https://orthodoxwiki.org/api.php?action=feedcontributions&user=Misha&feedformat=atomOrthodoxWiki - User contributions [en]2024-03-19T10:49:35ZUser contributionsMediaWiki 1.30.0https://orthodoxwiki.org/index.php?title=Christ_the_Bridegroom&diff=92246Christ the Bridegroom2010-04-04T02:19:01Z<p>Misha: </p>
<hr />
<div>[[Image:Bridegroom.jpg|thumb|right|Christ the Bridegroom icon]]<br />
'''Christ the Bridegroom''' is the central figure in the parable of the ten Virgins (Matthew 25: 1-13); [[Christ]] is the divine Bridegroom of the Church as described in the Book of [[Isaiah]] (chapter 54), as well as the primary image of '''Bridegroom Matins'''. The title is suggestive of his divine presence and watchfulness ("Behold the Bridegroom comes in the middle of the night...") during [[Holy Week]] and his selfless love for his Bride, the [[Church]].<br />
<br />
The '''Bridegroom''' is also the name given to the central icon used in Bridegroom Matins. The Bridegroom icon and service is also commonly known in the Greek tradition as '''O Nymphios'''.<br />
<br />
== Bridegroom Matins ==<br />
Bridegroom Matins is a service specific to the first four evenings of [[Holy Week]] (though it is often omitted on Holy Wednesday in favor of the service of [[Holy Unction]]) and commemorates the last days in the earthly life of the Lord. Incorporated into these services is the theme of the first three days of Holy Week; which is the last teachings of Christ to his disciples. As such, these services incorporate readings and hymns inspiring this theme. The mood of the services is to experience sorrow and to feel Christ's voluntary submission to His passions and highlight the purpose behind the evil that is about to take place against the Lord. The atmosphere is one of mourning (for sins) and is symbolic of the shame the Christian should feel for the Fall of Adam and Eve, the depths of hell, the lost Paradise and the absence of God. The vestments of the Priest and the altar clothes are black or deep purple to symbolise and enhance the atmosphere of mourning and remembrance of sins. The main emphasis of the Bridegroom Service is ''[[metanoia]]'' and each service has its own particular theme on repentance and watchfulness. One of its primary features is its [[troparion]]:<br />
<br />
:Behold, the Bridegroom comes in the middle of the night, and blessed is the servant He shall find vigilant; but unworthy is he whom he shall find neglectful. Beware therefore, O my soul, lest you be weighed down by sleep, lest you be given over to death and be closed out from the kingdom; but rise up crying out: "Holy! Holy! Holy are You our God; through the intercessions of the Theotokos, have mercy on us."<br />
<br />
=== Palm Sunday evening ===<br />
During the first service on [[Palm Sunday]] evening, the priest carries the [[icon]] of Christ the Bridegroom into the church. The Bridegroom troparion is sung during this procession, and the icon is brought to the front of the church and remains there until Holy Thursday. The icon depicts Christ as the Bridegroom of the [[Church]], bearing the marks of his suffering, yet preparing the way for a marriage feast in his Kingdom. He is dressed in the icon according to the mockery of the Roman guards just prior to his crucifixion.<br />
*The crowns - a symbol of his marriage to the [[Church]].<br />
*The rope - a symbol of bondage to sin, death and corruption which was loosed with Christ's death on the Cross.<br />
*''The reed'' - a symbol of his humility; God rules his kingdom with humility.<br />
<br />
Sunday evening also includes this kontakion:<br />
:Jacob lamented the loss of Joseph, but that noble one was seated in a chariot and honored as a king; for by not being enslaved then to the pleasures of the Egyptian woman, he was glorified by Him that beholdeth the hearts of men and bestoweth an incorruptible crown.<br />
<br />
=== Holy Monday evening ===<br />
On [[Holy Week|Holy Monday]], the Blessed Joseph, the son of Jacob the Patriarch, is commemorated because he is seen as a prototype of Christ. <br />
<br />
Joseph was betrayed by his brothers, thrown into a pit and sold into slavery by them. In the same way, the Lord was rejected, betrayed by his own, and sold into the slavery of death and like Joseph forgave and spared his brothers during the famine when they came to him, so too, [[Jesus]] [[Christ]] offers himself as a sacrifice and forgives all those who come to him in faith. <br />
<br />
The Gospel reading for the day is of the Barren Fig Tree, which Christ cursed and withered because it bore no fruit. The fig tree is representative of those who have heard God's word, but who fail to bear the fruits of faith. Originally the withering of the fig tree was a testimony against those Jews who rejected God's word and his Messiah. It is also a warning to all people, in all times, of the importance of not only hearing the God's word, but putting it into action.<br />
<br />
Monday evening also includes this kontakion:<br />
:Being mindful of the hour of the end, O my soul, and fearing because of the cutting down of the fig tree, labor diligently with the talent that was given thee, O hapless one, and be watchful and cry: Let us not remain outside the bridal chamber of Christ.<br />
<br />
===Holy Tuesday evening ===<br />
On [[Holy Week|Holy Tuesday]], the Parable of the Ten Virgins is read. It tells the story of the five virgins who filled their lamps in preparation for receiving the bridegroom while the other five allowed their lamps to go out and hence were shut out of the marriage feast. This parable is a warning that Christians must always be prepared to receive the Lord when he comes again. The theme of the day is reinforced by the exaposteilarion hymn:<br />
: I see Thy Bridal Chamber adorned, O my Savior, but have no wedding garment that I may enter. O Giver of Light, enlighten the vesture of my soul, and save me.<br />
<br />
Holy Tuesday's Bridegroom Matins also includes commemoration of [[Kassiani the Hymnographer|Kassiani]] ([[September 7]]), also known by the names of ''Kasia'', ''Kasiani'' or ''Ikessia'', was a great [[hymnographer]] from the 9th century. According to the Synaxaristi not many details of her life have been recorded but she has remained in ecclesiastical history for her great hymns. His Eminence Metropolitan Sophronios Eustratiadis of Leontopoleos <ref> Σωφρόνιος Ευστρατιάδης (Μητροπολίτης Λεοντοπόλεως) </ref> writes that Kassiani was "an orphaned girl from the Byzantine era, beautiful and wise, a saintly ascetic and respectful virgin". <ref> «ορφανή κόρη του Βυζαντίου εκ των ευπατρίδων, ωραία και σοφή, οσία ασκήτρια και ευσεβέστατη παρθένος» περ. «Εκκλ. Φάρος Αλεξανδρείας», τ.ΛΑ' (1932) σελ. 92 </ref> Kassiani is also linked to the Emperor Theophilos (9th century) and his search for a bride. Theophilos was angered with a reply by Kassiani to a question of his, and he impulsively chose St. Theodora, who was standing next to Kassiani, to be his elected bride. Kassiani also played a great role in the restoration of the Holy Icons. <br />
<br />
Heartbroken by Theophilos, one of those poems was the beautiful hymn of Kassiani, which in the Byzantine tradition is such a major feature that the service held on Holy Tuesday evening is often referred to simply as the ''Hymn of Kassiani''. Theophilos searched for Kassiani and found her at a convent and the two never saw each other again. Her repentance and love for Christ is the theme of the wonderful Hymn of Kassiani which is chanted on this night, reminding all that they may be forgiven if they repent.<br />
<br />
The text of the hymn, based on the account of the sinful woman who is introduced by the Evangelist St Luke in his Gospel (7:36-50). Kassiani contrasts the repentance of the sinful woman with Eve's fall (Gen. 3:8-11):<br />
:The woman who had fallen into many sins, perceiving Your divinity, O Lord, received the dignity of a [[myrrh-bearer]], for with lamentation she brought fragrant myrrh to You before Your burial. And she cried: Woe is me, for love of sin and stings of lustful passion envelop me as the night, dark and moonless. As You cause the clouds to drop down the waters of the sea, accept the fountain of my tears. As by Your indescribable condescension You bowed down the heavens, so incline to the groaning of my heart. I shall kiss Your most pure feet and wipe them with the hair of my head, those same feet whose sound Eve heard at dusk in Paradise when she hid herself in fear. Who can count the multitude of my sins? Who can measure the depths of Your judgments, O Saviour of my soul? Do not turn away from me, Your servant, for You have immeasurable mercy.<br />
<br />
Tuesday evening also includes this kontakion:<br />
:I have transgressed far more than the harlot, O Good One, yet have never brought you showers of tears; but entreating in silence, I fall before you, as I kiss your immaculate feet with love, that as Master you may grant me forgiveness of offences, as I cry out, O Saviour: deliver me from the filth of my works.<br />
<br />
== See also ==<br />
*[[Holy Week]]<br />
*[[Kassiani the Hymnographer]]<br />
*[[Jesus Christ]]<br />
<br />
== External links ==<br />
*[http://www.svots.edu/news/recent/schmemann-holy-week-monday-wednesday/ Holy Week - Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday] - from ''Holy Week: A Liturgical Explanation for the Days of Holy Week'' (St Vladimir's Seminary Press), by Very Rev. [[Alexander Schmemann]] <br />
<br />
[[Category:Liturgics]]</div>Mishahttps://orthodoxwiki.org/index.php?title=Christ_the_Bridegroom&diff=92245Christ the Bridegroom2010-04-04T02:18:41Z<p>Misha: </p>
<hr />
<div>[[Image:Bridegroom.jpg|thumb|right|Christ the Bridegroom icon]]<br />
