NEWS SECTION, 1

REPOSE OF A BRAVE ROMANIAN DISSIDENT

FATHER George Calciu-Dumitreasa fell asleep in the Lord on Tuesday, 21st November, after a short but difficult illness. Born in 1925 in Mahmudia, Tulcea, Romania, Fr George studied at the Faculty of Medicine in Bucharest from 1946 until 1948, when he was imprisoned by the communist authorities for his Orthodox Christian morals and deep religious convictions. Sent for “re-education” – a tactic used by the communist regime in an attempt to erase Christianity from Romania’s youth – he remained in prison until 1964, when he was released as a result of a general amnesty. After his release, he studied at the Faculty of Literature and Philosophy, from which he received a degree in French, after which he began work on his doctorate. During this time, strengthened by his sufferings in prison, he also studied theology and was ordained to the priesthood in January 1973. Fr George remained vocal in his criticism of the atheistic government and its allies, preaching the true faith and Christian morals to all who would listen. Many young people were drawn to his message. He taught French and New Testament studies at the Theological Seminary in Bucharest until he was abruptly dismissed in 1978 for speaking out in defence of religious freedom and human rights. In 1979, Fr George was again arrested and sentenced to 10 years in prison. He was severely mistreated and isolated. News of his imprisonment aroused protests from the West, which eventually resulted in his early release in 1984. Still living under persecution by government and cooperative Church authorities, he managed to emigrate to the US in 1985 and was accepted into the Romanian Orthodox Episcopate of America the following year. Since 1989, he has served as rector of Holy Cross Church, Alexandria VA, serving the community there with love and dedication until his final breath. Fr George is known around the world for his sufferings and commitment to Christ in the face of persecution. He has written several books, contributed countless articles, and delivered many lectures on the subject over the years. To this day, his example continues to motivate countless faithful, especially young people, toward a renewed commitment to Christ and the Orthodox Church. Fr George is survived by his wife of over 40 years, Preoteasa Adriana, and their son Andrei and family. May Fr George’s memory be eternal!

ROCA’s OLDEST PRIEST TURNS 110

ON SUNDAY, 19th November, the senior priest of the Western American Diocese, Protopresbyter Elias Wen, turned 110. Fr Elias was born in 1896, in Peking, China. As a boy he received baptism at the Chinese Orthodox Mission. After studies at the Orthodox School run by the Mission, he entered into the seminary, which he completed in 1918. Following the Bolshevik Revolution in Russia, the Russian Orthodox Church was unable to continue its missionary efforts in China and so Fr Elias, who had received a complete theological education, decided to dedicate himself to serving Russian Orthodox refugees in China. In order to accomplish this, he first learned Russian and Church Slavonic. In 1924 Fr Elias was ordained deacon and on November 26, 1931, Archbishop Simon ordained him priest. Thus 2006 also marks his 75th anniversary of the priesthood. Fr Elias served a number of parishes in Shanghai. After the new Cathedral “Surety of Sinners” was built, he was assigned the position of Dean of the Cathedral and, in 1946, Rector of the Cathedral. In the cathedral he served together with Saint John of Shanghai. In 1949, Fr Elias was sent to Hong Kong to organise a parish there. Because communists occupied Shanghai, he was unable to return. In 1957, Fr Elias was transferred to the Western American Diocese and assigned to the Holy Virgin Cathedral of the Mother of God “Joy of All Who Sorrow,” to which he is still attached. During his active duty at the Cathedral, Fr Elias, besides celebrating the services, sang and read on the kliros daily. In the course of his pastorate Fr Elias, whose mind is still clear and has an excellent memory, would recount to the Cathedral clergy events from church life in China, his memories of St John, old Russian liturgical practice and the history of the Holy Virgin Cathedral. It has been about seven years since Protopresbyter Elias Wen last served. Following the repose of ever-memorable Archbishop Anthony (Medvedev) in 2000, Fr Elias took part in one of the memorial services. He had a great love, respect and appreciation for Vladyka Anthony. At present Fr Elias lives with his son. He is regularly communed by the Cathedral ecclesiarch, Protopriest Sergei Kotar. Every year on the Feast of the Prophet Elias, Fr Elias has a festal lunch for the Cathedral clergy. On his birthday the Cathedral clergy visited Fr Elias and greeted him on behalf of the Cathedral parishioners, diocesan clergy and flock.

PAPAL VISIT TO ISTANBUL

AT THE TIME we are preparing this issue, Pope Benedict XVI is just beginning his visit to Turkey, during which he will meet the OEcumenical Patriarch Bartholomeos I, who in nearly every news item on the event is erroneously billed as the spiritual head of the world’s Orthodox Christians. As a result of the offence that the Pope recently inadvertently caused many Moslems, his visit is being greeted with protests. Pictures have appeared in the press of protesters with placards depicting the Pope and the Patriarch speaking with forked tongues, and with slogans which Christians would consider blasphemous. It appears from the release on the Patriarchal website that the meeting with the Patriarch will be ecumenical with both church leaders addressing and blessing the people there.

NEW ARCHBISHOP OF CYPRUS

DEMETRA MOLYVA reports that the recent enthronement ceremony of Archbishop Chrysostomos II of Cyprus took place at St John’s Cathedral near the Archbishopric in the presence of President Tassos Papadopoulos and church officials from abroad. The process by which the new Archbishop was elected has been described as “Machiavellian” and one which “no politician could ever have got away with.” “But,” another report states, “his rival candidate, Bishop Athanassios, showed a commendable sense of responsibility, graciously accepting the result when he had every right to protest about the postponement which robbed him of victory. To his credit, he had put the interest of the Church above his own and urged his angry supporters to accept the result. Hopefully, all this will be forgotten now and the new Archbishop will concentrate on healing the divisions in the Church and work on restoring its image which has taken a battering over the last few years.”