News

Communiqué of the Holy Eparchial Synod

New York, February 19, 2009

On February 18, 2009, the Holy Eparchial Synod of the Holy Archdiocese of America convened in a Special Session, in its capacity as Spiritual Court of Second Instance in order to review the case of the Very Reverend Archimandrite Gabriel Karambis.

Scholar Discusses Future of Orthodox Christianity in America

Though he lived more than 17 centuries ago, the Greek Orthodox saint Athanasius is an exemplary model for Orthodox Christians today, a scholar and theologian said at Fordham on Feb. 18. "St. Athanasius stands as the supreme model of successful surviving, learning and living for Christians in a hostile world," said the Rev. Stanley Harakas, Archbishop Iakovos Professor of Orthodox Theology Emeritus at Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology.

Symposium to be held on Ecumenical Patriarchate's Religious Freedom Crisis

The 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

Members 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

An 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

Bulgaria 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.