All News Feeds
The Descent of Jesus Into Hades
The Miracle of the Red Egg
Pascha 2014 Pastoral Letter from His Eminence Metropolitan Silouan
How to resurrect with Christ
"If then you were raised together with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated on the right hand of God" (Colossians 3:1)
Beloved in Christ
Hierarchs, clergy and faithful,
Of this God-protected Archdiocese
Christ is risen! Indeed He is risen!
Christ defeated death! We are no longer subject to it; rather we are Christ's, who gave us "the right to be God's children" (John 1:12) and to be His "friends" (John 15:15)! What great news! What a great gift! What a great reality! An eternal bond is granted to whoever believes in Christ as Savior from death - divine adoption in Christ's name!
From now on, the Lord commissioned us to be victorious not only over death "from outside," but also over death "from within," that is, over our own selfishness. He also commanded us to be messengers of the Good News and heralds of His victory - and ours, too - over any kind of death. He asked us, as Christians, to abide by love rather than by hate, by hope rather than by despair, by faith rather than by logic, by justice rather than by injustice, by forgiveness rather than by resentment, by humility rather than by vanity and arrogance, and by sacrifice rather than by self-interest.
Christ defeated death in our lives! He set us free from fear: from fearing death, from fearing evil, from fearing illness and calamities, from fearing each other, from fearing the uncertainty of the future, from fearing insecurity and unemployment, from fearing violence and terrorism, and from fearing persecution and sufferings for His sake. Instead, He gave us the power and the means to seek the true freedom. The freedom to love each other even though we differ in character, education and profession. The freedom to forgive each other even though we have suffered. The freedom to ask forgiveness from each other even though we have badly hurt each other. The freedom to serve each other even though we differ in origin, background and culture. The freedom to work together even though we differ in thinking, worldview, ability and capacity. The freedom to abide by the truth and raise our children to seek Him. The freedom to defend the unjust and the needy and restore them their rights. The freedom to be at the Lord's hand, obedient, prayerful and faithful.
Christ defeated death in our reality! He gave us the gift to start anew, to renew our heart, to purify our mind, and to reaffirm our commitment of faith at His service. He restored in us the dignity of our person, the beauty of our nature, and the bounty in our personality.
Christ defeated death in our relationships! Christ is the only mediator between God and man. However, He made us "bridges" of salvation to reach others. As Antiochian Orthodox Christians in North America, we are bequeathed an apostolic "lineage:" tradition, inheritance and mission. In this regard, the image of the "bridge" summarizes the Antiochian witness that emerges out of the past, prompts the present and prepares the future of the Antiochian Orthodox Church on the eve of the election of a new Metropolitan to succeed to His Eminence, Metropolitan Philip of eternal memory.
Christ´s victory over death is a responsibility when it is handed over to us. "I am the Way," (John 14:6) the Lord said. "We are the bridge," we would respond to Him. Indeed, the Lord means for us to be His co-workers in this most unprecedented cooperation between heaven and earth. Antiochian Orthodox, among others, are leading the work of building a bridge between East and West, between our Patriarchate and the Archdiocese, among their brothers and sisters of other Orthodox Churches in North America, among their brethren whom they invited to share this apostolic faith, toward those are in need. If Christ is the "bridge" from heaven to earth and from earth to the netherworld, saving in this way the entire creation, then you understand that being a "bridge" means to follow Christ in His openness to humanity, in bringing humanity to unity, in serving your brethren to the extent of your ability and capacity.
I am glad for your witness – a bridge that unites both ends and that is open for people to come across in both directions, and for Christ to work the salvation of each one. I am sure that, as we are celebrating our Lord's resurrection from the dead, you will treasure this divine gift of being a bridge. Indeed, I am certain that you will not spare any means to serve the Divine Providence toward humanity.
May our Lord guide all of us by His eternal light shown forth from the empty tomb!
+ Silouan
Metropolitan of Buenos Aires and all Argentina & Patriarchal Vicar of New York and all North America
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Understanding the Cross of Christ
Papal Supremacy and the Parting of the Ways
Holy Friday Pastoral Message from His Eminence Metropolitan Silouan
How to be crucified with Christ
"I have been crucified with Christ" (Galatians 2:20)
Beloved in Christ,
Hierarchs, clergy and faithful
Of this God-protected Archdiocese:
The mystery of Christ is very simple. Yet in order to embrace it in our lives, we need a mind and a heart as humble as His. The mystery of His love to humankind is such that it surprises us, whenever we meditate on it and are conscious of it. It surprises us because it reveals the love He has for us. He "is love" (1 John 4:8), isn't He?
