Fasting

Written by His Holiness Moran Mor Ignatius Zakka I Iwas
Edited from article found at fasting

Definition

Fasting is a voluntary act of abandoning worldly life. It is a sign of man's obedience to, and respect of God's laws and his observance of God's offices by his voluntary abstinence from food or drink for a specific period of time, by the end of which he can eat light, small and fat free meals, consisting of cereals, beans fruits and vegetable oils. A fasting person refrains from eating meat and animal products except for fish and all seafood and honey because bees are insects with no fleshly lust.

Grades

Scholar Bar Hebraeus (+1286) states:
"Fasting has three degrees: General, special and exclusive. One may practice general fasting by refraining completely from eating or drinking during daytime and in the evening one eats cereals and beans or one might practice it by refraining from eating meat and animal products during the day. This type of fasting has its own laws and regulations, for so many people might refrain from eating without the intention of practicing fasting and as such they would not be considered as keeping this office.
Special fasting is that type practiced by recluses.
Exclusive fasting is that practiced by the perfect ones, who couple their abstinence from having food and indulgence of senses with purification of soul and by holding themselves back from evil thoughts: The only condition requested for such a type of fasting is the eradication of every mundane thought that might exist deep down one's heart. Although this grade of fasting is so difficult to attain, yet it can be attained so easily through training as the saying goes:
Of our desires the masters we are. With the least granted, they might be content.

Objectives

The main objectives of fasting are the weakening of the lust of the flesh, training the will to control whims and giving the spirit the precious opportunity to transcend mundane desires and be elevated above worldly desires into heavenly thoughts for attaining purification, and being cleansed and becoming able to express the spirit's love of God, Almighty manifesting thus its preference of spiritual life to physical one, making the spirit triumphant over the flesh.

The Apostle Paul says in this context:
" This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would". (Gal.5: 16,17). Apostle Paul says also.
"For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live". (Rom.8: 13). The psalmist says:
"I humbled my soul with fasting" (Ps. 35:13). Humbling the soul is the mourning mentioned by the Lord when defining fasting to the disciples of John saying:
Humbleness and mourning are one and the same thing, which is the evident sign of true Repentance – the ultimate goal of fasting- and one of the conditions of true fasting deemed acceptable to God.
It is not only the body that fasts by abstaining from food or drink or some of it, but the soul as well, which keeps away from sin. Both flesh and soul avoid the motives leading to it.
This can be deduced from the Lord's command in the month of Prophet Joel who says:
"Turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning: And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the Lord your God: for he is gracious and merciful" (Joel 2:12).

Exemption from Fasting

Fasting is enjoined on the faithful who are adults and healthy. The elderly, children, babies, sick people, nursing, postpartum and pregnant women are necessarily exempted.

Fasting in the Old Testament

God Almighty, enjoined the first man to fast when he commanded him in the Garden of Eden saying "Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die". (Gen. 16:17).

Adam's failure to keep God's command and obey him by abstaining from eating from the forbidden fruit resulted in his expulsion from the Garden of Eden and in being sent to the land of suffering and torment. Needless to say that the food of the first man was free of meat and limited to cereals beans and fruits in the Garden of Eden. This is supported by God's address to Adam and Eve. "Behold I have given you every herb bearing seed, to you it shall be for meat". (Gen. 1:29). It was only after the flood that God permitted man, represented by Noah, to eat meat. (Gen. 9:3).

Fasting for Repentance

When Prophet Jonah warned the people of Nineveh according to the word of the Lord saying:
" Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown. So the people of Nineveh believed God, and proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them even to the least of them. For word came unto the king of Nineveh, and he arose from his throne and he laid his robe from him, and covered him with sackcloth, and sat in ashes. And he caused it to be proclaimed and published through Nineveh by the decree of the king and his nobles, saying, Let neither man nor beast, herd nor flock, taste anything: let them not feed, nor drink water: But let man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and cry mightily unto God: yea, let them turn everyone from his evil way, and from the violence that is in their hands. Who can tell if God will turn and repent, and turn away from his fierce anger, that we perish not? And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God repented of the evil, that he had said that he would do unto them; and he did it not. (Jon 3:1-10).

Fasting in Christianity

In the New Testament, it was Lord Jesus who set the law of fasting in Christianity when he fasted forty days and forty nights (Matt 4:2).

"He did eat nothing: and when they were ended, he afterward hungered". (Luke 4:2).
Lord Jesus was not in need for fasting. He fasted to set us an example. He enjoined fasting on us to demonstrate to us its powerful spiritual impact especially when coupled with prayer. Fasting coupled with prayer will, therefore, be an effective spiritual weapon that will destroy Satan and his troops, our spiritual enemies. The Lord revealed this to us when He said:
"Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting". (Matt 17-21).

The Lord's words were deemed as an authorization, he vested his disciples with, to set dates of fasting. Accordingly the Holy Apostles and the righteous disciples started fasting after the Lord's ascension to heaven. They fasted on diverse occasions and in different ways. In "The Acts of the Apostles" we read the following about them:

"As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them. And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away" (Acts 13:2,3).
The Apostle Paul prides himself on keeping the practice of fasting by saying:

"But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in labors, in watchings, in fastings". (2 Cor. 6:4-5).

In addition to that His Holy Spirit, which poured out on them at Pentecost, inspired them to arrange the rites and do the service of His Holy Sacraments, that are necessary for the economy of His Church.

The Lord had illustrated the best way practiced in the fasting approved by God.
He warned His disciples saying: "when ye fast, be not as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face; That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly". (Matt. 6:16-18).
Jesus Christ instituted the principle of fasting and praying and vested the church with authority to regulate dates and times convenient for the believers to practice them.
"When ye fast" is a reference of the Lord to fasting prescribed under the law. The Lord does not mean by that that one has the full freedom to adhere to the practice of fasting or to refuse it, otherwise His words "When thou prayest" (Matt 6:5) would have meant that one is free to be committed to praying or not and that there should be no places for worship, no congregational prayer, no call for prayer or specific hours for praying.

The Apostle Paul, while commending married couples to keep spousal rights, stated that the married couples should not copulate during fasting days, saying
"Defraud ye not one the other, except it be with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again, that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency" (1 Cor. 7:5).
Some people object to practicing fasting arguing that fasting is against the Lord's will who says:
"Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man". (Matt. 15:11).
It is quite clear that the Lord does not mean to say that we should not fast, for He is the one who set us the example of true fasting which is approved by God. In fact He aimed at refuting the objections of the Pharisees when they beheld the Lord's disciples eating without washing their hands according to the Pharisees ritual rinsing which they consider as compulsory for cleansing man before eating. No matter how clean one's hands might be one shall have to practice these formality rites in order to be cleansed. They also had their own special way of washing food, which would be considered defiled if this ritualistic way of washing was not applied.

Lord Jesus refuted their void views and showed them the importance of purity of the heart saying:
"Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which comes out of the mouth that defileth a man (Matt.15: 11). This means that it's the sinful thoughts and filthy words that come out of the heart of a sinful man that defile man.
Fasting, therefore, is a divine prescription and a heavenly providence practiced by the Lord Jesus himself, who taught us to adhere to it. He vested his Holy Apostles with authority to set dates for it and illustrate ways of practicing it through which the believers can best express their faith in God, their adherence to his offices and their preference of soul to the body and angelic life to worldly materialistic life.

Order of Fasts in the New Testament

Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever, ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven". (Matt 18:15-18).
Glory be to the Lord who said to St. Peter the chief of the Apostles:
"And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven." (Matt. 16:19).

By virtue of this spiritual authority vested in the church by the Lord, General Canonical fasts were arranged, to which people and clergy were obliged to be committed. They were held sinful if they refused to abide by them, because listening to the commands of the church means obeying God, and rebellion against Church's Commands is deemed a rebellion against the Lord.

Ever since the dawn of Christianity both clergy and laity practiced fasting which means abstinence from food or drink for a period of time set by the church. It also means abstinence from eating meat and animal products afterwards during fasting. All Apostolic Churches all over the world have agreed to sanctify the principles of fasting and have always considered it a divine prescription and a Holy office.

Easter Fast

The first fast instituted by the church is Easter fast. It is also called passions Fast, in which the believers abstain from eating and drinking from Good Friday, the Commemoration day of the Lord's passions, his Crucifixion, and death, through the dawn of Resurrection Sunday in sympathy with the enlivening passions undergone by our Lord Jesus Christ for our sake and for the salvation of humanity.

The church used to practice this fast and celebrate the Commemoration of Lord Jesus' Passions and His Resurrection once every thirty-three years. The church, however, started celebrating this fast annually due to the fact that a lot of people were born and died without having the chance of witnessing this Commemorative Celebration.

In the long run four days were added to the beginning of this fast to become one whole week, called Passion Week, during which people used to abstain from eating or drinking until late afternoon and would breakfast by eating just bread and drinking salty water. Nowadays people abstain from eating till noon or the afternoon and have afterward fasting food free from meat and animal products and consisting of cereals, beans and fruits. People abstained even from eating sweets in sympathy with the Passions of the redeemer, who was given, when thirsty, vinegar mingled with gall.

