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Paraskeve the New

2013-10-13T17:36:30Z

Petru Dimitriu:

:''For other saints with the name "Paraskeve," see the [[Paraskevi (disambiguation)|disambiguation page]].''

Our venerable Mother '''Paraskeve the New''' lived as a monastic in the 11th century. She is honoured in Romania as '''Parascheva''', traditionally as '''Sfânta Vineri''' (lit. '''Saint Friday''') and in Serbia and Macedonia as '''Petka'''. She is also distinguished from other saints of the same name with the descriptions "the New" or "the Young." Her [[feast day]] is celebrated on [[October 14]]. She is the patron saint of the Romanian region of Moldova and Romanians generally have great esteem towards her.

== Life ==
Born in Epivat (Thrace; [[Byzantium]], near Constantinople) in 11th century, Paraskeve was of noble origin. Her pious parents taught her as a child the words of the Gospel which say that everyone who wants to follow the Lord Jesus must give up everything. When her parents died, she gave up the world for the "desert" while still young in years. First she dedicated her life entirely to God through [[prayer]] and [[fast]]ing, and then undertook [[ascetic]] struggles in the desert of Jordan.

She is especially beloved by the Orthodox peoples of Serbia, Bulgaria, Romania, and Moldavia where her holy [[relics]] are kept in the Metropolitan Cathedral Church, Iaşi, Romania.

==Hymn==
[[Troparion]] ([[Tone]] 4) [http://www.oca.org/FSTropars.asp?ID=102968]
:You chose a silent and solitary life;
:You followed [[Christ]] your Bridegroom.
:You took his easy yoke in your youth,
:Arming yourself with the [[sign of the Cross]].
:You contended against spiritual enemies
:Through fasting, tears and labors,
:O glorious Paraskeva.
:Now you stand before Christ with the Wise Virgins:
:[[intercession|Intercede]] for us who honor your precious memory.

==Miracles==
Many miracles are mentioned as being done by God through Saint Paraskeve. According with the miracles [http://www.sfantaparascheva.com/minuni.php described here], Saint Paraskeve helped people with:
:---getting help in marriage , finding a great spouse
:---solving health related issues
:---finding stolen objects
:---escaping from the power of sick angels
:---getting good grades at exams and finishing degrees
:---finding a job
:---finding a place to live
:---finding resources and ways for coming to pilgrimage to her relics
:---defending the Iasi city on war
:---stopping the theft
:---building a Church
:---defending the church
:---defending life even of the unborn
:---defending food from bugs

Miracles described took place because people did one or more of the following:
:---prayed to the Saint in front of her relics asking for help
:---read the Akhatist of the saint in front of her relics
:---reading the Akhatist and the Paraclete in front of the Holy relics
:---left a diptych to be comemorated at Holy Liturgy
:---gave a diptych to the Church that has the Holy relics through another person visiting the Church
:---prayed to the saint at home

Because of the multitude of miracles done by the Saint Paraskeve, on the day of her celebration, tens of thousand of people are coming into pilgrimage at her relics. It is possible that in the day of the celebration of a Saint, the Saint to be able to perform more miracles.

Observation:

:When praying to God or in front of the relics of a Saint it is good to pray for both the problems you know about and the problems you don't know about. Regarding the problems you don't know about, you can pray for whatever Mother of God knows that you need.

:A diptych is a list on which names of persons alive or departed are recorded to be read for help at Holy Liturgy in front of God. The names of living and departed are written usually in two different columns. On the diptych, in the end can be mentioned "with all their relatives" as to give help to as many people as possible. Also it is customary to write people you don't know as a way of mercy.

:After doing some prayer or actions is good to pray for these to be useful.

:When visiting the relics of a Saint, one can put a piece of cloth that does not get washed like a napkin or glasses or other objects on the relics of the saints . One can see a myrrh flagrance coming from some of the objects that touched the saint relics. It is useful then from time to time to touch with these objects the head or the parts of the body with problems.

:For many things like for decisions that include knowing the future is good to pray to God for a good outcome

:The power of the Holy relics is mentioned in Old Testament and there we see a dead person being thrown over the relics of a Prophet and that person becoming alive. If the relics of a prophet can turn death into life, the relics of a New Testament saint can do probably more because the New Law is more powerful than the Old Law.

:Even if relics were venerated for the first 1500 years of Christianity in all Europe, some denominations may be uneasy with this, even if Evangelist Luke painted icons, some denominations may be uneasy with icons, even if a cloth of prophet Elijah parted the waters of a river , a miracle being performed some denominations may be uneasy with miracles being performed through objects belonging to saints, even if many Apostles wrote Holy Liturgies starting around year 60, some denominations may be uneasy with Holy Liturgy. This is life.

==Pilgrimage==
The Holy relics of Saint Paraskeve are located in Iasi, a city that have an [http://www.aeroport.ro/index.php/ro/plecari/articol/dezvoltare-si-modernizare.html International Airport of a smaller scale] connected to the World.
The relics are located into the [http://maps.google.com/maps?ie=UTF-8&q=catedrala+mitropolitana+Iasi+harta&fb=1&gl=us&hq=catedrala+mitropolitana&hnear=0x40cafb7cf639ddbb:0x7ccb80da5426f53c,Ia%C8%99i,+Romania&cid=0,0,7148799511352223145&ei=tgMEUd6TPIT49QT9uYFI&ved=0CLsBEPwSMAc Metropolitan Cathedral] and can be venerated at any time the Church is open. The [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sz9nUngeg0w Metropolitan Cathedral] is usually open every day. Here is an youtube movie about Iasi http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FkHujqDFaRk .

On the day of celebration of St Paraskeve the line to venerate the relics can last for 12 hours and can be as long as 2.5 km. It is very interesting how a Saint can intercede for such a multitude of people in front of God, anyhow with God anything is possible.

About the power of prayer in front of relics of a Saint there are many things to say, anyhow nothing compares with ones own experience so if having a problem one can consider asking in front of relics or at home , a Saint for intercession and help.

==External links==
*[http://ocafs.oca.org/FeastSaintsViewer.asp?SID=4&ID=1&FSID=102968 Venerable Parasceva (Petka)] ([[OCA]])
*[http://www.goarch.org/chapel/saints_view?contentid=750&type=saints Righteous Paraskeve of Serbia] ([[GOARCH]])
*[http://www.westsrbdio.org/saints/stpetka.html Saint Petka] ([[Serbian Orthodox Church in the USA and Canada|Serbian]])
*[http://orthodoxword.wordpress.com/2009/10/12/the-pious-saint-parascheva/ The Pious Saint Parascheva] (OrthodoxWord blog)
*[http://www.orthodoxphotos.com/Holy_Relics/St._Parascheva/index.shtml Saint Paraskeva the New, who have her holy relics in Iasi, Romania]
*[http://www.roca.org/OA/133/133g.htm St. Petka-Paraskeva of Serbia Commemorated October 14] ''Orthodox America''
*[http://web.archive.org/web/20080221195523/http://www.byzantinesacredart.com/exhibition.html St. Petka Slava and Exhibition in St. Sava church, Vancouver, Oct. 14/27, 2005] (archive)

[[Category:Bulgarian Saints]]
[[Category:Romanian Saints]]
[[Category:Saints]]
[[Category:Byzantine Saints]]
[[Category:Greek Saints]]
[[Category:Serbian Saints]]
[[Category:Wonderworkers]]
[[Category:11th-century saints]]

[[ro:Parascheva de la Iaşi]]
[[mk:Преподобна Параскева]]

John Karastamatis of Santa Cruz

2012-05-20T20:35:18Z

Petru Dimitriu: This template doesn't belong here, this article is not about Orthodoxy in US

New Hiero[[martyr]] Father '''John (Karastamatis) of Santa Cruz''' (August 8, 1937 - May 19, 1985) was the first [[parish]] [[priest]] and one of the founders of the [http://propheteliassantacruz.org/?page_id=2 Prophet Elias Greek Orthodox Church] in Santa Cruz, California. He was a fervent preacher of the [[Introduction to Orthodox Christianity|Orthodox Faith]] and "ministered to the unemployed, homeless and drug addicts of the city"<ref name=BLACKWELL>Ken Parry, et. al. (Eds.). ''[http://www.blackwellreference.com/public/tocnode?id=g9780631232032_chunk_g978063123203214_ss1-14 John Karastamatis].'' '''The Blackwell Dictionary of Eastern Christianity.''' 2001.</ref><ref group="note">"He was the kind who wanted to help everybody," Anastasia Karastamatis said. "They'd come to the door at 2 o'clock in the morning and I'd worry -- saying we didn't know what they'd been drinking, what drugs they were on. It was hard for me. But he'd say, 'They need me; that's what I'm here for.' " 
:* {Joan Connell. SHATTERED PARISH REBUILDS CHURCH TRIES TO PUT SLAYING BEHIND IT. ''San Jose Mercury News.'' August 23, 1986.}</ref> before he was brutally [[Martyr|martyred]] by Satanists in 1985.<ref group="note">According to ''The Blackwell Dictionary of Eastern Christianity,'' the couple that murdered Fr. John had a history of mental illness. And in the words of District Attorney Art Danner, Anna Bowman was "clearly psychotic."</ref>
[[Image:Ιερομάρτυς Ιωάννης της Σάντα Κρουζ.png|left|thumb|The New Hieromartyr John (Karastamatis) of Santa Cruz (1937-1985). ]]
He has been credited with numerous miracles of healing since his death.<ref name="BLACKWELL"/> His memory is celebrated on [[May 19]] (N.S.), on the eve of the feast of the [[Translation (relics)|translation]] of the holy [[relics]] of Saint [[Nicholas of Myra|Nicholas]] the Wonder-worker, for whom Fr. John had a great reverance, because as a child he often visited the [[St. Nicholas Monastery (Andros, Greece)|Monastery of St. Nicholas of Andros]], Greece. This day corresponds to [[May 6]] ([[Julian Calendar|O.S.]]), which is the birthday of Royal [[Passion-bearer]] Tsar [[Nicholas II of Russia|Nicholas II]], and the [[feast day]] St. [[Job the Long-suffering|Job the Much-suffering]], pointing to the mystical significance of his death.

==In Greece==
Fr. John Karastamatis was born on [[August 8]], 1937 in the Greek village of Apoikia, on the island of [[Metropolis of Syros, Tinos, Andros, Kea, and Milos|Andros]]. The atmosphere of this village was permeated with the age-old Orthodox way of life, which was followed according to the Church calendar and the cycle of feast days. Living from day to day amidst the simple and natural faith of the villagers, the young John was imparted a sense of holiness, which kindled in his idealistic heart the flame of love for God and all that is His. As a boy on the island of Andros, John witnessed many miracles with which [[God]] blessed the pious villagers, and thus he was made aware of the closeness of God to the lives of those who seek Him. The heavenly [[saints]], especially the local ones, also manifested their closeness and the power of their intercessory [[prayer]] by appearing to and helping the people.

John nourished his young soul by learning about the lives of these [[saints]] and [[martyrs]], whose unquenchable desire to be faithful to [[Christ]] in the face of deprivation, torment and physical death inspired him to also be a servant of God. Although he did not attend any theological school, he wanted to put his faith into practice by someday becoming a [[priest]].

