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Moses the Hungarian

2013-05-17T05:34:40Z

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'''Moses the Hungarian''' ({{lang-ru|Моисей Угрин}} - ''Moisey Ugrin''; {{lang-hu|Magyar Mózes}}; died [[July 26]], 1043) was a [[w:Kievan Rus'|Kievan Russian]] [[monk]] of [[w:Hungarians|Hungarian]] origin. He is venerated as a [[saint]] by the [[Eastern Orthodox Church]].

Moses was born around 990-995. He probably left [[w:Transylvania|Transylvania]] to serve the [[w:Grand Duke of Kiev|princely family]] in Kiev. Between 1015 and 1018, already preparing to become a monk, he was in the escort of [[w:Family life and children of Vladimir I|Predslava]], the daughter of [[Vladimir of Kiev]] and sister of the future Prince [[w:Yaroslav I the Wise|Yaroslav I the Wise]]<ref name="ivancso">{{hu icon}} István Ivancsó, [http://www.aetas.hu/1999_3/99-3-15.htm "Egy elfelejtett szent: Magyar Mózes" ("Moses the Hungarian: a Forgotten Saint")], in [http://www.aetas.hu/ ''Aetas'']; retrieved [[November 5]], 2007</ref>.

Following the [[w:History of Poland (966–1385)|Polish]] [[w:Kiev Expedition (1018)|expedition of 1018]], he was carried to Poland as a prisoner and could only return in 1025. Moses spent the rest of his life in the [[Monastery of the Kiev Caves]].<ref name="ivancso"/>

Although the Hungarians were mostly [[paganism|pagan]] when he was born, and later they became an Orthodox Christian, the Hungarian chieftain of Transylvania, the [[w:Gyula II|Gyula]], was [[baptism|baptized]] in [[Constantinople]], which made it possible for Moses to travel to Kiev and settle there.

==References==
<references/>

== Source ==
* [http://www.aetas.hu/1999_3/99-3-15.htm Egy elfelejtett szent: Magyar Mózes]

[[Category: Monastics]]

Stefan Wu Zhiquan

2013-05-15T17:05:48Z

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Archpriest '''Stefan Wu Zhiquan''' (大司祭斯特梵·吴志全神父; 1925-1970) was archpriest of [[Chinese Orthodox Church]]

Fr. Stefan Wu was a Chinese born in [[w:Beijing|Beijing]] at the [[Russian Orthodox Mission in China|Mission]] on [[January 28]], 1925. The Russians also knew him by his Manchu surname Min.

He undertook theological training and served as [[reader]] in Ss. Peter & Paul Church in Hong Kong. Fr. Stefan was musically trained as a choir director.

As a [[priest]], he served as the last rector in Harbin at St. Alexis church.

During the "[[w:Cultural Revolution|Cultural Revolution]]" on [[May 17]], 1970, he died in a Harbin prison after 3 years of incarceration and much suffering.

Before his temple they had placed a table covered with sharp rubble, and on rubble they have put Archpriest Stefan on his knees. They have dressed him in clown's dressing gown, on his head they put up a cap, filled with metal shavings. His face was smeared with soot. During two days Father Stefan was beaten over the head with a wooden hammer. Also, he was beaten with steel rods on shoulders,. His tormentors spat on his cross, until half-dead, he was taken to a prison hospital. They treated him lightly there and in the same prison they shot him.

Remains of the new [[martyr]] rest in Orthodox cemetery Sankeshu near Harbin. His grave is currently located at the Huangshan Russian Orthodox Cemetery.

==Source==
*[http://www.orthodox.cn/localchurch/harbin/stefanwu_en.htm Archpriest Stefan Wu Zhiquan]

[[Category: Clergy]]
[[Category: Priests]]
[[Category: Martyrs]]

Theophilos (Ionescu)

2013-05-12T11:06:19Z

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Redirect [[Theophilus (Ionescu) of Sèvres]]

Teofil (Ionescu) of Sèvres

2013-05-12T10:51:08Z

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His Eminence '''Theophilus''' or '''Teofil (Ionescu)''' (1894-1975) was a [[bishop]] of [[Church of Romania]] and previously a bishop of [[Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia]].

== Biography ==
He was born on [[October 14]], 1894 in Boboc, in the Buzau district of Romania.

In 1915, he entered the [[Tismana Monastery]] at age fourteen and was [[tonsure]]d and [[ordination|ordained]] [[hierodeacon]] that same year.

He appointed proto-psalte (‘proto-reader’) of the Metropolitan Cathedral in Bucharest in 1918 and ordained to the [[priest]]hood in 1921.

He appointed superior of the Patriarchal Chanting School and assistant priest at the Patriarchal Cathedral in Bucharest.

In 1925, he founded the Patriarch Miron Missionary Association (named after the first Romanian Patriarch, Miron (Elie Cristea, 1868-1939) and a religious journal "The Good Word". He also founded a home for the elderly and a canteen for the poor.

In 1928, he graduated from the Nifon Metropolitul Seminary in Bucharest, receiving his licentiate in Theology for his dissertation, "The Life and Work of Metropolitan [[Peter Mogila]] of Kiev" (Viaţa şi opera Mitropolitului Petru Movilă al Kievului).

He went on to receive his master’s degree in Paris at the Protestant Faculty of Theology with the very same dissertation.

In 1938, Patriarch [[Miron (Cristea)]] appointed him rector of the Romanian Holy Archangels [[Parish]] in Paris, France.

In 1942, he was elevated to [[miter|mitre]]d [[archimandrite]], a rare distinction in the Romanian Church.

In 1945, the communist hold on the church authorities in Romania forced them to remove Archimandrite Teofil from his position at the parish in Paris. He moved to the United States, and became priest at the Saint Symeon Romanian Church in Detroit. He was elected president of the Diocesan Council. The previous hierarch for the Romanian Orthodox in America, [[Polycarp (Moruşca) of Detroit]] {Pompei Morusca, 1883-1958}, had returned to Romania and was not allowed by the government to leave Romania and to return to the United States).

In 1951, [[Valerian (Trifa) of Detroit|Viorel D. Trifa]] (1914-1987), a Romanian Orthodox activist newly arrived in the United States, led his followers to the headquarters of the Patriarchal Romanian Church in [[:w:Grass Lake, Michigan|Grass Lake, Michigan]]. The Romanian Patriarchate at that time was under the control of the communist Romanian government. Trifa and his followers chased out the Patriarchal party, and took over the headquarters. Then, Trifa was elected Bishop for Romanian parishes in the United States. Tonsured a [[monk]] and taking the name Valerian, he was then consecrated by members of an noncanonical Ukrainian Orthodox group. Archimandrite Teofil at that point was on good terms with Bishop Valerian and his [[Diocese]].

In 1946, [[Metropolitan]] Visarion (Puiu, 1879-1964) of the Romanian Patriarchate, was sentenced to death by the communists in absentia. Metropolitan Visarion was in Western Europe at the time, and the Romanian government was never able to serve the arrest warrant. The Holy Archangels Parish in Paris became a center for Romanian refugees, and it was there that Metropolitan Visarion established the Romanian Orthodox Diocese for Western Europe. The efforts of the communist regime to take over the Holy Archangels parish in Paris obliged the faithful to break canonical relations with the Romanian Patriarchate, and to join, out of necessity, the [[Russian Orthodox Church Abroad]]. The Diocese followed the [[Revised Julian Calendar|new calendar]], as had the Romanian Church since 1925. This was allowed to continue by the Church Abroad for pastoral reasons.

In 1954, the aged Metropolitan Visarion chose Archimandrite Teofil as his successor, and he was [[consecration of a bishop|consecrated]] to the episcopate by Metropolitan Visarion, Saint Archbishop [[John (Maximovitch) the Wonderworker|John (Maximovitch)]] (1896-1966) of Brussels and Western Europe, and Bishop Nathaniel (Lvov) (1906-1986) of Carthage and Tunis. Metropolitan Visarion then retired. The consecration took place in the Saint Nicholas Church in Versailles on [[December 26]], 1954.

Bishop Teofil was given the title ‘of [[w:Sèvres|Sèvres]]’ (Severineanul in Romanian), after a small town near Paris. His Diocese included the parishes in Western Europe and a few in the United States and Canada. After returning to the United States, Bishop Teofil then denounced Bishop Valerian (Trifa) as a ‘self-ordained [[heretic]],’ and began a campaign to take over his Diocese. This ultimately failed miserably, as Bishop Teofil’s Diocese never had more than a few parishes. Bishop Valerian’s episcopal consecration was later regularized by Bishops of the [[OCA|North American Metropolia]], and he joined his Diocese to the new Orthodox Church in America in 1970 as the Romanian Episcopate (the largest Romanian Church grouping in the United States.

In 1982, then Archbishop Valerian left the United States to avoid deportation for alleged fascist activities with the [[w:Iron Guard|Iron Guard]] during World War II in Romania. He settled in [[w:Portugal|Portugal]], where he reposed in 1987.

Bishop Teofil assisted Archbishop [[Seraphim (Ivanov) of Chicago|Seraphim (Ivanov)]], 1897-1987) of [[Diocese of Chicago and Mid-America (ROCOR)|Chicago, Detroit, and Midwest America]] consecrate a bishop for the Greek Old Calendar Church, Bishop [[Akakios (Pappas)]] the Elder, of Talantion, on [[December 19]], 1960. He also assisted Archbishop John (Maximovich) to consecrate a bishop for the Western Rite French Orthodox Church in 1964, Bishop [[Jean-Nectaire (Kovalevsky) of Saint-Denis|Jean-Nectaire (Evgraf Evgrafovich Kovalevsky, 1905-1970) of Saint Denis]].

‘Metropolitan’ Pangratios (Vrionis, of ill repute) claims Bishop Teofil was one of his co-consecrators in 1970. However, there were no witnesses to this ‘event’ other than Pangratios and those he claimed consecrated him. Conveniently, all were deceased when Pangratios revealed their names. During the conference of the academic society Daco-Romania, on [[December 6]], 1970, Bishop Teofil commemorated Pope [[Paul VI]] and the Romanian Uniate Bishop Basile Cristea, who attended the Liturgy, during the Great Entrance. He also commemorated among the reposed the deceased Romanian Uniate Bishop Jules Hossu of Cluj-Gherla.

When Metropolitan [[Philaret (Voznesensky) of New York|Philaret]] (Georgy Nikolaevich Voznesensky, 1903-1985), First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad, demanded an explanation, Bishop Teofil attempted to justify his actions by claiming that he had done it "in the name of ecumenism and as part of the fight against the Patriarchs of Moscow and Bucharest, who have appropriated the point of view of the regime and are without faith and are even criminals, in that they have perpetuated the assassinations and the persecutions against the Greek Catholic [Uniate] Church of Romania, under the false pretext of aiding their integration into the Orthodox Church". Having been reproved by the Synod of the Church Abroad (it might be explained here that the Romanian Diocese of the Church Abroad, as well as the Bulgarian Diocese under Bishop [[Kyrill (Yonchev) of Pittsburgh|Kyrill (Yonchev]], later joined [[OCA]], 1920-2007), and the American Orthodox Mission under Archbishop [[James (Toombs) of Manhattan|James (Toombs, +1970) of Manhattan]], were all granted a wide ranging autonomy], Bishop Teofil "evolved in a manner more and more contradictory".

