Orthodixie

Washington, D.C. – A Turkish court Tuesday declared that the Istanbul-based Orthodox Patriarch is only the head of the city’s tiny Greek Orthodox community and not the spiritual leader of the world’s 300 million Orthodox Christians.

While this has no impact on the status of the Patriarch outside Turkey, it strengthens Turkish internal resistance to acknowledging the greater role of the Patriarch and the Orthodox community in Turkey.

“This decision is yet another indication that Turkey has no interest in advancing a fair and balanced approach to freedom of religion,” commented Institute on Religion and Public Policy President Joseph K. Grieboski.

Turkey maintains tight controls on the Orthodox community, including rules requiring that patriarchs must be Turkish citizens. This sharply limits the potential pool of candidates to one day succeed Bartholomew. The patriarchate also has pressed Turkey to allow the reopening of a seminary that was forced to close more than two decades ago, which under Turkish law further limits the pool of potential successors to the 67-year-old patriarch.

The court ruled that “The Patriarchate, which was allowed to remain on Turkish soil [emphasis added], is subject to Turkish laws…There is no legal basis for the claims that the Patriarchate is ecumenical.”

“No government has the right or the authority to determine the ecclesiology of a religious community,” Mr. Grieboski stated. “Both international and European laws are clear that a state cannot interfere in the organizational structure of a faith. Turkey is once again showing that freedom of religion is not a priority or concern, and that it has no true interest in joining the European system.”

Press Release from the Institute on Religion and Public Policy.

(CNSNews.com) – For what is believed to be the first time in its history, the U.S. Senate will on July 12 be opened with a Hindu prayer, the Senate Chaplain’s Office confirmed Monday.

For more than 200 years, the Senate has opened each workday with a prayer usually delivered by the Senate Chaplain …

More.

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Doesn’t that statue sort of favour George Clooney? Oh brother! Where art thou?!

Jesus, the new Adam – the “new man” – was born in the city of Bethlehem. The word “Bethlehem” means “house of bread.” The new Adam was born in the House of Bread and laid in a Manger, a feeding trough. Many times in the Gospel (eight times in John Chapter 6, alone), Jesus refers to himself as bread. Traditionally, this is reflected in the hymn Greek Orthodox priests recite as they begin the preparation of the bread for Communion:

Make ready, O Bethlehem, for Eden hath been opened for all. Prepare, O Ephratha, for the tree of life hath blossomed forth in the cave from the Virgin; for her womb did appear as a spiritual paradise in which is planted the divine Plant, whereof eating we shall live and not die as Adam. Christ shall be born, raising the image that fell of old.

The image that fell of old is that of the old man, our forefather Adam. Our first mother, too, reflected a tarnished image.

A face does not reflect itself in troubled waters. Neither did Eve see God in the mirror of her troubled soul. She was looking at the tree, full of mixed fruit – good and bad. Looking with her confused soul, she no longer saw God as higher than herself. She had abandoned God. God and the devil did not remain in the same regard. There was then no other woman to support her against Satan and his carnal viewpoint. And with these eyes and this new sight, she saw the forbidden fruit as good to eat, pleasant to look at and giving much knowledge. Oh, knowledge not only of good but also of evil! But the outcome of a mixture of good and evil is evil. In place of love all is filled with three desires: lust for bodily pleasure, desire for possessions, and desire for knowledge. Having lost God, she had begun to look for support in things. But the emptiness, caused by draining the abandoned God from the soul, all the world cannot fill.

In the fullness of time, God chose a young maiden in Nazareth to be both bride and mother. The Virgin Mary was deemed worthy of this highest calling by her faithfulness and chastity. Whereas Adam named his wife Eve, the mother of the living; God has made Mary the Mother of All Christians. Whereas all the living are kin to Adam through his blood and sin; all Christians are kin to Christ, the New Adam, through His Blood and faithfulness …

I thank faithful blog readers for their patience. Having been away from steady blogging for quite some time, it is odd to re-enter the field. Plus, I do so just before a vacation, which makes posting all the more difficult. The above passage is from the rough draft of a (God & publisher willing) new book I’ve been working on. I’m grateful for all the support shown for last year’s One Flew Over the Onion Dome, and I look forward to the challenges that the new work (less funny, but tastes great) shall bring.

God is [always] good!

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Dear family in Christ,

Have you ever wondered why there is not much Orthodox Christian music out there specifically for our children?

While Christian music is plentiful, there is a great need for music that is written especially for our Orthodox youth. As a current school teacher and former Youth Director at my parish, I have found that one of the most effective teachers is MUSIC.

TEACHING CHILDREN is the main purpose of my music, both the “Fruits of the Spirit” CD and the NEW “Celebrate the Feasts” CD.

My mission in producing this music is to teach children and to help them grow in their faith in Christ and their love for His holy Church.

If you have a son or daughter, niece, nephew, grandchild or Godchild, these CD’s would make an excellent gift! The cost is only $12.00 per CD and if you or your church bookstore order 10 or more CD’s the price is $9.00. There are song books available as well as other resources.

Bishop BASIL of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese has heard and approved all of the original songs on both CD’s. The second CD, “Celebrate the Feasts” also includes several feast day troparia sung mostly in English, but includes some Arabic and Greek.

Please e-mail me at gigishadid at yahoo dot com to place an order — or if you have any questions or comments.

Thanks for your time and God bless!

— Gigi Baba Shadid :o)
GSquare Productions

The following note is from a blog reader …

Hi Father,

I thought you and your readers might be interested in the fact that the Anglican Church of Canada voted against same-sex blessing this past synod. The clergy and laity voted in favour but the Bishops voted against thus defeating the motion. However, the Anglican Church did say that same-sex marriage does not go against the creed. This, I thought, was odd.

Wait. Is this in reference to the term homoousious?

Me make joke, of course. Forgive me.

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