'''Christ the Bridegroom''' is the central figure in the parable of the ten Virgins (Matthew 25: 1-13); [[Christ]] is the divine Bridegroom of the Church as described in the Book of [[Isaiah]] (chapter 54), as well as the primary image of '''Bridegroom Matins'''. The title is suggestive of his divine presence and watchfulness ("Behold the Bridegroom comes in the middle of the night...") during [[Holy Week]] and his selfless love for his Bride, the [[Church]].<br />
<br />
The '''Bridegroom''' is also the name given to the central icon used in Bridegroom Matins. The Bridegroom icon and service is also commonly known in the Greek tradition as '''O Nymphios'''.<br />
<br />
== Bridegroom Matins ==<br />
Bridegroom Matins is a service specific to the first four evenings of [[Holy Week]] (though it is often omitted on Holy Wednesday in favor of the service of [[Holy Unction]]) and commemorates the last days in the earthly life of the Lord. Incorporated into these services is the theme of the first three days of Holy Week; which is the last teachings of Christ to his disciples. As such, these services incorporate readings and hymns inspiring this theme. The mood of the services is to experience sorrow and to feel Christ's voluntary submission to His passions and highlight the purpose behind the evil that is about to take place against the Lord. The atmosphere is one of mourning (for sins) and is symbolic of the shame the Christian should feel for the Fall of Adam and Eve, the depths of hell, the lost Paradise and the absence of God. The vestments of the Priest and the altar clothes are black or deep purple to symbolise and enhance the atmosphere of mourning and remembrance of sins. The main emphasis of the Bridegroom Service is ''[[metanoia]]'' and each service has its own particular theme on repentance and watchfulness. One of its primary features is its [[troparion]]:<br />
<br />
:Behold, the Bridegroom comes in the middle of the night, and blessed is the servant He shall find vigilant; but unworthy is he whom he shall find neglectful. Beware therefore, O my soul, lest you be weighed down by sleep, lest you be given over to death and be closed out from the kingdom; but rise up crying out: "Holy! Holy! Holy are You our God; through the intercessions of the Theotokos, have mercy on us."<br />
<br />
=== Palm Sunday evening ===<br />
During the first service on [[Palm Sunday]] evening, the priest carries the [[icon]] of Christ the Bridegroom into the church. The Bridegroom troparion is sung during this procession, and the icon is brought to the front of the church and remains there until Holy Thursday. The icon depicts Christ as the Bridegroom of the [[Church]], bearing the marks of his suffering, yet preparing the way for a marriage feast in his Kingdom. He is dressed in the icon according to the mockery of the Roman guards just prior to his crucifixion.<br />
*The crowns - a symbol of his marriage to the [[Church]].<br />
*The rope - a symbol of bondage to sin, death and corruption which was loosed with Christ's death on the Cross.<br />
*''The reed'' - a symbol of his humility; God rules his kingdom with humility.<br />
<br />
Sunday evening also includes this kontakion:<br />
:Jacob lamented the loss of Joseph, but that noble one was seated in a chariot and honored as a king; for by not being enslaved then to the pleasures of the Egyptian woman, he was glorified by Him that beholdeth the hearts of men and bestoweth an incorruptible crown.<br />
<br />
=== Holy Monday evening ===<br />
On [[Holy Week|[Holy Monday]], the Blessed Joseph, the son of Jacob the Patriarch, is commemorated because he is seen as a prototype of Christ. <br />
<br />
Joseph was betrayed by his brothers, thrown into a pit and sold into slavery by them. In the same way, the Lord was rejected, betrayed by his own, and sold into the slavery of death and like Joseph forgave and spared his brothers during the famine when they came to him, so too, [[Jesus]] [[Christ]] offers himself as a sacrifice and forgives all those who come to him in faith. <br />
<br />
The Gospel reading for the day is of the Barren Fig Tree, which Christ cursed and withered because it bore no fruit. The fig tree is representative of those who have heard God's word, but who fail to bear the fruits of faith. Originally the withering of the fig tree was a testimony against those Jews who rejected God's word and his Messiah. It is also a warning to all people, in all times, of the importance of not only hearing the God's word, but putting it into action.<br />
<br />
Monday evening also includes this kontakion:<br />
:Being mindful of the hour of the end, O my soul, and fearing because of the cutting down of the fig tree, labor diligently with the talent that was given thee, O hapless one, and be watchful and cry: Let us not remain outside the bridal chamber of Christ.<br />
<br />
===Holy Tuesday evening ===<br />
On [[Holy Week|Holy Tuesday]], the Parable of the Ten Virgins is read. It tells the story of the five virgins who filled their lamps in preparation for receiving the bridegroom while the other five allowed their lamps to go out and hence were shut out of the marriage feast. This parable is a warning that Christians must always be prepared to receive the Lord when he comes again. The theme of the day is reinforced by the exaposteilarion hymn:<br />
: I see Thy Bridal Chamber adorned, O my Savior, but have no wedding garment that I may enter. O Giver of Light, enlighten the vesture of my soul, and save me.<br />
<br />
Holy Tuesday's Bridegroom Matins also includes commemoration of [[Kassiani the Hymnographer|Kassiani]] ([[September 7]]), also known by the names of ''Kasia'', ''Kasiani'' or ''Ikessia'', was a great [[hymnographer]] from the 9th century. According to the Synaxaristi not many details of her life have been recorded but she has remained in ecclesiastical history for her great hymns. His Eminence Metropolitan Sophronios Eustratiadis of Leontopoleos <ref> Σωφρόνιος Ευστρατιάδης (Μητροπολίτης Λεοντοπόλεως) </ref> writes that Kassiani was "an orphaned girl from the Byzantine era, beautiful and wise, a saintly ascetic and respectful virgin". <ref> «ορφανή κόρη του Βυζαντίου εκ των ευπατρίδων, ωραία και σοφή, οσία ασκήτρια και ευσεβέστατη παρθένος» περ. «Εκκλ. Φάρος Αλεξανδρείας», τ.ΛΑ' (1932) σελ. 92 </ref> Kassiani is also linked to the Emperor Theophilos (9th century) and his search for a bride. Theophilos was angered with a reply by Kassiani to a question of his, and he impulsively chose St. Theodora, who was standing next to Kassiani, to be his elected bride. Kassiani also played a great role in the restoration of the Holy Icons. <br />
<br />
Heartbroken by Theophilos, one of those poems was the beautiful hymn of Kassiani, which in the Byzantine tradition is such a major feature that the service held on Holy Tuesday evening is often referred to simply as the ''Hymn of Kassiani''. Theophilos searched for Kassiani and found her at a convent and the two never saw each other again. Her repentance and love for Christ is the theme of the wonderful Hymn of Kassiani which is chanted on this night, reminding all that they may be forgiven if they repent.<br />
<br />
The text of the hymn, based on the account of the sinful woman who is introduced by the Evangelist St Luke in his Gospel (7:36-50). Kassiani contrasts the repentance of the sinful woman with Eve's fall (Gen. 3:8-11):<br />
:The woman who had fallen into many sins, perceiving Your divinity, O Lord, received the dignity of a [[myrrh-bearer]], for with lamentation she brought fragrant myrrh to You before Your burial. And she cried: Woe is me, for love of sin and stings of lustful passion envelop me as the night, dark and moonless. As You cause the clouds to drop down the waters of the sea, accept the fountain of my tears. As by Your indescribable condescension You bowed down the heavens, so incline to the groaning of my heart. I shall kiss Your most pure feet and wipe them with the hair of my head, those same feet whose sound Eve heard at dusk in Paradise when she hid herself in fear. Who can count the multitude of my sins? Who can measure the depths of Your judgments, O Saviour of my soul? Do not turn away from me, Your servant, for You have immeasurable mercy.<br />
<br />
Tuesday evening also includes this kontakion:<br />
:I have transgressed far more than the harlot, O Good One, yet have never brought you showers of tears; but entreating in silence, I fall before you, as I kiss your immaculate feet with love, that as Master you may grant me forgiveness of offences, as I cry out, O Saviour: deliver me from the filth of my works.<br />
<br />
== See also ==<br />
*[[Holy Week]]<br />
*[[Kassiani the Hymnographer]]<br />
*[[Jesus Christ]]<br />
<br />
== External links ==<br />
*[http://www.svots.edu/news/recent/schmemann-holy-week-monday-wednesday/ Holy Week - Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday] - from ''Holy Week: A Liturgical Explanation for the Days of Holy Week'' (St Vladimir's Seminary Press), by Very Rev. [[Alexander Schmemann]] <br />
<br />
[[Category:Liturgics]]</div>Mishahttps://orthodoxwiki.org/index.php?title=User:Misha&diff=92214User:Misha2010-04-02T14:24:28Z<p>Misha: </p>
<hr />
<div>Greetings. I am an Orthodox Christian, a convert from Roman Catholicism. I have come to love and cherish the Holy Orthodox Church in all its glory. <br />
<br />
I have a peculiar attraction to photographing churches. Some of my work is featured on this page.<br />
<br />
Glory to God! S Nami Boh!<br />
<br />
<gallery><br />
Image:Andrej z cierkiew.JPG|Statue of Andy Warhol, in plaza of the Andy Warhol Museum, Medzilaborce, Slovakia. In the background is Holy Spirit Orthodox Church.<br />
Image:ChristtheSaviour.JPG|Christ the Saviour Orthodox Church ([[OCA]]), Harrisburg, Pennsylvania<br />
Image:Rzpedz_Cierkiew.JPG|Orthodox church, Rzpedz, Poland<br />
</gallery><br />
<br />
