Another Muslim attack was carried out Saturday evening on a wedding held in the Coptic Orthodox Church of the Virgin 'Farid', in Ezbet El Nakhl, Ain Shams.

During the wedding ceremony a bearded man and a woman went inside the Church and started using profane insults to the people present. When the clash was taken outside the Church to be resolved, a large number of Muslims who were waiting in a shop facing the Church and who were armed with knives and weapons attacked the Coptic wedding guests.

Five Copts were injured, two seriously, one with broken limbs and the other sustained head injuries resulting in concussion. However, in spite of their injuries, the police took them into custody. Mr. Said Fayez, a Coptic defense lawyer said that the injured were charged with causing bodily harm.

It is worth noting that this attack took place at the same time, as the attack which was carried out on The Coptic Church of the Virgin, Ain Shams, and in which 1000 Copts were besieged inside the Church while 10-20,000 Muslims surrounded the Church and threw them with stones and used butane gas cylinders. Lawyer Fayez advised that three Coptic lawyers, who were present in Church during this horrific attack, were charged with causing public disturbance.

Mr. Fayez added that the distance between the two attacked Churches is only a 10 minutes walk, and wonders whether this is a coincidence or some form of a Muslim deliberate and concerted attack on all churches in Ain Shams.

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Friday 14 November saw Pope Shenouda III inaugurate the first phase of the project of the Coptic Orthodox Culture Centre and the Saint Mark Public Library in Anba Rweiss grounds in Abbasiya, Cairo.
The story of the centre began long before, though, with the pope issuing a decree on 14 November 2000-14 November is the anniversary of the seating of Pope Shenouda III-for the establishment of a Coptic cultural centre and library. Now the eight-storey building has been completed and the project is on to a fine start.

Magnificently Coptic
The first stage of the project was financed in the major part through the donations of Coptic businessmen and professionals at home and abroad, and the volunteer work of experts and specialists.The interior of the building is magnificently decorated in Coptic style. The ceilings are covered with inlaid woodwork inspired by the fourth century Coptic iconostases of the Hanging Church and Abu-Seifein’s in Old Cairo.
The building contains a conference centre with a main hall that can host up to 1000 persons, as well as smaller meeting rooms, teleconferencing and translation facilities. A number of permanent exhibits, including rare manuscripts and icons, will be showcased in this area, while an exhibition hall will host exhibits of Coptic collections on loan from museums and universities abroad.
A number of specialised research units will be housed in the centre, providing research opportunities in such fields as Coptic architecture, archaeology, language and literature, history, hagiography, patristic and ecumenical studies. The purpose, according to the pope’s secretary Anba Ermiya, is to revitalise interest in Coptic studies at home and abroad.
The ground floor contains a fully equipped kitchen, a cafeteria and a restaurant.

Celebrating
A host of luminaries and officials attended the opening ceremony. Minister of Endowments Hamdi Zaqzouq, Minister of Administrative Development Ahmed Darwish, Nabil Mirhom head of the State Council-the highest administrative court in Egypt-as well as a number of Egypt’s governors were present. The German ambassador to Cairo Bernd Erbel, the Swiss ambassador Charles Held, and a number of MPs and Shura Council members among whom was Ali al-Samman, who previously headed the joint commission with the Vatican on dialogue between religions, also attended. Present also were Safwat al-Bayadi, head of the Evangelical Church in Egypt, representatives from the Catholic and Anglican churches, a number of bishops and archbishops and members of the Coptic Orthodox Melli (Community) Council.
The pope unveiled a memorial marble plaque commemorating the occasion. The members of the commission in charge of the project-Anba Ermiya and the Coptic professionals and businessmen Fawzy Estafanous, Tharwat Bassily, Samy Fahim, Lutfy Basta, and Naguib Sawiris spoke about the idea and effort behind the establishment of the centre and library. Mr Sawiris, who was outside Egypt, delivered his message pre-recorded and televised through a projector screen.

For all
Anba Bishoi, Secretary-General of the Holy Synod spoke about Coptic heritage and presented copies of manuscripts and old Bible editions which he had succeeded in collecting from libraries in Europe.Finally, His Holiness Pope Shenouda III spoke in depth about Coptic heritage and stressed that the Saint Mark Public Library would not be a religious library, but one that would offer a wide range of knowledge to all Egyptians. “We are lucky to live in the age of advanced technology,” the pope said, “when it is easy to obtain excellent copies of original material and manuscripts that libraries, museums, or monasteries the world over would never part with. Now such copies can be accessible to researchers.”The pope announced that he was offering the library 20 encyclopaedias of his own, as well as his private Islamic library.

The library
Watani was informed by Anba Ermiya that the St Mark Public Library will contain a state-of-the-art electronic library, and will house specialised manuscripts and rare book exhibits.
The new library, he said, will house some 3500 books given to the library by Pope Shenouda III, the 27,000-volume strong Clerical College’s collection, the 32,000-volume collection of the late Anba Gregorious and the late Murad Kamel’s 13,000-volume library.
As for the manuscript collection, the St Mark’s will house, among others, 1310 unique manuscripts from the old Coptic Patriarchate Library, 1140 manuscripts (some one million folios) donated by St Shenoute the Archimandrite Society-a copy of these was donated to the Bibliotheca Alexandrina by Pope Shenouda III-and 360 manuscripts (7110 folios).St Mark’s will also include a children’s library which will house interactive exhibits and hands-on learning facilities. Regular activities will include story telling, arts and crafts, and writing workshops.

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Communique from the second regular session of the Holy Assembly of Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church, held in Belgrade November 11-15, 2008.

With the blessings of His Holiness Patriarch Pavle of Serbia and under the presidency of His Eminence Metropolitan Amphilohije of Montenegro and the Coastlands who, in accordance with Article 62 of the Constitution of the Serbian Orthodox Church took the place of His Holiness, who was absent for health reasons, the second regular Assembly of the Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church took place November 11 through 15, 2008 at the Patriarchate in Belgrade.

Participating in the work of the Assembly were all the diocesan hierarchs of the Serbian Orthodox Church in the homeland and from abroad, as well as His Beatitude Archbishop of Ochrid and Metropolitan of Skopje Jovan with the hierarchs of the Autonomous Archdiocese of Ochrid. Confronted with the great spiritual challenges of our time, the Assembly dealt with vital questions of the life, organization and mission of the Serbian Orthodox Church.

In addition to a number of current issues, the Assembly gave particular attention to his Holiness Serbian Patriarch Pavle's request of October 8, 2008, to be relieved of active service for reasons of health and physical infirmity. Despite the reasons stated in his request, the Assembly beseeched His Holiness to remain at the helm of the Serbian Orthodox Church.

Very serious attention was given to church and school education, and to school and parochial catechism classes for children and adults, both in the country and the Diaspora.

The Assembly, responsibly and analytically, considered the difficult situation in Kosovo and Metohija, as well as the accumulated problems in the Diocesan life of Ras and Prizren, showing concern for the church's faithful people and the holy sites in Kosovo and Metohija.

The Assembly fathers with great care and supervision resolved all disagreements regarding the reconstruction of all holy sites in Kosovo and Metohija. They asked Bishop Artemije of Ras and Prizren to receive them as soon as possible and return them to use. At the same time, the fathers of the Holy Assembly of Bishops confirmed the earlier decisions of Holy Synod related to the administration and brotherhood Visoki Decani Monastery, respecting the canonical jurisdiction of Bishop Artemije.

Special attention was given to the situation and serious problems occurring in the Archdiocese of Ohrid, as well as all of our dioceses in the countries on the territory of the former Yugoslavia. The Assembly appeals once again to the ruling government of the Republic of Macedonia that they cease the persecution of His Beatitude Archbishop of Ohrid and Metropolitan of Skoplje Jovan, and to abolish restrictions and other unlawful measures against the autonomous Ohrid Archdiocese.

Amending the 2002 Nis Agreement, the Holy Assembly of Bishops decided: To accept, in principle, the proposal on the manner of participation of the Hierarchs from the Autonomous Archdiocese of Ohrid in the work of the Holy Assembly of Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church.

The Assembly fathers discussed questions regarding church life in Montenegro, Croatia, and Bosnia and Hercegovina, once again appealing to the respective governments that the basic religious and property rights of members of the Serbian Orthodox Church not be endangered.

Relations and cooperation with the local Orthodox Churches were the subject of further attention and care by the Assembly, as well as relations and dialog with other churches and religious communities. The Assembly respectfully listened to the report and message from the recent gathering of Primates from all Orthodox Churches, held in the Phanar from October 10 through 12, 2008.

The Holy Assembly of Bishops was astonished by the behavior of certain media sources, electronic and written, with respect to the aforementioned petition of His Holiness Patriarch Pavle of Serbia. The Assembly thanks those media sources that have objectively informed the public of their work. To the fullness of the Serbian Orthodox Church and to all people of good will, the Holy Assembly sends a message of peace and love.

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NEW YORK – Archbishop Demetrios of America received this year’s Distinguished Leadership in Education Award sponsored by the New York State Coalition of Independent and ReligiousSchools, during a Luncheon on November 17, in Albany, the State Capital.

Tom Hogan, from the Office of Nonpublic Schools/ New York State Education Department in reading the award citation said, “You have demonstrated Leadership in support of Hellenic Culture, Orthodox Christian Theology and Education. You have upgraded the schools, granted scholarships, opened horizons and been a constant positive presence to the children, resulting in a hope-filled future for the Youth.”
Following the presentation, His Eminence expressed his gratitude to the Coalition and the hundreds of educators present. He called teaching “the noblest of professions,” and said, “It is the school teacher that makes history today.” The Archbishop related his “shared passion and dedication for education” and remarked on the four-step process of classical Paideia, the all-encompassing Greek term for education, which consists of surprise, amazement, question and finally knowledge. “We have a duty, he said, to make this process towards knowledge and education a work full of interest and joy.”

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On Saturday, December 27, 2008, at 5:00 PM, Metropolitan Jonah will preside at the Vigil service at St. Nicholas Cathedral.

On Sunday morning at 9:00 AM, the enthronement will take place in conjunction with the celebration of the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy, at which Metropolitan Jonah will preside. Members of the OCA Holy Synod of Bishops and guest hierarchs will concelebrate. A banquet will follow the Liturgy and enthronement.

The Chancery is pleased to announce that clergy and faithful wishing to travel to the WashingtonDC area for the enthronement may reserve rooms at the Key Bridge Marriot Hotel in Arlington, VA, at a special guest rate of $99.00 per night. This rate will be available from December 24 through 29. When making reservations, make reference to the Orthodox Church in America. Bookings at the special rate will be open from Wednesday, November 26 to Friday, December 12.