==In America==
In 1957, at the age of twenty, John came to the United States. Five years later he [[Marriage|married]] a young Greek woman, Athanasia Matsellis, and soon became the father of two children, Maria and Photios. The cities of the United States were in sharp contrast to the village of his birth, but his acute awareness of the nearness of [[God]] and the other world, given to him in childhood, never left him. He now found himself in the midst of those who not only did not want to be close to God, but who actively fled from Him. Still he hoped in God, knowing that the freedom of [[Christ]] can be found even in the most stifling and evil surroundings.

With the support and encouragement of Fr. George Bogdanos, a Greek priest who recognized in him the integrity and zeal of a true pastor, Fr. John was [[ordination|ordained]] to the [[Deacon|deaconate]] in 1971 with the blessing of Archbishop [[Iakovos (Coucouzis) of America|lakovos]], who supported him in this. Since both his love for the Church and the love of the churchgoers for him was so apparent, he was made a [[Presbyter|priest]] only a few weeks later by Bishop [[Meletios (Tripodakis) of Christianoupolis]], San Francisco (1968-79).

He first served the Greek Orthodox community in Anchorage, [[Alaska]], the land of newly-canonized [[Herman of Alaska|St. Herman]], who thus became his guardian [[angel]] for the rest of his life. He was later assigned to the St. George parish in Vancouver, Canada, and then to All Saints parish in Anaheim, Pennsylvania.

He then moved to Santa Cruz, California, which had been named by the Spanish [[Missionary|missionaries]] after the Holy [[Cross]] of the [[Lord]]. There he labored with enthusiasm to provide a haven of [[Orthodox Christianity]] for the faithful in the area, who had long been without a nearby church.

===A Pastor at the Foot of the Holy Cross===
Because the community in Santa Cruz was too small to immediately acquire its own Orthodox church from its founding in 1980, Fr. John began to serve the [[Divine Liturgy]] in the nearby town of [[w:Aptos, California|Aptos]], in the [[chapel]] of a [[w:Poor Clares|Poor Clare]] convent. The [[nuns]] would have their services very early on Sunday morning, leaving the church free for Fr. John and his parishioners to use afterwards. The parishioners were at first hesitant: they would come to Liturgy late, and would all sit at the very back of the [[chapel]], as if they were spectators and not participants. Fr. John knew that he had much work to do. He was sometimes disappointed at the lack of active interest among his flock. His was a burning faith, and lukewarmness had always been foreign to his soul. His task, he knew, was to ignite this fire within each of his parishioners, so that they themselves would struggle for the [[Paradise|kingdom of heaven]], ''the one thing needful'', and not sit in the background and expect their priest to do their work for them. He could not demand too much at once, but had to be a gentle and loving pastor, condescending to the weaknesses of his flock so as not to overwhelm them and cause them to abandon the Orthodox faith altogether. The gap between shepherd and sheep had to be bridged gradually and carefully, and Fr. John had to spark the kinder in the hearts of his flock without scorching them with the consuming fire within him.

Sometimes Fr. John would speak forceful words of rebuke to awaken his people from their spiritual sleep, but mostly he would inspire them by his quiet and unobtrusive example. They began to see how hard he struggled and were moved to help him fulfill his godly dreams. His fervency and zeal, his unequivocal belief in the other world, was something that they did not fully understand, and yet that they inwardly -- and in some cases unconsciously - longed for. Having come to love him deeply, they were grateful that God had sent a harvester to their field.

===Founding of Prophet Elias Church, Santa Cruz===
By giving his parishioners new aspirations, Fr. John instilled in them the desire to start their own [[Parish|church]]. They collected and saved money and eventually found the perfect building for their church in 1982: a former funeral home in Santa Cruz, across from the public library and in the best part of town for [[missionary]] activity. Fr. John did much of the interior work himself, fashioning a beautiful white [[iconostasis]] and a large domed [[apse]] behind and above the [[altar]]. According to his son Photios, ''"My father put his blood, sweat and tears in. You've got all of that there and more...With the help of some parishioners and myself, he literally built the whole inside of the that church."''<ref>Jennifer Squires. [http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/education/ci_14308329 Parole hearing stirs memories of the murder of the Santa Cruz Greek Orthodox Church's first priest]. ''Santa Cruz Sentinel.'' February 1, 2010.</ref>

When completed, the [http://propheteliassantacruz.org/ newly-consecrated church] became a refuge from the noisy bustle of the world, an island of holiness in the middle of downtown Santa Cruz. The church was dedicated to the [[Elijah|Prophet Elias]].<ref group="note">Archimandrite [[Meletios (Webber)]] later served as full-time parish priest in this Santa Cruz parish, for nine years. Of Fr. John, Archimandrite Meletios says: "He was not my immediate predecessor; there had been three other priests in between. I knew his presbytera quite well, and his children. He was murdered on the premises of the church, in very unpleasant circumstances, some years before I arrived, but it was still a very dominant factor in the life of parish while I was there—something they couldn't forget." 
:* {Nun Cornelia (Rees). [http://www.pravoslavie.ru/english/080205103442.htm Interview with Archimandrite Meletios (Webber)]. ''PRAVOSLAVIE.RU.'' 05/02/2008.}</ref>

With their new and beautiful church, the parishioners, comprised of over 75 families, now had a sense of accomplishment. They felt that they had come a long way from the days when they had little choice but to use a chapel which was outside of town. Now they could branch out into other activities.

===Missionary Activity===
Fr. John by no means wanted his Orthodox community to be a closed one, and he rejoiced to discover any fervent young souls which came to him in search of the fulness of [[Introduction to Orthodox Christianity|Christianity]]. Santa Cruz has been a gathering place not only of the darker and meaner elements of society, but also of idealistic young people who have desired something more meaningful than the American values of materialism and competition. By the time Fr. John started his church in Santa Cruz, a small but significant "Orthodox Christian movement" had already begun at [[w:University of California, Santa Cruz|the university there]]. This was primarily the result of the [[missionary]] work of Hieromonk [[Anastassy (Newcomb)]]. Through him, many Santa Cruz university students embraced the Orthodox faith and dedicated their lives to serving [[Christ]].

In 1981, Fr. [[Seraphim Rose]], at the request of the Orthodox students there, gave two [[Homily|lectures]] at [[w:University of California, Santa Cruz|the university]] and further inspired young souls to enter what he called "the saving enclosure of the Church." The fellowship of Orthodox students turned also to Fr. John and his church in order to receive spiritual nourishment and to participate in the divine services, which lifted them above the worldliness of university life. Fr. John always greeted them with a radiant smile and warm love, seeing in their young faces the freshness and enthusiasm that would keep Orthodoxy alive for future generations. After these students graduated, Fr. John brought other young people to the Orthodox faith, giving them all that they needed for their growth in the faith and being to them a loving father who was concerned for their spiritual welfare.

Since the [http://propheteliassantacruz.org/ Prophet Elias Church] was in the middle of town, people would often come from off the streets to ask questions and attend the services. Fr. John kept an "open-door policy," making himself and his church available to anyone with a pastoral need. The people of Santa Cruz came to know him as being kind, trusting, full of love and open. He had great compassion for the poor, and was helpful to all who came to him, disregarding their religion or whether or not they were taking advantage of him. It was not uncommon for him to be awakened at odd hours of the night by needy people knocking at his back door. No one would be refused, but would always be given [[alms]] for a meal. In the most outcast and downtrodden of individuals, and perhaps especially in them, Fr. John saw the image of Christ. With deep-felt Christian love, he once wrote these words about the simple people who, although rejected by the world, are faithful to Christ and follow the voice of their hearts:
:''"We see them lonely within the crowd, or following the life of a [[hermit]] as they become symbols of truth and beacon lights of Christianity, praying for peace and brotherly love on earth."''

Fr. John was not at all ethnocentric, and to him, Orthodox Christianity was not just something "for Greeks," but rather was universal. His love for God induced him to earnestly desire to bring forth fruits for Him, as a son strives to please his father, and this made him a zealous [[missionary]] to all peoples. He had services in public parks, where the townspeople would stop to attend something, which, although foreign to them, they found to be divinely beautiful. Hearing Fr. John, with his full and resonant voice, chanting the ancient [[Byzantine Chant|Byzantine melodies]] along with his [[cantor]], would unexpectedly catch a vague and half-remembered glimpse of that sacred realm which their souls knew but their minds had never been exposed to. In such a way was Fr. John able to introduce the riches of Orthodoxy to the spiritually impoverished American people. This was the only "[[ecumenism]]" he believed in, for he was too firmly grounded in the Orthodox faith to be caught up in the false ecumenical movements of his day.

While Fr. John's fervent pastoral work served to [[Conversion|convert]] many non-Greek people, his first job was, of course, to "convert" many of his own people - those who were [[Cradle Orthodox|baptized Orthodox]] but whose commitment to Christ meant, at most, only an external commitment to church attendance and activities. By his own faith he demonstrated to them that Orthodoxy is not merely a ritual, a system of [[Dogma|dogmas]] or a behavior pattern, but is instead a transforming power, which is tapped by conscious spiritual struggle. Through the struggle to conquer the passions which separate us from God, he wrote, "we allow the essence of His rejuvenating powers to flood our hearts with joy for the total freedom we can obtain." Fr. John spared nothing to make this living reality inwardly known to his flock. He preached to them the Loves of his beloved [[Saints]], hoping thereby to make them more conscious of the degree of sanctity that man is able to attain on earth by acquiring the [[grace]] of the [[Holy Spirit]].

Fr. John was by nature an artist and a poet, and had a profound sense of beauty. Like his Master [[Christ]], the source of all divine beauty and truth, he loved the simple, the humble, the quietly noble things of life. This love he expressed both in his [[Homily|sermons]] and in his Greek and English poems, which he transcribed with his own elegant calligraphy. His sense of beauty made him yet more cognizant of the ugliness and madness of our post-Christian era. He would speak of the confusion that is caused when men forget God and pursue their own selfish interests.

===Desecration of the Church===
The good works of Fr. John were too numerous and his outreach too extensive not to evoke malicious actions from the haters of God.<ref group="note">For, as our [[Lord]] has told us, ''"If they have persecuted Me, they will also persecute you."'' (St. John, 15:20).</ref> The visibility of Fr. John and his church in the middle of Santa Cruz made them more accessible not only to those in need of help, but also to those who wished to destroy all that is holy. A few months before Fr. John's death, the church was desecrated by unknown occultists, who painted "[[666]]" and the five-pointed satanic star on the front entrance.<ref group="note">"The church was desecrated several months ago by vandals who painted a five-pointed star and the number [[666]] - symbols of Satanic worship - on the front entrance. Investigators will try to determine whether the symbols are linked to the priest's death, the chief said." 
:* {''Our Correspondent.'' Santa Cruz - Slain Priest Was 'Severely Beaten'. ''The San Francisco Chronicle.'' May 21, 1985.}</ref>

When the desecration was discovered, Fr. John [[Consecration of a church|reconsecrated the church]]. Later he received anonymous threats, but was undaunted by them. His preaching angered some who began to threaten him by phone and in letters to cease preaching. But Father John became even more passionate about his ministry saying:

:''“As long as my eyes have tears, I will preach [[Christ]] and [[Orthodoxy]].”''

He advised the faithful to guard themselves against the pitfalls of the [[Antichrist]] and not to take the mark. Then the telephone threats on his life become even more intense, however Father John did not fear any of this. He proved himself to be a faithful shepherd of [[Christ]], one who was willing to sacrifice all and even lay down his life for his flock because of his love for them.