[[Category:User Pages|{{PAGENAME}}]]</div>Mishahttps://orthodoxwiki.org/index.php?title=Eastern_Catholic_Churches&diff=57646Eastern Catholic Churches2007-11-20T03:42:56Z<p>Misha: </p>
<hr />
<div>The '''Eastern Catholic Churches''' Churches are churches that follow the ancient liturgical traditions of the East, while being in [[full communion]] with the [[Roman Catholic Church]] and placing themselves under the ultimate authority of the [[Pope|Bishop of Rome]]. Some of these churches, like the [[Orthodox Church]], follow the Byzantine tradition, while others follow other liturgical traditions. The history of each Eastern Rite Catholic church is unique, some having sided with Rome at the time of the [[Great Schism]] and some being joined to Rome after that time. They are sometimes referred to as '''Uniates''', a term which many Eastern Catholics reject as derogatory.<br />
<br />
Many of these churches have a direct non-Catholic (usually [[Orthodox Church|Orthodox]] or [[Oriental Orthodox|Oriental]]) counterpart. Others exist only within the Catholic Communion.<br />
<br />
==List of Eastern Catholic Churches==<br />
<br />
===Byzantine Rite (also '''Greek Catholic''') Churches===<br />
<br />
*Albanian Catholic Church (Latin rite hierarchy)<br />
*Greek Catholic Church<br />
*Belarusan Catholic Church (Latin rite hierarchy)<br />
*Bulgarian Catholic Church<br />
*Byzantine-Ruthenian Catholic Church<br />
*Byzantine Catholics of Former Yugoslavia<br />
*Georgian Catholic Church (Latin rite hierarchy)<br />
*Hungarian Catholic Church<br />
*Italo-Albanian Catholic Church<br />
*Melkite Greek Catholic Church<br />
*Romanian Catholic Church<br />
*Russian Catholic Church (Latin rite hierarchy)<br />
*Slovak Catholic Church<br />
*Ukrainian Catholic Church<br />
<br />
===Non-Byzantine Eastern Rite Catholic Churches===<br />
<br />
*Armenian Catholic Church<br />
*Chaldean Catholic Church<br />
*Coptic Catholic Church ([http://coptcatholic.org/ official Web site])<br />
*Ethiopian Catholic Church<br />
*Maronite Catholic Church<br />
*Syrian Catholic Church<br />
*Syro-Malabar Catholic Church<br />
*Syro-Malankara Catholic Church<br />
<br />
==History==<br />
===Second Council of Lyons (1274)===<br />
===Council of Ferrara-Florence (1439)===<br />
===Union of Brest (1596)===<br />
===Orientalium Ecclesiarum (Vatican II)===<br />
<br />
==Eastern Catholic Theology==<br />
<br />
<br />
==Relationships with the Orthodox Churches==<br />
<br />
==Eastern Catholic Churches with Counterparts in Non-Catholic Churches==<br />
<br />
The following Eastern Rite Catholic Churches have "counterparts" in the [[Orthodox Church|Orthodox]] Communion. The counterpart is listed in parenthesis. <br />
<br />
*Albanian Catholic Church ([[Church of Albania]])<br />
*Bulgarian Catholic Church ([[Church of Bulgaria]])<br />
*Greek Catholic Church ([[Church of Constantinople]]/[[Church of Greece]])<br />
*Georgian Catholic Church ([[Church of Georgia]])<br />
*Melkite Catholic Church ([[Church of Antioch]])<br />
*Romanian Catholic Church ([[Church of Romania]])<br />
*Russian Catholic Church ([[Church of Russia]])<br />
*Ukrainian Catholic Church ([[Church of Ukraine]])<br />
<br />
The following Eastern Rite Catholic Churches have "counterparts" in the [[Oriental Orthodox]] Churches. The counterpart is listed in parenthesis.<br />
<br />
*Armenian Catholic Church ([[Church of Armenia]])<br />
*Chaldean Catholic Church<br />
*Coptic Catholic Church ([[Coptic|Coptic Church]])<br />
*Ethiopian Catholic Church<br />
*Maronite Catholic Church<br />
*Syrian Catholic Church (Church of Syria)<br />
*Syro-Malabar Catholic Church<br />
*Syro-Malankara Catholic Church<br />
<br />
The following Eastern Catholic Churches have no counterpart either among the Chalcedonian Orthodox or the Oriental Orthodox.<br />
<br />
*Maronite Catholic Church<br />
*Italo-Albanian Catholic Church<br />
<br />
==For More Information==<br />
<br />
* <i>Against False Union</i> by Alexandre A. Kalomiros (ISBN 0913026700)<br />
* <i>American Eastern Catholics</i> by Fred J. Saato (ISBN 0-8091-4378-X)<br />
* <I>The Byzantine Rite: A Short History</I> by Robert Taft (ISBN 0814621635)<br />
* <I>Eastern Catholics in the United States of America</I> by the [http://www.usccb.org/ U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops] (ISBN 1574552872)<br />
* <i>The Eastern Catholic Churches: An Introduction to Their Worship and Spirituality</i> by Joan L. Roccasalvo (ISBN 0814620477)<br />
* <i>The Other Catholics: Obedient and Faithful</I> by Joseph Bonchonsky (ASIN B0006OZUJQ)<br />
<br />
==External links==<br />
<br />
*[http://www.cnewa.org/ecc-bodypg.aspx?eccpageID=3&indexview=toc Introduction to Eastern Christian Churches, Catholic Near East Welfare Agency]<br />
*[http://www.vatican.va/archive/hist_councils/ii_vatican_council/documents/vat-ii_decree_19641121_orientalium-ecclesiarum_en.html Orientalium Ecclesiarum] by Pope Paul VI<br />
*[http://stmichaelruscath.org/ St. Michael's Russian Catholic Church], New York, NY<br />
*[http://www.crosslink.net/~hrycak/ch_indx-s.html An Unofficial Directory of Eastern Catholic Churches in the U.S.]<br />
*[http://www.byzcath.org/ The Byzantine (Ruthenian) Catholic Church in America]<br />
*[http://www.ugcc.org.ua/eng/ The Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church]<br />
*[http://www.maronite.org.au/ Maronite Catholic Church of Australia]<br />
*[http://www.melkite.org.au/ Melkite Catholic Church of Australia]<br />
*[http://malankara.int.tf/ Syro-Malankara Catholic Church]<br />
<br />
{{stub}}<br />
<br />
[[Category:Non-Orthodox]]</div>Mishahttps://orthodoxwiki.org/index.php?title=American_Orthodox_Catholic_Church&diff=30298American Orthodox Catholic Church2006-05-07T00:39:44Z<p>Misha: /* Epilogue */ rm "Eastern Pennsylvania" (New Castle is in Western PA)</p>
<hr />
<div>{{orthodoxyinamerica}}<br />
The '''American Orthodox Catholic Church''' (in full, '''The Holy Eastern Orthodox Catholic and Apostolic Church in North America''') was the first attempt by mainstream Orthodox canonical authorities at the creation of an [[autocephaly|autocephalous]] Orthodox church for North America. It was chartered in 1927 by Metropolitan [[Platon (Rozhdestvensky) of New York|Platon (Rozhdestvensky)]], primate of the Russian [[Orthodox Church in America|Metropolia]] and his [[holy synod]], and its history as in any real sense part of the mainstream [[Orthodox Church]] ended in 1934. During its short existence, it was mainly led by [[Aftimios Ofiesh]], [[Archbishop]] of Brooklyn.<br />
<br />
==A Promising Beginning==<br />
Fr. Serafim Surrency's book, ''The Quest for Orthodox Church Unity in America'' (1973) begins its account of the formation of this body thus:<br />
<br />
:Starting in 1927 the first move was initiated to found a canonical American Orthodox Church with the blessing of the Council of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Greek Catholic Church and with the hope that world Orthodoxy would recognize the legitimacy of the new body. The initiative for this attempt belonged to Bishop [[Aftimios Ofiesh|Aftimios (Ofiesh) of Brooklyn]] and a member of the Council of Bishops in his capacity as Diocesan for the Syrians (Arabs) which acknowledged the authority of the Russian Church (pp. 32-33).<br />
<br />
In this project, Aftimios had the assistance of two American-born Orthodox [[clergy|clerics]] who had been ordained to the [[priest]]hood in the early 1920s, [[Hieromonk]] Boris (Burden) and Priest Michael Gelsinger. Both men were particularly concerned about the loss of Orthodox young people to the [[Roman Catholic Church|Roman Catholic]] and [[Episcopal Church U.S.A.|Episcopal]] churches in the US&mdash;the Episcopal Church was of special concern, as it was a liturgical church in some ways similar to Orthodoxy and generally enjoyed a special status of prestige in American society.<br />
<br />
At the outset, the new venture appeared quite successful&mdash;within the space of only four years, with the support of the synod of the Russian [[OCA|Metropolia]], four [[bishop]]s were consecrated and an impressive charter was granted from said synod, titled ''An Act of the Synod of Bishops in the American Dioceses of the Russian Orthodox Church''.<br />
<br />
The charter itself&mdash;referencing the authority of a letter from Metr. [[Sergius I (Stragorodsky) of Moscow|Sergius]] (''[[locum tenens]]'' of the Patriarchate of Moscow) which indicated that autonomous Orthodox churches could be founded outside Russia&mdash;granted to the new church body the full name ''The Holy Eastern Orthodox Catholic and Apostolic Church in North America'', with ''The American Orthodox Catholic Church'' as its "short name." Additionally, <br />
<br />
:We hereby, on this 2nd day of February (new Style) in the year 1927, charge one of our number, His Eminence the Most Reverend Aftimios, Archbishop of Brooklyn, with the full responsibility and duty of caring and providing for American Orthodoxy in the especial sense of Orthodox Catholic people born in America and primarily English-speaking or any American residents or parishes of whatever nationality or linguistic character or derivation not satisfactorily provided with proper and canonical Orthodox Catholic care, ecclesiastical authority, teaching and ministrations of the Church or who may wish to attach themselves by the properly and legally provided means to an autonomous, independent, American Orthodox Catholic Church.... a distinct, independent, and autonomous branch of the Orthodox Catholic Church... (pp. 34-35).<br />
<br />
