06.25.09
Pan-Orthodox Symposium at St. Vladimir’s
(from oca.org)
Audio recordings of St. Vladimir’s Seminary Symposium available on Ancient Faith Radio
Posted 06/23
CRESTWOOD, NY [SVS/OCA Communications/June 23, 2009] – Recent exchanges of views about Orthodox Christianity in North America, the role of the Patriarchate of Constantinople, events in the Antiochian Archdiocese, debates in the Romanian Episcopate, and pan-Orthodox sessions that deliberated on the “diaspora” – without American participation – emphasize how vital it is to reflect upon events that have shaped the current situation and to regularize Orthodox Christianity in North America.
To address this need, and in a summer which might be described as the most pivotal in American Orthodox history, Saint Vladimir’s Seminary hosted a conference June 18 to 20, 2009, the theme of which was “The Council and The Tomos: 20th Century Landmarks Towards a 21st Century Church,” that focused on three visions that have shaped Orthodox Christianity in America: the vision of Saint Tikhon; the vision of autocephaly; and a vision for the future, which will be offered by Metropolitan Jonah at the conclusion of the conference.
Speakers examined watersheds that have shaped the Orthodox Church in America — the All-Russian Council of 1917-1918 and the Tomos of Autocephaly granted in 1970.
The symposium on Church unity featured presentations by His Beatitude, Metropolitan Jonah, Primate of the Orthodox Church in America; His Eminence, Archbishop Nathaniel of Detroit and the OCA’s Romanian Episcopate; His Grace, Bishop Basil [Osborne] of Amphipolis of the Ecumenical Patriarchate’s Exarchate for Orthodox Parishes of the Russian Tradition in Europe; Mr. Charles Ajalat, Chancellor of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America; and others.
A realtime webcast of the symposium was made available for those who could not travel to St. Vladimir’s Seminary.
In addition to the live video feed, Ancient Faith Radio, the seminary’s internet radio partner, provided audio recordings of the conference in podcast format. To listen to the conference speakers on Ancient Faith Radio, click here.
A transcript of Metropolitan Jonah’s symposium presentation may be read here.
In related news, an English translation of the Communiqué issued at the conclusion of the Fourth Preconciliar Pan-Orthodox Conference held June 6 to 12, 2009, in Chambésy, Switzerland has now been posted on the web site of the Orthodox Center of the Ecumenical Patriarchate. According to the Communiqué the theme of this conference was “the discussion of the subject of the canonical organization of the Orthodox Diaspora.” The Communiqué may be found in its Greek original, as well as in English, French, German and Russian translations, here.
Justina said,
July 30, 2009 at 2:52 am
I hope the following does not sound harsh. But I think we
need to look at this.
The statement reproduced in quotes, shows that
worldly phronema has infected Orthodoxy at the level of
seminaries and hierarchs.
HOW does it show this? By the use of the word “vision” in
the way that worldly, New Age influenced and psychobabble
and suchlike speakers use it. It is used, published, no one
challenges its use in this way at any point in the process of
it getting into the public presentation of the announcement of
the seminar, and probably in the seminar. It got into print.
WHY? HOW? This should not have happened.
Is there a real or alleged miraculous vision from God,
referred to in any of these statements? No. They are not
using the word vision correctly. They are using it as the
man-is-God and all talk of inspiration and vision is at best
metaphorical and artists are inspired and so forth type
presupposition infested people use it.
(That doesn’t mean that the
extreme Traditionalist views parodied in some of The Onion
Dome articles is totally correct by default.)
“Saint Vladimir’s Seminary hosted a conference June 18 to 20, 2009, the theme of which was “The Council and The Tomos: 20th Century Landmarks Towards a 21st Century Church,” that focused on three visions that have shaped Orthodox Christianity in America: the vision of Saint Tikhon; the vision of autocephaly; and a vision for the future, which will be offered by Metropolitan Jonah at the conclusion of the conference.”
that doesn’t mean that “world Orthodoxy” and the OCA have
lost grace. That means, like during many times in the history
of The Church, one cannot take everything handed you from
the church’s representatives as being in fact what was given
by the Apostles.
As St. Bishop Cyril of Jerusalem in his Catechetical Lectures
warned, check all his (and everyone’s) teachings against the
Scriptures. And don’t just accept that “the Fathers” taught
such and such regarding ANYTHING, go study them for
yourself, don’t take the word of ordained experts for it, for
what the general summation of the holy Fathers teaching is.
