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Great Lent in The Orthodox Church
Condensed from Wikipedia

Great Lent, or the Great Fast , is the most important fasting season in the church year in Eastern Christianity, which prepares Christians for the greatest feast of the church year, Pascha (Easter). In many ways Great Lent is similar to Lent in Western Christianity. There are some differences in the timing of Lent (besides calculating the date of Easter) and how it is practiced, both liturgically in the public worship of the church and individually.

Duration

One difference between Eastern Christianity and Western Christianity is the calculation of the date of Easter. Most years, the Eastern Pascha falls after the Western Easter, and it may be as much as five weeks later; occasionally, the two dates coincide. Like Lent officially begins on Clean Monday, seven weeks before Pascha (Ash Wednesdayis not observed in Eastern Christianity) and runs for 40 contiguous days including Sundays, concluding with the Presanctified Liturgy on Friday of the Sixth Week. The next day is called Lazarus Saturday, the day before Palm Sunday. However, fasting continues throughout the following week, known as Passion Week or Holy Week, and does not end until after the Paschal Vigil early in the morning of Pascha (Easter Sunday).

Purpose

  The purpose of Great Lent is to prepare the faithful to not only commemorate, but to enter into the Passion and Resurrection of Jesus. The totality of the Orthodox life centers around the Resurrection. Great Lent is intended to be a "workshop" where the character of the believer is spiritually uplifted and strengthened; where his life is rededicated to the principles and ideals of the Gospel; where fasting and prayer culminate in deep conviction of life; where apathy and disinterest turn into vigorous activities of faith and good works. Lent is not for the sake of Lent itself, as fasting is not for the sake of fasting. Rather, these are means by which and for which the individual believer prepares himself to reach for, accept and attain the calling of his Savior.

Observance

Self-discipline
Observance of Great Lent is characterized by abstinencefrom certain foods, intensified private and public prayer, self-examination, confession, personal improvement, repentanceand restitutionfor sins committed, and almsgiving. The foods traditionally abstained from are meat and dairy products, wine and oil. Besides the additional liturgical celebrations described below, Orthodox Christians are expected to pay closer attention to and increase their private prayer. The Church Fathers have referred to fasting without prayer as "the fast of the demons" since the demons do not eat according to their incorporeal nature, but neither do they pray.

Liturgical observances
During the Great Fast, a special service book is used, known as the Lenten Triodion, which contains the Lenten texts for the Daily Office (Canonical Hours) and Liturgies. On weekdays of Great Lent, the Divine Liturgy is not celebrated, because the joy of the Eucharist (Literally "Thanksgiving") is contrary to the attitude of repentance which predominates on these days. However, since it is considered especially important to receive the Holy Mysteries (Holy Communion) during this season, the Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts - also called the Liturgy of St. Gregory the Dialogist - may be celebrated on weekdays.

The services of the Canonical Hoursare much longer during Great Lent. In addition to doubling the number of Psalms read, the structure of the services is different on weekdays. In the evening, instead of the normal Compline (the final service before retiring at night), the much longer service of Great Compline is chanted.

The making of prostrations during the services increases as well. The one prayert hat typifies the Lenten services is the Prayer of Saint Ephrem, which is said at each service on weekdays, accompanied by full prostrations. One translation of it reads:

O Lord and master of my life! a spirit of idleness, despondency, ambition and idle-talking, give me not.
But rather, a spirit of chastity, humble-mindedness, patience and charity, bestow upon me Thy servant.
Yea, my king and Lord, grant me to see my own failings and refrain from judging others: For blessed art Thou unto ages of ages. Amen.

Prayer for the dead
During the Great Fast, the church also increases its prayer for the dead, not only reminding the believer of his own mortality, and thus increasing the spirit of penitence, but also to remind him of his Christian obligation of charity in praying for the departed. A number of Saturdays during Great Lent are Saturdays of the Dead, with many of the hymns of the Daily Office and at the Divine Liturgy dedicated to remembrance of the departed.

Feast days
Since the season of Great Lent is moveable, beginning on different dates from year to year, accommodation must be made for various feast days on the fixed calendar(Menaion) which occur during the season. When these feasts fall a weekday of Great Lent, the normal Lenten aspect of the services is lessened to celebrate the solemnity.

The most important of these fixed feasts is the Great Feastof the Annunciation (March 25), which is considered to be so important that it is never moved, even if it should fall on the Sunday of Pascha itself (a rare and special occurrence which is known as Kyrio-Pascha ). The fast is also lessened, and the faithful are allowed to eat fish (unless it is Good Friday or Holy Saturday). Whereas on other weekdays of Great Lent, no celebration of the Divine Liturgy is permitted, there is a Liturgy celebrated on Annunciation¥even if it falls on Good Friday.

Readings
In addition to the added readings from Scripture, spiritual books by the Church Fathersare recommended during the Fast.

One book commonly read during Great Lent, particularly by monastics, is The Ladder of Divine Ascent, which was written in about the seventh century by St. John of the Ladder when he was the Hegumen (Abbot) of St. Catherine's Monastery on Mount Sinai. The theme of The Ladder is not Great Lent itself, but rather it deals with the ascent of the soul from earth to heaven; that is, from enslavement to the passions to the building up of the virtues and its eventual theosis (union with God), which is the goal of Great Lent. The Ladder is usually read in the trapeza (refectory) during meals, but it may alternatively be read during the Little Hours on weekdays so that everyone can hear. Many of the laity also read The Ladder privately during Great Lent.

Pre-Lenten period
Before the forty days of Great Lent commence, there is a three-week Pre-Lenten season, to prepare the faithful for the spiritual work they are to accomplish during the Great Fast. During this period many of the themes which will be developed in the liturgical texts of the forty days are introduced. Each week runs from Monday to Sunday and is named for the Gospel theme of the Sunday which concludes it.

Zacchaeus Sunday
In the Slavic liturgical traditions, Zacchaeus Sunday occurs on the fifth Sunday before the beginning of Great Lent (which starts on a Monday). In the Byzantine ("Greek") liturgical traditions, the Gospel reading for Zacchaeus remains in the normal lectionary cycle and does not always fall on the fifth Sunday before Lent.

The Lenten significance of the Gospel account of Zacchaeus is that it introduces the themes of pious zeal (Zacchaeus' climbing up the sycamore tree; Jesus' words: "Zacchaeus, make haste"), restraint (Jesus' words: "come down"), making a place for Jesus in the heart ("I must abide at thy house"), overcoming gossip ("And when they saw it, they all murmured, saying, That he was gone to be guest with a man that is a sinner"), repentance and almsgiving ("And Zacchaeus stood, and said unto the Lord: Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold"), forgiveness and reconciliation ("And Jesus said unto him, This day is salvation come to this house, forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham"), and the reason for the Passion and Resurrection ("For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost"). The Epistlereading for Zacchaeus Sunday is (1 Timothy 4:9-15) , which in and of itself has no Lenten theme, other than as an admonition to righteous behaviour.

Publican and Pharisee
The reading on the Sunday which concludes this week is the Parableof the Publican and the Pharisee (Luke 18:10-14). The Sunday of the Publican and the Pharisee is the first day the Lenten Triodion is used (at Vespers or All-Night Vigilon Saturday night), though it is only used for the Sunday services, with nothing pertaining to weekdays or Saturday. The theme of the hymns and readings on this Sunday is dedicated to the lessons to be learned from the parable: that righteous actions alone do not lead to salvation, that pride renders good deeds fruitless, that God can only be approached through a spirit of humility and repentance, and that God justifies the humble rather than the self-righteous. The week which follows the Sunday of the Publican and the Pharisee is a fast-free week, to remind the faithful not to be prideful in their fasting as the Pharisee was (Luke 18:12).

Prodigal Son
The theme of this week is the Parable of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32) . Again, the Triodion does not give propersfor the weekdays. The Gospel Reading on Sunday lays out one of the most important themes of the Lenten season: the process of falling into of sin, realization of one's sinfulness, the road to repentance, and finally reconciliation, each of which is illustrated in the course of the parable.

Meatfare Week
The Saturday of this week is the first Saturday of the Dead observed during the Great Lenten season. The proper name in the typikon for the Sunday of this week is The Sunday of the Last Judgment, indicating the theme of the Gospel of the day (Matthew 25:31-46) . The popular name of "Meatfare Sunday" comes from the fast that this is the last day on which the laity are permitted to eat meat until Pascha.

Cheesefare Week
During Cheesefare Week the eating of dairy products is permitted on every day (even Wednesday and Friday, which are normally observed as fast days throughout the year), though meat may no longer be eaten any day of the week. On the weekdays of this week, the first Lenten structural elements are introduced to the cycle of services on weekdays (the chanting of "Alleluia", the Prayer of Saint Ephrem, making prostrations, etc.).

Cheesefare Week is concluded on Cheesefare Sunday. The proper name for this Sunday is The Sunday of Forgiveness, both because of the Gospel theme for the day (Matthew 6:14-21) and because it is the day on which everyone asks forgiveness of their neighbor. The popular name of "Cheesefare Sunday" derives from the fact that it is the last day to eat dairy products before Pascha.

