Following is an email report from Chaplain Georgel Oanca about "one of our Top Secret Missions in Iraq".
Operation Moving Shrine
“Now,
my God, I pray, let Your eyes be open and let your ears be attentive to the
prayer made in this place. Now therefore, arise, O Lord God, to your resting
place, you and the ark of your strength” (2 Chronicles 6: 40 – 41).
First of all, we have to start with a
question: What is a SHRINE? A shrine is a little chapel where Orthodox
Christians pray, light candles and display their religious objects: ICONS. When
it comes to their faith, they are very deep and profound in their tradition of
worship.
In 2007, the Armenian Orthodox soldiers
came to Iraq
to fulfill their duty as other soldiers, helping the Iraqi people to build a
new society where people can be free, live in peace and have freedom of
religion.
Like any other Christians, the Armenian
soldiers were concerned about their spiritual needs. In order to have a place
for worship, they built their own place of worship: THE SHRINE.
Click Here to view the current issue of Solia-The Herald
In Memoriam: Archpriest Joseph MacLellan
Posted 07/30/2010
WINNIPEG, MANITOBA --Archpriest Joseph MacLellan, 74,
who in retirement was attached to Saint George Church here, fell asleep
in the Lord on July 28, 2010.
Father Joseph was born on July 17, 1936 in Falconbridge, Ontario. He
first ventured west as a young man, attending flight training school
with the Royal Canadian Air Force in Moosejaw and Portage la Prairie.
It is while stationed in Portage la Prairie that he met his future wife,
Martha, a school teacher. Although the RCAF did not become his career
path, flying was his hobby for many years.
Prior to his conversion to Orthodox Christianity and ordination -- Father Joseph was raised in the Roman Catholic tradition --
he was employed for 34 years by the Greater Winnipeg Gas Co. In
addition to pursuing the Orthodox Church in America’s Late Vocations
program, he received a Diploma in Pastoral Training and a Licentiate in
Theology, cum laude, from Saint Andrew’s Ukrainian Orthodox College at
the University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, in 1979 and 1980 respectively. In
1984, he was ordained to the priesthood in the Romanian Orthodox
Episcopate of America. For five years he served as pastor of Saint Sava
Serbian Orthodox Church, after which he served numerous rural Romanian
Episcopate parishes across Manitoba and Saskatchewan. He was committed
to his parishioners and spoke of them with great love and respect. Due
to failing health, he retired from active ministry in 2003.
In addition to his wife of 52 years, Preoteasa Martha, Father Joseph
is survived by his children Tamara (Paul), Timothy (Colleen), Mary
(David), Angela (Lorne), Andrew, Naomi, Natalie (Norman) and 15
grandchildren. He is also survived by his brother James (Christene) and
numerous nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his brother, Father
Donald, sister Anne, and brother-in-law Bruno Bedard.
Father Joseph will lie in state at Saint George Church, Winnipeg, on
Monday, August 2. A Memorial will be celebrated at 6:30 p.m. His
Eminence, Archbishop Nathaniel of Detroit and the Romanian Episcopate
will preside at funeral services on Tuesday, August 3, at 9:30 a.m.
May Father Joseph's memory be eternal!
Posted on July 9, 2010
Iubiţi Fraţi Preoţi şi Credincioşi,
APEL LA RUGĂCIUNE PENTRU VICTIMELE
INUNDAŢILOR DIN ROMÂNIA
În aceste zile mulţi fraţi din România şi Estul Europei sunt greu încercaţi de
revărsarea nemiloasă a apelor. APĂSAŢI AICI pentru o scurtă prezentare a
dezastrului.
Vă adresăm apel la rugăciune şi milostenie pentru fraţii români din Moldova
greu încercaţi. Sunt creştini care şi-au pierdut viaţa şi multe famili au rămas
fără adăpost şi cele necesare. Îi putem ajuta şi noi cu rugăciunea şi darul
nostru.
Îi rugăm pe Preoţi să organizeze o
colectă în fiecare parohie în următoarele săptămâni (până la Adormirea Maicii
Domnului – 15 August) şi să trimită suma colectată la Centrul Eparhial de la
Vatra (faceţi cec către ROEA şi notaţi “Romanian Floods 2010”). Întreaga sumă
va fi trimisă în România pentru ajutorarea sinistraţilor.
Dumnezeu să vă răsplătească dragostea şi jertfa faţă de cei greu încercaţi.
+
NATHANIEL
Arhiepiscop al Episcopiei Ortodoxe Române din America
Dear Brother Priests and Faithful,
APPEAL FOR PRAYERS FOR THE VICTIMS OF THE FLOODS IN ROMANIA
During recent days, many brothers in Romania and Eastern Europe
are being severely tested by the unmerciful flooding of water.CLICK HERE to view a slide presentation of
the disaster.
We express our appeal for prayers and mercy for brother
Romanians especially in Moldova.There are Christians who have lost their
lives, and many families have no shelter and basic necessities.We can help them with prayers and with our
gifts.
