Christians in the Middle East: Debate in Parliament

Following a conference at Lambeth Palace, jointly convened in the summer by Their Graces the Archbishop of Canterbury (Church of England) and the Archbishop of Westminster (Catholic), addressed by the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem and the Anglican Bishop in Jerusalem among many others from all faith communities in the Holy Land, the Archbishop of Canterbury,  the Most Revd Dr Rowan Williams has today (9th December 2011) initiated a debate in the House of Lords, the Upper House of the United Kingdom Parliament, on the situation of Christians in the Middle East.

It lasted for over four and half hours and included highly informed interventions from Peers and Bishops with direct knowledge of international, Middle East, interreligious and ecumenical affairs. The entire debate has been recorded and archived on Parliament's website and can be watched here.

Archimandrite Serge Kelleher - Memory Eternal

Fr Serge in Dublin

Archimandrite Serge Kelleher fell asleep in the Lord in Dublin late in the morning of Friday 11th November. Bishop Hlib Lonchyna, Apostolic Exarch for the Ukrainian Greek Catholics of Great Britain, responsible also for the Ukrainian Catholic flock in Ireland, informs us that the priestly Parastas is planned for Friday evening, 18th November, and the Funeral itself will be on Saturday, 19th November. 

Father Deacon Richard Downer writes:

Back in early 1994, when I was a both a member of the Society of St John Chrysostom and of the Melkite-Greek Catholic Community in London, I arranged with Fr Shafiq AbouZayd for Fr Serge and two other Greek Catholic priests (Fr Graham Woolfenden and Fr Elias O’Brien) to come down from Oxford to serve the Divine Liturgy in English for our Melkite Community in London on a monthly basis. However, Carol, my wife, and I first met Fr Serge at Keston College, a research organisation in England that supported persecuted Christians in Communist lands. This was prior to Perestroika, if I remember correctly; perhaps around the time that Ronald Reagan had a meeting with Gorbachev in Iceland. Fr Serge kindly took Carol and myself down to his office in the college, where we had a long discussion about the then plight of the persecuted Greek Catholic Church in the Ukraine. He was unmistakable on our subsequent visits to Keston College, wearing as he did his Kamelevikon and veil at public meetings of the College.


It was while he was at Keston College that Fr Serge published his book about the persecuted Greek Catholics in the Ukraine. He invited Carol and myself to the book launch, which was held in the Church Hall of the joint Russian/Greek Orthodox Church in Canterbury Road in Oxford. Among others, the Rev Michael Bordeaux, head of Keston College, the then Bishop Basil of the Russian Orthodox Church and Metropolitan Kallistos Ware of the Greek Orthodox Church were present. The Orthodox presence in a Church Hall, a Hall that they owned, was quite remarkable considering the fact that Fr Serge’s book was about the suffering/persecuted Greek Catholic Church in Ukraine. Once again Fr Serge stood out, as it were, by wearing his Kamelevikon and veil; neither of the Orthodox Bishops wore theirs. What was even more remarkable, bearing in mind the topic of the book, was that Metropolitan Kallistos was chairing the book launch. Michael Bordeaux, as head of Keston College, spoke about the book and its purpose. At some stage during the gathering Metropolitan Kallistos also spoke. He started his talk in his own very English humorous way as follows: “God is a mystery; therefore because man is made in the image of God, he too is a mystery; but there is no greater mystery than Archimandrite Serge Kelleher!” How could one forget such an opening remark; in a way it was both a telling and an affectionate remark.

Archbishop Joseph Raya and Fr Serge at Madonna House,
Combermere, Canada

In addition, many years ago, when the Society of St John Chrysostom in England had almost ceased to exist, there was a meeting held downstairs in the Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral in London attended by Fr Serge, the late Fr Graham Woolfenden, the late Joe Farrelly, myself and others, in order to see how the Society could be re-started, as it were. Following on from that meeting various things began to happen, and Fr Serge played an important role in this regard. This was some time before the formation of the Society of St John Chrysostom in the USA, a matter that we discussed at some of our Society committee meetings in London, prior to its formation. Another of Fr Serge’s projects was the launching of the Eastern Churches Journal, the first copy of which appeared for Winter 1993/1994, Fr Serge being the editor. Again this was a matter that we discussed on various occasions at Society committee meetings in London prior to the Journal being launched.

The Society is immensely grateful to God for Fr Serge, who not only helped to lay the foundations for the work of the Society today, but also the significant work of our sister Society in the United States and its conferences and publications in furtherance of Catholic-Orthodox unity following the Apostolic Letter of Blessed Pope John Paul II, Orientale Lumen.

May his memory be eternal!

Egypt Prayer Day - Saturday 12 November 2011

Letter from His Grace Bishop Angaelos

Friday 21 October, 2O11

Your Graces, Revd Fathers, dear Sisters and Brothers, 

Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ. These last ten months have been filled with excitement, turbulence and tragedy in and for Egypt. This is a formative stage in Egypt's contemporary history, and a time where the country and its people attempt to transition from one era to another.

