- 05/10/12

Founders Weekend - St. George Cathedral, Southfield MI: May 11-13, 2012
Click here to view a flyer for the events.

May 25-26, 2012 - Ascension Monastery: Celebration of Patronal Feast & Blessing of New Chapel Foundation / Mănăstirea Înălţarea Domnului: Sărbătoarea Hramului şi Sfinţirea Pietrei de Temelie a Noii Biserici - 04/26/12

Click here for Event Flyer / Apăsaţi aici pentru detalii

2012 PASCHAL PASTORAL LETTER OF HIS EMINENCE ARCHBISHOP NATHANIEL - 04/09/12

English              Romanian

FIND ANSWERS TO PROVOCATIVE QUESTIONS! - 03/15/12

A New Book: Challenges of Orthodox Thought and Life
Reflections on Christian Foundations and Living Traditions
By Hieromonk Calinic (Berger) 185 pages. $15.00.

Challenges of Orthodox Thought and Life presents a series of short essays centered around essential and provocative questions of Christian belief and life, all meant to bring the reader into the spiritual arena, where the decisive challenge of salvation is presented. Based on the Holy Scriptures, engaging the living and patristic Tradition and informed by contemporary scholarship, these short reflections provide a source-book of knowledge and inspiration for a vibrant Orthodox faith in today's world.

The Rev. Hieromonk Calinic Berger has written and lectured on Orthodox theology in numerous academic and popular venues. He is a graduate of Santa Clara University (BSEE, 1988), Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology (MTS, 1994), and the Catholic University of America (PhD, 2003). He is the pastor of Holy Cross Romanian Orthodox Church in Hermitage, Pennsylvania.

Available at Amazon.com for $15.00, or order multiple copies (10 or more) with standard bookstore discount (40%) from: Romanian Orthodox Episcopate of America, Dept. of Publications, PO Box 185, Grass Lake MI 49240-0185 phone (517) 522-4800 x205 fax (517) 522-5907 email: books@roea.org or CLICK HERE to place an order.

 

LENTEN WORKDAY ON SATURDAY, MARCH 24, 2012 AT ST. RAPHAEL OF BROOKLYN ORTHODOX CHURCH - 03/12/12

You are invited to join in this inter-Orthodox work day which will begin at 8 AM on Saturday March 24th (Click here to view the event flyer).

We will be working primarily on the second floor of the Center, repairing & preparing the dorm-style accommodations of our facilities, in preparation to host our First Annual Urban Mission in Detroit** (June 20-24, 2012).

Lunch will be provided at Noontime, and we will end our work day with Great Vespers at 5 PM.

All are welcome to participate. Teens are encouraged to help, but must be accompanied by their parents. Any students who need a letter from our Pastor confirming community service hours will be provided.

** Information on our First Annual Urban Mission in Detroit (June 20-24, 2012) can be found on our parish website: http://www.straphaeldetroit.org/ 313-533-3437 (Phone) 313-533-3529 (Fax).

Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of North and Central America: Year in Review - 02/23/12

In today’s secular society, which is often filled with meaningless rhetoric, it is encouraging to report that the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of North and Central America is progressing toward its stated goals.

Recent achievements include the official incorporation of the Assembly on October 18, 2011 as the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of North and Central America (ACOB). (It was formerly known as the “Episcopal Assembly” of North and Central America.) Last month an historic teleconference of the Assembly’s committee chairmen was held, bringing together representatives of all Orthodox jurisdictions in North America. On January 24 and 25, 2012, the Secretariat—which holds monthly teleconferences—held its second annual face-to-face meeting in Riverside, CA.

The Secretariat meeting in Riverside was hosted by Fr. Josiah Trenham of St. Andrew’s Church, and included Bishop Basil (Secretary of the Assembly of Bishops), Archbishop Antony (Treasurer), Bishop Andonios, Bishop Maxim, Fr. Mark Arey, Fr. Nicholas Ceko, Hierodeacon Benedict (Armitage), Protodeacon Peter Danilchick, and Messrs. Alexei Krindatch, Alex Machaskee, and Eric Namee.

Applauded at the Secretariat meeting was “Conversations With Our Bishops,” which is a series of audio interviews of the Assembly’s 53 member hierarchs conducted by Fr. Trenham. The interviews provide a broad swath of perspectives to the Church-at-large on the significance and work of the Assembly. Seventeen interviews have been completed so far, and new interviews are regularly made available on the Assembly’s website, www.assemblyofbishops.org.