Signed by the entire Metropolia synod at the time&mdash;Metr. [[Platon (Rozhdestvensky) of New York|Platon]], Aftimios, [[Theophilus (Pashkovsky) of San Francisco|Theophilus]], Amphilohy, [[Arseny (Chagovtsov) of Winnipeg|Arseny]], and Alexy&mdash;it further named Aftimios as the [[primate]] of the new church and elected and gave order for "the Consecration of the Very Reverend Leonid Turkevitch to be Bishop in the newly-founded [church]... as assistant to its Governing Head..." (p. 35). Fr. Leonid eventually did get consecrated to the episcopacy, though not in the new church body, and is better known as Metr. [[Leonty (Turkevich) of New York]], primate of the Russian Metropolia. His refusal at the time was based mainly on a "press of family obligations" which led to his insistence on "a specific stipulated salary which could not be met" (p. 36). To replace Fr. Leonid as the first assistant to Aftimios, Platon chose Archimandrite [[Emmanuel (Abo-Hatab) of Brooklyn|Emmanuel (Abo-Hatab)]], who was consecrated on [[September 11]], 1927, by Aftimios, assisted by Theophilus and Arseny.<br />
<br />
The constitution which was drawn up for the church by the Metropolia is twenty-eight pages long and quite detailed, indicating a great deal of thought went into its drafting. Though it was dated [[December 1]] of 1927, it was not made public until the following spring. Two significant passages are noted by Fr. Serafim in his book. From Article III: "This Church is independent (autocephalous) and autonomous in its authority in the same sense and to the same extent as are the Orthodox Patriarchates of the East and the Autocephalous Orthodox Churches now existing." From Article IV: "This Church has original and primary jurisdiction in its own name and right over all Orthodox Catholic Christians of the Eastern Churches and Rite residing or visiting in the United States, and Alaska and the other territories of the United States, in Canada, Mexico, and all North America" (p. 37). Fr. Serafim then comments:<br />
<br />
:"To anyone knowledgeable in Canon Law, these two sections just quoted are absurd. Not only did the Russian Bishops under Metr. Platon&mdash;whose own relationship to the Mother Church was abnormal&mdash;not only have not have any authority to set up an autocephalous Church but obviously by the logic of the 2nd Section quoted, Metr. Platon and his Bishops should have subordinated themselves to the new Head of the North American Church, Archbishop Aftimios... One can safely say that Metr. Platon (perhaps with the exception of Archbishop Aftimios) and his Bishops never had any intention of granting any such broad and unlimited authority and jurisdiction and indeed this may well have been a factor which turned Metr. Platon against the new Church soon after its very inception (ibid.).<br />
<br />
==Reaction and Opposition==<br />
[[Image:Aftimios Ofiesh.gif|right|frame|Archbishop Aftimios Ofiesh]]<br />
The reaction against the establishment of the new church was "swift and negative," especially from the [[ROCOR|Karlovsty Synod]] (ROCOR), with whom the Metropolia had broken ties shortly before in 1926 and who viewed itself as the Metropolia's rightful canonical authority. (''See: [[ROCOR and OCA]].'')<br />
<br />
:In letters dated the 27th of April and the 3rd of May 1927, the Synod made clear their unalterable opposition to the formation of the new Church both on the grounds that Metr. Platon and his Bishops had no power or authority to authorize the founding of the new Church (it must be kept in mind that for almost two years now there had been a break between Metr. Platon and the Exile Synod) as well as on the grounds that there was no justification or rationale foe the establishment of an American Orthodox Church, at that time or at any time in the foreseeable future (p. 37).<br />
<br />
Aftimios himself answered in June with "an equally forceful reply," denouncing the Karlovsty synod as "the uncanonical pseudo-Synod of the Outlandish Russian Orthodox Church," forbidding his clergy and faithful from having anything to do with them (ibid.). Like his estranged former associates in ROCOR, Metr. Platon himself almost immediately turned his back on his ecclesiastical daughter and became "increasingly unreliable in supporting the new Church," mainly because of its continual publication of "hard line" articles in the ''Orthodox Catholic Review'' (edited by Hieromonk Boris and Priest Michael) aimed at the Episcopal Church. In a letter to Aftimios, Platon wrote: "'I must attest before Your Eminence that without their (American Episcopalian) entirely disinterested and truly brotherly assistance our Church in America could not exist' and concluded his letter by asking Abp Aftimios to order Father Boris to cease his 'steppings out' against the Protestant Episcopalians" (p. 38).<br />
<br />
To further worsen matters, in 1928, Archbishop [[Victor (Abo-Assaley) of New York|Victor (Abo-Assaley)]] was sent to America by the [[Church of Antioch]] and then began to encourage Orthodox Arabs to come under Antiochian jurisdiction rather than that of the Russians or the new American church. He did not, however, make much headway in his endeavours. In the same year, Aftimios and his group mainly focussed on the establishment of their church's legal status and had some initial success. On [[May 26]], another bishop was consecrated, [[Sophronios (Beshara) of Los Angeles|Sophronios (Beshara)]] as bishop of Los Angeles, given responsibility "not only for the parishes who still considered themselves within the jurisdiction of the Russian Mission but also those parishes who comprise a part of the new Church and as a Missionary Bishop as well he was responsible for all territory west of the Mississippi River" (ibid.). However,<br />
<br />
:With three Bishops the fledgling Church would appear to have achieved a solid foundation&mdash;but such was not the case. It became more and more apparent that Metr. Platon had changed his mind about the wisdom of attempting to establish an American Orthodox Catholic Church. Not only were some of his Episcopalian allies against the new venture but it was increasingly clear that no recognition for the new Church would be forthcoming from any Autocephalous Church. In any case it is known that Metr. Platon categorically forbade Archpriest Leonid Turkevitch to accept consecration in the new Church (pp. 38-39).<br />
<br />
Early in 1929, Aftimios attempted to gain support with the Greek archbishop [[Alexander (Demoglou) of America|Alexander (Demoglou)]], the first primate of the newly formed [[Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America|Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of North and South America]]. The archbishop's response was that he had authority over not only all the Greek Orthodox in America but over all Orthodox Christians there. They were apparently "vexed over the fact that the Reverend Demetrius Cassis, an American of Greek parentage, had been ordained by Abp Aftimios for the new American Church" (p. 38).<br />
<br />
==Open Hostility==<br />
Fr. Serafim believes that Platon's opposition to the new church had shifted from veiled to "quite open and above board," because Aftimios, in a letter dated [[October 4]], 1929, declared that:<br />
<br />
:"His Eminence, the Most Reverend Platon (Rozhdestvensky), the Metropolitan of Khersson and Odessa, has no proper, valid, legal, or effective appointment, credentials or authority to rule the North American Archdiocese of the Russian Orthodox Church in any capacity. Such being the case it follows that from the departure of His Eminence Archbishop Alexander (Nemolovsky) that the lawful and canonical ruling headship of the Archdiocese of the Aleutian Islands and North America in the Patriarchal Russian Church has naturally been vested in the First Vicar and Senior Bishop in this Jurisdiction" therefore "the title and position of 'Metropolitan of North America and Canada' has no canonical existence in the Russian Church." It is signed by "Aftimios, First Vicar and Senior Bishop in the Archdiocese of the Aleutian Islands and North America" (p. 39).<br />
<br />
Aftimios no doubt had in mind as he wrote such a letter that Platon had, at least in writing, already given him authority over all Orthodox Christians in North America. Fr. Serafim continues and says that Aftimios's denunciation of Platon's authority had "little or no effect" in the Russian parishes and on their clergy; "presumably they knew of the 1924 Ukaz of Patriarch Tikhon suspending Platon but specifying that he was to continue to rule the Archdiocese until such time as a Bishop was sent to relieve him" (ibid.). The announcement also had a negative effect on some members of the American Orthodox Catholic Church, as well, because two weeks after its being made public, Bp. Emmanuel (Abo-Hatab) requested canonical release from Aftimios (who reluctantly gave it) and then went over to Platon and with his direction tried to bring Syrian parishes away from Aftimios and back under the Metropolia.<br />
<br />
Despite these troubles Aftimios nevertheless explored new opportunities and began negotiations to bring Bp. [[Fan (Noli) of Boston|Fan (Noli)]] to the US from Germany to serve as a bishop in his church with jurisdiction over Albanian Orthodox Christians. (Bp. Fan eventually did come to America, but under the auspices of the Metropolia.) Aftimios continued to attempt to shore up his jurisdiction's legitimacy:<br />
<br />
:Deserted by the Russian Bishops under Metr. Platon, with two rival Syrian Bishops, we find Abp Aftimios appealing to the successor of Greek Archbishop Alexander, Archbishop Damaskinos "as the special Representative and Exarch of the Ecumenical Throne of Constantinople" in view of the "present chaotic and helpless state of the Church of Russia" that the "Holy Great Church which you represent" could "bring about a united and disciplined Orthodoxy in America for greater and more profit to Orthodoxy than any other settlment of the Hellenic divisions in this country" (p. 40).<br />
<br />
