Antiochian Archdiocese News

Metropolitan Philip at Antiochian Village, July 2010His Eminence Metropolitan Philip will depart today, August 9, for the Middle East, where he will attend the upcoming meeting of the Holy Synod of Antioch which is scheduled to begin on August 17th, 2010.

We ask all of the faithful to pray that His Eminence will have a safe and productive journey. We also ask for prayers for all of our beloved hierarchs of the See of Antioch as they gather together in brotherly love to do the work of the Church, guided by the Holy Spirit.

V. Rev. Fr. Jon E. BraunA selection of more than 30 recorded homilies by V. Rev. Fr. Jon Braun have been made available on the website Prudence True. Fr. Braun is Pastor Emeritus of St. Anthony the Great Antiochian Orthodox Church of La Jolla, CA. He also serves as dean of the Southern California Deanery of the Diocese of Los Angeles and the West.

Click here for Fr. Braun's homilies. We particularly recommend the sermon, "Today's Meaning of Antioch," which highlights the Church of Antioch's roots as a mission-minded, multicultural Church born from persecution.

Click here for a biography of Fr. Braun.

Verily, Christ took Peter, James and John to a high mountain apart. And He was transfigured before them, His countenance shining as the sun, and His clothes became white as light. Moses and Elijah appeared and conversed with Him, and a bright cloud covered them. Then behold, a voice from the cloud said, This is My beloved Son in Whom I am well-pleased; hear Him.

--Orthros of the Feast, Tone 8

A reflection on the Transfiguration by Fr. Patrick Reardon

Crafts and Activities for Families celebrating the Transfiguration

Fr. Thomas Hopko on the Transfiguration

More Transfiguration Material from Ancient Faith Radio

The Transfiguration Series from the Department of Sacred Music (PDF)

FOCUS volunteer serves meal in San DiegoFOCUS North America volunteers, through local affiliates, have been busy this summer! In Orange County, southern California Orthodox Christians bagged food for some of the 20,000 children that are homeless county-wide. In the meantime, thirty volunteers from the Kansas City area drove nearly one thousand miles to North Carolina to work for needy families in the Bakersville region. In San Diego, in the shadows of the wealthy community of Coronado at the Coronado Island Bridge, twenty eight people from six parishes served meals to the homeless in an effort that will be ongoing on Wednesday nights. In a sweltering midwestern heat wave, FOCUS Minnesota served a meal at the end of July as they looked forward to the launch of their new center on Lake Street in Minneapolis; their doors are slated for opening on August 14, the day before the Feast of the Dormition.

Click here to read all the news from FOCUS.

Bishop Antoun Speaks at the 2010 Clergy SymposiumDuring the 2010 Clergy Symposium at the Antiochian Village a banquet was held in honor of Bishop Antoun for his 50 years of priesthood.

The evening was chaired by Economos Antony Gabriel. Following are his remarks. There was also a slide presentation by Rt. Rev. John Abdalah and remarks by both Very Rev. Joe Shaheen and Very Rev. George Rados.

Your Eminences,

Metropolitan Philip and Metropolitan Ephraim

Hierarchs of the God-protected Archdiocese

Brothers and Sisters in Christ

This evening I was tempted to recall all the humorous episodes in our life that we shared with you. 

However, it is “serious” business to salute you on the occasion of your 50 consecrated years in God’s holy Priesthood.  Few among this audience know of the Antoun we met in 1959 and the suffering you endured in your early years in North America, miles away from family and friends in a different culture and attending St. Vladimir’s Seminary in New York City with professors who at times were difficult to understand with their various accents, living with complete strangers who barely spoke English.

For a time we shared space together, after you recovered from a broken leg.  Oh, how we share so much with you in those years.

Let me recapitulate briefly on his ministry:

From the day of his ordination (incidently, we bought his first vestment, I believe, for 45 dollars) by Metropolitan Antony in Boston and his first parish in Philadelphia, this earnest young man exemplified “pastorship” in every sense of the word.  He loved, and was loved in return, by every parish he served.

Reminding me of St. Simeon the Theologian’s prayerful musings, that he so fervently loved his flock, that he prayed with scalding tears, that his flock would be saved or he would follow them into Hell, so much did he love them.  Bishop Antoun is “love incarnate” for his parishioners and priests and, therefore, embodies all the virtues articulated during this Symposium, on the meaning of servanthood a true shepherd of God.