Lent

It was in the third century AD that Lent was initiated to which the Fast of Passion Week, practiced a long time earlier, was added in the second quarter of the fourth century. With the addition of Passion Week, Lent, therefore, lasted seven weeks. . Lent was enjoined on the faithful as a reminder of the struggle of Lord Jesus and of His fasting in the wilderness.

The Lord, who is in no need for fasting, started his public divine economy in the flesh by fasting. "He fasted forty days and forty nights, He was afterwards an hungered" (Matt.4: 2). He did that in order to teach us the practice of fasting and the spiritual struggle against Satan.
He triumphed over Satan, the tempter, and endowed us with the power to defeat Satan in the name of the Lord. Moreover he revealed to us once the mystery of spiritual triumph saying:
"Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting". (Matt. 17:21).

In Sanctification of Sunday our Holy Syrian Church does not start any fast on a Sunday. In the event of such coincidence fasting starts on Monday morning in honor of Lord's day and consequently the number of fasting days will be one day less that year.
No wedding festivities were permitted during Lent pursuant to a decision taken by the Council of Laodecea in 364. That Council prohibited also the celebration of the Holy Liturgy and of the commemoration of martyrs on any day in Lent other than Saturdays and Sundays.

During Lent the celebration of the Holy Liturgy was replaced by the celebration of the rite of (SYRIAC) or what is called the Pre-Sanctified liturgy- introduced to our church by Patriarch Mar Severus, the Great (+538) early in the sixth century.

During Lent the Holy Liturgy is celebrated only on Saturdays and Sundays, Except for Mid Lent and the 40th. Friday of Lent, Maunday Thursday, and Saturday of Lights. In the event of having Annunciation day falling during Lent, the Holy Liturgy is usually celebrated on that day even if it falls on Good Friday.
The faithful eat fasting food after the Liturgy.
The fifth Canon in "Nomocanon" by Bar Hebraeus, (First Section, Chapter five) stipulates the following:
"The church celebrates Annunciation day on whatever day it may fall", because it is the basis of all Lord's days. Accordingly, no shifting of Holy Days is ever allowed. In respect of fasting on Good Friday or the Saturday of Light, the believers refrain from food or drink on those two days and they say the prayer assigned for this day. In the event of having the Presentation of Lord Jesus into the temple on Monday of Lent, which scarcely happens, then the Holy Liturgy shall be celebrated. This took place in 1915 and will also take place in 2010. In such a case the mass of the commemorative day and the Holy Liturgy shall be celebrated as usual in the morning. The prayer said for fasting shall be said at noon, then the faithful stops his or her abstinence from eating. The prayer of forgiveness (Shubkono) is postponed till the next morning.
The church prohibited drinking wine and all alcoholic drinks during fasts.

The Holy Church's objective of devoting days for fasting is not to prohibit eating certain kinds of food and allow others. It rather aims at subjugating the will of the faithful to God, Almighty, through chastity and practice of sublime virtues, especially the virtue of obedience to God's Commands that are articulated by his ministering servants, the Pontiffs of the church who were vested with the authority to loose and bind, to enact laws and set acts and ordinances for the benefit of the faithful and for the glorification of God's Holy name.

The church is a kind mother and a good teacher and as such she would not lay on the shoulders of the faithful too grievous burdens to bear in observance of God's words:
" Woe unto you also, ye lawyers! For ye lade men with burdens grievous to be borne, and ye yourselves touch not the burdens with one of your fingers". (Luke 11:46).
Based on this concept Late Patriarch Elias III of Good memory (1932) permitted eating fish in Lent, and approved that the faithful in the church of America fast only the first and last weeks of Lent in addition to Wednesdays and Fridays. He permitted breaking the fast the rest of Lent.
In response to the petition submitted by the Church of India Late Patriarch Ephrem I Barsoum (1957) of Good Memory had similar steps taken in relevance to this In addition to shortening the periods of other fasts for all the faithful in AD1946. Late Patriarch Yacoub III of Good Memory (+1980) permitted the Clergy and Laity to fast only in the first and last weeks of Lent in addition to Wednesdays and Fridays, permitting them to eat all sorts of food during the rest of Lent in 1966. He also permitted having festivities, weddings, baptism and liturgies and commemorations on all the days that fall between the two aforementioned weeks.

This tolerance shown by our predecessors, the Holy Patriarchs, towards the faithful by curtailing the period of fasting during Lent is but an expression of mercy lest the faithful might violate the commandment and be subject to God Almighty's wrath, God forbid. Therefore, whoever benefits from this tolerance shall not be considered as sinful. He shall be considered among those who abided by the Commandments. Whoever fasts all the days of Lent in addition to Passion Week shall be double rewarded by God.

Clergy of all hierarchical ranks, except for the sick and the elderly among them, shall have to set a good example for the faithful and be their model in observing the Lord's acts and His Holy Laws by being committed to fasting in Lent and during enlivening Passion Week as practiced by our Holy Forefathers. This can be applied by abstaining from food and drink starting from midnight till after the next midday. The faithful eat afterwards fasting food free of fat. This exemplary way of fasting is highly favored.

Twice a Week Fast, Wednesday and Friday

Ever since the end of the first Century AD the Holy Church instituted fasting on Wednesdays and Fridays weekly instead of Monday and Thursday Fast practiced by pious Jews as illustrated by the parable of the Pharisee and the publican (Luke 18:12).
Christians fast on Wednesday because it was on that day that Jews plotted to arrest Lord Jesus and kill him. They fast on Friday because it is the day on which the Jews crucified the Lord Jesus and he died on the Cross for our Salvation.
A reference to this fast is found in the book titled "The Teachings of the Apostles," which dates back to the end of the First Century or the beginning of the Second Century AD; and in the works of some fathers of the First Century AD.

According to the Apostles teachings both clergy and laity, who fail to observe this fast, shall be pronounced anathema and excommunicated.
It was the custom of the church in old times not to have fasting observed on Wednesdays and Fridays that fall between Resurrection day and Pentecost, and in the event of having the Lord's day, or a commemoration day of the Virgin Mary or of a Patron Saint of the local church or of the region falling on any of them. It was the custom of later generations to allow non-adherence to fasting on Wednesdays and Fridays falling between Christmas and Epiphany.

The faithful in our dioceses in Iraq do not fast on Fridays falling between the Holy fast of Nineveh and Holy Lent, which are Friday of Holy Fathers, Friday of souls of alien faithful, Friday of Souls of all faithful.
Nowadays the faithful fast on Wednesdays and Fridays by abstaining from eating till noon, then they eat fasting food, or they may have fasting food in the morning and at noon:
It is preferable that the faithful eat fasting food throughout Wednesdays and Fridays from the evening through the next evening- the way our fathers practiced fasting ever since the dawn of Christianity.

 

INCORRECT INTERPRETATION OF "CALL NO ONE FATHER"

Submitted by Father Christopher Sarpon

The following is the correct Biblical quote:
Matthew 23:9 "Call no one on earth your father; you have but one Father in heaven."

The key word "your" is in most Bible versions including the King James. The use of this word "your" signifies that only the creator, as Father of the spirit -- that which lasts for all eternity -- is the true "Father." All other references to "father" refer to human beings that in one way or another serve as foster fathers. The argument that "dad" or "pa" or "pop" bears a different significance than the word "father" is to be considered as being close-minded. If one calls someone "dad" with the notion that dad is his creator, and believes that this is okay because it does not go against the literal interpretation contained in Scripture, then many messages of Jesus must be considered as rendered useless. The spirit is of God the Father. The material body (that which is mortal) has a mortal father with a material body. It should be noted that there are 1,511 references to father, fathers. et cetera, in the King James version of Sacred Scripture. Most of these do not refer to God the Father. There is no admonition by Jesus or anyone else that these usages were wrong. When Jesus used the reference your father it would have had little meaning if the basic concept of father was not clearly understood by being in common usage.

  • Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife, and they shall be one flesh. [Genesis 2:24]
  • Who said unto his father and to his mother, I have not seen him; neither did he acknowledge his brethren, nor knew his own children: for they have observed thy word, and kept thy covenant. [Deut. 33:9]
  • But when he heard that Archelaus did reign in Judaea in the room of his father Herod, he was afraid to go thither: notwithstanding, being warned of God in a dream, he turned aside into the parts of Galilee: [Matthew 2:22]
  • And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham. [Matthew 3:9]  — Jesus here made no reference that their concept of "our father Abraham" was in error.
  • And going on from thence, he saw other two brethren, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in a ship with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and he called them. [Matthew 4:21]
  • And the brother shall deliver up the brother to death and the father the child: and the children shall rise up against their parents, and cause them to be put to death. [Mat. 10:21]
  • He that loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. [Matthew 10:37]  — This passage clearly shows that Jesus did not consider the natural use of the term father to be in error, for He Himself uses it in this fashion.
  • I write unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I write unto you, young men, because ye have overcome the wicked one. I write unto you, little children, because ye have known the Father. [1 John 2:13]
  • And the father of circumcision to them who are not of the circumcision only, but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, which he had being yet uncircumcised. [Romans 4:12]
  • Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all. (As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickened the dead, and called those things which be not as though they were. [Romans 4:16-17]

The use of the word "father," in regard to priests only means that a priest acts as a spiritual guide under the authority of God the Father. No one in their right mind thinks that each priest is God the Father or that any human being is their creator. Jesus made this statement to help us focus on our true origins and upon that which has lasting value. This type of message is called a metaphor. It is figurative language used as a method of teaching and not meant-to-be taken literally. It is a way of getting across a message.