===Miracle of the Blossoming White Lilies===
It was through Fr. John that the Most Holy [[Mother of God]] bestowed a [[Miracle|miraculous]] blessing on the [http://propheteliassantacruz.org/ Prophet Elias Church]. This occurred after Fr. John brought some bulbs of the "lily of the Panagia" back from his native island of [[Metropolis of Syros, Tinos, Andros, Kea, and Milos|Andros]], where he visited with his family. He went to the [[St. Nicholas Monastery (Andros, Greece)|Monastery of St Nicholas]] on the island and asked [[Abbot]] Dorotheos (Themelis) for few dried lilies.

The lily of the [[Panagia]] ("Most Holy") is so named because of the tradition, often depicted in [[icons]], concerning the [[Archangel Gabriel]] presenting the Mother of God with this species of lily at the time of the [[Annunciation]]. In the monastery on Andros which Fr. John visited,<ref group="note">[[St. Nicholas Monastery (Andros, Greece)|Monastery of St. Nicholas of Andros, Greece]].</ref> stems from these lilies, being many years old, sometimes bud miraculously at the time of the [[Dormition|Feast of the Dormition]].

Fr. John instructed his son Photios to plant the lily bulbs in pots and to water them only with [[holy water]], which Photios did. After the lilies had grown from the bulbs in May of 1983, Fr. John cut one of the flowers and placed it by the icon of the Mother of God, which leaned against the iconostasis of his church. The flower did not wilt for three or four weeks, although it had been cut and removed from both water and earth. When it finally dropped its petals (the first one having fallen on a radiant day when one of Fr. John's [[Conversion|converts]] from the university was [[Baptism|baptized]]), Fr. John told his wife not to vacuum up any of them, but to save them and place them by the icon where the flower stem was still leaning. Aпd then, within three weeks, some fresh sprouts appeared on the stem!

The stem continued to produce new stems for many months, until the winter of 1983-4. Fr. John interpreted the [[miracle]] as an image of life coming out of [[death]] through the [[Resurrection]]. This miracle strengthened the faith of many to have more reverence towards the Blessed Virgin.

===Martyrdom===
[[Image:MartyrJohnofSantaCruz.jpg|right|thumb|New Martyr Father John Karastamatis (1937-1985), standing at the entrance of the Church, almost the very spot where he met his martyric death.]]
Before his martyric death, three wonderful things had happened:

# One week before his martyrdom the blossoming lilies of the Virgin wilted at once and they never blossomed again.
# The Icon of the Blessed Virgin wept, and traces of her tears can still be seen on her image.
# On three consecutive [[Lord's Day|Sundays]] before his martyrdom, during the [[Divine Liturgy]], the altar boy while giving him the warm water (to prepare the [[Holy Communion]]) saw a strange phenomenon - his father’ face was shining and scattered rays of light - but father John told him strictly not to reveal anything.

On the evening of [[May 17]], 1985 Fr. John telephoned Abbot Dorotheos (Themelis) and asked him about the miracles of the myrrh-streaming icon of the Blessed Virgin (Myrrhovlytissa), because he wanted to preach a sermon on her for the following Sunday. Then on the night of Saturday, [[May 18]], 1985, the eve of the feast of the translation of the holy relics of Saint [[Nicholas of Myra|Nicholas]] the Wonder-worker, Fr. John was in the church building, preparing the [[Homily|sermon]] for the following morning. His wife was in Los Angeles at that time visiting her daughter, who had just given birth to her first child.

Shortly before [[Midnight Office|midnight]],<ref group="note">The midnight hour is the supposed time of the satanic [[w:Black Mass|Black Mass]], [[w:Witching hour|Witching hour]], and [[w:Witches'_Sabbath#Dates|Witches' Sabbath]]. Some authors have hypothosized that the Witches' Sabbath would take place during the night of the Sunday before the time the Christian mass was celebrated.</ref> one or more assailants entered the church. Evidently they had been watching Fr. John, for they came at a time when he was alone, when both his wife and 17 year-old son were gone. They attacked Fr. John in his church office, stabbing him with a knife. During the struggle Fr. John was severely beaten, and then was finally killed by a heavy blow on his head.

His son, who had dined with him earlier that evening, arrived at 1:30 a.m. at the church. Outside the office he discovered the body of his murdered father, and on the walls -- the blood of a [[martyr]].

<blockquote>There, the boy was faced with a terrible sight: his father was found on the floor slaughtered and unrecognizable…he had been hit in the head with a hammer and his whole body was butchered with knifes. As the police had later discovered, because father John didn’t die right away, the criminals took the [[cross]] he was wearing around the neck and hanged him with its chain. The [[blood]] poured from his wounds and flooded the floor of the Holy [[Shrine]]. The Satanists used his blood to write their slogans and the mark [[666]] on the walls of the Church. The blessed father John suffered martyrdom in the very place where he was photographed with the cross in his hand, almost prophesizing of what would follow.<ref name=PANTAKRATOROS>[http://orthodoxword.wordpress.com/2011/05/19/the-new-hieromartyr-john-karastamatis-of-santa-cruz/ The New Hieromartyr John Karastamatis of Santa Cruz]. '' '''Orthodox Word. [[May 19]], 2011.''' '' (''Source: Translation of [http://www.impantokratoros.gr/84A7DC93.el.aspx Greek article]'')</ref></blockquote>

According to the ''San Francisco Chronicle'' article of [[May 21]], 1985:

<blockquote>The spiritual leader of the Greek Orthodox community here "put up a terrific struggle" before he was bludgeoned to death in the office of his church here, the police chief said yesterday. John Karastamatis, 47, of Prophet Elias Greek Orthodox Church, was "beaten badly, severely. . . . The method of death was very traumatic," Chief Jack Bassett said. "Blood was found on the walls." ...Bassett said he believes the priest was slain between 11 p.m. Saturday and 1:40 a.m. Sunday, when his bloody body was found by his 17-year-old son, Foti.<ref name=CHRONICLE>''Our Correspondent.'' Santa Cruz - Slain Priest Was 'Severely Beaten'. ''The San Francisco Chronicle.'' May 21, 1985.</ref></blockquote>

Chief Bassett also noted that ''"Father John was very accessible to many people. He was a very humanistic person"''.<ref name="CHRONICLE"/>

Because Fr. John's face and fingers were so disfigured and mutilated,<ref group="note">The brutality of this murder recalls the martyrdom of Elder [[Philoumenos (Hasapis) of Jacob's Well]] only a few years earlier in 1979, who was tortured and whose fingers were cut into pieces and his thumb hacked off, which were the fingers with which he made the [[sign of the Cross]].</ref> his [[relics]] could not be displayed at the funeral service, therefore his body was covered in the usual gold-[[vestments]] and the coffin was sealed. Several priests attended Fr. John's funeral, coming from the many and various Orthodox churches in the United States.

===Assailants===
The criminals responsible were Edward and Anna Bowman.<ref group="note"> [http://articles.latimes.com/1986-01-09/news/mn-14136_1_greek-orthodox-priest Court Hearing - the State]. ''Los Angeles Times.'' January 09, 1986: 
:"The husband of the secretary to a priest who was beaten to death was booked for investigation of the priest's murder, Santa Cruz authorities said. Cab driver Edward Bowman, 39, was arrested at his home in the death of Father John Karastamatis, a Greek Orthodox priest, Police Chief Jack Bassett said. A local judge ordered the arrest warrant sealed until a court hearing. Karastamatis, 47, was killed last May 19 by repeated blows from a blunt object. He also was stabbed, and his wallet and keys were taken, detectives said. Bowman's wife, Anna, 43, shot and killed herself Dec. 19 after firing at a detective who wanted to question her about the slaying. Bassett said Anna Bowman also would have been arrested if she had not committed suicide. Anna Bowman had worked for Karastamatis as a volunteer secretary. The priest had "taken the Bowmans under his wing," Lt. Mike Dunbaugh said."</ref> Edward Bowman, an ex-Marine, was eligible for the death penalty, but pled guilty to avoid execution.

According to a Greek Orthodox publication (''in translation''), "The police searched for the killers and found three people, a couple and the son of the man from another woman. They were priests and worshipers of Satan. They drank cobra venom while they were arrested and two of them died, and the third lost his mind and could not testify."<ref name="PANTAKRATOROS"/><ref group="note">"Η αστυνομία ερεύνησε για τους φονείς του Αγίου και βρήκαν τρία άτομα ένα ανδρόγυνο και τον γιο του άνδρα από άλλη γυναίκα. Ήταν ιερείς του σατανά και πήραν δηλητήριο κόμπρας, όταν τους συνέλαβαν και οι δύο πέθαναν, και ο τρίτος έχασε τα λογικά του και δεν συνεννοείται." 
:* {[http://www.impantokratoros.gr/84A7DC93.el.aspx Ο νεοφανής Ιερομάρτυς της Ορθοδοξίας Ιωάννης της Σάντα Κρουζ]. ''Ο ΟΣΙΟΣ ΦΙΛΟΘΕΟΣ ΤΗΣ ΠΑΡΟΥ.'' ΤΕΥΧΟΣ 17, Μάιος-Αύγουστος 2006, Θεσ/νίκη.}</ref>

According to the ''Santa Cruz Sentinel'' article of[[ June 12]], 2001:
<blockquote>Ron Truhitte was the Santa Cruz police detective who was on the case in 1985. Now an inspector for the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office, Truhitte said the murder rises above most he’s handled because of its brutality and many twists and turns. ''"It was a real, real murder mystery and if you were to write a book, you could not include as many different dark alleys, leads that led nowhere and suspicions as this case had,"'' Truhitte said. ''"But all the time the ones who did it were right there in front of us."'' It took detectives seven months to arrest Bowman although he and his wife’s names were brought up after the murder.<ref name=DARREL>Darrel W. Cole. Priest’s killer set for parole hearing. ''Santa Cruz Sentinel.'' June 12, 2001.</ref></blockquote>

Bowman was sentenced to 25 years to life in prison in 1988, but In 2001 he was up for parole. In response, Metropolitan [[Anthony (Gergiannakis) of San Francisco]] in a letter to [[clergy]] and other churches urged support for the Karastamatis family’s efforts to "ensure that this violent killer never again walks among us."<ref name="DARREL"/> In addition, Detective Truhitte stated that he didn’t believe that Bowman should be released: ''"It has to do with the severity of the crime," Truhitte said. "They didn’t just murder this man, they butchered him."''<ref name="DARREL"/>

In 2010 Bowman was once again eligible for parole. In February 2010 the Santa Cruz District Attorney's Office reported that he was denied parole, with the Parole Board ruling that he will not be eligible again until 2015.<ref>Jennifer Squires. [http://www.orthodoxnews.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=usnews.one&content_id=18416&CFID=72092943&CFTOKEN=53644936&tp_preview=true Man who killed Santa Cruz priest denied parole for five years]. ''Santa Cruz Sentinel.'' February 8, 2010.</ref>

This brutal crime was pre-meditated. Detectives involved in this case believe these criminals were responsible for other crimes, and committed other murders. One theory is they told Father John, in counseling, of their crimes. They became nervous then planned his murder to ensure Father John remained silent. As he lay dying they rifled through Father John’s pockets, searched his office and stole items from the Church. The criminal’s son was in fear for his life as Edward Bowman, while bragging of the brutal murder, threatened to kill him as well if he said anything about the murder. Psychiatrists who examine Bowman agree, he has sociopath tendencies, is a pathological liar and to this day expresses no remorse.<ref>[http://www.ahepa20.org/~chapter243/2010/01/please-help-us-keep-cold-blooded-killer.htm Please help us keep a cold-blooded killer behind bars]. ''Santa Barbara AHEPA Chapter 243.'' January 8, 2010.</ref>

In the absence of a more plausible reason for the crime, it is most likely that the killing, like the church desecration a few months prior to it, was done at the hands of those who hated Fr. John for his holy work, of those who are the enemies of God and rebel against Him because they serve the first rebel, Satan. But whether Fr. John was killed for overtly satanic purposes or for other, irrational reasons, he had without doubt a [[Martyr|martyric]] death, giving his life for [[Christ]] and dying in the very church in which he had diligently served Him.