Which led him to the point where, on [[January 17]], 1972, he petitioned Patriarch Justinian (Ioan Marina, 1901-1977) of Bucharest and Romania (whom he had condemned as without faith and a criminal a year and a half before) to be received into the Romanian Patriarchate. The Romanian Patriarchate accepted him on [[March 10]], 1972.

On [[April 23]], 1972, Bishop Teofil signed a pastoral letter in which he reaffirmed his faithfulness to the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad.

On [[May 8]], 1972, he went to the Uniate Monastery at Chevetogne, France, to greet the visiting Patriarch Justinian, and on the following day, wrote to his diocese that he was, "henceforth, after years and years of going astray, once again in the bosom of the Mother Church". The Council at his Cathedral notified Bishop Teofil they "no longer depended on him", and on [[May 21]], 1972, Metropolitan Philaret came from New York to celebrate the Liturgy and to announce that he had "received the Diocese and all its parishes under his direct authority". The [[Synod]] of the Church Abroad deposed Bishop Teofil and reduced him to the monastic state for participating in the consecration of a deposed priest, Bishop Germain (Gilles Bertrand Hardy), as a Bishop for the [[Orthodox Church of France|French Orthodox Church]] (two Hierarchs from Romania also participated in the consecration, Nicolae {Corneanu, b.1923; Met. Nicolae was the center of controversy in May 2008 when he received communion from a Romanian Uniate Bishop at the consecration of the new Uniate Queen of Peace church in Timisoara, Romania}, Archbishop of Timisoara and Metropolitan of Banat, and Bishop Anthony of Ploesti).

In December 1974, the Romanian Patriarchate elevated Bishop Teofil to [[Archbishop]]. Totally cut off from the Romanian emigre community in Paris, Teofil, was able to speak to one of his former priests, admitted he had committed a grave error in leaving the Church Abroad, and further, said that he had become a hostage of the Securitate, the Romanian equivalent of the KGB.

He died on [[May 9]], 1975, and was buried, due to the efforts of Archpriest Michel Constandache, in the Parisian Cemetery of Montparnasse, next to the grave of Metropolitan [[Visarion (Puiu)]].

== External links ==
* [http://www.rocorstudies.org/church-people/lives-of-bishops/2009/06/29/archbishop-teofil-ionescu-of-sevres/ Archbishop Teofil (Ionescu) of Sevres]
* [http://www.ziarullumina.ro/memoria-bisericii/memoria-bisericii-imagini-arhiepiscopul-teofil-ionescu Memoria Bisericii în imagini: Arhiepiscopul Teofil Ionescu]
* [http://www.crestinortodox.ro/dictionarul-teologilor-romani/teofil-ionescu-84710.html Teofil Ionescu]
* [http://www.ortodoxia.de/html/arhiepiscopul_roman_teofil_ionescu.html Arhiepiscopul român Teofil Ionescu]

[[Category: Bishops]]
[[Category:20th-century bishops]]

Cyprian (Pijoff)

2013-05-12T07:16:24Z

Чръный человек: Created page with "# Redirect Cyprian (Pyzhov)"

# Redirect [[Cyprian (Pyzhov)]]

Orthodox Seminary of Kuopio

2013-05-10T01:04:59Z

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The '''Orthodox Seminary of Kuopio''' provides the theological education of the [[clergy]] for the [[Church of Finland]] in coordination with the department of Orthodox Theology of the [[w:University_of_Eastern_Finland|University of Eastern Finland]].
{{stub}}
==History==
The Church of Finland established a [[seminary]] in 1918 after Finland gained independence from Russia and the Bolsheviks who had assumed power in Russia. The seminary provided a full curriculum of studies until 1988 when, through agreement with the University of Joensuu, those students preparing to serve the Church began to receive a large part of their theological training at the Faculty of Orthodox Theology of the University of Joensuu. The seminary, which is attached to the Archbishop's chancery in Kuopio, continues to provide liturgical training and spiritual direction for the theological students under the guidance of the [[archbishop]].

In January 2009, the University of Joensuu merged with the University of Kuopio to form the University of Eastern Finland.

==Source==
*[http://philotimo-leventia.blogspot.com/2011/01/orthodox-church-of-finland.html The Orthodox Church of Finland]

[[Category: Seminaries]]

Athanasius the Reader

2013-05-08T01:16:34Z

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The Holy [[martyr]] '''Athanasius the Reader''' was a devout believer in Our Lord Christ who with Demetrian the [[deacon]] and the [[priest]] Aristocles of Tamasa were martyred for their faith for preaching the [[Gospel]] of Christ on the Island of Cyprus in the early fourth century. St. Athanasius is commemorated on [[June 20]] with Ss. Demetrian and Aristocles.

==Martyrdom==
Other than the record of his martyrdom along with Deacon Demetrian and the Priest Aristocles little is known of the life of the Reader Athanasius. He and Dcn. Demetrian met Father Aristocles when Fr. Aristocles returned to his native city Tamasa on Cyprus to suffer for Christ. Fr. Aristocles had become fearful of the persecutions under the emperor Maximian Galerius and left his position at the [[cathedral]] to hide in a mountain cave. During prayer a light shone upon him, and he heard a command from the Lord to return to the island of Cyprus and suffer for Christ. Obedient to Our Lord's call Fr. Aristocles returned to Cyprus, visiting along the way the [[church]] of the holy [[Apostle Barnabas]]. There, he met Athanasius and Demetrian.

Having told them about his vision, Fr. Aristocles joined Ss. Demetrian and Athanasius, and the three continued to the city of Salamis. In Salamis, the three began to preach to the people about the Lord Jesus Christ and denounced the folly of idol-worship. Soon, the [[paganism|pagans]] arrested the three [[saint]]s and brought them before the governor. Seeing that they were steadfast in their faith in Christ, the governor ordered the beheading of Aristocles, and the burning of Demetrian and Athanasius. When the martyrs remained unharmed by the fire, they were beheaded by sword. St. Athanasius and his companions were martyred in the year 306.

==Sources==
*[http://oca.org/saints/lives/2013/06/20/101767-martyr-athanasius-the-reader-of-cyprus OCA: Martyr Athanasius the Reader of Cyprus]
*[http://www.missionstclare.com/english/people/jun20o.html The Holy Martyrs Aristokles the Presbyter, Demetrian, and Athanasias]

[[Category: Saints]]
[[Category: Martyrs]]
[[Category: 4th-century saints]]

Athanasius the Martyr of Sabaste

2013-05-06T01:32:05Z

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The Holy [[martyr]] '''Athanasius''' was a member of the Holy [[Forty Martyrs of Sebaste]] who refused to sacrifice to [[Paganism|pagan]] gods, and suffered for Christ around 320. He is remembered on [[March 9]] with the other thirty-nine martyrs.

==Martyrdom==
Athanasius was a member of the army of Licinius who was co-emperor of the Roman Empire with [[Constantine the Great]]. Licinius, who had reneged on his acceptance of the [[Edict of Milan]] and reverted to paganism, was preparing his army to fight against Constantine. Fearing mutiny, he decided to remove all Christians from his army. At the time, a company of forty Cappadocians that included Athanasius was stationed in the Armenian city of Sebaste under the command of the pagan Agricola.

When these brave soldiers, who had distinguished themselves in many battles, refused to offer sacrifice to the pagan gods, Agricola locked them up in prison. As punishment, Agricola had the holy soldiers thrown into a lake near the city with a guard stationed on the shore to prevent them from coming out of the water. As it was a severely cold winter, a warm bath house had been set up on the shore as an enticement to break the will of the martyrs and encourage them to sacrifice to the pagan gods. Under these conditions one of the soldiers came out of the water to offer sacrifice, but one of the guards, Aglaius, took his place. As morning came, the pagans were surprised to see the martyrs still alive with their guard Aglaius amongst them glorifying Christ. This led to the next stage of torture as the guards led the holy soldiers out of the water and broke their legs. As the martyrs died, their bodies were placed on a cart and committed to a fire, after which their charred bones were thrown into the water, so that Christians would not gather them up.

Three days later, the martyrs appeared in a dream to St. Peter, Bishop of Sebaste, and commanded him to bury the remains of the martyrs. Bishop Peter, together with several [[clergy]], gathered the [[relics]] of Athanasius and the glorious martyrs by night and buried them with honor.

==Source==
*[http://oca.org/saints/lives/2013/03/09/100737-martyr-athanasius-of-the-holy-40-martyrs-of-sebaste OCA: Martyr Athanasius of the Holy 40 Martyrs of Sebaste]

[[Category: Saints]]
[[Category: Martyrs]]
[[Category: 4th-century saints]]

Germanos (Karavaggelis) of Amaseia

2013-05-03T01:09:26Z

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His Eminence '''Germanos (Karavaggelis)''', (Greek: Γερμανός Καραβαγγέλης), was a hierarch under the [[jurisdiction]] of the [[Church of Constantinople]]. He was the Metropolitan of the [[Metropolis of Kastoria]] from 1900 to 1908 during the time he was an active participant in the Greek Struggle for Macedonia, favoring the Greek position against that of the Bulgarians, as the [[Ottoman empire|Ottoman Empire]] was disintegrating prior to World War I. He was among the candidates for election to the [[see]] of Constantinople in 1921.

==Life==
Stylianos Karavangelis (Greek: Στυλιανός Καραβαγγέλης) was born on [[June 16]], 1866 in Stipsi on the Island of Lesbos in the Aegean Sea. In 1868, he moved with his family to Adramiti on the west coast of Asia Minor. He had a brother and six sisters. His grandfather had taken part in the Greek revolution of 1821. Stylianos studied at the [[Theological School of Halki]], graduating in 1888. During this time he also was [[ordination|ordained]] a [[deacon]] with the name Germanos. He continued his education, studying theology and philosophy at Leipzig and Bonn. He returned to Constantinople in 1891 to teach religious history at the school at Halki.

In 1895, Germanos was elected [[bishop]] of Pera in Constantinople. In 1900, he was appointed the Metropolitan of Kastoria in the name of the Greek state by the ambassador of Greece Nikolaos Mavrokordatos. The metropolis was then part of the mixed ethnic area of Macedonia in the Ottoman Empire and is now located in the periphery of West Macedonia, Greece. In Kastoria, he became involved in the Macedonian revolutionary movement. His activities supporting Greek interests during the Macedonian Struggle in Macedonia in the first decade of the twentieth century resulted in the demand, in 1907, by the Ottoman Turks for his removal from Macedonia by the Ecumenical Patriarchate.

