Youth, Unity and Orthodoxy in America

Here's an excerpt from Dr Vigen Guroian's paper "Youth, Unity and Orthodoxy in America." It's food for thought for any Orthodox Christian who is going to attend University or College. We pray that Parishes and Dioceses also support OCF jointly (not only supported or sponsored by one Jurisdiction but perhaps have joint sponsorship of OCF Chapters with Chaplains rotating monthly from among the various jurisdictions in the area). Orthodoxy is....

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ynklArdRxw

Orthodox Christian Student Fellowships

Dr. Vigen Guroian

Professor of Orthodox Christianity, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia

Several weeks ago, I received an invitation to deliver a pair of annual lectures at Davidson College, some twenty or thirty miles from Charlotte, North Carolina. The colleague who contacted me explained that I would be the first Orthodox theologian to deliver these lectures. When I asked what prompted this invitation, he mentioned that there now exists an Orthodox Christian Student Fellowship at Davidson, and that it, therefore, seemed fitting to schedule lectures informative to the entire college community regarding the Orthodox faith.

Orthodoxy and the World

Transcription of "Orthodoxy and the World" 

by Very Reverend Protopresbyter Maxym Lysack

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OjzcZeQ7U-I
Audio Recorded at St Silouan Orthodox Mission Parish, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Transcript:

...in a kind of systematic way I'm going to speak first about what Orthdodoxy is and speak about what the world is, then talk about living Orthodoxy in the world.

Fagerberg's Theologia Prima

One of the most important books today on Liturgical Theology. Professor David Fagerberg builds on the writings of Fr Alexander Schmemann and Fr. Aiden Kavanagh, synthesizing and presenting the thoughts on Liturgical Theology (What it is, How to encounter it, Why it is important) in a concise and accessible form. Highly recommended book that I think every Christian should read. Fagerberg's book offers the reader a taste of the essence of Orthodox Liturgical life, full of antinomy/paradox and apophatic gleanings.

http://books.google.ca/books/about/Theologia_Prima.html?id=Kok9XGvLJRsC&redir_esc=y
http://www.ltp.org/p-1563-theologia-prima-what-is-liturgical-theology.aspx
http://www.amazon.com/Theologia-Prima-What-Liturgical-Theology/dp/156854510X

Metropolitan Nicholas Speaks About Hope on Anniversary of 9/11

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GqIOYFTdYoc

Martyrs and Being

Today is the Feast of Nayrouz (Feast of the Martyrs) in the Orthodox Coptic Rite. (Nofri Shai. Kol Sana Wa Inta/Inti Tayeb/a, Happy Feast).

What strikes me as interesting on this feast day commemorating the Martyrs is that the martyrs are those who are present in the Faith. That their witness is not one of dying for a cause, but the active encounter and awareness of a Person.

Orthodox Approach To Mission

Transcription of "The Orthodox Approach to Mission" by Archimandrite Irenei (Steenberg)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n1sVNtrfhbY

Transcript:

I would like to speak today on the topic of the Orthodox approach to mission, the transformation of the heart of the world.

Robert Arakaki on Orthodox Worship Versus Contemporary Worship

I remember once reading a post by Fr Stephen Freeman discussing 'contemporary' worship (the post was written back in 2007). Today a very interesting post on O&H Blog was published that speaks on a similar concern about Lex Orandi Lex Est Credendi and which has implications on how we understand Orthodox mission. Arakaki mentions the trends of some of the Mega-Churches (something that Orthodox Parishes can succumb to also btw...ie. the Mass Cult of Big), saying:

They go because the services are fun, exciting, easy to understand, and easy to relate to. 

and

Worship of God often became spiritual entertainment.  The sermon shifted from an exposition of Scripture to selecting Bible verses to support teachings on how to live a fulfilling life.  In seeking to tailor the Christian message to non-Christians many pastors have dumbed down their message with the result that many of their members know very little of the core doctrines.  Just as troubling is the fact that many churches have become spiritual machines that rely more organizational techniques, high tech electronics, and social psychology than the grace of the Holy Spirit.

Arakaki goes on to mention, "If salvation is about a right relationship with God then worship plays an important part in having a right relationship with God." As Orthodoxy grows in North America the need for understanding our Theology and living that encounter becomes increasingly important if we are to recapitulate and offer North American "culture" to God for restoration and for life of the world.

Missiology also requires us to know our identity, our ethos, what, how and Who we believe and worship. This recent O&H post reminds me of a post called "Can Orthodoxy Connect?" on Letters On Orthodoxy Blog that mentions:

1) connection comes from receptivity not similarity and
2) attraction is much less important than maturity.

All the articles seem to resonate with the theme that Liturgy IS Worship, is Sacrament of the Kingdom.

Orthodoxy is Orthodoxy. Our missiology should be also.

Glory to God for all things.

On Joint Commision

Praying for Full Communion, Lifting of Anathemas, and Theological and Pastoral Unity and Growth for the Glory of God and the witness of Christ and His One Holy Catholic Apostolic Church to all the ends of the earth. May the prayer of The Holy Theotokos and all the Saints, and the love, truth, work and humility of Hierarchs, Fathers, Theologians and Laity be with us. Lord Have Mercy and Forgive us our sin. Glory to You, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, One God, forever, from Generation to Generation, to the ages of ages, Amen

For more information on the documents of the Joint Commission: http://orthodoxunity.org/

"For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus." + Gal5:26-28

“I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me." + John 17: 20-23

Mission

"Mission is taking people where they are and showing what is good true and pure in their lives."+ LTS Student www.livedtheologyschool.org

Gentleness

This is something I've to continue to be reminded of. My friend Mike reminded me that in the pursuit and life of authentic Christianity that one must live and know what it means to be fully Orthodox before we speak about what is or isn't (perhaps more importantly the focus should be seeking the beauty of what Orthodoxy is and calling attention to other people's beauty and allowing them to realize the voice of the Holy Trinity Who is in their midst.)

So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God.

(NKJV) James 1:19-20

Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

(NKJV) James 3:18

Here's a similar reminder by St Seraphim of Sarov:

You cannot be too gentle, too kind.
Shun even to appear harsh
in your treatment
of each other.
Joy, radiant joy,
streams from the face
of him who gives
and kindles joy in the heart
of him who receives.
All condemnation
is from the devil.
Never condemn each other.
Instead of condemning others,
strive to reach inner peace.
Keep silent,
refrain from judgement.
This will raise you
above the deadly arrows
of slander, insult, and outrage
and will shield your glowing hearts
against all evil.

+ St Seraphim of Sarov