Egypt is now in need of our support; the government and her people are in need of divine guidance and the wisdom that can only come from God. Over these past months, and especially in these last two

weeks, we have seen the destruction, and even death, that can come about when there is a confused transition that does not encompass a spirit of inclusion and cohesiveness, and a vision that looks to a more equitable and less discriminatory existence.

For this reason we are gathering together on Saturday 12 November, 2011 from 2pm to 4pm, in partnership with our friends from Christian Solidarity Worldwide, to pray together for Egypt, her leadership, her government, her army, and particularly for her people, that as the proposed elections approach, and as these people try to redefine their future, God's guiding hand will be there in their midst and His comforting Spirit of peace will overshadow them.

I ask you to join me on that day in the Cathedral of Saint George to raise all of this in our prayers, as well as remember those who have lost their lives, have been injured, or have lost loved ones. The address is:

Shephalbury Manor, Broadhall Way, Stevenage, Hertfordshire SG2 8NP, United Kingdom

Tel. : +44-(011438-7452 32

Fax : +44-(0)14 38-313 879

Email: Admin@CopticCentre.com

Website: www.CopticCentre.com

Please accept my apologies for the lateness of this invitation but our attention has been focussed on the Maspero demonstration and the resulting death and destruction that has touched our community both here and in Egypt.

I look forward to seeing and praying with you, and leave you in the care of our gracious Lord.

+Bishop Angaelos

General Bishop, Coptic Orthodox Church, United Kingdom

Please RSVP by email to: admin@CopticCentre.com

The Syrian Orthodox Church and its Diaspora: modern history and contemporary challenges

Centre for Eastern Christianity, Heythrop College, University of London
Wednesday 30 November - Special guest lecture and seminar, 4pm-6pm


The Syrian Orthodox Church and its Diaspora: modern history and contemporary challenges. Dr Sebastian Brock, Reader Emeritus in Syriac Studies, Oriental Institute, University of Oxford
All welcome

What is the Anglican Tradition? The Constantinople Lecture

Anglican & Eastern Churches Association Constantinople Lecture 2011
What is the Anglican Tradition?

The Bishop of London, Dr Richard Chartres

Orthodox Cathedral of the Divine Wisdom, Moscow Road, London W2 4LQ

24th November 2011, 5-30 pm Vespers, 6 pm Lecture, 7-15 pm Reception

Tickets (£15) from the Secretary, Old Deanery, Dean’s Court, London EC4V 5AA

Fr Maximus' Orthodox Study Day

Saturday 19th November 2011

Town End House, Hopton, Nr Wirksworth DE4 4DF


Orthodox Study Day - Number 29
11.00 Beyond Religious Careerisms and Obscure Spiritualities - IS THERE SPACE FOR MERE CHRISTIANITY?  Archimandrite Maximos Lavriotes
1.00 Lunch (Soup etc. provided)

2.00 Titles of the Mother of God in the Akathist  Dr Margaret Barker

4. 00 Tea & Cake

Father Maximus, after 14 years on Mount Athos and 7 years as priest in Cambridge, while Orthodox to his fingertips, has many friends in other denominations. His energies have been devoted to a proper understanding of the Theology of the Early Church as well as to tutoring, lecturing and research. Ring him on 01799513541, or write to 95 Castle St, Saffron Walden, CB10 1BQ, or to mlavriotes@hotmail.com, if you want to know more.

Dr Margaret Barker is a past president of the Society for Old Testament Studies and an expert on the roots of Christian belief, worship and practice in the faith and liturgy of the Temple. www.templestudiesgroup.com

RSVP to Vaila Cochrane, Town End House, Hopton-by- Wirksworth, DE4 4DF. 01629 540349. vaila.cochrane@virgin.net. Contributions up to £15. Maps and bus times on request. All welcome.

Severus of Antioch: Was he a Monophysite?

Fellowship of St Alban & St Sergius


Severus of Antioch: Was he a Monophysite?

11 am, Saturday 12th November, 2011

Saint Sava’s Serbian Orthodox Church, Lancaster Road, W11 1QQ

With James Lewis, Head of Religious Studies at Kingsdale School and lay reader in the Anglican diocese of Southwark

Severus of Antioch was Patriarch of Antioch 512-518








http://sites.google.com/site/stastslondon/

Relations between The Holy See and the Russian Federation in the last years

The Society's Annual Christopher Morris Lecture 2011


Relations between The Holy See and the Russian Federation in the last years
HE Archbishop Antonio Mennini, Apostolic Nuncio to the Court of St James

Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral of the Holy Family, Duke Street, London W1

7.30pm, Thursday 10 November

Preceded by the Pontifical Divine Liturgy at 6.15pm and followed by reception.

