The Shepherd, June 2006
NEWS SECTION
NEW MARTYRS OF BULGARIA GLORIFIED
HIS GRACE, Bishop Photii of Triaditza, is reported to have celebrated the glorification of the New Martyrs of Batak in the latest issue of “Orthodox Tradition” to reach us (Vol. 23, no 2). The celebration was to take place on 4th/17th May at the Cathedral of the Dormition in Sofia. The Batak Martyrs were viciously slain by the Turks in May 1876, being offered the choice of “the turban (becoming Muslim) or the axe.” One of the elders of the village, Trendafil Kerelov, was stripped, had his eyes plucked out and his teeth pulled out, and was then impaled so that he suffered a long and lingering death. Eventually the sharpened post came through his mouth. The persecutors then roasted him over a fire. An account of the martyrdom of these heroic Christians, who are now glorified by the Old Calendarist Orthodox Christians of Bulgaria, is contained in “Orthodox Tradition,” which is published by the St Gregory Palamas Monastery, Etna, California; website www.ctosonline.org.
SOUROZH DIOCESE TROUBLES
SUBMITTING that the Moscow Patriarchate Cathedral parish in London has been “troubled by conflict between two groups of parishioners, with very different interests and, indeed, styles of churchmanship,” His Grace Bishop Basil of Sergievo, since the death of Metropolitan Anthony (Bloom) the administrator of the Moscow diocese in this country, approached both the Patriarchs of Constantinople and of Moscow with the intention of transferring to the OEcumenical Patriarchate from Moscow. He hoped that the diocese would thus be able to align itself “with the ecclesial entity that most resembles it, the Archdiocese of Russian parishes that is based in Paris” (the Paris Exarchate). Bishop Basil’s letter of 24/4/06 elicited a kindly and pastoral response from Patriarch Aleksii II of Moscow, dated 5/5/06, in which, while offering his support, the Patriarch begged him not to go down the path of a multiplication of divisions, but rather “not to fear the trials, not to avoid the cross, but to multiply your labours for the strengthening of the Body of Christ.” Bishop Basil evidently found himself unable to accept the Patriarch's counsel, and on Sunday 14th May, it was announced that he had been retired from his position as administrator of the diocese by the Moscow Synod. Archbishop Innokentii of Korsun, the administrator of the Moscow parishes in France, has been given responsibility for the parishes in the Sourozh Diocese, and a commission headed by him has been set up to look into the matter. Our own Archbishop Mark has, at the invitation of the Patriarch and with the blessing of Metropolitan Lavr, been appointed to the commission.
BISHOP AGATHANGEL CHALLENGES COMMUNIQUÉ REGARDING THE ACT OF CANONICAL COMMUNION
HIS GRACE, Bishop Agathangel of Odessa issued a statement on 23rd May, in which he draws attention to the treatment by the Council of Bishops of ROCOR of the Act of Canonical Communion between ROCOR and the Moscow Patriarchate. A report had been published saying that it had been “adopted and approved in principle,” but Bishop Agathangel sees no basis for this assertion, saying that no vote was taken on the subject. He gives the text of a statement, which he requested to be appended to the protocols of the Bishops’ Council. It reads: “I consider the appearance itself of this Act of Canonical Communion and, all the more, its consideration, to be premature, since the differences of a fundamental nature between our sides - questions about ecumenism and sergianism - have not yet been resolved. Furthermore, we recognise that according to the decision of the Local Council of 1918, the supreme authority in the Church belongs to the Local Council with the participation of bishops, clergy and laity. Only such a Council is empowered to select a church administration which may act in the inter-conciliar period. The fullness of the Russian Church has awaited and waits for namely this Council since the time of the repose of Patriarch Tikhon and, since such a Council has not been convened, we do not have the right to arbitrarily establish a Supreme Church Authority, or ourselves determine our canonical status. We only can temporarily, until the convocation of the Local Council, mutually recognise or not recognise the canonicity of the existence of various parts of the Church with their existing authority, with the condition of the acknowledgement of the absence to this day of a legitimately chosen Supreme Church Authority. The Act, however, without basis places one part of the Church above the other and actually makes the authority of one of the parts of the ROC the Supreme Church Authority (commemoration of the head of one part of the Church by the other part, obtaining of Holy Chrism, the confirmation of hierarchs, etc.,), which is illegitimate. Upon reaching unanimity on the questions of Ecumenism and Sergianism, and mutual recognition of the authority in the ROC of the coming Local Council, we can establish eucharistic communion without creating in this case, naturally, a common supreme authority. In light of what has been presented, I consider it necessary to put off the examination of the aforementioned Act, bearing as it does a threat to the existence itself of ROCOR, until an agreement in principle is reached on all the questions which divide us.” Bishop Agathangel tells us that, of the thirteen hierarchs who participated in the Council of Bishops, Their Graces Bishops Daniel and Gabriel also agreed to this statement.
ENGLISH-LANGUAGE DEANERY PRIEST EMIGRATES
FATHER GEOFFREY-CASSIAN READY, who was the pastor of the Holy Trinity Mission in Belfast, his presbytera Jolan and their sons, Nathanael, Jeremy and Owen, have left Northern Ireland to settle in the French town of Langon. We ask the prayers of the faithful for the family as they settle into their new home and Fr Geoffrey-Cassian takes up his new ministry.
BYZANTINE ANGEL UNCOVERED
WORK in the nave of Lichfield Cathedral has uncovered what is believed to be the original site of the shrine of St Chad. The Saxon work discovered dates from the eighth century, and on the last day of the excavation in a small pit to the south of the shrine, a carved stone figure of an angel was found. The figure was broken into three pieces, but is otherwise very well preserved. It shows a low relief figure of an angel carved in Byzantine style, and it is believed to be the angel of the Annunciation, St Gabriel. Although discovered in 2003, details of the finds has only recently been made public.
GOYGB SUMMER CAMP
ASUMMER YOUTH CAMP, run by the Greek Orthodox Youth of Great Britain (GOYGB) will be held between 24th July and 4th August this year, near Shrewsbury in Shropshire. The cost will be £155, and the camp is open to people between 9 and 17 years of age. There is limited help for those unable to pay the full amount. Application forms and further details are available from: Miss Olga Papadopoulos, 20 Woodriffe Road, Leytonstone, London E11 1AH; tel. 020 8556 3180 / 07941 867349; email: info@goygbcamp.org.uk, or visit their website at www.goygbcamp.org.uk.
SAINT SERAPHIM’ TRUST
A TRUST has, according to the latest issue of “Orthodox News,” now been set up to raise funds for the former brotherhood chapel and property at Little Walsingham. So far £13,000 has been raised with £255 pledged. Further details of appeal are available from Saint George Orthodox Information Service, The White House, Mettingham, Suffolk, NR35 1TP, or on the website: freespace.virgin.net/saint.seraphim.
NEW ORTHODOX PUBLICATION
FATHER STAVROS SOLOMOU, the priest of St Nicolas Greek Orthodox Cathedral, Shepherd’s Bush, has started publishing a Parish Journal in English, with edifying teaching materials, available from him at 60 Godophin Road, London W12 8JW; Tel. 020 8743 3968 or 07963 562378.
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