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Council participants also heard a greeting at the opening session from His Grace, Bishop Tikhon of Philadelphia and Eastern Pennsylvania and Locum Tenens of the Archdiocese of Western Pennsylvania. At this session, greetings also were read from His Eminence, Metropolitan Hilarion, First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia [ROCOR], by Archpriest Alexander Lebedev of ROCOR's department of inter-Orthodox relations.

A key item on Monday evening's agenda was a discussion of the Town Hall Meetings held in the summer of 2008 in preparation for the Council. His Grace, Bishop Nikon of Boston, New England, and the Albanian Archdiocese, reviewed the Town Hall process and objectives. He stated that the hierarchs and Preconciliar Commission members who took part in the meetings clearly exprienced the pain, hopes, and concerns of the clergy and faithful in attendance. Bishop Nikon shared his hope that the Town Hall Meetings, together with the All-American Council, would be instrumental in the healing that is necessary in the OCA at this time. Following Bishop Nikon's remarks, a question and answer session began, during which Council delegates presented written questions to the hierarchs. Members of the Holy Synod began responding to the questions at that session, offering additional responses the following day.

Monday's session ended with the celebration of Compline with the Canon of Repentance and a meditation on repentance delivered by Bishop Tikhon, who stressed the importance of understanding one's own brokenness in light of Christ's Passion and Resurrection. It is the reality of the Lord's death and rising again, he said, that gives context and strength in the face of all suffering.

The second day of the Council, November 11, 2008, opened with a hierarchical Divine LiturgyMexico CityUSA and Remembrance Day in Canada, both of which fall on November 11, the hierarchs and military chaplains celebrated a Memorial Litiya for those who had fallen in battle and veterans of military conflicts who had entered eternal rest.

Later in the morning, Council participants were saddened to learn of the that the Archpriest Stephen Karaffa, rector of Saints Peter and Paul Church, Burr Ridge, IL, who was attending the Council, had fallen asleep in the Lord shortly after the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy. At the beginning of Tuesday afternoon's session, Bishop Tikhon served a Memorial Litiya for the repose of his soul.

On Tuesday afternoon, Council delegates discussed the report and recommendations of the OCA's Special Investigating Committee [SIC] that was charged with looking into past financial mismanagement at the OCA Chancery. His Grace, Bishop Benjamin of San Francisco and the West, SIC chair, and other members of the committee moderated these sessions, during which other hierarchs sat among the faithful rather than at a head table. Council participants engaged in a frank, open. and respectful dialogue about the SIC's work, conclusions, and recommendations.

On Tuesday evening, Council participants heard reports from three of the four OCA Chancery administrative team members -- Archpriest Alexander Garklavs, Chancellor; Archpriest Eric G. Tosi, Secretary; and Archpriest Andrew Jarmus, Director of Ministries and Communications. Each officer summarized their written reports, which can be read here. The fourth administrative team member, Priest Michael Tassos, Treasurer, gave his report on Church finances on the afternoon of Wednesday, November 12.

At the end of the day, Council delegates and observers heard responses from OCA hierarchs to a number of the written questions presented to the Holy Synod the previous evening. Among the hierarchs offering responses was Bishop Nikon, who spoke of the need to nurture unity within the Church and stressed that this internal unity was critical before unity with other Orthodox jurisdictions could become a reality. His Eminence, Archbishop Nathaniel of Detroit and the Romanian Episcopate explained the ongoing dialogue between the Episcopate and the Patriarchate of Romania as they examine the possibility of uniting all Romanian Orthodox faith in North America into a single autonomous Church body. Bishop Tikhon also spoke, stressing that the most important task before the clergy and faithful of the OCA was to "seek the light and allow the Lord to act."

What is identified by many as the turning point of the Council came with the words of the first hierarch to speak, His Grace, Bishop Jonah, who had been selected by the members of the Holy Synod to offer responses to questions submitted on Monday evening on their behalf. Bishop Jonah spoke openly and forthrightly about the crisis in which the OCA had been mired over the past several years. He emphasized that the days of leadership by intimidation were over in the Orthodox Church in America. He stressed that Christ-centered leadership is based in love, and that obedience to leadership is cooperation out of love and respect. "Authority is responsibility. Authority is accountability. It's not power," he stated emphatically. He also said that members of the Church must put aside feelings of bitterness, acknowledging that these emotions are harmful to oneself and to others -- especially to those who are closest. Instead, he added, the Church's clergy and faithful must choose to move forward in love. Bishop Jonah's honest and heartfelt answers drew such a positive response from Council participants that in the hearts of many the necessary outcome of the following morning's session seemed clear.

On Wednesday, November 12, several clergy involved in misison work across the OCA concelebrated at a Divine Liturgy at which Bishop Jonah presided. In his homily, Bishop Jonah said that the task of evangelization not only belongs to people who go out to establish new parishes, but is the work of every Christian. "Each and every one of us has been anointed with the gift of the Holy Spirit to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ, to reveal through our lives, through our actions, by how we treat one another -- by the nature of our relationships -- and then by our words that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh, that Jesus Christ has given us forgiveness, if we repent," he said. "And that Good News of forgiveness of sins, of repentance, is what our world is so longing to hear."

Following the Divine Liturgy, the much anticipated special session at which a new Metropolitan of All America and Canada would be elected commenced. According to the OCA Statue, delegates at an All-American Council vote for a candidate or candidates to be considered for election by the Holy Synod of Bishops. If the delegates select one name with two-thirds majority vote on a first ballot, this name is forwarded to the Holy Synod. If no name receives the two-thirds vote, a second ballot is taken and the top two names are forwarded to the hierarchs for consideration. On the first ballot, the two hierarchs receiving the greatest number of votes were His Eminence, Archbishop Job of Chicago and the Midwest, and Bishop Jonah; neither received the two-thirds majority. On the second ballot, Archbishop Job and Bishop Jonah again received the greatest number of votes, after which their names were submitted to the Holy Synod of Bishops for consideration and canonical election.

The members of the Holy Synod retired into the the chapel's altar for prayerful deliberation. Shortly thereafter, Archbishop Dmitri announced that "it seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to this sacred Council of the Holy Orthodox Church in America, to elect this 12th day of November, 2008, to the office of Archbishop of Washington and New York, Metropolitan of All America and Canada, Bishop Jonah of Forth Worth. Axios!" The announcement of Bishop Jonah's election, who had received the greatest number of votes on both ballots, brought an overwhelming, joyous response from Council participants. Amid chants and calls of "Axios -- He is worthy!!" Bishop Jonah was brought into the midst of the hierarchs, clergy, and faithful and installed as the new Metropolitan of All America and Canada.

After the Rite of Installation, the newly-elected Metropolitan remained in the plenary hall, blessing the clergy and faithful who approached him to offer their prayerful best wishes. News of Metropolitan Jonah's election quickly spread, especially via the internet, and it was not long before greetings from hierarchs, clergy, and faithful from other parts of the US and Canada and throughout the world began to be received as well.

On Wednesday afternoon, Council participants turned their attention to reports on the financial state of the Church. During this session, moderated by OCA Treasurer, Priest Michael Tassos, delegates first heard a report from Mr. John Barrone, a partner in the accounting firm of Weiser LLP engaged in the external audit of the OCA's 2007 financial statements. Mr. Barrone stated that his firm would be issuing a qualified opinion on the 2007 financial statements, as a result of inadequate accounting records related to the time period addressed by the SIC. He concluded by stating that what was necessary to maintain good financial practices in the Church was a proper attitude toward the importance of sound accounting procedures, competence among financial personnel, and diligence in assuring that financial practices are appropriate.

Later during this session, the OCA's internal audit committee, chaired by Archpriest Paul Suda, reported that with only a few minor exceptions, financial matters at the OCA Chancery were in good order. He attributed this to the diligence of the Chancery's financial staff under the supervision of Father Tassos.

To present the financial report, Father Michael was joined by Archpriest Matthew Tate, chair of the Metropolitan Council Finance Committee. Father Matthew reviewed the steps taken by the Metropolitan Council over the past four years to address the financial mismanagement that had taken place at the OCA Chancery. One of the significant changes implemented by the Metropolitan Council was to no longer pass deficit budgets, which in some cases had been as great as $1.2 million.

Father Michael then presented an outline of his activities as Treasurer from the time of his appointment in November 2007, including a review of the 2007 financial statements. He continued by reviewing Church finances to date in 2008. He concluded by listing a number of action items that require attention, which include expenses related to legal matters; ensuring that financial reporting is done in a regular, timely, and accurate manner; and implementation of the Blackbaud accounting software. He further emphasized that, while finances must be cared for properly and responsibly, the life of the Church was not about money, but about doing the work to which Christ had entrusted to His People. Keeping finances in order helps to ensure that the Church can do its primary task effectively.

The final financial report of the day was given by Archpriest Michael Westerberg, Group Leader of the OCA Pension Board. Father Michael noted that approximately 62% of eligible OCA clergy are members of the Pension Plan. He also noted that as of November 7, 2008, the Pension Plan was worth over $19,000,000.00. Although the worth of the Plan had dropped as markets dipped, the worth increased from 2007. In response to concerns resulting from pending legal actions against the Church, Father Michael stated that the plan's assets are separate from those of the Church. All Pension Plan assets belong to participants.

Wednesday's sessions concluded with a formal dinner for Council participants, guests, and faithful from local OCA parishes. Special dinner guests included His Grace, Bishop Mark of Toledo and the Midwest of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America, who was present at the Council throughout the day, including at the election of Metropolitan Jonah. Another special guest was Archpriest Alexander Lebedev, who represented ROCOR Metropolitan Hilarion.

The keynote speaker at the dinner was the OCA Chancellor, Father Alexander Garklavs, who stated that conflicts are not new to the Church. He said that the scandal the OCA faced was "a sign of our coming of age." It represented a part of the maturation process of the Church. Acknowledging that there will be ongoing challenges in Church life, he stated that the faithful will persevere to a large extent through the legacy of the Church's living Tradition. He then went on to speak directly to the clergy, stating that although very difficult at times, the priestly ministry is the most noble of vocations. He concluded by expressing his gratitude to the members of the local planning Committee and the volunteer staff that assisted them. He also thanked the clergy of the Church and the Holy Synod of Bishops. Referring to the election of Metropolitan Jonah, he stated that, although there are complaints that the bishops do not speak out enough, this day they spoke out clearly without even saying a word.