Admission free, but prior reservation is essential to johnchrysostom@btinternet.com

Eastern Christianity: Modern History and Contemporary Context

University of Oxford Department of Continuing Education

Eastern Christianity: Modern History and Contemporary Context

Rewley House, 1 Wellington Square, Oxford

Saturday 5th November, from 9-30 am, Fee £55


Lecturers:

• Dr Sebastian Brock, Emeritus Reader in Syriac Studies, Oxford
• Anthony O’Mahoney, Director of the Centre for Eastern Christianity, Heythrop College
• John Flannery, Heythrop College – Georgian Christianity
• Fr John Woolley, Catholic Diocese of Westminster – Armenian Christianity

More details and to book - http://www.conted.ox.ac.uk/courses/dayweekend/index.php

Return and Renewal: Themes in 20th-century Orthodox Theology

Centre for Eastern Christianity, Heythrop College, University of London
Wednesday 2 November - Seminar (with Centre for Christianity and Interreligious Dialogue), 4pm-6pm 


Return and Renewal: Themes in 20th-century Orthodox Theology. Charles Miller, Rector of Abingdon, Oxfordshire

All welcome.

Bishop Hlib named Apostolic Exarch for Ukrainians in the UK

On 14 June 2011 the Roman Pontiff named Kyr Hlib Boris Sviatoslav Lonchyna, a Monk of the Studite Rule, Exarch of the Apostolic Exarchate for the Ukrainian Faithful of the Byzantine Rite residing in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

His Lordship Kyr Hlib was born in

Steubenville, Ohio, USA

on 23 February 1954. His parents emigranted from present-day western Ukraine after the Second World War.

Kyr Hlib attended the Pontifical Urbaniana University in Rome where, in 1979 he completed a licenciate degree in Biblical Theology. He also attended the Pontifical Oriental Institute where he completed a doctoral degree in Eastern Christian Studies (specializing in Eastern Liturgy) in 2001.

In 1975 he entered the Ukrainian Studite monastery at Grottaferrata, where he made his perpetual profession of vows on 19 December 1976. He was ordained to the priesthood on il 3 July 1977 by the late Cardinal Josyf Slipyj.

Father Hlib performed pastoral service at St. Nicholas Parish in Passaic, NJ (USA) and later served as Prefect of Students at St. Sophia College in Rome.

After moving to Ukraine in 1994, he served as Spiritual Director for the seminarians of the Greek-Catholic Major Seminary in Lviv and lectured at the Theological Academy of Lviv. Subsequently he served as local assistant in the Apostolic Nunciature in Kyiv.

On 11 January 2002 e Pope John-Paul II named him titular Bishop of Bareta and Auxiliary-Bishop of Lviv of the Ukrainians. He received the episcopal ordination on 27 February of that same year.

On 14 January 2003 Blessed John-Paul named him Apostolic Visitor for the Ukrainian Greek-Catholic Faithful in Italy and confirmed his appointment as Procurator of the Major-Archbishop of Lviv i Rome. On 4 March 2004 he was also named Apostolic Visitor to Spain and the Republic of Ireland.

On 25 March 2006 Kyr Hlib was recalled to Ukraine and named Head of the Patriarchal Commission for Religious Life, while retaining his charge as Apostolic Visitor. On 7 January 2009 he was replaced as Apostolic Visitor in Italy and Spain by Kyr Dionisio Lachovicz.

On 2 June 2009 he was named Apostolic Administrator "sede vacante" of the Apostolic Exarchate for the Ukrainian Faithful of the Byzantine Rite in Great Britain and Northern Ireland while retaining the Apostolic Visitation for the Irish Republic.

Kyr Hlib is the fourth Ukrainian bishop to be named Apostolic Exarch for the Ukrainians the UK. His predecessors were: the Archbishop of Westminster, Cardinal William Godfrey (exarch 1957-1963, Father Paul Maluga Vicar General); Bishop Augustine Hornyak (auxiliary 1961, exarch 1963-1987); Bishop Michael Hrynchyshyn (administrator 1987-1989); Bishop Michael Kuchmiak (exarch 1989-2002); Bishop Paul Chomnycky (exarch 2002-2006).

Since arriving in this Country Bishop Hlib has shown himself to be very supportive of the Society of St. John Chrysostom. Last year he delivered the Christopher Morris Lecture following our Annual General Meeting. The same Pontifical Society offers him sincerest congratulations upon his appointment together with ardent prayers for his apostolic mission in this Country.

На многая й благая літа, Владико!