At the conclusion of the Secretariat meeting, much excitement was generated by the idea that the Assembly consider planning an event sometime in the near future that would encourage all Agencies of ACOB (e.g., IOCC, OCMC, OCF, et al) to have their annual meetings in the same place and at the same time together with the Assembly’s annual meeting, a major youth event, and a concelebrated Liturgy. This would be a major Celebration of Orthodoxy and vividly demonstrate a unity of purpose for Orthodox Christians.

Four committees—Financial Affairs, Youth, Pastoral Practice, and Canonical Regional Planning—have all held recent meetings. Of particular note is the Committee for Youth’s recent meeting, held on January 24th and 25th, 2012 at the Antiochian Village Heritage and Learning Center, in Bolivar, PA. The Committee met in conjunction with the annual Camp and Youth Worker Conference, which drew together youth workers of many jurisdictions from across the country. By developing models for cooperative youth activities and programs, the Committee hopes to maximize participation by our youth in the full life of the Church. The Committee sees its work as a pathway to transforming our youth to lead their lives in service and witness to Christ.

While some of the other committees report slower progress, all are committed to accelerating, in 2012, accomplishment of the charges they have been given through their Terms of Reference.

ACOB recently elicited positive responses from clergy and laity for its “Record of Protest Against the Infringement of Religious Liberty by the Department of Health and Human Services.” In this ruling by HHS, religious hospitals, educational institutions, and other organizations would be required to pay for the full cost of contraceptives (including some abortion-inducing drugs) and sterilizations for their employees, regardless of the religious convictions of the employers.

The Assembly’s priority issues in 2012 include formal adoption of the By-Laws. The By-Laws have been drafted and are currently under review; all member bishops will soon be given an opportunity to comment on them.

At present, the Assembly does not have an established mechanism for endorsing Orthodox organizations. A process for endorsement is under development. A “statement of principles” is also being created, which would define the relationship between the Assembly and endorsed organizations.

In 2012 the Assembly’s committees hope to host “town hall meetings” for the public. These open forums would be led by the committees’ Bishops and clergy/ lay consultants; they would provide an opportunity for clergy and laity to ask questions about the Assembly and the work of the committees.

The Assembly implores all Orthodox to take an interest in its work and asks that they encourage their bishops to become engaged and active in the mission of the Assembly. Financial donations are also greatly welcome in order to fund the activities of the Assembly. Donations can be made by mail or through the Assembly’s website, www.assemblyofbishops.org.

For detailed reports of the committees making significant progress, such as Financial Affairs, Canonical Regional Planning, and Pastoral Practice, please consult the website.

The Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of North and Central America was formed by the 4th Pre-Conciliar Pan-Orthodox Conference in Chambesy, Switzerland in June, 2009. It is one of 12 such assemblies that were formed worldwide.

The Assembly replaces the Standing Conference of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of America (SCOBA) and has assumed all of the agencies, dialogues and other ministries of SCOBA.

The Assembly is comprised of all the active, canonical Orthodox bishops of North and Central America of every jurisdiction. Its purpose is “to preserve and contribute to the unity of the Orthodox Church by helping to further her spiritual, theological, ecclesiological, canonical, educational, missionary and philanthropic aims.” To accomplish this, the Assembly has as its goals: i) the promotion and accomplishment of Church unity in North and Central America; ii) the strengthening of the common pastoral ministry to all the Orthodox faithful of this region; and iii) a common witness by the Church to all those outside her. In addition, the Assembly has as an express goal: iv) the organization of the Church in North and Central America in accordance with the ecclesiological and the canonical tradition of the Orthodox Church.

The 13 committees under the Secretariat are responsible for canonical affairs, canonical regional planning, church and society, clergy affairs, ecumenical relations, financial affairs, legal affairs, liturgy, military chaplaincy, monastic communities, pastoral practice, theological education, and youth.

The ACOB committee chairmen will have a face-to-face meeting on Wednesday, May 30, in South Bound Brook, NJ, hosted by Archbishop Antony.

The 2012 annual meeting of the full Assembly is scheduled to be held in Chicago in September.

Sfinţirea Bisericii Sfânta Maria / Consecration of St. Mary Church - Anaheim, California - 11/22/11

Click on the following link to view a slide presentation:http://photographs.iustincapsa.com/2011-11-12/index.html.