After his removal in 1908, Metr. Germanos was elected to the see of Amaseia in Pontus where during the following years the Turkish government took aggressive action to remove the Pontian Greeks. In the election of a new [[patriarch]] of Constantinople in 1921, Metr. Germanos' name was included among the final three-member candidates in the list with Metropolitans Nikolaos of Caesarea and [[Meletius IV (Metaxakis) of Constantinople|Meletius of Athens]][http://constantinople.ehw.gr/Forms/fLemmaBodyExtended.aspx?lemmaID=11472]. In 1923 after the exchange of populations, he was elected the Metropolitan of the Metropolis of Ioannina by the [[Church of Constantinople|Ecumenical Patriarchate]], followed in 1924, with his appointment by the Ecumenical Patriarchate as the Exarch of Hungary with his see in Vienna, Austria.

Metr. Germanos reposed on [[February 11]], 1935 in Vienna, Austria.

{{start box}}
{{succession|
before=?|
title=Bishop of Pera|
years=1895 - 1900|
after=?}}
{{succession|
before=?|
title=Metropolitan of Kastoria|
years=1900 - 1908|
after=Ioakeim (Vaxevanidis)}}
{{succession|
before=?|
title=Metropolitan of Amaseia|
years=1908 - 1923|
after=?}}
{{succession|
before=?|
title=Metropolitan of Ioannina|
years=1923 - 1924|
after=?}}
{{succession|
before=?|
title=Exarch of Hungary|
years=1924 - 1935|
after=?}}
{{end box}}

==Sources==
*[http://www.fhw.gr/chronos/13/en/foreign_policy/people/index.html Metropolitan of Kastoria Germanos Karavangelis]
*[http://www.imkastorias.gr/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&layout=item&id=12&Itemid=31 Germanus Karavangelis Metropolitan of Kastoria (1900-1908)] In Greek
*[http://mk.wikipedia.org/wiki/Германос_Каравангелис Germanos Karavangelis] In Macedonian
*[[Wikipedia: Germanos_Karavaggelis]]
*[http://pravoslavnasrbkinja.blogspot.com/2012/05/pontian-genocide-may-19.html Pontian Genocide]

==External link==
*[http://www.scribd.com/doc/49281820/The-Macedonian-Struggle-1903-1912-by-Basil-K-Gounaris Basil K. Gounaris: The Macedonian Struggle 1903-1912. Paving the Way for the Liberation]

[[Category: Bishops]]
[[Category: Bishops of Kastoria]]
[[Category: Bishops of Amaseia]]
[[Category: 19th-20th-century bishops]]

Abdallah Ibn Al-Fadl

2013-05-01T20:46:51Z

Angellight 888: add link; reference;

'''Abdallah ibn al-Fadl al-Antaki''' ({{ar icon}} عبد الله بن الفضل بن عبد الله المطران الانطاكي) was a [[deacon]] and translator active in Antioch during the middle of the 11th century, during a period of renewed Byzantine rule over the city. He was responsible for a large number of patristic translations, as well as original theological and philosophical works.

Little is known of his life, apart from what can be gleaned from manuscripts of his texts. He was a deacon and the grandson of a [[bishop]]. He received an excellent education in both Arabic and Greek, having studied Arabic grammar with the famous poet [[w:Al-Maʿarri|Abul ʿAla Al-Maʿarri]]. Several of his works and translations were commissioned by notables from Antioch and neighboring cities in [[Muslim]] territory.

== Original Works ==
1. The Book of Benefit (Kitab al-Manfa‘a)

2. Discourse on the [[Holy Trinity]] (Kalam fi l-lahut)

3. Book of the Joy of the Believer (Kitab Bahjat al-Mu'min)

4. Exposition of the Orthodox Faith (Sharh al-Amana al-Mustaqima wa-Ibanat Ghalat al-Ya'aqiba wa-l-Nastur 'Ala Sabil al-Ijaz)

5. Questions and Responses on the Trinity and the Incarnation (Masa'il wa-Ajwiba hawla al-Tathlith wa-l-Ittihad)

==External Links==
* Alexander Treiger. ''[http://www.academia.edu/2344276/Abdallah_ibn_al-Fadl_al-Antaki Abdallah ibn al-Fadl al-Antaki].'' Academia.edu. pp. 89-113.

[[Category: Clergy]]
[[Category: Deacons]]

Cathedral of St. Prince Vladimir Equal to the Apostles (St. Petersburg)

2013-04-28T01:19:42Z

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[[File:PrinceVladimirChurchStPeterbg.jpg|right|thumb|250px|Cathedral of St. Prince Vladimir Equal to the Apostles (St. Petersburg), Russia]]
The '''Cathedral of St. Prince Vladimir Equal to the Apostles''', (Russian: собор Святого равноапостольного князя Владимира), more commonly known as '''The Prince Vladimir Cathedral''', (Russian: Князь-Владимирский Собор), is the culmination of a series church structures built on the same site in St. Petersburg, Russia during the eighteenth century. The cathedral which is located in the Petrogradsky District of St. Petersburg was completed in 1789.

==History==
In 1708, a wooden church, dedicated to [[Nicholas of Myra|St. Nicholas]], was built on the present site of the Prince Vladimir Church, an area that is often flooded when the Neva River overflows its banks. This building was soon replaced by a structure of varying descriptions, "stone" and "daub and wattle", in 1719, dedicated to the Dormition (Assumption) of the [[Theotokos]] while a stone cathedral was planned under orders of Empress Anna Ioannovna. In the meantime, in 1740, construction of a stone church, designed by Pietro Trezzini, began next to the Church of the Assumption under an order of Empress Anna of Russia. This church, however, was left incomplete, with the bulk of the work on the construction of the church left in the rough, when Empress Elizabeth of Russia came to the throne in 1742.

The project was renewed after the ascension of Empress Elizabeth to the throne of Russia with construction now under the supervision by the architect Antonio Rinaldi in 1765/1766. Under the original plan to name the new Cathedral after the Dormition of the Mother of God, Rinaldi was instructed to follow the design of the Dormition Cathedral in the Kremlin. However, a major fire on [[March 12]], 1772 severely damaged the the half-completed building and it was eleven years before work resumed on its construction. The church was finally completed in 1789 to the Neoclassical designs of Ivan Egorovich Starov.

As the completion of the cathedral coincided with the unification of Russia and the Crimean Khanate, the event probably led to the dedication of the Cathedral to St. [[Vladimir of Kiev|Vladimir Equal-to-the-Apostles]], the Kievan Prince who brought Christianity to Russia in 988 AD.

During the Soviet years the Cathedral of Prince Vladimir survived with little alteration although much of the interior decoration was removed after the Revolution. The cathedral was closed formally only in 1926 and 1927. Otherwise, the cathedral continued to function, even through the worst years of the Siege of Leningrad. From 1938 to 1941, the Cathedral of Prince Vladimir served as the seat of the Eparchy of the city. The building became a sanctuary for some of the most important religious treasures of St. Petersburg, including the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God from 1941 to 2001 when it was returned to the [[Kazan Cathedral (St. Petersburg)|Kazan Cathedral]].

==Architectural style==
The style of the cathedral features a transition from baroque to classicism, such as use of arched gables. The building is 57 meters high with five domes and a the bell tower. Its interior is simple, without wall paintings with only four images of the four [[Evangelist]]s and copies of paintings by Raphael. The [[iconostasis]] is made of carved wood in the "Empire" style.

==Sources==
*[[Wikipedia: Prince_Vladimir_Church]]
*[http://www.saint-petersburg.com/cathedrals/prince-vladimir-cathedral.asp Prince Vladimir Cathedral]
*[http://www.about-resorts.com/tur/ru/spb/princevladimircathedral St. Vladimir's Cathedral]

[[Category: Churches]]
[[Category: Churches in Russia]]

Symeon of Thessalonica

2013-04-24T01:06:37Z

Wsk: new article

Our father among the [[saint]]s '''Symeon''', was a [[monasticism|monastic]], theologian, and [[Archbishop]] of [[Thessalonica]] during the fifteenth century. A Palamite and great liturgist, he was the archbishop of Thessalonica during its final days before its capture by the [[Ottoman empire|Ottoman Turks]]. His [[feast day]] is [[September 15]].

==Life==
The birth date of Symeon is unknown, but was probably between 1381 and 1387. He was born in [[Constantinople]] a city that he greatly admired. He became a [[monk]] in one of the monasteries of Constantinople, possibly the Xanthopoulon [[monastery]], and was [[ordination|ordained]] a hieromonk before he was [[consecration of a bishop|consecrated]] to the [[episcopate]]. He was installed as Archbishop of Thessalonica in 1416/1417, and arrived as Ottoman forces were surrounding the city. In June 1422 as the Ottomans were forming their siege, Abp. Symeon slipped out of the city in an attempt to reach Constantinople and persuade the emperor to send more forces to protect Thessalonica. Narrowly escaping capture by the Ottoman forces, he was only able to reach [[Mount Athos]], where he was convinced to return to Thessalonica.

Without any help from Constantinople, the city's despot (governor), Andronicus Palaiologos, turned to [[Venice]] in the hope that the maritime republic would keep Thessalonica out of Ottoman hands. Venetian rule, however, couldn't prevent the Ottoman sultan Murad II from maintaining his siege, and conditions in the city remained desperate. These events were described by Abp. Symeon in his ''Logos Historikos''.

Abp. Symeon died, probably in September 1429, just shortly before Thessalonica fell to the Ottoman Turks in March 1430. In 1981, Abp. Symeon was [[glorification|glorified]] by the [[Church of Constantinople]].

==Works==
* ''Politico-Historical Works'', ed. David Balfour (Vienna, 1979) - includes the Greek text of the ''Logos Historikos''.
* ''Ἔργα θεολογικά, Ἁγίου Συμεὼν ἀρχιεπισκόπου Θεσσαλονίκης, 1416/17-1429'' (Theological works of St. Symeon, Archbishop of Thessalonika, 1416/76-1429) ed. & intro. David Balfour. (Thessaloniki, 1981).
* ''The Liturgical Commentaries'', ed. Steven Hawkes-Teeples (Toronto, 2011).
* 'Logos Historikos' (English translation) in ''Venice and Thessalonica 1423-1430: Greek Accounts'', trans. John R. Melville-Jones (Padua, 2006), pp. 87–142
* 'A Discourse on the Priesthood to a Pious Monk', in ''On the Priesthood and the Holy Eucharist (According to St. Symeon of Thessalonica, Patriarch Kallinikos of Constantinople and St. Mark of Ephesus)'', trans. George D. Dragas (Rollinsford NH, 2004)
*"Dialogue against the Heresies"
*"Only True Faith of Us Christians"
*"Sacred Rituals and Sacraments of the Church", first published by Patriarch Dositheos of Jerusalem in Jassi, Moldavia, in 1683 and reprinted by J. P. Migne in his Patrologia Graeca (PG vol. 155), Paris 1866

In addition, he also wrote many hymns and liturgical works and a discourse on the [http://www.holytrinitymission.org/books/english/priesthood_symeon_thessalonica.htm priesthood].

