Symposium to be held on Ecumenical Patriarchate's Religious Freedom Crisis
19. February 2009 - 9:28The Order of Saint Andrew's Greater Delaware Valley region will be hosting a symposium entitled, "The Ecumenical Patriarchate: A Church in Captivity and the Religious Freedom Crisis in Turkey" at St. Luke Greek Orthodox Church in Broomall, PA on March 7, 2009. Dr. George E. Demacopoulos, Associate Professor of Historical Theology at Fordham University, will be the main speaker and offer insight on the ecclesiological and historical significance of the Ecumenical Patriarchate.
Metropolitan Council meeting opens with spiritual retreat at OCA chancery
19. February 2009 - 9:26Members of the Orthodox Church in America's Metropolitan Council gathered at the OCA Chancery in Oyster Bay Cove, NY, on Wednesday, February 18, 2009, for the opening of their 2009 spring meeting. The Metropolitan Council is composed of the His Beatitude, Metropolitan Jonah, chairman; the three statutory officers of the Church -- the Chancellor, the Secretary, and the Treasurer -- one priest and one layperson from each diocese, elected by their respective diocesan assemblies; and three priests and three laypeople elected by the All-American Council.
Ancient Bible Written in Syriac Found in Cyprus
18. February 2009 - 10:18An ancient Bible written in Syriac, a dialect of Jesus' native language, was found in Cyprus earlier this month.
Turkish Cypriot police who performed a raid on suspected antiquity smugglers had found the Scriptures in the northern Turkish-controlled part of Cyprus, according to Reuters. The police testified in court that they believe the ancient holy text could be as old as 2,000 years.
Bulgaria to Get Part of St. Klimen Ohridski's Relics from Macedonia
18. February 2009 - 10:16Bulgaria is to get part of the relics of Saint Kliment Ohridski from Macedonia after the Orthodox Church authorities in Skopje decided to satisfy the demand of Plovdiv Bishop Nikolay. The relics' giving will be performed by the Macedonian Bishop Timotey on November 24.
His Beatitude Jonah Visits the Orthodox Christian Mission Center
18. February 2009 - 10:14On Tuesday, February 10th the Orthodox Christian Mission Center (OCMC) was honored by a visit from His Beatitude Jonah, Archbishop of Washington and New York, Metropolitan of All America and Canada. Following a tour of the new Missionary Training and Administration Building, which will open its doors later this year, His Beatitude offered His hopeful prayers and words of encouragement to the gathered Mission Center staff. His Beatitude stated that, "The foundation and history of the Church is missions and the very essence of the Church is missions." His Beatitude further reminded the staff that missions is one of the most important functions of the Church because "Jesus Christ and the Gospel heals people's souls," and that through Christ "people are given hope and a sense of meaning."