Other presenters during the dinner were Mr. Nick Chakos of International Orthodox Christian Charities [IOCC] and Priest David Rucker of the Orthodox Christian Mission Center [OCMC], both of whom highlighted the work of their respective organizations. Both presenters made it clear that ministry, such as that undertaken by IOCC and OCMC, is the core work of the Church.

The final speaker of the evening was Metropolitan Jonah, who began by stating again that Christian leadership is grounded in service, not in power. He went on to share his vision of the work that lies before the OCA, stressing that the heart of the Church's work was ministry, such as campus ministry and evangelization. These ministries provide a safe haven and a place for healing in a society filled with pain and disillusionment. He also identified inter-Church relations as an important priority for the OCA; in order to be respected and affirmed by other Churches, he said, it is essential that the OCA respect and affirm them as well. The most important thing that each believer can do, he stressed, is to live out the Orthodox faith and life, making a new commitment to spiritual discipline and sacramental life. He further stated that making this commitment bears much fruit in one's personal life and ensures that the initiatives taken on by the Church are filled with grace.

The final day of the Council, Thursday, November 13, 2008, coincided with the the Feast of Saint John Chrysostom. The hierarchical Divine Liturgy celebrated by Metropolitan Jonah, who in his homily reflected on the words of the day's Gospel reading from Saint John, in which Jesus identifies Himself as the Good Shepherd, Metropolitan Jonah spoke of the task of the pastor. "When we exercise our own pastoral office in whatever context it is, whether it’s the father in a family, whether it’s the mother in a family, whether it’s the priest in a parish, a bishop in a diocese, or -- I will be finding out -- the Metropolitan of a local Church, we come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly, that they might be filled with joy, that they might be able to banish despair, that they might have hope." He continued by stating that the only way this life is achievable is for the faithful to place Christ above all else, because "very few things cannot be worked out and resolved if we approach them with good will, if we approach them keeping Christ first and foremost as the criteria of our life and our judgment."

Following the Divine Liturgy, delegates gathered for the closing plenary session. The first item on the agenda was a continuation of the discussion on Church finances initiated on the prior evening. A central issue was the approval of the per capita assessment for the next three-year term, which included a discussion on the resolution proposed by the Diocese of Western Pennsylvania to reduce the assessment to $50.00 per adult member. In the ensuing discussion, Metropolitan Jonah shared is conviction that funding the central Church by a "head tax" must come to an end. The proper way to fund Church life is through the biblical model of tithing -- a target of 10% giving. He identified the goal of scaling down central administrative operations so that they may be funded by tithes received from dioceses. However, he added that it will take time for the Church to embrace this model as a whole, and that in the interim there are financial needs that the central administration must meet. He said that a radical reduction in assessments would not allow the Church to meet its responsibilities and would hinder the effective operations of the central Church, including the work that he would be able to accomplish as Primate.

After much discussion, Council delegates passed a per capita assessment of $105.00 per adult member for the next three-year term. With this decision, the Council also expressed the expectation that the OCA would move to a model of percentage giving for funding the work of the Church, ideally by the 16th All-American Council. A related motion stated that dioceses may pay their assessments by means of proportional giving during the next three years instead of waiting for this issue to be discussed at the next All-American Council.

Delegates also heard a brief presentation from OCA General Counsel, Mr. Thaddeus Wojcik, who defined his role as OCA general counsel "as helping Church leadership comply with the law." Another brief presentation was given Mr. George Caravakis of the Orthodox Health Plan, who spoke about plan benefits and announced that the plan was having an open enrollment through the month of November.

The final session of the All-American Council also heard a report from the Council's Resolutions Committee, chaired by Archpriest John Erickson. Among the resolutions considered, Council delegates unanimously recognized former OCA Treasurer, Protodeacon Eric Wheeler, who brought to light the financial mismanagement at the OCA Chancery, and offered an apology to him for the mistreatment that he had endured as a result of his actions.

New officers to serve on the Metropolitan Council and Pension Board also were elected. The clergy delegates elected to the Metropolitan Council were Archpriest David Garretson, Saints Peter and Paul Church, South River, NJ, who will serve a six-year term, and Archpriest Theodore Bobosh, Saint Paul the Apostle Church, Dayton, OH, who will serve a three-year term. Elected as Metropolitan Council lay delegate for a six-year term was Dr. Faith Skordinski, while Protodeacon Peter Danilchik was elected to serve a three-year term. The alternate delegates are Priest Thomas Moore, Holy Apostles Church, Columbia, SC, and Dr. Paul Meyendorff.

Clergy members elected to the OCA Pension Board were Archpriest John Zdinak, St. Theodosius Cathedral, Cleveland, OH, and and Priest Gleb McFatter, St. Demetrius Mission, Naples, FL, who will both serve six-year terms, and Priest John Hopko, Saints Cyril and Methodius Church, Terryville, CT, elected to serve a three-year term. Archpriest John Adamcio, Holy Trinity Cathedral, Chicago, IL, was elected alternate. Lay members elected include Mr. John Sedor, elected to serve for six years, and Mr. Gregory Shesko, who will serve for three years. Mr. Martin Brown will serve as alternate.

Delegates also passed an amendment to the OCA Statue which mandates that the Metropolitan Council appoint members to the Church's internal audit committee and requires that all members of this committee be qualified with appropriate financial experience. The other proposed statue amendments, concerning the procedure for electing a Metropolitan, was tabled with the hope that, given the age of Metropolitan Jonah, the need to elect a new Primate would not arise for many years to come.

The overwhelming majority of participants at the Council spoke of the gathering as a watershed moment for the Church. Many delegates and guests shared the belief that what was accomplished came to be by the action of the Holy Spirit. In a spirit of open dialogue, "speaking the truth in love," and with the election of a new Metropolitan, participants stated that they could return to their parishes to report that the OCA had turned a corner and that there was much hope for the Church's future.

More information about the 15th All-American Council and about Metropolitan Jonah is available on the OCA web site and will be featured in the Nativity/Theophany issue of "The Orthodox Church" magazine, which also will report on the installation of Metropolitan Jonah at the end of December 2008. Further details and minutes will be posted as soon as they become available. concelebrated by Archbishop Dmitri, Bishop Tikhon, and His Grace, Bishop Alejo of and the Exarchate of Mexico. At the end of the Liturgy, in honor of Veterans Day in the

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http://www.oca.org/news/1700

On November 24, the leader of the Party of Regions Victor Yanukovych made a visit to the Primate of the UOC. The people's deputy presented Metropolitan Volodymyr a bunch of roses and wished him good health and high spirits, success in his difficult work on restoration of the moral and spiritual foundations of the society.

On the eve of his birthday, November 22, His Beatitude Metropolitan Volodymyr received greetings from Archbishop Pavel of Vyshhorod, the Superior of Lavra, who presented a suit of bishop's vestments to the Primate, and a magnificent bunch of red roses. On November, 24 at the Synodal Hall at the Metropolitan's residence His beatitude Metropolitan Volodymyr received greetings of the teachers, students and alumna of the Kyiv Theological Academy and Seminary with their rector - archbishop Anthony of Boryspil at the head. Vladyka thanked the Primate of the UOC for his care and patronage of the Theological Schools. Finally the guests sang "many years" to the Primate.

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Meeting in the Coptic Patriarchate of Cairo, His Holiness Aram I of the Holy See of Cilicia and His Holiness Patriarch Shenouda III released a joint declaration with regard to the sad incident between Armenians and Greeks in Jerusalem recently. The Spiritual Leader of the Syrian Orthodox Church, His Holiness Patriarch Zakka I expressed his support for the declaration. In their joint declaration the spiritual leaders expressed sadness at the clashes between the two groups. They emphasized the respect for the historic rights of all churches in Jerusalem and the importance for resolving misunderstandings and sensitivities through mutual understand. The declaration also stressed the need to strengthen Christian unity in the Middle East. His Holiness Aram I visited Cairo on a one-day trip to meet with Patriarch Shenouda II. He was accompanied by Bishop Nareg Alemezian.

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From the Editors: Protopriest Alexander Lebedeff, Rector of Holy Transfiguration Cathedral in Los Angeles, CA, and Secretary of Inter-Orthodox Relations of the Synod of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, participating as an observer in the All-American Council of the Orthodox Church in America, read the following greeting during the opening of the event:

Your Eminences! Your Graces! Esteemed Reverend Fathers and Honored Delegates to the XV All-American Council! I greet you in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!

The events of the past years have been momentous for the Holy Church of Russia and for our Russian Orthodox Church Abroad. After 80 years of separation, which had resulted from the attempts of the God-fighting communists to destroy the Church in Russia, and which caused millions of Orthodox Christians to flee abroad, we have achieved reconciliation and established canonical and Eucharistic communion between the two parts of the Russian Church, in the homeland and beyond its borders. This is a sign of the great mercy of God, showing us that no matter how deep divisions may seem between us, people of good will on both sides can come together and achieve unity in Christ—as our Lord said, --“that all may be one, as We are.”

We are gratified that this reconciliation gives us the opportunity to stretch out a brotherly hand to the Orthodox Church in America and to the other Orthodox jurisdictions sharing this continent, and to strive to work together, as brethren in Christ, in fulfilling our mission here.

With the Orthodox Church in America we share a common heritage—the legacy of the holy Patriarch Tikhon, and we share the same two goals in our service in the new world: to preserve the great spiritual and liturgical traditions of the Russian Church and to reach out in missionary efforts to bring the treasures of Holy Orthodoxy to the people in these lands.

We look with joy at the positive fruits of our cooperation that have already appeared: the close collaboration of our Holy Trinity Orthodox Seminary in Jordanville with both St. Vladimir’s and St. Tikhon’s Seminaries. There is much more that we can do together, including developing youth programs, Orthodox educational materials, liturgical resources, and active missionary work. We ask that the Lord send His blessings upon this august assembly, the XVth All-American Council, and pray that this Council will work with one heart and one mind toward the benefit of the Holy Church of Christ.

+ Hilarion,
Metropolitan of Eastern America and New York
First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia

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Moscow, November 18, Interfax - The Moscow Patriarchate believes actions of Bolsheviks that caused mass famine of the 1930s should be decisively assessed, but urges to renounce attempts to consider the tragedy genocide.

"The theme of mass holodomor of the 1930s gives grounds for thinking both in Ukraine and in Russia. Kiev should understand that this tragedy didn't affect only Ukrainian people, and Moscow should decisively condemn Bolshevik actions that resulted in mass famine," Deputy Chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate Department for External Church Relations Archpriest Vsevolod Chaplin told Interfax-Religion on Thursday. It is evident for him, that these "actions were consciously aimed to wipe out the whole classes of nation." He also fully agrees with the position of the Kiev vicar Bishop Alexander of Pereyaslav-Khmelnitsky who said about the position of the Ukrainian Church to holodomor as genocide: "We tried to avoid this word, because genocide is a crime of one nation against another."

