen cycle, the see a wise elder. After a few pleasantries over tea, the Third Hour, Sixth Hour, and Ninth Hour. ten books on mathematics, while Sir Isaac phosphorous cycle, the water cycle – these and other­ man reached the point of his visit: “I am not a peace. What is happening in these communal daily of­ Newton, who defined laws of motion and natural processes churn elements in various forms My life is busy but not meaningful; I am successful fices? The Church invites us to notice the created universal gravitation, was a zealous, if ad­ between different parts of the environment, working but not happy.” world and, as did our good Athonite father on the mittedly strange, Christian. together to produce the air we breathe, the water we “My dear man,” the elder replied, “you are not patio, use it as “fuel of inspiration” for transcending drink, the food we eat, the clothes we wear, the wheat happy because you occupy yourself with carnal life yet through the created to reach for the Uncreated. Ves­ These esteemed figures yawn when forced into we use to bake our prosphora, the wine we use to cele­ your true self yearns for spiritual life. You are feeding pers, offered around sundown, connects that “setting any false choice between science or religion, the phys­ brate the Eucharist, the sap and oils that make our that which should be starved and starving that which of the sun” with our “Gladsome Light” who is the ical or the spiritual, the observable or the in­ visible. incense, even the gasoline that powers our cars. God should be fed. Spiritual life is simple, not easy but Christ. Compline, offered later, prays that in the en­ Recently, a television talk show host – who prides has filled His creation with cycles that, when work­ simple. If you want to be saved, live the rhythms of croaching blackness – so often a devil’s playground himself on his progressive, atheistic views – invited ing well together, set the conditions on earth for life the Church – there is grace in them.” – God would preserve us from “every dark volup­ onto his program a guest to represent religion. What to grow. “What rhythms?” the man asked. tuousness of night.” Matins, offered around dawn was the first question the host asked? “Isn’t religion The preacher opens the book of Ecclesiastes by “Only concern yourself with four: the daily or shortly after, takes a sluggish, tired body, so that,

14 June 2019 The Word 15 Out of Your Head

­“rising from sleep we fall down before Thee, O Good prayer rule that fascinated them: fifty prostrations really r­eaders. So practice the Jesus Prayer a lot, but weekly cycle, we’re interested in a different circasep- One.” It gives “glory to Thee who has shown us the each night before bed. read in the tradition a little, because that reading is tan rhythm. When does the Orthodox week begin?: light” – the physical light of a new day, and especially Beginning this rule, they fell in love with it. important.­ Saturday evening, with Great Vespers. This means the noetic light of illumination. Notice our journey, Weeks later they found an Orthodox parish about an To fisherman our Lord speaks of fish; to shep­ that we begin our week not with our reception of the then, toward the Creator not in spite of creation, but hour from home and, while developing a relationship herds He speaks of sheep; to tax collectors He speaks “medicine of immortality,” but with preparation for through creation; the services tolerate no gnostic dis­ with the priest, told him about their amazing bodily of money; to each human being He speaks of what­ it. We begin each week as we began life itself: in a gust for materiality. discipline. He replied, “Great, that’s great! But, from ever will spark the heart. This is the hypostatic, or state of need, of dependence, of yearning. We begin We call this daily cycle of offices communal, be­ now on, I’d like you to do not fifty, but just ten pros­ personal, dimension of our salvation. For the Lord our week in need of the grace of the Eucharist, just as cause it’s usually offered within a monastery – it is trations.” is more than a shepherd, isn’t He? The Lord is my we begin our life in need of the grace of baptism. In­ cohesion, fellowship, unity for disparate persons. We “Ten,” the couple thought, “that’s it? We’re going shepherd (Psalm 23:1). While all of us share a com­ deed, we begin each day in a state of need, for “unto refer to this unity in the Divine Liturgy when we backwards!” They did as directed, however. ­Later, they mon human nature, each of us enjoys a mode of be- Thee I rise early at dawn, my soul thirsts for Thee, my pray, “with one accord to make our common suppli­ admitted confusion: “We don’t understand, ­Father. ing uniquely ours. Salvation as personal experience flesh longs for Thee” (Psalm 63:1). In everything, the cations unto Thee.” After all, we are saved together, We can’t do the prayer rule of ten prostrations. We means that while salvation is a common need shared day, the week, life or death, we begin with the need but we are damned alone. used to do fifty. What happened?” Father said, “Yes, by all, each person suffers a brokenness particular for relationship. Yet the remembrance of God while by ourselves as long as it was your idea, fifty was easy, but once it to him. Each, therefore, will experience a healing in When typically unfolding, this weekly cycle be­ is important, too. So another expression of the ­daily became an obedience, ten was too many.” Christ equally particular. This is why salvation isutter ­ gins with our preparation for the Eucharist and con­ cycle is individualized or private. This is the cycle of So, the daily cycle of some kind of formal prayer mystery. We sense this communal-yet-hypostatic dy­ tinues with our reception of the Eucharist. Then a morning and evening prayers found in our prayer rule is important. Random thoughts of urgent need namic when, in the Anaphora of Divine Liturgy, we few days later it includes the two fasting days that books that begin and close a day, usually at home. shot like arrows heavenward throughout the day is ask that the Lord Himself will “distribute these gifts help us prepare for the Eucharist again: Wednesday, These may be offered by a person standing before not the same as a prayer rule. Arrows of need are here spread forth unto all of us for good [the com­ to accept our Lord’s betrayal and our part in it, and A daily and personal icons, by a couple (though some married couples r­ eport good. A prayer rule, however, trains the body, ac­ munal], according to the individual need of each [the Friday, to accept our Lord’s crucifixion and our part cycle of prayer a lot of tension around the act of praying together), quaints the soul with boredom, gives one a bannis­ hypostatic].” in that. Once again we’re getting in touch with our matters because or a family. (Some of our families, in trying to keep ter to hold when grace withdraws, helps us decrease No matter the daily cycle, we shall expect tempta­ need for a Savior. every follower of tiny toddler bundles of passion still for prayers, re­ so He can increase (cf. John 3:30), establishes some tion, for no journey toward the love of God unfolds For parishioners, it may be suggested that a good Jesus needs a brief, port that family prayer time may be time, but it feels sacred space in the home, and makes our own the without temptation to settle for less. and general weekly rhythm might be observing those simple, doable way neither­ like family nor prayer.) Priests tell their pa­ prayerful words of Scripture and the saints. fasting days, attending Great Vespers on Saturday, to dialogue with Him THE WEEKLY CYCLE – not to merely think rishioners that – whether as individuals or as a com­ Following the ethos of the psalms, the saints in­ and offering the pre-Communion and Thanksgiving about Him, or to ap- munity – one unfailing test to prove the existence of vited the Holy Spirit into the painful difficulties of In addition to the circadian, or daily, cycle of Prayers around Holy Communion. And if one can preciate or admire the devil is to try to keep a prayer rule. “When I want their lives, then turned their experience of His com­ communal and individual services, the Orthodox live head over to the church midweek for a service, that’s or consider Him, but to do good, evil is close at hand” ­(Romans 7:21). fort into written prayer. So, when we pray the words a weekly rhythm centered around preparation for the a great boost, too. to address Him. A daily and personal cycle of prayer matters be­ of the saints, we’re accepting that same energy, that miracle of the Awesome Mysteries of Christ – the Within each weekly cycle are tonal cycles and cause every follower of Jesus needs a brief, simple, do­ same Spirit. We’re following that same pattern, but Holy Eucharist – and their reception. Daily rhythms commemoration cycles: Sunday, of the Resurrection; able way to dialogue with Him – not to merely think making the comfort of the Spirit our own. Maybe in nature are easily identifiable – day and night, tides Monday, with the angelic hosts; Tuesday, with the about Him, or to appreciate or admire or consider this is what the Apostle Paul had in mind when he rising and falling, plant life thriving with the sun and Baptist and Forerunner John; Wednesday and Friday, Him, but to address Him. Imitation alone of Christ wrote to the Roman Christians, “The Spirit helps wilting without – while a weekly rhythm in nature with the holy Cross; Thursday, with the holy Apostles is like rowing a boat with one oar: it’s ­important, us in our weakness. We do not know how we ought may be harder to detect. and St. Nicholas, in particular; and Saturday, with re­ but only one part of the experience. Participation in to pray” (Romans 8:26). We use our own spontane­ We don’t want to “over-biologize” the wisdom membrance of the departed. Christ is the other oar, and both are necessary for ous words when speaking to Christ, yes, but also the of God, but scientists are identifying a circaseptan Let us lament one detail about liturgizing in an a straight line and safe passage. Prayer is both im­ words of men and women who have a lot more ex­ ­(seven-day) dynamic to the human body in particu­ increasingly secular America. Even though most of itation and participation. Not only does our Lord’s perience welcoming Him into the heart than do we. lar: heartbeat, blood pressure, body temperature, hor­ our citizenry stopped attending weekly church long own prayer life give us an example to follow, but our When we express reluctance or confusion about mone levels, and even the common cold are being ago, Sunday was still sacred in the cultural mind – prayer carries us in the Holy Spirit to Christ Himself, daily prayer – How do I do it? What do I do? When? observed as seven-day phenomena. It may be inter­ no sports, no liquor sales, no work shifts, no school who reconciles us with the Father. This prayer disci­ – we might be encouraged to work with our strengths. esting, too, to note that the enzyme within ­human events, no unnecessary labors. This is changing, as pline, too, is preferably assigned by a spiritual father To some, God has given ways of connecting with blood that causes clotting – prothrombin – is found Sunday is no longer set aside for the celebration of or priest or bishop, rather than as the product of one’s His love that come more naturally than other ways. to be at its highest in an infant one week after birth, the resurrection of the Christ, but is just one more changing and “pre-illumined” whims. Work with those. Some folks love to read, but aren’t and never again as high after that. This brings an­ opportunity for the revelry of the flesh. Divine Lit­ The story is told of a married couple who, like as willing to stand before icons to offer long, formal other noteworthy dimension to the Circumcision of urgy on Sunday morning is only one of a growing many converts, found Orthodoxy through the In­ prayers. So, read a lot, but pray before your icons a Christ. Again, however, we don’t want to make more buffet of choices for parishioners. We bemoan this ternet. They ordered books, listened to podcasts, little, because that prayer is important. Others peo­ of these observations than they deserve. loss of the sacredness of Sunday, a lamentable change. watched videos. From one website they found a ple might resonate with the Jesus Prayer, but aren’t While there may be a biological dimension to the