Christ manifested His love to us in a very particular way: the way of a bridegroom with his bride. The Church preserved from the Lord's last moments before death the image of a marriage. The "picture" she took of this wedding has been expressed in two different ways in our celebrations on the first days of Holy Week. In fact, we chant at Matins of these holy days: "Behold the Bridegroom comes in the middle of the night...", and "I see Thy Bridal Chamber adorned, O my Savior, but have no wedding garment that I may enter. O Giver of Light, enlighten the vesture of my soul, and save me." We also make a procession with the icon of the "bridegroom" with the inscription, "Behold, the man!" (John 19:5). It is the icon of the Lord of the "utmost humility," the whole image of His passion, a snapshot of His unconditional love for us. It was the last picture taken of Him before His death on the Cross. It is the best picture ever taken of Him. The Church raises in front of our eyes this "picture" in order that we recall today in our hearts His love and humility, and commit ourselves again to follow Him on the way of the Cross.
The way of the Cross is not painful. The sufferings that Christ endured in His body did not hurt Him as much as did our indifference, ignorance, rejection and betrayal. We have heard His words to God the Father, on the eve of His crucifixion, in which He asked Him to "remove from Him the cup" (Luke 22:42), that is, the cup of our betrayal of His love. However, we all were also witnesses of how He wholeheartedly accepted the cup – accepted us as we are, in our own wickedness – to the end. This "end" was His love manifested on the Cross in His words of forgiveness: "Father, forgive them, for they don't know what they are doing" (Luke 23:34), but also in His triumphal death: "It is finished" (John 19:30). He did love us to the very end of His life, and to the very end of our own misery, in order to accomplish our salvation, to restore in us love and the freedom to love each other as He did (John 13:34; 15:12).
Following Christ on the way of the Cross was, and still is, the very heart of the Christian "kerygma:" preaching and education. It instills in us the power of love that Christ handed over to His disciples throughout the centuries in order to befriend the "oikoumene," that is, the whole world. Abiding by the way of the Cross has one finality: to bring every human being to the knowledge of the truth - to know the Father (Cf. John 17:3), to believe in the Lord as our Savior from death and evil, and to receive the gift of life eternal from the Holy Spirit. It is a journey that we begin in this earthly life and continue throughout eternity.
Practically, the way of the Cross is the same. It is "to be crucified with Christ" (Galatians 2:20), as the Apostle Paul exclaimed. I had this in mind when His Beatitude Patriarch John X of Antioch asked me to be the Patriarchal Vicar of this God-protected Archdiocese. Therefore, I want to ask that each of you, beloved members of this Archdiocese, see how you can "translate" such words in your own lives, behaviors and activities, in a practical, but heavenly, way. In fact, all of us together need to ensure that this transitional period preceding the election of a new Metropolitan, successor to His Eminence, Metropolitan Philip of eternal memory, be filled with the fragrance of the same love and faithfulness of the perfume that Mary poured out on Christ's head (Cf. Matthew 26:7).
Mary's pre-burial ointment prior to the Lord's death (Cf. Matthew 26:12) prefigures our own way of following Christ in this transitional period, on the way of the Cross. Even though the disciples (or Judas) misinterpreted or condemned her action, the Lord asked that this ointment be a prefigurement of the announcement of His resurrection from the dead (Cf. Matthew 26:13). If we share this way, we also share the hope that the Lord proclaimed to Mary on the eve of His passion. As a fact, we will share the gladness that is coming forth from God´s promise to us: the fulfillment of our faith in Him.
I am sure that our Lord now "is working" (John 5:17) great things among us for our salvation. Let us follow Him on His way. Let us be His witnesses among our brethren. Let us be His trusted disciples in the service of our church and His co-workers for the salvation of the world.
+ Silouan
Metropolitan of Buenos Aires and all Argentina & Patriarchal Vicar of New York and all North America
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Encouragement for Holy Week (John 12:1-18)
Great and Holy Wednesday
The woman who had fallen into many sins, perceiving Thy divinity, O Lord, fulfilled the part of a myrrh-bearer; and with lamentations she brought sweet-smelling oil of myrrh to Thee before Thy burial. "Woe is me," she said, "for night surrounds me, dark and moonless, and stings my lustful passion with the love of sin. Accept the fountain of my tears, O Thou who drawest down from the clouds the waters of the sea. Incline ot the groanings of my heart, O Thou who in Thine inneffable self-emptying hast bowed down the heavens. I shall kiss Thy most pure feet and wipe them with the hairs of my head, those feet whose sound Eve heard at dusk in Paradise, and hid herself for fear. Who can search out the multitude of my sins and the abyss of Thy judgements, O Savior of my soul? Despise me not, Thine handmaiden, for Thou hast mercy without measure."