{{start box}}
{{succession|
before=Gabriel|
title=[[Metropolis of Thessalonica|Archbishop of Thessalonica]]|
years=1416 - 1429|
after=Gregory}}
{{end box}}

==Sources==
*[[Wikipedia: Symeon_of_Thessaloniki]]
*[http://www.holytrinitymission.org/books/english/priesthood_symeon_thessalonica.htm On the Priesthood: Introductory Note]

[[Category: Bishops]]
[[Category: Bishops of Thessalonica]]
[[Category: 15th-century bishops]]
[[Category: Saints]]
[[Category: Greek Saints]]
[[Category:15th-century saints]]
[[Category: Monastics]]

Sophianos of Dryinoupolis

2013-04-23T21:43:04Z

Angellight 888: add image;

His Grace Bishop '''Sophianos of Dryinoupolis''' (16xx - 1711) was a signigicant religious figure and Orthodox [[missionary]] in Ottoman Epirus, around the turn of the 18th century.

==Life==
[[File:Sophianos of Dryinoupolis.jpg|right|thumb|Icon of Sophianos of Dryinoupolis.]]
He was probably born in the village of Polytsiani, in the [[w:Pogon, Albania|Pogon]] region of [[w:Northern Epirus|Northern Epirus]].

At the time he became bishop of [[w:Dropull|Dryinoupolis]] (modern southwest Albania)<ref group="note">From the Roman period there was a fortified settlement named ''Hadrianoupolis'' in the region, named after the Roman emperor Hadrian. During the 6th century the Byzantine emperor Justinian I, as part of his fortification plans against barbarian invasions, moved the settlement 4 kilometers southeast in the modern village of Peshkëpi, in order to gain a more secure position. The city is also referred in Byzantine sources as ''Ioustinianoupolis.'' During the 11th century the city was named ''[[w:Dropull|Dryinoupolis]]'', a name possibly deriving from its former name or from the nearby river. It was also, from the 5th century, the see of a bishopric (initially part of the Diocese of Nicopolis, Naupactus and then Ioannina).</ref> the religious composition of the region was changing due to massive conversions to [[Islam]].<ref>Tom Winnifrith. ''[http://books.google.ca/books?id=dkRoAAAAMAAJ&q=inauthor:%22Tom+Winnifrith%22&dq=inauthor:%22Tom+Winnifrith%22&hl=el&sa=X&ei=i_l2UZ2AE6vL0gH6tYDIAQ&ved=0CEsQ6AEwBQ Badlands, Borderlands: A History of Northern Epirus/Southern Albania].'' Gerald Duckworth, Limited, 2002. ISBN 9780715632017</ref>

In 1672 he founded a Greek school in the local monastery of Saint Athanasios.<ref>M. V. Sakellariou. ''[http://books.google.ca/books?hl=el&id=UV1oAAAAMAAJ&q=sophianos&pgis=1&redir_esc=y#search_anchor Epirus, 4000 years of Greek history and civilization].'' Ekdotikē Athēnōn, 1997. ISBN 9789602133712</ref> In recognition of the danger that the Christian religion was shrinking, Sophianos resigned his bishopric and became a wandering [[missionary]], preaching from village to village.

Sophianos' last days were spent in the monastery of Saint Athanasios in his hometown Polytsiani (Polican, [[w:Pogon, Albania|Pogon]]) where he taught religion and letters to the village children. Although uncanonized, he is considered a [[saint]] in his village.<ref>Pyrrus Ruches. ''[http://books.google.ca/books?id=2k9pAAAAMAAJ&q=Pyrrhus+Ruches&dq=Pyrrhus+Ruches&hl=en&sa=X&ei=m_p2UdSKJpC00AG68oGwCg&ved=0CDYQ6AEwAA Albania's Captives].'' Argonaut, Chicago 1965. p.33.</ref>

Because of his pious character he was respected and honored by both Christians and Muslims. Sophianos is considered the predecessor of [[Cosmas of Aetolia]] in the region.

Bishop Sophianos died on [[November 26]], 1711 AD.

==See also==
* [[Metropolis of Dryinoupolis, Pogoniani and Konitsa]]

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

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

==External Links==
* {{el icon}} [http://www.saint.gr/3723/saint.aspx Άγιος Σοφιανός επίσκοπος Δρυϊνουπόλεως καί Αργυροκάστρου]. Ορθόδοξος Συναξαριστής. 26/11/2013.
* {{el icon}} [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i0IQMBbPCY8 ΟΣΙΟΣ ΣΟΦΙΑΝΟΣ Ο ΣΗΜΕΙΟΦΟΡΟΣ (+26-11-1711)]. YouTube. Uploaded on Dec 8, 2010.

[[Category:Bishops]]
[[Category:Bishops of Dryinoupolis]]
[[Category:17th-18th-century bishops]]
[[Category:Missionaries]]
[[Category:Orthodoxy and Islam]]

Alexander (Pihach)

2013-04-22T21:11:55Z

Wsk: cleanup

[[File:AlexanderPihachArchhim.jpg|right|thumb|200px|Archimandrite Alexander (Pihach)]]
[[Archimandrite]] '''Alexander (Pihach)''' is a [[priest]] of the [[Orthodox Church in America]] appointed in 2012 as Dean of [[St. Catherine the Great Martyr Church (Moscow)|St. Catherine the Great Martyr Church]] in Moscow, Russia, the [[Metochion|representation church]] of the OCA to the [[Church of Russia]].

==Life==
Dennis Alexander Pihach was born in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada on [[June 27]], 1952 in an Orthodox Christian family with two brothers. Dennis entered St. Andrew’s College in Winnipeg, Manatoba, Canada from which he graduated in 1973 before continuing his education in Sociology and Slavic Studies and graduated from the University of Saskatchewan. After his graduation he entered in employment with Social Services.

In 1986, Dennis was [[ordination|ordained]] to the [[priest]]hood in the [[Archdiocese of Canada]] of the Orthodox Church in America and assigned to plant a mission in Yorkton, Saskatchewan while continuing his employment with Youth Addictions Services. The mission is now the Church of St. Mark. In 1996, Father Dennis was elected Dean of the Manitoba-Saskatchewan Deanery and appointed [[Chancellor]] of the Archdiocese of Canada. Two years later, he was assigned Rector of St. Herman of Alaska Sobor in Edmonton, Alberta.

On [[July 11]], 2009, Father Dennis was [[tonsure]]d to [[monasticism|monastic]] orders with the name Alexander and elevated to the dignity of [[Igumen]] of St. Elias Skete in Dickie Bush, Alberta. On [[September 1]], 2009, Father Alexander was appointed Interim Dean of Annunciation Cathedral in Ottawa, Ontario. In May 2011, he was elevated to the dignity of Archimandrite and returned to St. Herman Sobor on a full time basis. On [[October 16]], 2012, Archim. Alexander took on the duties of acting Dean of the [[St. Catherine the Great Martyr Church (Moscow)|Church of St. Catherine the Great Martyr In-the-Fields]] in Moscow, Russia.

On [[November 14]], 2012, the [[Holy Synod]] of the Orthodox Church in America approved the appointment of Archim. Alexander as Dean of the Church of St. Catherine the Great Martyr In-the-Fields in Moscow, Russia, and Representative of the Orthodox Church in America to the Moscow Patriarchate. On [[November 30]], 2012, His Holiness, Patriarch [[Kyrill (Gundyayev) of Moscow|Kyrill of Moscow]] and All Russia was formally advised of the appointment by His Beatitude, Metropolitan [[Tikhon (Mollard) of Washington|Tikhon]] of the Orthodox Church in America.

==Sources==
*[http://oca.org/news/headline-news/archimandrite-alexander-pihach-appointed-dean-moscows-st.-catherine-church OCA: Archimandrite Alexander (Pihach) appointed Dean of Moscow’s St. Catherine Church, OCA Representative to Patriarchate]
*[http://www.archdiocese.ca/orthodox/articles/archimandrite-alexander-pihach-appointed-dean-moscow’s-st-catherine-church-oca Archimandrite Alexander (Pihach) appointed Dean of Moscow’s St. Catherine Church, OCA Representative to Patriarchate]
*[http://ocapodvorie.org/en/clergy/aleksandr-pihach/ OCA Podvorie: Archimandrite Alexander (Pihach)]

[[Category: Monastics]]
[[Category: Clergy]]

Andrew (Rymarenko)

2013-04-21T06:52:06Z

Чръный человек: Created page with "# REDIRECT Andrew (Rymarenko) of Rockland"

# REDIRECT [[Andrew (Rymarenko) of Rockland]]

Adrian Rymarenko

2013-04-21T06:51:04Z

Чръный человек: Created page with "# Redirect Andrew (Rymarenko) of Rockland"

# Redirect [[Andrew (Rymarenko) of Rockland]]

Zahari Zograf

2013-04-21T01:08:52Z

Wsk: new article

[[File:Zograf_self.jpg|right|thumb|px250|Zahari Zograf, Self-Portrait]]
'''Zahari Zograf''', also known as '''Zahari Hristovich Dimitrov''', was a nineteenth century Bulgarian [[iconographer]] who is considered among the greatest painters of the Bulgarian National Revival of the nineteenth century. Zahari is noted for his [[icon]] painting as well as his murals in churches. He has often been regarded as the founder of secular art in Bulgaria for his introduction of everyday life elements in his work.

==Life==
Zahari was born in 1810 in the town of Samokov in southwest Bulgaria, into the family of Hristo Dimitrov, who had founded the Samokov iconographic school. As his father died in 1819, Zahari was taught by his brother Dimitar Zograf with whom he later worked as an equal. In 1827, he became a spiritual student of the [[monk]] Neophyte of Rila. In 1831 at the age of 21, Zahari was proclaimed a master and became an equal partner of his brother.

With his older brother Dimitar, Zahari painted the frescoes of the main church of the Rila Monastery, the largest and most famous [[monastery]] in Bulgaria. He is most known for his icons in the Church of Ss. Constantine and Helen of Plovdiv, the Church of the [[Theotokos]] in Koprivshtitsa, as well as in many monasteries. Among Zahari's best known frescoes are those in the main church of the Rila Monastery, in the [[chapel]] and the St. Nicholas Church at the [[Assumption of the Virgin Monastery (Bachkovo, Bulgaria)|Bachkovo Monastery]], the [[Dormition Monastery (Troyan, Bulgaria)|Troyan Monastery]], and the Transfiguration Monastery. In the latter three monasteries, Zahari also painted three mural portraits of himself, an action that was regarded as controversial at the time.

