DOCSLIB.ORG

NEW ZION in BABYLON the Orthodox Church in the Twentieth Century

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
NEW ZION in BABYLON the Orthodox Church in the Twentieth Century NEW ZION IN BABYLON The Orthodox Church in the Twentieth Century PART 5. THE ZENITH OF ECUMENISM (1964-1990) Vladimir Moss Copyright: Vladimir Moss, 2012 CONTENTS A NEW ROCOR METROPOLITAN ......................................................................3 THE LIFTING OF THE ANATHEMAS...............................................................10 A SECOND ROMANIAN HIERARCHY.............................................................19 THE FALL OF THE SERBIAN CHURCH ...........................................................23 THE FREE SERBIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH..................................................27 THE FALL OF THE BULGARIAN CHURCH.....................................................35 “THE HERESY OF HERESIES”...........................................................................37 MOSCOW AND THE METROPOLIA ................................................................43 THE THEOLOGY OF PEACE ..............................................................................46 THE COUNCILS OF 1971.....................................................................................49 THE ROCOR – GREEK OLDCALENDARIST UNION.....................................53 CAUCASIAN SAINTS...........................................................................................61 GREEK ZEALOTS AND ECUMENISTS.............................................................67 THE THIRD ALL-EMIGRATION COUNCIL.....................................................73 THE FALL OF THE DISSIDENTS .......................................................................84 THE GEORGIAN CHURCH.................................................................................90 “NIKODIMOVSCHINA”......................................................................................93 ARCHBISHOP MARK OF BERLIN.....................................................................99 ORTHODOXY AND PENTECOSTALISM ......................................................102 SUPER-ECUMENISM (1)...................................................................................105 THE ANATHEMA AGAINST ECUMENISM ..................................................108 THE DISINTEGRATION OF THE FLORINITE SYNOD................................116 THE ITALIAN AND PORTUGUESE CHURCHES .........................................125 THE UNION OF 1985 AND THE TSAKOS AFFAIR ......................................128 A NEW FLORINITE ARCHBISHOP .................................................................133 THE ECCLESIOLOGY OF METROPOLITAN CYPRIAN ..............................136 BOSTON SEPARATES .......................................................................................148 SUPER-ECUMENISM (2)...................................................................................156 ROCOR AND THE CATACOMBS ....................................................................161 GLASNOST’ AND PERESTROIKA...................................................................167 2 A NEW ROCOR METROPOLITAN On May 14/27, 1964, Metropolitan Anastasy retired (he died in 1965). His period as first hierarch represents a “holding operation”, a preservation of the status quo in a very difficult period interrupted by the chaos of the Second World War. It left certain important questions unanswered – questions which would have to be answered unambiguously sooner or later. But it at any rate kept the voice of opposition to the MP alive in the West. There was such animosity between the supporters of the two candidates for the vacant post, Archbishops Nicon and John Maximovich, that to avoid a schism Archbishop John withdrew his own candidature and put forward in his place the youngest hierarch, Philaret (Voznesensky), the vicar-bishop of Brisbane, who had arrived at the Council only because his ruling bishop was ill.1 The suggestion was then universally accepted, and Bishop Philaret was enthroned by Metropolitan Anastasy himself in a service that used the ancient text for the enthroning of a metropolitan of Moscow for the first time in centuries. The new metropolitan’s endurance of torture for Christ at the hands of the Japanese pagans in Manchuria has already been described. During the Soviet occupation he continued to show great courage, refusing to accept a Soviet passport or commemorate the authorities, although he unwillingly found himself in the Moscow Patriarchate. Later, the Chinese even unsuccessfully tried to blow up the confessor in the house in which he was