==Apparitions of Blessed Father John==
The apparitions of blessed father John after his martyric death are many.

* When [[Abbot]] Dorotheos (Themelis) learned about the martyrdom of Father John, he wrote to the [[Presbytera]] asking her to send his priestly [[vestments]] from when they had celebrated together the feast of [[Dorotheos of Gaza|Saint Dorotheos]] at the Monastery in 1981. Some time passed but he received no response from father John’s family. On the eve [[July 4]], at the [[St. Nicholas Monastery (Andros, Greece)|Monastery of St. Nicholas]], an Athonite [[All-Night Vigil|vigil]] was celebrated in honor of St. [[Athanasius of Athos|Athanasius of Mt.Athos]], with many [[Pilgrimage|pilgrims]] in attendance who had come from Athens. As the vigil was about to end, the monastery [[bells]] began to beat themselves as for a solemn feast. They stopped for awhile, but the bells started ringing again so harmoniously that everyone was astonished. Seized with fear and awe, the faithful started to pray the [[Paraklesis|paraclesis]] of [[Nicholas of Myra|St. Nicholas]], waiting for a miracle to happen. That afternoon, elder Dorotheos got a call from Mary, the daughter of Father John, who had come specifically to the monastery bearing the [[vestments]] of her father. She brought them into the [[monastery]] and they were received with joy by all the pilgrims there. The bells had been ringing in the monastery that morning exactly at the time when the ship entered the harbor carrying the Martyr's vestments.<ref>Joan Connell. SHATTERED PARISH REBUILDS CHURCH TRIES TO PUT SLAYING BEHIND IT. ''San Jose Mercury News.'' August 23, 1986.</ref>

* On the eve of the feast of St. Nicholas, in 1986, abbot Dorotheos, together with several women, was preparing for the monastery's patronal feast. At one point, they saw blessed father John walking through the monastery gardens and heading towards them. They all were frightened and began to shout: ''“Papa Iani!”'' Then he disappeared from their sight. Immediately after this to their surprise, came the postman with a package from Switzerland containing a wooden carved image (icon) of Father John, from some Russian believers that honored him as a saint. Father John had asked that his [[icon]] may be spread to all Christians so they may learn about his martyrdom and missionary work.

* In addition, in February 1987 while abbot Dorotheos went to Switzerland for surgery, while he was talking to the faithful there about Fr. John and his martyrdom, Fr. John appeared to them, blessed them, and then disappeared from their sight.

==Legacy==
Father John was an exceptional priest and a righteous man, a labourer in Christ's American vineyard who was found worthy of being glorified with a martyr's crown. God raised up an American martyr whose faith ''was'' real and burning, as an example of one who was ready to lose his life for Christ in order to gain it eternally.

:"His life inspired and enlightened and cheered us!" wrote one of his spiritual children. "His death has served to confirm in a most direct way the realities of not only our Orthodox faith, but of the bizarre and truly anti-Christian ways of our times."

Simple, unpolished, and at the same time burning with passionate, self-sacrificing pastoral zeal, Fr. John stood amidst the great "peasant priests" who have kept the spirit of Holy Orthodoxy alive throughout the centuries. While others have at times reduced Orthodoxy to an intellectual or formal exercise, such priests have demonstrated that Orthodoxy is in fact ''life'' - a balm to the wounds of the poor, the suffering, the sinful. To use an old Russian expression, Fr. John was truly a "priest of the people."<ref>[http://dl.dropbox.com/u/4261906/Fr.%20John%20Karastamatis-1.pdf Passion-Bearer John of Santa Cruz: A Victim of the Lost Sheep He Tried to Save]. The Orthodox Word. p.6.</ref><ref group="note">''"The good shepherd gives his life for the sheep."'' (John 10:11).</ref>

''Holy New Martyr Priest John of Santa Cruz, pray to God for us!''

==Canonization==
His [[glorification]] has not yet won universal support however, and illustrates the controversy that can arise over the precise boundaries of categories of sanctity.<ref name="BLACKWELL"/> Nevertheless:

<blockquote>"the Church has always been purified by the [[blood]] of its [[Martyr|martyrs]]. The wheat is thus separated from the chaff, the sheep from the goats. This is a sobering thought,...for many, however, it is also a distressing thought, so threatening that they do not want to consider its implications. It is probably for this reason that many Orthodox Christians reacted to Fr. John's martyrdom with almost total indifference, as if it had not occurred amidst us but was a matter as far removed as the moon. It is more comfortable to view his death as some "freak" crime, a tragedy without purpose or meaning. This makes its somehow "neutral," unrelated to our lives as Orthodox Chrisitians. But nothing in God's world is without meaning and purpose. God has glorified a [[martyr]] on our soil, and it is our responsibility as children of our heavenly Father not to leave this unnoticed and ignored."<ref>[http://dl.dropbox.com/u/4261906/Fr.%20John%20Karastamatis-1.pdf Saints of America: A New Blossom of American Sanctity: New-Martyr Priest John of Santa Cruz]. The Orthodox Word. May 5/18, 1985. p.114.</ref></blockquote>

==Hymns==
'''[[Troparion]] – Tone 1''' 
Having cultivated the fruit of God’s knowledge by thy labors, 
thou hast plucked out the root of godlessness and proclaimed in our land the true faith. 
Anointed with grace thou hast tended the flock entrusted thee, 
and in shedding thy [[blood]] thou waterest the seeds of Christ’s true faith in our land, 
O New Martyr John of Santa Cruz. 
Glory to Him Who hath granted thee strength; 
Glory to Him Who hath crowned thee; 
Glory to Him Who granteth healing for all through thee.

'''Hymn to Passion-Bearer John of Santa Cruz'''<ref>Thomas Collord. [http://dl.dropbox.com/u/4261906/Fr.%20John%20Karastamatis-1.pdf Hymn to Passion-Bearer John of Santa Cruz]. p.37. (.pdf)</ref> 
Thou melodic chanter with the chorus of angels! 
Thou cheerful comforter of the aged! 
Thou compassionate healer of the infirm! 
Thou fearless expounder of the true faith! 
Thou untiring intercessor for the young! 
Thou zealous restorer of family unity! 
Thou Lamp shining in the darkness of our times! 
Thou, Righteous New Martyr John, we beseech, pray to Christ our God, that we may obtain Eternal Life!

===In Greek===
'''Ἀπολυτίκιον'''<ref name=ZOUMIS>[http://kyrigma.blogspot.com/2010_06_01_archive.html Ὁ ἅγιος Νεομάρτυς καί Ἱερομάρτυς Ἰωάννης τῆς Σάντα Κρούζ]. Θείον Κήρυγμα: Κηρύγματα καί ὁμιλίες τοῦ πρωτοπρεσβυτέρου Γεωργίου Ρ. Ζουμῆ, Γενικοῦ Ἀρχιερατικοῦ Ἐπιτρόπου τῆς Ιερᾶς Μητροπόλεως Ἐδέσσης, Πέλλης καὶ Ἀλμωπίας. Δευτέρα, 21 Ιουνίου 2010.</ref> 
'''Ἦχος α΄. Τῆς ἐρήμου πολίτης.''' 
Νέου Κόσμου τό φέγγος καί τῆς Ἄνδρου τό βλάστημα, 
Ἱερομαρτύρων τήν δόξαν, Ἰωάννην τιμήσωμεν. 
Σφαγείς γάρ τῷ Ναῷ ὑπέρ Χριστοῦ, ἀρτίως καταυγάζει Σάντα Κρούζ, 
καί συνάγει Ὀρθοδόξους, ἁπανταχόθεν ἀνακράζοντας: 
δόξα τῷ σέ δοξάσαντι Χριστῷ, 
δόξα τῷ σέ στεφανώσαντι, 
δόξα τῷ σέ προστάτην θαυμαστόν, τοῖς ἔθνεσιν δείξαντι.

'''Ἕτερον. Ἦχος πλ. α΄'''<ref name="ZOUMIS"/> 
'''Τόν συνάναρχον Λόγον.''' 
Ἀποστόλων τήν φλόγα ψυχῇ δεξάμενος, 
τόν Νέον Κόσμον φωτίζεις ἐν ἡμετέροις καιροῖς, 
ἀφανίζεις τε σατᾶν τά μηχανήματα, 
ὅτι σ᾿ αὐτόν ὑπέρ Χριστοῦ ἱερούργησας πιστῶς, τῆς Σάντα Κρούζ, Ἰωάννη. 
Τῆς νήσου Ἄνδρου ὁ γόνος, ἡμῶν δέ σκέπη καί καταφύγιον.

==See also==
* [[List of American saints]]

==Notes==
<references group="note" />

==References==
<div><references/></div>

==Sources==
* Ken Parry, David J. Melling, Dimitri Brady, Sidney H. Griffith and John F. Healey (Eds.). ''[http://www.blackwellreference.com/public/tocnode?id=g9780631232032_chunk_g978063123203214_ss1-14 John Karastamatis].'' '''The Blackwell Dictionary of Eastern Christianity.''' 2001. eISBN 9780631232032
* [http://www.prescottorthodox.org/2010/10/new-hieromartyr-john-karastamatis-of-santa-cruz/ New Martyr John Karastamatis of Santa Cruz]. St. George Greek Orthodox Church, of Prescott. (''Source: '''The Orthodox Word, #122 / 1985''' '')
* [http://orthodoxword.wordpress.com/2011/05/19/the-new-hieromartyr-john-karastamatis-of-santa-cruz/ The New Hieromartyr John Karastamatis of Santa Cruz]. '' '''Orthodox Word. May 19, 2011.''' '' (''Source: Translation of [http://www.impantokratoros.gr/84A7DC93.el.aspx Greek article]'')
* [http://dl.dropbox.com/u/4261906/Fr.%20John%20Karastamatis-1.pdf Saints of America: A New Blossom of American Sanctity: New-Martyr Priest John of Santa Cruz]. (''Various articles compiled; .pdf format; 24 pp.)
* Claude Lopez. [http://www.johnsanidopoulos.com/2011/05/miracles-of-saint-john-karastamatis-of.html Miracles of Saint John Karastamatis of Santa Cruz]. ''MYSTAGOGY: The Weblog of John Sanidopoulos.'' October 6/19, 1989.
* Nun Cornelia (Rees). [http://www.pravoslavie.ru/english/080205103442.htm Interview with Archimandrite Meletios (Webber)]. ''PRAVOSLAVIE.RU.'' 05/02/2008.
* [http://www.ahepa20.org/~chapter243/2010/01/please-help-us-keep-cold-blooded-killer.htm Please help us keep a cold-blooded killer behind bars]. ''Santa Barbara AHEPA Chapter 243.'' January 8, 2010.
* [http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=283854374950 Justice for Father John Karastamatis]. ''Facebook (group).''

