November 2001 Volume 45 No. 9 Contents
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NOVEMBER 2001 VOLUME 45 NO. 9 CONTENTS 6 OVERVIEW OF THE 45TH CONVENTION IN LOS ANGELES By Very Rev. Michel Najim N The Most Reverend Metropolitan PHILIP, D.H.L., D.D. 15 MINUTES OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY Primate OF THE 45TH GENERAL CONVENTION The Right Reverend OF THE ANTIOCHIAN ORTHODOX Bishop Antoun, Auxiliary CHRISTIAN ARCHDIOCESE The Right Reverend By Very Rev. Paul Schneirla Bishop Joseph, Auxiliary The Right Reverend Bishop Basil, Auxiliary 33 CHILDREN’S RELIEF FUND The Right Reverend Bishop Demetri, Auxiliary 65 DAILY DEVOTIONS Founded in Arabic as By Very Rev. George Alberts Al Kalimat in 1905 by Saint Raphael Hawaweeny Founded in English as The Word in 1957 66 ANTIOCHIAN WOMEN by Metropolitan Antony Bashir Editor in Chief The Very Rev. John P. Abdalah, M.Div. Assistant Editor Joanne M. Abdalah, MSW Editorial Board The Very Rev. Joseph J. Allen, Th.D. MEMBER Anthony Bashir, Ph.D. The Associated Church Press The Very Rev. Antony Gabriel, Th.M. Conciliar Press The Very Rev. Peter Gillquist Linda Hopkins Ecumenical News International Anne Glynn Mackoul, J.D. Orthodox Press Service Ronald Nicola Najib E. Saliba, Ph.D. The Very Rev. Paul Schneirla, M.Div. Design Director Donna Griffin Albert Editorial Office: The Word 1777 Quigg Dr. COVER Pittsburgh, PA 15241-2071 e-mail: [email protected] FAX: 1-412-831-5554 THE HIERARCHS following the Divine Liturgy which concluded the Archdiocese Convention. Subscription Office: 358 Mountain Road Englewood, NJ 07631 N ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION: U.S.A. and Canada, $20.00 Foreign Countries, $26.00 Single Copies, $3.00 THE WORD (USPS626-260), published monthly except July and August, by the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America at 358 Mountain Road, periodicals postage paid at Englewood, New Jersey 07631 and at additional mailing offices. Postmaster send address changes to: THE WORD, 358 Mountain Road, Englewood, NJ 07631 VOLUME 45 NO. 9 NOVEMBER 2001 ISSN 0043-7964 www.antiochian.org. 2 The Word Antiochian Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch and all the East Damascus, Syria My dear brother, Metropolitan Philip, Peace and greetings to you in the Name of our Redeemer, Jesus Christ. In addition to our phone call from Damascus, I and your esteemed brothers, the members of the Holy Synod, would like to assure you and your blessed Archdiocese of our love, especially after the catastrophe which happened in your country. We have prayed for the repose of the souls of the victims, and once again, I reiterate my condolences to you and through you to the families of the victims. We are with you in the horror which happened. Transcending this disaster, we began to feel in our country that terrorism is a plague which must be confronted and uprooted from the roots of hate and vengeance. Terrorism stems from oppressed people and their extreme poverty as well as the scorn and pride which such humiliated people suffer from certain nations. The political world must show respect for all nations. Greater nations should work for the freedom and flourishment of all, so that all people would be measured by one standard alone. We are in agreement with the leaders of your country that the Arab and Islamic world do not produce terrorism for terrorism’s sake. All people seek peace that is established on justice and freedom. We share your sorrow and we have no doubt that we are united in this stand. Hoping that you disseminate to your God-protected Archdiocese our feelings through whatever medium you see fit. May God who is always with us and among us protect you with His holy grace. Yours in Christ, S/IGNATIUS IV Patriarch of Antioch and all the East September 19, 2001 (translated from Arabic) November 2001 3 WORLD COUNCIL OF CHURCHES WCC URGES A PROMPT END TO ATTACKS CC URGES THE UNITED pray for those who live under the global justice that provide the chief W States of America and the bombs and missiles, hoping against hope to overcome terrorism in all its United Kingdom to bring a hope that they will be spared. We forms and to provide true peace and prompt end to military action pray for the minority Christian security for the nations and peoples against Afghanistan. The World churches and communities who are of our world. Council of Churches (WCC) is placed in danger as a result of such deeply concerned about the recent action: especially now for those in The World Council of Churches bombings and missile attacks Pakistan who, despite their own (WCC) is a fellowship of churches, against Afghanistan. poverty and small minority status, now 342, in more than 100 coun- The following statement was began planning last week to assist tries in all continents from virtually issued on October 8 by WCC acting the present wave of Afghans fleeing all Christian