One's human father provides for the needs of this life during growth and also acts as teacher and moral guide for the mind and the spirit. A priest is called father because he is intended to act as a link to spiritual values that otherwise would be without authoritative foundation. If one has a concordance -- a catalog of words found in the Bible -- he should look up the word "father" and see the many different ways the term is used in Scripture, particularly in the New Testament. The term "father" in the King James version is used 541 times in the Old Testament and 311 times in the New Testament for a total of 852 times. When Biblical passages are taken out of context and/or interpreted literally one is often going to be in error.

    ADDENDUM:
    Sacred Scripture uses the phrase, "your father," a total of 120 times. The New Testament alone has the following passages where the term "your father" is not used not in reference to God the Father. Jesus Himself uses most of these references, although His mother, Mary, used one, and Saint Paul make one.

  • Matthew 15:4 For God said, 'Honor your father and your mother,' and 'Whoever curses father or mother shall die.'
  • Matthew 19:19 honor your father and your mother'; and 'you shall love your neighbor as yourself.' "
  • Mark 7:10 For Moses said, 'Honor your father and your mother,' and 'Whoever curses father or mother shall die.'
  • Mark 10:19 You know the commandments: 'You shall not kill; you shall not commit adultery; you shall not steal; you shall not bear false witness; you shall not defraud; honor your father and your mother.' "
  • Luke 2:48 When his parents saw him, they were astonished, and his mother said to him, "Son, why have you done this to us? Your father and I have been looking for you with great anxiety." (Obviously it is not God the Father who is hereby referred to as God. The Father in Heaven always knew the exact location of Jesus.)
  • Luke 15:27 The servant said to him, 'Your brother has returned and your father has slaughtered the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.'
  • Luke 18:20 You know the commandments, 'You shall not commit adultery; you shall not kill; you shall not steal; you shall not bear false witness; honor your father and your mother.' "
  • John 8:56 Abraham your father rejoiced to see my day; he saw it and was glad. (How many are willing to say that Jesus broke His own commandment?)
  • 1 Cor. 4:15 Even if you should have countless guides to Christ, yet you do not have many fathers, for I became your father in Christ Jesus through the gospel. (Saint Paul refers to himself as the father of his disciples in Christ Jesus.)
  • Ephesians, 6:2 "Honor your father and mother." This is the first commandment with a promise – that your days may be long.

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    METROPOLIS ASKS PRIESTS TO BE FAITHFUL TO OBLATION

    [Sharon PA] His Beatitude Metropolitan Stephen wants all clergy who are able to comply with the monthly oblation and annual obligations assigned to all clergy of the Church. Some are becoming very relaxed on their obligations according to the financial registry of the Archdiocese, and the Chancery Office. There is no room in the Church for clergy who disobey the decrees of the Holy Metropolis, the policies and traditions of the Church, and their sacerdotal responsibilities, without a dispensation from the Church.

    Clergy of the Archdiocese must, except when it can be proven that there is a hardship, do the following. (1) Support the Holy Metropolis and Archdiocese with a monthly oblation, especially those with a secular employment. (2) Attend and participate in the annual Synod and Conference of the Archdiocese. (3) Perform all the Sacerdotal Obligations or Diaconal Obligations required of clergy. The Church does not want just "priests" but rather "honorable and dedicated priests." We receive information from various persons throughout the year who advise that occasionally, or more often in some cases, that when they try to locate a parish it is fruitless (because of no signage), or they find one but the priest is nowhere to be found. This cannot be tolerated! The Archdiocesan Chancery will be contacting those clergy who are failing in one or more the responsibilities they accepted when ordained. This matter is not to be taken lightly any longer.

    If a member of the clergy is have financial difficulties, they are to communicate this in writing to the Archdiocese Chancery, offering facts and verification of the facts as to why they cannot participate, and asking for a dispensation. They are not to simply ignore requests or policies as though they are the Archdiocese or exempt from participating. This advisement and the policy implied in it go into effect on January 1, 2012.

     

    CHRIST'S TWO NATURES UNITED IN THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY

    From the Coptic Orthodox Church

    There is no difference in the procession of the Holy Spirit and the Holy Trinity but there was on the nature of Christ. The Catholic church and Greek Orthodox church confess that Christ's divinity and humanity were separate - while the Coptic Orthodox church confesses it was united here is their perspective - (a difference between the Copts and Greeks).

    The Lord Jesus Christ is God Himself, the Incarnate Logos Who took to Himself a perfect manhood. His Divine nature is one with his human nature yet without mingling, confusion or alteration; a complete Hypostatic Union. Words are inadequate to describe this union. It was said, that without controversy, "Great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifested in the flesh, (1 Tim. 3:16).As this union is permanent, never divided nor separated, we say in the liturgy that His Godhead never departed from His manhood for a single moment nor even for a twinkle of an eye. The Divine nature (God the Word) was united with the human nature, which He took of the Virgin Mary, by the action of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit purified and sanctified the Virgin's womb so that the Child to whom she gave birth would inherit nothing of the original sin; the flesh formed of her blood was united with the Only-Begotten Son. This unity took place from the first moment of the Holy Pregnancy in the Virgin's womb.

    As a result of the unity of both natures-the Divine and the human-inside the Virgin's womb, one nature was formed out of both: "The One Nature of God the Incarnate Logos" as St. Cyril called it.

    The Holy Church did not find an expression more reliable, deep and precise than that which was used by St. Cyril the Great, and which St. Athanasius the Apostolic used before him. Both of them were true leaders in the theological field worldwide When the church participated in the dialogue arranged by the Pro Oriente group in Vienna, Austria in September 1971 between the Roman Catholic Church and the ancient Oriental Orthodox Churches concerning the Nature of Christ. The point of discussion was St. Cyril's expression "One Nature of God the Incarnate Logos" (Mia Physis Tou Theou Logou Sesarkwmene). After the schism which took place in the year 451 AD, when the Coptic Orthodox Church rejected the notions of the Council of Chalcedon and its theological struggles, we were called "Monophysites" that is, those who believe in the "One Nature". Sharing the beliefs of the Coptic Orthodox Church are the Syrians, the Syriac-Greek Antiochians, the Armenians, the Ethiopians, and the Indians (Malankara Orthodox) who were also called "Non-Chalcedonian" Orthodox Churches. On the other hand, the Chalcedonian Catholic and Greek Churches believe in the two natures of Christ; the Protestant Churches also hold this belief. Consequently, these churches are known as "Diophysites" - believers in the two natures of Christ. The Roman - or Chalcedonian - Orthodox Churches include those of Constantinople, Greece, Cyprus, Russia, Romania, Hungary and Serbia as well as the Roman Orthodox Churches of Egypt, Syria, Lebanon, America and the St. Catherine Monastery in the Sinai desert. The term "Monophysites" used for the believers in the One Nature has been intentionally or unintentionally misinterpreted throughout certain periods of history. Consequently, the Coptic and the Syrian Churches in particular were cruelly persecuted because of their belief, especially during the period which started from the Council of Chalcedon held in 451 AD and continued to the conquest of the Arabs in Egypt and Syria (about 641 AD).

    This misinterpretation continued along history as though we believed in one nature of Christ and denied the other nature. We wonder which of the two natures the Church of Alexandria denies?

    Is it the Divine nature? Certainly not, for our Church was the most fervent defender against the Arian heresy in the Council of Nicea, held in the year 325 AD, as well as before and after that. Or is it The Lord's human nature that the Church of Alexandria denies? St. Athanasius of Alexandria resolved this entirely in the oldest and greatest book on this subject The Incarnation of the Word,

    The expression "One Nature" does not indicate the Divine nature alone or the human nature alone, but it indicates the unity of both natures into One Nature, which is "The Nature of the Incarnate Logos". The same applies when we speak about our human nature, which comprises two united natures: the soul and the body. Thus, man's nature is neither the soul alone nor the body alone, but their union in one nature called human nature. St. Cyril the Great taught us not to talk about two natures after their unity. So we can say that the Divine nature united hypostatically with the human nature within the Virgin's womb, but after this unity we do not ever speak again about two natures of Christ. In fact, the expression "two natures" implies in itself division or separation, and although those who believe in "the two natures" admit unity, the tone of separation was obvious in the Council of Chalcedon. This was a matter that prompted us to reject the Council and caused the exile of St. Dioscorus of Alexandria.