16 June 2019 The Word 17 Out of Your Head

THE MONTHLY CYCLE ing’s Divine Liturgy – mosts priests know that feel­ history meets us in the here and now, giving us the that grace, humans become lunatics over all creation, 1. Treatise on Prayer, p. ing of the sanctuary as furnace – that when the time present grace in the present hour, all as we journey and that is why “creation groans with eager longing 61. In addition to the daily cycle of personal and 2. Romans 1:20: “For the came for the priest to commune, he simply didn’t. toward the eschaton. for the revealing of the sons of God” ­(Romans 8:19). communal prayer and the weekly cycle of fasting invisible things of him After the Liturgy, he did not consume the Chalice. These daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly cycles Our simplest advice here? Get out of your heads and ­preparation for Holy Communion and its reception, from the creation of Instead, with his spirit troubled and his mind are not “hyper-spiritualized,” as if materiality doesn’t into the rhythms. the world are clearly we may note a monthly cycle. Thismostl­ y involves ringing with our Lord’s caution against approaching matter. Instead, these rhythms of the Church bap­ seen, being under­ the great Mystery of Reconciliation. To speak poeti­ THE WAY TO LIFE stood by the things Him in a state of unforgiveness, Father covered the tize all the rhythms involved in a well-ordered life: cally: as the moon hangs bright and full in a dark sky that are made, even holy Gifts with a cloth on the table of Proskomedi, the rhythm of going to a job, and coming home, and his eternal power and each month, so can we brighten and fill our souls with A group of local pastors meets monthly at a lo­ kept a vigil candle burning before them, and depart­ going again; of growing close to our loved ones, and cal restaurant for fellowship. Baptist, Church of Godhead.” grace in a dark world each month through confession 3. Psalm 119:164. ed the Altar. Twice each day the priest returned to falling away, and growing close again; of doing yard of sin and reconciliation with the Gladsome Light of Christ, Disciples of Christ, Episcopalian, Method­ 4. St. Maximos the Con­ the Altar to pour a bit of oil into the vigil lamp and work, and seeing everything growing, and doing yard fessor, Four Hundred God and His Body. As with liturgical participation, ist, ­Presbyterian – good men desiring good things for a bit of wine into the Chalice to preserve the Gifts work again; of exercising the body, and letting it rest, their flocks. In the safety of the group, however, each Texts on Love, Third there is room for diversity of practice here. Yet we are Century, 1. therein. Sunday, Monday, Tuesday – after three days then exercising again; of receiving grace, and grace seeing this increasingly common encouragement for confesses to the same burden: depending on what his of getting over his funk and dealing with the argu­ withdrawing, and receiving again. These cycles and clergy and parishion­ers alike: make confession about members are dealing with, he must sometimes guide ment and reconciling with his wife, in effect receiving more are tucked into our liturgical cry that we “com­ once each month but certainly not fewer than once them away from his church’s official teachings. her blessing to commune – the priest finally returned mend ourselves and each other and all our life unto during each of the four great fasts, and also whenever From his denomination’s doctrine, each picks to the Altar with a clear conscience, poured in a bit Christ our God.” They all involve interacting with the conscience is troubled or the need arises. parts that are healthy and life-giving from, increas­ more wine with hot water into the Chalice, and con­ creation in pursuit of the Uncreated, seeing all things The monthly cycle of regular confession – em­ ingly, parts that are sick and soul-destroying. The sumed the Gifts. in Christ and Christ in all things. bedded into one’s calendar as one might embed that Episcopalian pastor encourages his people to come God has peppered His creation with pleasures ­basketball game with the guys, or book night with the THE YEARLY CYCLE to the liturgy from the Book of Common Prayer, yes, and goods, tiding us over until we are ready for some­ ladies, or date night with the spouse – helps to move but quietly tells them they should not live together thing more, something other – something that moth spiritual life away from feeling and emotion, and into Finally, after the daily cycle of personal and com­ before marriage, or pray for the souls of their depart­ and rust do not destroy (cf. Matthew 6:19). By the the faculty of the will. Then, life in the Church be­ munal prayer; the weekly cycle of preparation for, and ed pets. The Baptist minister tells his folks that, yes, grace of God and motivated by love for God, we comes less whim and more discipline, habit, lifestyle. reception of, Holy Communion; and the generally- a personal relationship with Jesus is necessary, but gradually wean ourselves off created comforts and Faith, in addition to something we feel, becomes monthly cycle of the Mystery of Reconciliation, we quietly teaches that, no, having a beer at the Super enter a darkness of unknowing, “trampling down all something we do. find the yearly cycle of both Moveable and Immove­ Bowl party will not damn you to hell. The Presby­ carnal desires so that we may enter a spiritual man­ Why regular confession? Tucked into St. Pauls’ able Feasts and Fasts, with Great and Holy Pascha as terian pastor heartily embraces his church’s position ner of living, both thinking and doing such things writings we find a small verse, seemingly little- its glorious axis. on the sovereignty of God, yes, but quietly reassures as are well-pleasing to Thee.” Simple rhythmic prac­ known among American Christians: “If we judge The Moveable Feasts vary from year to year, de­ his flock that, no, you’re not among the pathetic elect tices like daily prayer or appointed fasting or weekly ourselves, we will not be judged” (1 Corinthians pending on the date of Great and Holy Pascha: these predestined by God for eternal fire. Vespers or regular confession – and rhythms such as 11:31). God does not judge twice. Because it in­ are the celebrations of Palm Sunday, Holy Ascen­ Among this group sits the lone Orthodox priest, giving to the poor, earning money, then giving again; volves self-­condemnation, the Mystery of Reconcili­ sion, and Pentecost. The Immoveable Feasts fall on listening with compassion. And immense gratitude. being quiet, speaking, then being quiet again; dwell­ ation is our practical way of judging ourselves so that the same date each year. All the feasts of the Mother­ He suffers burdens – yes, staggering burdens – but ing in nature, returning to our duties,­ then dwelling we might not be judged. By accepting Confession’s of God (her Nativity, her Entry, her Annunciation, this particular burden of picking and choosing from in nature again – all these introduce into our lives a gentle rebuke now, we escape the Judgment’s great her Dormition) are fixed, while some feasts of the his Church’s teaching does not afflict him. In fact, not gentle discomfort that pries us loose from addictions rebuke later; by enduring temporary shame now, we Lord (His Nativity, His Presentation, His Bap­ only does He not need quietly to guide those in his to carnality, as we go searching for the arms of the escape eternal shame later. tism, His Transfiguration, and the Exaltation of His care away from some of his tradition’s teachings, but gentle but challenging Jesus. And what about the priest? Should he observe Cross) are also fixed. The yearly cycle also includes he knows the sweet relief to be had from constantly The Church does not look upon the created for regular confession? While a parishioner can abstain commemorations of great saints, of wonderworking nudging his folks away from his own cunning and analogies as to what the Uncreated is like, yet “an from communing on any Sunday he feels especially icons and other holy objects, and critical events in toward the salvific lifestyle percolating in the daily, intelligent use of conceptual images and their cor­ defiled, the priest cannot. The Chalice must be con­ Church ­history. weekly, monthly, yearly rhythms of holy Church. A responding physical objects produces self-restraint, sumed, therefore the priest lives in more frequent It is especially here, in the yearly cycle of our great big part of his ministry will be learning how to get love, and spiritual knowledge.”4 She embraces the danger of “eating and drinking condemnation unto Church, that we see an understanding of time not as his wisdom, his psychology, his emotionalism out of natural world in its manifold complexity and con­ himself ” (1 Corinthians 11:29) – thus giving rise to strictly linear or circular, but as a great spiral. It has a the way, so that his parishioners, but chiefly he him­ tour, and in sacraments and services offers it to the a priest’s need to confess as often if not more often beginning and an end, but with recurring daily, week­ self, will see more clearly the nourishment embedded ­Creator: “Thine own of Thine own, we offer unto than his parishioners. ly, and yearly events. God gives us Great Lent, as He within Mother Church. Thee, in behalf of all and for all.” The story is told of a priest who got into a terrible did last year, but it’s encountered as new; He gives us For these cycles, he thinks to himself silently as For we are human microcosmic, uniting the ma­ argument with his wife on a Saturday night, with ex­ the season of spring, as He did last year, but it always his pastoral friends lament, are not just a way of life: terial and spiritual. With the grace that flows from plosive words and real refusals to forgive or ­reconcile. feels like a novelty; He gives us Pentecost, as He did they are the way to life. above, humans become lords of all creation; without Fr. John Oliver His conscience was so troubled during Sunday morn­ last year, but it’s always unprecedented. The Lord of

