Christ IsIsIs Light of the East Risen! Newsletter of the Society of Saint John Chrysostom Indeed Western Region Edition He is Website: www.lightoftheeast.org Risen! Volume 6, Number 3 Spring, 2012 Memory Eternal - His Holiness Happenings! Coptic Orthodox Pope Shenouda III SSJC-WR workshop Praise of the Mother of God In Eastern & Western Traditions Spiritual leader of the Coptic Orthodox Church, His Saturday, May 19, 10 a.m./12:30 p.m. at Holiness Pope Shenouda III St. John the Baptizer Ukrainian Catholic fell asleep in the Lord, Satur- Church, 4400 Palm Avenue, La Mesa, day, March 17 at the age of 91941. 88. Speakers: Eastern: Mother Sarah Elisabet Tens of thousands of Oftedal of Martha & Mary House, Escon- Egyptians thronged the dido: Western Joseph Cunningham B.A., Abbasiya Cathedral in S.T.M. of St. Mark Roman Catholic Church, Egypt's capital for the funeral San Marcos. Contact person: Fr. George Liturgy of Pope Shenouda Morelli 760 920 6350 or at presi- III, [email protected]. The body of Pope The Society of St. John Chrysostom- Shenouda III, who led the Western Region business meeting immedi- Coptic Church for 41 years, ately follows the program. Those staying for was buried on Tuesday eve- the meeting should bring a box lunch. ning at the St. Bishoy Monas- tery in the desert outside Ecumenical Prayer for Cairo. The monastery was a Christian Unity frequent place of retreat for Pope Shenouda III Celebrating Pentecost the pope and he had re- the famed Church of Alexandria. His long episco- quested his burial there in his Friday, June 1, 7-9 p.m. at Annunciation pate lasted almost 41 years. As Pope of the Byzantine Catholic Church, 994 North will. Church of Alexandria, he headed one of the most The outpouring of grief West Street, Anaheim 92801 Sixth Annual ancient churches in the world, which traced its Roman & Eastern Catholic and Orthodox among both Christian and founding to St Mark the Evangelist who brought Muslim Egyptians—many of Christian Ecumenical Service of Prayer for Christianity to Egypt during the reign of Roman Christian Unity. whom considered the pope a Emperor Claudius (ca. 42 AD). Pope Shenouda III patriotic symbol of national will go down in history as one of the Great Patri- Orientale Lumen XVI Conference unity—was intense. archs of the ancient Church of Alexandria, a noted The Theology of the Laity Praising the ecumenical Church Father and teacher, a chief defender of the commitment of the late Cop- faith, and a noted Egyptian leader of the twentieth June 18-21 at the Washington Retreat tic Orthodox Pope Shenouda and twenty-first centuries. He will rank highly House, Washington D.C. Speakers: Metro- III of Alexandria, Roman among the outstanding Alexandrian Church fa- politan Kallistos of Diokleia (Orthodox), Catholic Pope Benedict XVI thers like Athanasius of Alexandria. Archimandrite Robert Taft, S.J. (Greek- offered his condolences to His official title was Pope of Alexandria and Catholic), Bishop William Lori (Roman Orthodox Christians in Egypt the Patriarch of All Africa on the Holy Apostolic Catholic), Sr. Dr. Vassa Larin (Orthodox), on the death of their patri- Seat of Saint Mark the Evangelist of the Coptic Frederica Mathewes-Green (Orthodox), Carl arch, as did His All-Holiness, Orthodox Church of Alexandria. He was also the E. Olson (Greek Catholic). Moderator: Bartholomew I, Orthodox head of the Holy Synod of the Coptic Orthodox Bishop John Michael Botean (Greek- Patriarch of Constantinople. Patriarchate of Alexandria. He was a conservative Catholic). Register online at: His Holiness was the figure within the Church, and was also respected www.olconference.com. 117th Pope andPatriarch of More Happenings on page 3 Continued on page 8 Page 2 Light of the East The Society of A message from the President of SSJC-Western Region Saint John Chrysostom The Society of St. John Chrysostom is an ecumenical + His Holiness Pope Shenouda III group of clergy and lay people which promotes Eastern Christianity and Ecumenical Dialogue between the May his memory be eternal Eastern and Western Churches. It has sponsored the Eastern Churches Journal and the annual Orientale Lumen Conference. It has been in existence since By the Very Reverend Father George Morelli, Ph.D. 1997 in the United States and for over 70 years in Eng- It is not often that we are blessed to live in the land. same lifetime with one who is certainly saintly due THE GOALS OF THE SOCIETY ARE TO: to his ever-zealous witness to Christ during a time of • Make known the history, worship, spirituality, discipline and theology of Eastern Christendom. unceasing and escalating attacks by Islamists, a time • Work and pray that all Christians, particularly the during which he provided loving Christ-like service Orthodox and Catholic Churches, will attain the to his people. Thus, it is with profound human sad- fullness of unity which Jesus Christ desires. ness but great spiritual joy that we call to our hearts • Develop educational programs which present and minds His Holiness Thrice-Blessed Pope Shenouda III, the Patriarch information about the Eastern Churches. of the Coptic Orthodox Church that traces back to the holy Apostle and • Organize and conduct pilgrimages and confer- Evangelist Mark, who passed into Eternal Life in Our Lord on March17, ences that encourage ecumenical dialogue. 