"Genocide is historically defined as an act committed to annihilate people on national or religious basis, and it wasn't the case with mass famine of the 1930s," the priest is convinced.

"There were social repressions. People of various nationalities suffered, peasants suffered as they were Christian and contrary to the myths of Soviet propaganda didn't destroy churches, but stood for them, rebelled against Bolsheviks and didn't want to put up with collectivization and other monstrous experiments on Russian, Ukrainian and other peoples," Fr. Vsevolod said.

According to him, "Bolsheviks indeed tried to annihilate peasants as a class Russia was based on and actions of that times so-called Bolshevik power should be decisively assessed.' The interviewee of the agency said that "these crimes may and should be named unacceptable, unprecedented annihilation of our own people on social basis." According to him, it is also necessary to pay homage to the victims of mass famine on national level.

"There is no one to try for this crime - the Lord Himself judged the guilty if they didn't repent, but I believe that to call crime a crime, to call the involved structures criminal, would be very useful not only for assessing the past, but for creating decent future as well," the Russian Church official said.

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On Tuesday, November 25, His Eminence will visit the holy sites of Paris, and Resurrection Church in Medon. The First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad will be accompanied by his Personal Secretary, Protopriest Serafim Gan, Deacon Eugene Kallaur and Nicholas Ohotin.

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He sees the “direct interest” of Greek Catholics in autocephalous status of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. According to the Bishop, Uniates “understand that an attempt to introduce autocephaly won’t do any good for Ukrainian Orthodoxy, and more likely it will cause a new, more serious schism in it.”

“It (schism – IF) will suit Uniates well as they will try to dramatically improve their positions not only in Western regions, but in the whole Ukraine,” Bishop Evlogy said. He also reminded that the head of the Kiev Patriarchate Filaret Denisenko once voiced his consent to prayerful unity with Rome. However, the Bishop thinks that the country’s Orthodox believers “consider autocephaly a deviation from the faith of their fathers, do not want it and will protect their faith and unity of the Church.”

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http://www.interfax-religion.com/?act=news&div=5413

Moscow, November 13, Interfax - The Russian Orthodox Church believes the Constantinople Patriarchate should abandon its ecumenical ambitions and should become more open to brotherly inter-Orthodox dialogue.

"When a decision had to be made on the Estonian issue, the Constantinople Patriarchate unilaterally and without any consultations established its own parallel structure there. Brothers do not act like that," Archpriest Vsevolod Chaplin, a deputy head of the Moscow Patriarchate Department for External Church Relations, said in a television program. The Constantinople Patriarchate set up the so-called "Estonian Apostolic Orthodox Church" in Estonia in 1996, which is not recognized in the Orthodox world, Fr. Vsevolod said.

"It is utterly wrong to make use of political moments for tearing believers off the body of the Church they belong to," he said.

"Therefore, the Russian Church does not act like our brothers from the Constantinople Patriarchate did," he said.

"When we have been told for years to establish our jurisdiction over part of the GeorgianChurch, we have said openly that the issue of pastoral guidance of believers in South Ossetia and Abkhazia is possible only through direct dialogue between the Russian and Georgian Orthodox Churches," he said. Fr. Vsevolod also questioned the Constantinople Patriarchate's right to say that "the entire church diaspora, that is, all the Orthodox believers living outside the canonical territory of this or that local Church, have to obey it."

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http://www.interfax-religion.com/?act=news&div=5374

The official visit of His Holiness to the Holy See of Rome was marked by the commemoration of the martyrs of the Armenian Genocide. A special commemoration service was held in St. Bartholomew Church in Rome. It was attended by many people.

In his sermon His Holiness spoke about the meaning and importance of martyrs and martyrdom for the life and witness of the church. He described the martyr as the promoter of Christian values and defender of Christian faith to the extend of shading his or her blood. His Holiness then spoke about the Armenian Genocide of 1915 by the Ottoman Turkish Empire which caused the death of one and half million Armenians. At the end of his sermon, His Holiness said that he has brought with him from Antelias, the Headquarters of the Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia, a small piece of relic to be put on the altar of St. Bartholomew Church.

After the Armenian Genocide the relics of Armenian martyrs were collected by the clergy of the Armenian Church and brought to Antelias, where martyrs chapel was built, which was the first memorial monument in Armenian Diaspora dedicated to the martyrs. This moving ceremony was concluded by the song of “Cilicia”, the anthem of the Catholicosate.

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On 25^th of November 2008, in the framework of his official visit to the Vatican, His Holiness Aram I with his entire entourage of Archbishops and Bishops visited the offices of the Pontifical Council for promoting Christian unity.

His Eminence Cardinal Walter Kasper, president of this Council, surrounded by his entire staff, warmly welcomed His Holiness by underlining the importance of ecumenism for the Catholic Church and expressed his joy for the fraternal relations and collaboration between the Vatican and Armenian Orthodox Church-Catholicosate of Cilicia.

During the general discussion a special appreciation was extended to His Holiness for his long-standing ecumenical leadership and instrumental role in ensuring the participation of the Oriental Orthodox Churches in the official theological dialogue between the Catholic Church and the family of the Oriental Orthodox Churches.

In their turn, bishop Johan Bonny and bishop Nareg Alemezian, the two ecumenical officers participating in the deliberations, gave an overview of the ecumenical involvement of the Catholic and Armenian Churches, and referred to the special character of the bi-lateral theological dialogue between the Catholic Church and the family of the Oriental Orthodox Churches.

His Holiness Aram I responding to the welcoming words of H. E. Cardinal Kasper expressed his joy coming once again to the center of Council for promoting Christian Unity. Speaking about ecumenism Aram I said that “growing confessionalism diminishing interest in visible unity of the Church, shift of focus from inter-church to inter-religious relations, collaboration and dialogue, as well as financial crisis have put ecumenism in stagnation”. Hence according to His Holiness “new perception, new methodology and new articulation need to be developed in order to liberate ecumenism from marginalization”. Within this framework, the Armenian Pontiff made some specific suggestions for further reflection.

Speaking about bi-lateral dialogues Aram I strongly suggested that ecclesiology and ethics remain top priorities. He said that “issues pertaining to Churches ecclesiological self-understanding, primacy, synodical conciliarity and reception need to be elaborated”. Referring to ethical issues His Holiness said that “We clearly see growing convergences in doctrine and growing divergences in ethics. In other words the Churches are more divided today in ethical-moral issues than doctrinal issues”.

His Holiness Aram I also emphasized the importance of multi-lateral ecumenism which needs to be given more efficient articulation through World Council of Churches as well as regional and national ecumenical structures”. At the end of his remarks Catholicos Aram I informed the Cardinal and his assistants that he has shared with His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI, two ideas that need to be pursuit by ecumenical bodies. These are a common Christian Martyrs day and a common Easter date. He said that through this initiative Christian unity will acquire more visibility and will generate a renewed ecumenical enthusiasm among the people on grassroots level.

At noon His Holiness with the accompanying clergy and laity visited the Levonian Armenian Catholic College. In the Church the Pontiff was greeted by the bishops, priests, seminarians and the Armenian faithful in Rome. After the canonical prayer in the Church, the Dean of the college hosted a luncheon in honor of His Holiness.

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On the first day of his official visit to the Vatican, during a private meeting with His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI, His Holiness Aram I Catholicos of Cilicia has shared with the Pope, according to the delegation accompanying the Catholicos, two concrete ideas: first, setting a common date for Easter celebration and a common Christian martyrs day to be commemorated by world Christendom.

Catholicos Aram I believes that such an ecumenical initiative will significantly help to give visible manifestation to Christian unity. His Holiness Aram I believes that the Roman Catholic Church, the World Council of Churches, the Eastern and Oriental Orthodox Churches, Christian World Communions and regional ecumenical organizations should join their efforts to reach a common agreement on these important questions.

The discussion between the two heads of the churches has also included issues and concerns related to inter-church relations, inter-religious dialogue and generally Christian presence in the Middle East.

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After the private meeting His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI and His Holiness Catholicos Aram I, had their public meeting in the Vatican. They presided over a special church service especially prepared for this occasion.

At the end of the service, greeting the visit of His Holiness Catholicos Aram I, the Pope said that this meeting today “stands in continuity with the visit which you made to my beloved predecessor Pope John Paul II in January 1997, and with the many other contacts and mutual visits which, by God’s grace, have led in recent years to closer relations between Catholic Church and the Armenian Apostolic Church”. He referred to the 20^th century, as a “century, which proved a time of unspeakable suffering for your people. The faith and devotion of the Armenian people have been constantly sustained by the memory of the many martyrs who have borne witness to the Gospel down the centuries”.

Speaking about the ecumenical relations of the Catholicosate of Cilicia, Pope said that “The See of Cilicia has long been involved in encouraging positive ecumenical contacts between the Churches”. His Holiness also referred the Christian presence in the Middle East: “I cannot fail to assure you of my daily prayers and deep concern for the people of Lebanon and the Middle East. How can we not be grieved by the tensions and conflicts which continue to frustrate all the efforts to foster reconciliation and peace at every level of civil and political life in the region? Most recently we have all been saddened by the escalation of persecution and violence against Christians in parts of the Middle East and elsewhere. Only when the countries involved can determine their own destiny, and the various ethnic groups and religious communities accept each other fully, will peace be built on the solid foundations of solidarity, justice and respect for the legitimate rights of individuals and peoples” said the Pope.

His Holiness Catholicos Aram I addressing His Holiness the Pope said that “we must continue the ecumenical journey of our predecessors. We firmly believe that this is the only way, sustained by our Lord’s commandment of love and unity that shall lead us to a common mission in a world in dire need of the life-giving message of the Gospel”. He reminded the Pope that “the ecumenical relations and collaboration of our two Churches are deeply rooted in our respective histories. In fact, due to geo-political circumstances, when the Armenians were obliged to leave Armenia and establish their national and political life in Cilicia, the Armenian Church, too, moved its administrative center, the Catholicosate, from Armenia to Cilicia. This new environment, with its multi-religious, multi-confessional and multi-ethnic character, engaged the Armenians in a creative and dynamic interaction with the Latin and Byzantine Churches”.