18 June 2019 The Word 19 THE SPACE BETWEEN VIRTUE AND PASSION: at a minimum, adjusting. Indeed, a new paradigm they grow strong and “separate the mind from the could replace it, and St. Maximus was open to the passions.” The Christian is to employ love and self- challenge; his exploration of the soul’s obscure side mastery in order to “keep the mind detached from St. Maximus the Confessor bore fruit. things and from their representations.” Once the Nicholas A. Pappas CHRISTIANITY REQUIRED A mind is emancipated from the passions, it may with­ UNIQUE IDENTITY out a scintilla of distraction “engage contemplation of the natural order in meditation.” We learn, how­ The Atlantic Magazine article of August 2018, “Find Your Passion Is Awful Advice,” sounds an In the time of St. Maximus, Christians needed ever, that all passions, per se, are not evil. Rather, alarm for teachers, parents and students, contemplating the consequences that flow from such an identity, separate from competing faiths, for dif­ God bestowed humankind with a certain “spiritual advice.1 The authors opine that it’s time to rethink the use of the word passion, (πάθη – but not ferent reasons. They needed to cement the schism capacity for pleasure,” a passion whereby human be­ as in “We worship your πάθη, O Christ!”) when referring to a person’s interests. They assume that with Judaism, to combat heresies, and to forge a ings could savor God. passions are developed, and not discovered. Had they considered the works of St. Maximus the cosmological framework, frequently using a syllo­ gistic method (μεθοδολογία συλλογιστική). St. VIRTUES – MULTI-DIMENSIONAL Confessor (“Maximus”), the authors might have drawn a different conclusion. Maximus contributed to this sharpening of identi­ Christ is the source of virtue; the nature of virtue’s ty by co-opting Plato’s understanding of virtue and character (χαρακτῆρα) is to help free the human­ passion, and adapting it to the thought of the earlier person of the passions and from the passio­ ns. St. Church Fathers, incorporating New Testament ref­ Maximus approaches the virtues multidimensional­ erences. He also reformulated ancient philosophical ly: virtue of the body, virtue of the mind, and virtue principles, ranking these virtues according to their of the soul. Once cultivated, activated ­virtues engage value. His work unleashed a rejuvenated theology. and suppress the passions; they de-clutter the optic By doing so, St. Maximus reconfigured the re­ (οπτικός) path, from the incorporeal ­retina to the spective roles of virtue and passion. The opposi­ spiritual cerebral cortex. Thus they liberate the nous, tion of passion to virtue was no longer absolute. It the faculty of intellectual per­ ception, to witness and PASSIONS AND συμβιωτικό The concept ofvir - was not a symbiotic ( ) relationship, nor encounter God. This development is available to all VIRTUES επίφυτο tue (αρετή), like passion, was an epiphytic ( ) one, in which one ac­ through vigorous training (ἄσκησις), forming the developed over time. tion (passion) is dependent on the other (virtue). The notions of pas- full human synthesis: body and soul. Without the Homer describes Od­ Instead, St. Maximus articulated the existence of a sion and its sister, ­virtue, virtues’ active engagement, humankind would not ysseus as virtuous, char­ common ground, a space between the two. have been examined, be afforded another opportunity, subsequent to the acterizing mastery as a and the terms re-de­ PASSIONS – MULTI-DIMENSIONAL Fall, to be transfigured and to become deified. mark of ­virtue. Greek fined and re-purposed, SAY IT AIN’T SO philosophers viewed Passions, according to St. Maximus, were ho­ since human beings virtue in the context of mologous (ομόλογος) to vice and “nearly always began to reflect on hu­ It wasn’t always so, however, according to the comparisons. Virtues, indicate something evil.” Unchecked, they breed man nature. Homer’s Saint. He opined that Man was – at one time – once innate to human additional passions, giving rise to destructive emo­ 2 Iliad is a narrative of free of “deceitful passions of the imagination,” as beings, are good in a tions: anger, hatred, and fear. Passions, however, passions. The central God did not make pleasure and pain when He first way recognizable by all. also point to the goodness of creation; they presup­ figure, Archilleas, is ­created humankind. St. Maximus was persuaded They are not­ discovered; pose that things can be enjoyed, and that one can ­suffused with anger, as that humankind was not intended to inherit “cor­ rather, they are self-­ be impartial, and not overcome by passion. They are the Iliad’s first sentence ruption, pain, worldly pleasure, and death.” The evident, and to be nur­ ­divisible into natural (φυσικός or εκ φύσεως) and shows: “The wrath sing, ­passions, however, were fastened to the expelled tured and developed so ­unnatural (αφύσικος or παρά φύση). Passions of goddess, of Peleus’ son, “irrational part of human nature” as a result of the that they ­become ha­ the body, such as lust, are considered “impure in sin ­Archilleas, that destruc­ sin of Adam, Man’s Fall from perfection, and evil’s bitual in practice. of deed.” Passions of the mind begin with false un­ tive wrath which brought countless woes upon the crooked ways. The consequences were devastating. Virtues are a measure of a person’s character, and derstandings, issue in fervent thoughts, and invari­ ­Achaeans.” Unfortunately, an anger-management The Fall stripped Man of his pure discernment of reflect the depths of his soul. Virtue’s sword battles ably conclude with acquiescence to sin. Passions class would not have cured this passion. P­ assions God, obfuscated his understanding of God’s rela­ the passions via reason, while simultaneously shield­ of the soul, according to St. Maximus, are “impure are not al­ ways simple: within them can be suffer­ tionship to Man and to others created in His ­Image, ing the soul from the passions’ blows. When vir­ in not acting according to nature,” with self-love ing or agony, as well as glee or delight. Passions are and further hindered the human capacity to see tues incur wounds in battle, the passions intensify. crowned as the ‘king of all passions.” All the other κατανοώ βλέπω impetuous, giving rise to irresistible, iniquitous im­ ( , not ) creation as God perceives it. The passions are obstructionists. This open, ongoing passions can be traced back to it. pulses that eff­ ectively impede human ­beings from St. Maximus moved beyond the simple opposi­ warfare between two motives (passion and virtue) The only way to defeat the evil passions is to acting ­virtuously. tion of passion to virtue. Rather than framing the required clarification. The ancient paradigm needed, overcome them by fertilizing the virtues so that relation as a complete dichotomy (διχοτόμηση),

20 June 2019 The Word 21 Saint Maximus the Confessor

he transmuted the passions into active agents of to become the light unto that earth … so that … change, by which human beings may freely and he might liberate human nature from its bondage St. Cyril of Alexandria: voluntarily draw closer to God. St. Maximus sup­ to these things under the Evil One, and endow it ports his argument that passions of the soul are with the inextinguishable light of true knowledge not natural, but “contrary to nature,”3 and com­ and the indefatigable power of the virtues.”4 Defender of the Theotokos port with humankind­ ’s fallen nature. He claimed, The authors of The Atlantic piece, “Find Your Fr. Daniel Daly however, that passions could be acceptable when Passion Is Awful Advice,” concluded that it’s time ­directed towards God, and good for those who are to rethink the use of the word passion, when refer­ spiritually solemn, sober and staid. One can convert ring to someone’s interests. We should draw the “WHEN JESUS CAME INTO THE REGION OF CAESAREA PHILIPPI, HE ASKED HIS επιθυμία desire­ ( ) into the mind’s longing for sacred same conclusion, but for different reasons. Their DISCIPLES SAYING ‘WHO DO PEOPLE SAY THAT I, THE SON OF MAN, AM?’ SO THEY things, transform pleasure (ηδονή) into joy when ­argument was founded on the premise that ­passions SAID, ‘SOME SAY JOHN THE BAPTIST, SOME ELIJAH, AND OTHERS JEREMIAH OR ONE OF THE PROPHETS.’ HE SAID TO THEM, ‘BUT WHO DO YOU SAY THAT I AM?’ (MATTHEW 16:13–15)

