Ordo Sancti Constantini Magni THE CONSTANTINIAN NEWS No. 2 / 2014 – 1 – In Memoriam Give rest, O Lord, to the souls of Thy departed servants KCM Jori Rissanen Exarchate of Finland 1936 – 2014 KCM Harry Sandelin Exarchate of Finland 1931 - 2014 KCCM Miroslav Klivar Bailiwick of Czeck Republic 1932 - 2014 Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last. I am He who lives. – 2 – Chancellor´s Christmas Regards In May this year the Finnish Exarchate portant problem is the poor status of had the Convention. The Master of our women in many cultures. I am sure that Order honored the Convention. At the an Order like ours can do much in help- same time the international govern- ing these problems. The Patriarchate ment of Order had its meeting in Ma- of Alexandria has during many years riehamn, Åland Island. The chancel- given its contribution for welfare and lor, Jurgen Schumacher, had decided to health of African children. The ques- quit from this position after a long and tion is, can we do something more? Is active and successful work period. Mika it possible to try to revive the activities Pynnönen was elected as the treasurer of PEDEKOS-Academy? Could this of the order after Reino Koskinen. The be the way to give more help to children undersigned has now the position as in the developing countries? the chancellor. I want to thank Jurgen We have now about 500 members in and Reino for the excellent work they our Order. My opinion is that we really have done in promoting the aims of need more active people to fulfill the Ordo Sancti Constantini Magni. I am tasks of our Order. The caritative work sure everybody in our Order is very needs power and we can get it only by thankful for their work. increasing the number of members. It I read recently the Christmas Re- is not only the question of members. In gards of emeritus chancellor dated last fact OCM is present in quite few coun- November. He was very worried about tries. The Order has been grounded in the circumstances, in which so many Switzerland and at the present there are children in the world are living. Un- no members in that country. We should fortunately, the situation seems not to also be a little bit worried about the ages be better this year. We see that millions of our members. When we look to the of children are living in the middle of future, there must be young, active men war, millions are suffering of hunger, and women to continue this excellent thousands have got the Ebola virus work. etc. Can we do something in order to protect children overall in the world. It has been said that the illiteracy is the I wish you and your families a most important problem in the work of Merry Christmas and Happy making the living circumstances better New Year ! in the developing countries. Another great problem is the lack of pure water. Toivo Salmi And the third and maybe the most im- chancellor – 3 – – 4 – – 5 – The Convention of the Exarchate of Finland in Mariehamn Åland 23.-25.2014. Master´s greeting. Deputy Master Raimo Ilaskivi, of Åland, indeed it was a wonderful Exarch of the Exarchate of Finland experience ! We have also seen some Erkko Kajander, delightful views of the landscape of members of the government, Åland, and we may say, we really enjoy archons of the OCM and members it to be here. of merit, As I know, the place of the an- highly respected guests, nual meetings and investitures of the dame and knights of the Order and Finnish exarchate changes every year accompanying spouses, according to the activity area of the different bailiwicks. Seems the Isles of Åland mean a special attraction also for OCM members: obviously here I remember well that already in the are gathered together more members year 2007 I was invited to attend the and spouses than at the international annual meeting of the Finnish exar- convention of the Order last year in chate here in Mariehamn. Then, I Salzburg. unfortunately had to beg off because So, I feel very pleased to express of my private schedule. But now, af- my warm regards to the Exarchate of ter seven years, I am happy to be here Finland, and my thanks to the Baili- with you. As you see: governments of wick of Åland, which has taken much the Order are changing, but the Mas- responsibility for the arrangements of ter is always in charge. this great event. My wife and me came over from I hope and I know, that the Finnish Sweden to the Isles of Åland already exarchate will continue the not very on Thursday, using, of course, the ferry easy work of our Order, which obliges boat, which has been the traditional us to keep in mind the Byzantine her- travel route between Sweden and itage, the axioms of Christianity, and