His Holiness referring complexities and polarizations of the world, as well as the corrupted values and violation of human rights the growing poverty, the genocides, denial of freedom and self determination and different form of injustice and discrimination, said that “in spite of our doctrinal, ecclesiological and theological differences, we must work together on the basis of our common apostolic faith and in faithfulness to our common calling”. Catholicos Aram I also emphasized the importance of inter-religious dialogue He said: “The world of today, with its growing pluralism, manifested in all spheres and aspects of the society life, calls our Churches to involve themselves in a responsible inter-faith dialogue. We are living in a globalized world characterized by interdependence and interaction. We must become part of the dialogue that preserves and articulates the integrity and uniqueness of Christian faith and opens God’s revelation, enfolded in the Bible and the Tradition, to other religions, while at the same time, respecting their traditions and values. Lebanon, where I come from, is, indeed, a country of such dialogue”.

This public ceremony was followed by a lunch between two spiritual leaders accompanied by Cardinals and Archbishops.

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On Nov 24 2008 His Holiness Aram I presided over an ecumenical vespers service in St. Paul Basilica outside the walls. His Eminence Cardinal Walter Kasper, president of the Pontifical Council for promoting Christian Unity, greeted His Holiness as a great ecumenical figure.

In his homily His Holiness referred to the fact that we are at the eve of the year of St. Paul the Apostle. Highlighting the role of St. Paul in spreading out Christianity, he identified the Apostle as a church founder, a missionary, a theologian and a Christian witness. Referring to the Church as a missionary reality, His Holiness underscored that the visible unity of the Church is the gift of God and all the Christians should cherish their God-given mission of making Christianity a living faith of our societies.

In the evening Cardinal Kasper hosted a dinner in honor of His Holiness.

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His Holiness Aram I embarked Sunday afternoon on his visitation program which will extended over three full days.

Arriving by a private plane at the Ciampino airport with his delegation composed of Archbishops and Bishops, His Holiness was met by His Eminence Cardinal Walter Kasper the president of the Pontifical Council for promoting Christianity and the ambassador of Lebanon Mr. George El-Khoury. Present at the airport to welcome His Holiness were also Bishops and other officials of deferent departments of the Vatican.

Welcoming His Holiness Cardinal Kasper said that this is an important visit for the Roman Catholic Church, because it will enhance the ecumenical relations between the Catholic Church and the Armenian Church in general and the Catholicosate of Cilicia in particular.

Responding to the Cardinal, His Holiness expressed his joy to be once again in the Vatican. He said: “This is my second visit to the Holy See. My first official visit was in 1997. In the last 11 years new areas of relation, dialogue and collaboration opened before our Churches. We are living in a world torn apart by so many crises. The Churches cannot remain indifferent and silent. We must be faithful to our common calling. We must work together; we must carry on our God-given mission together. Long standing relations exist between the Holy See and the Holy See of Cilicia. I’m confident that my meeting with His Holiness Benedict XVI and with the authorities of Church of Rome will provide us a unique opportunity to assess our ecumenical journey, with a firm commitment to broaden our relations, strengthen our collaboration and deepen our theological dialogue”.

On the same evening, His Holiness paid an official visit to the Embassy of Armenia to Italy. A reception was organized in honor of His Holiness. Also the pilgrims who have joined His Holiness coming from different parts of the world attended the reception at the Armenian Embassy. In his remarks His Holiness emphasized the importance of the Armenian Embassies as bridge builders between the Armenian communities in Diaspora and Armenia. The Catholicos also stressed the importance of nation building. He said: “All the Armenians must take an active part in nation building process. A strong Armenia implies a united and organized nation. A strong Armenia also presupposes a strong Diaspora. They complement each other”.

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The Armenian Monastic Ensemble consists of three monasteries of the Armenian Christian faith: St Thaddeus and St Stephanus and the Chapel of Dzordzor. The oldest structure - Saint Thaddeus monastery - dates back to the seventh century. It's in Chaldoran, in West Azerbaijan. Saint Thaddeus, also known as Saint Jude, was one of the twelve apostles.

Barsam Abrahamian, monastery caretaker, said, "An apostle of Jesus Christ came to this region to preach Christianity. After he died, he was buried somewhere in this monastery. The precise location of his grave is unknown. Christians come every year to commemorate Thaddeus' death. About four thousand people, who are Christians from Iran and Armenia , come here and camp near the church. They pray, light candles and slaughter sheep." The Cultural Heritage Organization in Iran held a press conference about the addition of Saint Thaddeus to the World Heritage List in July 2008.

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MOSCOW — A delegation of the Georgian Orthodox Church met in Moscow on Friday with the Russian deputy foreign minister, Grigory Karasin, in the first official contacts between the countries since war broke out in the breakaway region of South Ossetia in August.

Zurab Abashidze, a former Georgian ambassador to Russia and a member of the church-led delegation, described the conversation as “quite frank and quite critical.” The Orthodox churches have become the main channel of communications between the countries, he said.

“Right now, in principle, this is the only thread, the only channel, that connects the two countries and the two peoples, such church ties,” he said in a telephone interview after the meeting, which he said was arranged by the Russian Orthodox Church.

A statement posted on the Web site of the Russian Foreign Ministry did not give any details about the meeting. During the fighting in August, both Patriarch Ilia II of the Georgian Orthodox Church and Patriarch Aleksy II of the Russian Orthodox Church called for an end to bloodshed between Russians and Georgians, who share a common Orthodox Christian faith.

The Russian Orthodox Church has been seen as taking a position at rare odds with the Kremlin in rejecting appeals by South Ossetians who would like to join the Moscow Patriarchate. The issue has not been resolved — Orthodox churches in South Ossetia and Abkhazia, another breakaway region of Georgia recognized by the Kremlin, are still in jurisdictional limbo — but church officials in Moscow have said that canonical territory cannot be dictated by political lines. There have been strains as well in the relationship between Patriarch Ilia and President Mikheil Saakashvili of Georgia.

The Georgian delegation, led by Metropolitan Gerasim, the chairman of the church’s Foreign Relations Department, met with Patriarch Aleksy at the Danilov Monastery in central Moscow on Thursday. Patriarch Aleksy emphasized the role of the churches in overcoming the conflict.

“We pray that the full unity of faith that we share will have a beneficial influence on all aspects of the mutual relations of our peoples,” he said. After his remarks, the rest of the meeting was held behind closed doors.Metropolitan Gerasim told journalists afterward that the churches were essential to fill a diplomatic vacuum.

“We have shown in Georgia and in Russia that the churches have not lost relations,” he said. “We think the church should help in relations being restored little by little, because very many Georgians live in Russia and very many Russians live in Tbilisi. The diplomatic corps that used to exist no longer exists.

“Our citizens and yours have to get visas through the embassies of other countries. Why should this be the case when there are two Orthodox countries that have had good fraternal relations for very many centuries?”

Metropolitan Kirill of Smolensk and Kaliningrad, chairman of the Department of External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate, said he had been invited to Tbilisi to present the “social concept” of the Russian Orthodox Church, which was adopted in 2000, once it is translated into Georgian. The wide-ranging document addresses the church’s position on issues including abortion, bioethics, poverty and globalization.

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"In the reading today we heard of the house built on sand that does not stand the test of time, but that the home build on a foundation of stone withstands all trials and storms. For 300 years, this house of the Lord has stood steadfast and unshaken because it is built on the rock of faith. That same faith today has restored and renovated this church. We commend the Armenian Church Community Council of India and Father Oshagan for their committed and dedicated work which has repaired and re-ornamented this church, transforming it into a vibrant and living house of prayer again.

On Thursday, November 13 2008, after the celebration of Holy Hierarchal Liturgy in the Patriarchate chapel of Venerable Simeon the Myrrh-Gushing, His Eminence Metropolitan Amfilohije of Montenegro and the Littoral, Their Graces Bishops Kontantin of Central Europe and Joakim of Polog and Kumanovo visited His Holiness Patriarch Pavle of Serbia at the Military Medical Academy in Belgrade.

When His Holiness received the Holy Communion, the Bishops informed him about the work of the Holy Assembly of Bishops and the decision of the Assembly, concerning his plea to be allowed to retire from active service due to "physical disability", with full respect to causes from his plea requests him to remain the head of the Serbian Orthodox Church.

His Holiness accepted the decision of the Assembly peaceably and blessed its further work.

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The Holy Assembly of Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church informs the public about the request of the Serbian patriarch Pavle:

"The request of His Holiness Patriarch Pavle of the Serbian Orthodox Church on October 8, 2008, to be granted retirement from active service due to his physical disability, has been received to the knowledge. At the same time, The Holy Assembly of Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church ask His Holiness Patriarch to still remain the head of the Serbian Orthodox Church".

The Holy Assembly of Bishops continues its work after the agenda.

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After completing studies at UCSC, James attended St. Vladimir's Seminary, graduating with a Master of Divinity degree in 1985 and a Master of Theology in Dogmatics in 1988.

He went on to pursue studies towards a Ph.D. at Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley, but interrupted those studies to spend a year in Russia.

In Moscow, working for Russkiy Palomnik at the Publishing Department of the Moscow Patriarchate, he was introduced to life in the Russian church, in particular monastic life. Later that year, he joined Valaam Monastery, having found a spiritual father in the monastery's Abbot, Archimandrite Pankratiy. It was Archimandrite Pankratiy's spiritual father, the Elder Kyrill at Trinity-St. Sergius Lavra, who blessed James to become a priestmonk. He was ordained to the diaconate and priesthood in 1994 and in 1995 was tonsured to monastic rank at St. Tikhon's Monastery, South Canaan, PA, having received the name Jonah.

Returning to California, Fr. Jonah served a number of missions and was later given the obedience to establish a monastery under the patronage of St. John of Shanghai and San Francisco. The monastery, initially located in Point Reyes Station, CA, recently moved to Manton in Northern California, near Redding. During his time building up the monastic community, Fr. Jonah also worked to establish missions in Merced, Sonora, Chico, Eureka, Redding, Susanville, and other communities in California, as well as in Kona, HI.

In the spring of 2008, the Holy Synod of the Orthodox Church in America elevated Fr. Jonah to the rank of Archimandrite and he was given the obedience to leave the monastery and take on the responsibilities of auxiliary bishop and chancellor for the Diocese of the South.

Bishop Jonah's episcopal election took place on September 4, 2008, at an extraordinary meeting of the Holy Synod of Bishops. Earlier in the summer, his candidacy was endorsed by the Diocese of the South's Diocesan Council, shortly after Bishop Jonah had participated in the diocese's annual assembly.

Bishop Jonah was consecrated Bishop of Forth Worth and Auxiliary Bishop of the Diocese of the South, at St. Seraphim Cathedral, Dallas, TX, on Saturday, November 1, 2008. Consecrating hierarchs included His Eminence, Archbishop Dmitri of Dallas and the South, Locum tenens of the Metropolitan See; His Grace, Bishop Tikhon of Philadelphia and Eastern Pennsylvania; His Grace, Bishop Benjamin of San Francisco and the West; and His Grace, Bishop Alejo of Mexico City and the Exarchate of Mexico.