At nearly the same time (October of 1930), Aftimios sent a letter to his clergy indicating they were to keep their distance from Bp. [[Germanos (Shehadi) of Zahle]], who had come from Antioch (without its authorization) mainly to attempt to gather funds from Arabic Orthodox parishes but had also worked at encouraging such parishes to come under Antioch's jurisdiction. While in America, he also accepted under his [[omophorion]] one Archpriest Basil Kherbawi, "one of the most zealous and loyal priests of the Syrian Mission of the Russian jurisdiction who had been suspended by Abp Aftimios for disloyalty" (ibid.).<br />
<br />
==Disintegration==<br />
In 1932, by a decision of a New York State court, Aftimios's cathedral was taken from him and given over to the Metropolia, as its charter stated that it could only be used by a hierarch subject to the authority of the Russian church. Nevertheless, Aftimios consecrated two more bishops, [[Ignatius (Nichols) of Washington|Ignatius (W.A.) Nichols]] (a former Episcopal cleric who had become an Old Catholic ''[[episcopi vagantes|episcopus vagans]]''), and Joseph (Zuk) for the Ukrainians, who had the allegiance of perhaps a half dozen such parishes.<br />
<br />
Armed with new bishops at his side but probably quite discouraged over the state of his jurisdiction both internally and externally, Aftimios then made the decision which probably was the death-knell for the American Orthodox Catholic Church:<br />
<br />
:...on the 29th of April 1933 Abp Aftimios, in defiance of all Orthodox Tradition and Canon Law... married in a civil ceremony to a young Evangelical Syrian girl born in America&mdash;and despite all the efforts of responsible parties, he refused to resign as Archbishop of the new Church (p. 41).<br />
<br />
Three days after Aftimios's wedding, the two new bishops of the church, Ignatius and Joseph, held a "synod meeting" by themselves, and believing that Aftimios had resigned, elected Joseph as the new "President Archbishop of the Church" with Ignatius being his designated successor. They further voiced their support of Aftimios's marriage, stating that "'inasmuch as it is merely a Canon of the European and Asiatic branches of the Holy Eastern Orthodox Church, that a Bishop should not be married, such has no valid weight on the American Church where conditions are dramatically opposite' and 'therefore the Holy North American Synod congratulates His Eminence on the moral courage in the step he has taken'" (ibid.). Fr. Serafim then observes: "This new thunderbolt was sufficient to effectively eliminate any authority the new Church might still claim to have&mdash;particularly when there were only six parishes by the summer of 1933 still adhering to the new Church" (ibid.).<br />
<br />
Joseph later denied making the agreement with Ignatius, "but he was already a sick man (and died on the 23rd of February 1934)" (ibid.). Ignatius then got married himself in June of 1933 and began entering into relations with the representatives of the [[Living Church]] in America (the Soviet-sponsored pseudo-church), which had been competing (especially legally) with the jurisdiction of the Metropolia and the ROCOR. He eventually broke relations even with the Living Church and returned to being an ''episcopus vagans'', dying as the pastor of a small Community Church in Middle Springs, Vermont, but not before starting multiple small religious bodies, many of whom claim [[apostolic succession]] from him.<br />
<br />
[[Image:Raphael of Brooklyn grave.jpg|right|300px|thumb|Burial place of St. Raphael of Brooklyn, Bp. Emmanuel (Abo-Hatab), and Bp. Sophronios (Beshara), [[Antiochian Village]]]]<br />
The only bishop left to the American Orthodox Catholic Church was Sophronios (Beshara), who then appealed to Platon for assistance and had also intended to contact Emmanuel (Abo-Hatab), but was deterred from doing so when Emmanuel died on [[May 29]], 1933, being buried by Platon (his gravestone reads [[May 30]]). "Bp Sophronius, despite all the setbacks, seemed to take his new post as 'President Locum Tenens of the American Holy Synod' quite seriously, and although he wished to restore relations with Metr. Platon, he wanted to be accepted as an equal Head of a Church" (p. 42). Platon was focussed primarily at that point on the arrival from Russia of the representative of the Patriarchate, Bp. Benjamin (Fedchenkov), who had been sent to investigate the ecclesiastical status of Orthodox America. Thus Platon "felt he could not concern himself with the crumbling new Church and so the remaining priests and parishes wandered from one authority to another or became completely independent," with the exceptions of Hieromonk Boris and Priest Michael, who were received back into the authority of Moscow and the Metropolia, respectively.<br />
<br />
Later in 1933, Sophronios officially removed and suspended Aftimios in October and deposed Ignatius in November. He still refused to submit to Platon or the Patriarchate, however: "Despite the efforts of Bishop Benjamin and Hieromonk Boris, Bp Sophronius refused to consider being subordinate to Bishop Benjamin although he would have been allowed a considerable amount of independence and would have been permitted to continue to live on the West Coast" (ibid.).<br />
<br />
The end of the "Holy Eastern Orthodox Catholic and Apostolic Church in North America" came when Sophronios died in 1934 in Los Angeles. (Fr. Serafim gives the date of his death as 1934, though his gravestone reads 1940.) He is now buried at the [[Antiochian Village]] in Pennsylvania alongside St. [[Raphael of Brooklyn]] and Emmanuel (Abo-Hatab).<br />
<br />
==Analysis==<br />
Fr. Serafim's analysis of the failure of this church is as follows:<br />
<br />
:There can be no question that while the movers of the new Church were sincere and highly motivated that nonetheless they were fostering an idea whose time had not yet come, or to use more appropriate phraseology: Almighty God in his infinite wisdom did not see fit to bless this first attempt to have an American Orthodox Church. On the human level it is clear why the movement did not succeed. The Orthodox in America were still in their own particular ghettos... [the church] was unable to attract or find clergy theologically trained in the Orthodox tradition and able to communicate with the young people with immigrant parents (p. 33).<br />
<br />
External pressures on the movement also contributed to its demise:<br />
<br />
:While the Russian Council of Bishops gave initial support, it was only moral support, and the first person elected to be a Hierarch of the new Church in fact turned down the nomination because it was not possible to guarantee him any kind of salary&mdash;which is indicative of another primary deficiency of the movement, no adequate financing.... [The] new Church lost its most important supporter, Metr. Platon, because of antagonism of the clergy initiators towards the Protestant Episcopal Church.... [some of whose authorities] resented the American Orthodox Church as being a challenge to... the "senior Orthodox Church in America" [i.e., the Episcopal Church], and that pressure was put on Metr. Platon to withdraw his support or the financial assistance he was receiving from the Episcopal Church... would be cut off and perhaps he would be deprived of the use, on a temporary basis, of Episcopal churches (pp. 33-34).<br />
<br />
Nevertheless,<br />
:...it would be most unjust to blame the failure of the "Holy Eastern Orthodox Catholic and Apostolic Church in North America" solely or even primarily on Protestant Episcopal opposition. One can state it more strongly: the various Orthodox groups in America at that time simply were not ready in terms of church consciousness for the establishment of an American Orthodox Church (p. 34).<br />
<br />
==Epilogue==<br />
Aftimios Ofiesh lived in relative obscurity with his wife Mariam Namey Ofiesh, fathering a son named Paul, who eventually became a Presbyterian elder in Mountaintop, Pennsylvania.[http://www2.epix.net/~pbychmt/elders.html] After living in Wilkes-Barre and New Castle, towns in Pennsylvania, the Ofiesh family finally settled in Kingston (near Wilkes-Barre). In 1937 he was asked by parishioners in Allentown to return to active leadership in the Orthodox Church and made one unsuccessful effort in response. Members of his wife's family in Wilkes-Barre record that he continued to dress as a bishop and was called by some of them "Uncle [[Sayedna]]." He died in Kingston on [[July 24]], 1966, a few months before his 86th birthday, leaving instructions that he should be buried quietly without any clergy.<br />
<br />
In 1995, a group claiming the corporate rights to the names "The Holy Eastern Orthodox Catholic and Apostolic Church in North America" (THEOCACNA) and "American Orthodox Catholic Church" (AOCC), regarding the church itself as having been "held in Locum Tenens due to lack of clergy" from 1966 to 1995[http://www.geocities.com/theocacnainc/trace.htm], formed a new holy synod and included Mariam Namey Ofiesh among the members of its board of trustees. It has since declared itself successively a metropolitanate (1997) and then a patriarchate (2003). In 1999 it suffered a major internal schism when four of its bishops broke from it and claimed the name for themselves. In the same year, Mrs. Ofiesh retired from the board and has since departed this life. Much of the group's website is dedicated to claims of their legal and canonical authenticity and especially to their registration of various names and service marks.<br />
<br />
==Sources==<br />
*Surrency, Archim. Serafim. ''The Quest for Orthodox Church Unity in America''. New York: Sts. Boris and Gleb Press, 1973.<br />
*[http://www.geocities.com/theocacnainc/abpofieshx.htm The Life of Archbishop Aftimios Ofiesh], from the 1995 THEOCACNA group<br />