'''Newspaper Sources'''
* ''Our Correspondent.'' Santa Cruz - Slain Priest Was 'Severely Beaten'. ''The San Francisco Chronicle.'' May 21, 1985.
* [http://articles.latimes.com/1986-01-09/news/mn-14136_1_greek-orthodox-priest Court Hearing - the State]. ''Los Angeles Times.'' January 09, 1986.
* Joan Connell. SHATTERED PARISH REBUILDS CHURCH TRIES TO PUT SLAYING BEHIND IT. ''San Jose Mercury News.'' August 23, 1986.
* Darrel W. Cole. Priest’s killer set for parole hearing. ''Santa Cruz Sentinel.'' June 12, 2001.
* Jennifer Squires. [http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/education/ci_14308329 Parole hearing stirs memories of the murder of the Santa Cruz Greek Orthodox Church's first priest]. ''Santa Cruz Sentinel.'' February 1, 2010.
* Jennifer Squires. [http://www.orthodoxnews.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=usnews.one&content_id=18416&CFID=72092943&CFTOKEN=53644936&tp_preview=true Man who killed Santa Cruz priest denied parole for five years]. ''Santa Cruz Sentinel.'' February 8, 2010.

'''Greek Sources'''
* [http://www.impantokratoros.gr/84A7DC93.el.aspx Ο νεοφανής Ιερομάρτυς της Ορθοδοξίας Ιωάννης της Σάντα Κρουζ]. ''Ο ΟΣΙΟΣ ΦΙΛΟΘΕΟΣ ΤΗΣ ΠΑΡΟΥ.'' ΤΕΥΧΟΣ 17, Μάιος-Αύγουστος 2006, Θεσ/νίκη.
* [http://kyrigma.blogspot.com/2010_06_01_archive.html Ὁ ἅγιος Νεομάρτυς καί Ἱερομάρτυς Ἰωάννης τῆς Σάντα Κρούζ]. Θείον Κήρυγμα: Κηρύγματα καί ὁμιλίες τοῦ πρωτοπρεσβυτέρου Γεωργίου Ρ. Ζουμῆ, Γενικοῦ Ἀρχιερατικοῦ Ἐπιτρόπου τῆς Ιερᾶς Μητροπόλεως Ἐδέσσης, Πέλλης καὶ Ἀλμωπίας. Δευτέρα, 21 Ιουνίου 2010.
* [http://kyrigma.blogspot.com/p/blog-page_6716.html Ἀκουλουθία Αγίου Ιωάννη της Σάντα Κρούζ]. Θείον Κήρυγμα: Κηρύγματα καί ὁμιλίες τοῦ πρωτοπρεσβυτέρου Γεωργίου Ρ. Ζουμῆ, Γενικοῦ Ἀρχιερατικοῦ Ἐπιτρόπου τῆς Ιερᾶς Μητροπόλεως Ἐδέσσης, Πέλλης καὶ Ἀλμωπίας.

[[Category:Priests]]
[[Category:Martyrs]]
[[Category:Saints]]
[[Category:American Saints]]
[[Category:Greek Saints]]
[[Category:Modern Saints]]
[[Category:Missionaries]]

[[el:Ιωάννης (Καρασταμάτης) της Σάντα Κρούζ]]

Doxology

2008-05-24T18:13:55Z

Petru Dimitriu: removed the stub template. no need for it

'''Doxology''' in Orthodox Christian practice refers to a short verse or hymn praising God. The word comes from the Greek ''doxa'', meaning glory, and ''logos'', meaning word or speaking. Doxologies are a continuation of the practice of praising God in the pre-Christian Jewish synagogues.

==Usage==
Doxologies, as a form, are used in many religious practices, non-Christian as well as Christian. The form was used widely in [[Old Testament]] times as well as through the Apostolic era. St [[Apostle Paul|Paul]] used doxologies throughout his letters. Notable examples appear in [[Romans]] 16:27, [[Galatians]] 1:5, and [[Ephesians]] 3:21. A non-Paulian example is [[Book of Jude|Jude]] 25. During the [[Arianism|Arian]] period, the doxology ''Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit'', soon to be extended with the addition "now and ever and unto ages of ages, Amen," came into wide spread use.

Other doxologies found in the services of the Church as well during individual prayers include:

''For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever, Amen'', found in [[Gospel of Matthew|Matthew]] 6:13. This doxology alludes to the form in [[I Paraleipomenon|1 Chronicles]] 29:11-12: ''Thine, O Lord, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty: for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is thine; thine is the kingdom, O, Lord, and art exalted as head above all. Both riches and honor come of thee, and thou reignest over all; and in thine hand is power and might; and in thine hand it is to make great, and to give strength unto all'' (KJV). It is pronounced by the priest following the [[Lord's Prayer|Our Father]] during the [[Divine Liturgy]] and other services.

==External links==
*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doxology Wikipedia: Doxology]
*[http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/05150a.htm Catholic Encyclopedia: Doxology]
*[http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9031101/doxology Encyclopedia Britannica Online: Doxology]

[[Category:Liturgics]]

[[ro:Doxologie]]

OrthodoxWiki:Trapeza

2008-05-24T18:00:21Z

Petru Dimitriu: /* Sin */ new section

In a monastery, a '''[[refectory|trapeza]]''' (or ''refectory''), is the dining hall where monks and pilgrims gather for food and conversation (although monks don't usually talk during meals). The OrthodoxWiki trapeza serves as the main discussion point for our website. Please feel free to join in—ask anything, suggest an idea, make a comment. We're glad to have you here. For other, more specifically designated discussion pages, check out the [[OrthodoxWiki:Community Portal|Community Portal]]. [[Category:OrthodoxWiki]] [[bg:Project:Трапеза]] [[el:OrthodoxWiki:Τράπεζα]] [[fr:OrthodoxWiki:La Cafétéria]] [[ro:OrthodoxWiki:Cafenea]]

* [[OrthodoxWiki:Trapeza/Archive 1|Archive 1]], Feb 2005 – Dec 2005 (formerly the [http://www.orthodoxwiki.org/index.php?title=OrthodoxWiki:Anything_Goes&oldid=22917 Anything Goes] page)
* [[OrthodoxWiki:Trapeza/Archive 2|Archive 2]], Feb 2005 – Aug 2006 (formerly the [http://www.orthodoxwiki.org/index.php?title=OrthodoxWiki:Questions&oldid=37973 Questions] page)
* [[OrthodoxWiki:Trapeza/Archive 3|Archive 3]], Oct 2005 – Aug 2006 (moved from [http://www.orthodoxwiki.org/index.php?title=Talk:Main_Page&oldid=37962 Talk:Main Page])
* [[OrthodoxWiki:Trapeza/Archive 4|Archive 4]], Aug 2006 – Dec 2006 (2006 Trapeza archive)

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Please sign and date your comments by adding four tildes at the end: <nowiki>~~~~</nowiki>
{| style="border: solid 1px #aaaaaa"
|'''[http://orthodoxwiki.org/index.php?title=OrthodoxWiki:Trapeza&action=edit&section=new Add new post]'''
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== Uncategorized Images ==

Hello,
I was wondering why in the uncategorized picture section of OrthodoxWiki there is pictures of the Pope? He does not relate to the studies or teaching of Orthodoxy ( At least not to my knowledge ). I know that there have been talks to try and create a greater friendship with the catholics and the Pope. But I still do not think there should be a picture of him on a Orthodox site. I am only 18 and I'm still trying to understand my religion more and I think people might get the wrong impression if they see the Pope on the OrthodoxWiki site. Am I wrong to ask this? Because on a earlier post I noticed that Dcn. Andrew said "OrthodoxWiki is dedicated to Orthodox Christianity." Thanks.

P.S.
This is a great website and I learn a lot from it.{{unsigned|OrlandoOrthodox}}

Although the Orthodox and Caholic churches are not in full Communion, there is often movement,in that direction. The biggest obstacle, to that happening is, antipapal feeling, coming from the radical wing of the Orthodox Church. This has been going on for decades. It's time to come together, and love one another, for all times.{{unsigned|Deacongene}}

== When does a hierarch begin his tenure? ==

According to the canons of the Orthodox Church, at which point does a hierarch ascend his cathedra? That is, if he is elected by the flock of his diocese/metropolia/autonomous Church (where such elections are provided for) is he already considered to occupy his see? Or, will he assume his post only after his election is confirmed by the hierarchal superiors? Or esle, will he do so only after the enthronement ceremony (where such is provided for)? In different lists of hierarchs I have seen different dates marking the beginning of their tenure.

I thank You for Your attention and ask, if possible, to advise Church texts to confirm this point. {{unsigned|INK}}

== terminology ==

The term "Oriental Orthodox" is problematic, since it seems like a euphemism designed to avoid the term "Monophysite." The word "Oriental" really means "Eastern" so the term does not really distinguish the two sides of the debate. Also, the use of the word "Orthodox" implies an acceptance of the Orthodoxy of the non-Chalcedonians, which has still not been agreed upon by a consensus within the (Chalcedonian) Orthodox Church. I know that the term "Monophysite" is considered offensive by the non-Chalcedonians. Unfortunately the term "Miaphysite," coined by some to replace it, is a neologism that just doesn't work in the original Greek (would "miagamous" do as a replacement for "monogamous"?) and, in my opinion, serves to obscure the real ground of difference that still seems to separate the two sides. Since OrthodoxWiki is supposed to have a "mainstream Chalcedonian bias," wouldn't the terms "Chalcedonian" and "non-Chalcedonian" or "anti-Chalcedonian" be more appropriate? —The preceding unsigned comment was added by [[User:Mariner|Mariner]] ([[User talk:Mariner|talk]] • [[Special:Contributions/Mariner|contribs]]) {{{2|}}}.

:Hi [[User:Mariner|Mariner]], please sign you posts with three tildes, so we can know who is talking - thanks.
:In my understanding, the term "monophysite" is not just offensive, it's inaccurate."Anti-Chalcedonian" may be correct as a historical reference, but perhaps not as a theological descriptor. "Non-Chalcedonian" would probably be the preferred term in my mind. "Oriental Orthodox" is generally understood, and does not, I think, cause much confusion. It also seems to be the preferred self-designation of the non-Chalcedonian groups. I don't have a problem granting them that name here. I do not think we need to go heresy hunting. Let us set forth our Chalcedonian understanding of Christology. If they can accept what we mean by this (and WHOM we mean by this), I think we are well on the way towards reunion. We may grant that language issues and imperial politics had a role to play in the division.
:If you could document statements by non-Chalcedonian bishops and theologians who would consider Chalcedonian Christology heretical, I think we'd have more to go on in our conversation (and perhaps some of the non-Chalcedonian folks would like to chime in too). — [[User:FrJohn|FrJohn]] ([http://www.orthodoxwiki.org/User_talk:FrJohn&action=edit&section=new talk])

==Why I am Orthodox==
I made a page when anyone can write some phrases to show why he is Orthodox (what is for he more atractive in Orthodoxy), why he haven't chosen an other belief (what aspects that he didn't like it has and it is absent in our religion), or, simply, some beautiful thought from his soul, concerning the Orthodoxy.