Metropolitan Jonah will be installed by the OCA's Holy Synod of Bishops at St. Nicholas Cathedral, Washington, DC, on December 28, 2008.

May the Lord bless His Beatitude, Jonah, newly-elected Metropolitan of All America and Canada with many years of fruitful service in His Holy Vineyard.

Eis polla eti, Despota!

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His Holiness Aram I departed for Cairo for a one-day trip on November 11 to meet His Holiness Patriarch Shenouda III. The two spiritual leaders discussed the cooperation between the two churches as well inter-faith and inter-church issues at large. The Ecumenical Officer of the Catholicosate of Cilicia, Bishop Nareg Alemezian and the Chairman of the Holy Synod of the Coptic Orthodox Church also attended the meeting.

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Within the context of his visitation programme to the Armenian Community of Iran, His Holiness Aram I met president Ahmadinejad.

The discussion between the Catholicos and the President mainly focused on inter-faith dialogue and particularly Christian-Muslim dialogue and collaboration. The president stressed the importance of the role of religion in a world dominated by wars, conflicts, poverty and injustice. Aram I referred to the need of translating intellectual dialogue to a quality of common life sustained by common values.

President of Iran expressed his great appreciation for the constructive role of the Armenians in Iran. His Holiness said that the Armenians being faithful citizens of Iran have their specificities. Welcoming the progress made recently in cultural, educational and legal spheres of community life, His Holiness reminded that he expects more in this respect from state authorities.

His Holiness was invited to take part in the third meeting of the Christian-Muslim Dialogue, which was initiated some eight years ago between the Interfaith Dialogue Department of the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia. Aram I was accompanied with H.E. Archbishop Sebouh Sarkissian of Tehran, H.G. Bishop Papken Charian of Isfahan, the Armenian deputies of the parliament of Iran, Mr. Kevork Vartanian and Robert Peklarian.

The Armenians constitute the largest Christian community in Iran. More than 150.000 Armenians live in Tehran, Tabriz, Isfahan, Urmi and other parts of the country.

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His Holiness Aram I presided over the Third Christian-Muslim Dialogue Conference. It was held on Monday 3 November 2008, at the Department of Islamic Culture and Relations of Iran. The head of Iran's ‘Dialogue among Religions Department’, Dr. Rasoul Rasoulipouri, and the Primate of the Diocese of Tehran, Archbishop Sebouh Sarkissian, made the opening speeches.

In his speech, His Holiness Aram I stressed the importance of sanctity of the family and said it should be based on Christian values; he also likened the family unit to a “small church”. The Pontiff identified the challenges and difficulties the world has been confronting, today. He also highlighted that the family was in the forefront to bear those challenges, and its destruction would weaken society and lead it to destruction.

Archbishop Sebouh Sarkissian and Dr. Aida Hovhannissian (Chairwoman of the Diocesan Council) represented the Armenian Church, and presented the Church’s perspective ‘on the role of women’ from a legal perspective. Professor Dr. Meguerditch Toumanian expounded on ‘education and instruction’; while Dr. Levon Tavtian spoke about the challenges, ‘a family faces today’.

Iranian speakers contributed on the above topics, too. Discussions followed the presentations and a statement issued. The conference became a unique event for the Catholicosate of Cilicia and the Armenian Community in Iran. It asserted their role that the Armenian Community in Iran, the largest minority group, could play.

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As part of his official visit to Iran, His Holiness Aram I presided over the grand ceremony held in the “Sasountsi Tavit” hall of the “Ararat” complex in Tehran in celebration of 40 years of his unwavering service as a servant of the Armenian Church.

The event was launched with the Lord’s Prayer following by Bishop Papken Tcharian’s (Primate of the Diocese of Isfahan) welcoming remarks. The Bishop presented His Holiness Aram I in the words of an utterly grateful son. “Your children surround you today with deep-held feelings of gratitude to bear witness that you have fulfilled their hopes and dreams with your spiritual leadership, your cultural achievements, your activities in our church and national life. The Armenian church and Armenian life are richer today with your presence; the Armenian church glows with further radiance today in foreign countries and in the families of other churches,” said the Primate.

The Primate of the Diocese of Azerbaijan, Bishop Neshan Topouzian spoke about the Pontiff’s spiritual service through a brief biographical sketch. Said Bishop Topuzian: “During the past decade, the kind and loyal servant in the first instance decorated and beautified the home closest to his heart, the Mother Church of the Catholicosate of Cilicia in Antelias, the Bikfaya Seminary and all the structures adjacent to the Catholicosate. The words of the late Catholicos Zareh I were put into action and Antelias did not turn become immobile because you are its heart and spirit.”

The Primate of the Diocese of Tehran presented a lecture on the work of His Holiness Aram I. “One of the most important characteristics of His Holiness Aram I’s personality is his dedication to hard work. This feature not only became an indivisible part of his life, but also its pivot. It accompanied him from his years as an elementary student to his Pontifical enthronement. I remember from our years as students, Bedros, the acolyte, the Deacon Aram Apegha, the Vartabed, Bishop, Archbishop and Catholicos transformed his life into unwavering, continuous and steadfast work, which was naturally the result of his faith, attachment and commitment to his faith and mission. In the thought of His Holiness Aram I, work is one of the most noble mission by which human beings give meaning to their lives,” he said.

A well organized cultural program was put on with the participation of the “Armenian woman” union , the “Zvartnots” Choir of the “Anahit” Union under the artistic guidance of Edig Tamrazian and the “Ararat” Choir under the artistic guidance of Rebecca Ashoughian. Nayiri Tilanian recited Vahakn Tavtian’s “Zerouyts Naregatsou Hed.”

The chairwoman of the Diocesan Council of the Diocese of Tehran, Dr. Aida Hovhannissian, addressed the crowd with welcoming words on behalf of the national councils of the three dioceses in Iran.

Taking to the stage, His Holiness Aram I highly praised the organizers of the event and expressed his gratitude for the kind feelings and words expressed during the event. However, he considered all that praise to be directed towards the Catholicosate of Cilicia more than towards him personally. He dedicated the tribute to his person to the Holy See of Cilicia. “We are not gathered here today to glorify a person. Glorifying a person runs counter to the principles of the Catholicosate of Cilicia. A person becomes a value to the extent that he dedicates himself to the achievement of holy values and purposes. A person’s service becomes true and permanent when it is complemented by collective service through collective life. The words of Antelias became its deeds, its deeds became its service; the faith and vision of Antelias became its service and the idea of a free and independent Armenia, the vision of an Armenia with the Armenian tricolor flag became the spirit, path and purpose that carved the Catholicosate of Cilicia’s mission of faith and national service. Today we bow in front of our Holy See’s service and we should do so. All those who served with this same spirit, with this same faith for 40 years, some of them left this world and are gone but others continue to work with the same spirit, the same vision. We will continue the course of our service always in the same spirit of unity,” said His Holiness Aram I.

Prior to the event His Holiness Aram I preceded over the opening of an exhibition of photographs from Holy scriptures. The exhibition is being held in the “Vatchig Gharapegian” Hall of the “Ararat” complex, on the occasion of the Year of Christian Education.

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The Honorable Barack OBAMA

President of the United States of America

The White House

Washington, DC 20500

Dear Mr. President-elect,

I greet your election as president of the U.S.A. with profound joy. Many American Armenians strongly supported you on this historic election. In fact, they supported your firm engagement for change and your promise to promote, with renewed impetus and vision, the great values and ideals that characterize the U.S.A.

Mr. President-elect,

It is the expectation of the American Armenians and, in fact, all Armenians of the globe that, during your presidency, as a concrete expression of the U.S.A.'s commitment to human rights and justice, the Congress and Senate formally rec­ognize the Armenian Genocide. With this hope in heart, as a spiritual leader, I warmly greet your election and pray the Almighty God to strengthen you physically and spiritually to carry on your mission in a world torn apart by injustice, poverty and conflict.

May God bless you and the United States of America.

Prayerfully yours

ARAM I

CATHOLICOS OF CILICIA

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Later, during his opening address, Archbishop Dmitri spoke of the need for all members of the Church, laity and clergy -- including hierarhcs -- to rededicate themselves to the vision of the Orthodox Church in America. This vision, he noted, is grounded in Christ's Great Commission to “go and make disciples of all nations.” His Eminence also spoke of the important task of reconsidering the relationship between the Church's dioceses, their life and work, and the central administrative structure of the Church. He stated that both of these tasks must be grounded in the understanding that all believers are “members of one another in Christ.”

His Grace, Bishop Tikhon of Philadelphia and Eastern Pennsylvania and Locum tenes of the Archdiocese of Western Pennsylvania, greeted Council participants on behalf of the Archdiocese. Bishop Tikhon, who also gave a meditation at the Compline service that concluded the evening, highlighted the importance of understanding one's own brokenness in the light of Christ's Passion and Resurrection. It is the reality of the Lord's death and rising again, His Grace said, that gives context and strength in the face of all suffering.

During the opening session of the Council, participants also heard a greeting from His Eminence, Metropolitan Hilarion, First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia [ROCOR], read by Archpriest Alexander Lebedev of ROCOR's department of inter-Orthodox relations.

The Council's first plenary session continued with the selection of Council chairs and committees. The clergy co-chair elected by the Council was Archpriest Paul Jannakos of St. Mary Magdalene Orthodox Church in Fenton, MI. The lay co-chair was Mr. John Kozey, newly-elected Metropolitan Council member from the Diocese of Washington and New York. Mr. Kozey, whose efforts to bring to light financial improprieties at the OCA Chancery were recognized in the report of the Special Investigating committee, was greeted with heartfelt applause from Council participants.

The remainder of the evening was dedicated to a discussion of the Town Hall Meetings held in July and August of this year in preparation for the All-American Council. His Grace, Bishop Nikon of Boston, New England and the Albanian Archdiocese opened the session with a review of the Town Hall process. He stated that the hierarchs and Preconciliar Commission members who took part in the meetings received clear messages about the hopes and pain of the clergy and faithful who attended them. His Grace shared his hope that the Town Hall Meetings, together with this All-American Council, would be instrumental in the healing that is necessary in the OCA at this time.

Following Bishop Nikon's remarks, a question and answer session began in which Council delegates presented two written questions per table to the hierarchs for their response. Members of the Holy Synod began responding to questions at the Monday evening session and will continue on the morning of Tuesday, November 11.

