Andrew of Crete Author of the Great Canon

Andrew of Crete Author of the Great Canon

July 4

Saint Andrew was from Damascus; his parents' names were George and Gregoria. He became a cleric and secretary of Theodore and Patriarch of Jerusalem; from this, he is called "the Jerusalemite." He was present at the Sixth Ecumenical Council in Constantinople, which was convoked in 680 during the reign of Emperor Constantine IV (668-685). He became deacon of the Great church in Constantinople, that is, the Church of the Holy Wisdom of God, then Archbishop of Crete. He reposed in 720 or 723. Beside his other sacred writings, he also composed various hymns, among which is the famous Great Canon, which is chanted during Great Lent (see the Thursday of the Fifth Week of the Fast).

Apolytikion in the Fourth Tone
The truth of things hath revealed thee to thy flock as a rule of faith, an icon of meekness, and a teacher of temperance; for this cause, thou hast achieved the heights by humility, riches by poverty. O Father and Hierarch Andrew, intercede with Christ God that our souls be saved.

Kontakion in the Second Tone
While trumpeting forth the songs of God with clarity, thou also didst prove a blazing light for all the world, O most righteous Andrew, who shonest with the light of the Trinity. Wherefore, we all cry out to thee: Cease not to entreat the Master for us all.

Reading courtesy of Holy Transfiguration Monastery
Apolytikion courtesy of Holy Transfiguration Monastery
Kontakion courtesy of Holy Transfiguration Monastery

Met. Jonah's new official title OCA News

OCA Holy Synod reestablishes Diocese of Washington and Diocese of New York-New Jersey
Posted 07/02
SYOSSET, NY [OCA Communications] -- On July 1, 2009, the Holy Synod of Bishops of the Orthodox Church in America met via teleconference, during which they reestablished, as separate dioceses, the Diocese of Washington and the Diocese of New York-New Jersey.
Declaring the Diocese of New York-New Jersey vacant, the hierarchs appointed His Beatitude, Metropolitan Jonah, to serve as Locum Tenens.
The Holy Synod of Bishops also decided that His Beatitude's title, effective immediately, is "Archbishop of Washington, Metropolitan of All America and Canada."
An official notification of these changes will be issued by the Holy Synod of Bishops shortly.

CNN Turk referendum on re-opening of Halki

Dear Fellow Orthodox Christians,
CNN Turk is currently conducting an electronic referendum on the topic of the reopening the Theological School of Halki. This is a major milestone in the struggle to reopen our Theological School. It would be a victory for all Orthdox Christians regardless of afficliation. Vote “yes” today.

http://www.cnnturk.com/2009/turkiye/06/28/heybeliada.ruhban.okulu.aciliyor.mu/532826.0/index.html

Instructions: Cast your vote in the right column down towards the middle of the page. For those who do not speak Turkish, the poll is found in large letters "ANKET" with the question "Sizce Heybeliada Ruhban Okulu acilimail mi?" Yes in Turkish is EVET, then click on the red button below to cast your vote.
Please fowad this to all on your mailing list. Each vote counts!!! Inaction is a vote against.
In His service I remain

Contemporary Academic Theology (whatever that is)

The Ecumenical Patriarchate has withstood many trials, tribulations, heresy, war and oppression proclaiming with all vigor the One True Faith. It has continued throughout the millennium with an inner strength and resiliency. Orthodox Patristic Theology has never been lost or forsaken. The Ecumenical Throne has never forsaken the unchanging teachings and Theology of the Church. There is no innovation and therefore no room for error. Despite resent claims by splinter groups in the United States the Ecumenical Throne has maintained the Orthodox ethos completely and has embraced the variety of wonderful ethnic expressions of it. Some Orthodox groups in the U.S have failed to assimilate their own thinking into the Orthodox Traditions.

This most recent attempt by the OCA to begin anew without proper authority may find itself completely confounded and hopelessly lost. This attempt to start over by its own judgement is riddled with danger. Too many OCA church leaders and lay people from several jurisdictions discuss Orthodoxy and the course of the Orthodoxy with a nearsightedness. Their premise is convoluted due to their narrow and limited understanding of Orthodoxy. There are several Orthodox jurisdictions who are in fact experiencing an identity crisis and wish to drag the established Orthodox community into the mud. Their belief speaks more to their own uncertainty and far less to the state of the Mother Church. The recent comments and direction of the OCA is restricted to their own attempts to stop corruption within their own ranks and is indicative of their own division.

I am most concerned that they wish to take corrective action against the Ecumenical Throne. The OCA couldn't be trusted to manage it's own coffers! They couldn't be trusted with something as common, as futile, as money how could I being of sound mind and body, trust them with the direction of the Orthodox Church in the United States. They have yet decided who they are and who they want to be when they are all grown up. The Ecumenical Throne is continuing as it always has as the beacon and Light of the World. I hope Met. Jonah discontinues his quest for some misguided Patristic revival which risks to effectively cut itself off from its Orthodox roots. So while the OCA continues to spiral out of control it will no doubt continue to with its rhetoric which puts it at odds with the Ecumenical Throne effectively deepen the OCA's foundation in contemporary academic theology whatever that is.