Tag Archives: Pray Always

pray for the OCA

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Coming up in November the Orthodox Church in America is gathering to, among other things, elect a new Metropolitan and First Hierarch. As I mentioned in this post around the time of Metropolitan Jonah’s resignation, intense prayer is needed in times of intense struggle.

I cannot fathom how the faithful must feel after so many years of internal issues but I am fairly sure they are ready for some peace. As such a large jurisdiction in the US there needs to be some solid direction, wise leadership, and loving advancement in their future workings. It not only impacts the OCA alone, but all other Orthodox when scandals hit the newstands. There is also I feel an air of instability or at least confusion. Witness the following during commemoration in the divine liturgy in Moscow recently when Patriarch Kyrill stumbled upon remembrance of the Firsts Hierarch of America ( around 6 mins 34 seconds in this video ).

Not only this but all areas of the diaspora are working solidly towards dealing with the issues of the dispersion from traditional Orthodox motherlands; a strong and respected leadership of the OCA is needed I think to reduce impediments to the process in the USA.

I think all Orthodox Christians should pray for this upcoming council, for interest the information can be found here including a well put together delegate handbook here. This handbook sets out well a process of prayer and preparation for the council delegates and has all the details.

Furthermore prayers have been published for use at OCA divine services leading up to the event:

Furthermore we pray You, O Lord our Almighty and Eternal God, Source of all wisdom and understanding, be with us as we prepare to gather in Council so that in our striving to serve and glorify You, we may be enlightened with right judgment and good purpose to the building up of Your Holy Church and to Your eternal glory, we pray You, hear us and have mercy…

Again we pray You, O Lord our God, giver of every good gift, look with favor upon Your Church and bless and guide our minds and hearts, and grant us by the grace of Your All-holy Spirit an increase in faith and understanding, so that in vigilance, fasting and prayer we are prepared for the holy work of this Electoral Council, we pray You, hear us and have mercy…

Furthermore we pray You, O Lord our God, send down Your Holy Spirit upon us and guide our minds and hearts so that, inspired by Your gifts of discernment and understanding, we may know and do Your holy will in the election of a Metropolitan for our Holy Church in North America, we pray You, hear us and have mercy…

Again we pray You, O Lord our God, in Your holy and providential care for us, call forth for us a Metropolitan of wisdom, understanding, and sanctity to cooperate in working with the Holy Synod, the pastors and faithful of our Holy Church, so that together we may be that light on the lampstand and the salt of the earth working together in loving service to Christ our God and thus to one another, we pray You, hear us and have mercy.

As mentioned before, we should all pray for this upcoming council, the preparation and the outcomes.

the real religion of peace

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43 Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. 44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; 45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. 46 For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? 47 And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so? 48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect. The Holy Bible: King James Version. (Mt 5:43–48).

Rather than calling for the murder of people who say something you don’t agree with, why not respect the people in your community and love your neighbour?  Christ called us even to love our enemies, and more than that pray for them. This not only creates a calm and loving environment but mandates the Christian to ponder on the salvation of those who wrong them.

Save, O Lord, and have mercy on those who hate and offend me, and do me harm, and let them not perish through me, a sinner. (Morning Prayers)

The Riza in Iconography | Protecting and Venerating

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Reblogged from A Reader's Guide to Orthodox Icons:

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A riza (Ru: риза) is a metal covering for the surface of an icon, usually made from a precious metal. The English word "revetment" is sometimes used, though riza is the most common word used in iconography: even being used to refer to the metal coverings of icons from the Greek-speaking Byzantine Empire, where the practice originated. Why are icons covered?

Read more… 653 more words

Great article, recommended!

the book I (must) keep putting down

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I recently picked up a copy of “The Ascetical Homilies of Saint Isaac the Syrian” after looking at in on the shelf of the bookstore and a number of peoples houses for some time. Often finding some of the Desert Fathers a tough read, and having much else to read for study and other things, something held me back from this before.

Over the last weekend I have picked this up and tried to glean some wisdom from it’s pages. Barely can I get through a handful of pages without having to put it down. Glean from it I have.

Through those handful of pages I felt instructed and ashamed; the simplicity which this great Father can direct you from his words is astounding. Very quickly I found myself directed to put down this book and pick up the Scriptures instead.

“There is nothing so capable of banishing the inveterate habits of licentiousness from our soul, and of driving away those active memories which rebel in our flesh and produce a turbulent flame, as to immerse oneself in the efferent love of instruction, and to search closely into the depth of the insights of divine Scripture”. (Homily One – yes, that quickly!).

Do I immerse myself in the Scriptures. Sure, I read them often. As a Deacon I read them to others in church. This brought back to mind one of the exclamations from the service of tonsuring a reader:

“Child, the first degree of of the priesthood is that of reader. Therefore it becometh thee to read every day in the divine scriptures, that they that hear, considering thee, may receive edification, and that thou, in nowise shaming thine election, may prepare thyself for a more advanced degree.” (The Great Book of Needs – Service of tonsure of a reader or taper-bearer)

Most likely I read them every day also, at least in a small part. But the concept raised by St Isaac to “immerse oneself in the efferent love of instruction” feels like so much more. Or is it what should be expected of all Christians?

