Heroic Orthodox Priest a Target

The persecution of Greek Orthodox priest Father Gabriel Nadaf has escalated to a new crescendo, as the Jerusalem Patriarchate threatens to sack the Nazareth-resident and deprive him of his livelihood.

Nadaf’s sin is his open activism on behalf of integration by Arab Christians – or Arab-speaking Christian Israelis, as Nadaf prefers to call himself and his followers – into Israel’s mainstream.

He openly and bravely supports, though does not necessarily encourage, the growing number of young Christians who are interested in enlistment in the IDF. He also supports those interested in performing national service in their own communities. This sufficed to put him on the hit list of radical Arab MKs – including the only Greek Orthodox Arab MK, Basel Ghattas (Balad) – and to create inordinate pressure on the Jerusalem Patriarchate to dissociate itself from Nadaf and to punish him. The Palestinian Authority is also reportedly leaning on the patriarchate.

[...]

Last week, Christian Arab pro-Israel activists held a rally in Yafia, where Nadaf leads a congregation, and reported that this year 94 Christian Arabs signed up for military duty. In the whole of 2010, the comparable number was merely 30.

In their Facebook page the new recruits refer to themselves as “Arabic-speaking Israeli Christians.”

They say they live in a democratic Jewish state, see themselves as integrally part of it (Christians pre-date Muslims by centuries) and will not desist from saying so – especially in view of the bitter lot of their co-religionists in Syria, Iraq, the PA and Gaza. Their ambition, they stress, is status of the sort enjoyed by the Druse and Circassians.

But no sooner was the rally held, then the PA demanded Nadaf be fired. The threats against him were ramped up.

Nadaf calls this “blatant intimidation geared to frighten young Christians from identifying with Israel as fully fledged Israelis.”

See also The Times of Israel:

Father Gabriel Naddaf, a Greek Orthodox priest from Yafia, was approached by the Forum soon after its creation, along with two other clerics, to serve as the movement’s spiritual guides. But following a campaign of intimidation the other two dropped out, leaving Naddaf alone at the helm.

For his positive view on Christian recruitment, Naddaf was banned from entering Nazareth’s Church of the Annunciation, and may be fired from his church position in Yafia. The tires of his car were punctured and a rag with bloodstains was laid at his doorstep.

“This is proof of their moral bankruptcy,” Naddaf told The Times of Israel in a telephone conversation. He considered the freedom to speak his mind on the recruitment of Christians “a matter of faith,” he added, noting that he has filed a police complaint against his attackers but could do little against inciting videos posted on YouTube or threatening tweets.

 Source: Rosh Pina

Update on Abducted Orthodox Bishops

Catholic News Agency reports that the case of two Orthodox archbishops kidnapped in Syria is growing direr with each passing day. One of the bishops, Mar Gregorios Ibrahim, may face life-threatening illness without his blood-pressure and diabetes medication.

The two were kidnapped nine days ago in the Syrian province of Aleppo while on a humanitarian mission.

The Archbishops' driver was killed during the attack. Remember his family in prayer.

As Orthodox around the world celebrate the Resurrection of Christ our God, pray for these holy fathers. Lord, have mercy upon them and upon their captors.

Metropolitan Hilarion on Persecution of Christians

"In Iraq only one tenth of a million-and-a-half Christians that lived there ten years ago have survived. In Egypt we are witnessing a mass exodus of Christians. There are practically no Christians left in Libya. Ninety five percent of Christians have abandoned Homs in Syria. We, Orthodox and Catholics, must raise our voices jointly in defense of Christians subjected to persecution and repression in these countries, as well as in Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Indonesia, the Philippines, Nigeria and in a number of other countries as well."-- Metropolitan Hilarion

Orthodox Monastery Vandalized by Albanians

January 4, 2013

Belgrade: Albanians last night completely destroyed the monastery “Assumption of the Virgin” in southern Serbia. Monastery of the Assumption of Virgin which is located in the vicinity of Vladicin Han was vandalized last night. The door was smashed, and the entire interior were broken. The money from the candle sales and other item inside the monastery is stolen, and all the icons were smashed. Mother Paraskeva (62 years old) confirmed this information. She was very upset fear for her safety. “I’m afraid they will come back, but I’m not going anywhere. I’m here alone and old, but let them come, someone has to defend,” said Paraskeva.