living. Archimandrite Philaret left China in 1961, only after almost the whole of his flock had left Harbin. “While striving to guard my flock from Soviet falsehood and lies,” he recounted, “I myself sometimes felt inexpressibly oppressed – to the point that I several times came close to the decision to leave altogether – to cease serving. And I was stopped only by the thought of my flock: how could I leave these little ones? If I went and stopped serving, that would mean that they would have to enter into service to the Soviets and hear prayers for the forerunners of the Antichrist – ‘Lord, preserve them for many years,’ etc. This stopped me and forced me to carry out my duty to the end. “And when, finally, with the help of God I managed to extract myself from red China, the first thing I did was turn to the First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad, Metropolitan Anastasy, with a request that he consider me again to be in the jurisdiction of the Russian Church Abroad. Vladyka Metropolitan replied with mercy and love, and immediately blessed me to serve in Hong Kong already as a priest of the Synodal jurisdiction, and pointed out that every church server passing into this jurisdiction from the 1 According to one source, Archbishop John’s candidature was especially opposed by Archbishop Anthony of Geneva. The two men had never been friends… 3 jurisdiction of Moscow must give a special penitential declaration to the effect that he is sorry about his (albeit involuntary) stay in the Moscow jurisdiction. I did this immediately.” Soon Fr. Philaret flew to Australia and arrived in Sydney. The ruling Archbishop of Australia accepted him with joy and love, and already in the first weeks of Fr. Philaret’s stay in Australia began to speak about the possibility of ordaining him as a Bishop. In 1963 he was ordained Bishop of Brisbane, a vicariate of the Australian diocese. In his sermon at his nomination as Bishop Archimandrite Philaret said to the Archpastors who were present: “Holy Hierarchs of God! I have thought and felt much in these last days, I have reviewed and examined the whole of my life – and… I see, on the one hand, a chain of innumerable benefactions from God, and on the other – the countless number of my sins… And so raise your hierarchical prayers for my wretchedness in this truly terrible hour of my ordination, that the Lord, the First of Pastors, Who through your holiness is calling me to the height of this service, may not deprive me, the sinful and wretched one, of a place and lot among His chosen ones… “One hierarch-elder, on placing the hierarchical staff in the hands of a newly appointed bishop, said to him: ‘Do not be like a milestone on the way, that points out for others the road ahead, but itself remains in its place…’ Pray also for this, Fathers and Archpastors, that in preaching to others, I myself may not turn out to be an idle slave.” The new metropolitan faced a daunting task. For he had, on the one hand, to lead his Church in decisively denouncing the apostasy of World Orthodoxy, communion with which could no longer be tolerated. And on the other, he had to preserve unity among the members of his own Synod, some of whom were in spirit closer to “World Orthodoxy” than True Orthodoxy… The first Official Epistle of a Hierarchical Council of ROCOR under her new metropolitan was dated June 4/17, 1964, and appeared to continue the line adopted by Metropolitan Anastasy in relation to the MP: “They [the God- opposing Communists] have contrived a new, truly diabolical plan in their war against the faithful: it is now forbidden by the godless government of the USSR for children and young men and women from the ages of 3 to 18 to be allowed into God's churches and to be communed with the Body and Blood of Christ. And in order to mock the Church even more, this directive by the authorities has to be enforced by the clergymen themselves – they are the ones who must prohibit youth from approaching the Chalice of Christ and demand the removal of children and youth from the churches"…. 4 "But the true situation is this: not many clergymen are left in the USSR, not many open churches are left, the faithful rarely can attend services And now even at these rare services, which Christians, if they are not extremely old men and women, attend at the risk of being tagged by the active Soviet "watchers" and thus lose their jobs--parents cannot bring their young children, who, in their tender childhood and youth, so need graceful communion to the Fountain of life--to Christ the Savior, just as young little saplings need the light and the warmth of the sun." This Epistle appeared to accept the MP as a grace-bearing institution – nearly thirty years after the leading hierarchs of the Catacomb Church had rejected that position. However, in his 1965 Epistle “to Orthodox Bishops and all who hold dear the Fate of the Russian Church”, Metropolitan Philaret gave the first signs that he was going to adopt a more uncompromising approach in relation to the MP. This Epistle is also significant for the much more prominent position