For Christian people, there can be no questions by John because the heretical Docetists claimed of more importance than these two questions. They that the physical body of Jesus only “seemed” to be concern the identity of Jesus of Nazareth. Each real. It was only an “appearance.” There was no In­ question is important. If the “people” regard Him carnation, no suffering and no death for the Person as the Son of God, they of Jesus, and consequently no can build a human soci­ salvation. ety guided by his teach­ The identity of Jesus was ings. The second question is debated for the next four one that affects each person centuries. The theologian who hears the Gospel. The who would write the defini­ answer of each will deter­ tive answer to the question mine how they live for the was St. Cy­ ril of Alexandria The passions are to be eviscerated through the virtues; the one rest of their lives. (376-444). He has been St. Peter, inspired by called the greatest Chris­ exception to this endeavor is found in that space between passion the heavenly Father, cer­ tologist. tainly gave the correct an­ Between the time of the Nicholas A. Pappas Ph.D. Studies in and virtue. This space is reserved for those ­passions deemed swer, but the issue of the Apostles Peter and John, Orthodox Theology identity of Jesus did not and the fifth-century era of Antiochian House of Studies acceptable when directed towards God. simply go away, and prob­ Cyril, the question of the ably never will. St. John the identity of Jesus arose many lured towards divinity, and convert “fear (φόβος) are developed and not discovered. St. Maximus Evangelist, who spoke of times. It would be impos­ Jesus as the “Word made sible here to cover in any 1. Khazan, Olga, The into concerns for punishment for sins committed.” would have differed: they are neither developed nor Atlantic Magazine, Grief (λυπη) is repurposed into repentance for evil discovered; rather, they were affixed to Man with flesh” whose glory he had detail the entirety of the https://www.the­ conduct, and the passions are thus made weapons his eviction from Paradise. The passions are to be seen, had to insist that the Christological controver­ atlantic.com/science/ to obliterate evil, to embrace virtue, and to obey eviscerated through the virtues; the one exception One whom he had seen sies in the first four centu­ archive/2018/07/ was “that which we heard, ries. However, some of the find-your-pas­ God. St. Maximus’ thesis became the doctrine of to this endeavor is found in that space between sion-is-terrible- the good use (χρήσεις) of passions. In his many passion and virtue. This space is reserved for those which we have looked more note­worthy figures advice/564932/?utm_ descriptions of the passions, they are spiritually ­passions deemed acceptable when directed to­ upon, and our hands have would include the Jewish source=eb non-partisan, ready to be transmogrified into those wards God. Otherwise, humankind’s quest to bask 2. Ambiguum, 45. virtues associated with humankind’s nature before in the “inextinguishable light of true knowledge” is 3). Jesus was a real, histor­ onites, who simply regard­ 3. Centuries on Love, the Fall. St. Maximus’ words speak for themsel­ ves: unattainable.­ ic person with a real body. ed Him as the natural son II.16. This needed to be affirmed of both Joseph and Mary; 4. Ad Thalassium, 64. “For it was necessary, necessary in truth, for him

22 June 2019 The Word 23 Saint Cyril of Alexandria

Theodotus of Byzantium, who in the Second Cen­ Apollinarius who taught that Jesus had an incom­ Cyril was groomed for the positio­ n of archbishop. adversaries was that his refusal to accept the term tury argued that Jesus was a human being “adopted” plete humanity. After the death of his uncle he was consecrated on Theotokos implied that there were two separate persons by God, probably when He was baptized by John In 431 the Third Ecumenical Council met in October 18, 412.3 in Christ, one divine and one human. A divided in the ­Jordan; and the third-century Sabellius, who Ephesus to challenge Nestorius, the Patriarch of NESTORIUS AND THE Christ meant that there was no real unity between advocated the concept of “modalism,” in which the Constantinople, who refused to accept the title ­CONTROVERSY the divine and the human. If so, this called salva­ Three ­Persons of the Godhead were simply seen as ­Theotokos (“God-bearer”) for the Virgin Mary. It tion itself into question. Believing that a council three different “modes” of the One God. was during this controversy that St. Cyril of Alexan- Nestorius was born in the city of Germanicia in would decide in his favor, he asked the Emperor for While some denied the full divinity of Jesus, dria became perhaps the most important defender, not the province of Syria. He was a student of Theo­ a council. But the Emperor called the council not in others would eliminate his complete humanity. The only of the title of Theotokos, but of the identity of Jesus­ dore of Mopsuestia. He lived as a priest monk near Constantinople, but in the City of Ephesus, which Docetists denied that Jesus had a human body. The Christ. Antioch. It is likely that he was chosen to be the was the most important shrine of Mary. This placed followers of Appolinarius of Laodicea believed that Cyril was a most prolific writer. Prior to his Patriarch of Constantinople because of his fame Nestorius at a serious disadvantage. as a preacher. He was probably recommended by the Word of God simply united with human flesh, controversy with Nestorius, his works were largely THE ISSUE with the Logos replacing the human soul of Jesus. ­exegetical and anti-Arian. It is not possible to do his friend, Patriarch John of Antioch. In 428 Nes­ These early heresies did not go unanswered. In justice to the entirety of his writings here, so we will torius arrived in Constantinople with a number of The complex theological question was “How did the First Century, St. Ignatius of Antioch contin­ focus on the events of the Nestorian controversy. monks, the most problematic of whom would be the Eternal Word, the Second Person of the Trinity, the priest Anastasius. Nestorius managed to incur ued the fight against the Docetists. In the Second THE LIFE OF CYRIL unite Himself to humanity in the Person of Jesus Century, Docetism became more fully developed in the ­antipathy of the monastics towards Constan­ Christ?” Alternatively, “What was the relationship the form of Gnosticism, a serious heresy that spread We know very little about the early years of tinople, sending them back into their monasteries, between the divine and the human in Christ?” At throughout the Mediterranean world. The “gnos­ St. Cyril. He was born in the town of Didouseya, and in particular the very rich and powerful sister of ­issue were the full divinity of Christ and His full hu­ tic” Jesus was born without any participation of the Egypt, c. 378. His maternal uncle Theophilus was the Emperor, Pulcheria. He publicly refused to give manity, and most important, His existence as One material world. He was part of the gnostic pleroma the Archbishop of Alexandria. It is most likely that her communion in the sanctuary with her broth­ Person. Was His humanity simply “absorbed” by his of divine beings who descended into the material his uncle guided his education. St. Cyril’s studied er. (This was a privilege of the Emperor.) Pulche­ divinity?7 What did it mean either to say that Mary world. In his famous Adversus Heresaes, St. Irenaeus, the theologians of Alexandria: Origen, Didymous ria opened a church for herself and the dissident was Theotokos or to deny it? Who did she give birth Bishop of Lyons, defended the historical Christ. the Blind, St. Athanasius, and even St. John Chrys­ monastics. ­Although her brother initially supported to? Nestorius of Constantinople was the spokes­ As troublesome as these early years were, in the ostom. John McGuckin notes that “he was evi­ Nestorius, Pulcheria and the monastics allied them­ man for what would be regarded as the heresy of Fourth Century a heresy arose that might be com­ dently schooled in rhetoric, but the substance of his selves with Cyril. Nestorianism, the denial of the term Theotokos for pared to a plague of locusts. Arising out of Egypt, learning is built upon the twin pillars biblical the­ John McGuckin describes Nestorius as a “con­ Mary the mother of Jesus Christ. Cyril was his ad­ 1 sistent, if none too clear, exponent of the longstand­ it spread throughout the East. The Gothic tribes ology and the prior patristic tradition.” Scripture 4 versary. In the dispute Cyril would clarify the ques­ carried it to western Europe, to Spain and North and the Church Fathers will be the foundation of ing Antiochene dogmatic tradition.” ­Nestorius was tions regarding Christology and permanently make Africa. Named after its founder Arius, a deacon of his theology.2 greatly surprised that what he had always taught in the term Theotokos or Mother of God an established Alexandria, it is the heresy we know as Arianism. We meet St. Cyril in a somewhat awkward situ­ Antioch without any controversy whatsoever should part of the theology and piety of the Church. In 325 Emperor Constantine, not wishing to have ation, at least for us. He was in Constantinople with prove to be so objectionable to the Chr­ istians of Constantinople. THE COMPLICATING FACTORS his Empire divided, called the Christian bishops to his uncle Theophilus, where they went to depose LANGUAGE Nicea to resolve the problem. The Council of Nicea St. John Chrysostom. A group of Egyptian monks Nestorius’s rejection of the term Theotokos produced the first part of the Nicene creed, insisting had come to Constantinople complaining of how was not new. It had been rejected by his teacher Among the complicating factors of the contro­ that Jesus was of the same substance as the Father. they were being treated by Bishop Theophilus. In ­Theodore of Mopsuestia back in Antioch. What versy was language. In English, we can simply say He was true God from true God. Arius had denied 403 Emperor Arcadius demanded that Theophilus had been a non-issue in Antioch, became in Con­ that Jesus had a human nature and a divine nature, His divinity. come to Constantinople to apologize to St. John. stantinople a debate that rose to the importance of and that they were united in One Person. Unfor­ The battle against Arius was begun by his fellow Theophilus arrived with twenty-nine of his suffragan Arianism and Apollinarism, both of which were tunately, words such as ousia (nature) and hyposta- Alexandrian, St. Athanasius. Arianism in various bishops (a lesson Cyril would remember later), held resolved by an Ecumenical Council. Nestorius de­ sis (individual) might be used interchangeably. The forms did not disappear after the Council of N­ icea. a council and challenged St. John. As things turned cided to hold a public debate over the issue of the ­terminology was problematic.8 Theotokos. His spokesman was the monk Anastasius, Many would argue the Jesus had a nature that was out, it was St. John Chrysostom who was called to ANTIOCH VERSUS ALEXANDRIA “similar” to the Father, rather than one that was apologize. St. John was deposed from his office at who “repeated the longstanding argument: ‘Let no man call Mary Mother of God for she was but a the same as the Father. By the late Fourth Century, the Synod of the Oak in 403, with the support of A further complication was the differing theolo­ woman, and it is impossible for God to be born of ­Arianism had taken over the city of Constantinople. Theophilus and Cyril. He was not deposed for his gies of Antioch in Syria and Alexandria in Egypt. a woman.’”5 Nestorius was fond of using the term St. Jerome lamented, “The whole world groaned, and theology, but rather for disciplinary reasons. This Each had its unique history as a theological cen­ “strictly speaking” in his writings. His adversaries was astonished to find itself Arian.” did not prove to be a permanent estrangement be­ ter. Antioch tended to “hold apart Christ’s divine mocked him with the expression “If Mary is not, The Second Ecumenical Council was called in tween these two Fathers of the church. Cyril would and human natures” and the Alexandrian school strictly speaking, the Mother of God, then her son 9 381 in Constantinople to continue the fight against later use the writings of St. John and speak of him as “stressed their dynamic unity.” Each school had its is not, strictly speaking, God!” 6 What troubled his Arianism, but also to condemn the theology of a standard of Orthodoxy. During subsequent years own theologians. Antioch had Lucian, Diodore of