Zahari lived and worked on [[Mount Athos]] between 1851 and 1852. During that time he decorated the outer [[narthex]] of the [[Katholikon]] of the [[Great Lavra (Athos)|Great Lavra]] Monastery. He also did several donor portraits in various churches in his later years.

Zahari died of typhus on [[June 14]], 1853, leaving a large number sketches of unrealized work.

==Sources==
*[[Wikipedia: Zahari_Zograf]]
*[http://www.tutorgigpedia.com/ed/Zahari_Zograf Zahari Zograf]
*[[Wikipedia: Dimitar_Zograf]]
*[http://www.raphaelgallery.org/painting-Zahari%20Zograf-The%20circle%20of%20life,-61648.htm Zahari_Zograf]

[[Category: Iconographers]]

Andrew (Rymarenko) of Rockland

2013-04-19T14:11:36Z

Чръный человек: /* Biography */

'''Archbishop Andrew''' ({{lang-ru|Архиепископ Андрей}}, secular name '''Adrian Adrianovich Rymarenko''', {{lang-ru|Адриан Адрианович Рымаренко}}; 15 (27) March 1893, [[w:Romny|Romny]], [[w:Poltava Governorate|Poltava Governorate]] - July 12, 1978, [[w:Spring Valley|Spring Valley]], New York) was [[bishop]] of the [[Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia]], bishop of Rockland, vicar of [[Diocese of Eastern American and New York (ROCOR)|Eastern-American diocese]].

== Biography ==
Adrian Rymarenko was born on March 15/28, 1893 and raised in a wealthy and pious family in the town of Romny, Poltava province. As he recollects,
<blockquote>
I grew up in a pious family… I was surrounded by that Orthodox way of life which for generations had been created by [[Holy Russia]]. In our family, life proceeded according to the church calendar, according to the yearly church cycle. Feast days were as it were the signposts of life. At home there were constant Divine services, and not only molebens, but all-night vigils also.

… When I remember those years there inevitably rises before me an unforgettable picture: early morning, it’s still dark. I have only just woken up and I see in front of the icons, half-illumined by a lampada, my mother. She prays for a long time. But a still stronger impression was made on me by the early-morning Divine services, to which our mother often took us and to which we went no matter what the weather, autumn or winter! After these Divine services one always felt a kind of extraordinary inspiration, a kind of quiet joy.”
</blockquote>

He recalls that this way of life was not only characteristic of his family but of all society around him. Following the Revolution of 1905 all this changed. He says that peoples’ joy was now replaced with “disillusionment and desolation.” During this time he attended the St. Petersburg Polytechnical Institute and studied engineering where those all-pervading feelings of despair started to affect him. During this time he found his soul to cry out: “I cannot.” He says,
<blockquote>
“I felt that I could not live as people around me were living. I felt that I was lacking that life, the Orthodox way of life, which had surrounded me in my childhood and youth, that lightness of heart which I felt. I had the impression that I had been deprived of the air which I had breathed.”
</blockquote>
From this moment on he started to seek out ways to revive this in his life.

This new life was given to him in the person of Archpriest John Egorov who was the leader of a student group. He spent five years under the tutelage of this Archpriest and found opened up to him the “elemental reality of the life of Christ’s Church by which Holy Russia lived.” Of this “elemental reality” which was imparted to him, he says,
<blockquote>
“I understood that the Divine services are not merely a ritual, but in them are revealed the dogmas of the faith. They are the foundations of man’s reception of Divinity. Then, the examination and study of the works of the Fathers of the Church and the Patrisitic writings revealed to me the paths of life. When I had gone through the whole course taught by Fr. John, I had literall come back to life. I sensed the elemental power of Orthodoxy, I sensed the breath of life which it gave. I understood in what this life consisted.”
</blockquote>
After this time he went to Optina where he met the Elder, [[Anatolius II of Optina|Anatolius the Younger]] in 1921. At this time Eugenia Grigorievna was now in his life and she had gone to Optina before him to resolve questions about their marriage and his [[priesthood]]. Fr. Anatolius blessed both of these decisions and later in the summer Adrian came to ask more questions about the same subjects.

Matushka Eugenia Rymarenko was the daughter of prominent landowners in the province of Poltava. She studied in St. Petersburg and later transferred to Moscow. She had slowly moved away from the Church but after the death of her parents and her experiences connected with the Revolution she returned to the city of Romny, in the province of Poltava. There she met her future husband who had given her several religious books and inspired her to go to Optina. In recalling her first visit to Optina Monastery, she said:
<blockquote>
“Why I went to Fr. Anatoly at that time, I do not know. I had almost no understanding of eldership. I had only read Lodyzensky’s Trilogy: Higher Consciousness, Light Invisible and Dark Forces and [[Sergei Nilus]]’ book On the Bank of God’s River. Actually I wanted to visit the elder in order to get a look at him and hear from him some prediction of the future… Instead of a prediction of the future, I experienced joyful moments of repentance, and an unusual, peaceful state of mind and submission to the will of God. I was so won over by Batyushka that later, it was enough just to think of him in order to acquire a peaceful, bright state of mind.”
</blockquote>
He describes his first meeting with the Elder thusly:
<blockquote>
“I arrived at Optina on the day of SS. [[Peter and Paul]] at 6 o’clock in the morning, and stayed at the guest-house with the wonderful Monk Theodulus. He told Fr. Eustignius, Fr. Anatolius’ cell-attendant, that I had come. Batyushka immediately sent for me and blessed me to come to him after the Liturgy. Vladyka Micah celebrated the Liturgy. The service in the church of the Entrance was triumphant, and after the service I immediately went to Batyushka. There was a whole crowd of people around Batyushka’s house. They were mainly nuns. I was immediately let through and went to the Elder… He was friendly and affectionate. In one moment I completely forgot about what I had only just seen: through his questions the whole of my life was handed over to him. The conversation was mainly about my inner life. We talked about my pastorship. Feeling my unworthiness, I asked the Elder to forbid me to think of the priesthood, to which he, just like Elder [[Nectarius of Optina|Nectarius]] later, said to me: ‘Accept the priesthood without fail, otherwise you will suffer.’ When Batyushka asked me about my life, he suddenly said to me: ‘Go to the holy things in the holy corner.’ There he began to read the prayers of confession, and I thought that I would do confession, but Batyushka summarized everything that I had said, I confirmed my sinfulness, and he read the prayer of absolution. This was for me an unexpected prayer, I felt that I was reborn.”
</blockquote>
In 1921, Fr. Adrian began his pastoral duties in his native Romny at the Church of Alexander Nevsky. One of his parishioners describes this time of being surrounded by social unrest and the closing of churches. He says that Fr. Adrian served with feeling and that his sermons ignited the hearts of their listeners. Even though churches and monasteries were being closed this church was being filled with people. In no other church was there found such a spiritual life and devotion.

In 1926 the church in Romney was closed and Fr. Adrian was sent to Kiev where he was “under surveillance”. He says that at the beginning of this time there was very difficult but then he became close to a group of “pastor-ascetics” whom he described as his instructors and friends. In them he found the same preservation of that which he had longed for from back in his childhood. “All of them gave up their lives for what was already in my heart.” And they literally did. “With these clergy there went to prison, exile and death thousands of their flocks, who wanted to live in God and with God. On my shoulders lay the heavy responsibility of continuing the work of the martyred ascetics…”.

After the repose of Elder [[Anatoly of Optina]] Matushka Eugenia and Fr. Adrian became the spiritual daughter of Elder [[Nectarius of Optina]]. They came often to visit and stay for weeks with the Elder. The Elder would often tell Matushka, “[Fr. Adrian] is full of Orthodoxy… I rejoice that [Fr. Adrian] is fully Orthodox,” and often spoke of him “with such affection.” Matushka had more time to stay due to Fr. Adrian’s responsibilities in the parish. She would often read to the Elder as well as write correspondence for him and copy various passages from books.

During his time in Kiev, Fr Adrian says that God had mercy on him and spared him from prison but this was only at the present time. In 1929 he was imprisoned for a short term then released and continued his priestly duties, though much more cautiously due to being closely monitored by the government.

As the Revolution in Russia progressed and Optina was slowly being liquidated Fr. Nectarius was evicted from the monastery and came to live in a home in the village of Holmische in Briansky Province with a widower and his two boys. Here Matushka and Fr. Adrian would visit often until the Elder’s repose. For this Matushka would not be there but the Elder told her that Fr. Adrian would be and he was. Fr. Adrian left at two o’clock in the morning and, after much difficulty, arrived at four in the afternoon on April 29, 1928 on the day of the Elder’s repose. After his arrival, Fr. Adrian was present to read the Psalter for the Elder while he lay on his bed. As others were helping in assisting to turn the Elder in his bed icons of the Great-martyr Panteleimon and Saint Seraphim were brought from the reception room. One young lady said to the Elder,
<blockquote>
“Batyushka, bless Father Adrian with this.” With difficulty Batyushka reached out his hand, took the icon and put it on Father Adrian’s head. Then Father Adrian asked Batyushka to bless his whole family with the icon of Saint Seraphim. Shortly thereafter the Elder became unconscious. In her recollections of Elder Nectarius, Matushka Eugenia says that when the Elder’s condition changed, “Father Adrian saw that Batiuhka indeed was dying. He read the Canon for the Departure of the Soul; Batyushka was still alive. Falling on his knees, Father Adrian pressed himself to him, to his back under his mantle. Batyushka was still breathing for a little while, but his breaths became fewer and fewer. Seeing that Batyushka was dying, Father Adrian rose from his knees and covered him with the epitrachalion. After a few minutes Batyushka passed away. It was 8:30 on the evening of April 29, 1928.”
</blockquote>
While serving the flock in Kiev the Soviets were soon to invade and Fr. Adrian and those who were close to him fled to Germany where he was made Rector of the Resurrection Cathedral in Berlin. Here they faced constant bombings but nonetheless the Divine services were held every day in the cathedral. From here the small group was evacuated to the south of Germany in Würtemberg. Here, as in Berlin, a small group of people would gather, under Fr. Adrian’s guidance and a church was built and they immediately began to perform the Divine services, in each place building the Orthodox way of life which was surrounded by the confusion of a foreign land. About these communities that would grow up in Kiev, in Berlin and now in Würtemberg Fr. Adrian says,
<blockquote>
“Many at first looked on us as naïve people who did not live in accordance with the times. But we lived, we lived in God. Little by little attitudes towards us changed. Pilgrimages began. People who had come to the depths of despair acquired amongst us peace of soul and a quiet joy, and went away enlightened and in peace.”
</blockquote>
The next move was now to be to America. In 1949, Fr Adrian came with a small group of Russia immigrants and settled one hour north of [[w:New York City|New York City]] in [[w:Nyack, New York|Nyack]] in [[w:Rockland County|Rockland County]]. In the Fall of the same year, Archbishop [[Vitaly (Maximenko) of Jersey City|Vitaly]] of Jordanville and Archbishop [[Nikon (Rklitski) of Florida|Nikon]] asked that Fr. Adrian establish a women’s monastery to gather together nuns that had been scattered throughout the Diaspora and to establish the Orthodox way of life in this remote area. Fr. Adrian says that not only nuns but a significant number of the thousand displaced persons from Europe, came to settle around the monastery and became a large Orthodox family. Regarding this new settlement, Fr Adrian said,
<blockquote>
“It is not yet enough to establish a monastic life; one must preserve it. For there is always the danger that life can be converted into a hothouse, a greenhouse, where it will be supported by artificial warmth, and as soon as the source of warmth ceases to operate, life will perish.