<br />
==External link==<br />
*[http://www.theocacna.us/ THEOCACNA] <br />
<br />
<br />
[[Category:Church History]]<br />
[[Category:Featured Articles]]<br />
[[Category:Jurisdictions]]</div>Mishahttps://orthodoxwiki.org/index.php?title=List_of_American_bishops&diff=24591List of American bishops2006-01-07T03:43:28Z<p>Misha: /* Metropolia/Orthodox Church in America */ +bishops</p>
<hr />
<div>{{orthodoxyinamerica}}<br />
'''American Orthodox [[bishop]]s''' are men serving as bishops in some capacity, whether with [[diocese]]s or exercising authority of some kind in the United States and Canada. The dates following their names indicate the years during which they served as bishops in America.<br />
<br />
==[[Church of Antioch]]==<br />
*[[Raphael of Brooklyn|Raphael (Hawaweeny) of Brooklyn]], 1904-1915<br />
*[[Germanos (Shehadi) of Zahle]]<br />
<br />
===[[Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America|Antiochian Archdiocese]]===<br />
*[[Alexander (Mufarrij) of Ottawa]], 2004-present<br />
*[[Antony (Bashir) of New York]], 1935-1966<br />
*[[Antoun (Khouri) of Miami]], 1981-present<br />
*[[Basil (Essey) of Wichita]], 1992-present<br />
*[[Demetri (Khoury) of Jableh]], 1995-2003 (retired)<br />
*[[Joseph (Al-Zehlaoui) of Los Angeles]], 1995-present<br />
*[[Mark (Maymon) of Toledo]], 2004-present<br />
*[[Michael (Shaheen) of Toledo]], 1958-1992<br />
*[[Philip (Saliba) of New York]], 1966-present<br />
*[[Samuel (David) of Toledo]], 1935-1958<br />
*[[Thomas (Joseph) of Oakland]], 2004-present<br />
*[[Victor (Abo-Assaley) of New York]], 1924-1935<br />
<br />
==[[Church of Russia]], 1794-1924==<br />
:''See also: [[Hierarchs of the Russian North American mission]]''<br />
<br />
*[[Innocent of Alaska|Innocent (Veniaminov) of Kamchatka, the Kurile and Aleutian Islands]]<br />
*[[John (Mitropolsky) of the Aleutians]], 1870-1877<br />
*[[Nestor (Zass) of the Aleutians]], 1878-1882<br />
*[[Nicholas (Ziorov) of the Aleutians]], 1891-1898<br />
*[[Paul (Popov) of Novoarkhangelsk]], 1867-1870<br />
*[[Peter (Ekaterinovsky) of Novoarkhangelsk]], 1859-1867<br />
*[[Platon (Rozhdestvensky) of New York]]<br />
*[[Raphael of Brooklyn|Raphael (Hawaweeny) of Brooklyn]], 1904-1915<br />
*[[Tikhon of Moscow|Tikhon (Belavin) of the Aleutians]]<br />
*[[Vladimir (Sokolovsky-Avtonomov) of the Aleutians]], 1888-1891<br />
<br />
===[[Russian Exarchate of North America]], 1933-1970===<br />
*[[Benjamin (Fedchenkov) of the Aleutians]], 1933-1947<br />
*[[Boris (Vik) of the Aleutians]], 1955-1962<br />
*Germogen, 1954<br />
*[[John (Wendland) of New York and the Aleutians]], 1962-1967<br />
*[[Jonathan (Kopolovitch) of New York and the Aleutians]], 1967-1970<br />
*[[Makary (Ilyinsky) of New York]], 1947-1953<br />
<br />
===[[Russian Orthodox Church in the USA]], 1970-present===<br />
<br />
==[[Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America]]==<br />
*[[Alexios (Panagiotopoulos) of Atlanta]]<br />
*[[Demetrios (Trakatellis) of America]]<br />
*[[Evangelos (Kourounis) of New Jersey]]<br />
*[[Gerasimos (Michaleas) of San Francisco]]<br />
*[[Iakovos (Coucouzis) of America]]<br />
*[[Iakovos (Krinis) of Chicago]]<br />
*[[Isaiah (Chronopoulos) of Denver]]<br />
*[[Maximos (Aghiorgoussis) of Pittsburgh]]<br />
*[[Methodios (Tournas) of Boston]]<br />
*[[Nicholas (Pissare) of Detroit]]<br />
*[[Spyridon (Papageorge) of America]]<br />
<br />
==[[OCA|Metropolia/Orthodox Church in America]]==<br />
*[[Aftimios Ofiesh|Aftimios (Ofiesh) of Brooklyn]]<br />
*[[Arseny (Chagovtsov) of Winnipeg]]<br />
*[[Dmitri (Royster) of Dallas]]<br />
*[[Herman (Swaiko) of Washington and New York]]<br />
*[[Ireney (Bekish) of New York]]<br />
*[[Job (Osacky) of Chicago and the Midwest]]<br />
*[[John (Shahovskoy) of San Francisco]]<br />
*[[Kyrill (Yonchev) of Pittsburgh]]<br />
*[[Leonty (Turkevich) of New York]]<br />
*[[Nathaniel (Popp) of Detroit]]<br />
*[[Nikolai (Soraich) of Sitka and Anchorage]]<br />
*[[Platon (Rozhdestvensky) of New York]]<br />
*[[Theophilus (Pashkovsky) of San Francisco]]<br />
*[[Tikhon (Mollard) of Philadelphia]]<br />
*[[Tikhon of San Francisco]]<br />
<br />
===[[American Orthodox Catholic Church]]===<br />
*[[Aftimios Ofiesh|Aftimios (Ofiesh) of Brooklyn]]<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
[[Category:Bishops|American bishops]]</div>Mishahttps://orthodoxwiki.org/index.php?title=User:Misha&diff=24588User:Misha2006-01-07T03:26:20Z<p>Misha: </p>
<hr />
<div>Greetings. <br />
<br />
I am a very lapsed [[Roman Catholic]] who is exploring Orthodoxy in all its deep glories. Simultaneously, I am wondering whether the [[Eastern Catholic]] churches are able to offer me the same deep level of spiritual satisfaction which I have found in Orthodox services.<br />
<br />
I have found this a great resource for a [[Wikipedia:geek|geeky]] type like me. You can find me on [[Wikipedia:User:Sensor|Wikipedia]] and also on the [[Commons:User:Sensor|Wikimedia Commons]]. <br />
<br />
I have a peculiar attraction to photographing churches. Some of my work is featured on this page.<br />
<br />
Research (courtesy of [http://www.petekrawczyk.com/lj_connect/ LiveJournal Connect]) has revealed that my extremely inactive [[Wikipedia:LiveJournal|LiveJournal]] is three or less degrees removed from those users on the OrthodoxWiki whose LiveJournals are advertised. It's a small world indeed.<br />
<br />
Glory to God! S Nami Boh!<br />
<br />
===Ecclesiastical questions===<br />
* Trying to figure out how this fits in the picture: [http://www.holyspiritorthodox.com/ Orthodox Church of Canada in the USA - Archdiocese of Delaware and North American Missions] (obviously non-canonical)<br />
* Whether the Churches of the East and West will ever come back into communion with each other. Who is John Galt?<br />
<br />
<br />
<gallery><br />
Image:Andrej z cierkiew.JPG|Statue of Andy Warhol, in plaza of the Andy Warhol Museum, Medzilaborce, Slovakia. In the background is Holy Spirit Orthodox Church.<br />
Image:ChristtheSaviour.JPG|Christ the Saviour Orthodox Church ([[OCA]]), Harrisburg, Pennsylvania<br />
Image:Rzpedz_Cierkiew.JPG|Orthodox church, Rzpedz, Poland<br />
</gallery><br />
<br />
[[Category:User Pages]]</div>Mishahttps://orthodoxwiki.org/index.php?title=Belarusian_Council_of_Orthodox_Churches_in_North_America&diff=24105Belarusian Council of Orthodox Churches in North America2006-01-01T15:00:26Z<p>Misha: rm link to Belarusian Council on GOARCH page. Link is dead and no replacement appears to exist after searching GOARCH site,</p>
<hr />
<div>The '''Belarusian Council of Orthodox Churches in North America''' is a group of five [[parish]]es in the United States and Canada under the [[jurisdiction]] of the [[Church of Constantinople|Ecumenical Patriarchate]]. They do not currently have their own bishop, but are rather administered by [[Archimandrite]] Gregory (O'Keefe), who reports directly to the [[primate]] of the [[Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America]].<br />
<br />
==External link==<br />
*[http://www.cnewa.org/ecc-bodypg.aspx?eccpageID=45&IndexView=toc Eastern Christian Churches: The Belarusan Council of Orthodox Churches in North America], by Ronald Roberson, a Roman Catholic priest and scholar <br />
<br />
[[Category:Jurisdictions]]</div>Mishahttps://orthodoxwiki.org/index.php?title=OrthodoxWiki:Vandalism&diff=24097OrthodoxWiki:Vandalism2005-12-31T23:07:49Z<p>Misha: fix typo: to>two</p>
<hr />
<div>{{policy}}<br />
<br />
There are basically two types of vandalism -- manual and automated. Because this wiki is regularly maintained and Admins frquently check the [[Special:RecentChanges]], manual vandalism typically gets taken care of very quickly. What we are more concerned about is vandalism automated by vandalbots. A vandalbot is a script which automatically performs some kind of edit or similar operation to the wiki. Because of the speed with which they work, they can do a lot of damage, and this damage can take time to fix. It is a sad fact that as our traffic and popularity has increased so have the automated attacks. <br />
<br />
This page is specificially intended to help you know what to do in case a vandalbot attacks. There are a number of stages to any response.<br />
<br />
==Notification==<br />
The first step is notification. If you notice an automated attack occuring and are not a Sysop, please let one of the [[Special:Listusers/sysop|Sysops]] know immediately, either by leaving a note on their User_talk page, or, for quicker results, by clicking the "E-mail this user" link on their user page.<br />
<br />
If you are a Sysop and notice automated vandalism in progress, please ban the user(s) in question, and then send an email to the Sysop mailing list.<br />
<br />
==Banning Users==<br />
Because of previous attacks, OrthodoxWiki has increased its security by allowing only logged-in members to edit pages. This means that vandalbot owners must register accounts before unleashing their mayhem. In the past, we have seen multiple accounts being used by simultaneously to wreak mayhem. However, this method adds an extra step for the vandals and makes it easy to block access, even in the case of a distributed IP attack.<br />
<br />
Once a Sysop has been notified that an attack is in progress, he or she can ban all of the user names involved in the attack. Bans can be temporary or permanent. In the event of an automated attack, we have no hesitation in imposing an ''infinite'' ban on the user account(s) in question.<br />
<br />
==Reverting Vandalbot Edits==<br />
<br />
Rollbacks are easier for admins than non-admins. For this reason, Admins have the primary responsibility for reverting mass vandalism.<br />
<br />
===Rollback options for non-admins (regular logged-in users)===<br />