24 June 2019 The Word 25 Saint Cyril of Alexandria

1. John, McGuckin, St. Tarsus, Theodore of Mopsuestia, John Chrysostom, Christ. 10 Virgin but because of her was born the holy Cyril wrote letters to Emperor Theodosius, plead­ explaining the union Cyril of Alexandria of two disparate na­ and the Christological and Theodore of Cyrus. Alexandria had Origen, The opponents of Nestorius were able to gain body with a rational soul to which the Word ing their cases. Many in Constantinople were de­ tures.… He thought Controversy, (Crest­ Clement of Alexandria, Didymous the Blind and the support of Cyril of Alexandria and the monks being personally united is said to be born of the manding the deposition of Nestorius. The Emperor rather of two phases wood, N.Y.: St. Vladi­ the great St. Athanasius. Each school had its rep­ of Egypt. Both Nestorius and Cyril sent appeals to flesh.”12 decided to reject both the Council headed by Cyril or stages in the exis­ mir Seminary Press), p. resentative in the current debate. Nestorius was of Pope Celestine in Rome. This resulted in a Roman and that of John of Antioch. The bishops were not tence of the Logos, 3. McGuckin’s work is THE COUNCIL OF EPHESUS one prior to and the a comprehensive and the Antiochian tradition and Cyril represented the council which condemned the teaching of Nesto­ allowed to leave Ephesus until the matters were set­ other after the In­ very readable ­account Alexandrian tradition. rius. Cyril was appointed to pronounce the sentence On November 19, 430, Emperor Theodosius II, tled. Representatives of the two factions were called carnation. The Logos of the events of St. of deposition on Nestorius if he did not submit. yielding to the request of Nestorius, called for the to meet at Chalcedon. John of Antioch no longer as he liked to say ‘re­ Cyril’s life and the ALEXANDRIA VERSUS mains what He was’” Council of ­Ephesus. CONSTANTINOPLE­ In December of 430, delegates were sent from Council that would meet in Ephesus on Pentecost, supported Nestorius, while the supporters of ­Cyril (Early Christian Doc- 2. The appeal of St. Cyril Alexandria to Constantinople to condemn Nesto­ June 7 of the following year. Ephesus was the city of were adamant in their support. In the end, Emper­ trines, Peabody, Mass.: to both Scripture and The third canon of the First Council of Con­ rius. Cyril’s letter to Nestorius also attached 12 the most famous Marian shrine. This gave Cyril an or Theodosius allowed Nestorius to return to his Prince Press, 2000), p. the Fathers sets the 319. pattern of theology for stantinople (381) stated that “the Bishop of anathemas, and told Nestorius he had ten days to initial advantage. monastery. Cyril was allowed to return to Alexan­ 8. “He (Cyril) used the the Church. Johannes ­Constantinople, however, shall have the prerogative retract his position. The letters of Nestorius to Pope By June 7, Nestorius and his sixteen bishops dria. Cyril had been victorious. His theology and term physis and hy- Quasten notes, “It is of honor after the Bishop of Rome; because Constan­ Celestine went unanswered. As a consequence of were the first to arrive. Upon his arrival in Ephe­ ­language would be used by the Council of Chalce­ postasis without any certainly his merit that the dispute, the Emperor arranged for the Council don in 451. distinction to signify from now on Patristic tinople is New Rome.” Although Constantinople, sus the local Metropolitan Memnon would not ‘nature’ as well as ‘per­ testimony stands with founded in 320, was the New Rome and the City of to be held in Ephesus in 431. allow him to use any of the churches and did not The importance of Cyril’s victory cannot be son’” (Quasten, op. cit., Scriptural as author­ Constantine, Alexandria was far older as a center The clarity of Cyril’s theology is expressed in his greet him. Cyril and his entourage of fifty bishops minimized. The term Theotokos affirmed unequivo­ p. 139). ity in theological argu­ of Christianity. Founded by Alexander the Great in first letter to Nestorius.11 were greeted as visiting dignitaries. The bishops of cally that the one born of Mary, who suffered, died, 9. N.D. Kelly, Diction- mentation” (Patrology, ary of Popes, (Oxford: vol. 3, Westminster, 331 BC., the city was second only to Rome in its For we do not say that the nature of the the Ephesus region and Jerusalem supported Cyril. and rose again, was one Person, God incarnate. The Oxford University Maryland: Christian size and wealth. It was the city where the Septua­ Word was changed and became flesh, or that it Other than the papal delegates, Italy was not rep­ rejection of the term would have meant a Christ Press, 1986), p. 41. Classics Inc., p. 135). gint Bible was translated several centuries earlier. resented, nor was North Africa. The Council was divided into two persons. A simply human Christ 10. McGuckin, Op. Cit., 3. Western historians was converted into a whole man consisting of a p. 21 have treated St. Cyril It was the home of the philosopher Plotinus who soul and body; but rather that the Word having largely an Eastern affair. could not restore us to God. Any other understand­ 11. This is from only one in a negative light. would influence later Christian authors. The church personally united to himself to flesh animated Cyril opened the Council on June 22, 431. He ing of Christ than Cyril’s becomes confused and of a number of sig­ This partly due to the nificant letters writ­ of Alexandria was founded by the Apostle Mark. by a rational soul, did in an ineffable and incon­ did not wait for the arrival of John of Antioch and misleading. The salvation of man began at the mo­ anti-Christian biases ment when the Word of God became incarnate in ten by Cyril in this of the “Age of En­ It was the city of Origen and St. Athanasius. That ceivable manner become man and was called his Syrian delegation, which would have been more controversy. Nesto­ lightenment” and the these two cities and their churches would be com­ the Son of Man, not merely as willing or be­ favorable toward Nestorius. The representatives of the womb of Mary, who is truly Theotokos. rius also wrote many anachronistic treat­ petitive is understandable. The two Antiochians, St. ing pleased to be so called, neither on account Pope Celestine had also not arrived. In time the differences between Alexandria and letters. A discussion ment of the fifth- John Chrysostom and Patriarch Nestorius, were Nonetheless, against the advice of the represen­ Antioch were settled. Antioch accepted the term of the Council of century Alexandrian of taking to himself a person but because the Ephesus, including church. The Australian driven from their sees by Alexandrian patriarchs. two natures being brought together in a true tative of the Emperor, and coercing him to read the Theotokos. Cyril accepted the fact that while their the documents of scholar Mario Baghos, THE TERM THEOTOKOS union; there is of both one Christ and one Son; official document from the Emperor, Cyril opened language was different, their faith was one. the Council, may be challenging the ques­ the Council officially. The letters of both Cyril Was Nestorius really guilty of the heresy of found in Nicene and tionable treatment for the difference of the natures is not taken Post-Nicene Fathers, of Cyril, has shown The term Theotokoshad been used for more than away by the union, but rather the divinity and and Nestorius were read. Cyril’s was approved and Nestorianism? That debate continues today. His Second Series, vol. 14, Cyril to be the saint a century before its rejection by Nestorius. ­Origen the humanity make perfect for us the one Lord Nestorius’s was condemned. The Creed of Nicea ­later writings insist that he did not believe that TheSeven Ecumeni- that the church has cal Councils, pp.192– (184–253) may have been the first to use the term. Jesus Christ by their ineffable and inexpress­ was reaffirmed, and Nestorius was deposed and ­ex there were “two persons” in Christ. Nonetheless, always regarded him to Nestorianism is a heresy. We are indebted to Cyril 242. be (“Enlightenment It was used by the fourth-century theologians ible union. communicated. Cyril had won the day in this first 12. Ibid., p. 198. Legacy, Turbulence Athanasius in 330 and Gregory the Theologian . . . session. The approval of the emperor was still not a in two very important ways. He provided the most in Alexandria and the in 370. The Antiochian Theodore of Mopsuestia But since, for us and for our salvation, he given, however. complete and Orthodox answer to the question of conflicting represen­ (350–428) may have been the first to deny the title. The Syrian delegation were at a marked disad­ the identity of Jesus Christ, and he assured the posi­ tations of Athanasius personally united to himself a human body, and and Cyril,” in the St. “Mary bore Jesus, not the Word, for the Word remained came forth of a woman, he is in this way said to vantage in coming to Ephesus. Some bishops had tion of Mary as Mother of God for all generations. Vladimir Seminary omnipresent, although from the beginning he dwelt in be born after the flesh; for he was not first born to journey from Persia and Arabia. Antioch was still Much of modern Christianity needs to rediscover Quarterly, Yonkers, Jesus in a peculiar manner. Thus Mary is properly the over seven hundred miles from Ephesus. The An­ not only the title Theotokos, but the implication for NY, 62:3, 2018, pp. a common man of the holy Virgin and then the 201–238.). Mother of Christ (Christotokos), but not the Mother of Word came down and entered into him, but the tiochian delegation arrived four days late. Not sur­ the understanding of the mystery of salvation. 4. Op. cit., p. 22. God (Theotokos).­ ” Nestorius was a pupil of Theodore union being made in the womb itself he is said prisingly, they were angry at being left out of the Fr. Daniel Daly 5. Ibid. p. 29. in Antioch. ­proceedings. They held their own council, at which 6. Ibid. to endure a birth after the flesh, ascribing to 7. J.N.D. Kelly notes that What was needed was a clear resolution of the himself the birth of his own flesh.… This was they excommunicated Cyril and Memnon, the with Cyril’s Alexan­ doctrine of Christology. Mariology and Christolo­ the sentiment of the holy Fathers; therefore they bishop of Ephesus, and the bishops who had sup­ drian background, “the gy were now part of a common debate. If N­ estorius ventured to call the holy Virgin, the Mother of God ported Cyril. The weeks that followed were a time Christological prob­ denied the term Theotokos, he was undermining of conflict and chaos on all sides. lem did not present (Theotokos), not as if the nature of the Word or itself to him as that of the Incarnation. The term Theotokos had serious his divinity had its beginning from the holy After the arrival of the papal delegation, six more ­repercussions not only for Mary, but even more for sessions were held in Ephesus. Both ­Nestorius and