We ask the Priests to organize a collection in every parish
until the feast of the Dormition of the Mother of God (August 15), and to send
the total to the Episcopate (make check payable to ROEA and note: Romanian
Floods 2010).The total collected from
all parishes will then be sent to Romania for distribution to the
victims of this disaster.
May God reward your love and sacrifice you make for those
who are being severely tested.
+NATHANIEL Archbishop of the Romanian Orthodox Episcopate of America
78th Annual Episcopate Congress Hotel Information
Congress Schedule Thursday, September 30 - Clergy Conference Friday, October 1 - Church Congress Saturday, October 2 - Hierarchal Divine Liturgy & Closing Banquet
HOLIDAY INN CLEVELAND - AIRPORT 4181 W 150TH ST CLEVELAND OH 44135 (216) 252-7700 / Fax: (216) 252-3850 http://www.holidayinn.com/cle-airport USE RATE CODE STM TO GET RATE BELOW
Rate: $74 / night per room (plus taxes of 15.25%) $10 additional charge for rollaways Rooms are either 2 double beds or 1 king size with a sofa bed. Rate includes breakfast buffet in dining room for up to 4 persons per room.
DEADLINE FOR RESERVATIONS: SEPTEMBER 19, 2010 (Check-in: 3 pm / Checkout: 12 pm)
The hotel provides a FREE SHUTTLE to/from Cleveland Hopkins Airport. Call the hotel at (216) 252-7700 when you arrive at the airport for service 24 hours a day.
MESSAGE issued by the Episcopal Assembly of the Canonical Orthodox Hierarchs of North and Central America May 26-28, 2010 - Click here
Address of His Eminence ARCHBISHOP DEMETRIOS OF AMERICA, Chairman At the Episcopal Assembly of North and Central America - Click here
Archbishop Demetrios to Chair First Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Hierarchs in North and Central America - Click here Kondraticks Reach Settlement with OCA - Click here
A presentation concerning a Proposed Meeting of Hierarchs in North America to consider the administrative unification of the jurisdictions into one - by +Nathaniel, Archbishop of Detroit - CLICK HERE
Visit the website of FOCUS North America, the newest Orthodox Social Action Agency
Working especially in the areas of Food, Occupation, Clothing,
Understanding and Shelter, FOCUS North America expresses Christ’s love
through social action in North America for those who are hungry,
thirsty, strangers, naked, sick or in prison (Matt. 25:35-6).FOCUS North America will: Serve those in need, by providing aid through our programs and partners;Support Orthodox Christian social action ministries, agencies, professionals, and volunteers; and Supply parishes and others with the education,
resources and training needed to initiate social action ministries in
their own communities.
Click here to learn more.
From "The Orthodox Church" Newspaper:
AN 80-YEAR LEGACY The Romanian Episcopate celebrates anniversary, looks to the future
As the Romanian Orthodox Episcopate of America marks the 80th Anniversary of its founding this year and approaches the half-century mark of its integration in 1960 into the Orthodox Church in America, it is timely that we reflect on its history. Click here to read the article (PDF)
News
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). APĂSAŢI AICI să citiţi.
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 - Click here for full text.
Address of His Eminence Archbishop Nathaniel to the 77th Episcopate Congress, July 2009 - English / Romanian.
Prayer Request
Please Pray for Members of the Episcopate Serving in the Armed Forces
NAME
RANK
HOME PARISH
CITY/STATE
Bond, LEVON
Lieutenant
St. George
Winnipeg, MB
Brown, STEVE
Sergeant Major
St. Mary
Chicago, IL
Bugan, CATALIN
1st Lieutenant
Annunciation
Grand Rapids, MI
DuChesne, MATTHEW
Master Sergeant
St. Michael
Aurora, IL
Haney, Dr. AARON
Captain
Sts. Constantine & Helen
Indianapolis, IN
Ilcus, LIDIA STANA
Lieutenant Colonel
Holy Trinity
Miramar, FL
Kauffman, CHRISTOPHER
Captain
Holy Cross
Hermitage, PA
Lupu, NICOLAE
Master Corporal
St. Mary
Calgary, AB
Madsen, CASSANDRA
Navel Lieutenant
Sts. Constantine & Helen
Indianapolis, IN
Madsen, KC
Naval Lieutenant
Sts. Constantine & Helen
Indianapolis, IN
Mogosanu, ANDREI
Navy Cadet
St. Mary
Calgary, AB
Slywka, DAVID
Master Corporal
St. George
Dysart, SK
Sofronie, MIHAI
Captain
St. Joseph
Hazleton, PA
Tolle, MICAH
SPC
Sts. Constantine & Helen
Indianapolis, IN
Wixson, BRANDON Eugene
Lance Corporal
Sts. Peter & Paul
Dearborn Heights, MI
CLICK HERE to visit the website of the St George Orthodox Military Association.
Announcements
New Book - "Romanians in Canada" by Dr. Eleanor Bujea, Past President of ARCOLA, just published! - CLICK HEREfor more information and to order a copy! At checkout, enter the code READMORE2010 to receive a 10% discount.
