Month: May 2009

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Met. Jonah’s Second Russian Interview — “The Orthodox Church is most firmly opposed to the spirit of the world”

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In an interview posted on the official website of the Russian Orthodox Church (Patriarchia.ru) Metropolitan Jonah discussed the status of the autocephaly of the OCA and Constantinople’s denial of it, as well as offering some new ideas on the future of the OCA. The interview was conducted by journalist Yuri Pushcha.

Highlight:

Puscha: What outcomes do you expect from the forthcoming conference in Cyprus, during which, among other things, the unity of the American Church is to be discussed? Are you counting on the Orthodox Church in America getting a greater measure of understanding of her position by other Local Orthodox Churches?

+Jonah: The Patriarchate of Constantinople, as well as some other Local Orthodox Churches do not recognize our autocephaly. And if they want to make any decisions affecting our life, this is only possible with our consent. Otherwise, it will be a great sin against us.

HT: Orthodox Christians for Accountability

The visit to the Russian Orthodox Church of His Beatitude, Jonah, Archbishop of Washington and New York ended on May 4th. The Leader of the Orthodox Church in America gave an interview on the outcome of the visit to Patriarchia.ru

Metropolitan Jonah

Puscha: Your Beatitude, your visit to the Russian Orthodox Church is coming to an end. How would you begin summing up the visit, its essential outcome?

+Jonah: Most important, of course, is a personal contact with Patriarch Kyril and other representatives of the Russian Orthodox Church. In addition, this visit fortified me with grace. I prayed before many sacred sites, visited many monasteries, venerated the relics of many saints.

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The American Orthodox Church at a Crossroads

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George Michalopulos, frequent contributor to the AOI blog and author of several articles on the AOI website, is this week’s guest on The Illumined Heart, a program on Ancient Faith Radio.

In June 2009 leaders of all autocephalous Orthodox Churches – excluding the OCA or any representatives from North America – meet in Cyprus or Geneva (undetermined at the date of this posting), at a meeting convened by Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholemew I. This meeting is being called to discuss “the so-called Orthodox Diaspora, with a view to overcoming every possible influence that is foreign to Orthodox ecclesiology.” The American Orthodox situation and its disunity is at the top of the agenda. In this edition of The Illumined Heart, host Kevin Allen and author George C. Michalopulos discuss this meeting, the history and state of Orthodoxy in North America and possible outcomes of this potentially pivotal convocation.

Listen to Part 1

Listen to Part 2

Archbishop Demetrios Visits ROCOR

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Greek Orthodox Archbishop Demetrios pays a visit to ROCOR’s Metropolitan Hilarion, the first visit of a Greek primate in four decades. The Metropolitan greeted the Archbishop as the “Chief Orthodox Archpastor of America and the Exarch of the Ecumenical Patriarchate.”

Metropolitan Hilarion (left) and Archbishop Demetrios

[ROCOR release] Archbishop Demetrios, Head of the Greek Archdiocese in North America, Visits the Synod of Bishops

On May 5, 2009, His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios, Head of the Greek Archdiocese in North America, visited the residence of the First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia at the Synodal building in New York. Venerating the Kursk-Root Icon of the Mother of God, Archbishop Demetrios proceeded to the altar of the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Sign, where he venerated the altar table.

His Eminence Metropolitan Hilarion, First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, then greeted His Eminence and presented him with a gift of an icon of the Mother of God of Vladimir, expressing his wishes for Her heavenly aid to Archbishop Demetrios in serving the Church of Christ. Continue reading →

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It Is Time To Be Direct

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An interview published in the Russian language Blagovest-Info on April 28, 2009.

Highlight:

Blagovest-Info: During the six months you have occupied the chair of the Archbishop of Washington, you had to prove yourself a leader unafraid of expressing your stance, even if, to some, it may seem not to be politically correct. Suffice it to recall your recent speech in Dallas. To what extent, in your opinion, should directness and diplomacy be combined among hierarchs?

+Jonah: I think it is time to be direct. We can be politically correct, but we will be buried. Can we afford to play Byzantine political games, in which they simply do not take us into account? And I want my voice to be heard in the upcoming discussions concerning the problem of the Orthodox Diaspora. I do not want to offend anyone – especially the Ecumenical Patriarch, – but I want my Church’s position to be heard and acknowledged. It is essential that we participate in decisions regarding our fate.”

HT: Orthodox Christians for Accountability.

Metropolitan Jonah

His Beatitude, the Archbishop of Washington, Metropolitan of All America and Canada – this is his complete title. But in person, the 49-year-old Bishop Jonah is surprisingly free of ostentation – there are no shadows nor any outward grandeur; he responds to questions – including sharp ones – directly, concretely and honestly. During his first foreign visit as Primate of the OCA Metropolitan Jonah, who was elected to the American cathedra less than six months ago, met in the OCA’s Moscow representation with a correspondent of “Blagovest Info”.

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