    However the Catholic Church now accepts the Copts belief, and here is the agreed statement on Christology: 

    "We believe that our Lord, God and Savior Jesus Christ, the Incarnate - Logos is perfect in His Divinity and perfect in His Humanity. He made His humanity One with His Divinity without Mixture, nor Mingling, nor Confusion. His Divinity was not separated from His Humanity even for a moment or twinkling of an eye. At the same time, we anathematize the Doctrines of both Nestorius and Eutyches".

     

    GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH SETTLES LAWSUIT

    San Francisco Chronicle/September 22, 2008

    By Seth Rosenfeld

    Thirty-two years old, struggling with severe mental illness, the man turned in desperation to his church, the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of San Francisco. But soon after the man implored the Rev. Michael Rymer to be his "spiritual father" and guide him through his troubles, the priest allegedly seduced him without revealing that he had been exposed to HIV, court records show. The priest allegedly entangled the mentally ill parishioner in a long-running, illicit relationship, offering religious salvation while inflicting sexual abuse. "I was going to Father Michael when I was in my worst state," the man later testified. "When I would go to him to help me, he would help me, and afterward he would take advantage of me. That was his method of continual operation over and over again." Over a 14-year-period, several church officials learned that the priest was HIV-positive, and they suspected he was having sex with his parishioner, according to court records. But they did not report Rymer's misconduct. The priest's alleged sexual abuse of his vulnerable parishioner seemed destined to remain a secret masked by a church hierarchy steeped in tradition rich with incense and icons. But the man's psychiatrists urged him to complain. And with encouragement from a San Francisco-based watchdog organization that monitors sex abuse in the Eastern Orthodox Church, he filed a lawsuit accusing the priest of sexual battery and the church of negligence. Rymer and the church have denied wrongdoing. But after San Francisco Superior Court Judge Patrick Mahoney ruled that the church might face potentially high punitive damages, the defendants settled the case at a closed court hearing on Thursday from which members of the media and the public were excluded. The man's lawyers, Terry Gross and Monique Alonso, declined to comment but said in court papers that despite blatant evidence of clerical misconduct, "the Church deliberately turned a blind eye." Carla Hartley and William Wilson, attorneys for the church, also declined comment but said in a brief that the church had acted appropriately.

    Many Lawsuits against Church
    The Rymer case is the latest sex abuse settlement to roil the 1.5 million-member Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America. In the past decade, the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese has paid more than $10 million to settle sex abuse cases, according to the Church. The Archdiocese faces pending lawsuits alleging sex abuse by priests in Texas, Florida, Illinois and Arizona. Meanwhile, more than two dozen Greek Orthodox priests around the country have been criminally convicted, sanctioned by the church or sued for sexually abusing parishioners, according to the San Francisco-based watchdog group. The organization is called Pokrov, for an Orthodox Church icon that represents the protection of Mary, Mother of God. The group was founded by two mothers, Cappy Larson and Melanie Jula Sakoda, who contend that their children were sexually abused at the Holy Trinity Cathedral, an Eastern Orthodox Church on Van Ness Avenue. The church denied wrongdoing, Larson said, but paid a settlement. Clergy abuse has afflicted many religious denominations, most prominently the Roman Catholic Church, which according to published accounts, has paid more than $1 billion to victims. But while the Catholic Church has been forced to deal with clergy sexual misconduct, "the Orthodox churches still view themselves as above the law," Sakoda said in a statement. "Their arrogance creates a dangerous milieu for children as well as vulnerable adults."

    Editor's Note: We believe that Mr Rosenfeld's statement, "the Orthodox churches still view themselves as above the law," is most unfair. Not all Orthodox Churches feel this way at all. This article was written because of wrongdoings in the Greek Orthodox Church of the Archdiocese of North America. Some jurisdictions, e.g., the Syriac-Greek Antiochian Archdiocese, have never been convicted of any sexual abuse cases, and we would not care to be associated with or included with those who have.

     

    GUILTY PLEAS IN GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH BINGO HALL SCAMS

    [New York Post] The president, a church officer and the security of a corporation that used a church bingo hall to scam $830,000 from a charity plead guilty today for their malicious scheme.

    Spiros Moshopoulos, 62, Tommy Skiada, 49 and Daniella Radulescu, 46 admitted to grand larceny charges after illegally operating a bingo hall in the name of various inactive charities under the umbrella of the Romanian Orthodox Church of Sts Constantine & Helen which is under the supervision of the Greek Orthodox Church. Moshopoulos, the president of Spimos Enterprise, Inc., Skiada, the security and Radulescu, the church officer were facing 15 years in prison for the 714-count indictment will be sentenced to a three-year conditional discharge on April 6.

     

    HANDMADE ITEMS FROM UGANDA ON SALE AT BOOKSTORE/GIFT SHOP

    [Sharon PA] Father Christopher Tamale sent some beautiful handmade items from Kiboga Uganda to be sold at Saint Nicholas Center in Sharon Pennsylvania. 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 Brother Vincent Cappabianca CSB, 456 Nimick Street, Sharon PA 16146, and a catalog will be sent. You can call (724) 308.6218. You can also just send a cash donation by check or via PayPal. Please mark your donation for Uganda Vicariate and payable to "EOCC."

     

    KYRIE ELEISON

      By St. Michael Press
      Vol. 6, No. 1 – April 2011
      Editor – Deacon John H. Vesey
      Haralambos © 2011

    The Unity Prayer of Jesus Christ: God in the Flesh

    By Metropolitan Archbishop + Haralambos

    Beware of the Pharisees and their traditions that pre-empted what Jesus Christ wanted to do. Being God in the Flesh, He had nothing to prove to anyone. He spoke the Word of Truth and He spoke in Spirit and in Truth. However, even in His time, the Pharisees were so profoundly embedded with traditions, and these were so indelibly placed upon their spirits that they couldn't understand some of His actions and even His words. He received opposition on all sides. In fact, He had come to minister to the sick and they were against that. In other words, let all people who are ill meet together and let them be corrupt and go to hell in their sins; yet Christ was there to prevent that.

    What Is Happening Now?
    The same thing is happening today. We are gaining a Pharisaic attitude with our rituals, with the placing of our hearts. God accepts only one kind of heart – a contrite heart –, which has been achieved because of the repentance of your sins. Now, if you don't think you have committed any sins – and you can go smoothly through your spiritual life without the provisions of Christ – you are wrong. Those are the Seven Sacraments that you still enjoy in the church. But don't confuse the Seven Sacraments with the philosophy of the Church today. The Church today – the True Church of Christ – probably would be more acceptable if it were in the right place, because you cannot deny the Power of the Holy Spirit. We also know     that Christ, in Saint John, Chapter 17, prayed for unity, and you have to ask yourself why there is so much disunity? It's because they have lost the fervor and the meaning of why Christ even existed and came to earth – to be an example for us.

    What bothers me today is that the Church not only is still in it Pharisaic mode, but that it's making enough mistakes where it's not coming as the Church Militant and it's not coming against those who would DEMOTE Christ. We have become very complacent, because of what do we don't say and do. We say, they believe in a God, too. Their Allah is God. That's not true, but that is what we say.

    What the Holy Spirit Teaches Us.
    Let me demonstrate to you what I believe the Holy Spirit is teaching us. This is quite clear: You cannot demote Christ from His Godly Throne. While He walked the earth, He was God in the Flesh. If you can't say that, you are splitting the Trinity and if you split the Trinity you aren't where you should be in our Christian faith. How do you demote Christ? One way is by calling Him a prophet. He wasn't just a prophet. He was God in the Flesh. And when He prayed the Unity Prayer, He prayed to Himself, or the Father: You in Me and Me in You were one and the same. He was declaring that for our benefit. That is what happens today when you speak of Islam and even the Judaic faith that we seem to want to compromise our faith as believers of Christ being God in the Flesh. Another way you can demote Christ is by becoming an antithesis to the Truth and Faith, and you do this by accepting an anti-Christos – a substitute Christ. By making an anti-Christos, you have demoted Him and taken Him away from His Kingly position and throne as God, having come down from the full meaning that He came down here to earth. He came here for what purpose? To correct the sinners, to give them a different way of life and also to reveal Himself.