Tone 8, by Kassiani the Nun
Sheet music for the Service of Holy Unction.
Fr. George Morelli on the Ethos of Orthodox Christian Healing.
Video of the Palm Sunday Homily of His Beatitude Patriarch John X
The Patriarchate of Antioch and All the East has released the following video of the remarks of Patriarch John X on Palm Sunday, April 13 2014, in Arabic with English subtitles.
Source (For viewing on YouTube. Video embed above may not be able to be viewed in certain browsers.)
The First Three Days of Holy Week
Raising Godly Children
OCPM Reflection: "The Legacy of Metropolitan Philip"
Thursday, April 10, 2014
Together with our Orthodox brethren, Orthodox Christian Prison Ministry reflects on the legacy of His Eminence Metropolitan Philip. He was instrumental in the development and growth of OCPM and has always been close to our hearts.
When OCPM Founder Fr Duane Pederson was ordained into the Orthodox Church in 1991, he had already been active in prison ministry for more than 25 years. It was with the blessing of Metropolitan Philip that Fr Duane continued to work in prison ministry after his ordination. "Usually you're ordained to an altar, to a parish," said Fr Duane. Yet His Eminence ordained Fr Duane to continue ministering to people in prison and on the streets. "His Eminence had the foresight to step out and include the incarcerated as part of the Church."
It was with Metropolitan Philip's blessing that men in prison were catechized. The Virginia H. Farah Foundation played a timely role by funding the costs of Orthodox books and icon cards that were sent into prisons. As a result, said Fr Duane, "All these prisoners started to become Orthodox. We began to find cradle Orthodox who had been hiding in the prisons as well."
Seeing that there were men in prison who wanted to be received into the Church, Metropolitan Philip gave Fr Duane a parish-one without walls-and named it Holy Apostle Silas. He gave Fr Duane an antimins (a consecrated altar cloth necessary for celebrating the Eucharist) to use when celebrating the liturgy in prisons. With his new parish Fr Duane was able to baptize men in prison. "His Eminence was willing to care for those who had no parish," said Fr Duane.
It was because of Metropolitan Philip that the Antiochian Archdiocese established a department of prison ministry in the early 1990s with Fr Duane as its head. As word of the department spread, Fr Duane was contacted by Orthodox prison workers in other jurisdictions who were seeking connection with their Orthodox brethren. With His Eminence's blessing, Fr Duane and others organized the first pan-Orthodox conference of prison workers in St Augustine, FL in 1996.
As the idea of a pan-Orthodox prison ministry began to grow, Fr Duane recalls a formative experience he had while visiting an Antiochian Orthodox man in prison. There were other Orthodox men in the same prison-Greeks and Russians-but because Fr Duane was under the auspices of the Antiochian Archdiocese, the prison wouldn't let him visit these other men. He was struck more than ever by the need for a united, Orthodox prison ministry under the Standing Conference of the Canonical Orthodox Bishops in the Americas (SCOBA). (The Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of North and Central America has since assumed the work of SCOBA).
"Metropolitan Philip gave his blessing in 2006 to gift OCPM from the Antiochian Archdiocese to SCOBA. He gave that gift to the entire American Orthodox Church," said Fr Duane.
"Over the years, he gave his support by really wanting this ministry to succeed. And allowing it to succeed," recalled Fr Duane. "His Eminence was willing to take a risk and step out where others had not. Even [in the face of] criticism, he was willing to stand up and care for those who weren't being cared for."
May his memory be eternal!
Greetings and Visitation Information from Metropolitan Silouan
His Eminence Metropolitan Silouan, Metropolitan of Buenos Aires and all Argentina, and Patriarchal Vicar of New York and all North America, writes:
Buenos Aires, April 12th 2014
Very Esteemed Hierarchs, Reverend Clergy,
Honorable Members of the Archdiocese Board of Trustees
and Beloved Faithful
of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America
I wholeheartedly greet you on Lazarus Saturday, having experienced the tranquillity of the company of the Lord to His closest friend, and having shared His imperishable promise to Lazarus´ sisters, Mary and Martha, that He is the resurrection for whoever believes in Him!
Last Wednesday, I arrived back in Buenos Aires in order to celebrate Holy Week and Pascha with our parishioners in Argentina. Nevertheless, I did not stop working for your beloved archdiocese, and I will do until my functions as a vicar come to fulfilment, when the Holy Synod of Antioch elects a new Metropolitan in order to succeed to His Eminence, our beloved Metropolitan Philip of eternal memory.