The Great Forty Days

The forty days of Great Lent last from Clean Monday until the Friday of the Sixth Week. Each of the Sundays of Great Lent has its own special commemoration, though these are not necessarily repeated during the preceding week. An exception is the Week of the Cross (the Fourth Week), during which the theme of the preceding Sunday - the Veneration of the Cross - is repeated throughout the week. The themes introduced in the Pre-Lenten period continue to be developed throughout the forty days.

Clean Week
The first week of Great Lent starting on Clean Monday, the first day of Great Lent. The name "Clean Week" refers to the spiritual cleansing each of the faithful is encouraged to undergo through fasting, prayer, repentance, reception of the Holy Mysteries and begging forgiveness of his neighbor. It is also traditionally a time for spring cleaningso that one's outward surroundings matches his inward disposition.

The First Sunday of Great Lent is the Feast of Orthodoxy, which commemorates the restoration of the veneration of icons after the Iconoclast controversy, which is considered to be the triumph of the Church over the last of the great heresies which troubled her (all later heresies being simply a rehashing of earlier ones). The First Sunday of Great Lent originally commemorated the Prophets such as Moses, Aaron, and Samuel. The Liturgy's Prokeimenon and alleluia verses as well as the Epistle and Gospel readings appointed for the day continue to reflect this older usage.

Second Week
On the Second Sunday of Great Lent commemorates St. Gregory Palamas, the great defender of the Orthodox Church's doctrine of Hesychasm against its attack by Barlaam of Calabria.

Third Week
The Veneration of the Crossis celebrated on the third Sunday. The veneration comes on this day because it is the midpoint of the forty days. The services for this day are similar to those on the Great Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross (September 14). During the All-Night Vigil the priest brings the cross out into the center of the church, where it is venerated by the clergy and faithful. It remains in the center of the church through Friday of the week following (the Fourth Week of Great Lent).

Fourth Week
This week is celebrated as a sort of afterfeast of the Veneration of the Cross, during which some of the hymns from the previous Sunday are repeated each day. On Monday and Wednesday of the Fourth Week, a Veneration of the Cross takes place at the First Hour (repeating a portion of the service from the All-Night Vigil of the previous Sunday). On Friday of that week, the veneration takes place after the Ninth Hour, after which the cross is solemnly returned to the sanctuary by the priest and deacon. The Sunday which ends the fourth week is dedicated to St. John Climacus, whose work, The Ladder of Divine Ascent has been read throughout the Great Lenten Fast.

Fifth Week
On Thursday of the Fifth Week, the Great Canon of St. Andrew of Creteis chanted. This is the longest Canon of the church year, and during the course of its nine Odes, most every person mentioned in the Bible is called to mind and tied to the theme of repentance.  As a part of the Matins of the Great Canon, the Life of St. Mary of Egypt by St. Sophronius, Patriarch of Jerusalem(634 - 638) is read, for her example of repentance and overcoming temptation.

Saturday of the Fifth Week is dedicated to the Theotokos (Mother of God), and is known as the "Saturday of the Akathist" because the Akathist to the Theotokos is chanted during Matins on that day (again, usually anticipated on Friday evening).

The Fifth Sunday is dedicated to St. Mary of Egypt, whose Life was read earlier in the week during the Great Canon. At the end of the Divine Liturgy many churches celebrate a "Blessing of Dried Fruit", in commemoration of St. Mary's profound asceticism.

Sixth Week
During the Sixth Week the Lenten services are served as they were during the second and third weeks.

Great Lent ends at Vespers on the evening of the Sixth Friday, and the Lenten cycle of Old Testament readings is brought to an end. At that same service, the celebration of Lazarus Saturday begins. The resurrection of Lazarusis understood as a foreshadowing of the Resurrection of Jesus, and many of the Resurrection hymns normally chanted on Sunday (and which will be replaced the next day with hymns for Palm Sunday) are chanted at Matins on the morning of Lazarus Saturday.

Palm Sunday differs from the previous Sundays in that it is one of the Great Feasts of the Orthodox Church. None of the normal Lenten material is chanted on Palm Sunday, and fish is permitted in the trapeza. The blessing of palms (or pussywillow) takes place at Matins on Sunday morning, and everyone stands holding palms and lit candles during the important moments of the service. This is especially significant at the Great Entrance during the Divine Liturgy on Palm Sunday morning, since liturgically that entrance recreates the entry of Jesus into Jerusalem.

Holy Week

Although technically, Holy Week is separate from Great Lent, its services mirror those of Great Lent and are contained in the same book, the Lenten Triodion. Whereas, during Great Lent each week has its own theme, during Holy Week each day has its own theme, again based upon the Gospel readings for the day:

• Holy and Great Monday - Joseph the all-comelyas a typeof Christ, and the account of The Fig Tree (Matthew 21:18-22)
• Holy and Great Tuesday - the Parable of the Ten Virgins (Matthew 25:1-13)
• Holy and Great Wednesday - The anointing of Jesusat Bethany (Matthew 26:6-16)
• Holy and Great Thursday - The Mystical Supper
• Holy and Great Friday - The Passion
• Holy and Great Saturday - The Burial of Jesus and the Harrowing of Hell

Holy Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday
The first three days of Holy Week (Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday), the services all follow the same pattern and are nearly identical to the order followed on weekdays during the Great Forty Days. The Presanctified Liturgy is celebrated on each of the first three days.

In some churches, the Holy Mystery (Sacrament) of Unction is celebrated on Holy and Great Wednesday, in commemoration of the anointingof Jesus' feet in preparation for his burial (Matthew 26:6-13).

The remaining three days of Holy Week retain a smaller degree of Lenten character, but each has elements that are unique to it.

Holy Thursday
Holy and Great Thursday is a more festive day than the others of Holy Week in that it celebrates the institution of the Eucharist. The hangings in the church and the vestments of the clergy are changed from dark Lenten hues to more festive colors (red, in the Russian tradition). Whereas the Divine Liturgyis forbidden on other Lenten weekdays, the Divine Liturgy of St. Basil (combined with Vespers) is celebrated on this day. Many of the standard hymns of the Liturgy are replaced with the Troparion of Great Thursday. In some churches, the Holy Table (altar) is covered with a simple white linen cloth, in commemoration of the Mystical Supper (Last Supper). During this Divine Liturgy, the reserved Mysteries are renewed (a new Lamb being consecrated, and the old Body and Blood of Christ being consumed by the deacon after the Liturgy). Also, when the supply of Chrism runs low, it is at this Liturgy that the heads of the autocephalous churches will Sanctify new Chrism, the preparation of which would have been begun during the All-Night Vigil on Palm Sunday.

After the Liturgy, a meal is served. The rule of fastingis lessened somewhat, and the faithful are allowed to partake of wine in moderation during the meal and use oil in the cooking.

That night, the hangings and vestments in the church are changed to black, and Matins for Great and Holy Friday is celebrated.

Good Friday
Holy and Great Friday is observed as a strict fast day, on which the faithful who are physically able to should not eat anything at all. Some even fast from water, at least until after the Vespers service that evening.

The Matins service (usually celebrated Thursday night) is officially entitled, "The Office of the Holy and Redeeming Passion of our Lord Jesus Christ",and is commonly known as the "Matins of the Twelve Gospels", because interspersed throughout the service are twelve Gospel readings which recount the entire Passion of Christ from the Last Supper to the sealing of the tomb. Before the Sixth Gospel (Mark 15:16-32) which first mentions the Crucifixion, the priest carries a large cross into the center of the church, where it is set upright and all the faithful come forward to venerate it. The cross has attached to it a large icon of the soma (the crucified body of Christ) At the beginning of each Gospel, the bell is rung according to the number of the Gospel (once for the first Gospel, two for the second, etc.). As each Gospel is read the faithful stand holding lighted candles, which are extinguished at the end of each reading. However, after the twelfth Gospel, the faithful do not extinguish their candles but leave them lit and carry the flame to their homes as a blessing. There, they will often use the flame to light the lampada in their icon corner.

On the morning of Great Friday, the Royal Hours are served. This is a solemn service of the Little Hours and Typica to which antiphons, and scripture readings have been added. Some of the fixed psalms which are standard to each of the Little Hours are replaced with psalms which are of particular significance to the Passion.

Vespers on Good Friday is usually celebrated in the afternoon, around the time of Jesus' death on the Cross. After the Little Entrance the Gospel reading is a concatenation of the four Evangelists' accounts of the Crucifixion and the Descent from the Cross. At the point during the reading which mentions Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus, two clergymen approach the large cross in the center of the church, remove the soma, wrap it in a piece of white linen, and carry it into the sanctuary. Later, during the Troparion, the clergy carry the epitaphios (a cloth icon symbolizing the winding sheet in which Jesus was prepared for burial) into the center of the church, where it is venerated by all the faithful.

That night, the Matins of Lamentation is normally celebrated in the evening. It is called Good Friday because it is the holiest day day in the catholic calendar and for those who value their faith, holy is something that is "good".