Load more

Recommended publications
  • 20Th Anniversary of St. Andrew's Greek Orthodox Theological College
    THE GREEK AUSTRALIAN The oldest circulating Greek newspaper outside Greece etnall: [email protected] MARCH2006 TeL (02) 9559 7022 Fax: (02) 9559 7033 In this issue.•. Our Primate's View The so-called 'Catharsis' in the Church of Greece -B'- PA GE 5123 FOURTH SUNDAY OF GREAT LENT: The Christian Life according to St John Climacus :u.:. -; - '. >. 'C. P.\G£S , /26-,,/27 TRAVEL: Mistras: 'A pilgrimage to Byzantine Greece' 1'.\(;£ ,,136 20th Anniversary of St. Andrew's Greek Orthodox Theological College \6-1'.\(;1:: '"\S£R r Nobelists honour Pap test ~uro Fun~!~LoY~~rpaYi£,~ creator Tel: (02) 9747 66Q4 Available 24 hrs '''''' 2/20 TO BHMA The Greek Australian VEMA MARCH 2006 White Parthenon once colourful APOLLO 13 LAUNCHED TO MOON April 11, 1970 On April 11, 1970,Apollo 13, the third lunar landing mission, is successfully launched from Cape Canaveral, Florida, carrying astronauts James A Lovell, John L. Swigert, and Fred W. Hillse. The spacecraft's destination was the Fra Mauro highlands of the moon, where the astronauts were 10 explore the 1mbriwn Basin and conduct geolog­ ical experiments. After an oxygen tank exploded on the evening of April 13, however, the new mission objective became 10 get the Apollo 13 crew home alive. Its austere white is on every postcard, but the Athens wrought on the Parthenon's marole structure by centuries of Parthenon was originally daubed with red, blue and green, the weather exposure and decades of smog pollution. Greek arehaeologist supervising conservation work on the Principal restoration work on the entire Acropolis citade~ which 2,400-year-old temple says.
    [Show full text]
  • Protopresbyter George Dion Dragas BD, Thm, Phd, DD (Hc)
    CURRICULUM VITAE Protopresbyter George Dion Dragas BD, ThM, PhD, DD (h.c.), ThD (h.c.) Present Position: Professor of Patrology, Hellenic College/Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology, 50 Goddard Avenue, Brookline, MA 02445, U.S.A. Tel. 617 850 1221, Email [email protected] and [email protected] Personal Data: Date of birth: 20th November 1944 Place of birth: Athens, Greece. Marital status: Married to Assimenia (Ina) Dragas Children: Areti (1973-), Dion (1974-) and Alexander (1977-). Education: 1962 Graduated from XIIth High School of Athens Greece. 1962-65 Studied Engineering science at Athens. 1964-66 Studied and served in the Greek Royal Navy in telecommunications 1966-70 B.D. (Bachelor of Divinity) Edinburgh University, Scotland. 1970-71 Th.M. (Master of Theology) Princeton Theological Seminary USA 1974-75 Ph.D. research at Edinburgh University, transferred to Durham, UK. 1976-81 D.Phil. (Faculty of Theology) University of Durham, UK. Clerical Status anD Honors 1980 Ordained to the Diaconate and Priesthood in the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Thyateira and Great Britain (Ecumenical Patriarchate) and was granted the office of Protopresbyter. 1980 Stavroforos of the Orthodox Hospitalers of Malta 1984 Stavroforos (Cross-Bearer) of the Holy Sepulchre, Patriarchate of Jerusalem 1986 Taxiarch of the Holy Sepulchre, Patriarchate of Jerusalem 1991 Decorated with the St. Demetrios Medal, Metropolis of Thessalonica, Greece Honorary Degrees: 2000 DD (Doctor of Divinity) St. Kliment University, Theology Faculty, Sofia Bulgaria 2005 ThD
    [Show full text]
  • A Study of Liturgical and Theatrical Practices in Byzantium
    ABSTRACT Title of Document: THE ARTIFICE OF ETERNITY: A STUDY OF LITURGICAL AND THEATRICAL PRACTICES IN BYZANTIUM Andrew Walker White, Doctor of Philosophy, 2006 Directed By: Professor Franklin J. Hildy, Theatre and Professor Emeritus George P. Majeska, History This study attempts to fill a substantial gap in our knowledge of theatre history by focusing on the Orthodox ritual aesthetic and its relationship with traditional theatrical practice in the Eastern Roman Empire – also known as Byzantium. Through a review of spatial practices, performance aesthetics and musical practice, and culminating in a case study of the Medieval Office of the Three Children in the Fiery Furnace, this dissertation attempts to demonstrate how the Orthodox Church responded to the theatre, and determine whether the theatre influenced the development