Check it for yourself. Actually, they often disagreed. Not on
the core Tradition which is enshrined in the Creed, of course,
but anyone researching some platitudes, like Anselm being
the supposed inventor of substitutionary atonement and the
idea of there being any justice in God, is due for a surprise if
he reads those two chapters in St. Athanasius On The Incarnation about The Divine Dilemma. Then there is Khomiakov’s influence. Then there are notions of the adulterous
nature of second marriages after the death of the first spouse.
Or traditions received about supposed reasons for timing of
the prayers for the dead, which are quite different from what
St. Nicodemus of the Holy Mountain had to say about it.
Andrea Elizabeth said,
July 30, 2009 at 10:20 am
Justina,
It is challenging to sort out conflicting messages. I have not come to strong conclusions yet, but I pray that the Church will sift through the chaff and keep the wheat, but that sometimes takes time. Meanwhile, I’ll try to keep my eyes and ears open.
Nick Kobbs said,
September 14, 2009 at 11:51 am
It is time for the Pan-Orthodox movement in America to step up. There is “NO” diaspora. The American Orthodox are not going back to Russia, Greece, etc. nor do we belong to any other church, but our “OWN” local church in America. The creation of the only autocephalous Orthodox Church in 1970, the OCA, was a direct result of discussions by SCOBA beginning in 1961. Unfortunately, some of the ethnic bishops of SCOBA have not followed through in joining the OCA. Instead, the Patriarch of Istanbul (Constantinople) has insisted that unity in America be only under his authority. This is silly, non-canonical and unnecessary. A canonical, autocephalous, local church already exists in North America and supporting this church by ALL American Orthodox is essential for the growth of the Church in North America. Not more intrusion from Moscow nor Istanbul!
Aaron Taylor said,
September 14, 2009 at 11:29 pm
Whoa! Supporting some particular jurisdiction, no matter how ‘canonical’ it may claim to be, is most definitely NOT ‘essential for the growth of the Church in North America’. Following Christ, living the Gospel, struggling against the passions, acquiring the virtues, praying without ceasing: these things are essential for the growth of the Church in North America. Better external disunity but with prayer and ascesis than external unity at all costs. Ridiculous rhetoric like this is exactly what demonstrates to the Patriarchs that Americans DO need their intrusions.
Nick Kobbs said,
October 22, 2009 at 10:42 am
Aaron:
You don’t understand! When Christ sent His disciples out, it was to create “local churches” where each had their own bishop (and presbyters) to run their own churches. This was the “model” set forth by Christ & His Apostles. The ancient patriarchates would have you believe that North America and other places in the world are a “diaspora” of peoples belonging to them. They therefore, wish to claim their authority over these people wherever they live. The biggest supporter of this “false model” is Pat. Bart. himself. It’s a lie! “Local churches are under the omophor (rule) of local bishops.” This is Orthodox Canon Law. The local, indigenous Orthodox Church in North america is the OCA which +Bart. has dismissed. So ask yourself, “Who is right; +Bart. or the model set forth by Christ and His Apostles?” Disunity in North America continues to make the Orthodox a Christian minority lacking growth and the pulling of resources for continuing the mission of the Christ and His Apostles.
Andrea Elizabeth said,
September 15, 2009 at 6:13 am
Aaron,
You may not agree that the OCA’s autocephally is canonical, but we do have a valid Bishop who is contributing to the “growth of the Church in North America”. He very much promotes the piety that you claim is necessary, and has even expressed willingness for the OCA to disappear.
I suppose you mean that unity under the OCA would relax some of the external structures of piety such as the Old Calendar. If the OC is so essential to piety, then it should be listed as an uncompromising position by ROCOR. In Metropolitan Hilarion’s recent statement, he characterized the OC as the main sticking point, but at the same time he said he wasn’t looking for jurisdictional unity with the OCA. It makes me wonder that if the OCA were to adopt ROCOR rules of piety, that would be enough.
To me Metropolitan Jonah is being like the true mother of the infant that the two women were fighting over before King Solomon in saying that he would sacrifice his claim to keep the baby from being split in half. However, he is new and things aren’t settled yet regarding many issues. These things need to be worked out in a measured, stable way that will engender confidence in people, and not make them feel impulsively and forcefully shuffled around.