This could be one of the slowest books I have read in my life. Fortunately it is broken down into a collection of short homilies, all succinct in themselves. I have relegated it to the bedside table where it will form a delightful reminder if I have ever headed of to bed without prayer or reading of Scripture.

No doubt on these pages you will start seeing occasional quotes from this book appearing, probably for quite a long time ;)

new AFR app

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Ancient Faith Radio have released an improved mobile app for listening to their radio streams. In April this year when they updated their streams the previous app stopped working and I wrote a note to them asking “Wasssup”. It was a very simple app, but it worked (simple + work = I like).

Their Operations Manager, Bobby Maddex kindly wrote me back “The good news is that we already have a new app in development that will allow you to stream the stations, play
the podcasts, and more. Look for it later this spring”.

Well, here it is!

The app gives the usual access to the “Talk” and “Music” stations, along with access to the podcasts and specials.


Not only listening but the app allows you to share what you have enjoyed via email, Twitter or Facebook. It is up and running on all my iOS devices now and I will follow up with info after a few days of pounding. For those who are Android owners, there is a version there also.

You can access the download page for iOS and Android here.

steadfast and divinely eloquent preachers

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Holy Apostles Peter & Paul, Troparion, Tone IV —
O first enthroned among the apostles/ and teachers of the whole world;/ entreat the Master of all,/ that He grant peace to the world// and great mercy to our souls.

Kontakion, Tone II —
The steadfast and divinely eloquent preachers,/ the foremost of Thine apostles, O Lord,/ hast Thou received into the delight of Thy good things and into rest;/ for Thou hast accepted their pangs and death as greater than any wholeburnt offering,// O Thou Who alone knowest the hearts of men.

as things are fuzzy, prayer is needed

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After the announcement of Metropolitan Jonah’s resignation there has now been appointed a number of interim roles in the OCA as published on their website.

“The Holy Synod has appointed the senior hierarch of the Holy Synod, His Eminence, the Most Reverend Nathaniel, Archbishop of Detroit and the Romanian Episcopate, as the Locum Tenens of the Orthodox Church in America.”

“The Holy Synod has appointed His Grace, the Right Reverend Michael, Bishop of New York and the Diocese of New York and New Jersey, as the Administrator of the Orthodox Church in America.”

and further:

“The Holy Synod has appointed His Grace, the Right Reverend Alexander, Bishop of Toledo and the Bulgarian Archdiocese, as the Locum Tenens of the Archdiocese of Washington.”

There is not a great deal of information on the why’s and wherefore’s which does provide for a more peaceful look at the turn of events. As I mentioned in my previous post, this is a time we should pray for the Hierarchs of the OCA. Pray that they will listen to the still, small voice of the Holy Spirit and not anything of human origin.

The statement is also available in PDF format here.

A Hierarch Resigns

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Very recently posted on the website of the Orthodox Church of America is news of the resignation of it’s First Hierarch, Metropolitan Jonah. The text of the letter I have pasted below and there is a link to a scanned of the original on their site also.

Not being that close to the OCA I can’t comment about his pros and cons as a Hierarch. Most of his positions, statements and comments publicly felt quite refreshing to me personally. I have heard several talks both before and after he was consecrated to the episcopate and never felt the slightest wobbly in the belly as my “eek-ometer” went off.

But some in the US have told me he was a little less conciliar than desired, and there has been obvious amounts of public slanging over the last few years. Things seemed a little quiet over there lately. No doubt there will be more comment early and waffle over the coming days.

He, and indeed the OCA, need our prayers at this time.

Text of the letter:

“To the Holy Synod of the Orthodox Church in America,

“Brothers,

“As per your unanimous request, as conveyed to me by Chancellor Fr. John Jillions, I hereby tender my resignation as Primate of the Orthodox Church in America, and humbly request another Episcopal assignment.

“I had come to the realization long ago that that I have neither the personality nor the temperament for the position of Primate, a position I never sought nor desired.

“It is my hope that due consideration will be made for my financial situation, both in any interim and in consideration for any future position. I am the main financial support for both my parents and my sister, beyond my own needs.

“I will appreciate your consideration in this, and beg forgiveness for however I have offended you, and for whatever difficulties have arisen from my own inadequacies and mistakes in judgment.

“Asking your prayers, I remain faithfully yours,

“Metropolitan Jonah, Archbishop of Washington”

Who is the King of Glory?

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The earth is the Lord’s, and the fullness thereof, the world, and all that dwell therein. He hath founded it upon the seas, and upon the rivers hath He prepared it. Who shall ascend into the mountain of the Lord? Or who shall stand in His holy place? He that is innocent in hands and pure in heart, who hath not received his soul in vain, and hath not sworn deceitfully to his neighbour. Such a one shall receive a blessing from the Lord, and mercy from God his Saviour. This is the generation of them that seek the Lord, of them that seek the face of the God of Jacob. Lift up your gates, O ye princes; and be ye lifted up, ye everlasting gates, and the King of Glory shall enter in. Who is this King of Glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord, mighty in war. Lift up your gates, O ye princes; and be ye lifted up, ye everlasting gates, and the King of Glory shall enter in. Who is this King of Glory? The Lord of hosts, He is the King of Glory. (Psalm 23 LXX)