    The Revelation of God
    The Revelation of God is astounding to me, especially when you really believe what He was and what He did. The fact that He came down from His heavenly throne and that it was God actually lowering Himself to our level. He did this not only so we would understand, but so we would follow His example. He laid out all of the examples and that's the basis for the Gospel readings, especially the Gospel reading for today. It was in Timothy where it pretty well lays out the contract of the Church, which was read today, and what is expected of us in the Church. The Gospel itself is nothing more than the actual action of God while He was here, and what He said. Stop and think about that. If God said those words, then those are the words that we should follow. So, anything that contradicts our Scripture – that we as Orthodox and we as believers – we need to make the world understand that our Divine Liturgy and the words that we pray are all taken from Holy Scripture. They weren't man-made. Saint John Chrysostom did NOT generate and invent those words. He put them together in a man-made fashion so we could repeat them in the Divine Liturgy whenever we consecrate it. But they are all – and that includes the Catholic Church too – based on the Holy Scripture. In that way, we are no different than our Protest-ant cousins who profess to believe in "Scripture only". We are "Scripture only" too, because anything we invent – any passing, any holiday, any celebration that's not in Scripture – is man-made and Pharisaic. Therein lies the problem of the understanding and I think this an impediment to Christ's Prayer of Unity of the Faith. I think it's because if they can't understand the importance of why we recognize and honor all of the Sacraments – and especially Holy Communion. I say Holy Communion because that's an act of Unity, and the Body and Blood of our Savior Jesus Christ, and it's why we partake of it. We do so, not just as a ritual, but the actual reality of it. What puzzles it, and me – certainly annoys me – is when I hear good faith Christians say, "It's okay. They believe in a god. They believe in who they believe and call god, Allah." That's not God. In the original writings, He was called Theos, and in the original writings.

    Saint John
    It was Christ's reference to the Father that identifies the God to whom we pray – not any other, and certainly not Mohammed. Christ identified the God to whom we should pray. We should do it – not just by our mouths – but by what we believe. In Saint John Chapter 17, I believe He demonstrates that He is God. We identify God with Christ, so how can we possibly compromise that with other faiths? I mean, even with love in our hearts, our beloved Judaic believers, that the Messiah will come. I have often said that we have two words that separate us. We believe He is going to RETURN and they believe He is COMING. That's the best of the Judaic faith – they believe in a Messiah. That's the heavy Orthodox Jew. Even Reformed Jews don't believe in a Messiah. They believe in a Messianic Age.

    Islam Demotes Jesus Christ
     That doesn't bother me as much as I see the other rising menace in the background of Islam. Islam demotes Christ so they can elevate Mohammed. In fact, they put Mohammed on the same plane with Christ. And that is a total demotion of Christ's position as God in the Flesh. And that is the anti-Christos' spirit that Saint Paul very pointedly, honestly and eloquently said – because he knew the spirit of iniquity was existing for that purpose. So, how do we come about a Unity Position in the Church or the Body of Christ? Obviously that's the Work of the Holy Spirit. But how can we help? We can't help by using all of our rubrics and rituals and Pharisaic traditions. We can only do it by staying precisely in the Word of God. By doing this, we can show them that our services – especially our Divine Liturgy service – are totally, 100 percent Scriptural. Saint John Chrysostom does not make it. God used him as a vessel. But every word and every meaning that Saint John Chrysostom wrote in the Divine Liturgy comes from Holy Scripture. It's not merely Orthodox, it is the True Faith.

    Respect For the Catholic Church
     That means we must even respect the Catholic Church, even all that they say in their Mass, are the Words of God; they come from Scripture. They say it in a different way, and therein lies the traditional difference between Orthodoxy and Catholicism. But you have to understand something. It was the interpretation of certain words that caused the division in 1054.

    Saints Peter and Paul
    The same words existed. They believed that the words in Scripture about Peter established the Throne and the Bishop in Rome being pre-eminent to all the other Patriarchates. That doesn't bother me one way or another. They are all Patriarchs. They all believe in Christ. I'd rather list the things which we do agree with one another, rather than the things on which we differ. It doesn't bother me one bit that their Mass is different than our Divine Liturgy. It's still a consecration. It's still recognition of the Body and Blood of Christ. So who are we to think that we have the only way? I don't believe that and I don't believe Heaven believes that, and it's certainly a DIS-UNITING concept to say that we are right and they are wrong. How about the areas where we are all right together? We all believe in the Seven Sacraments, which means we both believe in Baptism and Confession. Perhaps we do it in a different way, but so what? The end justifies the means. It's just like Christ. He did things totally different than the Pharisees and Sadducees. He introduced the issues with His own directness. That's why they really didn't like Him. They probably would have accepted Him as the Messiah had He done it their Pharisaic way. But He did it in such a plain fashion that they couldn't believe that. He was the Son of God and that He was the Messiah. He was so "common ground" that they couldn't accept Him. He "hung around" with the sinners in the "bowels of Jerusalem". Did it make sense for God to come down to this earth, take on the formality of the flesh, if He wasn't directing Himself to those who knew Him the most? Those who had the pure heart and were in right with God weren't in need as much as some of those who weren't. It's the same way today. There are so many who are in need and we hold ourselves up as holier than thou.

    Be Careful As Orthodox Christians
     We must be very careful as Orthodox Christians in believing that we are the only way. It really bothers me when I see a monk or someone taking on a Pharisaic viewpoint and who tries to use the Canons. By the way, the Scriptures do NOT contain the Canons. The Canons are generated from the Scripture. We should not get that mixed up. For a monk from a monastery saying he would not allow his children to take communion from another because it's "non-canonical" is absurd. What man can judge another man? Why do we say this one is canonical and that one isn't? That's the biggest sin in Orthodoxy, judging one another and using the Canons to prove a point – when the Canons were nothing more than guide posts. When you go on Highway One, you come to a lot of guide posts so you don't get off the road. The Canons are guideposts to aid and assist us in maintaining the Truth in Christ, the Truth of Scripture and the Truth of our beliefs. They are not the judgment. That is a sin that Christ will remove.

    What is Canonical Law?
    It is not important or relevant to be accepted by Canonical Law. It's still a Law of Pharisees. Period. It's the Holy Spirit Who can judge you. In fact, everything that has been added to our Church hasn't altered it from being divided. I don't know of a Church that is more divided than the Orthodox Church. Ethnicity does this. Being judgmental does this when it comes from Bishops and Archbishops.

    We Need A Spirit of Unity
     There is no spirit of Unity. It is completely against what the Lord prayed for in Saint John, Chapter 17. It is against what God desired – for us to be one. We probably are worse off because we think we're more right than those who are outside of the faith – because they don't know any better. They even use us as an example – well, if you are so united and you are so right, why have you created such division within your own faith? There are more than 23,000 different segments of the Christian faith. It's scary to think that those who came before us decided to take these positions and declare these other faiths as being right, even though they are of Satan. If God would have taken that position, if Jesus had acted like that, can you imagine what it would be like? Had Jesus been judgmental, and had said, if you don't accept it totally like this, can you imagine? I constantly read in Scripture that when He healed, He said, go and sin no more. So I think He's really saying that your difference, or your indifference to me, or an indifference to the Gospel of the Old Testament, is your sin, but go and sin no more. He always related it to sin. He always relates it to indifference and differences as sin.

    Read Saint John, Chapter 17
    So we too need to know that if we come against what is written in Saint John, Chapter 17, and if we are an instrument in any way and come against God's Prayer to the Throne – no matter our background or that we say, I was brought up this way. If we come against God's Prayer to the Throne for Unity, we are really working for Satan. Oh, we might still be in the Church, but Satan has invaded our thoughts, our minds and certainly our prayers. This gives Satan an inroad, a foot in the door, and we can't let Satan do that. I don't think you can read Saint John, Chapter 17 enough because it is a prayer from God to God. Nowhere do I see any prerequisites and standards being set in that prayer. He doesn't say, Lord let them be one, if they believe this way or that way. Or let them be one if they make sure they have the Sacraments this way. He did not introduce – in any manner or form – a mode of operation of the Sacraments. He did not say, let them be one, if they do this, this and this. But the Church has taken this, and this and this, and this and this, and it has done this for 2,000 years, all of these prerequisites to make you feel that you are either in or out of the Body of Christ. How ridiculous! Especially when we all have different gifts from the Holy Spirit to contribute to the fullness of the Body of Christ. We are different, so does God say we all must possess the same gifts? No, He makes it really clear that the Holy Spirit has given out different gifts that the Body of Christ needs. Let me tell you the one thing it needs more than anything else – that you do it in the Spirit of Unity, not in the spirit of "Well, I know it all," or the spirit of "I'm right and you're wrong." I think there is goodness in each and every person who believes that Jesus Christ existed on this earth.

    Don't Demote Jesus Christ
     Unfortunately, if you cannot accept Him as God, you are demoting Him. You can't say that Jesus Christ was just a man; He was man and God. He went out like God and He will return like God, and therein lies the real issue. When He returns, He will correct everything. But I wish Jesus would miraculously say, there are no denominations, that there is no Orthodox, there is no Catholic; it's only those who believe in Me, and here I am. That time is going to come, and when He returns He's going to absolve all of these indifferences that are with us. So why don't we get on the bandwagon now, and be more in Unity of what He wanted and not what we want. Jesus Christ asked the Father for Unity. He wanted it. And there isn't a priest or a bishop or an archbishop, even in our Orthodox faith, which doesn't believe that theirs is the one. I don't believe that's of Christ. That's the spirit of man that has done all it can to demote what Christ was. Christ was Christ for everyone. He was Jesus Christ to everyone. You could either accept or reject Him.