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POUNDS OF FOOD COLLECTED$0.00 $0.00 AND WORLD FOOD DAY - POUNDS OF FOOD COLLECTED OREGONAND WORLD FOOD DAY - POUNDS OF FOOD COLLECTED St George-Troy $1,390.00 $1,090.00 FFHP 2017 WFD FFHP 2018 WFD St George-Portland $25.00 $700.00 NEW YORK AND WASHINGTON DC 2017 POUNDS 2018 POUNDS FFHP 2017 WFD FFHP 2018 WFD FFHP 2017 WFD FFHP 2018 WFD St George-Flint 2017$1,093.42 AllPOUNDS Year 2018$1,436.56 AllPOUNDS Year 2017 POUNDS 2018 POUNDS 2017 POUNDS 2018 POUNDS St George-Grand Rapids $1,500.00 All Year $1,300.00 All Year TENNESSEE St Nicholas-Grand Rapids $3,759.05 All Year $4,309.00 All Year Holy Resurrection-Johnson City $0.00 $0.00 1 CONNECTICUT 4 7 10 SASKATCHEWAN St Nicholas-Bridgeport $1,800.00 All Year $1,300.00 All Year St Mary-Iron Mountain $25.00 $0.00 St Ignatius-Franklin $890.00 136,090 $1,043.00 St Vincent of Lerins-Saskatoon $44.95 $0.00 St George-Danbury $585.79 All Year $70.00 All Year St Simon-Ironwood $25.00 $25.00 St John-Memphis $880.00 All Year $650.00 All Year Basilica of St Mary-Livonia $870.00 300 $240.00 St Elizabeth-Murfreesboro $1,041.81 $135.53 St James-Williamston $0.00 260 $280.00 St. Nicholas-Jackson $0.00 $313.33 WASHINGTON St. Andrew-Arlington $25.00 $65.00 DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA $0.00 $0.00 St George-Washington DC $300.00 All Year $200.00 All Year Holy Cross Mission-Dorr $744.26 $0.00 St Paul-Brier $130.00 $1,400.00 Holy Incarnation-Allen Park $0.00 $0.00 TOTAL MIAMI AND THE SOUTHEAST $16,621.38 182,912 $17,075.86 49,746 Holy Cross-Yakima $786.12 $1,171.15 St Willbrord Mission Station-Holland $850.00 $2,100.00 St Nicholas-Spokane $0.00 $0.00 MARYLAND St Innocent-Everson $150.00 All Year $50.00 All Year Ss. Peter & Paul-Potomac $1,800.00 All Year $1,258.00 All Year MINNESOTA St Thomas Mission- Snohomish $0.00 $0.00 St George-West St. Paul $405.19 1,813 $815.77 WICHITA AND MID-AMERICA Christ The Savior Mission- Spokane Valley $0.00 $0.00 Three Holy Hierarchs Mission-Wenatchee $335.00 $100.00 NEW JERSEY COLORADO Saint Katherine Mission-Kirkland $0.00 $0.00 St. Luke- Erie $1,132.55 All Year $1,284.00 All Year St Anthony-Bergenfield $660.00 480 $515.00 325 MISSOURI Prophet Elijah Mission-Ellensburg $100.00 $219.71 St George-Little Falls $80.00 $150.00 All Saints of North America-Maryland Heights $391.00 All Year $420.69 All Year St Augustine of Hippo-Denver $877.22 $1,033.30 St Stephen-S Plainfield $540.00 $50.00 St.John The Theologian-Cape Girardeau $253.15 $146.75 St Elias-Arvada $0.00 $10,050.00 UTAH St Mark-Denver $30.00 $0.00 Ss Peter & Paul-Salt Lake City $0.00 $100.00 St Columba-Lafayette $0.00 All Year $272.00 All Year St James-Fort Collins $108.82 $164.55 NEW YORK $0.00 OHIO St Mary-Brooklyn $1,540.00 $1,344.00 St George-Akron $50.00 All Year $700.00 All Year St John Chrysostom-Lakewood $780.82 $466.00 TOTAL EAGLE RIVER AND THE NORTHWEST $6,230.03 300 $8,615.91 305 St Nicholas Cathedral-Brooklyn $1,510.00 $1,225.00 St George-Canton $988.50 $1,020.00 St John the Baptist - Levittown $400.00 $0.00 St Luke The Evangelist Mission-Chagrin Falls $500.00 $2,000.00 Church of Virgin Mary-Yonkers $476.00 5,000 $0.00 St George-Cleveland $415.00 All Year $900.00 All Year IOWA LOS ANGELES AND THE WEST St James -Poughkeepsie $0.00 All Year $0.00 All Year St James-Loveland $0.00 $0.00 St Thomas-Sioux City $277.31 $175.00 St Anthony-Melville $0.00 $0.00 St Matthew-N Royalton $958.34 7,500 $602.00 St Ignatius Mission-Florida $25.00 $910.00 St Elias-Sylvania $600.00 All Year $620.00 All Year ARIZONA St George Cathedral-Toledo $525.00 $25.00 KANSAS Holy Resurrection-Tucson $756.00 282 $2,590.00 359 St Michael the Archangel-Wichita $166.26 $164.58 PENNSYLVANIA St Mark-Youngstown $800.00 All Year $650.00 All Year St Ignatius-Mesa $250.00 $210.00 St George-Allentown $1,100.00 300 $1,000.00 300 St Barnabas-Sunbury $341.44 All Year $500.00 All Year Ss Peter & Paul-Topeka $113.49 $155.62 St George Church-Phoenix $350.00 All Year $125.00 All Year St George Cathedral-Wichita $3,850.00 $4,090.00 St Paisios - Yuma $610.87 $646.79 St Mary-Wichita $183.22 All Year $560.00 All Year TOTAL NEW YORK & WASHINGTON DC $10,816.79 5,780 $8,022.00 625 ONTARIO All Saints-Salina $150.00 $0.00 150 St Ignatius Antioch-Windsor $0.00 $0.00 CALIFORNIA St Mary Magdalene-Manhattan $1,025.00 $0.00 Ss Peter & Paul-Ben Lomond $892.42 All Year $637.74 All Year Holy Transfiguration - Hillsboro $564.85 $657.17 WISCONSIN St. Raphael of Brooklyn-Thousand Palms $774.00 $321.00 CHARLESTON/OAKLAND & MID-ATLANTIC St Basil-Kansas City $0.00 $693.72 StFOOD Elias-La FOR Crosse HUNGRY PEOPLE & CHARITABLE OUTREACH$482.26 2017 - 2018 135 $291.59 St Michael-Whittier $853.10 675 $825.00 1,012 St Nicholas-Cedarburg $751.42 2,104 $1,085.80 2,100 Three Hierarchs Mission-Garden City $681.01 All Year $172.79 All Year DELAWAREFOOD FOR HUNGRY PEOPLE & CHARITABLE OUTREACH 2017 - 2018 AND WORLD FOOD DAY - POUNDS OF FOOD COLLECTED St Luke-Garden Grove $380.00 All Year $455.00 All Year St Ignatius-Madison $200.00 2,581 $500.00 2,880 St Andrew-LewesAND WORLD FOOD DAY - POUNDS OF FOOD COLLECTED$419.22 All Year $660.65 All Year FFHP 2017 WFD FFHP 2018 WFD FOOD FOR HUNGRY PEOPLE & CHARITABLE OUTREACH 2017 - 2018 AllFOOD Saints FOR Mission-Rohnert HUNGRY PEOPLE Park & CHARITABLE OUTREACH 2017$0.00 - 2018 $0.00 2017 POUNDS 2018 POUNDS LOUISIANAAND WORLD FOOD DAY - POUNDS OF FOOD COLLECTED St Athanasius-SantaAND WORLD FOOD Barbara DAY - POUNDS OF FOOD COLLECTED$50.00 11,000 $20.00 11,000 FFHP 2017 WFD FFHP 2018 WFD St John the Divine-Lake Charles $113.00 $200.00 FFHP 2017 WFD FFHP 2018 WFD St Barnabas-Costa Mesa FFHP$100.00 All2017 Year WFD FFHP$709.18 2018All Year WFD DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA 2017 POUNDS 2018 POUNDS St Nicholas-Shreveport $736.00 All Year $224.00 All Year TOTAL TOLEDO AND THE MIDWEST $38,470.06 219,826 $40,264.67 294,523 2017 POUNDS 2018 POUNDS St Mark-Irvine 2017$300.00 AllPOUNDS Year 2018$370.00 AllPOUNDS Year Holy Cross-Palmdale $0.00 All Year $0.00 All Year 2 WORCESTER AND NEW ENGLAND MARYLAND 5 8 11 St Timothy-Lompoc $839.00 All Year $2,664.00 All Year St Mary-Hunt Valley $80.00 $400.00 NEW MEXICO St James-Placentia $0.00 $0.00 Holy Trinity-Santa Fe $360.46 550 $585.63 700 Holy Cross-Linthicum $25.00 550 $0.00 MASSACHUSETTS Orthodox Church of the Redeemer-Los Altos Hills $200.00 $350.00 St James The Apostle- Westminister $560.00 $270.00 St Michael-Cotuit $225.82 $280.00 St Nicholas Cathedral-Los Angeles $11,945.00 35,500 $10,466.00 35,000 St John The Baptist-Lewistown $194.00 500 $0.00 St Mary-Cambridge $1,419.71 All Year $1,914.51 All Year St John the Evangelist-Orinda $1,590.60 $1,500.00 St Gregory-Silver Spring $214.31 96 $1,004.00 126 St John of Damascus-Dedham $3,548.92 $3,274.91 NEBRASKA St Andrew-Riverside $200.00 2,400 $100.00 St George-Lawrence $1,127.00 $850.00 St George-Kearney $0.00 398 $50.00 100 St Anthony the Great-San Diego $3,633.37 $1,033.81 St Mary-Omaha $433.19 100 $541.86 100 PENNSYLVANIA St George-Lowell $1,160.00 $872.00 St Athanasius-Sacramento $0.00 1,366 $260.00 1594 St George-Altoona $70.00 $172.56 St George-Norwood $3,174.50 1,412 $3,647.76 St Vincent of Lerins-Omaha $0.00 100 $0.00 St. George-San Diego $575.00 $250.00 St Mary-Chambersburg $1,350.26 All Year $776.05 All Year St George-W Roxbury $1,965.00 6,500 $2,395.00 6,500 St Peter The Apostle-Pomona $268.50 $0.00 St John Evangelist-Beaver Falls $1,414.86 $1,593.00 St George Cathedral-Worcester $3,581.10 200,000 $2,872.96 St Nicholas-San Francisco $500.00 All Year $400.00 All Year St George-Bridgeville $845.00 All Year $785.00 All Year St. Stephen- Springfield $0.00 All Year $0.00 243 OKLAHOMA St Stephen-Campbell $627.89 500 $1,221.99 100 St Ellien-Brownsville $1,730.00 $30.00 Emmanuel-Warren $0.00 $0.00 Church of the Ascension-Norman $124.74 $24.38 St Matthew-Torrance $620.00 $447.85 St Anthony-Butler $78.73 $160.77 St Elijah-Oklahoma City $4,070.82 All Year $5,820.79 All Year St Michael-Van Nuys $2,488.48 600 $1,873.58 St Paul-Emmaus $50.00 $65.00 St Antony-Tulsa $500.00 $500.00 Holy Virgin Mary-W Sacramento $656.17 $0.00 St Michael-Greensburg $0.00 $1,733.96 RHODE ISLAND St James-Stillwater $250.00 $300.00 St Timothy-Fairfield $50.00 $150.00 St Mary-Johnstown $1,375.00 All Year $2,218.00 All Year St Mary-Pawtucket $355.00 All Year $130.00 All Year St John-San Juan Capistrano $0.00 $0.00 St John Chrysostom-York $1,644.46 2,005 $1,600.00 St George-Upland $0.00 All Year $0.00 All Year St Michael-Monessen $103.00 $25.00 SOUTH DAKOTA St James Mission-Modesto $432.00 $533.89 St Elias-New Castle $1,910.00 $2,240.00 TOTAL WORCESTER AND NEW ENGLAND $16,557.05 207,912 $16,237.14 6,743 St. John the Theologian-Rapid City $25.00 $238.00 St Gabriel-Angels Camp $191.00 $268.74 St George-New Kensington $550.00 76,860 $660.00 St. Simeon-Santa Clarita $1,010.00 $25.00 St George Cathedral-Pittsburgh $145.00 $1,633.50 NEVADA St Michael-Las Vegas $0.00 St Philip-Souderton $2,508.00 All Year $3,089.99 All Year MIAMI AND THE SOUTHEAST TEXAS St George-Upper Darby $0.00 $0.00 St Elias-Austin $232.17 All Year $298.31 All Year St Mary-Wilkes-Barre $2,275.00 All Year $2,015.00 All Year St John the Forerunner-Cedar Park $0.00 1,300 $0.00 Holy Ascension Mission-West Chester $471.36 $794.90 ALABAMA St Michael-Beaumont $1,050.00 $400.00 TOTAL LOS ANGELES AND THE WEST $31,143.40 52,323 $28,454.57 49,065 Church of the Annunciation-Birmingham $0.00 $0.00 St Ephraim the Syrian-San Antonio $548.26 $252.89 St Michael-Dothan $233.93 $182.00 Ss Constantine & Helen-Carrollton $980.29 $779.86 VIRGINIA St George-El Paso $833.55 All Year $524.50 All Year INDIVIDUAL CONTRIBUTIONS $11,272.40 $8,765.00 St Patrick-Bealeton $290.00 $470.00 822 St Peter-Fort Worth $1,905.00 947 $805.40 RECORDED THROUGH MAY 1, 2019 St Basil the Great-Hampton $125.00 $325.00 ARKANSAS St Joseph-Houston $720.00 All Year $1,350.00 All Year St George-Houston $2,505.00 All Year $2,835.00 All Year St Raphael of Brooklyn Mission-Chantilly $0.00 $50.00 St Nicholas-Springdale $80.00 $0.00 TOTAL CONTRIBUTIONS: $198,341.31 790,792 $210,302.58 417,163 Holy Trinity-Lynchburg $1,058.75 $1,090.00 Holy Trinity-Little Rock $530.00 350 $1,300.00 300 St. Paul- Katy $260.00 370 $260.00 St Luke-Abilene $165.96 $347.50 St Anthony the Great-Spring $338.96 $100.00 WEST VIRGINIA St Sophia-Dripping Springs $104.58 All Year $88.69 All Year St Nicholas-Beckley $215.00 All Year $310.00 All Year FLORIDA Our Lady of Walsingham-Mesquite $0.00 $0.00 St George Cathedral-Charleston $3,135.00 All Year $3,055.00 All Year St George Cathedral-Coral Gables $1,987.00 4,000 $820.00 St. Benedict-Wichita Falls $198.45 $175.33 Church of Holy Spirit-Huntington $287.00 All Year $0.00 All Year St Philip-Davie $100.00 542 $0.00 558 Forty Holy Martyrs of Sebaste-Sugar Land $10.00 $0.00 Food for Hungry People Program Food for Hungry People Program St. Silouan the Athonite-College Station $184.99 $343.86 Christ the Saviour-Jacksonville $0.00 30,000 $0.00 12,500 6 3 9 12