Holy Saturday
Holy and Great Saturday (known also as the Great Sabbath, because on it Jesus "rested" from his labours on the Cross) combines elements of deep sorrow and exultant joy. This, like Good Friday is also a day of strict fasting, though a meal may be served after the Divine Liturgy at which wine (but not oil) may be used.

The Matins of Lamentation (usually celebrated on Friday evening) resembles the Orthodox funeral service, in that its main component is the chanting of Psalm 118 (the longest Psalm in the Bible), each verse of which is interspersed with laudations (ainoi) of the dead Christ. The service takes place with the clergy and people gathered around the epitaphios in the center of the church. Everyone stands holding lighted candles during the psalm.

The next morning (Saturday), the Divine Liturgy of St. Basilis celebrated (combined with Vespers). This service symbolizes the Descent of Christ into Hades and the Harrowing of Hell. Thus, according to Orthodox theology, Jesus' salvific work on the Cross has been accomplished, and the righteous departed in the Bosom of Abraham have been released from their bondage; however, the Good News of the Resurrection has not yet been proclaimed to the living on earth (this will occur during the Paschal Vigil). For this reason, the faithful do not yet break their fast nor exchange the paschal kiss.

The last liturgical service in the Lenten Triodion is the Midnight Office which forms the first part of the Paschal Vigil. During this service the Canonof Great Saturday is repeated, at the end of which the priest and deacon take the epitaphios into the sanctuary through the Holy Doors and lay it on the Holy Table (altar), where it will remain until the feast of the Ascension. After the concluding prayers and a dismissal, all of the lights and candles in the church are extinguished, and all wait in silence and darkness for the stroke of midnight, when the resurrection of Christ will be proclaimed.

DONATIONS TO THE METROPOLIA

"Giving to Glorify God" (Matthew 6: 1-4). The Syro-Russian Orthodox Catholic Metropolis would like to thank the following for their generosity and love shown to God and His Church. Those wishing their names withheld are shown as "Anonymous." Donation statements upon request.

Our appreciation to the following for their support:

• All Saints Chapel, Anchorage AK ($100.00)
• Frank & Earl [last names withheld] (Canfield OH) $400.00
• Anonymous (Chicago IL) $50.00

You are asked to consider a donation to help the Metropolia with all its missions and programs by sending yours to the Metropolis, 7815 Akron Canfield Road, Canfield Ohio 44406; or by using your credit card to make a donation through PayPal at http://www.rbsocc.org/donations.html. All donations are tax-deductible. Please make it out to "Syro-Russian Archdiocese."

RELIGIOUS OR MONASTIC LIFE

Archbishop Timothy
February 22, 2011

The Orthodox Catholic and Roman Catholic Churches both have a long history of monasticism within their jurisdictions. St Benedict of Nursia wrote the Benedictine Rule that is followed by several communities of men and women in both Churches. St Benedict is the founder of Western Monasticism and is revered in the Catholic Churches of the East and West. St Basil is the Father of Eastern Monasticism and is also revered in both the Roman and Orthodox Catholic Churches. The Community of St Basil and the Sisters of St Basil in the Syriac-Greek Antiochian Archdiocese follow a Rule that combines elements from both St Benedict and St Basil. St Basil, who later became an Archbishop, left his monastery at a time to defend religious freedom. He Said "all are called to holiness through commitment, prayer, and action with faith."

The Syriac-Greek Antiochene Rite is suffering from a shortage of monks and nuns. Currently, we have only two convents of nuns located in the Democratic Republic of the Congo under Reverend Mother Helena (Bofey) SSB. In the United States the Community of St Basil (CSB) Brothers and Priests, are located in Anchorage Alaska and Canfield Ohio. There are also communities in England and Ireland. The Church is in need of many more vocations to the monastic estate. "Monastic" does not set limitations on monks and nuns to remain within the convent or monastery walls – although this is permitted for those called to a contemplative life. The Community of St Basil is an active community that engages in parish work, healing, counseling, and other apostolates. The Community is semi-autonomous and is under the omophor of the Metropolitan Primate.

There are three levels of the Monastic Life: Postulant, Novice, and Professed Members, as used in the Roman Church and in the Syriac-Greek Antiochian Archdiocese. In the Eastern Rite they are often referred to as Novice, Rasophore, and Schema Members. These names belong to both monks and nuns. A postulant is one who has begun the first step leading to professed sister or brother. It lasts for a period of 6 months or more, but in the Syriac-Greek Antiochene Rite it is a 6-month period of prayer, learning, work, acclimation, and rules under supervision. Postulants are not under vows but they prepare for the eventual taking of the vows. If the postulant is serious about remaining in the monastery or convent and serving God, then they go on to becoming a novice.  It is at this time that the monastic tonsure is given by a representative of the Holy Metropolis, i.e., the Archbishop, Archabbot, Abbot/Abbess, or another. The tonsure is the cutting of the hair in the shape of a cross. The new novice receives part of the religious habit but still does not take vows. They become more active in the community and are called "Brother" or "Sister." The novitiate usually lasts about 1 year during which there is more study and more obligations.

The final step is that of Profession of Vows, the Professed Member. In the Roman Rite and the Syriac-Greek Antiochene Rite, and others, there is a "Temporary Profession" and a "Perpetual Profession." After completing the novitiate successfully, and the novice still has a strong desire to serve God, they come in procession before the Metropolitan and/or the Archbishop, with their superior with them as witness. It is then that they make their profession of the vows of Poverty, Chastity, and Obedience, and a Promise of Celibacy. It is at this time that they receive the full habit of the Community of St Basil. This is repeated for two years when after they make their Perpetual or Final Vows before the Metropolitan (or his designate) and the Abbot, Abbess, or another witness appointed. A formal document is signed upon the Holy Altar that attests to what has been done before God, and from here there is no leaving the Community save for a release from vows by the Holy Metropolis. The Holy Metropolis has the authority to lessen or lengthen the periods of all the above as it deems necessary, or upon the recommendation of a local superior.

The Archdiocese welcomes those interested in knowing more to contact us by letter (St Sophia Monastery, 7815 Akron Canfield Road, Canfield OH 44406), by email rbsocc@juno.com; or by calling Brother Vincent Cappabianca CSB at 330.533.4048 – Extension 103 or 150. There is also a place for married applicants who wish to be associated with the Community but not under vows known as the Secular Companions of St Basil (SCSB).

God be with you all.

Archbishop Timothy

MIAPHYSITISM vs. MONOPHYSITISM

Armenian Orthodox Explanation

Like all Oriental Orthodox Churches, the Armenian Church has historically been referred to as monophysite by both Catholic and Eastern Orthodox theologians because it rejected the decisions of the Council of Chalcedon, which condemned the belief of one incarnate nature of Christ (monophysis). The Armenian Church officially severed ties with Rome and Constantinople in 554, during the Second Council of Dvin where the dyophysite formula of the Council of Chalcedon was rejected due to its acceptance by Nestorians.

However, again like other Oriental Orthodox Churches [20], the Armenian Orthodox Church argues that this the identification as "monophysitism" is an incorrect description of its position.[21] It considers Monophysitism, as taught by Eutyches and condemned at Chalcedon, a heresy and only disagrees with the formula defined by the Council of Chalcedon.[21] The Armenian Church instead adheres to the doctrine defined by Cyril of Alexandria, considered as a saint by the Chalcedonian Churches as well, who described Christ as being of one incarnate nature, where both divine and human nature are united (miaphysis). To distinguish this from Eutychian and other versions of Monophysitism this position is called miaphysitism. Whereas the prefix "mono" refers to a singular one, the prefix "mia" refers to a compound one.

In recent times, both Chalcedonian and anti-Chalcedonian churches have developed a deeper understanding for each other's positions, recognizing their substantial agreement while maintaining their respective theological language.

A BRIEF TIMELINE OF THE WESTERN RITE

Sent by Dr Andrew Gill  (CRCH Member)
Edited by Archdiocesan Chancery

     604 AD – Western liturgical forms set by 6th Century and codified by Pope St. Gregory the Great (Diologus)

     c. 860 AD – Ss Cyril and Methodius arrive in Moravia and begin their mission using a Western liturgy there. They essentially used the Western (Latin) liturgy translated into Slavonic in Dalmatia.

     985 – 1287 AD – Western Rite Benedictine Monastery founded and running on Mount Athos.

[NOTE: This is of note because the WR Monastery existed after the Schism in 1054 and the Sack of Constantinople in 1204.] This was an approximate 578-year gap.

     1865 – Rev. Dr. Joseph J. Overbeck; a priest of Rome and theology professor at Bonn, living in London converted to Orthodoxy and petitioned the Russian Holy Synod at St. Petersburg for permission to use the Latin liturgy.

      September 1869 – The Russian Holy Synod authorized the use of the Latin liturgy and Benedictine offices.

     1870-71 – The Old Catholic Schism occurs after the "reforms" of the First Vatican Council. Russian Orthodox Church openly courted Old Catholics in France and Germany

     August 1879 – Dr. Overbeck went to Constantinople to request their approval to use the Latin liturgy and Benedictine offices.