“There’s nothing left, this is terrible! The whole world stood up on his feet because of a cartoon of Muhammad, but when all monasteries and churches destroyed, no one responds,” she added. Asked whether he knows who could have done this, Paraskeva replied that everything is known, but that no one will be interested in this case.

“Albanians from Kosovo were organized with the intention of coming to destroy the Serbian monasteries in this area! This is not the first time something like this happens. Last year on Good Friday they attacked me, I did not have a stick, who knows if I managed to defend myself, “said the visibly shaken Paraskeva.

“Albanians from Kosovo are organized and planned to come and destroy Serbian monasteries in this area. This is not the 1st time something like this happens. Last year on Good Friday they attacked me. If I didn’t have my stick, I would hardly protect myself. The Monastery of the Assumption of the Virgin is under the auspices of Bishop Pachomius, who was accused of rape of boys, which Paraskeva says to be the worst invented lies by the Albanians. “They started all these stories and even payed the people to lie about it. Some have been given 35 000 DM (Deutsche Marks) to create a bad image of the Bishop. The Monastery is located in the village of Mrtvica, 14 kilometers from Vladicin Han town. It originates from the 4th century and it is the oldest shrine in Vranje district.

Source:
OCP News Service

Memory Eternal! Patriarch Ignatius IV

Patriarch Ignatius IV

Patriarch Ignatius fell asleep in the Lord on December 5th at St. George Orthodox Hospital in Beirut Lebanon after having suffered a stroke earlier this week.

His Beatitude Patriarch Ignatius IV (Hazim) of Antioch and All the East was born in 1920 in the village of Muharda, near the city of Hama Syria. In 1936, he moved to Beirut, where he became an altar server. Years later, upon taking monastic vows, he became a hierodeacon. 

In 1945 he graduated from the American University of Beirut, and from 1949 to 1953 studied at the Saint Sergius Theological Institute in Paris. On his return to Lebanon, the young theologian with a master's degree was ordained hieromonk. 

In 1942, he became one of the founders of the influential Orthodox Youth Movement in Lebanon and Syria, which has done much to renew youthful participation in Church life. In 1953, His Beatitude became one of the organizers of Syndesmos the worldwide Brotherhood of Orthodox Youth. 

In 1961 he was ordained Bishop of Palmyra and Patriarchal Vicar, and in the following year, he was sent to the monastery of Balamand as superior and as dean of the Theological Seminary founded, which in 1988 was transformed into an Orthodox University, the first in the Middle East. He has published a series of theological books and numerous articles. His Beatitude was an honorary doctor of Sorbonne and Saint-Petersburg (1981) and Minsk (2003) Theological Academies. In 1970, the future Patriarch was appointed Metropolitan of Latakia (Laodicea). 

On 2 July 1979, he was elected Primate of the Church of Antioch and enthroned on 8 July of the same year.

I bid your prayers for His Beatitude Ignatius IV

His Beatitude Ignatius IV, Patriarch of Antioch and all The East, was taken to St. George Hospital in Beirut yesterday after suffering a stroke. He is currently in critical condition at St. George Hospital.

Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk to Bishop Welby

To the Right Rev. Justin Welby, Bishop of Durham



Dear Brother and Lord Bishop,

I would like to extend to you wholehearted congratulations on your election as Head of one of the oldest episcopal chairs founded by St. Augustine of Canterbury in the 7th century.

You have been entrusted with the spiritual guidance of the entire Anglican Communion, a unique union of like-minded people, which, however diverse the forms of its existence in the world may be, needs one ‘steward of God’ (Tit. 1:7) the guardian of the faith and witness to the Truth (cf. Jn. 18:37).

The Russian Orthodox Church and the Churches of the Anglican Communion are bonded by age-old friendly relations initiated in the 15th century. For centuries, our Churches would preserve good and truly brotherly relations encouraged both by frequent mutual visits and established theological dialogue and certainly by a spirit of respect and love which used to accompany the meetings of our hierarchs, clergy and ordinary believers.