I would like to share with you some aspects of my experience, during the two weeks I have spent with you, from Monday March 24th (arrival to the Archdiocese´s Headquarters) until Tuesday April 9th (Departure to Buenos Aires).
The first week was dedicated to the preparation of the funeral and reception of the Hierarchs, clergy and faithful who came from different parishes, churches and jurisdictions from the US, Canada and from abroad. We were blessed by the presence of the Hierarchs of the Holy See of Antioch, Their Eminences, Metropolitan Elias of Beirut, Metropolitan Antonio of Mexico, Metropolitan Sergio of Santiago (Chile), Metropolitan Damaskinos of Sao Paolo (Brasil), Metropolitan Ephrem of Tripoli, Metropolitan Ignatius of France and His Grace Bishop Ilia (Auxiliary of the Archdiocese of Akkar). At the same time, many dignitaries, religious as well as civil, came to pray and pay their last farewell to His Eminence. The faithful seemed to have been moved by the prayers, celebrations, words, and the fraternal company and presence of all the brothers and sisters in a time of grief and mourning, but also a time of hope and faith.
The burial at the Antiochian Village was a time for me to meet with the Saliba Family, and later on to accompany Saiedna Philip to his new dwelling place, from where a "bridge" has been installed, i.e. a bridge of prayers: ours, for his eternal repose in peace; and his, for our salvation.
After the burial, during the second week, a series of administrative meetings took place at the Headquarters in order to insure the best continuity of the ongoing work of the archdiocese. The members of the concerned departments showed their best collaboration, dedication and cooperation in that regard. I feel grateful to all of them because they relieved me from a great responsibility by the way everyone carries on his work. A public announcement has been made about the timetable of the procedure that will take place in Chicago in order to prepare for the election of three nominees to the office of Metropolitan: The Local Synod meeting on May 13th; the Board of Trustees meeting on May 14th; and finally the Special Nominating Convention on June 5th.
Additionally, as agreed with the esteemed Hierarchs of the Archdiocese in our meeting of Saturday March 29th, I began a series of visits to the dioceses between Wednesday 2nd and Sunday 6th of April, as follows:
- Wednesday April 2nd: Celebration of the Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts at St. Nicholas Church at Bridgeport, CT, followed by a dinner with the parishioners in the church´s hall. His Grace, Bishop Nicholas, organized the visit and accompanied me and His Grace, Bishop John, along with our archdiocesan seminarians from Saint Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary.
- Thursday, April 3rd: meetings at the Chancery of the Diocese of Worcester and New England, lunch with members of the Board of Trustees from the region, followed by an almost four-hour clergy meeting. His Grace, Bishop John, who accompanied me in the visit, organized the visit.
- Friday, April 4th: Celebration of the last Akathist at the Antiochian Village, in the Church of Saints Peter and Paul, followed by a general meeting with the SOYO members, Fellowship of Saint John the Divine members and other faithful present at the celebration. His Grace, Bishop Thomas, who accompanied me in the visit, organized this visit.
- Saturday morning, April 4th: Supplication Service to Saint Raphael with the SOYO members, followed by a Trisagion at the tomb of Saiedna Philip, and later on, a conversation with them at the Conference Center.
- Saturday afternoon, April 4th: (partial) Clergy meeting of the Diocese of Charleston, Oakland, and the Mid-Atlantic in Pittsburgh at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, followed by Hierarchal vespers and attendance at the IOCC´s dinner in for the benefit of victims of the war in Syria at the church hall. His Grace, Bishop Thomas, who accompanied me in the visit, also organized this visit.
- Sunday morning, April 5th: Celebration of the Divine Liturgy at the Basilica of Saint Mary in Livonia (Detroit), followed by lunch in the church hall with the parish council and founders of the church.
- Sunday evening, April 5th: Vespers at Saint George Church in Troy, MI, followed by dinner in the church hall with the parishioners. On this visit, His Grace, Bishop Anthony, accompanied me.
In fact, the purpose of these visits is, first, to come to know you as much as the short time of my functions as a vicar allows. I want to convey to you my sympathy for the falling asleep of Saiedna Philip, as well as words of hope and comfort during this transitional period. These visits are also an opportunity for me to come to listen to you, try to answer your inquiries, and prepare with you the "spirit" with which the Special Nominating Convention shall be conducted.
After Pascha, other visits will follow in order to cover the other dioceses. I will be visiting Wichita, Houston, Miami, Los Angeles and San Francisco from April 22nd till 29th. After that, I am hopefully planning to visit Washington DC from May 2nd till 4th, and later on Toronto, Montreal and Ottawa, from May 9th till 11th. The hierarchs of each diocese will announce in due time the specific program for each city once it is confirmed.