The advantage of this page is that '''there is not needing to wait a special state to write an article. Becouse each of us have such thought in mind and we have only to insert them here. This requires only a few minutes''' (If we have more complex thought, we are creating our new page!)

So, the page could become an '''ode to Orthodoxy''', poem in which anyone can contribute and find something good for his soul.

At the end of page there are useful links that points to sites that promotes the Orthodoxy values.

The page is named Why I am Orthodox... And not Protestant, Catholic, Budist, etc. Live Apologetics

[[User:Mircea Romania|Mircea Romania]] 02:46, February 19, 2007 (PST)

: That is an interesting idea, but OrthodoxWiki is an encyclopedia, and these recent new articles are not really encyclopedic. Perhaps they might better be hosted elsewhere. —[[User:ASDamick|Fr. Andrew]] [[User_talk:ASDamick|talk]] [[Special:Contributions/ASDamick|contribs]] 15:36, February 19, 2007 (PST)

::Mircea, I would recommend checking out the forums section in the [[Online Orthodox Communities]] link here and trying your idea there. Besides the fact that the aim of this site is to be an Orthodox encyclopedia, you'd probbably get a much better response at an active forum. Honestly, the same few people tend to contribute a lot of the material here. [[User:Gabriela|Gabriela]] 19:04, February 19, 2007 (PST)

:Individual users may post things like this (within reason) on their user pages. I've moved the article there. — [[User:FrJohn|FrJohn]] ([http://www.orthodoxwiki.org/User_talk:FrJohn&action=edit&section=new talk])

== denominative aspects of Eucharist ==

Since '''Intercommunion''' is a central--for my point of view, ''the'' central--matter in (inter-)christian dialogue--since Eucharist is the heart of Ecclesiology, of our self-awareness as members of Christ's body;
and since this site is a place not only for Orthodoxes who live among other fellow Christians, but also for they among them who strive to understand our distinctive character,
i think it would be of great significance if the article dedicated to Eucharist was enriched with a section where the other Christian denomination's Theology and Practice about Eucharist will be presented.
Of course that is not possible to be in a detailed and systematic manner, but it could be, at least, focused on the rationale we Orthodox deny Intercommunion with them though we do not deny other communication-relation in love with them.
: [[User:Vassilip|Vassilip]]

== Question: Autonomous Ukrainian Orthodox Church and Alexandrian Exarchate in the USA? ==

Does anyone have any information about an Autonomous Ukrainian jursidiction that was recognized as an exarchate of the Patriarchate of Alexandria sometime in the 1980's? Any information would be appreciated. ---Leonidas

== Picture ==
Could someone explain me how to post picture in article. I hope that tomorow I will have Icon of Saint Sava of Serbia. ---Ddpbf

== A question about a prayer in the original Greek ==
I am doing some research in Church history, investigating the validity of the technique of "historical criticism" using linguistics. :I am in the Byzantine Catholic Church. :My question involves the Stichera for the Office of Great Compline used, I believe, on December 31. It says, "The magi coming from the East adored God made man . . . they brought precious gifts: the purest gold as to the Eternal King." :My question is, Is the term "purest gold" used in the Greek? (Some critics say this is not a term used in the earliest ages of the Church.):Thank you for your kind attention.
[[User:MaryKNH|MaryKNH]]

You are referring to the third apostichon of the Great Vespers for December 31: Τοῦ Κυρίου Ἰησοῦ γεννηθέντος ἐν Βηθλεὲμ τῆς Ἰουδαίας, ἓξ Ἀνατολῶν ἐλθόντες Μάγοι, προσεκύνησαν Θεὸν ἐνανθρωπήσαντα καὶ τοὺς θησαυροὺς αὐτῶν προθύμως ἀνοίξαντες, δῶρα τίμια προσέφερον, δόκιμον χρυσόν, ὦς Βασιλεῖ τῶν αἰώνων, καὶ λίβανον, ὦς Θεῷ τῶν ὅλων, ὡς τριημέρω δὲ νεκρῶ, σμύρναν τῶ Ἀθανάτω, Πάντα τὰ ἔθνη, δεῦτε προσκυνήσωμεν, τῶ τεχθέντι σῶσαι τὰς ψυχὰς ἤμών.
Your question is about the term δόκιμον χρυσόν. Your translation of "purest gold" isn't literally present in the Greek, where instead of καθαρότερον or καθαρότατον there is the positive adjective δόκιμον. Δόκιμον can be translated as "tested" or "tried" and in this context has the sense of "refined". Thus, "refined gold" is the best translation. Of course, refined gold is not that far removed from the "purest gold". Nevertheless, the English superlative adjective is not literally found in the Greek. I hope this helps. Leonidas

== IW ==

Can someone of sysops look on [http://sr.orthodoxwiki.org sr.orthodoxwiki.org] and try to make interwikis to work. Also this would be nice if someone will make Special:Statistic to work. All the best --[[User:Jovanvb|Joca]] 04:01, March 27, 2007 (PDT)

:Hi Joca, It's looking great over there already! I've fixed the interwiki links, and the error on the stats page should go away once someone actually registers a new account on that wiki - let me know if it doesn't! — [[User:FrJohn|FrJohn]] ([http://www.orthodoxwiki.org/User_talk:FrJohn&action=edit&section=new talk])

== rel="nofollow" for the links ==

Can rel="nofollow" be removed from the <a> tags in the articles? This feature is enabled in MediaWiki by default to discourage link spam and vandalism.
I'm not sure it would be a problem for OrthodoxWiki. Hopefully not, because it requires registration in order to edit pages, and unlike wikipedia, I haven't seen a lot of vandalism here.
Thank you! —The preceding unsigned comment was added by [[User:Alexei Kojenov|Alexei Kojenov]] ([[User talk:Alexei Kojenov|talk]] • [[Special:Contributions/Alexei Kojenov|contribs]]) April 12, 2007.

:I'm not sure rel=nofollow is even useful for that. What it does do is reduce Google rank. I vote for disabling rel=nofollow everywhere possible, so consider this a vote for disabling it on OrthodoxWiki. --[[User:Basil|Basil]] 09:55, April 20, 2007 (PDT)

::Sorry for the delay on this. I agree (especially when we require login to edit), and I've disabled "nofolow" on all OrthodoxWiki sites. — [[User:FrJohn|FrJohn]] ([http://www.orthodoxwiki.org/User_talk:FrJohn&action=edit&section=new talk])

==Images from Wikimedia Commons==
Do we have here some particular way to import images from Wikimedia Commons, or I must save first on my computer etc.? - [[User:Inistea|Inistea]] 15:56, April 19, 2007 (PDT)

:Fr. Julian, Sorry for the delay in getting back to you here. There are some automated import tools, but they're not worth the difficulty for smaller sets of images. For more extensive imports, check out the conversation at [[osource:OrthodoxSource:Photo_galleries]] and [[osource:OrthodoxSource:Images_for_Import]]. — [[User:FrJohn|FrJohn]] ([http://www.orthodoxwiki.org/User_talk:FrJohn&action=edit&section=new talk])

== Two subjects: Thank you, and A Correction ==

First, Thank you OrthodoxWiki for your wonderful article on St. Constantine the Great! I only wish you could have included the entire icon of him from the Hagia Sophia.
Second, Thank you, Leonidas, for answering my question about a prayer in the original Greek. However, upon further checking I am sorry to say that I inadvertently misdirected you to the Compline for December 31. Please accept my sincere apologies for that. The actual prayer that I am inquiring about is in the Propers for Great Compline of the Nativity of Our Lord, God and Savior, Jesus Christ, the third "Aposticha" rendered in English as: "When the Lord Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, the Magi, coming from the East, adored God made man, and unfolding their treasures, they brought precious gifts: the purest gold as to the eternal King. . . " My question was, "Is the term 'purest gold' found in the original Greek?"
Thank you all, in advance, for any help you can offer. With sincere best wishes in Christ, Mary

==edittools==


<div class="plainlinks, toccolours" style="margin-top:0.5em; background:#f4f4f4; width:100%;padding:0px; padding-left:5px;">
Text edit: <charinsert> «+» "+" '+' [+] [[+]] {{+}}</charinsert>
<charinsert> [[Category:+]] [[Image:+]] #REDIRECT[[+]] </charinsert>  
<charinsert> <nowiki> </nowiki></charinsert>  
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<charinsert><nowiki>{{</nowiki><nowiki>stub</nowiki><nowiki>}}</nowiki></charinsert>  
<charinsert><nowiki>{{</nowiki><nowiki>βελτίωση</nowiki><nowiki>}}</nowiki></charinsert>   <charinsert><nowiki>{{</nowiki><nowiki>copyright|</nowiki>+<nowiki>}}</nowiki></charinsert> 
Special characters:
<charinsert> « » </charinsert>  
<charinsert> – — … · </charinsert>  
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<charinsert> ΐ ΰ € </charinsert>  
<charinsert>   </charinsert>  
<charinsert> – — … </charinsert>  
<charinsert> ~ | ° § → </charinsert>  
<charinsert> ‘ “ ’ ” </charinsert>  
<charinsert> £ € </charinsert>  
<charinsert> Á á Ć ć É é Í í Ĺ ĺ Ń ń Ó ó Ŕ ŕ Ś ś Ú ú Ý ý Ź ź </charinsert>  
<charinsert> À à È è Ì ì Ò ò Ù ù </charinsert>  
<charinsert> Â â Ĉ ĉ Ê ê Ĝ ĝ Ĥ ĥ Î î Ĵ ĵ Ô ô Ŝ ŝ Û û Ŵ ŵ Ŷ ŷ </charinsert>  
<charinsert> Ä ä Ë ë Ï ï Ö ö Ü ü Ÿ ÿ </charinsert>  
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I've created edittools for el.OrthodoxWiki, it might be usefull on en. or any other OrthodoxWiki. Ofcourse you can modify it accordingly in order to suit you special needs. On '''βελτίωση''' please add any template you have for article's improvement. --[[User:Kalogeropoulos|Kalogeropoulos]] 13:03, July 2, 2007 (PDT)

:[[:el:Mediawiki:Edittools|This]] looks like it would be potentially useful. For instance, adding Greek characters on the English-language version, and preferred diacriticals on the Romanian-language version are two ways I'd like to use this. Does anyone have a reason '''not''' to go ahead and use these? I will start playing around with some for en and ro [[User:Magda/Edittools|here]], and anyone who likes can come play, too, and/or offer comments on that talk page. —[[User:Magda|magda]] ([[User_talk:Magda|talk]]) 15:11, February 28, 2008 (PST)

==Russian "Old" Churches==

I'm a bit confused about the status of at least three articles:
*Russian Old-Orthodox Church
*Russian Orthodox Old-Rite Church
*Russian Orthodox Oldritualist Church
Do these represent different groups? Looking at the history of the [[Russian Old-Orthodox Church]] and [[Russian Orthodox Oldritualist Church]], I can see that there must have been something ... but that has mysteriously disappeared. And the [[Russian Orthodox Old-Rite Church]] article, taken from Wikipedia, has an external link to the OrthodoxWiki article Russian Orthodox Oldritualist Church. Clarification? —[[User:Magda|magda]] ([[User_talk:Magda|talk]]) 07:41, August 8, 2007 (PDT)