     1882 – The Patriarch and Synod of Constantinople approved the use of the Latin liturgy and Benedictine office as had Russia, but with the provision that other Orthodox Patriarchs needed to approve as well. The Church of Greece contested this. The plan was dropped in 1884, probably because of English political interference in the Greek Synod (Overbeck had many powerful enemies in the Church of England and Britain was a strong supporter of Greece in dealings with the Ottoman Empire).

     1889/1892 – The Syrian Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch blessed the consecration of Mar Julius (Francisco Alvarez) on July 28, 1889. He was consecrated by the Orthodox Bishop of Kottayam, Most Reverend Paulose Mar Athanasius. He was a former Roman Catholic priest who separated from Rome to join Orthodox Catholicism. Archbishop Mar Julius was born on April 29, 1836 and died on September 23, 1923 at the age of 87. He was the first Metropolitan of Goa and Ceylon (Sri Lanka). He headed the Autocephalous Latin Rite Archdiocese of Ceylon, Goa, and India. He was glorified a saint and his feast day is celebrated on September 23rd annually. He is the patron saint of the poor and ill. He consecrated, with two other bishops, Archbishop Mar Timotheos Vilathi on May 29, 1892 to become the first Metropolitan of the American Orthodox Catholic Archdiocese. This was done with the blessing of His Holiness Ignatius Peter III, Patriarch of the Holy See of Antioch. The first Western Rite of Orthodox Catholicism was planted in the United States.

     1890 or early 1891 – Bishop Vladimir (Sokolovsky) of Alaska, the American representative of the Moscow Patriarchate, formally received a parish of Swiss Old Catholics at Dykesville, near Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, as Western Rite parish under His Beatitude Metropolitan Timotheos Vilathi, then Father Joseph Vilatte.

     Spring 1892 – Bishop Nicholas (Ziorov) the new successor to Bishop Vladimir made a pastoral visit to the Dykesville/Fond du Lac Wisconsin under His Beatitude Metropolitan Timotheos Vilathi..

      1898 – A Western Rite Diocese was organized in Czechoslovakia under the Russian Synod. After the World War I, Bishop Gorazd Pavlik was received into Orthodoxy in Prague and headed up that diocese until its destruction during World War II by the Nazis. (Bishop Gorazd is commemorated as a martyr—September 4, 1941—on the Western Rite calendar)

      1904 – Saint Tikhon (Bellavin), head of the Russian mission in America had sent the 1892 American Book of Common Prayer (BCP) for examination. In 1904 the Holy Synod published Observations on the American Prayer Book. These observations, with extensive additions from the

      1869 Gregorian Rite liturgy, have been the basis for all subsequent Orthodox revisions of BCP Holy Communion services. These additions to the Liturgy were by in large the same as those incorporated into the Anglican and American Missals by Anglo-Catholics.

      1911 – Bishop Arnold Harris Matthew, the Old Catholic Bishop of London, was received into Orthodoxy along with his entire diocese, by Metropolitan Gerassimus (Messara) of Beirut, acting on behalf of the Patriarch of Antioch. The Patriarch of Alexandria also formally recognized Bishop Matthew and his diocese.

      1912 – The corrected Gregorian Liturgy and Formulary for Sacraments (other than Ordinations), Rites and Blessings of the Church as derived from the Rituale Romanum, are blessed by Metropolitan Gerassimos (Messarah) of Beirut for English use in 1912.

      1922 – Metropolitan Gerassimus (Messara) came to America with his Archdeacon Anthony Bashir.

      August 8, 1926 – Bishop Alexis of Grodno was received, along with several parishes, in Poland. This group was extinguished during World War II and the bishop martyered

     February 2, 1927 – The Synod of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church in America authorized the formation of the "American Jurisdiction" which included a Western Rite missionary outreach. This work was under the direction of Archbishop Aftimios (Ofeish) of Brooklyn.

     September 29, 1932 – Bishop Ignatius (Nichols) consecrated by Archbishop Aftimios (Ofeish), Joseph (Zuk), and Sophronios (Beshara) in New York. Bishop Nichols, an ex-Episcopal minister was titled "Bishop of Washington" and given oversight of the Western Rite parishes, and founded the Society of Saint Basil, a devotional society for clergy and laity based on the daily recitation of the Western Breviary.

     1933 – Bishop Joseph and Bishop Sophronios died. Cleveland Sobor separated the Russian Church in this country from Moscow formally. The Western Rite Diocese was de facto independent as a result.

     1933-34 – Archbishop Aftimios retired.

     1934 – Bishop Nichols was made Archbishop by a decree of the Holy Synod of Moscow.

     1936 – The Western Rite Ukase of Metropolitan Sergius (Stragorodsky) of Moscow was issued in response to pleas from an independent Catholic prelate, Louis-Charles (Irenaeus) Winneart, who was received into the Church in France with 1,500 French Western Rite faithful.

     March 6, 1936 – "Holy Orthodox Church in America" was incorporated in the State of New York by Archbishop Ignatius in order to provide for the security, preservation, and continuance of the parishes.

     November 12, 1936 – Archbishop Ignatius consecrated Alexander Tyler Turner as assistant Bishop for the diocese.

     1937 – Lucian (Dom Denis OSB) Chambault was received and he began a small Orthodox Benedictine priory in Paris, using the Roman Mass and Benedictine Office translated into French. Beginning in the 1940s American Orthodox clergy , such as Frs Meyendorff and Schmemann gained a working knowledge of the Western Rite through Chambault's Paris priory. Archbishop Peter (L'Hullier) and Fr Schneirla , also frequent visitors at the priory, were already conversant with the Western Rite.

     February 6, 1947 – Archbishop Ignatius (Nichols) died and was succeeded by Bishop Alexander (Turner). Turner began looking for a way to bring his Western Rite back under the jurisdiction of a canonical Church.

     1952 – Bishop Alexander (Turner) with the assistance of Father Paul Schneirla began conversations in 1952 on canonical regularization by Metropolitan Antony Bashir in the Antiochian Archdiocese of New York.

     1953 – Bishop Alexander (Turner) and three parishes of this Western Rite received "on probation" by Metropolitan Anthony (Bashir) of the Antiochian Archdiocese.

     May 1958 – Patriarch Alexander II of Antioch requested that Metropolitan Anthony (Bashir) welcome these parishes into the Archdiocese. He forwarded instructing Metropolitan Anthony (Bashir) to "take this same action."

     August 1958 – Metropolitan Anthony (Bashir) issued his "Western Rite Edict" to the Antiochian Archdiocese.

HOMELESS PROGRAM NEEDS DONATIONS

[Canfield OH] St Sophia Monastery Inn offers homeless men a home and guidance in return for work on the grounds. This program of the Archdiocese has helped over forty men in the last four years. Seven of these men have been chrismated into the Orthodox Catholic Church coming from pasts that did not include any real affiliation. Currently, six men are being cared for at St Sophia's that includes the room they are in, the food they eat, the outings they enjoy, and the new life they have found centered on Christ.

However, this is costing the Archdiocese much money and we are now brought to our knees asking for your assistance. We are in need of donations here so that our work started can continue. In addition to the homeless, we have also adopted seven kittens/cats that were destined to die without intervention. If you can find it in your heart to help with our expenses please send you donation to St Sophia Monastery, 7815 Akron Canfield Road, Canfield OH 44406, or you may do so on your credit card through PayPal. Please make checks payable to "EOCC" We are 501(c)(3) tax exempt. Thank you.

OFFICIAL FROM THE HOLY METROPOLIS

MEGHAN BARR USES PRESS TO MALIGN CHURCH

Archbishop Timothy's Interview with Metropolitan Stephen

PART II of THREE PART ARTICLE (February 19, 2011)

I would like to begin Part II of this article by reprinting the opening words from Metropolitan Stephen in Part I of this ongoing article. "I would like to think that investigative reporters honestly and with great integrity investigate all facets of a story before printing statements in a newspaper that could ruin a person or person's life or damage a church or other organization. When reporting becomes an avenue or venue for certain people to make idle allegations or vindictive remarks where one blatantly lies about someone or something - it is no longer "reporting of news."  When a newspaper becomes a tool for destroying the lives of good people that are motivated by personal agendas, then it fails to be a newspaper. This is the reason why there are innocent people in prison, and why some very good people are labeled as criminals when, in fact, they are not. When a person's life and character is at stake, or a Church's reputation, or whatever, facts and evidence should be reviewed carefully and investigated fully, and the statements of the accused so also been investigated fully as well. What evidence did Ms Meghan Barr look over to substantiate her claim that our parish in Duluth Minnesota had slaves from Africa, or that they were mistreated? What police report was offered to her that was never offered to the Church? What court transcript was reviewed – what case was ever brought against the Church?" This article was intended to have two parts, but will be expanded to three parts.

I sat down with His Beatitude to ask some questions about Meghan Barr's questionable article. It is a shame that other reporters did not come and interview him, and an atrocity that a reporter from Youngstown's The Vindicator cancelled her appoints with him three times after the article was printed. I would think that journalists would be eager to seek or response to the article but we must get the truth out beginning with this venue.