Finland over centenaries, and which the principles of tolerance , justice and is well known to all of you. For us it humanity, as demanded once by Con- was the first seafaring over the Ålands stantine the Great, the Patron Saint of sea and through the world of islands the OCM. – 6 – TheMaster and Jürgen Scumacher handing out insignia to the new Chancellor Toivo Salmi (photo Herman Merras) I have heard, that there have been man beings, who are in need or who questions about the mission or vision are suffering for whatever reason. This of the OCM – from members and mission of charity is a good goal also from not-members. Those axioms in the future, for our international and of Christianity and of Constantine national work as well, although, I must the Great, which I just mentioned, confess, our capabilities are limited. were stated in the constitution by the There is an other reason, why I am founders of our Order from the very here in Mariehamn: at the yesterday begin. Nowadays they may sound meeting of the government a new rather theoretically, but, they are still executive committee took over the in full effect, and they guide us directly management of the OCM for the to the perhaps most important obliga- next 5-years period. tion of the OCM: the support of hu- Unfortunately two members of the – 7 – government are not any longer availa- I have appointed Professor Toivo ble, wherefore I feel greatly committed Salmi new chancellor of the OCM, to honour them for their extraordinary which decision is confirmed by His work and efforts for the OCM. Beatitude Theodoros II, the High Pa- Brother Reino Koskinen has run tron of the OCM. for 18 years the most thankless job In addition I have appointed Mika the Order can offer, that is to say the Pynnönen new treasurer of the OCM. office of the treasurer, which he has I wish the new government much fulfilled creditably. As is known, with success in all constructive work to be such a job one cannot win so many done in the future years. friends, however, he has consequently vindicated the position of the Order. I know, that without him the situation And finally I wish the Exarchate of the OCM would have been much of Finland a very prosperous future. more problematic. Chancellor Jürgen Schumacher Mariehamn 24th May, 2014 has served the OCM for 10 years as secretary general and for 5 years as chancellor. In both positions he has Friedrich, definitively dominated the work of Duke and Prince von the Order, sometimes being a fastness Beaufort-Spontin against many problems, which the Or- Master of the OCM der has faced in those times. I really hope, that his knowledge of facts, his diplomatic skill and his clear mind may be available for the Order also in the future. I do not want to think as with Reich Chancellery Bismarck’s resignation from the German policy: the last abandons the ship. I am grateful also to vice chancel- lor Leif Syrstad and secretary general Jorma Ahonen for their valuable co- operation and for their willingness to continue a second 5-years period in office. – 8 – Theodoros II visited the Orthodox Church of Finland His Beatitude Theodoros II, Pope Church of Finland and the Orthodox and Patriarch of the Greek-Orthodox Aid and Missions FILANTROPIA Church of Alexandria and All Af- have kept close contact also to the rica visited the Orthodox Church of Patriarchate in Alexandria. His Be- Finland from June 23rd – 30th 2014. atitude Theodoros II visited Finland The Finnish Orthodox Church is an now for the first time. He was warmly autonomous Orthodox archdiocese of welcomed at the Holy Metropolis of the Patriarchate of Constantinople. Helsinki and participated together Contemporaneously the Orthodox with His Eminence Leo, Archbishop The Grandmaster surrounded By H.B. Theodoros II and H.E. Leo (photo Risto Aikonen) – 9 – of Karelia and All Finland, in prayer Lintula. His Beatitude ended his final at the divine liturgy conducted by His address: “In our missionary effort to Eminence Ambrosius, Metropolitan graft into the body of Africa recon- of Helsinki, for the feast of the na- ciliation and peace-making ‘through tivity of St.John the Baptist on 24th the blood of His cross’, we have you June at the Uspenski Cathedral. On as a strong and a sensitive compre- 26th June His Beatitude Theodoros hender. Your contribution strength- II, accompanied by His Eminence ens our ministry and you can be Leo and the director of his private proud to claim that you participate in office the Very Reverend Archiman- the products of the spiritual fields of drite Apostolos Trifyllis, met wikth Africa, especially in Kenya, Tansania his Excellency the President of Fin- and Cameroon.