In Memory: Sylvia Lungociu - 11/16/11

Sylvia  Lungociu (Age 90)

On , November 14, 2011 of Silver Spring, MD.  Beloved wife of Nicholas George Lungociu; mother of Daniel (Marie) Lungociu, Linda (David) Jackson, Rodica (Thomas) Cipu, Cornel Lungociu and Michael (Kimberly) Lungociu; grandmother of Kristen, Laura, Stephanie, Michael, Victoria, Brian, Mark and David.  Also survived by 6 great-grandchildren.  Relatives and friends may call at Collins Funeral Home, 500 University Boulevard, West, Silver Spring, MD, (Valet Parking) Wednesday, November 16 from 2-4 PM. Funeral Service will be celebrated at Holy Cross Romanian Orthodox Church, 5150 Leesburg Pike, Alexandria, VA, on Thursday November 17 at 11 AM. Interment St. Mary Cemetery, Vatra Romaneasca , Grass Lake, MI.  In lieu of flowers Memorial contributions may be made to Holy Cross Romanian Orthodox Church. 

IN MEMORY of PREOTEASA ELEONORA LAZAR - 08/15/11

Doamnă Preoteasa Eleonora Lazăr peacefully fell asleep in the Lord at the venerable age of 96 years, Monday, August 15, the feast of the Falling Asleep of the Birthgiver of God and Ever-virgin Mary, at the Manor of Farmington Hills (Michigan) Nursing Center. Services will be held in Detroit at the Romanian Orthodox Cathedral of St George (18405 W Nine Mile Rd, Southfield, Michigan): Wednesday, August 17, 7:30 pm Saracusta (Wake); Thursday, August 18, 10:00 am Funeral & Pomana. Burial to follow at Vatra Românească. . . Click here for more.

Annual Pilgrimage marks patronal feastday of Ellwood City's Transfiguration Monastery - Orthodox Church in America - 08/06/11

[ELLWOOD CITY PA - OCA]  The annual pilgrimage to the Monastery of the Transfiguration here was held Friday and Saturday, August 5-6, 2011, in conjunction with its patronal feastday.

The Vigil of the Feast was served by His Grace, Bishop Michael of New York and New Jersey; Archimandrite Alexander, Saint John the Theologian Monastery, Hiram, OH; and Deacon John Oleynik, Saint John the Baptist Church, Canonsburg, PA, with His Eminence, Archbishop Nathaniel of Detroit and the Romanian Episcopate in attendance.

Second Annual Meeting of the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of North and Central America - 05/27/11

Issued from Chicago, IL on 27 May 2011 by the Secretariat of the Assembly

From May 25-27, the second annual Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of North and Central America gathered for its meeting at the Chicago O'Hare Hilton. There was a total of 45 bishops in attendance. In addition, nearly all of the members were present at the Assembly: the Ecumenical Patriarchate, including the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese, the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, and the Albanian Orthodox Diocese; the Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese; the Patriarchate of Moscow, including the Russian Orthodox Church in the USA and the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia; the Romanian Orthodox Archdiocese of the Americas; the Bulgarian Eastern Orthodox Church; and the Orthodox Church in America. Not represented were the American Carpatho-Russian Diocese, as they currently have no bishop, owing to the recent repose of Metropolitan Nicholas; the Georgian Orthodox Church, whose bishop resides in Georgia; most of the bishops of Canada and Mexico, as the Canadian bishops anticipate their own assembly, as do those of Mexico and Central America who have requested to join the Assembly of South America. The Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church were detained by the business of their Synod in Belgrade, which was in session at the same time, and by delays in travel caused by the volcanic ash over Europe, and so were not able to attend.

Archbishop Nathaniel, Bishop Irineu meet with western European Romanian bishops - 12/17/10

ROME, ITALY [OCA] -- His Eminence, Archbishop Nathaniel of Detroit and the Romanian Episcopate and His Grace, Bishop Irineu of Dearborn Heights, participated in a gathering of western European Romanian bishops, the theme of which was "Conscience and Canonical Orthodox Ecclesiology," at the headquarters of the Romanian Orthodox Episcopate of Italy here during the last week of November 2010.

Attending the gathering, the third of its kind, were bishops from the Metropolia of Western and Southern Europe and the Metropolia of Germany, Central and North Europe, according to the Romanian Patriarchate's news agency "Basilica."

Quoting His Grace, Bishop Siluan of Italy, Basilica reported that the meeting provided an opportunity for the hierarchs to share pastoral experiences in their respective regions and to discuss various aspects of mission, Christian identity, and the sharing of the faith and traditions in light of major westward emigration of Romanians witnessed since the fall of communism in Romania.

During the gathering the hierarchs celebrated the Divine Liturgy in Rome's mid-second century Saint Callistus Catacombs.