of its ritual aesthetic. Because of the well-documented rapprochement between church and theatre in the west, this study also tries to determine whether there was a similar reconciliation in the Orthodox east. From the Early Byzantine period onward, conduct of the Orthodox Liturgy was rooted in a ritual aesthetic that avoided direct imitation or representation. This Orthodox ritual aesthetic influenced every aspect of the Liturgy, from iconography to chant to liturgical dance, and involved a rejection of practices that, in the Church’s view, would draw too much attention to the material or artistic aspects of ritual. Theatrical modes of representation were consistently avoided and condemned as anathema. Even in the Middle Ages, when Catholics began to imitate Jesus at the altar and perform representations of biblical episodes using actors, realistic settings and special effects, Orthodox hierarchs continued to reject theatrical modes of performance.
    [Show full text]
  • CURRICULUM VITAE Protopresbyter
    CURRICULUM VITAE Protopresbyter George Dion Dragas BD, ThM, PhD, DD (h.c.), ThD (h.c.) Present Position: Professor of Patrology, Hellenic College/Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology, 50 Goddard Avenue, Brookline, MA 02445, U.S.A. Tel. 617 850 1221, Email [email protected] Education: School education in Athens, Greece Engineering Science in Athens, Greece Greek Royal Navy School of Accountancy Greek Royal Navy School of Telecommunications Edinburgh University, Philosophy Department Edinburgh University, Theology Department Princeton Theological Seminary, New Jersey University of Durham, England, UK Degrees: BD (Bachelor of Divinity), Edinburgh University ThM (Theology Master), Princeton Theological Seminary PhD (Philosophy Doctor) Durham University Honorary Degrees: DD (Doctor of Divinity) St. Kliment University , Theology Faculty, Sofia Bulgaria (2000) ThD Doctor of Theology) Aristotle University of Thessalonike, School of Theology, Dept. of Pastoral And Social Theology (2005) Academic Appointments: Research Assistant Edinburgh University UK 1973-1974 Lecturer Durham University UK 1974-1976 Tenured Lecturer Durham University UK 1976-1987 Tenured Senior Lecturer Durham University UK 1987-1995 Tenured Professor of Patristics/ Dogmatics and Dean (Holy Cross) Hellenic College/Holy Cross USA 1995-1997 Acting President Hellenic College/Holy Cross USA 1995 (Fall) Tenured Professor of Patristics Hellenic College/Holy Cross USA 1997-to date Other Relevant Experience: International Academic Experience etc., Elected Life Member Academie
    [Show full text]
  • Phoblem and Appeal
    PHOBLEM AND APPEAL Presupposition l0r the beginning and the success the Dialogue between the Orthodox and the Rotnan Catholic Churches. Prof. CHRYSOSTOMOS - GERASSIME ZAPHIRIS MetropoJitan of Peristerion Those who are invo1ved and concerned with the Ecumeni- ca1 Movement and the rapprochement between the Orthodox and the Roman Catho1ic Churches c1ose1y followed with live1y interest and much satisfaction the meeting the Joint Orthodox- Roman Catho1ic Co- ordinating Subcommission which met Rome 1ast March (29 March- 1 April). This meeting between representatives of the Orthodox and Roman Catholic Churches had been decided by the FuIl Orthodox Technica1 Commission Dia10gue with the Roman Catholics at its 1ast meeting he1d at the Patriarcha1 Centre Geneva (14- 18 November 1977)1 order to prepare the Theo1ogica1 Dia10gue with the Roman Catholic Church. 1. The establishment of the «Inter-Orthodox Technical Commission of Theo- logians dates back to the seven - year period following the lifting of the anathemata between Rome and Constantinople, when the Ecumenical Patriarchate addressed its 697 Encyclical and Patriarchal Letter of November 1974 to the local Or· thodox Churches. this Encyclical, which is of inva1uable historical significance, the Ecumenical Patriarchate speaks about «the need to a special Inter- Orthodox Tec!lnical Commission of Theologians which would undertake for the mo- ment the task of g'athering and evaluating the conclusions reached by the Local Orthodox Churches their individual study of the bi-lateral dialogue between Or- thodox and Roman Catholics, and of setting a common Pan-Orthodox courSe and understanding the matter». Following the acceptance of the proposal of the Ecumenical Patriarchate by the Loca1 Orthodox Churches, Ecumenical Patriarch Demetrios addressed a spe- cial message to His Holiness, Pope Paul VI, WhiC!l he informs the of the Eastern Orthodox C!lurch's decision to «advance the sacred matter of the ties with Rome and to progress from the Dialogue of Love to the preparation of the Theolo- gica1 Dialo{i'Ue with hf;Jr.