Therefore there must be a constant source of life. Just as the earth and its vital juices constantly nourish vegetation, so our life also must be ceaselessly nourished by that elemental power which the Church of Christ gives, which is incarnated in the Orthodox way of life, in the Divine services, in fasting, in prayer, in vigils, in all that which embodies our Holy Russia. This is the elemental power which places in the mouth of the man who is leaving his earthly existence the last words, ‘Into Thy hands I commend my spirit’, and gives him the possibility to depart into eternal existence with the name of Christ.”
</blockquote>

In 1968, Matushka Eugenia reposed in the Lord and in feburary 1968 fr Adrian was tontured monk and consencrased a bishop. As a bishop, Vladyka Andrew continued to live in Novo Diveyevo. He was the spiritual father of Metropolitan [[Philaret (Voznesensky) of New York|Philaret]], and counseled many other members of the Church, both Russian and English-speaking.

In 1973, in day of his birth he was elevated to the dignity of [[Archbishop]].

The last day in the life of Vladyka Andrew was the feast of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul. The weather was hot. He received Communion reverently, as he did on all Sundays and feastdays. He was very weak, and lay down surrounded by the people most devoted to him, waiting for the long-awaited hour.

== Sources ==
* http://christthesavior.net/?p=525
* http://www.russianorthodoxchurch.ws/english/pages/heritage/srosearchandrew.html

[[Category:Bishops]]

Jonathan (Tsvetkov) of Abakan

2013-04-18T01:07:25Z

Чръный человек:

[[File:Ionafan (Tsietkov).jpg|right|thumb|250px|Archbishop Jonathan of Abakan and Kyzyl]]
His Eminence '''Jonathan (Tsvetkov)''', also '''Ionafan (Tsvetkov)''', is the [[Archbishop]] of the Diocese of Abakan and Khakassia, under the [[jurisdiction]] of the [[Church of Russia]]. The [[diocese]] is located in the southern part of central Siberia.

==Life==
Igor Vasilyevich Tsvetkov (Игорь Васильевич Цветков) was born on [[June 8]], 1962. He entered the [[Holy Orders]] when he was [[ordination|ordained]] a [[deacon]] on [[February 25]], 1986. Dcn. Igor was ordained a [[priest]] on [[March 20]], 1988. Fr. Igor was [[tonsure]]d a [[monk]] on [[December 25]], 1989, receiving the name Jonathan.

Fr. Jonathan was elected to the [[episcopate]] in 1997 and was [[consecration of a bishop|consecrated]] Bishop of Yuzho-Sakhalinsk and the Kuriles on [[August 1]], 1997.

He was transferred to lead the Diocese of Abakan and Kyzyl as the ruling [[bishop]] in 1999.

[[February 1]], 2010, he was elevated to the dignity of [[Archbishop]].

On [[October 5]], 2011 in connection with creation of the Diocese of Kyzyl his title changed to Archbishop of Abakan and Khakassia.

{{start box}}
{{succession|
before=Arkady (Afonin)|
title=Bishop of Yuzho-Sakhalinsk|
years=1997 - 1999|
after=Arkady (Afonin)}}
{{succession|
before=Vincent (Morar)|
title=Archbisop of Abakan and Khakassia|
years=1999 - Present|
after=—}}
{{end box}}

==Source==
*[http://www.orthodoxresearchinstitute.org/hierarchs/russia/ ORI: Hierarchs of Russia]]

[[Category: Bishops]]
[[Category: Bishops of Abakan]]
[[Category: Bishops of Yuzho-Sakhalinsk]]
[[Category: 20th-21st-century bishops]]

Simeon (Jakovljević) of Brno and Olomouc

2013-04-15T14:41:56Z

Чръный человек: /* Episcopacy */

His Eminence, Archbishop '''Simeon (Jakovljević)''', (Czech: Arcibiskup Simeon, in the world, Radivoj Jakovljević; born Feb 12, 1926, Prague), is a [[bishop]] of the Orthodox [[Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia]]. On [[April 9]], 2000, he was appointed the bishop of Brno and Olomouc. On [[February 12]], 2006, his 80th birthday, he was raised to the honor of archbishop. On [[April 12]], 2013, after the resignation of Metropolitan [[Christopher (Pulec) of Prague|Christopher]] he was chosen to serve as [[locum tenens]] of the metropolitan [[see]], until the election of a new [[primate]] can be held.

==Biography==
His Eminence was born on February 12, 1926 in Prague to a Serbian father and a Czech mother. He completed high school in Prague and then, in 1945, began to study theology in Charles University in Prague.

From 1949 through 1953, he studied in the [[St. Petersburg Theological Academy|Leningrad Theological Academy]]. From 1954 through 1959, he was an assistant in the department of theology in the Preshove University. He taught [[Old Testament]] in the Orthodox theological department in Preshove.

On [[September 7]], 1958, he was married. On [[November 1]], 1958, he was [[ordination|ordained]] to the [[diaconate]] and on [[December 25]], to the [[priest]]hood.

From 1959 through 1998, Fr. Radivoj served as the priest of the [[parish]] of St. Vladimir the Great, in Mariánské Lázně.

In 1992, he received his doctorate of theology. On [[September 12]], 1996, his wife reposed in the Lord, leaving him a widower.

On [[June 1]], 1998, he received monastic [[tonsure]], taking the name Simeon.

==Episcopacy==
On [[June 21]], 1998, [[Hieromonk]] Simeon was consecrated bishop of Mariánské Lázně, [[vicar]] of the Archdiocese of Prague. Two years later, on [[April 9]], 2000, he was appointed the bishop of the [[Diocese of Brno and Olomouc]]. Six years later, on his 80th birthday, he was raised to the rank of archbishop.

On [[April 12]], 2013, after the resignation of Met. [[Christopher (Pulets) of Prague|Christopher]], Archbishop Simeon was appointed locum tenens to govern the Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia until the election of a new [[primate]].

{{start box}}
{{succession|
before=?|
title=Bishop of Mariánské Lázně<br>Vicar|
years=1998 - 2000|
after=?}}
{{succession|
before=[[Christopher (Pulec) of Prague|Christopher (Puleс)]]|
title=Bishop of Olomouc and Brno|
years=2000 - Present|
after=—}}
{{succession|
before=[[Christopher (Pulec) of Prague|Christopher (Puleс)]]|
title=Metropolitan of the Czech Lands and Slovakia<br>locum tenens|
years=2013 - Present|
after=—}}
{{end box}}

==External link==
* [http://www.pravmir.ru/mitropolit-cheshskij-xristofor-otreksya-ot-prestola/|Metropolitan Christopher Czech abdicated], April 12, 2013 In Russian

[[Category: Bishops]]
[[Category:20th-21st-century bishops]]
[[Category:Bishops of Olomouc and Brno]]

Dormition Monastery (Troyan, Bulgaria)

2013-04-14T01:11:12Z

Wsk: link

The '''Monastery of the Dormition of the Most Holy [[Mother of God]]''', Bulgarian: Троянски манастир „Успение Богородично“, also, more commonly the '''Troyan Monastery''', is the third largest [[monastery]] in Bulgaria and one of three [[Stavropegial]] monasteries of the [[Church of Bulgaria]]. The monastery is located on the left bank of the Cherni Osam River about eight miles from the town of Troyan, Bulgaria.

==History==
When Troyan Monastery was founded is unknown. The monastery’s chronicles, that were kept by anonymous [[monk]]s, noted that a [[hermit]] came to the area of Troyan and built himself a humble dwelling some years after the fall of the [[w:Second Bulgarian Empire|second Bulgarian Empire]], which was 1396. The monk, having won the respect of the local population that began visiting him for prayer and advice, built a [[church]] consecrated to the [[Theotokos|Holy Virgin]]. Early in the seventeenth century, the chronicles also note the establishment of the monastery with the arrival of several hermits who brought with them the much venerated miracle-working [[icon]] of “Holy Virgin Troerouchitsa” (three-handed Holy Mother of God).

The years following the establishment of the monastery were difficult. The monastery was often raided and ransacked during the Balkans wars with the loss of many of its monks. It was during the latter part of this period, in 1794, that the noted carved wooden [[iconostasis]] was installed in the [[chapel]] of St. Nikola. The iconostasis was created by the Monk Kiprian in the style of the Trayvna School of Art. All though it lies outside the present-day monastery complex, the chapel of St. Nikola the Miracle-Worker is the oldest, yet best preserved, religious building in the area. It is located about half an hour walk south of the monastery.

Since the monastery was under the [[jurisdiction]] of the bishops of the Greek eparchy of Lovech, the monastery's lands and forests were used for the bishop's own enrichment, which created problems for the monastery. A solution to this problem came in 1830, when a delegation of monks visited the [[Church of Constantinople|Patriarchate]] in Constantinople with a letter of support from [[Metropolitan]] Ilarion of Troyan requesting religious, administrative, and economic independence for the Troyan monastery. A charter dated [[December 4]], 1830 was signed by Ecumenical [[Patriarch]] Constantius that gave the monastery its desired autonomy by establishing it as “stauropegial”, that is directly under the [[jurisdiction]] of the Patriarchate of Constantinople. With the new charter, the monastery began expanding and developed into the notable cultural and religious center of today. These new monastery facilities were built in the Bulgarian Renaissance style.

Although the various parts of the monastery were built by a number of masters at different times, the monastery is remarkable for its harmony. In 1835, Constantine, a master from the village of Peshtera, built the main church of the monastery, which was dedicated to the “[[Dormition]] of Virgin Mary”. The church was built of porous limestone and large bricks in alternating layers. The church soon brought admiration by foreign visitors. The carved wooden iconostasis was added to the church in 1839. The [[w:Fresco|frescoes]] of the monastery and the church were painted between 1847 and 1849 by the Bulgarian artist, Zahari Zograf from the Samokov school of art and iconography. The icons for the church were done by other [[iconographer]]s of the Samokov school, including Zahari’s brother, Dimitar Zograf. As Zahari and his companions painted frescoes in many monasteries that still exist, the iconography at Troyan Monastery is similar to that in many other places, including Rila Monastery. The 5-story tall church tower was built by the master Ivan in 1865. The buildings of monastery have three and four stories, with long open verandas that face an inner yard. The columns and parapets are of an old Bulgarian style.