A short history of the Apostolic Exarchate for Ukrainians in the UK

"The Church is Young" The Election of Sviatoslav Shevchuk

“The Church is Young”

—

Pope Benedict XVI (2005)

The announcement that the Synod of Ukrainian Hierarchs had elected their youngest member, 40-year old Bishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk, as Major-Archbishop (Patriarch) hit world news like a lightening bolt. Yet every Ukrainian Greek-Catholic felt this jolt to be a powerful sign from God and more than one of his electors remarked: “we felt the hand of the Holy Spirit” in the selection. His Beatitude Sviatoslav's life journey is a powerful reflection on God's hand upon the Church which Shevchuk has become Father and Head.

Sviatoslav Shevchuk was born in 1970 to pious Greek-Catholic parents in the Western-Ukrainian city of Stryj. At the time, his homeland was part of the Soviet Union and and his family were forced to practice their faith in secret. Pope Pius XII had referred to the underground Church in communist countries as the Church of Silence. When Gorbachov began his glasnost reform, the Church of Silence rose up to loudly proclaim the Faith. After 45 years of state oppression, the Greek-Catholic Church came forth from its catacomb existance and took its rightful place in the public life of Ukraine. During a key period of his youth, Shevchuk experienced both the anxieties and the joys of his fellow Ukrainians and fellow Catholics. He was among the generation of Ukraine’s sons and daughters who entered adulthood in religious freedom in a free country. Recently he remarked that, as one of the last generation to serve the Soviet Army (and the only Major-Archbishop to have done so), his Catholic Faith served as the foundation of his human dignity and that of his people.

Shevchuk’s personality speaks volumes: it reflects youth combined with mature virtue; friendliness and even familiarity with profound gravitas; unfeigned humility coupled with a clear word and a strong will. He is a scholar who naturally speaks the language of ordinary people. He is completely at ease on a sportsfield or in the great pomp of solemn pontifical rites. He also posseses a healthy Ukrainian patriotism, tempered by an understanding of his nation’s role among her neighbours and his Church’s role in the Universal Church and vis-à-vis other Churches. Such awareness comes not only from having lived and studied in East and West (and one could add North and South) but also from a profound contemplation of a single, unified Christian theology which has diverse modes of expression in East and West. If authentically Christian, these must always be complementary; never exclusive of one another. Shevchuk is a man of two ecclesial lungs, combining tradition and modernity, a man of and for today.

Ukraine’s ancestor, the ancient state of Kyivan-Rus’, stood poised between East and West: possessing the spirituality of Eastern Christianity but open to influence from Western European culture, acting as a bridge between the two sides. Svaitoslav Shevchuk has become the successor of the ancient primates of Rus’, the Metropolitans of Kyiv, who re-entered into complete ecclesial communion with the Roman Pontiff and the Church Universal in 1439 at Florence and 1596 at Brest. But a Catholic metropolitan had not been enthroned in Kyiv since the eighteenth century, when another child of ancient Rus’, the Russian Empire, absorbed the Ukrainian lands and eliminated any trace of Eastern Catholicsm. For this reason, in 1807, the Roman Pontiff transferred the Catholic primatial see of Rus' from Kyiv to Lviv, where it remained until 2004. What is now Western Ukraine became a province of the Austrian Empire. Austria gave the Uniate Church (an Orthodox Church in full union with Rome) a new name, Greek-Catholic. With national awakening in the nineeenth century, the old terms Rus’ or Ruthenia gave way to the geographical description Ukraine, so the Ruthenian nation could distinguish itself from Russia.

In the first half of the twentieth century, Shevchuk’s iconic predecessor, Metropolitan Andrei Sheptytsky, led the Greek-Catholic Church to rediscover its ancient Byzantine identity, in order to take its rightful place among the Oriental Churches. Sheptytsky’s sucessor, Josyf Slipyj, was a confessor of the Catholic Faith, enduring eighteen years of emprisonment under the atheistic Soviet regime. Upon his relase in 1963, Pope Paul VI raised the See of Lviv from that status of metropolia to that of a Major-Archbishopric, in recognition of the autonomous character the Roman Pontiffs had always accorded to the Ruthenian-Ukrainian primates. For this reason, Sheptytsky had begun to discuss the idea of a patriarchate and Slipyj, created cardinal in 1965, brought the discussion to the floor of the Second Vatican Council. In 1975, he began to use the title of patriarch, thereby hoping that the Roman Pontiff would deem the largest of the Eastern Catholic Churches to be fully mature. Pope John-Paul II took the first step by granting synodal, semi-patriarchal structure to the Ukrainian Catholic Church in 1980. The second step was the normalization of the Church in its home territory. After the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, Slipyj’s successor, Cardinal Lubachivsky, was free to return to his see of Lviv and begin the reconstruction of the Church in Ukraine. The next Major-Archbishop, Cardinal Husar, established the patriarchal curia and permanent Synod. In 2004 Pope John Paul reversed the decision his predecessor Pius VII by returning the primatial see from Lviv to Kyiv, Ukraine’s capital. Husar thus became the first Major-Archbishop of Kyiv-Halych, Metropolitan of Kyiv and Bishop of Kamianets Podilsk (the latter a courtesy title historically held by Ukrainain primates).