    [Show full text]
  • NEW ZION in BABYLON the Orthodox Church in the Twentieth Century
    NEW ZION IN BABYLON The Orthodox Church in the Twentieth Century Vladimir Moss Copyright: Vladimir Moss, 2008 PART 5. THE ZENITH OF ECUMENISM (1964-1990)......................................3 A New ROCOR Metropolitan...................................................................................3 The Lifting of the Anathemas ....................................................................................9 The Sorrowful Epistles.............................................................................................12 The Fall of the Serbian and Bulgarian Churches.....................................................17 “The Heresy of Heresies”.........................................................................................26 Moscow and the Metropolia ....................................................................................31 The Theology of Peace ..............................................................................................33 The Councils of 1971 ...............................................................................................36 The ROCOR – Greek Old Calendarist Union.........................................................40 New Confessor Helen of Chin..................................................................................47 Greek Zealots and Ecumenists.................................................................................53 The Third All-Emigration Council..........................................................................58 The Fall of Dissent...................................................................................................66
    [Show full text]
  • Wars, Divisions, Integration (1990-2008)
    TEACHING CONTEMPORARY SOUTHEAST EUROPEAN HISTORY SOURCE BOOKS FOR HISTORY TEACHERS VOLUME 2 WARS, DIVISIONS, INTEGRATION (1990-2008) 281011_WARS-DIVISIONS-INTEGRATION_I.indd 1 ѥ Publisher: Center for Democracy and Reconciliation in Southeast Europe (CDRSEE) English Language Editor: John White, Philip Carabott English Language Proofreader: Nerina Kioseoglou Page Layout: Ioanna Ghika Graphic Design: LYNX, Karavasiloglou Ioulia, Eressou 65, 10683, Athens, Greece Printing House: SAITI Publications S.A., Ermou 4, Metamorfosi 14452, Athens, Greece Print Run: 1,500 “This publication has been produced with the assistance of the European Union. The contents of this publication are the sole responsibility of the authors and can in no way be taken to reflect the views of the European Union.” CDRSEE Rapporteur to the Board for the Joint History Project: Costa Carras CDRSEE Executive Director: Zvezdana Kovac CDRSEE project team: Antonis Hadjiyannakis, Jenny Demetriou, Susan Nadeau, Ruth Sutton, Sasa Kulenovic, Michaela Zervidou and Elena Farini THE BOOK HAS BEEN PRODUCED ALSO WITH THE SUPPORT OF: Disclaimer: The designations employed and presentation of the material in the book do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the publisher (CDRSEE) nor on the sponsors. This book contains the views expressed by the authors in their individual capacity and may not necessarily reflect the views of the CDRSEE and the sponsoring agencies. The book is based on different contributions by our partners who provide content, warrant and represent that the content provided does not infringe any third party’s rights to the best of their knowledge. Therefore the publisher disclaims and is not liable for any relevant infringement of third party’s rights on content that has been contributed by the different partners.