In addition to its religious role, the monastery became the focus for a number of Bulgarian writers, teachers and translators, including historians such as the monk Spirodon, author of a Bulgarian history. Also, the monastery was linked to the Bulgarians’ struggle against the [[Ottoman empire|Ottoman rule]] when during the late nineteenth century Troyan Monastery became an asylum for rebels and a famous literary and revolutionary center striving for Bulgarian recognition and freedom. In 1872, the Bulgarian patriot [[w:Vasil_Levski|Vassil Levski]], a monk, established in the monastery a secret revolutionary committee of monks that was led by the [[Abbot]] Macarius. In April 1876, the monastery became a citadel for the [[w:April_Uprising|April Uprising]]. During the [[w:Russo-Turkish_War_(1877–1878)|Russian-Turkish war of 1877/1878]], the Abbot Macarius transformed the monastery complex into a field hospital for Russian soldiers.

The late Patriarch [[Maxim (Minkov) of Bulgaria|Maxim]] of the Church of Bulgaria served as a [[novice]] at the monastery.

==Sources==
*[http://info-bg.narod.ru/heritage.htm Bulgarian Monasteries: The Troyan Monastery "St. Holy Virgin"]
*[[Wikipedia: Troyan_Monastery]]
*[http://www.bulgarianmonastery.com/troyan_monastery.html Troyan Monastery]

[[Category: Monasteries]]
[[Category: Bulgarian Monasteries]]

Stephanos (Daniilidis) of Lemnos

2013-04-13T02:17:54Z

Angellight 888:

[[File:Stefanos (Daniilidis).jpg|right|thumb|Metropolitan Stephanos (Daniilidis).]]
Metropolitan '''Stephanos (Daniilidis) of Lemnos''' ({{el icon}} Στέφανος Δανιηλίδης), was an emiment prelate of [[Metropolis of Edessa and Pella|Lemnos]]. He was born in 1859 in the village of Sardis in Lemnos, and died in 1948.

He studied at the [[Theological School of Halki]] between 1887-1890, after receiving a scholarship from the Registrar of Schools in Lemnos.

{{start box}}

{{succession|
before=Hilarion I|
title=[[Metropolis of Edessa and Pella|Metropolitan of Vodena]]|
years=1904 - 1910|
after=Timotheos II (Lamnis)}}

{{succession|
before=[[Basil III (Georgiadis) of Constantinople|Basil (Georgiadis)]]|
title=Metropolitan of [[w:Pelagonia|Pelagonia]]|
years=1910 - 1912|
after=—}}

{{succession|
before=Gennadios (Alexiadis)|
title=[[Metropolis of Lemnos and St. Eustratius|Metropolitan of Lemnos]]|
years=1912 - 1947|
after=(overseen by Metr.<br>Iakovos of [[Metropolis of Mytiline|Mytiline]])}}

{{end box}}

==Sources==
* {{bg icon}} ''[http://bg.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%A1%D1%82%D0%B5%D1%84%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%BE%D1%81_%D0%94%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%B8%D0%B8%D0%BB%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B8%D1%81 Стефанос Даниилидис].'' Bulgarian Wikipedia. Retrieved: 2013-04-12.
* {{bg icon}} ''[http://bg.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%92%D0%BE%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BD%D1%81%D0%BA%D0%B0,_%D0%9F%D0%B5%D0%BB%D1%81%D0%BA%D0%B0_%D0%B8_%D0%9C%D1%8A%D0%B3%D0%BB%D0%B5%D0%BD%D1%81%D0%BA%D0%B0_%D0%B5%D0%BF%D0%B0%D1%80%D1%85%D0%B8%D1%8F Воденска, Пелска и Мъгленска епархия].'' Bulgarian Wikipedia. Retrieved: 2013-04-12.
* {{el icon}} ''[http://el.wikipedia.org/wiki/%CE%A3%CE%B1%CF%81%CE%B4%CE%AD%CF%82_%CE%9B%CE%AE%CE%BC%CE%BD%CE%BF%CF%85 Σαρδές Λήμνου].'' Greek Wikipedia. Retrieved: 2013-04-12.
* {{el icon}} ''[http://www.imma.edu.gr/imma/dbs/Artifacts/index.html?show=cljgpctckzb&start=489&show=1 Συλλογή Φωτογραφιών].'' Ίδρυμα Μουσείου Μακεδονικού Αγώνα. Retrieved: 2013-04-12.

[[Category:20th-century bishops]]
[[Category:Bishops of Lemnos]]
[[Category:Bishops of Pelagonia]]
[[Category:Bishops of Edessa]]
[[Category:Theological School of Halki Graduates]]

Philotheos (Bryennios) of Nicomedia

2013-04-11T03:40:31Z

Angellight 888: new article;

[[File:Philotheos Bryennios.jpg|right|thumb|240px|Philotheos Bryennios, Metropolitan of Nicomedia.]]
Metropolitan '''Philotheos (Bryennios) of Nicomedia''' ({{el icon}} Φιλόθεος «Βρυέννιος» Νικομηδείας), 1833 - [[November 18]], 1917, was a Greek Orthodox metropolitan who discovered the ''[[w:Didache|Didachē]]'' manuscript in 1873,<ref group="note">The Didache is considered part of the category of second-generation Christian writings known as the [[Apostolic Fathers]].</ref> containing copies of early Church documents.

He was also Principal of the [[Theological School of Halki]], Principal of the Great School of the Nation, the [[w:Metropolis of Serres and Nigrita|Metropolitan of Serres]], and ultimately the Metropolitan of Nicomedia while serving several concurrent terms on the [[Holy Synod of Constantinople]] (1877-1884, 1894-1896, 1904-1910).

==Life==
===Birth and Education===
Philotheos’ secular name was Theodore, although his surname is unknown. He was born in 1833 in the [[w:Kurtuluş|Tatavla]] quarter in [[Constantinople]], of poor parents, and was first educated in the local schools there.

Because his parents lacked the necessary resources in order for him to continue his education, he was obliged to [[Byzantine Chant|chant]] in the Church of St. Demetrios, in the same neighborhood. Eventually he came under the tutelage of the then Bishop of Cyzicus (and later Ecumenical Patriarch) [[Joachim II of Constantinople|Joachim II]]. With the assistance of Bishop Joachim he was accepted into the [[Theological School of Halki]].

After the completion of his studies, along with his being proclaimed as a teacher of Orthodox theology, he was [[Ordination|ordained]] a [[deacon]]. Simultaneously he received his clerical name Philotheos. In honour of his having excelled as a graduate of the School, he also received the epithet “Bryennios”, which was given to him by the then principal of the school Constantine Typaldos.

After graduating in 1856, he received a scholarship as an endowment of George Zarifis, and traveled to Germany, where he continued his theological and philosophical studies in the universities of Leipzig, Berlin and Munich.

===Church Activity===
====Principal of Halki====
Early in 1861 he was invited by Patriarch [[Joachim II of Constantinople|Joachim II]] to Constantinople, and was appointed professor of church history, hermeneutics and other theological courses at the [[Theological School of Halki]].

In 1863 he was [[Ordination|ordained]] to the priesthood as an [[Archimandrite]]. Simultaneously he succeeded the principal of the Theological School of Halki, Constantine Typaldos, who had retired due to old age.

Bryennios was accused by writers such as G. Gregoras and A. Mexis of politically opposing Typaldos by being the leader of the "liberal" party, against the "conservative" one (which had been led by his former principal). Their confrontation was probably due to the fact that Bryennios had just returned from Germany and wanted to impose the application of scientific methods in theological research – something which caused the adverse reaction his old teacher.<ref group="note">Similar to the experience of [[Eugenios Voulgaris]] about a century earlier, the [[w:Modern Greek Enlightenment|Modern Greek Enlightenment]] in the 19th century had affected the sociological and political make up of the newborn Greek state with a westernized Enlightenment ideology, and was thus treated with suspicion and was resisted by popular preachers such as [[monk]] Christophoros Panayiotopoulos (Papoulakos, c. 1770-1861), as well as by [[Apostolos Makrakis]] to some extent.</ref>

Characteristically, it is reported that Bryennios was first to start wearing pants beneath his robes, instead of the traditional baggy-[[w:Turkish trousers|Turkish-trousers]].<ref group="note">Tsachsiriou, from Turkish çakşır, - baggy type trousers worn by men, with wide pleats.</ref>

In September 1863, Joachim resigned from the patriarchal throne, and Bryennios lost a powerful protector. Eventually he was pressed to resign from his seat as principal of the Theological School of Halki.

====Principal of the Great School of the Nation====
In 1867 when [[Gregory VI of Constantinople|Gregory VI]] (1867-1871) was raised to the ecumenical throne for the second time, Philotheos was appointed the principal and a professor at the ''Great School of the Nation'' in [[Phanar]].<ref group="note">The Patriarchal Academy in Constantinople, known to Greeks as the ''"Great School of the Nation"'' - {{el icon}}: Μεγάλη του Γένους Σχολή.</ref> He directed the School for the next seven years. During his tenure there, he was honored by the Greek government with the golden cross of the [[w:Order of the Redeemer|Knights of the Royal Order of the Redeemer]]. During the same period he also served as member of the Central Education Committee, vice-president of the Seminary Education Association, and curator of the Central Seminary.

In 1872 he participated in the work of the Local Synod which addressed the [[w:Bulgarian Exarchate|Bulgarian problem]].<ref group="note">In 1872 a Council of Constantinople (Pan-Orthodox Synod) was convened and presided over by Ecumenical Patriarch [[Anthimus VI of Constantinople|Anthimus VI]], and attended by Patriarchs [[Sophronius IV of Alexandria|Sophronius IV]] of Alexandria and [[Procopius II of Jerusalem|Procopius II]] of Jerusalem and several bishops, condemning [[phyletism]] (ethnocentric belief that Orthodox Christians in a given place and time should be divided into separate exarchates, based on ethnicity), and condemning the [[w:Bulgarian Exarchate|Bulgarian Exarchate]] (the official name of the [[Church of Bulgaria|Bulgarian Orthodox Church]] before its autocephaly was recognized by the Ecumenical See in 1945, and the Bulgarian Patriarchate was restored in 1953).</ref>

Finally, in 1875, together with [[Archimandrite]] John Anastasiadis and [[Deacon]] Philaretos Vafeidis, he represented the Ecumenical Patriarchate in the [[Orthodox_-_Old_Catholic_Dialogue#First_Phase|Old Catholics Reunion Conference]] held in Bonn.

====Metropolitan of Serres====
When he returned from Germany, Patriarch [[Joachim II of Constantinople|Joachim II]] (who had risen again to the patriarchal throne from 1873) asked Philotheos to be the [[Metropolis of Serres and Nigrita|Metropolitan of Serres]], because this metropolis was in need of a bishop well versed in the Bulgarian and Ottoman Turkish tongues. At first Philotheos refused the proposal, but later he acquiesced after receiving an assurance from Joachim that soon thereafter he would be appointed to a senior («γεροντική») metropolis. Thus, he was elected Bishop of Serres on August 7, 1875.