Magda, I don't know the story behind these articles, and I'm not an expert in this area. It seems to me they would all be "Old Believer" churches, though I suppose The ROCOR parish in Erie, PA is a former Old Believer church that now is part of the Chruch Abroad, but that continues to practice the old rite. There are also a number of different Old Believer groups -- I'm not sure how they are distinguished in terms of names. — [[User:FrJohn|FrJohn]] ([http://www.orthodoxwiki.org/User_talk:FrJohn&action=edit&section=new talk])

==Conversion==
Not sure if this is the place for this, but here goes:

I have been wanting to convert to Eastern Orthdoxy for at least a year now. Eastern Orthodoxy to me seems to be the oldest church and probably the closest in nature to the original church of the apostles. The problem is that I have been brought up in a Unitarian/spiritualist home and lack knowledge of how to go about converting to Orthodoxy. If anyone here could help me I would be much obliged. --[[User:Gorig|Gorig]] 02:34, August 25, 2007 (PDT)

:Hi Gorig, Thanks for your note -- may God bless you on your journey! I'd recommend visiting around to your local Orthodox parishes. Find one where you feel comfortable and talk with the priest there. If you want to say where you're located, maybe we can help point you to a church. — [[User:FrJohn|FrJohn]] ([http://www.orthodoxwiki.org/User_talk:FrJohn&action=edit&section=new talk]) 10:18, August 25, 2007 (PDT)

::Fr John's idea is definitely a good one; there's a list of parishes for every U.S. state on Orthowiki, so hopefully you can find one near you (or several, if you live in a large metropolitan area). But more specifically, if you're wondering what the actual conversion process consists of, it usually includes a series of catechism classes. How many and how long depends on your parish priest. When I began the process a couple years ago, for example, my priest held an after-Liturgy class two Sundays a month from October until April, when everyone in the group was baptized/chrismated (or bailed out at the last minute, in one or two cases). Each one lasted a little over an hour, and they covered basic theology, liturgics, a bit of ecclesiology, Orthodox spirituality, and lots of Church history. Of course, the detailed content depends on the priest, but you'll get the basics anywhere. Since you were brought up Unitarian, you'll probably need to be both baptized and chrismated, and a priest can tell you about doing so in due time. The best way to learn, though, is to go through a year of liturgical services, especially during Lent and Pascha. The Paschal service really is the best way to understand the heart of Orthodoxy—but you'll get there eventually(if you want, of course). Hope this helps. [[User:Gabriela|Gabriela]] 20:55, August 25, 2007 (PDT)
:::Thank you for your help. I live in Laguna Hills, CA, by the way. --[[User:Gorig|Gorig]] 17:04, September 5, 2007 (PDT)

== Toll-house theory ==

Who can tell me what is the content of this theory and the orthodox view of it. [[User:Arthasfleo|Arthasfleo]] 01:25, September 11, 2007 (PDT)

:Not I, but it looks like there are some pages here to look into: [http://orthodoxinfo.com/death/tollhouse_pomaz.aspx On the Question of the "Toll-Houses"] by Protopresbyter Michael Pomazansky. —[[User:Magda|magda]] ([[User_talk:Magda|talk]]) 17:08, September 11, 2007 (PDT)

::OK. Thank you - [[User:Arthasfleo|Arthasfleo]] 23:23, September 12, 2007 (PDT)

== Formatting of "List of parishes in [state]" articles ==

As someone who occasionally uses the "List of parishes in [state]" pages to find a parish when I'm out of town, I wonder if we couldn't put forth a standard for formatting these pages to make it easier to find such information? I'm from St. Louis, MO, and I've formatted the Missouri page so that parishes in a given metro area are all grouped together, with large headers for the metro area, and small headers for the individual municipalities:

http://orthodoxwiki.org/List_of_parishes_in_Missouri_%28USA%29

In this way, if you're going to visit St. Louis, for instance, you'll easily find all ten parishes in the area, not just those located in the St. Louis city limits. Contrast this with, say, the Tennessee or Texas pages...

http://orthodoxwiki.org/List_of_parishes_in_Texas_%28USA%29
 
http://orthodoxwiki.org/List_of_parishes_in_Tennessee_%28USA%29

...where the font size difference between major cities and small municipalities is so small as to be barely noticeable.

:Please see [[Category talk:Parish Directory (USA)]] for a discussion on standard formatting for these pages. —[[User:Magda|magda]] ([[User_talk:Magda|talk]]) 15:29, October 31, 2007 (PDT)

== Managua Orthodox parishes ==

Please help me locate the names, addresses, and contact info for Orthodox (preference is English-speaking) parishes/clergy in Managua, Nicaragua. Thank you. Ed Freeman, Miami Beach, Florida, USA. Edinmiami@yahoo.com.

==November==
OrthodoxWiki commemorations in November :
*2004 : english parent-project started
*2006 : romanian project started (650 articles today)

Long life to the project ! Chronia pola! Mnogaia Leta ! La Multi Ani ! --[[User:Inistea|Inistea]] 06:12, November 14, 2007 (PST)
:幾年も！ Mnogaia leta! --[[User:Cat68|Cat68]] 10:06, November 20, 2007 (PST)

Thanks for your post, Fr. Julian! It's a beautiful thing to me how Orthodox Christians from all over the world have come together to build these encyclopedias. — [[User:FrJohn|FrJohn]] ([http://www.orthodoxwiki.org/User_talk:FrJohn&action=edit&section=new talk])

==Bad Behavior==
The "Bad Behavior" script was disabled by Fr John. So, welcome back and happy editing. --[[User:Inistea|Inistea]] 10:44, December 7, 2007 (PST)

==Good Samaritan reading?==

Evrogite! I have a question which requires understanding of the church calendar(s): On what day of the year would the Parable of the Good Samaritan have been read in southern Siberia, a century ago? (Still the 25th Sunday after Pentecost? Which would have translated into what day of the year for them?) Thank you![[User:Zla'od|Zla'od]] 00:12, January 4, 2008 (PST)

==Missing Biblical Saints==
[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Claudia_Procula]] Wife of Pilate

[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Longinus_%28Christian_mythology%29]] Longinus

[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lazarus_and_Dives]] The poor Lazarus, if other than St Lazarus of Bethany

Feast days? {{unsigned|Hans}}

I KNOW THESE! Just not off the top of my head. I can point you in the right direction for the wife of Pilate she is celebrated as one of the 7 Myrrh Bearing Women along with Mary Magdalene ... I have that Synaxaristi at home so I can not point you to her name ... or the date. However, if I can guess, they should be celebrated after Easter ... for sure! I will follow this up for you. I do not know much about Longinus but I am sure that their is a date we celebrate the poor Lazarus from the parable story ...again, this book is at home. Vasiliki [[Ixthis888]] 13:46, January 14, 2008 (PST)~

== Real presence of the Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ in the Eucharist ==
Greetings in the Name of the Lord,
I have friends who have left the Orthodox Faith believing that Communion is only symbolic and not mystical. They teach that believing the bread and the wine become the body and blood of Christ is to re-crucify our Lord, which to them is an abominable heresy. My desire is to find where the Apostolic and Church Fathers teach or refer to the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist in their writings, especially those writing prior to the Great Schism. If anyone here can help me in this quest, please notify me by posting and by emailing me at jgfarmakis@fuse.net.
Thank you and God Bless you.

'''Response by [[User:Ixthis888|Vasiliki]] 23:15, February 22, 2008 (PST):'''
:This miracle occured at '''Lanciano, Italy in the 8th century''' (300 years prior to the schisme between the Orthodox Body of Christ and the Catholic Church) ... So, this miracle occured within the Orthodox Body of Christ ... however, by rights of Geographic location it is the Catholic Church who retained the possession of the eucharist. They recently submitted the Eucharist for testing ...read the followinc excerpt:
::Ancient Anxanum, the city of the Frentanese, has contained for over twelve centuries the first and greatest Eucharistic Miracle of the Church. This wondrous Event took place in the 8th century A.D. in the little Church of St. Legontian, as a '''divine response to a Basilian monk's doubt''' about Jesus' Real Presence in the Eucharist.
::During Holy Mass, after the two-fold consecration, the host was changed into live Flesh and the wine was changed into live Blood, which coagulated into five globules, irregular and differing in shape and size. The Host-Flesh, as can be very distinctly observed today, has the same dimensions as the large host used today in the Latin church; it is light brown and appears rose-colored when lighted from the back. The Blood is coagulated and has an earthy color resembling the yellow of ochre.
::Various ecclesiastical investigation ("Recognitions") were conducted since 1574.
::In 1970-'71 and taken up again partly in 1981 there took place a scientific investigation by the most illustrious scientist Prof. Odoardo Linoli, eminent Professor in Anatomy and Pathological Histology and in Chemistry and Clinical Microscopy. He was assisted by Prof. Ruggero Bertelli of the University of Siena. The analyses were conducted with absolute and unquestionable scientific precision and they were documented with a series of microscopic photographs.
::These analyses sustained the following conclusions:
::#The Flesh is real Flesh. The Blood is real Blood.
::#The Flesh and the Blood belong to the human species.
::#The Flesh consists of the muscular tissue of the heart.
::#In the Flesh we see present in section: the myocardium, the endocardium, the vagus nerve and also the left ventricle of the heart for the large thickness of the myocardium.
::#The Flesh is a "HEART" complete in its essential structure.
::#The Flesh and the Blood have the same blood-type: AB (Blood-type identical to that which Prof. Baima Bollone uncovered in the Holy Shroud of Turin).
::#In the Blood there were found proteins in the same normal proportions (percentage-wise) as are found in the sero-proteic make-up of the fresh normal blood.
::#In the Blood there were also found these minerals: chlorides, phosphorus, magnesium, potassium, sodium and calcium.
::#The preservation of the Flesh and of the Blood, which were left in their natural state for twelve centuries and exposed to the action of atmospheric and biological agents, remains an extraordinary phenomenon;

::I can only provide you with an article (google it for more information) that has some scientific basis to it, however, there are many tales of people who were passing by an Orthodox Church and happened to walk in out of curiousity (or whatever) and witnessed the priest 'slaughtering a baby'! To tell you of these stories would require much time and effort ... I hope that the miracle of Lanciano gives you some grounds to start a discussion. -- [[User:Ixthis888|Vasiliki]] 23:14, February 22, 2008 (PST)

::PS ... Let us not forget what St Ignatius of Antioch said. he said that, Holy Communion is the “Medicine of Immortality”. Our Lord Himself tells us that if we do not eat His Body and drink His Blood, we have no life in us (cf.John 6:53), and He also tells us that “Those who eat My Flesh and drink My Blood abide in Me, and I in them” (John 6:56). Our Lord invites us to be united with Him at every Divine Liturgy by receiving Holy Communion - His Body and Blood. -- [[User:Ixthis888|Vasiliki]] 23:18, February 22, 2008 (PST)

::::Type AB (IV in the Russian system) is the most recent of the blood types, having appeared during the Mongol conquests (type B Asians conquering type A's). If the blood of Christ turns out to be AB, then we must conclude either that Christ miraculously changed his blood type, or that the Holy Spirit is a Mongol.[[User:Zla'od|Zla'od]] 10:28, April 11, 2008 (UTC)

Honestly, little of this has much of anything to do with Orthodoxy, which has always traditionally refrained from minute analyses of such things. What does Jesus' blood type have to do with our salvation? Also, whether the Roman Catholic church truly has the sacraments or not is a matter for some debate within Orthodoxy. In any event, it does not seem in keeping with piety to remove what's in the Chalice and to put it under a microscope! —[[User:ASDamick|Fr. Andrew]] [[User_talk:ASDamick|talk]] [[Special:Contributions/ASDamick|contribs]] ('''[[User:ASDamick/Wiki-philosophy|THINK!]]''') 11:27, April 11, 2008 (UTC)

::If the blood tests had instead supported the icon's (or shroud's) authenticity, would you still have objected? [[User:Zla'od|Zla'od]] 00:05, April 19, 2008 (UTC)

:::Hi, I think that the point Father is trying to make, and this is the way Orthodox Christians tend to support their dogma, is that the real point of Christianity is not based upon science or mathematical proofs. What is important is the faith and the works ... he is also trying to stress that if one believes in God and also believes in the Holy Trinity, therefore Christ, why would you dishonour your own GOD by putting "Him" through scientific tests ... it is in a way extremally disrespectful to be 'testing' God ... its like subjecting your own family to medical tests its kind of not nice or right. [[User:Ixthis888|Vasiliki]] 00:12, April 19, 2008 (UTC)

::: Yes, I would still object. —[[User:ASDamick|Fr. Andrew]] [[User_talk:ASDamick|talk]] [[Special:Contributions/ASDamick|contribs]] ('''[[User:ASDamick/Wiki-philosophy|THINK!]]''') 11:58, April 19, 2008 (UTC)

== Gelasius I of Old Rome, Acacian Schism, Hormisdas ==
[[Gelasius I of Rome]] and [[Acacian schism]] are linked in red in timeline of Church History. That is, they are linked to non-existing articles. At the end of Acacian schism the peace was made with [[Hormisdas of Rome]] who is not even mentioned.