    You Must Believe in Him
    I don't know anywhere in Scripture where He set up any kind of a prerequisite to believe in Him. Either you believe in Him as the Son of God or you don't. As He spoke to Peter when Peter told Him that He was the Son of God, Jesus said, No man has given this to you; you received this from the Holy Spirit. That's what we need to receive – the Spirit of Unity and love for one another, and to love God with all of our heart, mind and spirit, and to love our fellow man. If we do this, we will meet Scripture and the requirement of being a Christian. All the rest is pharisaic and judgmental. If you believe in Jesus Christ and you love your God and love your neighbor as yourself – with all your heart, mind and spirit – Jesus said that's the Holy Spirit, and what the Words of Holy Scripture point out. It's that simple. And love one another. You can't have Unity unless you love one another. But we find so much fault with one another because it's different than how we believe. That was never a prerequisite with Jesus. He was everything to everyone. In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

     

    TELEPHONE NUMBERS

    Submitted by Dr Charles Mercieca

    These are more effective than any number…        

      When –

      You are sad, phone.............................John 14

      You have sinned, phone.........................Psalm 51

      You are facing danger, phone...................Psalm 91

      People have failed you, phone..................Psalm 27

      It feels as though God is far from you,
      phone..........................................Psalm 139

      Your faith needs stimulation, phone............Hebrews 11

      You are alone and scared, phone................Psalm 23

      You are worried, phone.........................Matthew 8:19–34

      You are hurt and critical, phone...............1 Corinthians 13

      You wonder about Christianity, phone...........2 Corinthians 5:15-18

      You feel like an outcast, phone................Romans 8:31-39

      You are seeking peace, phone...................Matthew 11:25-30

      It feels as if the world is bigger than God,
      phone..........................................Psalm 90

      You need Christ like insurance, phone..........Romans 8:1-30

      You are leaving home for a trip, phone.........Psalm 121

      You are praying for yourself, phone............Psalm 87

      You require courage for a task, phone..........Joshua 1

      Inflation and investments are hogging your
      thoughts, phone................................Mark 10:17-31

      You are depressive, phone......................Psalm 27

      Your bank account is empty, phone..............Psalm 37

      You lose faith in mankind, phone...............2 Corinthians 13

      It looks like people are unfriendly, phone.....John 15

      You are losing hope, phone.....................Psalm 126

      You feel the world is small compared to you,
      phone..........................................Psalm 19

      You want to carry fruit, phone.................John 15

      Paul's secret for happiness, phone.............Colossians 3:12-17

      With big opportunity/discovery, phone..........Isaiah 55

      To get along with other people, phone..........Romans 12


    ALTERNATE NUMBERS

      For dealing with fear, call....................Psalm 3:47

      For security, call.............................Psalm 121:3

      For assurance, call............................Mark 8:35

      For reassurance, call..........................Psalm 145:18

       

    ALL THESE NUMBERS MAY BE PHONED DIRECTLY.

    NO OPERATOR ASSISTANCE IS NECESSARY.

    ALL LINES TO HEAVEN ARE AVAILABLE 24 HOURS A DAY.

    FEED YOUR FAITH,

    AND DOUBT WILL STARVE TO DEATH!!

    ORTHODOX BITS N' PIECES

    QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

    Q. What is the "Incarnation?" James Kirski (Hobart IN)

    A. The central tenet of Orthodox sotieriology is the incarnation of the Lord Jesus Christ. Every other part of Orthodoxy stems from it. Clark Carlton, noted Orthodox theologian, writes, "In becoming man, Christ assumed human nature in its entirety. Because man is created in the image of the Holy Trinity, each human being sums up within himself the totality of human nature. Thus, Christ as man is united essentially to every man. He is one with the Father and the Holy Spirit according to His divinity, and one with each of us according to His humanity." (Carlton, 105) The Ecumenical Council of Chalcedon says likewise, "We all with one accord teach men to acknowledge one and the same Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. At once complete in Godhead and complete in manhood, truly God and truly man, consisting also of a reasonable soul and body; of one substance with the Father as regards his Godhead, and at the same time of one substance with us as regards his manhood…"

    Q. What is meant by "hypostatic union" of Christ God? Mark Simmons (Madison WI) (Repeated)

    A. Hypostatic union (from the Greek, "hypostasis"), i.e., substance or subsistence, is a technical term in Christian theology employed in mainstream Christology to describe the union of Christ's humanity and divinity in one hypostasis. The First Council of Ephesus recognized this doctrine and affirmed its importance, stating that the humanity and divinity of Christ are made one according to nature and hypostasis in the Logos. Hypostasis had come into use as a technical term prior to the Christological debates of the late fourth and fifth centuries. Before there were Christians, the word was used in Greek philosophy, primarily in Stoicism. Hypostasis had some use in the New Testament that reflect the later, technical understanding of the word; especially Hebrews 1:3. Although it can be rendered literally as "substance" this has been a cause of some confusion so it is now often translated "subsistence" (existence). It denotes an actual, concrete existence, in contrast with abstract categories such as Platonic ideals. The First Council of Nicea declared that the Father and the Son are of the same substance and are co-eternal. This belief was expressed in the Nicene Creed.

    Q. What is the "Three Day Fast of Nineveh?" Katherine Sarnoogian (Los Angeles CA) (Repeated)

    A. The three day fast of Nineveh commemorates the three days that Prophet Jonah spent inside the fish (for the story, see the Book of Jonah in the Old Testament). This fast is unique to the Syriac Orthodox Church that it passed to other Orthodox Churches such as Coptic and Armenian. It is observed for three days from the tenth Monday before Easter Sunday. Historically, this fast is one of the most rigorously observed fasts in the Syriac Orthodox Church. The faithful traditionally refrain from food and drink for three consecutive days, from Monday till Wednesday! Some observe the fast by refraining from food (and drink if they so wish) from morning till sunset during the three days. The Church enjoins you to at least refrain from meat, fish and dairy products during the period of fasting which is what the Syriac-Greek Antiochian Orthodox Catholic Church accepts. The faithful are urged to go to church after this fast (or the following Sunday) and receive the Holy Eucharist. The Ninevites trembled at the voice of Jonah (Hebrew: Yonah), the son of Mattay, and took refuge in penitence by watching, fasting and prayer; and by tears and groans the sentence of judgment pronounced by Jonah concerning the destruction of Nineveh was annulled. Blessed be the Compassionate one who turned them from evil to good. God who heard the prayer of Jonah in the sea commanded the mighty fish to cast him up in three days.

     If you have a question about the faith or the Orthodox Catholic Church, please send it to OCH Editor, 456 Nimick Street, Sharon PA 16146.

    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 Excellency Bishop Timothy at rbsocc@juno.com or St Nicholas Center, 456 Nimick Street, Sharon PA 16146. If you are interested in assisting the Archdiocese in establishing a mission parish in your area, please write to us.

     

      MONASTIC RECEPTIONS + PROFESSION OF VOWS

    • Postulant Brother Vincent Cappabianca CSB will be admitted to the novitiate of the Community of St Basil on the first Sunday of February 2012 at St Gregorios Mission in Sharon Pennsylvania. His Eminence Archbishop Timothy will be the officiant.

     

    APPOINTMENTS & ASSIGNMENTS

    • Rt Reverend Chorbishop Haralambos Winger appointed Interim Chancellor of the Archdiocese by His Beatitude Metropolitan Stephen on Saturday November 26, 2011. His Chancery Office will be located in Anchorage Alaska.

    OFFICIAL FROM HOLY METROPOLIS

    EPISCOPAL CHANGE – (10.13.11.1) The Holy Metropolis has approved the request from His Eminence Archbishop Timothy to temporarily be released from his responsibilities as Archbishop of the Archdiocese due to health issues. He will serve as Vicar Bishop of the Holy Metropolis assisting our Metropolitan Primate until further notice. His Excellency Bishop Timothy asks for the prayers of all for him during this time.

    REVISED LITURGIKON – (05.01.11.1) The Holy Metropolis has completed the Syriac-Greek Antiochene Rite of the Liturgy (Mass) of St Gregory and Liturgikon. Clergy are encouraged to order this newly revised Liturgikon by May 29, 2011. It also contains the Rite of Benediction, Mystery of Confession (Penance), Morning Prayer, and other services. The Liturgikon will be added to without charge throughout the next year until completed in full. Contact the Archdiocese at . The cost for the 2011 Liturgikon is $175.00 and payable to "EOCC."

    ANNUAL DAY OF COMMEMORATION – (09.17.11.1) Ordered by His Beatitude Metropolitan Stephen V Primate of the Church - St Julius of Goa, Archbishop (B. April 29, 1836 - D. September 23, 1923) will be commemorated annually by the Liturgy of the Mass in all parishes. Our jurisdiction has much to be proud of. St Julius of Goa, Archbishop, should have a place in the hearts of all that belong to the Malankara and Syriac-Greek Antiochian jurisdictions. 119 years ago it was from the saintly hands of St Mar Julius of Goa that Archbishop Timotheos Vilathi became our first Archbishop Primate in the United States. May their memories be eternal. We, too, shall celebrate his eternal reward on September 23, 2011 along with the Goan Diocese. May he protect us all who call upon him to intercede for us to God.