For more information and a photo gallery, visit www.basilica.ro/ro/diaspora_ortodoxa_romana/ierarhii_ortodocsi_romani_din_europa_occidentala_si_america_se_intalnesc_la_roma_9254.html.

Statement of Clarification - 10/18/10

[ROEA Chancery - October 18, 2010] Concerned that unofficial internet postings distort and misrepresent the current status of the dialogue of reconciliation with our sister Romanian eparchy in North America, we offer the following information.

The Press Release posted on our website, www.ROEA.org, is the only official statement of the ROEA on this issue. We deplore any other postings that claim to report factual information from unknown “sources close to the Episcopate”. Such erroneous postings disinform and foster disunity in the Church and our Episcopate.

Clarificare

[Cancelaria ROEA, 18 Octombrie 2010] Preocupat de faptul că anumite comunicări neoficiale făcute pe internet deformează şi reprezintă eronat statutul curent al dialogului de reconciliere cu eparhia soră Ortodoxă Română din America de Nord, oferim următoarea clarificare.

Comunicatul de Presă publicat pe website-ul nostru, http://www.ROEA.org, este singura comunicare oficială din partea ROEA (Episcopiei Ortodoxe Romane din America) pe această temă. Deplângem orice alte declaraţii care pretind că rapoartează informaţii “factuale” provenite de la “unele surse apropiate Episcopiei.” Astfel de declaraţii eronate dezinformează şi alimentează dezbinare în Sf. Biserică şi în Episcopia noastră.

The Romanian Orthodox Episcopate of America - Press Release - 10/04/10

[October 4, 2010] - The 78^th Congress of the Romanian Orthodox Episcopate of America was held October 1-2 at St Mary Cathedral, Cleveland, Ohio. 

The first portion of plenary discussion was given to reviewing and acceptance of reports presented by the administration, departments, commissions, hierarchs, etc., financial statements and adoption of budgets for the coming year, etc.

A great deal of time was then given to discussing the reports of the Legal and Financial Due Diligence committees called for by the 2008 Congress. At that time Congress recognized the “Proposal to Establish the Romanian Orthodox Metropolitanate in North America” as an acceptable basis to continue talks toward a possible union of the two existing Romanian eparchies, separated for decades. The Proposal was the product of the long-standing Joint Dialogue Commissions, established with the blessing of the hierarchs and endorsement of their respective congresses after the fall of communism. It defines in ecclesiological terms acceptable to both sides, a Metropolitanate with a unique status of “maximal autonomy” in communion with the Church of Romania but not subject to its administrative jurisdiction. The due diligence studies were thus seen as integral to any decision regarding such a future unity. However, hearing that the committees were not yet able to give a positive report, and wishing to encourage progress, Congress respectfully urged that the necessary information be gathered by the end of the year, so that the committee’s findings, essential to the process, would be completed in as timely a manner as possible.

Prima parte a discuţiilor plenare a fost alocată dezbaterii rapoartelor prezentate de către administraţie, departamente, comisii, ierarhi, etc.; rapoartelor financiare şi adoptării bugetelor pentru anul viitor.

Apoi, a s-a alocat o bună bucată de vreme discutării rapoartelor de prezentate de către comisiile Due Diligence – cea Legală şi cea pentru Investigaţie Financiară - înfiinţate la Congresul din anul 2008. În acel an, Congresul a recunoscut “Propunerea pentru Înfiinţarea Mitropoliei Ortodoxe Române din America de Nord” ca pe o bază acceptabilă pentru continuarea dialogului spre o posibilă unire a celor două existente eparhii româneşti care sunt separate vreme de câteva decenii. Propunerea a fost rodul muncii Comisiilor de Dialog, înfiinţate cu mulă vreme în urmă, după căderea comunismului, cu binecuvântarea Ierarhilor şi cu aprobarea Congreselor lor respective. Această Propunere defineşte în termeni eclesiologici, acceptabili ambelor părţi, o Mitropolie cu un statut de “autonomie maximală,” în comuniune cu Biserica Ortodoxă Română, dar fără a fi sub controlul administrativ al acesteia. Cercetările de Investigaţie Financiară au fost astfel înţelese a fi parte integrantă din orice hotărâre privitoare la această de viitoare unire. Înţelegând însă că aceste comisii nu au reuşit încă să ofere un raport pozitiv, dar dorind să încurajeze progresul, Congresul a cerut respectuos ca informaţia necesară să fie adunată până la sfârşitul anului, astfel încât concluziile comitetului, esenţiale acestui demers, să fie completate, cât mai curând posibil.