traditions. The Roman general secretary Georges from terror. We pray for the Muslim Catholic Church is not a member Lemopoulos: and other religious communities church but works cooperatively The initiation of bombings and who despite President Bush’s and with the WCC. The highest govern- missile attacks against Afghanistan Prime Minister Blair’s affirmations to ing body is the assembly, which [on October 7], while not unexpect- the contrary, are likely to consider meets approximately every seven ed, is nevertheless of profound con- themselves the targets of this and years. The WCC was formally inau- cern to the World Council of the other military actions foreseen gurated in 1948 in Amsterdam, The Churches. As the churches joined in to follow. We pray for the leaders of Netherlands. Its staff is headed by the ecumenical movement have these and all nations that God will general secretary Konrad Raiser done so often over the past century, invest them with wisdom and com- from the Evangelical Church in they have again in recent weeks passion in this terrible time; that Germany, P.O. Box 2100, 1211 sought to avoid this renewed use of they turn away from the temptation Geneva 2, Switzerland. overwhelming military power. The of the sword and toward actions for WCC has reflected this consistent and widely held stance of the churches in a letter sent last week to UN secretary-general Kofi Annan Orthodox Prayer Book by Dr. Konrad Raiser, the general secretary of the WCC. in the Arabic Language We abhor war. The first WCC Compiled and arranged by the Right Reverend assembly in 1948 called it a sin against God and humanity. We do Archimandrite Anantas Kassab not believe that war, particularly in $35.00 per copy today’s highly technologized world, can ever be regarded as an effective SEND ORDERS TO: response to the equally abhorrent Antiochian Archdiocese sin of terrorism. Our experience of of North America ministry to the victims of war con- 358 Mountain Road vinces us that acts of war can never Englewood, New Jersey 07631 spare civilian populations despite all the precautions of military planners. Please send me _________ copy(s) of The Arabic Orthodox Prayer Book at a Nor do we believe that war can be cost of $35.00 per copy. For orders within the US please include 10% for described as an act of humanitarian- postage. For orders in Canada and Overseas please include 20% for postage. ism or that the practice of war can I have enclosed US $_______________. be legitimately linked to the promise of humanitarian assistance. Please send to: We therefore pray that the United Name: _________________________________________________________ States of America and the United Kingdom will bring a prompt end to Address:________________________________________________________ the present action, and that no _______________________________________________________________ other state join with them in it. We 4 The Word Standing Conference of Middle Eastern Christian and Muslim Religious Leaders For Immediate Release: September 13, 2001 We were very saddened and shocked, like all American citizens and decent people around the world, by the devastating and hor- rible attack against the United States of America. It has come to our attention that some Arab Americans in various cities such as Brooklyn, New York; Boston, Massachusetts; Detroit, Michigan; Dallas, Texas; Los Angeles, California; and other cities have been victims of psychological terrorism, i.e. threat- ening and obscene phone calls, etc. This is indeed very disturbing and blatant discrimination. Arab Americans are very loyal citi- zens and strongly committed to the eternal ideals and principles of freedom, peace and justice on which our country was found- ed. Many of them have died for America in the First World War, the Second World War, the Korean and VietNam Wars. Let us not forget that Arab Americans also died in the World Trade Center explosion and some were on the hijacked planes. As Arab American religious leaders from Middle Eastern background, we want everyone to know that the members of our con- stituencies, Christians and Muslims alike, are people of faith. Neither Christianity nor Islam condones violence and terrorism. As a matter of fact, many Arab people in the Middle East have been victims of individual, group and state terrorism for the past fifty- four years. Therefore, this is not a time to point fingers and accuse innocent people of violence and evil acts. When we overcome our grief and after the dust settles, let us as intelligent Americans ask ourselves, who is behind this horrific act and why was this act com- mitted? These are the important questions which should be answered in depth. Then, and only then, will we know the facts and the real cause of terrorism. May the souls of our sisters and brothers who have perished in this catastrophe rest in peace and may God protect and bless America.