28 June 2019 The Word 29 COMMUNITIES IN ACTION

BISHOPS JOHN AND When asked how to handle As we all crowded into the par­ THOMAS VISIT the current conflicts in Ukraine, ish hall and it became clear that ST. P­ ATRICK, BEALETON, Bishop JOHN’s advice was sim­ not everyone would get a seat, ­VIRGINIA ple: love more, talk less. He en­ Bishop THOMAS quipped, “I couraged us to be peacemakers always knew this church would On Sunday, March 17, 2019, and keep ourselves from fruit­ be too small.” Despite­ the insuf­ the Feast of Saint Patrick, St. less arguments, while remaining ficient space, there was, most im­ Patrick Orthodox Church of steadfast in our faith. portantly, more than enough food Bealeton, Virginia, celebrated One of our younger parish­ to go around. its Twelfth Patronal Feast. The ioners, seven-year-old Max Kyhl, While fellowship and celebra­ weekend was marked by ordina­ asked Bishop THOMAS what tion were beautiful features of tions, feasting, and the presence being a bishop was like, and his this festive weekend, the ultimate of both Bishop JOHN and Bish­ answer was poignant and con­ take-away came from the corre­ op THOMAS, and dear friends victing. He remarked on the sac­ sponding admonitions of ­Bishop of the parish. Festivities began rifices, including the exhaustion JOHN and Bishop ­THOMAS. Saturday evening with the cele­ of constant travel and the absence During the homily, Bishop bration of Vespers, during which of a traditional family. He em­ THOMAS explored the role of David McCready was ordained a phasized the joy in having spiri­ the priesthood, both as it pertains sub-deacon; David will shortly be tual children scattered all across to the ordained guide of a parish St. James Church, Modesto; and historic railroad and Old School­ tual Combat and Path to Paradise. ordained to the priesthood and the country, and how each parish and to each parishioner. He com­ Holy Virgin Mary Church, West house, and capped their excursion It reads: assigned to a parish in Denver. visit feels like a family reunion. mended the labor and resulting Sacramento. The last mentioned with a visit to a candy shop that “The only things that God de­ Vespers was followed by Bene­ His final, heartfelt admonition growth of our community, led by hosted the retreat on Saturday, they essentially took over! mands of you are diction/Adoration, after which was to “love what God gives you.” the faithful guidance of our own March 23, 2019. The teens returned to Holy 1. That ouy should grieve in everyone gathered in the parish Sunday morning, one hundred priest, Fr. Patrick, but he contin­ They began the day getting to Virgin Mary Church for a your heart at having offend­ hall for a Lenten meal of lentils and sixty parishioners packed ually returned to the Parable of know one another over a Lent­ workshop led by the pastor, Fr. ed Him. and rice, and enjoyed what has themselves into the sanctuary, the Talents – the parable our par­ en lunch. After that, they headed Paul Baba, entitled Four Ways to 2. That ouy should abhor sin become a yearly tradition: pep­ which was adorned with beauti­ ish has heard every Saint Patrick’s to Old Town Sacramento where Live Orthodoxy. He shared with above all things, any sin, pering our dear bishops with ful spring blooms and an abun­ Day for the last twelve years. As they had ice-breakers by the wa­ the teens the classic Christian great or small. questions. The resulting topics dance of glowing candles. Guests always, the message offered by terfront. The teens toured the work, Unseen Warfare: The Spiri- 3. Thatyou should give yourself of conversation were widely var­ included visiting seminarians that parable and our bishops was ied, but, as always, both Bishop from St. Vladimir’s Seminary and the same: the work isn’t over – it JOHN and Bishop THOMAS other out-of-town friends of St. is just beginning. offered a wealth of wisdom and Patrick’s. The mass was rendered encouragement. especially joyful by the ordination TEEN SOYO CHAPTERS One such topic was the role of sub-deacon David Nicodemus GATHER FOR of altar servers. While Bishop to the deaconate, the addition of LENTEN RETREAT JOHN admitted that he may two new St. Patrick’s catechu­ have had more fun as an altar More than forty teens from mens, and the elevation of Fr. server than as a bishop, he em­ the Northern Calif­ ornia Deanery Patrick to the esteemed rank of phasized the position’s signifi­ spent a Saturday in Great Lent Archpriest. cance. “The altar servers are there together, enjoying food, fun, and A delicious Irish feast followed, to work. The kingdom of God fellowship. They came from four and everyone was heartily grate­ is orderly, and the altar serv­ Antiochian parishes: St. Nicholas ful that this year, St. P­ atrick’s Day ers maintain that heavenly order Church, San Francisco; Church (which always falls during Holy throughout the Divine Liturgy.” of the Redeemer, Los Altos Hills; Lent) finally landed on a Sunday.