    [Show full text]
  • FINAL GREAT LENT 2008 TOC.P65
    The Orthodox Church VOL 44/1 GREAT LENT 2008 THE ORTHODOX CHURCH IN AMERICA www.oca.org Remain with us, O Lord of Hosts! In affliction we have no other Helper than Thee! 2 VOLUME 44 1 Official No. 484 NOVEMBER 2007 rection Cathedral, Kodiak, AK/ February 12, 2007. at Holy Trinity Church, Edmonton, AB and attached to BERESKIN, The Rev. Evon is appointed rector of the Bishop’s Chapel of St. Silouan the Athonite, EPISCOPAL CHANGES Nativity of Our Lord Church, Ouzinkie, AK/ June 3, Johnstown, BC, Canada. His duties within the Dio- [SORAICH], Bishop Nikolai of Sitka, Anchorage, and 2007. cese of New England remain the same/ November 15, Alaska is appointed rector of Holy Trinity Chapel, An- [BRITTAIN], Archimandrite Isidore, who was on a 2007. chorage, AK on October 1, 2007. All other duties Leave of Absence, is restored to active duty. He is KIRILOV, The V. Rev. Oleg, in addition to duties at remain the same. assigned to St. Innocent Cathedral, Anchorage, AK/ Christ the Savior Sobor, Toronto, ON, Canada, is [L’HUILLIER], Archbishop Peter, retired Archbishop November 9, 2007. appointed Dean of the Ontario Deanery/ July 20, of New York and New Jersey, fell alseep in the Lord on * BULZ, The Rev. Gabriel is released from duties at 2007. November 19, 2007. Nativity of the Lord Mission, Albuquerque, NM and KOLEGA, The Rev. Wasyl is appointed dean of the TONSURED appointed pastor of SS. Constantine and Helen Mis- Alberta Deanery. All other duties remain the same/ July McLUCKIE, The V. Rev. James was tonsured a sion, Lilburn, GA/ December 1, 2007.
    [Show full text]
  • NEW ZION in BABYLON the Orthodox Church in the Twentieth Century
    NEW ZION IN BABYLON The Orthodox Church in the Twentieth Century Vladimir Moss Copyright: Vladimir Moss, 2010 PART 5. THE ZENITH OF ECUMENISM (1964-1990)......................................3 A New ROCOR Metropolitan...................................................................................3 The Lifting of the Anathemas ....................................................................................9 A Second Romanian Hierarchy ...............................................................................18 The Fall of the Serbian Church ................................................................................21 The Free Serbian Orthodox......................................................................................25 The Fall of the Bulgarian Church ............................................................................33 “The Heresy of Heresies”.........................................................................................34 Moscow and the Metropolia ....................................................................................39 The Theology of Peace ..............................................................................................42 The Councils of 1971 ...............................................................................................44 The ROCOR – Greek Old Calendarist Union.........................................................48 Caucasian Saints......................................................................................................56 Greek
    [Show full text]
  • The Byzantine Epitaphioi of the Western Coast of the Black Sea
    THE BYZANTINE EPITAPHIOI OF THE WESTERN COAST OF THE BLACK SEA. Production, distribution, iconography, manufacturing technology and preventive conservation A thesis submitted for the degree of MA in Black Sea Cultural Studies School of Humanities Kalantzidou Kyriaki 2016 Kyriaki Kalantzidou ID: 2201130028 Supervisor: Dr. Glykeria Chatzouli Assistant -Professor in Aristotle University. I hereby declare that the work submitted by me is mine and that where I have made use of another’s work; I have attributed the source(s) according to the Regulations set in the Student’s Handbook. © February 2016, Kyriaki Kalantzidou, 2201130028 No part of this dissertation may be copied, reproduced or transmitted without prior permission of the author. February 2016 Thessaloniki – Greece ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I would like to express my sincere gratitude to my supervisor Pr. Glykeria Chatzoulis, for her guidance and knowledge she lavishly offered me, as well as for her continues support and kind assistance. Moreover, I would like to thank all academic stuff of the International University, our professors and my fellow students for a fascinating and exciting journey we shared around the Black Sea during our studies for the last two years. I would also like to thank Prof. Flora Karagianni, as her guidance proved to be the initial step for the current study. In addition, I express my sincere gratitude to the following persons: Sister Atanasia Vaetis from monastery Stavroupoleos in Romania for the enthusiastic assistance and information she provided me; Prof. Karatzani Anna for her significant guidance and support; my friend Prof. Evangelos Christou for his most valuable help to end this dissertation.