Monday's session ended with Compline with the Canon of Repentance and His Grace, Bishop Tikhon's meditation on repentance.

In other events during the day the OCA Holy Synod of Bishops and Metropolitan Council held a joint session immediately prior to the Council opening. Among the decisions reached at this joint meeting, the Metropolitan Council unanimously resolved that “the Church withdraw $151,500 from the Unrestricted Endowment Fund of the OCA to pay in full the remaining amount owed to the 9-11 Fund that was collected but unpaid at the time of the collection." Meeting participants approved a recommendation of the OCA Pension Board to republish the Pension Plan with all amendments that have been passed since the date of its last publication edited into the text.

The Metropolitan Council also moved to give All-American Council chairs “the discretion to establish parameters for discussions during Council sessions, including the number of speakers pro and con, the time allotted for speakers and when to close discussion.”

In a 17 to 10 vote, the Metropolitan Council passed a motion “affirming its decision of September 4, 2008, regarding the removal of Dr. Alice Woog from the Council.” Dr. Woog had been given the blessing of the Holy Synod to attend the meeting a make a statement concerning this matter.

Full minutes of the November 10, 2008, Holy Synod / Metropolitan Council joint meeting will be published when they are available. Over 600 delegates and 200 observers are expected to attend All-American Council sessions, which will continue until Thursday, November 13.

Source:

www.oca.org

On Wednesday, November 5, 2008, members of the Holy Synod took part in their first monthly conference call. A main item of discussion was the OCA’s upcoming 15th All-American Council, slated to be held in Pittsburgh, PA, November 10 to 13, 2008. During their call, the hierarchs approved revisions to the Council’s proposed agenda. The Holy Synod will hold sessions throughout course of the All-American Council. The hierarchs' next conference call is scheduled for Wednesday, December 3, 2008.

Source:

IOCC SUNDAY
November 23, 2008

The Hierarchs of the Standing Conference
of the Canonical Orthodox Bishops in the Americas

To the Most Reverend Clergy, Venerable Monastics and Devout Faithful
of the Holy Orthodox Churches in the Americas

Dearly Beloved in Christ Jesus,

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and from our Lord Jesus Christ.

On this Sunday before our national feast of Thanksgiving, we give thanks to our Merciful God for all His blessings, and we take time to remember International Orthodox Christian Charities (IOCC). As the humanitarian aid agency of SCOBA, IOCC serves throughout the world as ambassadors of God’s mercy. Agency staff and partners feed the hungry, care for the sick, and provide essential relief to those whose lives have been shattered by man-made and natural disasters. Through your generous support, millions of hurting people receive the care and attention that all people deserve.

IOCC’s mission is to respond to our Lord’s call to minister to those who are suffering and are in need throughout the world, sharing with them God’s gifts of food, shelter, economic self-sufficiency, and most importantly, hope. Since its inception in 1992, IOCC has delivered more than $275 million in services to some of the world’s most vulnerable people. From famine relief in Ethiopia to assisting the victims of Hurricane Katrina; from fire fighting equipment for Greece after the devastating wildfires of 2007 to relief for the war-torn Caucasus (both in Northern Ossetia and Georgia), IOCC brings comfort and assistance to literally tens of thousands.

As Saint Paul said to the Corinthians, God provides us with the means, in every way, so that we will be generous at all times (2 Cor. 9:11). A generous heart makes way for the grace of God to freely flow both to the one who receives, and to the one who gives. Through our giving, as God has given us, we enter a holy cycle that glorifies God and uplifts our fellow neighbor. When you support IOCC this holiday season, your love extends to families in need of food and shelter.

As your spiritual shepherds, we exhort you to be mindful of your blessings, and to joyfully share your bounty with those who are struggling throughout the world, as well as your loved ones. In doing so, you not only bring them help and hope, but you kindle the holy flame of God’s love.

May our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ bless you and your families this holiday season, as we offer thanksgiving to Him, and make ready to receive Him anew in His Glorious Nativity in Bethlehem.

With paternal love and blessings in Christ,


†Archbishop DEMETRIOS, Chairman
Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America

†Metropolitan PHILIP, Vice Chairman
Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese
of North America

†Metropolitan CHRISTOPHER, Secretary
Serbian Orthodox Church in the USA and Canada

†Metropolitan NICHOLAS of Amissos, Treasurer
American Carpatho-Russian Orthodox Diocese
in the USA

†Bishop MERCURIUS of Zaraisk
Representation of the Moscow Patriarchate

†Archbishop DMITRI Locum Tenens
Orthodox Church in America

†Archbishop NICOLAE
Romanian Orthodox Archdiocese
in America and Canada

†Metropolitan JOSEPH
Bulgarian Eastern Orthodox Church

†Metropolitan CONSTANTINE
Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA

†Bishop ILIA of Philomelion
Albanian Orthodox Diocese of America

"This version has many differences from the original. First, the New Testament is read against the musical background, rather than cantillated or cited in between the numbers. It has a completely new instrumentation: the author has included a brass quintet (two trumpets, one French horn, one trombone, and one tuba), a drumkit, an electric guitar, and a synthesizer, yet, he has left the strings," Alexey Puzakov, a director of the Tretyakov Gallery chorus, said Wednesday to Interfax-Religion.

According to him, some numbers are orchestrated in the rock manner. This version addresses mostly young people visiting rock concerts, rather than the typical audience of classic and spiritual music concerts. "This interpretation of the known work of Bishop Hilarion allows us to extend the audience of his listeners, and now even viewers, beyond the limits of spiritual music lovers, and commit a broad part of modern theater and music audience to the themes addressed by the author," Puzakov said.

Source:

http://www.interfax-religion.com/?act=news&div=5367

Moscow, November 12, Interfax - The Russian Orthodox Church members believe that the successful past pattern of missionary work among young people accrued by Catholic and Protestant organizations should be reviewed and borrowed.

"For instance, Protestants have very good dating sites, very pure and Christian, without pornography and hucksterism. Unfortunately, many Russian girls meet foreign men and leave for the West. But the scenario should be quite the opposite - foreigners should learn about Orthodoxy from our dating Websites and come to visit us," hieromonk Dimitry (Pershin), Head of the Information and Publishing Office of the Synodal Department for Youth Affairs of the Moscow Patriarchate, said at the round table meeting held under the Pravoslavnaya Rus

Fr. Dimitry noted that the Department for Youth Affairs reviewed this successful background of Protestant youth clubs and discussion sites.

In his turn, Fr. Igor Vyzhanov, Secretary of the Moscow Patriarchate Department for External Church Relations, told Interfax-Religion that "the record of Catholics and Protestants should be viewed through the Orthodox perspective: we need to reject some things and accept other things to use here, in Russia." According to Fr. Igor, "Orthodox people need to be interested in the record of other Christian Churches and accept their best experience."
"It's no good to wait until Catholics or Protestants come to convert our young people. Orthodox members should do that themselves by studying their background," Fr. Igor stated. (Orthodox Russia) exhibition-forum.

Source:

http://www.interfax-religion.com/?act=news&div=5363

Baku, November 11, Interfax - Bishop of Baku and Near-Caspian Region Alexander said he was perplexed with the information that he did not rule out a possible summit in Baku between Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Alexy II and Pope Benedict XVI.

"That is what journalists have ascribed me, I have never said that," he told Interfax-Religion on Tuesday.

Earlier some media outlets quoted an opinion that had been allegedly voiced by Bishop Alexander that a summit between Bishop Alexander and the Pope could take place in Baku in a year. Alexy II and Benedict XVI have been invited to Baku to take part in the forum of the heads of world religions scheduled to be held between October 30 and December 2.

However, today in his comments to Interfax-Religion Bishop Alexander said his alleged words on a possible meeting between the heads of two Churches in Baku were taken out of context and were his answer to the journalist's question on a basic possibility of a meeting between the Patriarch and the Pope.

"The Patriarch repeatedly said that a possibility of such a meeting was not excluded, but it should not be a show in front of the TV cameras, it should have a constructive nature. That is all I said," Bishop Alexander said.

He had asked the same question to the head of the Roman Catholic Church in Azerbaijan, Jan Capla, who said that the Orthodox Church and the Roman Catholic Church "have conducted a dialouge for a long time, there exists a mixed Orthodox-Catholic theological commission that has operated for many years, that Vatican's high placed officials have been permanently visiting Moscow." "Neither me, nor Jan Capla are responsible for a possibility of such a meeting. So how can this information come from us?" Bishop Alexander said.

He also said it was possible that his answer had been incorrectly translated into the Azeri language. "It is one thing to say that a possibility of this meeting is not ruled out, and it is quite a different thing to say that I allegedly said that this meeting is planned in Baku next year," he said.

Source:

http://www.interfax-religion.com/?act=news&div=5361

Moscow, November 10, Interfax – Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Russia urged clerics to more active sermon in the modern society.

“Nowadays it is impossible to hide from challenges of secular world behind church walls. The pastor should go and meet people, support those weak in spirit, help find the truth to those who seek it, help to make the right choice for those who are in doubt,” he said on Saturday, opening the conference Pastoral Ministry: Traditions and The Present in frames of the Pravoslavnaya Rus (Orthodox Russia) exhibition forum in the Moscow Manezh exhibition hall.

According to Alexy II, today the priest should not only give “well-informed and worthy answers” to questions of the present world, but also be able to protect his flock from temptations and sins brought to the world by “exterior freedom.”

“In these evil times, the pastor should be watchful, feel the needs of his contemporaries, and be able to tell the truth from lie,” the Patriarch believes. He also warned priest against the temptation of vanity and pride and urged them “not to hide Christ behind themselves but to open Him to people.”

Source:

http://www.interfax-religion.com/?act=news&div=5354

Moscow, November 7, Interfax - The delegation of the Moscow Patriarchate and the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia visited the construction site of a Russian church in Mar Del Plata, Argentina, during the Days of Russian Culture in Latin America.

The first Russian church was constructed in Buenos Aires at the expense of the Tsar family in late 19th century. Eventually, it has become "the center of Russian Orthodoxy" and the heart of spiritual life of Russian emigrants. According to Metropolitan, Russian compatriots must now construct another church in Argentina, which is this time dedicated to the Royal Martyrs, the Moscow Patriarchate official website reports Friday.

Metropolitan Hilarion, First Hierarch of the ROCOR, compared members of the Orthodox community in Mar Del Plata with the emigrants who arrived to Latin America many decades ago and began from constructing churches. Metropolitan Hilarion believes, that was the reason why Russians managed to preserve their identity in conditions of mixed marriages and hard life in a foreign country. The church in the Alfar district is located 15 kilometers from the city center and 1.5 km from the sea. The construction is planned to be finished by the end of 2009.