MESSAGE issued by the Episcopal Assembly of the Canonical Orthodox Hierarchs of North and Central America May 26-28, 2010 - 05/28/10

  - Click here

Address of His Eminence ARCHBISHOP DEMETRIOS OF AMERICA, Chairman At the Episcopal Assembly of North and Central America - - 05/26/10

  Click here

Clarificări din Partea Episcopiei Ortodoxe Române din America în legătură cu articolul "Schizma ortodocşilor români din SUA, aproape de final" (România liberă, 26 noiembrie 2009). - 11/30/09

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Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew meets with Orthodox Primates of the USA - 10/29/09

Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew meets with Orthodox Primates of the USA as reported by the Standing Conference of Canonical Orthodox Bishops in the Americas - Click here to read entire article.

Text of the Decision adopted in Chambesy in June regarding the “diaspora” and the Rules of Operation of Episcopal Assemblies in the Orthodox Diaspora - - 06/13/09

Archbishop's Address to 2009 Episcopate Congress - 06/01/09

Address of His Eminence Archbishop Nathaniel to the 77th Episcopate Congress, July 2009 - English / Romanian

Death Notice: Armand Allen Scala, April 16, 1941 - October 5, 2011

10/11/2011

Armand Scala passed away peacefully at Arlington Hospital on the morning of October 5, 2011, after a long illness. 

Armand was born April 16, 1941 in Alberta, Canada of Romanian parents. As his father was a Romanian Orthodox priest, the family moved over the next twenty years to various parishes in Nebraska, Michigan and Massachusetts. In 1960, the family moved to Washington, D.C. where his father was the founding priest at Holy Cross Romanian Orthodox Church in Alexandria, VA. After serving as an exhibit guide with the U.S. Information Agency in Romania in 1963, Armand completed his B.A. in Government and Political Science at American University in 1965 and completed post-graduate studies in International Finance.  From there, he pursued a successful career in finance and investment, beginning his own firm in 1982. 

The fall of the Berlin Wall in 1990 and the end of the Ceausescu regime activated Armand’s strong affection for Romanians and Romania. He founded the Congress of Romanian Americans (CORA) in 1991, whose purpose was to assist Romania in its integration into the Western alliance. As President of CORA, he was instrumental in pressing Congress and the Clinton and Bush administrations, ultimately successfully, to support Romania’s admission to NATO. At the same time, he was a cofounder of the Central and Eastern European Coalition (CEEC), representing 18 ethnic organizations and over 22 million Americans, with the purpose of pushing American policymakers to an unwavering commitment to, and sustained engagement with, the newly free countries of that region. Additionally, Armand served as the vice president of the Romanian American Chamber of Commerce. For his untiring efforts he received numerous awards, including the National Order of Merit, rank of Commander, from the President of Romania in 2004. 

Throughout his life he was a passionate supporter of the Orthodox community in Washington, D.C. He was a founding member in 1991 of St. Mary’s Orthodox Church in Falls Church, serving many years as Council President. He sang with both the church’s choir and the Pan Orthodox Madrigal Choir of Washington, which performed at the White House, Kennedy Center, Supreme Court, and the National Cathedral. In 1975, he was Founder and President of the Festival of Choirs, representing 25 local Orthodox parishes. During the past 20 years, he has brought numbers of Romanian choirs and other cultural groups to the United States. In all of his endeavors, his generosity of spirit, sense of diplomacy, and good humor came through and endeared him to many. 

Armand is survived by his wife of 45 years, Christina Y. Scala, of McLean, Virginia, their son, Armand A. Scala II, his sister, Antoinette Scala Robertson, and her husband, Thomas B. Robertson, his stepbrother, Rudolph W. Ficken, Jr. and his wife, Jill, and a nephew, Thomas G. Robertson, and niece, Elizabeth R. Wallar.

Visitation will be Saturday evening, October 8, at Joseph Gawler’s Sons Funeral Home, 5130 Wisconsin Ave, NW, Washington DC from 6 to 8 p.m., and at St. Mary’s Orthodox Church in Falls Church, on Sunday, October 9 from 6 to 8 p.m. with a memorial service at 8 p.m. Funeral services will be held at St. Mary’s Orthodox Church, 7223 Roosevelt Ave., Falls Church, VA on October 10 at 11 a.m. with interment to follow at Columbia Gardens Cemetery in Arlington. His Eminence, Archbishop Nathaniel will take part in the services. 

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Mary’s Orthodox Church in Armand’s memory.