The enthronement ceremony of Major-Archbishop Shevchuk represented another step in the maturing process of his Church. He was the first Catholic primate to be enthroned in Kyiv since the Russian Empire suppressed the Uniate Kyivan Metropolitante. The ritual itself combined elements ancient and new. Ancient Byzantine ritual was celebrated in the modern Ukrainiann language. The still-incomplete sobor (arch-cathedral) displayed elements of contemporary architecture but was decorated with traditional furnishings and traditional Byzantine vestments were worn by the clergy. Three periods of Ukrainian iconography were present: traditional Byzantine, eighteenth century and twentieth century styles. The musical arrangements also represented a section of compositions by Ukraine's prominent composers of sacred choral music. Historically, Latin-Rite bishops have always been present at such enthronements. This ceremony made another innovation with the presence of the heads of Eastern Catholic Churches, such as the Melchite Patriarch Gregorios III of Antioch and Slovak Metropolitan Jan Babjak. Of profund ecumenical significance was the presence of prelates representing all three Orthodox Churches in Ukraine, each of which received and returned the sign of peace from Patriarch Sviatoslav. Important Ukrainian notables were also present in the church and at the reception, including former President Viktor Yuschenko and former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko.

Patriarch Sviatoslav has announced an ecumenical strategy, that his Church will be a help, not a hindrance to unity. At the same time, he emphasized that it is only just that the Church which suffered for unity not be be treated simply as an ecumentical object. His Beatitude begins his mandate by manifesting the most important sign of unity. On 30 March, together with the Metropolitans and bishops of his Permanent Synod, he was received in audience by Pope Benedict XVI. A private audience took place the following day. These are historic meetings between the Father and Head of a Particular Church with the Father and Head of the Universal Church. While such meetings are a sign of the maturity of the Ukrainian Greek-Catholic Church, they also bear witness to two essential characteristics of this Particular Church: unity and martyrdom. And indeed, at the first papal audience, Pope Benedict called this to mind, that Ukrainian Greek-Catholic Church has and must always be an icon of unity with Peter (cum et sub Petro) even unto the shedding of blood.

Christianity in Iraq VIII: The Assyrian Christian Library of Turfan, China

The Library of Turfan and its Importance for the Study of the Liturgy of the Church of the East

• His Grace Mar Awa, Assyrian Bishop of California

Further details from Dr Erica Hunter at the School for Oriental and African Studies in due course.

St Mary of Egypt and Other Saints

Thursday 17th March 2011
St Anselm's Roman Catholic Church, Tooting Bec Road, London SW17 8BS. Nearest tube: Tooting Bec
6.15 pm Mass
7.00 pm Talk by Father George Christidis, followed by light refreshments

A joint meeting of the Society of St John Chrysostom and the Fellowship of St Alban & St Sergius (London branch) to which all are welcome

Association of Interchurch Families

London Meeting, Saturday 26 February, St Andrew's Church. Short Street, London SE1 8LJ. Nearest Tube: Waterloo

• 11 am Welcome and Introduction, with News from AIF and the world of Ecumenism
• 12 noon Talk by Professor Antoine Arjakovsky, Director of the Centre for Ecumenical Studies, Ukrainian Catholic University, Lviw, Ukraine - a French Orthodox lay theologian married to a Catholic. Followed by picnic lunch
• 2 pm Talk by Commander Betty Matear, Salvation Army and co-president of Churches Together in England - Reflections on the Papal Visit
• 3 pm Methodist Communion Service

Representing Religion in the European Union: The Orthodox Perspective

The Second Joint Seminar of the Centre for Eastern Christianity and Heythrop College, supported by the Society of St John Chrysostom,  on Wednesday 23 February 2011, 4.30-6.00 pm.

Dr. Lucian Leustean

For the first time in the history of the acquis communautaire, the Lisbon Treaty institutionalises an ‘open, transparent and regular dialogue’ between European institutions and ‘churches, religions and communities of conviction’. This paper examines the evolution of religious representation in the European Union from the 1950 Schuman Declaration proposing the establishment of a European Coal and Steel Community to the Lisbon Treaty in 2009. It offers an historical overview of religious representation and discusses the mobilisation of Orthodox churches in dialogue with European institutions.

Lucian Leustean is Lecturer in Politics and International Relations at Aston University, Birmingham. He studied international relations, law and theology in Bucharest and completed his doctorate in the Department of Government at the London School of Economics and Political Science. His publications include Orthodoxy and the Cold War. Religion and Political Power in Romania, 1947-65 (Basingstoke, Palgrave MacMillan, 2009); editor of Eastern Christianity and the Cold War, 1945-91 (London, Routledge, 2010), and co-editor of Religion, Politics and Law in the European Union (London, Routledge, 2010); ‘What is the European Union? Religion between Neofunctionalism and Intergovernmentalism’, International Journal for the Study of the Christian Church, Vol. 9, no. 3, 2009, pp. 165-176. He is currently working on an ESRC project on ‘The Politics of Religious Lobbies in the European Union'.