    ANNOUNCEMENTS

    Prayers Requested:

    • Brother Vincent Cappabianca CSB of Ohio who was admitted to Sharon Hospital on November 25, 2011 due to stomach pain, severe leg pain, and emotional distress. We ask your prayers for him.

    Commissioning of Licensed Provider:

    • Dr Andrew Gill ThPsyD FSAC

    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. The Holy Metropolis is in contact with bishops concerning a visit to Africa to ordain the men listed below. We prayerfully hope that this is accomplished by February 1, 2012. His Grace Bishop Ignatius of Zambia will be involved in the arrangements.

    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

     

    INCARDINATIONS PENDING / APPROVED
    REINSTATEMENT OF FACULTIES

    • Father James Danadio has petitioned the Holy Metropolis for incardination into the Syriac-Greek Antiochian Archdiocese on November 24, 2011. The review process has commenced and the decision to be announced when completed.
    • Father Andrew Masih (Pakistan) reinstated with faculties of the Syriac-Greek Antiochian Archdiocese of the Americas & Dependencies on September 17, 2011 by His Beatitude Metropolitan Stephen.

     

    PAROCHIAL CHARTERS

    Established:

    • Holy Nativity of Our Lord Mission, Iganga Uganda (11.28.11)
    • St Gregorios Mission, Sharon PA (11.25.11)
    • St Menas Mission Parish, Uganda
    • St Michael the Archangel Mission, Sargodha Pakistan (09.03.11)
    • St Moses the Ethiopian Mission, Tanzania (03.09.11)
    • St Stephen the Protomartyr Mission, Hemet CA (11.11.11)

     

    PRAY FOR THE SICK AND SUFFERING

    • His Holiness Patriarch Ignatius Zakka I of Antioch
    • His Beatitude Metropolitan Stephen (Pennsylvania)
    • His Eminence Archbishop Timothy (Pennsylvania)
    • His Eminence Archbishop Anthony (New York)
    • Chorbishop Haralambos Winger (Alaska)
    • Chorbishop Kuriakos Thottupuram (Illinois)
    • VR Archpriest Thomas Dillon (New Jersey)
    • Archdeacon John DeMeis (New York)
    • Father Sebastian Robles (Canada)
    • Father Paul Jensen (Texas)
    • Father Seraphim Kanagaratnam (Malaysia)
    • Father Padraig Kneafsey (Ireland)
    • Father Patrick Lemming (Tennessee)
    • Father Vladimir Raasch (Minnesota)
    • Rev Mother Helena (Bofey) SCSB (African Congo)
    • Sister Anna (Convent of the Holy Virgin Mary) (California)
    • Sister Katherine (California)
    • Seminarian Cyril Shazad (Pakistan)
    • Mr Jerome Wilmette (California)
    • Mr Maximus Donald Seipke (Minnesota)
    • Dr Joseph Bannon DCh (California)
    • Mrs Gretchen Lejeune (Texas)
    • Mr Hampton Bumgarner (New Jersey)
    • Mr Dominic Winger (Alaska)
    • Brother Vincenzo Cappabianca CSB (Pennsylvania)
    • Mr Vincent Colombo (Indiana)
    • Dr Audrey Daniel DCh (South Carolina)
    • Dr Marge Ebeling DCh (Arizona)
    • Mrs Sherry Ellison (South Carolina)
    • Mr Omar Esquilin (Ohio)
    • Mr Andrew Lucas (Illinois)
    • Mr Alexi J Mason (Arizona)
    • Mr Carl Maus (Maryland)
    • Dr Karla VonEhrenkrook DCh (Arizona)
    • Ms Sandra Wiechnik (Indiana)
    • Mr Howard Youngheim (Indiana)
    • For our Armed Forces everywhere, who are suffering, injured, or who have lost their lives protecting the freedom of others, and their families.
    • For those suffering in Egypt, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iraq, Iran, and all countries where citizens are fighting for their freedom, lives, and a positive change in their governments.
    • For all our God-loving Bishops, Priests, Deacons, Seminarians, Monks, and Nuns, both living and dead, especially our Most Reverend Primate, Metropolitan Stephen, that they will all have good health and many years!

    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.

     

    REST IN PEACE!

    Joseph Bianco of Pittsburgh Pennsylvania cousin of Metropolitan Stephen, son of the late Jim and Jean Bianco,  passed away on December 19, 2011. May his soul rest in peace.

    The Church remembers all those who have been killed in the defense of their country, especially those belonging to United States Air Force, Army, Navy, and Marines. May you find reward and peace in the kingdom of Heaven, and in the warmth of Our Lord's palms. Rest Eternal!

    MAKING OF THE BURSHANAI AND ANTIDORO (BLESSED BREAD)

    Article Repeated

    For the Holy Liturgy of the Mass, the Syriac-Greek Antiochian Archdiocese has adopted the tradition of the Syriac Patriarchate of Antioch for making the "prosphora or burshanai" used at Liturgy. The priest, or another appointed, makes the bread to be used at Holy Liturgy of the Mass on Saturday afternoon to bring to the Prothesis Table that evening for the Proskomide Service. The recipe used comes from the tradition used by the Syriac Patriarchate of Antioch. There are two larger burshanais made and then the smaller balls that are consumed by the people at Holy Communion. One large burshanai later is consecrated and referred to as the "Lamb" which is taken by the priest(s) at Holy Communion. This is stamped with a seal that has "IC XC NIKA" upon it. The second one which is larger than the previous one is used for antidoro (blessed bread) at the end of Liturgy to give to the people. This one is stamped with a seal containing an etching of the Blessed Virgin Mary upon it. All are made from the same recipe. It must be silent when baking the burshanais except for prayer or chanting. The place where this is to be done should be clean and the surface where it is prepared clean. Hands should be washed before beginning.

      The Recipe:

      • 3 cups of flour;
      • 1 and Ό  cups of warm water;
      • 6 tablespoons olive oil;
      • 1 teaspoon of yeast;
      • ½ teaspoon of sugar; and
      • 1 dash of salt (one sprinkle).

    Mix them all together until they become one ball. Cover with a cloth for 1 hour. Punch down and form into small balls, larger flattened one for Lamb and another even larger one for antidoro. There should be sufficient number of small balls for those receiving Holy Communion. The larger one for Lamb is to be at least 3" in diameter to accommodate the seal. The antidoro is to be about 8" in diameter (or larger depending on the size of congregation) with the seal of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the middle. This one, after baked, is cut into small squares but the image of the Virgin Mary is not cut but is broken and eaten by the clergy. These are to be baked at 400 degrees in the middle of the oven until golden brown but not until hard where it cracks. A cross is traced on top of the burshanai using a knife on all the small balls.

    While kneading the bread the following is said:

      "He was oppressed and he was afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; like a lamb that is led to slaughter, and like a sheep that is silent before its shearers, so he did not open his mouth. By oppression and judgment he was taken away; and as for his generation, who considered that he was cut off out of the land of the living, for the transgression of my people to whom the stroke was due? His grave was assigned with wicked men, yet he was with a rich man in his death, because he had done no violence, nor was there any deceit in his mouth." (Isaiah 53: 7-9)

    When making the large Burshanai (Lamb), say:

      "I am that bread of life. 49 Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead. 50 This is the bread which comes down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die. 51 I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world. 52 The Jews therefore strove among themselves, saying, How can this man give us his flesh to eat? 53 Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except you eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, you have no life in you. 54 Whoso eats my flesh, and drinks my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day. 55 For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. 56 He that eats my flesh, and drinks my blood, dwells in me, and I in him. 57 As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eats me, even he shall live by me. 58 This is that bread which came down from heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he that eats of this bread shall live for ever." (John 6:48-58)

    When making the smaller round Burshanais, say:

      "Then the LORD God formed man of dust from the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being." And God created man to his own image: to the image of God he created him: male and female he created them. (Genesis. 2:7)

    When making the antidoro, say:

      "Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. He sent them to Bethlehem and said, "Go and make a careful search for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him." After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route."  — (Matthew 2:1-12)

     

    CHAIRMAN OF ELECTION COMMISSION WEARS STICHARION
    AT MOSCOW PATRIARCHATE

    From Vertograd Orthodox Journal (December 13, 2011)

    The Chairman of the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation wears a sticharion, an ecclesiastical vestment normally reserved for minor clergy, at divine services of the Russian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate), an ecclesiastical functionary close to the Patriarch reveals.