30 June 2019 The Word 31 Communities in Action

up to Him entirely and care you do, and be forever fully have mercy upon you, will for one thing only, with all obedient to Him alone. cleanse you of all your sins, the love and longing of your 4. That ouy should have firm and will protect you from heart – to conform to His faith in Him and an un­ all your enemies, both vis­ will always and in everything shakeable trust that He will ible and invisible.” After that, the teens had an “Ask Abouna” session with Fr. Paul and Fr. George Baalbaki, the ­pastor of St. Nicholas Church in San Francisco. That led to eve­ ning worship in Great Vespers, followed by a Lenten dinner and zalabyeh for dessert! Afterward, the presidents and representa­ tives from the four Teen SOYO chapters talked about activities in their churches. In conclusion, we had an amaz­ ing time! Through this retreat we under­ stand the need for more like this, and we compiled a list of the at­ tendees with contact information so that we could tell them about future activities. Soon, we hope to gather youth advisors from around the deanery, to organize, and to strengthen bonds with their teens in our Lord, God and Savior Jesus Christ and His Or­ thodox Church. The teens are so grateful to His Eminence Metr­ opolitan JO­ SEPH for blessing this retreat; to Fr. Paul and Fr. George for their spiritual guidance; to the fami­ lies, the volunteers and the young adults for their coordination; and to all the teens who par­ ticipated. Sub-deacon Ilyan Baalbaki and Nicholas Baba

32 June 2019 The Word 33 A TABLE IN THE PRESENCE RETREAT FOR ORTHODOX COMBAT VETERANS ANTIOCHIAN HOUSE OF STUDIES MASTER OF THEOLOGY IN PASTORAL CARE & COUNSELING Orthodox Christian combat veterans of OEF and OIF:

Are you a clergyman interested in furthering your education in counseling? The dust remains on your boots and in your rucksacks.

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Combat is a threshold that cannot be uncrossed. Consider the AHOS Master of Theology in Pastoral Care & Counseling program: Your stories are not easy to tell. Who can bear them? * 12 unique courses in Pastoral Theology with therapeutic application to individuals, families, and communities in crisis.

* Yearly residency weeks with didactic presentations from leading voices in BUT GOD KNOWS THEM ALL. Orthodox pastoral care, chaplaincy, and professional counseling. AND HIS LOVE FOR YOU ENDURES FOREVER.

* An accredited 400-hour practicum, accomplished in a student’s own location over the course of 2 years.

* Coursework accomplished at a distance, which includes directed reading, Your Orthodox Military Chaplains audio-visual training resources developed by the program faculty, regular essays and oral examinations to demonstrate both comprehension and application of the and some veteran clergy have planned a retreat. course materials, and bi-monthly VTC sessions with a small group and mentor.

* A robust research project which responds to a local issue in pastoral care from a No cost – just get to us, if you can. We’ll take care of the rest. clear foundation in the Orthodox pastoral theological tradition, and which culminates in a major thesis. WE GATHER TO TALK. WE GATHER TO PRAY. TO STAND SHOULDER TO SHOULDER AND TO FACE GOD. The Church is Our Spiritual Hospital. We’re Training First Responders. ONE STEP AHEAD For more information, visit or contact us through www.tahos.org

Columbus Day Weekend 2019 at the Antiochian Village Funding provided by the Order of Saint Ignatius of Antioch To register, contact Barli Ross at [email protected] 2019 DIOCESAN PARISH LIFE CONFERENCES Dioceses of Charleston/Oakland & New York/Washington D.C. ST Diocese of Miami 81 ANNUAL June 12–15, 2019 PARISH LIFE CELEBRATION Hosted by All Saints Church DIOCESE OF WORCESTER AND NEW ENGLAND Raleigh, NC Diocese of Wichita Hosted by St. Stephen (Springfield) and Emmanuel (Warren) June 18–23, 2019 at St. George Orthodox Church Hosted by St. Peter Church 55 Emmonsdale Rd., West Roxbury, MA Fort Worth, TX Saturday, June 22, 2019 Diocese of Toledo June 19–23, 2019 Celebrating Hosted by St. Nicholas Church JUNE 26-30, 2019 the 40th Anniversary of the Antiochian Village, Champaign, IL 60 Years of Western Rite Worship, Dioceses of Oakland, New York and Charleston Keynote Address: and Over 120 Years of Our Ministry in New England

June 26–30, 2019 “Lay Ministry in the Church” Hosted by St. John Chrysostom Church Theme: I can do all things through Jesus Christ Who Strengthens Me York, PA Held at the Antiochian Village 8:00 a.m. Orthros Diocese of Ottawa 9:00 a.m. Hierarchical Divine Liturgy July 3–7, 2019 (with a mix of Diocese and Village Music) Hosted by St. George Church Hosted by St. John Chrysostom, 10:30 a.m.– 2:45 p.m. Awards and General Assembly Brunch Richmond Hill, ON York, PA 12:45–2:15 p.m. Presentation on Conference Theme: Fr. Seraphim Moslener Diocese of Los Angeles and Eagle River ACTIVITIES 2:15–2:45 p.m. Gatherings for Parish Council, July 4–7, 2019 ATMOSPHERE Order of St Ignatius and Adults Hosted by St. Anthony Church FAMILY FUN! Fr. Nicholas Belcher Antiochian Women San Diego, CA Mens’ Groups Antiochian Village Conference & Retreat Center  Ligonier, PA Teens Diocese of Worcester Youth June 22, 2019 2:45–4:30 p.m. Bible Bowl Hosted by St. Stephen (Springfield) and ­Emmanuel LODGING: registration.antiochianvillage.org/2019PLC 4:30–5:15 p.m. Vespers – Western Rite /Winners of (Warren) EVENT REGISTRATION: antiochianevents.com Oratorical Contest Held St. George Church, Boston 5:30–7:30 p.m. Dinner and “New England Got Talent” THE WORD 358 Mountain Road PO Box 5238 Englewood, NJ 07631-5238

AC 2019 IS GOING TO BE REALLY FUN! Don’t let anyone stay home…bring the whole family to our RIVERWALK FAMILY PARTY. Inside and outside the Convention Center, overlooking the Grand River, there will be a Stilt Walker, Juggler, Balloon Artist, and Caricaturist. Sliders and Street Tacos are the evening fare with Ice Cream Carts and Beer Kegs flowing. Welcome Everyone! Move over America’s Got Talent and The Voice. We have ‘From Broadway to Grand Rapids.’ Some of the best talent in our Archdiocese will wow us with song and dance. Get ready to be entertained. Next, it’s ‘YALLAH’ - Let’s Dance…enjoy our HAFLI with a Live Arabic Band, Henna Artists, Photo Booth, and Mazza Plates. Dabke into the night. Yallah! Finally, our ”LIGHT THE NIGHT” GALA…a dinner-dance with exquisite cuisine, fabulous music, and emotional moments as we pay a ‘tribute in lights’ to the 40th Anniversary of the Antiochian Village. Memories.

WE HAVE THE FUN ALL PLANNED FOR YOU! THERE WILL BE CELEBRATIONS FOR EVERYONE.

BOOK YOUR HOTEL, PURCHASE YOUR EVENT PACKAGE & EXCURSION TICKETS, AND EXPERIENCE GRAND RAPIDS! GO TO AC2019GR.ORG