Orthodox Church in America

The Orthodox Church in America’s communications department has published a summary of Metropolitan Jonah’s remarks at Orthodox Christian Laity’s recently concluded Road to Unity conference. Highlights:

Central to the fabric of a united Church, Metropolitan Jonah added, is the need to “be missionary in every aspect of its existence, reaching out to bring the Gospel of Jesus Christ in all its patristic and Orthodox integrity to the peoples of North America, incarnating the Orthodox Church in North America, and enculturating North Americans into Orthodoxy.

“Each [North American] church, jurisdiction, and community has done this to its own degree, individually,” Metropolitan Jonah observed. “Now we must put it all together, keeping in mind the essential goal of the sanctification of our people, our communities, our nations. Each community has something of utmost value to offer to the whole. Each community has come into existence in America through tremendous struggle, hardship and sacrifice. All this has to be taken into account, valued, sanctified.” Continue reading →

H/T: Orrologion

ANCHORAGE, AK [Diocese of Alaska/ October 21, 2009] — The Orthodox Diocese of Alaska, meeting at its annual Assembly at Saomt Innocent Cathedral here, passed a unanimous resolution today, calling on state and federal agencies to deny permits to any “commercial or economic project” that threatens to damage or pollute the natural environment. The basis for the Church’s opposition to any “development” derives from a spiritual and theological concern, rather than political considerations.

The resolution first cites the traditional reverential attitude Alaska Native peoples have always had toward their environment, and then lists the Biblical sources for the belief that God blessed the world at the time of creation and that, despite human greed, waste and sin, He now is renewing it, restoring it, blessing and sanctifying it.

Central to the Church’s declaration is its affirmation that for over 200 years, parishes along the lakes and rivers have been performing the Great Blessing of Water, in commemoration of the Baptism of Jesus Christ in the Jordan. During this annual ceremony, conducted along the shores of lakes and streams as well as at the coasts of the oceans, the Holy Spirit is invoked to bless the water, so that it becomes “holy water” used for the sanctifications of churches, homes and vehicles for the coming year.

Once a river or lake has been blessed, it becomes permanently sacred to Orthodox Christians. Any threat to destroy, contaminate or pollute it is seen as a form of desecration.

Claiming that a river or lake is sacred may also qualify it for protection under the terms of the Native American Freedom of Religions Act.

The Orthodox Diocese of Alaska is comprised of about 20,000 Alaska Natives in 95 Aleut, Yup’ik Eskimo, Athabaskan and Tlingit communities.

Full text follows. Continue reading →

Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia congratulates the Primate of the Orthodox Church in America on his 50th birthday. Source: Moscow Patriarchate.

Metropolitan Jonah (left) and Patriarch Kirill in Moscow

Your Beatitude,

Beloved Brother and Concelebrant in the Lord:

I wholeheartedly greet and congratulate you on the your 50th birthday.

On this day, I lift up an ardent prayer to God for you and remember with warmth the moments of our fraternal fellowship during your official visit to the Russian Orthodox Church, which enabled us to experience once again the spiritual and historical kindred of our two Churches.

Your jubilee is a feast not only for the Orthodox Church in America but also for the Moscow Patriarchate tied with the life of the American Orthodox by historical bonds.

May the Lord Who has place on you the heavy burden of primatial service of the Orthodox Church in America bless your primatial efforts and multiply and strengthen your God-loving flock. I prayerfully wish you good health and inexhaustible spiritual joy for many good years.

With brotherly love in the Lord,

+ KIRILL,

Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia

Update: (10/11) Ancient Faith Radio has the audio from, “In the Footsteps of Tikhon and Grafton – Anglican and Orthodox Identity, Ministry and Mission in the 21th Century,” the Anglican-Orthodox Conference featuring discussions and addresses by representatives of St. Vladimir’s Seminary and Nashotah House. Listen here.

The History of Anglican/Orthodox Relations
Fr. Stephen Platt moderated and the speakers were Fr. Chad Hatfield and Fr. Arnold Klukas.

Anglican/Orthodox Enculturation
Mrs. Glynn Mackoul moderated and the speakers were Fr. William Olnhausen and Fr. Jack Gabig.

Bishops and Mission
Fr. Chad Hatfield moderated and the speakers were Bishop Melchizedek and Bishop Frank Lyons.

Anglican/Orthodox Theological Training
Fr. Arnold Klukas moderated and the speakers were Fr. Chad Hatfield and Dean Munday

The Future of Anglican and Orthodox Relations
Both Deans moderated and the speakers were Archbishop William Duncan and Metropolitan Jonah.

Anglican/Orthodox Relations In Practice
In the final session the speakers are Fr. Stephen Platt and Bishop Keith Ackerman. The session begins with Fr. Stephen giving an overview of the Fellowship of Sts. Alban and Sergius.

Continue reading →