Heythrop College, University of London, Kensington Square, London W8 5HN. There is no charge for attendance and registration is not required. Enquiries: j.flannery@heythrop.ac.uk

The Triumph of Orthodoxy: The Church of England and the Icon Theology of the 2nd Council of Nicaea

Wednesday 16th February 2011
5-30 pm Evening Prayer, followed by light refreshments
6-30 pm Talk by The Revd Stephen Stavrou
St John's Church, Landsdowne Crescent, Notthing Hill, W11 2NN
Nearest Tube: Holland Park

A joint meeting of the Fellowship of St Alban & St Sergius (London Branch) and the Anglican & Eastern Churches Association, to which all are welcome

The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity

In 2011, the materials, prayers and worship for the Week of Prayer have been devised by the Christians of Jerusalem, from the Orthodox Church, the Melkite Greek Catholic Church, the Latin Catholic Patriarchate, the Syrian Orthodox Church, the Armenian Orthodox Church, the Anglican Church and the Lutheran Church, not forgetting the Maronite, Coptic, Ethiopian, Syrian Catholic, Armenian Catholic and various Evangelical communities that also exist in the City and the Holy Land.

Follow this link to the website of Churches Together in Britain and Ireland for the UK & Eire versions of the resources.

As we pray for the peace of Jerusalem, 18 to 25 January, we give thanks to God for the vast contribution made by the Christians of Syriac and Arab ecclesial families to the formation of Christianity's tradition and to its future.

And in the words of Father Paul Couturier, who reanimated the Week of Prayer in the 1930s and caused it to be the universal Church's celebration of faith, hope and love for visible unity and communion that we know today, we pray for the unity of all humanity in the charity and truth of Christ.

Patriarch of the West: Centre for Eastern Christianity

The first Joint Theology Seminary of the new Centre for Eastern Christianity and Heythrop College will take place on the afternoon of 26th January 2011. In connection with the current concern of the international Catholic-Orthodox dialogue, the focus will be on the Petrine ministry of the Bishop of Rome and the role of the papacy in the universal Church. Part of the context is the removal by Pope Benedict XVI of the title, "Patriarch of the West". To some on the Catholic side of the dialogue, the title was irrelevant, referring to long historic conditions and thus defunct. Indeed, it has been claimed that it thus stood in the way of a genuine dialogue towards reunion in the conditions of the present. But to others and to many Orthodox, it appeared to disturb the arrangements that obtained before schism set in, especially the pentarchy of the historic patriarchates, and thus made it more difficult to retrace steps in the search for lost unity. The Seminar will look at all these issues as they affect - and are affected by - respective canonical principles and the sense of the Church's identity we have as Catholics and Orthodox.

Canon Law and the Politics of Ecclesial Identity:
The Patriarch of the West:

contemporary Catholic & Orthodox perspectives

Dr Peter Petkoff

Wednesday 26 January 2011, 4.30pm -6.00pm

The Hopkins Room

Heythrop College, University of London, Kensington Square, London W8 5HN.

Please note: there is no charge for attendance and registration is not required. Enquiries:
j.flannery@heythrop.ac.uk. A flyer can be downloaded here.

Out of interest, here are two relevant speeches made by Patriarch Gregorios of Antioch the Melkite Greek Catholics at the October 2010 Special Assembly of the Synod of Bishops of the Catholic Church to address the concerns of the Churches of the Middle East:

• "We ought to have a Pope"
• Ecclesiology and Ecumenism

Dr Peter Petkoff has studied law and theology in Sofia, Leeds, Oxford and Rome and his research interests are in the area of law and religion, EC Law, Intellectual Property and Comparative and International Law. His academic appointments include working on research projects at Oxford University (European Company Law and Arms Exports), Exeter University (Comparative European Family Law) and Bristol University (Changing Nature of Religious Rights Under International Law), a visiting fellowship at the Stephan Kuttner Institute of Medieval Canon Law and the Leopold-Wenger-Institute for Legal History at Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich and teaching positions at Bristol, Oxford and Buckingham. He has taught EU Law, International law and Intellectual Property, Canon law and Islamic Law. Dr Petkoff is a honorary fellow of the Centre for the Study of Law and Religion at the University of Bristol, a Fellow of the Centre for Christianity and Culture at Regent’s Park College, Oxford, a Secretary of the Oxford Society for Law and Religion and a convener of the Oxford Colloquium for Law and Religion, a board member of the academic think-tank ‘Focus on Freedom of Religion or Belief’ which studies the dynamics of freedom of religion or belief discourse within the context of the international institutions. Dr Petkoff is also a board member of the research network ‘Church, Law and Society of the Middle Ages’ and a convener of Eastern Canon Law panels at the International Medieval Congress at Leeds. He is currently engaged in research projects which study the coexistence of civic and religious legal systems on national, regional and international level and the formation of Christian, Jewish and Islamic legal harmonisations in the twelfth and the thirteenth centuries.