    Kirill Florov, who is head of the "Association of Orthodox Experts," which is close to Patriarch Kirill (Gundyaev), Primate of the Moscow Patriarchate, wrote the following on his blog on December 10, 2011: "Vladimir Churov, Chairman of the Central Election Commission, is a church person and a parishioner at one of our churches in Moscow. I've received Communion with him, and the rector has blessed Churov to vest in a sticharion." Participants in the mass protests against the obviously falsified parliamentary elections in Russia on December 4, 2011, have accused Vladimir Churov of committing criminal offenses related to participation in electoral fraud and the concealment of known evidence tampering. Churov has stated on government-sponsored television that he has not received a single complaint regarding the violation of electoral laws, although observers, journalists, and ordinary voters have send thousands of such complaints to the Central Election Commission. Churov is also known for his promise to shave his beard if even a single violation of count voting be found, as well as for his words spoken in response to Dmitry Medvedev, hinting at vote manipulation: "I am not a magician, I'm just learning." Kirill Florov also confirms that Patriarch Kirill (Gundyaev), who has not appeared in public since December 6, 2011, is in Moscow. Florov did not specify where and why the head of the Moscow Patriarchate dropped out of public view. Despite the serious disorder in Russia, no commentary on events has come from the part of Patriarch Kirill in the past week.

     

    PARISH PLANNED FOR HUBBARD OHIO (ST ANTHONY THE GREAT)

    [Ohio] His Excellency Bishop Timothy and the Holy Metropolis are planning a mission parish for either Liberty or Hubbard Ohio. The parish will be named after St Anthony of Egypt. Also in the plans is that Bishop Timothy will serve as its first pastor as per his request. The date of its opening to be announced later upon final approval.

    St. Anthony was born in Egypt of good and religious father and mother, and when he was but twenty years old, he heard on a time in the church read in the gospel, that said: If thou wilt be perfect go sell all that thou hast and give it to poor men; and then according thereto he sold all that he had, and gave it to the poor people and became an hermit. He had overmany temptations of the devil. St Anthony was renound for his ascetic life and sayings, and as one of the Desert Fathers is considered to be one of the founders of Christian Monasticism.

     

    ATTEMPT TO STEAL LAND DONATED IN PAKISTAN FOR PARISH

    [Archdiocesan Chancery] The Holy Metropolis was advised on November 25, 2011 that immediately after the release of the "Orthodox Christian Herald" announcing the news of property being donated to the Church, some other Orthodox jurisdictions contacted the donor asking for the property for their own use. This was most shocking to the Holy Metropolis that another jurisdiction would try to take such a donation from our Church. It was stated that the Greek Orthodox Church in Pakistan was among those seeking to sway the donation to them. Seminarian Cyril Shahzad advised that he would have no contact with them. It is not Christ-like for the rich to try to steal from the poor.

     

    HOMELESS PROGRAM NEEDS DONATIONS
    PLEASE CONSIDER A DONATION

    [Sharon Pennsylvania] St Nicholas Center offers homeless men a home and guidance in return for work on the grounds. This program of the Archdiocese has helped over fifty men in the last four years. Nine of these men have been chrismated into the Orthodox Catholic Church coming from pasts that did not include any church affiliation. Currently, several men are being cared for at St Sophia's that includes their room, food, their prescriptions, toiletries, personal needs, 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 Nicholas Center, 456 Nimick Street, Sharon PA 16146, 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.

    HELP FORM MISSION PARISHES & PRAYER GROUPS

    The Syriac-Greek Antiochian Archdiocese of the 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  or 456 Nimick Street, Sharon PA 16146. If you are interested in assisting the Archdiocese in establishing a mission parish in your area, please write to us.

     

    DONATIONS TO THE METROPOLIA

    "Giving to Glorify God" (Matthew 6: 1-4). The Syriac-Greek Antiochian 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." Those not wanting their location known are left blank. Donation statements upon request. You are asked to consider a donation to help the Metropolia with all its missions and programs by sending yours to the Metropolis, 456 Nimick Street, Sharon PA 16146; or by using your credit card to make a donation through PayPal at http://rbsocc.org/donations.html. All donations are tax-deductible. Please make your check out to "EOCC." Those making a donation will receive a gift made by parishioners of St Paul Church in Uganda.

    Our appreciation to the following for their support:

    • Anonymous ($150.00) Pennsylvania
    • Catherine Nolan ($20.00) Indiana
    • Dr Janet Maus ($50.00)
    • Dr Sandra & Albert Dobiash ($250.00) Colorado
    • Dr & Mrs Michael Farley ($100.00)
    • Dr & Mrs Peter Smith ($100.00) Canada
    • Jimmy's Corner Restaurant ($30.00) Pennsylvania
    • Mr & Mrs George Katsopoulos ($75.00)
    • Ms Gretchen Lejeune ($50.00) Texas
    • Rev Dr Stephen Duncan ($850.00)
    • Rt Rev Chorbishop Haralambos Winger ($100.00) Alaska
    • Very Rev Father Stephen Lawrence ($200.00) California

     

    Advertise in the HeraldYou can advertise your parish, center, club or other organization in this section for $10.00 plus $.50 (fifty cents) per word. The Orthodox Christian Herald is sent to every diocese, which copies it on to local members. It is read by over 3,000 people and growing.

    Framed Icon of St Panteleimon, Patron of Healers Available from the Archdiocesan Chancery, 456 Nimick Street, Sharon PA 16146, these icons are suitable for hanging in counseling centers, clinics, and in the home. $40.00, postage and handling included. Commission members are required to have this icon hanging in their offices and clinics. Order yours today.

    Meal Blessing Cards For clergy, monasteries, and homes of the faithful and include the variations for holy days. Order from Holy Myrrhbearers Monastery, 144 Bert Washburn Road, Otego NY 13825.

    Handmade Nun Dolls from the Past Handmade nun dolls from the past. Full habits of many orders of nuns from various Churches including Orthodox, Lutheran, and Roman. Nostalgia brought to your doorsteps. These are beautifully created and show the exact habits of nuns worn many years ago. The wife of one of our priests makes them. You can write for a catalog or additional information to Father Patrick Lemming, St James House, 804 Catlett Road, Sevierville TN 37862.

    Religious Articles Hand-Made Prayer Beads from Uganda. Made of good quality materials and most beautifully done, coming in 50 ($15.00) and 100 beads ($25.00). For more information and prices on other items please write to St Nicholas Center, 456 Nimick Street, Sharon PA 16146.

    ANTIOCHIAN PARISHES AND ORGANIZATIONS OF THE ARCHDIOCESE

    Archdiocese of the Americas & Dependencies - Write to His Eminence Archbishop Timothy, 456 Nimick Street, Sharon PA 16146.

    Commission on Religious Counseling and Healing CRCH.RBSOCC.ORG For information write - Archbishop Timothy, 456 Nimick Street, Sharon PA 16146. This is an organization for licensed healing professionals in service to God. They serve through the Healing Ministry of the Church.

    The Companions of St Basil is open to married or single men and women wishing to share in the good works and prayers of the Monastic Community of St Basil. Those interested in the Companions of St Basil should write to the Moderator, 456 Nimick Street, Sharon PA 16146.

    Community of St Basil is open to those who wish to follow a monastic way of life. Write to Community of St Basil, 456 Nimick Street, Sharon PA 16146. The Community has monastic centers in the African Congo, Nigeria, Alaska (USA), and Pennsylvania (USA). The Sisters of St Basil are headquartered in the African Congo. His Eminence Archbishop Timothy is the interim Archabbot.

    All Saints Antiochian Orthodox Catholic Chapel, 2216 Culver Avenue, Anchorage Alaska, Chorbishop Haralambos Winger, Pastor.

    All Saints of Ireland Antiochian Orthodox Catholic Parish , County Cork Ireland; Father Padraig Kneafsey, Pastor.

    Holy Ghost Antiochian Orthodox Catholic Chapel, Oceanside California, Very Reverend Archpriest Stephen Lawrence, Pastor.

    St Andrew the Apostle Antiochian Orthodox Catholic Church located at 5907 Grand Avenue, Duluth Minnesota 55807.  Sunday Liturgy: 10:30 A.M.  To reopen later in 2011.

    Ss Cosmas and Damian Antiochian Orthodox Catholic Chapel, 785 Grand Avenue #206, Carlsbad California. Very Reverend Archpriest Stephen Lawrence, Pastor.

    St George the Great Martyr Antiochian Orthodox Catholic Parish, Pueblo Colorado, Fr Deacon Thomas Monroe, Administrator.

    St Luke the Physician Antiochian Orthodox Catholic Mission Parish, VR Father Paul Jensen, Pastor, 339 NE 8th Street, Paris Texas 75450.

    St Nicholas of Myra Antiochian Orthodox Catholic Chapel, 456 Nimick Street, Sharon PA 16146. Sunday Liturgy of the Mass at 11:00 a.m.; Holy Days at 7:00 p.m. or as announced; and Holy Unction of the Sick on First Wednesday of Month at 7:00 p.m.

    Ss Vladimir & Olga Chapel , St Paul Minnesota. Father Vladimir Raasch.  (Send email to Chancery for more information. This mission is not under the omophor of the Archdiocese, but is in association with it.