Your Beatitude, Meghan Barr's article begins with Megan Barr advising readers that she saw the clergy, and you, wearing "billowing black robes."

Ms Barr's technique in writing can be best equated to a high school senior who is trying to win an award in composition. What does "billowing" have to do with the normal attire worn by clergy or religious? What did this have to do with what she came to us for? In fact, Ms Barr did not even have the pleasure of seeing me when she visited the monastery grounds.

Your Beatitude, you are aware that on the day Ms Barr came to St Sophia's she was here to get some answers to questions that she had?

Yes. I am also aware of what I was told she asked the clergy. I am also aware that she used very little of what she learned on her visit here in her article, and what was used – was out of context.

Your Beatitude, Ms Barr stated that the property here was "a crime ridden, no-tell motel on a desolate road dominated by hay bales and barns with sunken roofs."

Again, she is a very colorful writer. It is true that some years ago before we acquired this property it was a haven for drugs and prostitution. However, since her article was to be focused on us she should have added that this "crime ridden" property has been transformed into a religious oriented haven for those in need, like the homeless we take care of. The highway we are on has homes and affluent subdivisions. There are no hay bales on our property. Ms Barr, again, was out to hurt our good work and us. Did Ms Barr mention our homeless program? Did she mention our low housing program for those in need? Ask yourself why.

Your Beatitude, how did you feel about Ms Barr commenting on the ring tone of my cell phone?

What difference does it make what theme you have on a cell phone as long as it is tasteful? You happen to be a fan of the Star Wars movies, and I know many nuns and priests who enjoy some popular culture. The point Ms Barr was trying to make it still unclear to me. I will add that I, too, have watched Star Wars.

Your Beatitude, what about Ms Barr's comments about the condition of the building and cigar smoke in the guest office?

Forgive me, but I will not dignify her statement with a response.

Your Beatitude, Ms Barr then goes on to list several issues about our credibility. What are your thoughts on this?

Ms Barr does have a problem with credibility issues, but they are hers, not ours. She states that we "left a curious trail across the middle of the country" as though this makes us bad people. How many people annually move from place to place? She brings up the two fraudulent seminarians that were with us in Duluth Minnesota who lied to us so they could come to the United States. We have letters on file, all notarized affidavits, from people in Duluth Minnesota who knew the two men and who knew us. All these letters contest the lies the two men stated about their care and us. Much is said from this Duluth Police Sergeant Tad Jazdzewski, who learned much from Mr Anthony Dyl of Colorado, but never were any of us charged, arrested, or taken to court for any actions against the law while in Duluth. This man has lied about our work and me.

Your Beatitude, her article states that the Syro-Russian Orthodox Catholic Church "was born in 1978 when a Greek Orthodox priest who never attended seminary broke off to start his own parish in Portage Indiana."

It is true that Father Mark Gielow and I removed us from the newly appointed Greek Bishop of Chicago Illinois for reasons of policy. We were not going to leave our parish and go to Holy Cross Seminary to learn Greek as the new bishop wanted. Our bishop, His Grace Bishop Timotheos Haloftis of Rodostolon, passes away about a year after our ordinations. However, prior to his death it was agreed that our parish in Portage Indiana would remain an English-speaking community. Also, prior to our ordinations, Bishop Timotheos accepted my seminary education at Holy Trinity Seminary (Antioch-Malabar Rite) and previous studies at two Roman seminaries. We were both received as is and ordained after preparation under His Grace. The real reason behind why the new bishop wanted us to leave our parish is one of politics. I will not elaborate on this.

Your Beatitude, Ms Barr, like Mr Anthony Dyl, seems to make you look like the founder or the Church and the head of it from the very beginning.

With all due respect to Ms Barr and Mr Dyl, they do not have correct facts. They both would like to make me look as though I were some kind of a cult leader, but this is not the truth in any manner whatsoever. When I became a bishop in the Orthodox Catholic Church, my Metropolitan was Archbishop Joseph Sokolowski, and before him was Metropolitan Archbishop Joseph John Skureth, and so on and so forth back to Metropolitan Timotheos in 1892. I did not "start" any church, but did make some changes in what I took over which is among the rights of any Metropolitan Primate. Perhaps Mr Dyl was motivated to do what he did to us in 1994 because he belonged to the Orthodox Church in America, a rival Church whose Metropolitan at the time was at odds with me on issues like whose jurisdiction was the first truly "American" Church. However, it must be nice to have a member of the Attorney General's Office willing to work for you in closing down institutions belonging to another jurisdiction. That is all I will say on this.

Your Beatitude, Ms Barr wrote that you were "defrocked" by the Orthodox Church in 1994.

This is a blatant lie. This is the strongest term I can use. The Ecumenical Patriarchate never issued a letter to me stating that I was defrocked or deposed. I removed myself from the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese in 1978 and have a response accepting that from the Greek Diocese. If I were defrocked it would have been immediate, yet the Greek Bishop Demetrios Kantzavelos says I was defrocked in 1994, 18 years after the fact! When priests are defrocked or deposed it is done in a rather timely manner, i.e., less than six months. You do the math. No letter exists signed by the Patriarch at that time, Athenagoras. I was removed – not defrocked! The letter signed by the Bishop of Chicago releasing me exists with me, and copies of this letter have been filed throughout the Archdiocese. There is another letter that I received from Bishop Isaiah of Denver just before our school was closed inviting me back to the Greek Archdiocese. This letter also still exists. Why would they want a me back if I was defroked? If so, then Bishop Demetrios must not know what he is talking about.

Your Beatitude, Ms Barr brings up several names attached to the Church over time.

There is no wrong in changing names of any institution, churches do it, schools do it, companies do it, although the name may change the institution is the same unless one institution is closed and then reopened under a different name. Ms Barr stated we were once called the "Mercy and Right Greek Catholic Church" which I defy her to find one document proving that. St Michael's Greek Orthodox Church was the name of my parish in Portage Indiana when we were under Bishop Timotheos. St Mary Theotokos Church of Duluth Minnesota was one of our parishes in Duluth. These are names of churches and not Churches, i.e., parishes and not jurisdiction, the same with Ss Peter & Paul Church. She also lists the "Michael American Orthodox Catholic Church" and, again, will Ms Barr please show proof of this so-called name under our jurisdiction? Our Archdiocese dates back to May 1892 when the Holy See of Antioch established it. It has been continuous in the United States and elsewhere since. Its headquarters has moved from place to place as necessary but not every month or year as is implied. As for the statement of Reverend Mark Arey of the Greek Church, I won't even dignify this remark.

Your Beatitude, why did you voluntarily close Notre Dame de Lafayette University?

I did not voluntarily close the school in Aurora Colorado. Mr Anthony Dyl wanted the school closed because it was one lifeline (financially) for our Church. He caused me to close the school because of his threat that if I didn't he would arrange to have me put away for many years. You see, working along with Mr Dyl was a Robert Zeiger who worked for the State of Colorado. This man was once a cleric in our jurisdiction under Metropolitan Joseph Sokolowski. He was passed over when I was elected the successor to Metropolitan Joseph. The school in Colorado offered degree programs that were approved by Colorado. Although Mr Dyl lists Chiropathy as an unauthorized offering, we have a letter from the Department of Education stating otherwise.

Your Beatitude, can you explain why so much office equipment was ordered for the new school to be located in Minnesota, and then why someone reported it stolen?

Yes. This is a very involved issue but I will attempt to explain in in brief. When Mr Dyl ordered that I close Notre Dame de Lafayette University, I was also told by a Robert Gigante, deposed priest, that Mr Dyl told him we would not be allowed to take all our belongings from the school. During this time, I authorized the purchase of some computers and other office equipment that would be relocated to Minnesota. Without my knowledge, three of the clergy were making plans to establish a schismatic school and doubled my order without permission. Robert Gigante confessed once we arrived in Motley Minnesota and agreed / promised / to return to Colorado and clear the matter up, especially about the fraudulent police report made by him and Father Shafi Thomas, (that authorities thought I signed as "S Thomas".)

Your Beatitude, this Sergeant Jazdzewski makes another statement concerning Ms Heather Pollard and her allegation that the Church took $15,000.00 from her.

Sergeant Jazdzewski makes many erroneous and unjust statements against us, primarily me. He has even called me a few other names as well. He needs to get his facts straight. You see, the Duluth Police Department raided our residence in 2001 taking our computers, files, and other records due to an allegation against us stating that we took $50,000.00 from a Heather Pollard – although the detective now states $15,000.00. It should be noted that this woman also contacted Mr Anthony Dyl. This caused us great embarrassment and cost us much money and down time without the computers. After about a month we received a letter stating that we could come and pick up our items, as there was no proof supporting her allegations. Bottom line here: Ms Pollard was practicing medicine without a license and some of her clients and employees advised us. Soon after, the State of Wisconsin was in communication with us. When Ms Pollard found out that we were assisting the State of Wisconsin in this matter she turned vindictive. The matter was closed and Ms Pollard was forced to leave Wisconsin. The Sergeants other allegations in the article including the $40,000.00 in fraud alleged by five students are also unfounded.