Recent publications: Legal and Religious Perspectives of the Post-conciliar Vatican Concordats – Minorities, Human Rights, Religious Freedom and International Law, Law and Justice Journal (No 158, 2007); Freedom of Religion or Belief in the Jurisprudence of the Bulgarian Constitutional Court Religion, State and Society [Routledge], Volume 36, 2008; Neutrality in the Jurisprudence of the European Court of Human Rights – coauthored with Malcolm Evans (Religion, State and Society, Volume 36, 2008; Church-State Relations under the Bulgarian Denominations Act 2002: Religious Pluralism and Established Church Religion, State and Society Vol. 33, No. 4, December 2005; The Law on Religion in Bulgaria in the Light of European Integration Orthodox Christianity And Contemporary Europe, Leuven, Peeters, 2003.

Metropolitan Anthony of Sourozh Foundation

Peace and Love, Divine and Human

Third annual conference, sponsored by the Metropolitan Anthony of Sourozh Foundation in the Metropolitan's memory will take place on Saturday, 27 November 2010, from 9-45, ending with Pannikhida at 6 pm, at St Sava's Serbian Orthodox Cathedral Church Hall, Lancaster Road W11 1QQ. To apply, contact Olga Pattison on 01869 347457. Speakers:

• Fr Michel Evdokimov
• Marina Barabanova Holdsworth
• Fr John Lee
• Fr John Marks
• Irina von Schlippe

"Divine and human love must be summed up first of all inthe establishment of the righ relationship with God, with men and also with oneself." Metropolitan Anthony

Constantinople Lecture, Anglican & Eastern Churches Association 2010

The Armenian Genocide: A Way Forward?
The Anglican & Eastern Churches Association Annual Constantinople Lecture will take place on 25 November 2010 at the Church of St Mary at Hill, Lovat Lane, London EC4V 4AA. Speaker: Dr Harry Hagopian KSG
5-30 pm Evensong
6-00 pm Lecture, followed by Reception

Tickets for Reception from Janet Laws, Secretary, AECA, The Old Deanery, Dean's Court, LONDON EC4V 5AA

New Orthodox Church in Kenton takes shape

25 years ago the Anglican parish of Kenton took the bold step of entrusting its mission Church of the Holy Spirit to the growing community of Greek Orthodox in northwest London. So was born the Archdiocese of Thyateira's parish church of St Pantaleimon the Healer. In time the community was able to purchase the freehold of the Church, the hall and the house. And two years ago, the old building was demolished to make way for a superb new Byzantine church. The roof is now tiled and the copper is on the domes. See more progress and a video of the inside work so far on the parish's blog of the building work, appropriately named Landmark.

The long-serving parish priest is the learned Very Reverend Oeconomos Protopresbyter Anastasios Salapatas. We promise our prayers and warmly wish Father Anastasios well in his mission towards the beautiful and inspiring building of a new Church on a busy main road in north west London, where it will be a constant witness to Christ in a very religiously diverse part of the world.

The Vatican Synod on Christianity in the Middle East: Professor Herman Teule

THE CENTRE FOR EASTERN AND ORTHODOX CHRISTIANITY

in conjunction with

THE DEPARTMENT FOR THE STUDY OF RELIGIONS,
SCHOOL OF ORIENTAL AND AFRICAN STUDIES
THORNHAUGH STREET
RUSSELL SQUARE
LONDON WC1H 0XG

is delighted to announce a lecture by

Professor Herman TEULEDirector, Institute of Eastern Christian Studies, Radboud University Nijmegen, The Netherlands

THE VATICAN SYNOD (Oct. 22-29th 2010)
ON CHRISTIANITY IN THE MIDDLE EAST
7pm. G3. Main Building, SOAS, WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 3RD


ALL WELCOME, FREE ENTRY

Please direct enquiries to:

Ms. Pascale Dionnet, Arts and Humanities Office: tel. 0207-8984012 (pd11@soas.ac.uk)

Dr. Erica C.D. HUNTER, Dept. for the Study of Religions, SOAS (eh9@soas.ac.uk)
[abroad 19th October – 1st November]

The Way, an Introductory Course to the Orthodox Faith

The Way is the new course introducing the Orthodox Faith from the Institute of Orthodox Christian Studies. It draws on the elements of hospitality and human social relations in sharing the Christian faith used in the well known Evangelical programme, the Alpha Course. But it takes a distinctively Orthodox theological approach - for instance on the Liturgy and the sacraments, the Mother of God, the life and structure of the Church and human salvation - and this is integral to the course. The 12 weekly sessions consist of:

