The Shepherd, October 2008
NEWS SECTION
ECUMENICAL OCCASION IN ARMENIA
ACCORDING to Nowosti Armenia: “Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople (Ecumenical Patriarchate), Metropolitan Valentine of Orenburg and Buzuluk (Moscow Patriarchate) and representatives of eleven more “sister-churches” accompanied Catholicos of All Armenians Garegin II in blessing the Chrism for Armenian Apostolic Church in Etchmiadzin on September 28. Armenian Apostolic Church uses two relics to bless the Chrism: the Right Hand of St. Gregory, the Enlightener of Armenia, and Holy Spear of Crucifixion. During the ceremony of blessing the Chrism, the Right Hand of St. Gregory was used by Catholicos of All Armenians Garegin II (Monophysites), and the Holy Spear was given to Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople (World Orthodoxy). The following Church leaders and representatives participated the ceremony: Metropolitan Valentine of the Diocese of Orenburg and Buzuluk, of the Russian Orthodox Church of Moscow Patriarchate; Cardinal Leonardo Sandri, Prefect of the Congregation for the Oriental Churches, who led the delegation for the Roman Catholic Church; His Bishop Benjamin of Menoufeya from the Coptic Orthodox Church; Metropolitan Mor Eustathius Matta Roham of Jazirah and Euphrates of the Syrian Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch and All the East; H.G. Dr. Thomas Mar Athanasios, Metropolitan of the Chengannur Diocese who led the delegation of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church of India; Geoffrey Rowell, Bishop of Gibraltar in Europe of the Anglican Church, Mgr. Vartan Ashkarian, General Representative of the Patriarchal Eparchy of the Armenian Catholic Church; Father Yeghia Kilaghbian, Abbot of the Armenian Mkhitarist Congregation of San Lazzaro; as well as representeatives from the World Council of Churches, and the organization ‘World Conference of Religions for Peace.’ The day before (on September 28) the same members of ‘sister-churches’ presided by Garegin II served a memorial service for the victims of the Armenian Genocide. Prior to the start of the service, a wreath was laid at the memorial. During the service the participants offered joint prayers in their own languages for the victims of the Genocide. Following the service, members of the delegations visited the Genocide Museum.” Text copied exactly. The Nowosti-Armenia site appears to be a subsidiary of Credo-Ru, and so one might have some misgivings about the accuracy of this posting. Indeed, the photo-report on the website of the Armenian Church shows clearly that only the Œcumenical Patriarch himself took part in any of the ceremonies; the other church leaders listed here were only attending the service. However, it appears that none of the Orthodox representatives felt moved to protest at the participation of Patriarch Bartholomeos in the blessing of the chrism for the Armenians, and the truth may be betrayed, as the Fathers tell us, by silence. The event demonstrates clearly that ecumenism is alive and well, that “World Orthodoxy” is wholly committed to the movement, and, more than anything else, that there is a pressing necessity for Orthodox Resistance.
Vth ALL-DIASPORA ASSEMBLY
THE SYNOD, presently under the presidency of His Grace, Bishop Agafangel of Tauris and Odessa, the one Bishop not to agree to ROCA’s subsumption into the Moscow Patriarchate, will be held the week of 17th November, 2008, in the city of Nanuet, New York. The Assembly itself will last until the end of the week, and will culminate with the Glorification of the Blessed and Ever-Memorable Metropolitan Philaret of New York (+ 1985) the following weekend. The services for the Glorification, beginning with a last pannikhida (memorial service) on the Friday evening will be celebrated at the Church of the Holy Trinity in Astoria, NY. It is hoped that from the Sister Church, the Synod in Resistance of the Church of Greece, Archbishop Chrysostomos of Etna, Bishop Ambrose of Methoni, Bishop Auxentios of Photiki and Bishop Clement of Gardikion will attend the ceremonies. Metropolitan Philaret was for a period (1977 - 1982) the ruling hierarch of the ROCA churches in Britain and visited this country annually, often staying with the sisters of the Annunciation Convent, who are devoted to his memory. He also blessed the reception of the sacred relics of Saint Edward the Martyr and the establishment of our brotherhood and mission in Brookwood. Fr Alexis, who, though unworthy, was blessed to be ordained by Metropolitan Philaret, will therefore attend the Glorification to express the love of the faithful in this country for the courageous & steadfast Orthodox Archpastor, whom we knew as a gentle & loving father.
 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 
|