    [Show full text]
  • MARTYROLOGY the Demographics of Christian Martyrdom, AD 33–AD 2001
    Part 4 MARTYROLOGY The demographics of Christian martyrdom, AD 33–AD 2001 People will do to you exactly what they did to me. —Jesus to his disciples (John 15:21, Contemporary English Version) We share in the terrible sufferings of Christ. —Apostle Paul (2 Corinthians 1:5, Contemporary English Version) I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the witness they had borne... And I heard the number of the sealed: 144,000. —Revelation 6:9, 7:4, RSV; Sealing of the Martyrs Martyrdom is a charism of the Spirit. —C. H. Pinnock, Flame of love: a theology of the Holy Spirit, 1996 Demographics is both a science and an art. Part 4 applies this knowledge to a startling phenomenon: the killings of 70 mil- lion Christians across the centuries and in every country. The data are sufficiently dense, detailed, and incontrovertible that this Part arrives at firm totals and trends. Even ongoing rates of martyrdom are calculated, which bishops, evangelists, for- eign missionaries, clergy, church leaders, as well as layper- sons should be prepared to face. The demographics of Christian martyrdom, AD 33-AD 2001 AN OVERVIEW OF MARTYRDOM Graphic 4-1. Location of the 76 worst situations of mass martyrdom in Christian history (all with over 100,000 martyrs each). This section of the survey presents the evidence for the startling conclusion that, over the 20 centuries of the Christian faith, some 70 million Christians have been murdered for that faith and hence are called martyrs.
    [Show full text]
  • Complete List of Saints
    Complete List of Saints [with Saints from the Bulgarian land] © 2011 Protection of the Mother of God Church A Parish of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia September 1 / 14. New indiction / Church New Year. St. Symeon Stylites (the Elder) (+459) and his mother St. Martha (+circa 428). (The services to the Saint and for the New Year are combined.) (Vespers only) Martyr Aeithalas of Persia (+380). Holy 40 Women Martyrs and Martyr Ammon the deacon and their teacher, at Heraclea in Thrace (IV c.). Martyrs Callista and her brothers Evodus and Hermogenes at Nicomedia (+309). Righteous Joshua the Son of Nun (XVI c. BC). St. Meletius the New of Greece. New-Martyr Angelis of Constantinople. Commemoration of the Great Fire at Constantinople about 470 A.D. Synaxis of the Most Holy Theotokos in Miasena [commemorating the finding of Her icon (864)]. (Greek Calendar: St. Evanthia. St. Nicholas of Crete, monk.) "Chernigov-Gethsemane" (1869) Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos. September 2 / 15. Martyr Mama of Caesarea in Cappadocia (+275), and his parents, Martyrs Theodotus and Rufina (III c.) [Rom 8:28-39; Jn 15:1-7]. St. John the Faster, Patriarch of Constantinople (+595). 3,628 Martyrs who suffered at Nicomedia (III-IV c.). Righteous Eleazar, son of Aaron, and Righteous Phineas. (Greek Calendar: Martyrs Aeithalas and Ammon of Thrace.) "Kaluga" Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos. September 3 / 16. Hieromartyr Anthimus, Bishop of Nicomedia, and those with him: Martyrs Theophilus deacon, Dorotheus, Mardonius, Migdonius, Peter, Indes, Gorgonius, Zeno, Virgin Domna, and Euthymius (+302). St. Theoctistus, fellow-faster with St.
    [Show full text]