Source:

http://www.interfax-religion.com/?act=news&div=5348

His Holiness Karekin II and the delegation from the Armenian Apostolic Church participated in Divine Liturgy this morning at Sts. Peter & Paul Orthodox Church, Parumala. Divine Liturgy was celebrated by His Grace Thomas Mar Athansius Metropolitan, in the presence of His Beatitude Paulose Mar Milithios and His Grace Dr. Geevarghese Mar Osthathios.

Thousands of faithful Malankara Orthodox Christians filled the Church to catch a glimpse of the Catholicos Patriarch of all Armenians. Following the Divine Liturgy, His Holiness Karekin II gave a 'Panagia' to His Beatitude Paulose Mar Milithios, the Catholicos Designate and also to His Grace Dr. Geevarghese Mar Osthathios. His Holiness was presented with gifts from Mar Osthathios and offered some words expressing the great joy to be with the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church.

His Holiness reflected upon the life of St. Gregorios and encouraged the faithful to follow the great example of Mar Gregorios in following Christ our True God. After these words, His Holiness offered prayers at the tomb of St. Gregorios of Parumala. Following this His

Holiness the Catholicos & Patriarch of all Armenians was escorted to the private conference hall on the Parumala Seminary premises for breakfast with His Holiness the Catholicos of the East and other Hiearchs.

A motorcade procession was enroute from Parumala Seminary to the site of the proposed St. Gregorios Mental Health and De-Addiction Center. A public meeting was held in honor of the distinguished delegation from Armenia, especially for the Supreme Head of the Armenian Orthodox Church. During this function the foundation stone for this new center was blessed by His Holiness Karekin II in the presence of His Holiness Didymus I.

From this center, the entourage was taken to St. Mary's Cathedral, Puthiyacavu where the delegation was received by the local Diocesan Metropolitan, His Grace Paulose Mar Pachomios. A public meeting and a private luncheon was held in His Holiness' honor at the Cathedral. Following the luncheon His Holiness Karekin II inaugurated the newly built and consecrated Metropolitan's Residence & Diocesan Center of the Diocese of Mavelikara.

After the colorful reception under the auspices of the Mavelikara Diocese, His Holiness and his delegation departed to St. Mary's Church, Niranam one of the ancient churches established by St. Thomas the Disciple of our Lord Jesus Christ. Prayers were offered by His Holiness followed by a public meeting.

At 5PM, His Holiness Karekin II along with some members of the delegation answered questions at a press conference held at Windsor Castle, Kottayam. The evening with the media came to an end with love, prayers and gratitude offered by His Holiness Karekin II to His Holiness Moran Mar Baselios Marthoma Didymus I, His Beatitude Paulose Mar Milithios, members of the Holy Episcopal Synod, the clergy and faithful of the Holy Malankara Church.

Source:

The Serbian Orthodox Church could get a new leader in mid-November, since the ailing 94-year-old Patriarch Pavle -- its head for 18 years -- wishes to resign. Patriarch Pavle, one of the Orthodox world's most esteemed leaders, has been hospitalised for a year and thus unable to lead his flock. In the war-torn 1990s, he turned the church from a marginalised institution into the one most trusted by Serbian citizens. In his absence, certain bishops have even feuded in public.

On October 8th, Patriarch Pavle submitted a written request to resign. All Serbian bishops will convene to debate his request. Should they accept it, they can name his successor at the same conference. The bishops still use a random drawing from among three short-listed candidates' names. The church instituted the system during the communist era to block government influence.

However, certain Serbian bishops have voiced doubts about the authenticity of the patriarch's resignation, as he has not made any public pronouncements in the last year. An argument over whether his resignation is authentic and whether they should even select a new patriarch is expected at the beginning of their conference.

Belgrade analysts familiar with the church say it is split into two factions -- one moderate, one more conservative -- and add that all social divisions in Serbia find their reflection in the institution.

Hence, Serbian bishops bicker over whether Serbia should join the EU before the Union grants it sovereignty over Kosovo. They also clash over canonical matters. Thus, a new patriarch could have great sway over the entire Serbian public.

Reportedly, the government has profound interest in the appointment of a new patriarch. Certain newspapers have said that the office of Serbian President Boris Tadic is lobbying for Bishop Grigorije, the only bishop to say publicly that war crimes indictees Radovan Karadzic and Ratko Mladic must face The Hague tribunal.

However, Tadic quickly denied he was trying to interfere with church business.

"I have no institutional power to meddle in or influence the appointment of a new patriarch. That is a matter for the church," he said.

Source:

President Hristofias informed the Archbishop regarding the discussions the two communities of the Island have had regarding the re-unification of the state of Cyprus. President Hristofias was also interested in further cooperation and dialogues with our country. They exchanged presents and Archbishop Anastasios wished the people of Cyprus maturity, patience, power and a fruitful future for their country.

Later Archbishop Anastasios conducted a memorial service in the memory of Archbishop Cyprianos and of the other clergy who were martyred during the Turkish war in 1821 as revenge for their revolution and liberation. At the memorial symbolizing this event, the Albanian delegation placed a “crown” in the name of the Orthodox Autocephalous Church of Albania.

The hierarchical liturgy was televised by national public television RIK (and its satellite program), by Mega channel and by LOGOS, the radio station of the Church.

At the Archiepiscopate of Cyprus, representatives of the government, diplomats and other politicians attended an official luncheon together, hosted by Archbishop Chrisostomos II. During his stay in Cyprus, Archbishop Anastasios visited the Metropolis of Lemesos, Pafos, Kostandia, Amohostos, Larnakas and the Monastery of Qiku (one of the most important monasteries in the orthodox world) and the monasteries of Maheras, St. Neofitus and St. Heraklitos.

The Monastery of Qiku accorded Archbishop Anastasios the Golden Medallion of the Almighty Theotokos.

Archbishop Anastasios celebrated another memorial service at the tomb of Archbishop Makarios III, who had contributed to the stabilization of the independent country of Cyprus. He also played an important role in the development of the church.

In addition, Archbishop Anastasios, as assistant director of the Conference of European Churches took part in the conference which took place in Paralimni, Cyprus. His Beatitude was awarded the prize ‘Doctor of Honour’ from the Dean of the Department of Philosophy at the University of Cyprus. The Dean earnestly wanted the ceremony be held during the time of his Beatitude’s stay, but it was unfortunately impossible, so the ceremony was postponed for another time.

Many people from public life visited the Archbishop to discuss the issues of the Orthodox Church, the social problems and the new dimensions for missions. In such spheres Archbishop Anastasios is a spiritual and knowledgeable person with a special maturity and unique perspective. Among the people who met and talked to the Archbishop, were Albanians who are temporarily working on the Island and students attending the universities in Cyprus.

Upon leaving the Island, Archbishop Anastasios was appropriately accompanied to the airport of Larnakas. Everybody expressed their desire for him to return very soon. Archbishop Anastasios, in turn, invited his Beatitude Chrisostomos II to visit the Orthodox Autocephalous Church of Albania.

Prepared and translated by Juliana Kodheli
Edited by Melany Linderman

Source:

Tskvarichamia, Georgia -- The leaves have already changed in Tskvarichamia, a mountain hamlet about 15 miles above Tbilisi. For the 16 families taking shelter in a modest building, this is not a herald of the harvest, but rather, an ominous reminder that winter is coming and they are not prepared.

At dusk, two mothers, their children and an elderly couple sit on the front porch and explain to an aid worker that the rest of the families have gone to the authorities to protest their living conditions and to demand that they be moved to Tbilisi. “We feel cut off up here,” says Nanna, carrying her small son on her lap. “It is cold and we cannot properly care for our children.” She and her husband were farmers in the village of Kemerti in South Ossetia, and like many who were displaced by this summer’s fighting between Russian and Georgian forces, they fled with little more than the clothes on their backs.

The group that had gone to Tbilisi return, and seeing the visitor immediately launch into a litany of complaints. They have no kitchen utensils. Blankets were delivered but the mattresses are no good. Above all, the building was formerly used as a summer camp for children and there is not enough insulation from the cold. “We may be blocked up here from other areas in the winter and our children have to go to school, ” says one woman.

Inside the building there is a strong smell from toilets that are backed up. In the hallway, there is a list of government phone numbers such as “how to find a missing relative.” The hallway leads to a series of bedrooms with thin walls and blankets draped over windows.

The group moves from room to room, eager to show the aid worker mattresses atop rusty springs and thin blankets that were delivered in August. Some speculate about their neighbors, Ossetians who fled to Russia. “We had good relations with them because of the mixed families,” says one woman. She believes that those families got an offer to go back to South Ossetia, where Georgians can no longer return.

International Orthodox Christian Charities (IOCC) has been providing continuous assistance to thousands of displaced people who fled to other parts of Georgia, as well as Russia, since the August conflict began. Through a new $200,000 grant by the Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA), IOCC will help 2,000 individuals get through the winter by providing stoves, fuel for cooking and heating, bedding, winter clothes, and cooking supplies. IOCC is cooperating with the Georgian Orthodox Church and local authorities to identify and assist families in 20 displacement centers in and around Tbilisi, including the families of Tskvarichamia.

These families want to return to their villages in South Ossetia, a hope that is fading as the months pass on. “The hardest feeling,” says Elsa, a 32-year-old mother of two, “is to not know what has happened to everything that we built and worked for.”

To help in providing emergency relief, call IOCC's donation hotline toll-free at 1-877-803-4622, make a gift on-line at www.iocc.org, or mail a check or money order payable to “IOCC” and write "Conflict in the Caucasus" in the memo line to: IOCC, P.O. Box 630225, Baltimore, Md. 21263-022.

Source:

His Holiness Moran Mar Baselios Marthoma Didymus I, Supreme Catholicose of the all East and Malankara Metropolitan (Supreme head of the Orthodox Church of the East- Indian Orthodox Church) celebrated his 88th birthday by attending Holy Qurbana at Parumala Church. Divine Liturgy was celebrated by His Grace Zachariah Mar Theophilos, Metropolitan of Malabar Diocese, in the presence of the Catholicos.

Afterwards, His Holiness joined the children at Asha Bhavan (home for mentally handicapped children) in Othara for lunch. Festivities for His Holiness' birthday concluded with an elegant dinner banquet held in His Holiness' honor at the Catholicate Palace, Auditorium. (Kottyam District, Kerala State, South India)

His Holiness Baselios Marthoma Didymus I is the 90th Successor to the Apostolic Throne of St. Thomas.

Visit the following Link for the Biography of the Holy Father

Biography