* Go to the page, click on "history" at the top ("Page history" in some skins), and click on the '''time and date''' of the earlier version you want to revert to. <br />
*Then when that page comes up, you'll see something like "(Revision as of 22:19 Aug 15, 2002)" below the title and beneath "From [[Wikipedia]], the free encyclopedia".<br />
* Verify that you've selected the correct version, and click to edit the page, as you would normally. '''Important:''' in the case of vandalism, take the time to make sure that you are reverting to the last version without the vandalism; there may be multiple vandal edits.<br />
* You'll get a warning, above the edit box, about editing an out-of-date revision.<br />
* After heeding the warning, save the page. Be sure to add the word "revert" to the [[wikipedia:edit summary|edit summary]]. Most Wikipedians abbreviate this to "rv". A common and useful addition is the usernames of who you are reverting from and to. For example, a good edit summary would be <p><center> ''rv edits by [[User:219.148.86.36|219.148.86.36]] to last version by [[User:xyz|xyz]]'' </p></center> <p>The clickable links are created by entering '''<nowiki>[[User:000.000.000.000|000.000.000.000]]</nowiki>''' (replacing ''000.000.000.000'' with the real [[IP Address|IP address]] or '''<nowiki>[[User:Username|Username]]</nowiki>''' for logged-in users, replacing ''Username'' with their real username.</p><br />
* Check the contribution history of the user who vandalized the article. (Click on their IP address or username. That will bring you to their User page. In the lower left-hand corner, there is a toolbox with a "User contributions" link. Click that.) If this user is vandalizing many articles, please report them to one of the Sysops.<br />
<br />
===Rollback options for Admins===<br />
On the User Contributions page an admin has additional "rollback" links at lines which are the last edit made by anybody to that article.<br />
<br />
The rollback link is also shown on the Diff page when viewing the difference between the most recent version of a page and the last version.<br />
<br />
Clicking on the link reverts to the previous edit not authored by the last editor, with an automatic edit summary of "Reverted edits by X to last version by Y".<br />
<br />
If, between loading the User Contributions page and pressing "rollback", someone else edits or rolls back the page, or if there was no previous editor, you will get an error message.<br />
<br />
Rollbacks should be used with caution and restraint. Reverting a good-faith edit may send the message that "I think your edit was no better than vandalism and doesn't deserve even the courtesy of an explanatory edit summary." It is a slap in the face to a good-faith editor; do not abuse it.<br />
<br />
===Bot rollback===<br />
<br />
In cases of flood vandalism, admins may choose to hide vandalism from recent changes. To do this, add &bot=1 to the end of the url used to access a user's contributions. For example, http://en.wikipedia.org/w/wiki.phtml?title=Special:Contributions&target=SomePersistentVandal&bot=1.<br />
<br />
When the rollback links on the contributions list are clicked, the revert, and the original edit that you are reverting will both be hidden from recent changes unless you click the "bots" link to set hidebots=0. The edits are not hidden from contributions lists, page histories or watchlists. The edits remain in the database and are not removed, but they no longer flood Recentchanges. The aim of this feature is to reduce the annoyance factor of a flood vandal with relatively little effort. This should not be used for reverting a change you just don't like, but is meant only for massive floods of simple vandalism.<br />
<br />
==Worst-case Scenario==<br />
In the event of a worst-case scenario -- that is, where automated vandalism has affected so much of the wiki that it becomes very difficult to revert all the edits -- we are able to restore a backup of the entire site. Backups are made nightly, so this may result in all useful edits for up to the past 24 hours being lost as well. Fortunately, we have never had to do this so far. Obviously this option will only be used if it is really necessary.<br />
<br />
==Anti-spam measures==<br />
'''Nov. 5, 2005''' - Prompted by another attack, we've begun using the [http://www.ioerror.us/software/bad-behavior/ Bad Behavior extension] for MediaWiki. We've also instituted open-proxy blocking (please see [http://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Proxy_blocking this page] for more information) and set up the [http://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/SpamBlacklist_extension SpamBlacklist extension].<br />
<br />
==Patrolled Edits==<br />
One tool which can be helpful for the Sysops in policing the wiki for "ordinary" or manual vandalism, as well as inappropriate additions, etc. is the use of "Patrolled Edits." You can read more about these [http://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Help:Patrolled_edit here]. When something has been marked as "patrolled," other sysops can be saved the tedium of redundant inspections.<br />
<br />
==External References==<br />
* http://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Anti-spam_Features<br />
* http://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Vandalbot - MediaWiki discussion of Vandalbots and what to do about them.<br />
* http://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Help:Patrolled_edit - An overview of the new "Patrolled Edit" feature.<br />
* http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Revert - Reverting pages for Sysops and non-Sysops.<br />
* http://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Edit_throttling - This page, along with its corresponding Talk page, suggests some anti-vandalism features which woul be very useful. We hope this will be made available in a future version of MediaWiki.<br />
<br />
[[Category:OrthodoxWiki]]</div>Mishahttps://orthodoxwiki.org/index.php?title=User:Misha&diff=24010User:Misha2005-12-31T01:58:33Z<p>Misha: </p>
<hr />
<div>Greetings. I am exploring Orthodoxy and have found this a great resource for a [[Wikipedia:geek|geeky]] type like me. You can find me on [[Wikipedia:User:Sensor|Wikipedia]] and also on the [[Commons:User:Sensor|Wikimedia Commons]]. <br />
<br />
I have a peculiar attraction to photographing churches. Some of my work is featured on this page.<br />
<br />
Glory to God! S Nami Boh!<br />
<br />
===Ecclesiastical questions===<br />
Trying to figure out how these fit in the picture:<br />
*[http://www.holyspiritorthodox.com/ Orthodox Church of Canada in the USA - Archdiocese of Delaware and North American Missions]<br />
<br />
<br />
<gallery><br />
Image:Andrej z cierkiew.JPG|Statue of Andy Warhol, in plaza of the Andy Warhol Museum, Medzilaborce, Slovakia. In the background is Holy Spirit Orthodox Church.<br />
Image:ChristtheSaviour.JPG|Christ the Saviour Orthodox Church ([[OCA]]), Harrisburg, Pennsylvania<br />
Image:Rzpedz_Cierkiew.JPG|Orthodox church, Rzpedz, Poland<br />
</gallery><br />
<br />
[[Category:User Pages]]</div>Mishahttps://orthodoxwiki.org/index.php?title=Talk:List_of_parishes_in_Pennsylvania_(USA)&diff=24008Talk:List of parishes in Pennsylvania (USA)2005-12-31T01:24:16Z<p>Misha: typo</p>
<hr />
<div>I have broken this page down by geographic area because of the vast number of Orthodox parishes in the state. Generally speaking, the following nomenclatures apply:<br />
# '''Northwestern Pennsylvania''' includes all counties from Erie south to Lawrence, and west as far as Warren to Clarion and Venango.<br />
# '''Greater Pittsburgh''' is the counties of Allegheny, Armstrong, Butler, Beaver, Greene, Indiana, Washington, and Westmoreland.<br />
# '''Central Pennsylvania''' is everything between Greater Pittsburgh and the Philadelphia region except the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre area, including the Altoona-Johnstown area, Harrisburg, and York-Lancaster.<br />
# '''Northeastern Pennsylvania/Wyoming Valley''' is the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre area and the adjoining counties, extending into the outlying Pocono region.<br />
# '''Lehigh Valley''' is the counties of Northampton and Lehigh.<br />
# Finally, '''Greater Philadelphia''' is the Philadelphia metro area, including Chester, Berks, Bucks, Delaware, and Montgomery counties as well as the city itself.<br />
<br />
Also, I've described parishes by precise name where such is available (generally from the parish's web page). Where it's not available, I've just referred to the generic name (i.e., "St. John"). All information has been derived from the various jurisdictions' web pages and church web pages, as well as personal knowledge and research.<br />
<br />
- [[User:Misha|Misha]] 17:42, December 30, 2005 (CST)<br />
<br />
: Nice job! {{User:ASDamick/sig}} 17:47, December 30, 2005 (CST)<br />
<br />
:: Thank you! I lived in Pennsylvania for most of my life and have gotten to know the ecclesiastical geography as well as the physical. I was surprised there was no Pennsylvania page here, so I decided to be bold and get it done. I think I got them all by now... - [[User:Misha|Misha]] 19:24, December 30, 2005 (CST)</div>Mishahttps://orthodoxwiki.org/index.php?title=Talk:List_of_parishes_in_Pennsylvania_(USA)&diff=24007Talk:List of parishes in Pennsylvania (USA)2005-12-31T01:24:01Z<p>Misha: </p>
<hr />
<div>I have broken this page down by geographic area because of the vast number of Orthodox parishes in the state. Generally speaking, the following nomenclatures apply:<br />