Regrettably, the late 20th century and the beginning of the third millennium have brought tangible difficulties in relations between the Russian Orthodox Church and the Churches of the Anglican Communion. The introduction female priesthood and now episcopate, the blessing of same-sex ‘unions’ and ‘marriages’, the ordination of homosexuals as pastors and bishops – all these innovations are seen by the Orthodox as deviations from the tradition of the Early Church, which increasingly estrange Anglicanism from the Orthodox Church and contribute to a further division of Christendom as a whole.

We hope that the voice of the Orthodox Church will be heard by the Church of England and Churches of the Anglican Communion, and good fraternal relationships between us will revive.

I wish you God’s help in your important work.

‘May the God of love and peace be with you’ (2 Cor. 13:11).



Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk

From here.

Fr. Peter Gillquist

The servant of God, Fr. Peter E. Gillquist, departed this life at 9:20 p.m. Sunday, July 1, surrounded by family. He has finished the race. Memory eternal.

With the saints give rest, O Lord, to the Soul of your departed servant, the Archpriest Peter, where there is no pain, nor sorrow, nor suffering, but life everlasting!

Schedule of Services for Fr. Peter E. Gillquist

 

Wednesday, July 4
6:00 p.m. Public Visitation
7:00 p.m. Memorial Service
   *All Night Vigil to Follow* (Reading of the Psalter, etc.)

All Saints Orthodox Church
6004 S Fairfax Rd
Bloomington, IN 47401
(812) 824-3600
frpeterjon@allsaintsbloomington.org

Thursday, July 5
9:00 a.m. Divine Liturgy at All Saints Church, Bloomington

5:00 p.m. Public Visitation at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church (3500 W 106th St., Carmel, IN)

7:00 p.m. Memorial Service at Holy Trinity Church
    *All Night Vigil to Follow* (Reading of the Psalter)

 

Friday, July 6
11:00 a.m. Funeral Service at Holy Trinity Church

4:00 p.m. Burial

RIP Pope Shenouda III

Pope Shenouda III has died at the age of 88. He was the head of what is believed to be the oldest expression of Christianity, the Coptic Orthodox Church in Egypt. His Holiness was the 117th Patriarch of Alexandria.

Pope Shenouda had a warm heart for ministry to the poor. He had a special meeting with them every Thursday, where he supported them through funds, counselling and prayer.

The body of the late Patriarch will lie in repose for two days in Abbasiya cathedral as thousands of mourners pay their last respects. His funeral is scheduled for Tuesday.

Pope Shenouda II
Spiritual head of millions of Copts 
and a highly respected Orthodox leader

The Pope will be buried at St. Bishoy monastery in Wadi Natrun, in the Nile Delta region to the north of Cairo.

He led his people faithfully for 40 years.  Pray for the persecuted church in Egypt.

Icon Workshops

Dear Friend of the Icon,

We are glad to announce the 2012schedule  of HEXAEMERON sponsored courses in icon writing with Ksenia Pokrovsky, Marek Czarnecki and Anna Gouriev. This year we have expanded our reach from California to Brazil. Workshops are available also in North Carolina, Pennsylvannia and Kentucky.

For complete information on these workshops and registrationdetails, visit our website: http://www.hexaemeron.org

Also, see the newsletter at: http://hexaemeron.wordpress.com

OCA Ends Relations with Episcopal Church

His Beatitude, the Archbishop of Washington, Metropolitan of All America and Canada of the Orthodox Church in America (OCA) announced recently that his church has ended its ecumenical relations with The Episcopal Church, and will establish instead formal ecumenical relations with the Anglican Church in North America (ACNA).

Metropolitan Jonah of the OCA made the announcement June 24 at a plenary session of the ACNA’s founding convocation at St Vincent’s Cathedral, Bedford, Texas.

An autocephalous Eastern Orthodox Church, the OCA was established by eight Russian monks in 1794 on Kodiak Island, Alaska. Known as the Russian Orthodox Greek Catholic Church in America, it was granted autocephaly, or autonomy, by the Russian Orthodox Church in 1970. The OCA has 700 congregations, monasteries and communities spread across the United States and Canada.

Metropolitan Jonah, 49, was reared in The Episcopal Church, but joined the OCA while a student at the University of California, San Diego, in 1978.

Read it all here.