• a meal together
• a talk on a central aspect of Christian belief
• free discussion in small groups
• a question and answer session and panel discussion

Here is the introductory video:



The course comes in a boxed set of 5 DVDs and, as well as illustrating teaching, worship and spirituality, includes 12 talks by Metropolitan Kallistos, Professor David Frost (Principal of the Institute) and the late Fr Michael Harper. The talks are:

1. The search for faith
2. God the Holy Trinty, the "Lover of Mankind"
3. Being Human: Fully Alive
4. Why did Jesus Come to Us
5. Salvation in Christ
6. The Holy Spirit
7. What on Earth is the Church? Isn't God enough?
8. Living the Faith I - The Divine Liturgy, "Pearl of Great Price"
9. Living the Faith II - The Holy Mysteries
10. Living the Faith III - The Bible, Prayer and Fasting
11. Living the Faith IV - Chrisian Behaviour
12. "Heaven on Earth": Members of the Church and Citizens of Heaven

The story of the course's development has been fascinating, not only involving the fruits of warm dialogue and friendship between Orthodox and Evangelical Christians in England, but also international support, through World Vision International in Romania, where a similar course aimed at introducing children to the Christian faith has been developed, inspired by the Way. World Vision also generously sponsored the publication of the course in multimedia format.

Fr Mark Woodruff, our Vice-Chairman, representing His Grace the Archbishop of Westminster, attended the recent launch at the Parish Hall of St Botolph, Bishopsgate (home to the London parish of the English Deanery of the Antiochian Orthodox Church), and was presented with a complimentary copy of the course. Professor Frost told Fr Mark as he made the presentation, "It is very important that we can share this new development and achievement with our friends in the Roman Catholic Church because the Church aspires to breathe, as Pope John Paul said, on both its lungs."

The Way is published by Gazelle Books and can be ordered direct from the publisher. Or it can be ordered from any bookshop ISBN 9781872897103.

We warmly congratulate the Institute on this magnificent resource, which will not only enable the spirituality and teaching of the Orthodox Church to be better known in the UK, now that increasingly its role in Christian life and mission alongside other Churches here is integral to the endeavours and discipleship of all, but it will also be of great value to the deepening and sharing of the faith when used in other Christian traditions.

World's longest cablecar line to Armenia's Tatev Monastery

Mariam Harutunian of AFP reports:

Armenia on Saturday launched the world's longest cable car line, a 5.7-kilometre (3.5-mile) engineering feat that spans a spectacular gorge to the country's ancient Tatev monastery. Gathered in Armenia's southern mountains near the border with Iran, guests including President Serzh Sarkisian and the head of the Armenian Apostolic Church, Karekin II, took part as the cable car link launched its first official voyage over the Vorotan River Gorge. The link will allow year-round access to Armenia's ninth-century Tatev monastery complex, one of the country's most important religious centres and a major tourist attraction.

At the opening ceremony, Sarkisian said the link was of "exceptional importance for Tatev and the surrounding region" and praised the project for overcoming the many difficulties involved in construction. "This cable car line shows that even dreams that seem unrealistic can be realised with faith and purpose," he said.

Karekin II said the launch of the link was an important step in restoring access to "a centuries-old holy shrine which was a place of pilgrimage from apostolic times." "Through its beauty and stunning construction the monastery at Tatev is among the exceptional creations of Armenian architecture which for centuries has been a vibrant centre of Armenian spiritual life, science and culture," he said.

The reversible cable car line cost 18 million dollars (13 million euros) with much of the funding coming from private donations, according to the National Competitiveness Foundation of Armenia, which oversaw the project. It runs from the village of Halidzor near a highway connecting the Armenian capital Yerevan to the village of Tatev, within walking distance of the monastery.

The cable car travels at a speed of 37 kilometres per hour (23 miles per hour) and a one-way journey takes 11 minutes. At its highest point over the gorge, the car travels 320 metres (1,056 feet) above ground level. It has two cabins, each capable of carrying up to 25 passengers. Local residents will be able to ride the cable car for free while others will have to pay 3,000 Armenian drams (eight dollars/six euros.)

An impoverished ex-Soviet republic bordering Turkey, Iran, Azerbaijan and Georgia, Armenia is keen to develop its tourism industry, showcasing its history as the first country to have adopted Christianity. Residents said they hoped the new link would help restore the economy of the local area, which like much of rural Armenia has suffered from deep poverty and an exodus of young people looking elsewhere for work.

The cable car is part of a 50-million-dollar (36-million-euro) public-private effort to develop tourism at Tatev and in the surrounding region, one of the traditional 15 provinces of the ancient Kingdom of Armenia. The project has also seen the government renovate 26 kilometres (16 miles) of the highway from Yerevan to Tatev and the restoration of parts of the monastery complex.