Your Beatitude, Mr Joseph Kimotho, one of the seminarians who fraudulently came to the United States, claimed that we fed him only rice and beans and treated him like a slave.

Archbishop, you know the truth. There was no police investigation, there was no say in court, just more smear campaign statements that were filled with lies. There are letters still on file regarding this matter attesting to the fact they were well fed, taken on vacations, clothed, trained, and were asked to do chores since neither ever paid one penny to the Church. In fact these men cost us much money and one even ran up a phone bill amounting to almost $1,000.00 from calls going to Tanzania. Ms Barr states that Kimotho "does not like to speak about the dark time in Minnesota" but the truth is perhaps he does not want to continue to lie against those who got him here and then took very good care of him.

Your Beatitude, what about Ittefaq Bhatti known as Mark?

Like the two from Africa, this man also had his own agenda. Oddly enough, and as all here know, Mr Bhatti was just here two months ago visiting us all. His main disagreement with us was that we would not help him get a green card. In Minnesota he left us and involved the police to get his way, but as all know and records show, he called begging us to take him back, which we did. Enough said.

Your Beatitude, officials in Duluth Minnesota make it sound like we moved our headquarters because we want to get away from the problems surrounding the seminarians.

We left Duluth Minnesota because the failing economy drove our parishioners away and the parish has less then four supporting it. We were invited to Cleveland Ohio by Simeon Anderson who was later deposed from the hierarchy of the Church for just cause. We thought that might be a good move but later regretted it. I have no fear of any issue in Minnesota or anywhere else. I have done nothing wrong.

Your Beatitude, Ms Barr wrote that we failed to pay rent in Cleveland, and that we stole copper wiring and a hot water tank.

This again is ridiculous and unsubstantiated. We have cancelled checks and pictures of the conditions when we left. If these things were truths why no police report, no arrests, or no court hearing? Mr Alex Badea and Mr Simeon Anderson both run an assisted living home known as St Brendan's so that Mr Badea can save money by being a non-profit organization. Anthony Luebke exposed the operations and advised us of many wrongdoings that Anthony also reported to the State of Ohio.

Your Beatitude, what do you think Ms Barr's main point of putting in her article the fact that a woman staying at the Monastery Lodge, the motel part of St Sophia's, was charged for dealing in drugs?

Ms Barr was very tricky in how she worded her story. She stated: "Shortly after the monks took over, a man and woman who rented a room for the night were arrested on charges of trafficking and prostitution." The woman stayed at the Monastery Inn in the motel section for over two weeks, not a night. She was arrested for prostitution but not on our grounds. Ms Barr is well aware that the previous owner did allow such things on his property, and maybe she thinks we have teamed up with such a man, but she is so very wrong. In fact, as stated in her article, the Mahoning County Sheriff said  "the monks have cooperated with efforts to keep crime out of the motel, even providing a list of guests' names." Thank you, Ms Barr, for having at least put one nice thing in the article as it was said to you! We maintain a good ministry here keeping God in mind.

Your Beatitude, why do you think the article was printed?

I have long believed that what began in the State of Colorado in 1994 (actually end of 1992) was the beginning of a conspiracy against our Church. This conspiracy continues today thanks to Ms Barr and her contact with Mr Anthony Dyl. The Church survived the horrific attack against it in 1994 and some, like deposed clergy, still want to see the Archdiocese fold up. So they keep bringing up the past and add a few new tidbits into the news again to keep us in the news so people will think we are frauds. Meghan Barr is nothing but a new pawn in an old game.

Your Beatitude, I would like to ask you some questions outside the scope of the news article. I hope this is agreeable?

Yes, please do so.

Isn't it true that when you were threatened or blackmailed into closing Notre Dame de Lafayette University in Colorado, this was based on only a few students making a complaint?

Yes, in fact several papers noted that there were only about 6 complaints made in the years we operated our school in Colorado and two were repeats. Students and graduates were asked if they had any complaints that they wanted known – none were offered. A questionnaire was sent to all graduates asking them nay questions about their studies, what they were told by administration about their degrees, and much more, and not one bad response came back. The State of Colorado was not concerned with the over 100 positive responses because they had 4 people with a complaint.

Your Beatitude, what transpired shortly after you were notified to close Notre Dame de Lafayette University?

When Mr Dyl strongly advised me to close down the school I commented that the matter would be taken to court. He warned me against that. However, not knowing what we were going to do, other accusations began to pop out here and there. This was probably done to make us look impeachable enough to make the court rule against us. For instance, I was accused of having molested one of my altar boys. The mother of this child was angry when she found out the Denver police entered her house when she was not at home and interrogated her son for hours who kept denying that I did anything to him. After about 8 weeks the police called me and said that the case was unfounded and closed. I asked for a written statement but they refused to send one. The mother sent a letter, still within the chancery system, stating her anger and dismay about what the police did.

Your Beatitude, I understand that you have letters stating that Mr Anthony Dyl contacted many of our members and clergy advising them to leave the Church. Is this true?

Yes, such letters do exist. In fact, Mr Dyl called Archimandrite Scott Shannon before he died telling him if I stepped down from my office for good, he would see that I was set free. He also wrote letters to various persons in various states. He called Minnesota and sent advisements to various banks there not to open accounts for us. There is so much that went on it would take me hours and many pages to list it all. Even the attorneys that I had assigned to me were manipulated, and one who was doing a good job was taken off my case and replaced with another who did nothing. Mr Dyl made me look like a charlatan and the Church fraudulent – something that a public official should not be doing.

Your Beatitude, what do you think was the underlying motive of closing Notre Dame de Lafayette University and launching an attack against you and the Church by an Assistant Attorney General.

This is so multi-faceted that I do not know where to begin. First, remember in another of my responses that I mentioned one Robert Zeiger? This man was a member of our jurisdiction many years ago, and was ordained by my predecessor, His Beatitude Metropolitan Joseph. This man became very angry when he found out that I had been named the successor to the late Metropolitan Joseph. This man visited our school around 1989/90 representing the State of Colorado and asked many questions. At that time I knew not who he was until almost one year later when I learned from old records that he once was a part of our jurisdiction before forming his own. I was told that he was visiting at the request of Mr Anthony Dyl, Assistant Attorney General of Colorado. What really made me suspicious were his many questions about our jurisdiction and Metropolitan Joseph.

The next thing was that Mr Anthony Dyl visited our school to get a better idea as to what we were doing and what programs we were offering. Later, I learned that Mr Dyl was a member of the Orthodox Church of America headed by Metropolitan Theodosius at the time. Metropolitan Theodosius and I had a serious disagreement about who should legally claim the right of being called the first "American Orthodox" jurisdiction in the United States. When we refused to stop stating that our jurisdiction was (since 1892) he became very arrogant. Communication between our jurisdictions ceased in late 1992 when our school administration began getting letters accusing us of violating agreements with the Colorado Commission on Higher Education, accusations that were unfounded as can be proven by records still existing today. In fact, we were also set up by someone who had a woman call our school and ask for an application to enroll. This was responded to and soon after a Samantha Landes enrolled in one of our programs. She made an application, paid a down payment, sent a resume, completed studies, graduated outside of ceremonies, and later she was found to actually be a dog! Paula Woodward, her real name, was a reporter in Colorado. A local newspaper reporter stated that if the dog made out an application, signed it, paid the tuition, completed the studies, it deserves to have a degree. This all occurred between 1992 and 1994. Coincidental? I, as many, think not.

Your Beatitude, what has all this done to you and the Church?

Archbishop, you know the pain I have suffered for 17 years. You see what happens each time a hate letter comes to me or someone asks questions about Colorado thanks to this matter being kept alive. In 1995, stress and anxiety hit me so badly that I had to see a psychologist and was placed on medication. I had nightmares of all that happened. You see, Mr Dyl made it possible that this civil matter became a "criminal" issue. I spent time in jail amounting to almost a month. I was forced to sleep on a floor at the Arapaho County Jail next to an urinal. I had to get outside help when the jail refused to treat my illness - TTP. Then, while hearings were going on a good court appointed lawyer helping me was fired and he was replaced by another that I had concerns with from a past issue. This man advised me not to fight but to plead "no contest" or I might be facing prison for many years. He made me look like a hardened criminal.

Mr Dyl contacted clergy and told them to leave the jurisdiction in so many words and maligned my name causing a number of clergy to leave from 1994-1995. Several parishes were lost, and many members as well. Although some have returned, the others believe the picture painted of me by Mr Dyl. Even when Meghan Barr's article appeared locally and throughout the world, Mr Dyl was on television putting his two cents in once again. Even if all things said about me by him in 1994 were the truth, why would he continue his attacks on me for 17 years. I feel like Richard Kimball (The Fugitive) who was hounded by a detective for the "alleged" murder of his wife for many years. Kimball was innocent – but made to look guilty.

