One of the most frequently heard criticisms of the Ecumenical Patriarchate’s handling of the Ukrainian situation runs something like “you don’t ‘reward’ schismatics by receiving them back into communion.” Yet healing schism and reconciling schismatics to the Church has always been—from the beginning—precisely what the Church does.

If “you don’t ‘reward’ schismatics by grantng them autocephaly,” is this not precisely what the Moscow Patriarchate did in 1970 by creating the autocephalous Orthodox Church in America (OCA)? Giacomo Sanfilippo writes in Ukrainian Autocephaly: An Awkward Spot for the OCA:

As can be read here, on March 31, 1970 the Soviet-controlled Moscow Patriarchate and the schismatic Russian Orthodox Greek Catholic Church of America (popularly known as “the Metropolia”) entered into an Agreement which resulted in the immediate restoration of communion between them and—ten days later—a Tomos of Autocephaly granted by the former to the latter, followed soon thereafter by the name change of the latter to the Orthodox Church in America.

Metropolitan Hierotheos’ essay places these questions in an important historical and ecclesiological context.

Apostolic Tradition and Apostolic Succession in the Mystery of the Church

Metropolitan Hierotheos of Nafpaktos

In a previous article I announced that I was going to publish a text in which I would attempt to interpret what the Apostolic Tradition and the Apostolic Succession are within the mystery of the Church. This is the purpose of this present article, which does not claim to be authoritative, but emphasises a few truths and is open to correction. In any case, in the Church we always remain in the fear of God and in a state of discipleship. The Apostles of Christ have continued as Disciples of Christ for ever. Read More

Archbishop Hieronymos II of Athens and All Greece

According to UNIAN and Ekathimerini, the Holy Synod of the Orthodox Church of Greece reached a decision on August 28, 2019 to recognize the autocephaly of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine. 112 International reports that eucharistic concelebration between the Churches of Greece and Ukraine took place as early as last month’s celebration of the 1,031st anniversary of the Baptism of Kyiv in 988.

However, this has yet to be reported on Ecclesia, the official website of the Church of Greece. Read More

Through Homefront training with IOCC, Orthodox parishes undertake disaster preparedness planning so they can help avert disasters and effectively respond in their communities when needs arise. (Photo: International Orthodox Christian Charities)

✠

US Parishes Prepare for Disaster with International Orthodox Christian Charities’ Homefront Program 

Comprehensive Training for Communities Fosters Resilience, Effective Response in Emergencies

International Orthodox Christian Charities (IOCC) has expanded its Homefront program, equipping Orthodox parishes across the country to plan ahead and respond effectively when disasters arise.

The Orthodox Homefront comprises parishes that have undertaken disaster preparedness planning so they can help avert disasters and effectively respond when disasters arise. Homefront parishes are equipped to open their doors to the larger community as distribution centers or shelters, for example; they might house teams of volunteers working nearby or meet other community needs in an emergency. Read More

Theologians outside of the Orthodox Church have begun to explore possibilities for a “theology of disability” in conversation with the developing field of disability theory. Orthodoxy in Dialogue publishes Ms. Spoor’s testimony as a call to Orthodox theologians, pastors, thinkers, health care practitioners, and persons with disabilities to collaborate in forging a uniquely Orthodox theology of disability.

The other day, I read the article Father Isaac Skidmore published on Orthodoxy in Dialogue about the church and mental health [On Mental Health Referrals by Orthodox Clergy]. It managed to drag up some memories of quite an unpleasant time some years back, which made me want to respond to and confirm what Father Isaac wrote in his quite excellent article from my point of view—the point of view of someone who has spent time with various churches, as well as mental health professionals, since around the age of 17. Read More