2012. • Contribute to fund-raising activities which sup- To “fall asleep in the Lord” in the hope of the Resurrection is a great port Eastern Christian communities and other grace, prayed for by all committed Christians. A witness to the Godly programs in need of financial aid. passing of His Holiness recounts that on his last day “…he could not • Publish books, brochures, and other information sleep and was seeing holy visions of multitudes waiting for him (the which help explain Eastern Christianity. “cloud of witnesses” mentioned in the Epistle to the Hebrews (12: • Encourage and support the study of the writings 1).”**i** May God now seat him at the front of His banquet table in His and liturgy of Saint John Chrysostom. • Eternal Feast of the Kingdom of Heaven. Promote scholarships for the study of Eastern Ardent followers of Christ know the soul of His Holiness remains Churches in Catholic and Orthodox seminaries. alive in the Eternal Mind of God. His spirit can also remain alive in us, WESTERN REGION who can emulate his desire for the unity of the Apostolic Churches. The President, unity of the Apostolic Churches is the primary hope, goal, prayer and The Very Rev. Fr. George Morelli, PhD. service of us who are members of the Society of St. John Chrysostom; Vice President, The Rt. Rev. James Babcock Secretary, Anne Petach furthermore, we pray all Christians be devoted to this unity. Christ Him- Interim Secretary, Marian Cavadias self prayed for the unity of us all when He cried out to His Heavenly Treasurer, Robert Greenwell Father: "Holy Father, keep in Thy name those whom Thou hast given Sgt. at Arms/Parliamentarian, Me, in order that they may be one, even as We." (Jn. 17:11) Major Frank Scialdone USMC Ret. The commitment of His Holiness of Thrice-Blessed Memory to this Catholic Liasion: Msgr. Dennis Mikulanis ecumenical effort is unquestionable. In 1973 he went to Rome and signed Chaplains: a declaration of common faith with His Holiness Pope Paul VI. Various Archimandrite James Babcock (Eastern Catholic) Fr. Cávana Wallace (Roman Catholic) news sources noted this was the first meeting of the Pontiffs since the Fr. Ramon Merlos (Orthodox) year 451 AD. In later years, His Holiness Pope Shenouda worked toward similar understanding between the Coptic Church and other Orthodox Light of the East Churches to overcome obstacles to full unity. An outstanding example Official newsletter of the Society of Saint John was that in June 1989 His Holiness opened the International Commission Chrysostom Western Region is published quar- for Inter-Orthodox Theological Dialogue Conference, which published terly by the Western Region of the SSJC and is the first “Agreed Statement” between these Churches. distributed free of charge to all SSJC members Prayer, understanding and fellowship with one another are the very and through churches throughout the Western Region of the USA. least we can do in the spirit and memory of this Godly Pope. May we be Editorial contact: enlivened by one of his last words: "I pray for you my beloved children; Editor: Rt. Rev. Archimandrite James preserve your tongues from causing any division!" **ii** May his mem- Babcock, [email protected] ory be eternal! Distribution: 451 W. Madison Ave., Placentia CA 92870 ENDNOTES Membership: **i** personal communication with Fr. Kyrillos Ibrahim, 24 March 2012 Robert Greenwell. 2700 Katherine Street, El **ii**Prayer Service, 2012 03 23, St. Mark's Coptic Church of Chicago Cajon, CA 92020 [email protected] Light of the East Page 3 SSJC-WR Workship Report Lent - East West Fr. Bratso reminded that all these practices, particularly fast- “Lent: East and West.” SSJC-WR Program, February 25, 2012; Sts. Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox ing, praying, prostrations, and being kind to others, have inward Church, Cardiff, CA. Speakers: Msgr. Dennis Mikulanis, and outward aspects and that, today, too many people focus on Pastor, San Rafael Roman Catholic Parish, Rancho the outward, or physical, aspects. Fasting is a spiritual, inner Bernardo, Archpriest Fr. Bratso Krsic, St. George Serbian struggle that helps us to appreciate the full force of Christ’s Orthodox Church, San Diego. Moderator: Archpriest work and to avoid a sense of self-sufficiency that excludes God, to remind us of reliance on God; as children depend on parents, George Morelli, SSJC-WR. President, St. George Antio- chian Orthodox Church, San Diego.