Your Beatitude, what do you think of Meghan Barr's article being sent all over the world?

I am very upset at her and Associated Press for releasing an article filled with erroneous statements meant to hurt the Church throughout the world, and me. Ms Barr did not say a word about the many homeless men we care for, but wasted no time printing the lies of Joseph Kimotho concerning his stay with us in Minnesota. She wasted no time printing blatant lies accusing us of having stolen property from the now closed monastery in Cleveland Ohio. But neglected to mention that at the same property, next door, exists a deposed bishop from our Church being investigated, along with Mr Alex Badea, for abusing the non-profit status. I will not go into other matters at this time.

Your Beatitude, this is my last question at this time. What is in your heart concerning the actions against you by Mr Anthony Dyl?

Oh my! I spent many years feeling great anger over what this man did to me. He emotionally and spiritually assulted me and made me feel like dirt. He caused me many physical problems as well. I felt like everything I did in the Church was without merit. All the good I did was being seen as fraudulent acts by those who believed him. I felt like people were laughing at me in public. The Greek Church and the OCA took this as an opportunity to malign me as well, and in articles where Mr Dyl made statements, so did they. I also had much hatred for his actions – but not him. I disliked him for what he did and was doing. However, I gave all this up to God to deal with in His time, and all my negative feelings and energy have been put to positive work for the Church. I realized that I did nothing criminal and that time spent in jail does not make me a criminal. My only prayer is that Mr Dyl stops stalking and maligning me. I also pray that he stops trying to damage the Church. He has cost me tens of thousands of dollars since 1994. I was made to pay for all the office equipment that I was accused of stealing - even though Mr Dyl knew who the men were who orchestrated the ordering of extra office equipment, and who signed the police report stating it were stolen. Seventeen years after Mr Dyl's attempt to destroy the Church, we are still here and proud to be who we are. I pray for him.

To those who actually believe what they are reading, please, please, think about what you are reading. If a man is all that the articles state, take him to court and let the courts decide. Instead, they are crucifying me in the press and printing all sorts of allegations and untruthful statements so that others will believe them. This has greatly damaged my name and because of that – the Church. They constantly make us have to defend ourselves and spend time and money on damage control. I invite Mr Anthony Dyl to come and discuss these matters with me face-to-face, and I challenge Ms Meghan Barr to produce court records or police reports to substantiate what she printed. As for the Greek Orthodox clergy who felt the need to make statements against us, how Christ-like is that? We have letters from our attorney at that time where Attorney Elenie Suszagh states: "The attorney for the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese emphatically states that there is not one indicia of negative information as to the character or history of the Archbishop."  As one Armenian Bishop said about this, "The spiritual leader of (this) Church, His Eminence Archbishop Stephen Robert Thomas is a good pastor of said Church, a servant of Jesus, and of his flock, to that end that Christ likeness may become common property." Almost all the students and graduates signed questionnaires sent to them in 1994 stating no fraud was ever used in their dealings with the school that was closed. One particular letter came from a Roman Catholic priest who graduated from our program. It states: "In all of the brochures, pamphlets, school curricula, etc., never was there mention that Notre Dame de Lafayette University was accredited by any Regional Accrediting Agency." Mr Dyl made many such statements against us in 1994 and after, most without any proof. The same priest also wrote: "I have been given some information. If much of this information is true, I believe that it is a disgrace and an inappropriate reaction toward Archbishop Thomas and others who are currently having charges of inappropriate behavior and so on lodged against them. It is a most foolish thing indeed."  I could go on with hundreds of testimonials that will prove that there was no justice in Colorado – but justice will prevail in time.

We want to thank His Beatitude for taking the time to answer these questions. I know how much pain he has suffered, and is suffering now having to go through this again. It is good that many people want this matter to be placed into the appropriate venue for your our exoneration. I am certain that all the clergy and members of the Church join me when I say, Thank You, We Love You, and we are proud to have you as our Primate. May God bless you with many more years!

ORTHODOX BITS N' PIECES

QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

Q. Are the Oriental Orthodox Churches considered to be "Eastern Rites?" MaryAnn Sposato (Merrillville IN)

A. The Oriental Orthodox and Eastern Orthodox Churches both have Eastern (Byzantine) and Western (Occidental) Rites. Both are considered Eastern Rite as they profess the faith of the Early Church although may differ from one another in semantics and customs. The Syriac Orthodox Patriarchate has a Western Rite along with its own Eastern Rite, and a westernized Byzantine Rite exists within the Syriac-Greek Antiochene Rite in which the Liturgy of the Mass of St Gregory the Great is used.

Q. What does "enarxis" mean? John Szabo (Madison WI)

A. The "Enarxis of the Liturgy" is that portion which begins with the Doxology and ends with the Trisagion. This term is common among many of the Orthodox Catholic jurisdictions including the Syriac-Greek Antiochene Rite.

Q. Who is St Gregorios of Parumala? Jeff Nolan (South Bend IN)

A. St Gregorios is the first saint to be glorified in the Malankara Syrian Orthodox Church. Parumala, a small town in Pathanamthitta district in Kerala India is where the Tomb of St Gregorios is located. His feast day is November 2nd although some commemorate his feast on November 1st and 2nd. The tomb holding his remains draws thousands upon thousands of people annually who come from all over India and many other countries. The government in India has recognized the site as the International Pilgrim Center. The tomb is also visited daily by thousands of pilgrims from all over who come to pray at the tomb of this great saint. Miracles and many other wonders have been witnessed at his tomb. He was a holy man who fought for social reform and served humanity without ceasing and doing all he could.

 If you have a question about the faith or the Orthodox Catholic Church, please send it to OCH Editor, 7815 Akron Canfield Road, Canfield OH 44406.

DOMESTIC PARISHES & PRAYER GROUPS

The Syriac-Greek Antiochian Archdiocese of the Eastern Orthodox Catholic Church, like other small Orthodox jurisdictions, realizes that there are members who live far away from the nearest parish to them. In some cases, there are parishes of other jurisdictions that are in communion with us or in which mutual recognition has been exchanged. In such cases our members may attend those churches until one of ours is opened in their locality. In other cases, there are those living in an area with no parish at all to attend, and for them they may belong to an existing parish and be on its rolls as a member. Such persons would be allowed to use the Typica Service within their homes on Sunday and Holy Days. Domestic Churches, Chapels, and Prayer Groups may be established in homes until a parish or mission can be officially established. "Distance Parishioners" would also be allowed to make their 10% tithe to the parish attached to uniting them to it in good standing. For further information contact His Eminence Archbishop Timothy at rbsocc@juno.com or St Sophia Monastery Inn and Retreat Center, 7815 Akron Canfield Road, Canfield OH 44406. If you are interested in assisting the Archdiocese in establishing a mission parish in your area, please write to us.

  APPOINTMENTS & ASSIGNMENTS

• His Grace Bishop Joshua appointed Episcopal Vicar over the States of North Carolina and South Carolina for the Archdiocese by His Eminence Archbishop Timothy, effective July 1, 2010.
• Brother Vincent Cappabianca CSB appointed Assistant Chancellor for the Archdiocese on August 4, 2010 by His Beatitude Metropolitan Stephen.
• Dr Vasilios (Basil) Gikas appointed Legate for Ecclesiastical Affairs in Greece for the Holy Metropolis, this being effective as of January 01, 2011.

MONASTIC RECEPTIONS + PROFESSION OF VOWS

• Vincent Cappabianca blessed as a postulant on August 1, 2010 in the Community of St Basil by Metropolitan Stephen at St Nicholas Chapel in Canfield Ohio. He was accepted as a candidate on July 07, 2010.
• Andrew Trinh blessed as a postulant for the Community of St Basil on August 29, 2010 by His Eminence Archbishop Timothy at St Nicholas Chapel in Canfield Ohio. He was accepted as a candidate on July 19, 2010.

OFFICIAL FROM HOLY METROPOLIS

Monastic Community of St Basil – (10.07.10.1) The Primate has changed the name of the monastic community of the Church from "Monastic Community of St Basil" to simply "Community of St Basil" since there are many single clergy within it who are not under the monastic vow of poverty. Therefore, the letters "MCSB" has been changed to "CSB" for the male monastic community. The monastic nuns will use "SSB" that stands for "Sisters of St Basil. These are the letters to be used after names, et cetera. This takes effect immediately.

Revised Divine Liturgy of the Mass – (10.09.10.1) The Holy Metropolis has completed the Syriac-Greek Antiochene Rite of the Liturgy (Mass) of St Gregory. Clergy are encouraged to order this newly revised Liturgikon by December 30, 2010. It also contains the Rite of Benediction, Mystery of Confession (Penance), and Morning Prayer. The Liturgikon will be added to without charge throughout the next year until completed in full.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Stewards of the Holy Metropolis
The following were inducted:

• His Grace Bishop Joshua Winters of North Carolina (02.23.11)

Forthcoming Ordinations Announced

The Holy Metropolis has announced the approval of the following men to be ordained priests and deacons for the Syriac-Greek Antiochian Vicariate of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The date to be announced. Those subdeacons that will be ordained Deacon and then Priest on the following day because of the length of time they have been waiting are listed first.