This assembly most likely does not remember that in 1981 in Los Angeles, the laity and clergy nominated him as Auxiliary to assist the Metropolitan, whose health and ever-growing Archdiocese required his assistance.  There was a hiatus until November 1982 when we traveled to the Holy Synod meeting and Metropolitan Philip resolved this issue of auxiliaries to assist him, leading to Antoun’s consecration in January 1983 by His Eminence, Archbishops Michael, Elia, and Bishop Paul Bendaly at St. Nicholas Cathedral in Brooklyn.  Hundreds traveled throughout North America to shout “Axios” to a man who had endeared himself to so many.

Antoun traveled a long journey from Damascus to Englewood, NJ. He has and had distinguished himself by his fidelity to the Church.  His unquestioned loyalty having served under Patriarch Alexandros, Metropolitan Forzley of Brazil and Metropolitan Antony Bashir, who received him into this Archdiocese, and, of course, our own beloved Metropolitan Primate.

A classmate of Saidna Philip at the Balamand, and those of us who were his classmates at St. Vladimir’s, recall the trials he endured in his early years in North America as well as in South America.

In spite of the struggles he had to overcome, Antoun remained, and is to this day, a straight arrow, industrious and well-known for his innocent faith, and therefore deserves to be saluted by all of us as one of God’s beloved.

And so, as I conclude these remarks, Dearest “Shammas” (as you were when we met you on 21st and Broadway), your precious smile which honestly went from ear to ear, warmed our hearts and captured our friendship forever.

The earnestness with which you offered your own friendship and even mentorship whenever possible, has been a source of security and comfort for us throughout these many years.

Most of all, the laughter and special times you have brought to our lives and the lives of our children are indelibly imprinted on our souls.

One of the first things we say in teaching Sunday School children is that “GOD IS LOVE.” How very simple that sounds, but the truest thing about the truth IS that it IS simple.

It is the simple truth: “God is Love” and for Lynn and I, and our children and for so many, you His Child, and unquestioning SERVANT is the closest reflection of GOD’S love that we have experienced in our years together.

THANK YOU FOR THE BOTTOMLESS WELL OF YOUR FRIENDSHIP!

Axios!  Many years Master and friend!

The Theotokos, the Virgin Mary, was “blessed amongst women,” and she was chosen “to bear the Savior of our souls.” We, therefore, as Orthodox Christians, consider her to be the Queen of all the saints and the angels.

Knowing that she holds such a high place in the Kingdom of Heaven and that she is eternally present at the throne of God interceding for mankind, we, as good Orthodox Christians, must pray for her love, guidance, and protection. We must never forget to ask for her intercessions in times of sickness and danger, and we must constantly thank her for her care and her prayers in our behalf.

Every year the Orthodox Church sets aside the first fourteen days of August in honor of the Virgin Mary. This fast period is climaxed on August 15th, when the Church gathers to celebrate the Great Feast of the Dormition (Falling-Asleep) of the Theotokos.

More resources for the Dormition Fast:

• The Fast of the Dormition of the Holy Theotokos
• Why a Fast for Dormition?
• Tender Love and the Dormition: a podcast from Frederica Mathewes-Green
• Spiritual Benefits of the Dormition
• Dormition Music from the Department of Sacred Music (PDF)

Liturgical Resources from the DOWAMA Clergy Brotherhood:

• The Paraklesis Service
• Instructional Notes for the Paraklesis Service
• Lesser Sanctification of Water (Performed at Vespers on July 31)
• Lamentations for the Dormition (English)
• Lamentations for the Dormition (Arabic)
• Lamentations for the Dormition (Greek)
• Music for "Blessed is the Man" at Great Vespers for the Dormition
• Music for "Lord, I have cried unto Thee" at Great Vespers for the Dormition
• Music for the Artoklasia at Great Vespers for the Dormition
• Music for the Apolytikion of the Dormition
• Music for the Poetic Kathismata at Orthros for the Dormition
• Music for the Marian Polyeleos "A Good Word" at Orthros for the Dormition
• English language text and music for St. Nektarios' "O Pure Virgin"
• Arabic language text and music for St. Nektarios' "O Pure Virgin"
• Greek language text and music for St. Nektarios' "O Pure Virgin"
• Russian language text and music for St. Nektarios' "O Pure Virgin"
• Romanian language text and music for St. Nektarios' "O Pure Virgin"
• Spanish language text and music for St. Nektarios' "O Pure Virgin"