Catholic Encyclopedia attributes to Hormisdas having submitted to Greek bishops the formula acknowledging Roman supremacy. It was quoted by First Vatican Council.

[[User:Hans|Hans]] 07:27, March 11, 2008 (PDT)

== American dates ==

Is there a reason to use American dates for non-English projects? Perhaps this is useful for wikis in English, but for the rest it's a bit confusing to have these strange date patterns. I would like to request to set for Bulgarian and Macedonian wiikis in the LocalSettings.php <code>$wgAmericanDates = false;</code>. Thank you. Cheers, [[User:Gregg|Gregg]] 02:10, March 26, 2008 (PDT)

:I'm not sure about the local settings thing, but it seems that each language has its own titles for calendar days, at least. So, for example, today:
*el: 31 Μάρτιος
*en: March 31
*es: 31 de marzo
*ro: 31 martie
Additionally, each user can set the date and time preferences for himself. Sorry if that doesn't address what you're talking about. —[[User:Magda|magda]] ([[User_talk:Magda|talk]]) 11:38, March 31, 2008 (PDT)
::No, this doesn't solve the problem, that's why I request this setting turned off. --[[User:Gregg|Gregg]] 01:07, April 4, 2008 (PDT)

:::Hey, this is a really good point Gregg, and very helpful that you gave the name of the variable so I didn't have to look it up. I've changed all the wikis except EN to "$wgAmericanDates = false;" In the future, feel free to get my attention more quickly by leaving a note on my talk page about this stuff. - — [[User:FrJohn|FrJohn]] ([http://www.orthodoxwiki.org/User_talk:FrJohn&action=edit&section=new talk]) 01:45, April 4, 2008 (PDT)
::::Thank you, [[User:Gregg|Gregg]] 12:45, April 4, 2008 (PDT)

== St. Vlad's pages ==

Does anyone else have a problem getting to [[St. Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary (Crestwood, New York)]]? I can get to the [http://orthodoxwiki.org/index.php?title=St.%20Vladimir's%20Orthodox%20Theological%20Seminary%20(Crestwood,%20New%20York)&action=history history], but not to any of the versions, nor to edit anything. When I try, I get the following error:

'''Fatal error''': Call to undefined function wfStrencode() in '''/home/owiki/public_html/shared/extensions/ExternalRSS.php''' on line '''206'''

—[[User:Magda|magda]] ([[User_talk:Magda|talk]]) 15:15, April 4, 2008 (PDT)

Magda, this is now fixed. — [[User:FrJohn|FrJohn]] ([http://www.orthodoxwiki.org/User_talk:FrJohn&action=edit&section=new talk]) 06:28, April 12, 2008 (UTC)

==French localization (français)==
The [[:fr:Accueil|french localization]] is released. If you speak french, please come help the new-born site. 
[[:fr:Accueil|OrthodoxWiki en français]] a été lancé à l'eau. Si vous êtes francophone, n'hésitez pas de donner [[:fr:Accueil|un coup de main]]. --[[User:Inistea|Inistea]] 23:37, April 8, 2008 (UTC)

== Canonical Church? ==
There is a small church in Astoria, NY called Holy Trinity. Does anyone know if it is canonical? I know that a priest comes from time to time from Greece. [[User:Cnaki|Cnaki]] 00:37, April 19, 2008 (UTC)

:If you are referring to the Holy Trinity church located within the Borough of Queens, (from List of Parishes in New York article), then it is a [[ROCOR]] church, please visit the ROCOR article for more inforation about that church. [[User:Ixthis888|Vasiliki]] 00:01, April 19, 2008 (UTC)

::This church is on 20th Rd. between 38th and Steinway. Christine [[User:Cnaki|Cnaki]] 00:37, April 19, 2008 (UTC)

:::Hi Christine, I am not from America, so it would be hard for me to know such intimate information. I was making an educated guess that the church you are referring to is in Queens of New York. If this is true, then it is a [[ROCOR]] church and to discover more about the [[ROCOR]] church just click the link and read up on the article. It is Canonical I think since it is under the Russian arm ... however, whether they are bringing a canonical priest to visit the church is not for us to know. You need to ring your local Archdiocese to find out more information. I hope this helps somewhat unless someone else from OW can help you! [[User:Ixthis888|Vasiliki]] 00:44, April 19, 2008 (UTC)

:With regard to ROCOR, the basic answer is that yes, they are now (with the reunion with Moscow) considered canonical. (Before that, the waters were rather muddy, but most people recognized that they were something other than simply "uncanonical" by virtue of the historical circumstances. — [[User:FrJohn|FrJohn]] ([http://orthodoxwiki.org/index.php?title=User_talk:FrJohn&action=edit&section=new talk]) 03:39, May 21, 2008 (UTC)

==Easter story==

One Easter, a non-Orthodox visitor came to the Orthodox service.

The priest gave the customary greeting of "Christ has risen" (but in Greek or Russian or something), then waited for the customary response, "Christ has risen indeed."

Instead the visitor said,

'''"Oh, hi Father! HAPPY BUNNY DAY!!!"'''

(Try it out at your church, and see what happens!) [[User:Zla'od|Zla'od]] 00:13, April 19, 2008 (UTC)

== [[UNESCO World Heritage Site]]s ==

I have done my best to pull together a list of some of these and link existing OW articles to this list and also add information to the articles pulling together UNESCO related religious sites/monuments but its far from complete and I would love assistance with this area. If anyone is interested in doing similar links with there country it would be great OR if you want to improve on the articles I've started or modified ... please HElp! [[User:Ixthis888|Vasiliki]] 04:44, May 6, 2008 (UTC)

: Thanks! Just to keep things focused, I've specified the article as [[List of Orthodox UNESCO World Heritage Sites]] and also adjusted the category accordingly. —[[User:ASDamick|Fr. Andrew]] [[User_talk:ASDamick|talk]] [[Special:Contributions/ASDamick|contribs]] ('''[[User:ASDamick/Wiki-philosophy|THINK!]]''') 11:47, May 6, 2008 (UTC)

== Reliance on Wikipedia and "over-linking" to Wikipedia ==

I have noticed the increased reliance on linking to Wikipedia (example, Timeline of Church History) and especially when it comes to "External links", the first link seems to be off to a Wikipedia article. BNow, this is why I am bugged:

1. Wikipedia does not link back to OrthodoxWiki.

2. The Wikipedia frame of mind is NOT Chalcedonean and usually presents information in a "universal" bias (which has changed a lot since the introduction of the Internet! Consider the issue of "Macedonia" as a very good example of history being purposely changed to suit political agendas!) ...and especially when articles sit under an "Eastern Orthodox" series of articles but are not Eastern Orthodox in spirit .. this is especially sensitive when we are reviewing "historical" information presented in these articles, where the reliance is on "users" putting the information in, rather than cross checking our information against "Documented history" in our churches archives.

2. We seem to include too many times a cross reference to Wikipedia as our source under "External links" - I dont trust Wikipedia on many of the articles and it bugs me when it is used as a "authoritative" point of information, since we do not look to be coming across as well researched in our own articles rather that we are maybe "copying" another idea rather than presenting the Chalcedonean "fact"?

Does anyone else feel that we over rely on Wikipedia? [[User:Ixthis888|Vasiliki]] 23:27, May 6, 2008 (UTC)

:Vasiliki, there are a few things to say about this. We should not expect a reciprocal relationship to Wikipedia - they are much larger! - but also it's worth noting that there are a fair number of links back and mentions: http://www.powerset.com/explore/pset?q=orthodoxwiki
:The difference between the "Wikipedia frame of mind" and OrthodoxWiki is, of course, why we started this wiki. I trust the readers to discern the differences.
:Cross references serve a number of purposes. In many cases, OrthodoxWiki benefits a great deal from work people have done on Wikipedia, even using substantial content from Wikipedia to seed our own articles. We then tweak the articles to conform to our own Style Manual and NPOV. By the licensing terms, a link back is required. In other cases, we wish to reference a Wikipedia article which can provide additional background to an article, but which may not really belong here at all.
:The best way to depend less on Wikipedia is to develop excellent original content on our wiki. Of course, this may then be used on Wikipedia, provided a link back is given.
:Hope that helps! — [[User:FrJohn|FrJohn]] ([http://orthodoxwiki.org/index.php?title=User_talk:FrJohn&action=edit&section=new talk]) 03:37, May 21, 2008 (UTC)

== Travel ==

I will be travelling between Sep-Oct to Greece and Turkey (hopefully Israel/Mt. Sinai but it appears I cant afford it at the moment). So, if you would like me to visit a specific religious monument and take a photo, please list it with a link to the relevant OW page (if it exists) and I will endeavour to factor this place in and upload the image to the page :-) [[User:Ixthis888|Vasiliki]] 23:28, May 18, 2008 (UTC)

Please visit and take a photo for me :

* Vasiliki, this is a great offer. Certainly many OrthodoxWiki articles could benefit from open-licensed photos of the holy and historic places. If you visit the Phanar, I remember the image of the Theotokos over one of the doors. I took a picture of it when I visited many years ago, and somehow I've lost it. I would love to see that again. Many thanks! Yours in Christ, — [[User:FrJohn|FrJohn]] ([http://orthodoxwiki.org/index.php?title=User_talk:FrJohn&action=edit&section=new talk]) 03:13, May 21, 2008 (UTC)
* [Insert link]

== HTML "width" attribute ==
I cant seem to find any help files to assist me in defining the width of columns. [[User:Ixthis888|Vasiliki]] 04:15, May 22, 2008 (UTC)

== [[Sin]] ==

Please make an article about [[sin]]. I could write it myself but I don't know the English terminology because I'm not English. -- [[User:Petru Dimitriu|Petru Dimitriu]] 18:00, May 24, 2008 (UTC)