At the end of this brief summary, I have a request to ask from you. There is a big need for solidarity between all of us, in order to insure that this transitional period be the expression of what the Church means to us, of how we want to serve it, and of how we want it to be for us and also for our children in the days, months and years to come.
May you have a blessed "journey" heading towards Jerusalem along with our Lord, crucified and resurrected among the dead for our salvation.
+ Silouan
Metropolitan of Buenos Aires and all Argentina & Patriarcal Vicar of New York and all North America
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Lazarus Saturday
Palm Sunday + The Entrance of Our Lord Jesus Christ Into Jerusalem
O Christ God, when before thy voluntary sufferings Thou didst explain to all the confirmation of universal resurrection; Thou didst raise Lazarus in Bethany by thine exalted might, after he had been dead for four days. And to the blind Thou didst give sight; for Thou art the Giver of light, O Savior. Thou didst also enter the city with thy Disciples, sitting on an ass, fulfilling the preaching of the Prophets, as though riding upon the cherubim, and the Hebrew youths received Thee with palms and branches. Wherefore, we also carry olive branches and palms, crying out to Thee in gratitude, Hosanna in the highest, blessed is he that cometh In the Name of the Lord.
Orthros of the Feast
For more Holy Week reflections and resources, see our section here. And for more material dedicated to the pinnacle of the liturgical year, visit our Pascha section.
Listen to Fr. Ted Paraskevopoulos speak on the Feast of Palm Sunday.
Read Fr. Alexander Schmemann's "Liturgical Explanation for the Days of Holy Week."
Listen to the beautiful traditional processional Palm Sunday hymn, "Rejoice, O Bethany!"
Bishop Nicholas, Hierarchs Receive His Holiness Moran Mor Ignatius Aphrem II
On April 5, 2014, His Grace Bishop Nicholas, representing the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese, participated in receiving the newly-elected Patriarch of the Syrian Orthodox Church. His Holiness Moran Mor Ignatius Aphrem II (Syriac for His Holiness Kyrios Kyrios Ignatius Aphrem II) was received at St. Mark's Syriac Orthodox Cathedral in Teaneck, NJ by a multitude of Orthodox hierarchs from all jurisdictions.
His Holiness was elected Patriarch and Supreme Primate of Antioch and All the East for the Syrian Orthodox Church soon after the funeral and burial of his predecessor, His Holiness Moran Mor Ignatius Zakka I Iwas. Bishop Nicholas spoke on behalf of His Beatitude Patriarch John X and Metropolitan Silouan, conveying their congratulations to the Syrian Orthodox Church for His Holiness’ election. They offered their prayers for the Patriarch, for the difficult job ahead of him to help rebuild Syria and rebuild the Christian Community in Syria, as he prepares to move back to Damascus.
New Podcast - The Life of Faith
The Raising of Lazarus
The Raising of Lazarus (Mount Sinai, 12th c.)"Though I lie in bonds, O Savior," Lazarus cried from below to Thee his Deliverer, "yet shall I not remain forever in the depth of Hell, if Thou wilt only call to me, ‘Lazarus, come out;’ for Thou art my Light and my Life."
"I implore thee, Lazarus," said Hell, "Rise up, depart quickly from my bonds and be gone. It is better for me to lament bitterly for the loss of one, rather than of all those whom I swallowed in my hunger."
Shaking the gates and iron bars, Thou hast made Hell tremble at Thy voice. Hell and Death were filled with fear, O Savior, seeing Lazarus their prisoner brought to life by Thy word and rising from the tomb.
-from the Canon of the Raising of Lazarus, Tone 1
Kontakion on the Raising of St. Lazarus by St. Romanos the Melodist
Welcome to the Orthodox Christian Mission Center (OCMC) Parish Announcement E-mail List
Teen Choir Manuals Available from the Department of Sacred Music
Christopher Holwey, chairman of the Department of Sacred Music for the Antiochian Archdiocese, recently announced that choir directors and youth workers may now access Teen Choir Manuals on the department's web page. Sacred Music Institute Instructors Regina Roum and Elizabeth Beck, experienced music educators, have aggregated their methods and materials used in training young musicians in these manuals. Instructions, exercises, and musical examples, allow parish choir directors to implement the successful archdiocese-wide program in their own communities.
"We have already put together similar manuals for our younger children. Now, on behalf of the Sacred Music Department, we commend the work of Regina and Elizabeth in this Teen Music Manual, and pray that God will bless its use throughout our Archdiocese and beyond, to inspire many more teens to sing the praises of our God who has given us this life," notes Chris Holwey.
Learn more and download the manuals on the Liturgical Music Program for Teens page.