Candidates for the Diaconate/Priesthood:

• Subdeacon Kabangi Floribert
• Subdeacon Laurent Kabosani
• Subdeacon Joachim Kingwesi
• Subdeacon Joseph Mabedi
• Subdeacon Denis Mpongo Malumba

Candidates for the Diaconate:

• Subdeacon Francois Bazaba
• Subdeacon Aime' Manzensa

PAROCHIAL CHARTERS

Established:

• Holy Trinity Gift Shop & Bookstore, Canfield OH (02.09.11)

DISCIPLINARY MATTERS

Anthony Luebke, deposed priest, has been removed from the canonical registry of the Archdiocese on December 05, 2010 for serious acts of inappropriate conduct. He was found guilty of breaking policies regarding the Seal of Confession, and was accused of inappropriate conduct by several persons at St Sophia Monastery Inn that were investigated and found to have merit. This man should not be welcomed into any other jurisdiction without consulting with our Archdiocesan Chancery.

PRAY FOR THE SICK AND SUFFERING

• His Holiness Patriarch Ignatius Zakka of Antioch
• His Beatitude Metropolitan Stephen (Ohio)
• His Eminence Archbishop Timothy (Ohio)
• His Eminence Archbishop Anthony (New York)
• Archdeacon John DeMeis (New York)
• Dr Joseph Bannon DCh (California)
• Rev Mother Helena (Bofey) SCSB (African Congo)
• Mrs Gretchen Lejeune (Texas)
• Mr Hampton Bumgarner (New Jersey)
• Mr Dominic Winger (Alaska)
• Mr Vincent Cappabianca (Ohio)
• Mr Vincent Colombo (Indiana)
• Dr Audrey Daniel DCh (South Carolina)
• Chorbishop Haralambos Winger (Alaska)
• VR Archpriest Thomas Dillon (New Jersey)
• Dr Marge Ebeling DCh (Arizona)
• Mrs Sherry Ellison (South Carolina)
• Father Paul Jensen (Texas)
• Father Seraphim Kanagaratnam (Malaysia)
• Father Padraig Kneafsey (Ireland)
• Father Patrick Lemming (Tennessee)
• Father Vladimir Raasch (Minnesota)
• Mr Andrew Lucas (Illinois)
• VR Archimandrite Anthony Luebke (Ohio)
• Mr Alexi J Mason (Arizona)
• Mr Carl Maus (Maryland)
• Fr Deacon Thomas Monroe (Colorado)
• Father Sebastian Robles (Canada)
• Dr Karla VonEhrenkrook DCh (Arizona)
• Ms Sandra Wiechnik (Indiana)
• Mr Howard Youngheim (Indiana)
• Our Armed Forces everywhere, who are suffering, injured, or who have lost their lives protecting the freedom of others.
• For all our God-loving Bishops, Priests, Deacons, Seminarians, Monks, and Nuns, both living and dead, and especially our Most Reverend Metropolitan Stephen, that they will all have good health and many years.

REST IN PEACE!

Antionette Toni (Colombo) Jovanovic of Valparaiso Indiana, February 4th, 2011, who passed away into the hands of Our Lord from a long battle with cancer. She is the cousin of His Beatitude Metropolitan Stephen.

The Church remembers a missionary bishop who passed away:  His Grace Bishop Samuel Akanwa of Mbaise Imo Nigeria, first Vicar Bishop, who passed away in 2007.

Note: If you, or someone you know, is sick or suffering, please let us know and you (or they) will be added to the OCH Prayer List. Send full name, address and age. Thank you.

You are asked to consider a donation to help the Metropolia with all its programs by sending yours to Metropolis, 7815 Akron Canfield Road, Canfield Ohio 44406; or by using your credit card to make a donation through PayPal at http://rbsocc.org/donations.html. All donations are tax-deductible.

ST VARNAVA

Varnava of Hvosno the New Confessor was auxiliary bishop of Hvosno and is a saint of the Eastern Orthodox Church. His feast is October 30 on Julian Calendar. Varnava was born Vojislav Nasti¥ in Gary, Indiana, on January 31, 1914 into a family of Serbian immigrants. His father and mother were Atanasije and Zorka Nasti¥. When Vojislav was a child, his parents returned to their homeland. Vojislav attended high school in Sarajevo, graduating in 1933. He continued his education at the University of Belgrade's Faculty of Orthodox Theology, graduating in 1937. After graduating he taught as a catechist in two high schools in Sarajevo.

In 1940, Vojislav took monastic vows in Mileševa Monastery, receiving the name Varnava. The Metropolitan of Dabar-Bosna ordained Varnava hierodeacon. Dn. Varnava remained in Sarajevo during World War II. Croatian fascists, however, tried to force him to join the "Croatian Orthodox Church" which they had organized to subvert the Serbian population in Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina. Dn. Varnava categorically refused this. Soon he had to leave Sarajevo in order to save his life. After war he was ordained hieromonk and raised to the rank of protosyncellos by Bishop Nektarije of Zvornik and Tuzla. In its first regular session, the Holy Assembly of the Serbian Orthodox Church elected Fr Varnava auxiliary bishop to the Patriarch of Serbia with the title Bishop of Hvosno, with the responsibility of administering the Diocese of Dabar-Bosna. Patriarch Gavrilo, Bishop Nektarije, and Bishop Vikentije of Zletovo and Strumica consecrated him on May 20, 1947.

In his new position Bp. Varnava began openly criticizing the new communist regime for mistreating the church. He was soon arrested and sentenced to twenty years in prison. To support the accusation that he was an American spy, it was presented as evidence that he was teaching his sister English so she could be used as a spy for the Americans. Bishop Varnava was subjected to torture, lack of food, and was kept in the most isolated wing of the prison. But Bishop Varnava remained calm. Every day he sang the troparia and other hymns. The communist Government even arranged an accident in order to get rid of him in which he broke his leg. Although the communist secret police, OZNA, did not allow doctors to provide him any medical help, he recovered. He was released after accident to house arrest in the Gomionica Monastery in the Diocese of Banja Luka until his release in 1960. He died on November 12, 1964, in suspicious circumstances, leading some historians to believe that he was poisoned by OZNA. In 2005, during the regular session of the Holy Assembly of Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church Bishop Varnava was canonized and his name was added to the list of other saints of the Serbian people and of Orthodox Christian faith.

* September, 2005 issue of Clergy Messenger PDF (329 KiB), the newsletter of the Clergy Brotherhood of the Serbian Orthodox Church in the USA and Canada, with a biography of St. Varnava

 * Communique from the annual Assembly of Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church for 2005.

METROPOLIS REMINDS PRIESTS OF THEIR OBLIGATIONS

[Canfield OH] His Beatitude Metropolitan Stephen has issued a strong statement to His Eminence Archbishop Timothy and all clergy of the Archdiocese concerning their obligations to God and the Church. The Archdiocesan Chancery has received some complaints from various people who have looked for places to attend Sunday Liturgy and could not locate such based on information given. This may be primarily because of the lack of signage announcing the location of the parish or chapel and times of services. His Beatitude warns that being a priest means much more than putting on the clerical garb. Priests are to actively establish parishes in their locations that will serve the people of God. The priesthood is not a service to one's self, but to others. Those who fail to open a mission parish or chapel that is open to the public fails to honor their vows and disgrace the priesthood of Christ. His Beatitude has also advised that a letter will be sent to all clergy that will require them to send photos of their parish or chapel along with signage outside that displays the schedule of services that are open to the public.

His Eminence Archbishop Timothy reminds all clergy that the priesthood is a gift – a talent – that should not be buried but should be proudly used in honor of Christ God. He who made this possible. The Archdiocesan Chancery will give guidance to any priest who is having difficulty in organizing his mission simply by contacting us by email, mail, or by telephone. There are many ways to serve, e.g., hospital chaplaincies, nursing homes, prison ministry, and starting a religious education program in the rectory for those interested. Placing ads in the local papers is also a good way to let others know of your presence.

HANDMADE ITEMS FROM UGANDA ON SALE AT BOOKSTORE/GIFT SHOP

[Canfield OH] Father Christopher Tamale sent some beautiful handmade items from Kiboga Uganda to be sold at Holy Trinity Bookstore & Gift Shop in Canfield Ohio. The profits from these items will be sent to Uganda to help the mission parishes there in their survival. If you wish to purchase some by mail, please contact the bookstore and ask for a catalog of items and price list. There are change purses, purses for women, hats, jewelry, coconut bracelets, and many other beautifully handmade gifts. The Metropolis has several very poor parishes in Uganda. There are also two schools for children in Uganda under our omophor. We are asking that all try to make a purchase to help with the great poverty being experience by the faithful. If you wish to assist please contact St Sophia Monastery Inn, Holy Trinity Bookstore, 7815 Akron Canfield Road, Canfield OH 44406. You can call (330) 533.4048 and ask for bookstore. You can also just send a cash donation by check or via PayPal. Please mark your donation for Uganda Vicariate.