# '''Northwestern Pennsylvania''' includes all counties from Erie south to Lawrence, and west as far as Warren to Clarion and Venango.<br />
# '''Greater Pittsburgh''' is the counties of Allegheny, Armstrong, Butler, Beaver, Greene, Indiana, Washington, and Westmoreland.<br />
# '''Central Pennsylvania''' is everything between Greater Pittsburgh and the Philadelphia region except the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre area, including the Altoona-Johnstown area, Harrisburg, and York-Lancaster.<br />
# '''Northeastern Pennsylvania/Wyoming Valley''' is the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre area and the adjoining counties, extending into the outlying Pocono region.<br />
# '''Lehigh Valley''' is the counties of Northampton and Lehigh.<br />
# Finally, '''Greater Philadelphia''' is the Philadelphia metro area, including Chester, Berks, Bucks, Delaware, and Montgomery counties as well as the city itself.<br />
<br />
Also, I've described parishes by precise name where such is available (generally from the parish's web page). Where it's not available, I've just referred to the generic name (i.e., "St. John"). All information has been derived from the various jurisdictions' web pages and church web pages, as well as personal knowledge and research.<br />
<br />
- [[User:Misha|Misha]] 17:42, December 30, 2005 (CST)<br />
<br />
: Nice job! {{User:ASDamick/sig}} 17:47, December 30, 2005 (CST)<br />
<br />
:: Thank you! I lived in Pennsylvania for most of my life and have gotten to know the ecclesiastical geography as well as the physical. I was surprised there was no Pennsylvania page here, so I decided to be bold and get it done. I think it got them all by now... - [[User:Misha|Misha]] 19:24, December 30, 2005 (CST)</div>Mishahttps://orthodoxwiki.org/index.php?title=Talk:List_of_parishes_in_Pennsylvania_(USA)&diff=23982Talk:List of parishes in Pennsylvania (USA)2005-12-30T23:42:50Z<p>Misha: +Page description</p>
<hr />
<div>I have broken this page down by geographic area because of the vast number of Orthodox parishes in the state. Generally speaking, the following nomenclatures apply:<br />
# '''Northwestern Pennsylvania''' includes all counties from Erie south to Lawrence, and west as far as Warren to Clarion and Venango.<br />
# '''Greater Pittsburgh''' is the counties of Allegheny, Armstrong, Butler, Beaver, Greene, Indiana, Washington, and Westmoreland.<br />
# '''Central Pennsylvania''' is everything between Greater Pittsburgh and the Philadelphia region except the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre area, including the Altoona-Johnstown area, Harrisburg, and York-Lancaster.<br />
# '''Northeastern Pennsylvania/Wyoming Valley''' is the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre area and the adjoining counties, extending into the outlying Pocono region.<br />
# '''Lehigh Valley''' is the counties of Northampton and Lehigh.<br />
# Finally, '''Greater Philadelphia''' is the Philadelphia metro area, including Chester, Berks, Bucks, Delaware, and Montgomery counties as well as the city itself.<br />
<br />
Also, I've described parishes by precise name where such is available (generally from the parish's web page). Where it's not available, I've just referred to the generic name (i.e., "St. John"). All information has been derived from the various jurisdictions' web pages and church web pages, as well as personal knowledge and research.<br />
<br />
- [[User:Misha|Misha]] 17:42, December 30, 2005 (CST)</div>Mishahttps://orthodoxwiki.org/index.php?title=User_talk:Misha&diff=23977User talk:Misha2005-12-30T23:17:56Z<p>Misha: /* Style differences from Wikipedia */</p>
<hr />
<div>{{Welcome}}<br />
<br />
{{User:Magda/sig}} 14:44, December 30, 2005 (CST)<br />
<br />
== Style differences from Wikipedia ==<br />
<br />
Misha, thanks for your contributions so far! I just wanted to make you aware that OrthodoxWiki has a few differences in style from Wikipedia, including the practice of linking only the first instance of a word in an article. (cf. [[OrthodoxWiki:Style Manual (Importing)]]). We're glad to have you here! {{User:Magda/sig}} 17:11, December 30, 2005 (CST)<br />
: Very good. Thanks for the information. I'm so busy creating the list of Pennsylvania parishes that I hadn't stopped to read the style manual. :) - [[User:Misha|Misha]] 17:17, December 30, 2005 (CST)</div>Mishahttps://orthodoxwiki.org/index.php?title=File:Andrej_z_cierkiew.JPG&diff=23947File:Andrej z cierkiew.JPG2005-12-30T21:39:26Z<p>Misha: +caption</p>
<hr />
<div>Medzilaborce, Slovakia: Statue of Andy Warhol in plaza of Andy Warhol Museum with [http://ocaphoto.oca.org/PhotoViewer.asp?EID=248&IID=3896 Holy Spirit Orthodox Church] in background. Photo by [[User:Misha|Misha]], June 30, 2005. Andy was a Rusyn, raised as a Byzantine Catholic, but the area of Slovakia where his family is from is evenly divided between Byzantine and Orthodox towns.<br />
<br />
{{cc by-sa}}</div>Mishahttps://orthodoxwiki.org/index.php?title=File:Rzpedz_Cierkiew.JPG&diff=23946File:Rzpedz Cierkiew.JPG2005-12-30T21:38:27Z<p>Misha: +name</p>
<hr />
<div>St. Nicholas Orthodox Church, Rzpedz, Poland. Photograph by [[User:Misha|Misha]], June 29, 2005.<br />
<br />
{{cc by-sa}}</div>Mishahttps://orthodoxwiki.org/index.php?title=User:Misha&diff=23944User:Misha2005-12-30T21:38:09Z<p>Misha: </p>
<hr />
<div>Greetings. I am exploring Orthodoxy and have found this a great resource for a [[Wikipedia:geek|geeky]] type like me. You can find me on [[Wikipedia:User:Sensor|Wikipedia]] and also on the [[Commons:User:Sensor|Wikimedia Commons]]. <br />
<br />
I have a peculiar attraction to photographing churches. Some of my work is featured on this page.<br />
<br />
Glory to God! S Nami Boh!<br />
<br />
<gallery><br />
Image:Andrej z cierkiew.JPG|Statue of Andy Warhol, in plaza of the Andy Warhol Museum, Medzilaborce, Slovakia. In the background is Holy Spirit Orthodox Church.<br />
Image:ChristtheSaviour.JPG|Christ the Saviour Orthodox Church ([[OCA]]), Harrisburg, Pennsylvania<br />
Image:Rzpedz_Cierkiew.JPG|Orthodox church, Rzpedz, Poland<br />
</gallery><br />
<br />
[[Category:User Pages]]</div>Mishahttps://orthodoxwiki.org/index.php?title=File:Andrej_z_cierkiew.JPG&diff=23941File:Andrej z cierkiew.JPG2005-12-30T21:34:34Z<p>Misha: Medzilaborce, Slovakia: Statue of Andy Warhol in plaza of Andy Warhol Museum with [http://ocaphoto.oca.org/PhotoViewer.asp?EID=248&IID=3896 Holy Spirit Orthodox Church] in background. Photo by Misha, June 30, 2005.
{{cc by-sa}}</p>
<hr />
<div>Medzilaborce, Slovakia: Statue of Andy Warhol in plaza of Andy Warhol Museum with [http://ocaphoto.oca.org/PhotoViewer.asp?EID=248&IID=3896 Holy Spirit Orthodox Church] in background. Photo by [[User:Misha|Misha]], June 30, 2005.<br />
<br />
{{cc by-sa}}</div>Mishahttps://orthodoxwiki.org/index.php?title=User:Misha&diff=23938User:Misha2005-12-30T21:25:48Z<p>Misha: </p>
<hr />
<div><div style="float:left;width:200px;"><br />
[[Image:ChristtheSaviour.JPG|left|thumb|Christ the Saviour Orthodox Church ([[OCA]]), Harrisburg, Pennsylvania]]<br />
[[Image:Rzpedz_Cierkiew.JPG|left|thumb|Orthodox church, Rzpedz, Poland]]<br />
</div><br />
<br />
Greetings. I am exploring Orthodoxy and have found this a great resource for a [[Wikipedia:geek|geeky]] type like me. You can find me on [[Wikipedia:User:Sensor|Wikipedia]] and also on the [[Commons:User:Sensor|Wikimedia Commons]]. <br />
<br />
I have a peculiar attraction to photographing churches. Some of my work is featured on this page.<br />
<br />
Glory to God! S Nami Boh!<br />
<br />
[[Category:User Pages]]</div>Mishahttps://orthodoxwiki.org/index.php?title=File:Rzpedz_Cierkiew.JPG&diff=23937File:Rzpedz Cierkiew.JPG2005-12-30T21:21:43Z<p>Misha: Orthodox church, Rzpedz, Poland. Photograph by Misha, June 29, 2005.
{{cc by-sa}}</p>
<hr />
<div>Orthodox church, Rzpedz, Poland. Photograph by [[User:Misha|Misha]], June 29, 2005.<br />
<br />
{{cc by-sa}}</div>Mishahttps://orthodoxwiki.org/index.php?title=User:Misha&diff=23919User:Misha2005-12-30T20:09:31Z<p>Misha: edit userpg</p>
<hr />
<div>[[Image:ChristtheSaviour.JPG|left|200px]]<br />
Greetings. I am exploring Orthodoxy and have found this a great resource for a [[Wikipedia:geek|geeky]] type like me. You can find me on [[Wikipedia:User:Sensor|Wikipedia]] and also on the [[Commons:User:Sensor|Wikimedia Commons]]. Glory to God! S Nami Boh!</div>Mishahttps://orthodoxwiki.org/index.php?title=File:ChristtheSaviour.JPG&diff=23918File:ChristtheSaviour.JPG2005-12-30T20:06:08Z<p>Misha: fix imagetag</p>
<hr />
<div>Christ the Saviour Orthodox Church ([[OCA]]), Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Image by [[User:Misha|Misha]], October 30, 2005. Licenced by creator under [http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.5/ Creative Commons Attribution ShareAlike Licence 2.5].</div>Mishahttps://orthodoxwiki.org/index.php?title=File:ChristtheSaviour.JPG&diff=23917File:ChristtheSaviour.JPG2005-12-30T20:03:41Z<p>Misha: Christ the Saviour Orthodox Church (OCA), Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Image by Misha, October 30, 2005.
{{cc-by-sa-2.5}}</p>
<hr />
<div>Christ the Saviour Orthodox Church ([[OCA]]), Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Image by [[User:Misha|Misha]], October 30, 2005. <br />
{{cc-by-sa-2.5}}</div>Mishahttps://orthodoxwiki.org/index.php?title=User:Misha&diff=23916User:Misha2005-12-30T19:50:10Z<p>Misha: wikify</p>
<hr />
<div>Greetings. I am exploring Orthodoxy and have found this a great resource for a geeky type like me. You can find me on [[Wikipedia:User:Sensor|Wikipedia]] and also on the [[Commons:User:Sensor|Wikimedia Commons]]. Glory to God! - [[User:Misha|Misha]] 13:48, December 30, 2005 (CST)</div>Mishahttps://orthodoxwiki.org/index.php?title=User:Misha&diff=23915User:Misha2005-12-30T19:48:26Z<p>Misha: Created user page</p>
<hr />
<div>Greetings. I am exploring Orthodoxy and have found this a great resource for a geeky type like me. You can find me on Wikipedia and also on the Wikimedia Commons. Glory to God! - [[User:Misha|Misha]] 13:48, December 30, 2005 (CST)</div>Misha