====Metropolitan of Nicomedia and Service in the Holy Synod of Constantinople====
After the death of Bishop Dionysios of Nicomedia on August 21, 1877, Philothoes was elected by the [[Holy Synod of Constantinople|Holy Synod]] on August 24, 1877 as the Bishop of Nicomedia. The election took place at [[Theological School of Halki|Halki]], and Philotheos also had the support his benefactor George Zarifis.

Philotheos Bryennios, now Bishop of Nicomedia, remained in Constantinople as a member of the [[Holy Synod of Constantinople|Holy Synod]] from October 1877 until October 1884, playing an important role in the first phase of Pronomia issue of the Ecumenical Patriarchate.<ref group=”note”>See:<br>
:* {{el icon}} Eleutheriadēs, N. P.. ''[http://catalog.hathitrust.org/Record/006666158 Ta pronomia tou oikoumenikou patriarcheiou hypo historikēn, thrēskeutikēn, politikēn kai nomikēn epopsin krinomena kai hē kat'auta politikē kai nomikē kai thrēskeutikē katastasis tōn en Tourkia Christianōn].'' Smyrnē, 1909. (Romanized catalog record)</ref>

In March 1880, together with the Bishop of Philadelphia Gerasimos, and the jurist Alexander Nahum, he was sent to Bucharest as representatives of the Orthodox Patriarchates of the East ([[Church of Constantinople|Constantinople]], [[Church of Jerusalem|Jerusalem]], [[Church of Alexandria|Alexandria]] and [[Church of Antioch|Antioch]]) and the Autocephalous churches, for discussions with the Romanian government concerning the fate of the plundered monastic estates which had been confiscated in 1862 by the [[w:Domnitor|Domnitor]] of Romania [[w:Alexandru Ioan Cuza|Alexandru Ioan Cuza]].

In the same year (1880) he was awarded a PhD in Theology from the University of Athens, and in 1884 he was awarded the same degree by the University of Edinburgh.

In 1896, he travelled to Moscow along with then Bishop of [[w:Pomorie|Anchialos]] (later Bishop of Smyrna) [[Basileios of Smyrna|Basileios]], where he represented the Ecumenical Patriarchate at the coronation of [[Nicholas II of Russia|Tsar Nicholas II]].

Apart from the many terms that he served in the [[Holy Synod of Constantinople|Holy Synod]] (1877-1884; 1894-1896; 1904-1910), he was also president of the Patriarchal Central Education Committee, and Commissioner of the Registry of the Theological School of Halki (Registrar).

In the debates that were conducted within the Ecumenical Patriarchate between supporters and opponents of Patriarch [[Joachim III of Constantinople|Joachim III]], Philotheos was originally a fierce anti-Joachimist, but he changed attitude to Joachim III during his second patriarchy (1901-1912).

====As Metropolitan of Nicomedia====
With respect to his own Metropolis of Nicomedia, he carefully supervised the organization of the metropolis by establishing and rebuilding churches and schools, and by renovating from its foundations the Metropolis building, which was located within the enclosure which also encircled the Metropolitan Cathedral Church, in the vicinity of the coast of [[w:Astacus in Bithynia|Astacus in Bithynia]].

In the task of supporting educational institutions in the region of Nicomedia, Philotheus was greatly aided by George Zarifis. Thus, when Philotheos was elected Bishop of Nicomedia, Zarifis donated 600 [[w:Ottoman lira|Ottoman Liras]] for the construction of a school there.

In 1910 Philotheos resigned from the Metropolis of Nicomedia due to old age, having exhibited strong signs of visual impairment, like his predecessor, Constantine Typaldos. He retired to the [[Theological School of Halki]], with the title ''Lifetime Honorary President of the Registry of the School'' (Registrar), but without ceasing his writing activities and dictating his thoughts in full clarity of spirit.

===Departure===
Bishop Philotheos died on [[November 18]], 1917 at the age of 85 years, at the [[Theological School of Halki|School of Halki]], and was buried in the precinct of the School. Throughout his lifetime Bishop Philotheos was a man of letters and science, but also a great preacher.

Today his [[relics]] are kept in a plain grave behind the church of the School, with a marble cross, which he himself had built in his youth, while he was an employee of Christofis Paschalides.

==Works==
===The ''Didachē'' and ''Letters''===
He became known in the West by publishing two very important documents of Christian antiquity, based on a manuscript discovery he had made in 1873.

While in Constantinople, he discovered a manuscript in the [[w:Brotherhood of the Holy Sepulchre|Jerusalem Monastery of the Most Holy Sepulcher]] (in the Greek quarter of Constantinople), that contained: (1) a synopsis of the Old and New Testaments arranged by St. [[John Chrysostom]], (2) the [[w:Epistle of Barnabas|Epistle of Barnabas]], (3) the [[w:First Epistle of Clement to the Corinthians|First Epistle of Clement to the Corinthians]], (4) the [[w:Second Epistle of Clement to the Corinthians|Second Epistle of Clement to the Corinthians]], (5) the [[w:Didache|Teaching of the Twelve Apostles]] (''Didachē''), (6) the spurious letter of Mary of Cassoboli, and (7) twelve [[w:pseudo-Ignatian Epistles|pseudo-Ignatian Epistles]].<ref>[[w:Philip Schaff|P. Schaff]]. ''[http://www.ccel.org/s/schaff/encyc/encyc02/htm/iv.v.cdiii.htm Teaching of the Twelve Apostles].'' pp.8-9, 289-295, New York, 1890.</ref>

The ''Letters'' were published in 1875,<ref group="note">Title: {{el icon}} "Του εν αγίοις πατρός ημών Κλήμεντος επισκόπου Ρώμης αι δύο προς Κορινθίους επιστολαί, εκ χειρογράφου της εν Φαναρίω Κωνσταντινουπόλεως βιβλιοθήκης του Παναγίου Τάφου, νυν πρώτον εκδιδόμεναι πλήρεις μετά προλεγομένων και σημειώσεων υπό Φιλοθέου Βρυεννίου, μητροπολίτου Σερρών. Εν Κωνσταντινουπόλει 1875."</ref> and the ''Didachē'' in 1883,<ref>See:<br>
:* Bryennios, Philotheos, Metropolitan, (1833-1917). ''[http://archive.org/details/teachingofthetwe00unknuoft Teaching of the Twelve Apostles : recently discovered and published by Philotheos Bryennios, Metropolitan of Nicomedia (1884)].'' Transl. and Ed. by Prof. Roswell D. Hitchcock and Prof. Francis Brown. New York: Scribner, 1884. 64 pp.</ref><ref group="note">Title: {{el icon}} "Διδαχή των δώδεκα Αποστόλων εκ του ιεροσολυμιτικού χειρογράφου νυν πρώτον εκδιδομένη μετά προλεγομένων και σημειώσεων, εν οις και της Συνόψεως της Π.Δ. της υπό Ιωάννου του Χρυσοστόμου, σύγκρισις και μέρος ανέκδοτον από του αυτού χειρογράφου, υπό Φιλοθέου Βρυεννίου, μητροπολίτου Νικομηδείας. Εν Κωνσταντινουπόλει 1883."</ref> both with valuable notes of his own. After its publication the ''Didachē'' triggered many research studies in Europe and America, and was released in several translations.

===Reply to the Encyclical Letter of Pope Leo XIII===
In 1882 Patriarch [[Joachim III of Constantinople|Joachim III]] and the [[Holy Synod of Constantinople]] assigned Bishop Philotheos the task of responding to the encyclical letter of Pope [[w:Pope Leo XIII|Leo XIII]].<ref group="note">See: ''[[w:List of encyclicals of Pope Leo XIII|List of encyclicals of Pope Leo XIII]].'' Wikipedia.</ref>

Philotheos responded with a series of articles in the Journal of Ecumenical Patriarchate, ''Ecclesiastical Truth'', which were later collected in a work entitled:
:''"Encyclical Letter of Pope Leo XIII reproved by Philotheos Bryennios, Metropolitan of Nicomedia, first published in "Ecclesiastical Truth", now revised and arranged in parts by the same and re-issued with the approval of the Holy Synod of the Great Church of Christ. In Constantinople, 1882."''<ref group="note">Title: {{el icon}} "Πάπα Λέοντος ΙΓ΄ εγκυκλίου επιστολής έλεγχος υπό Φιλοθέου Βρυεννίου, μητροπολίτου Νικομηδείας, δημοσιευθείς το πρώτον εν τη Εκκλησιαστική Αλήθεια, νυν δε αναθεωρηθείς και εν μέρει διασκευασθείς υπ’ αυτού εκδίδοται αύθις εγκρίσει και δαπάνη της Ιεράς Συνόδου της του Χριστού Μεγάλης Εκκλησίας. Εν Κωνσταντινουπόλει 1882."</ref>

===Other Articles===
Philotheos also published the following articles:<br>
:* ''Report on the state of the "Great School of the Nation" 1867-1875, by Archimandrite and Principal Philotheos Bryennios, in Constantinople 1875.''<ref group="note">Title: {{el icon}} "Εκθέσεις περί της καταστάσεως της Μεγάλης του Γένους Σχολής, 1867-1875 υπό Φιλοθέου Βρυεννίου αρχιμανδρίτου και σχολάρχου, εν Κωνσταντινουπόλει 1875."</ref>
:* ''Brief explanation concerning Protestant missionaries in Asia Minor. "Ecclesiastical Truth" 4 (1883-1884), pp.209-215.''<ref group="note">Title: {{el icon}} "«Βραχεία διασάφησις περί των εν Μικρά Ασία Διαμαρτυρομένων Ιεραποστόλων», Εκκλησιαστική Αλήθεια 4 (1883-1884), σελ. 209-215."</ref>
:* ''Hermeneutic Study on the Gospel for the First Sunday of Lent, Constantinople 1915.''
:* ''The Rich Youngster (Constantinople 1919)'', which was published posthumously.

The prepared notes which he had used for the course which he taught on Church history at the [[Theological School of Halki]] have remained unpublished however.

{{start box}}

{{succession|
before=Neophytos|
title=[[Metropolis of Serres and Nigrita|Metropolitan of Serres]]|
years=August 7, 1875 - August 24, 1877|
after=Gregorios V}}

{{succession|
before=Dionysios II (Kotakis)|
title=[[w:Metropolis of Nicomedia|Metropolitan of Nicomedia]]|
years=August 24, 1877 - November 25, 1910|
after=Alexander (Rigopoulos)}}

{{end box}}

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

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

==Sources==
* {{el icon}} Δημήτριος Σταματόπουλος. ''[http://www.ehw.gr/asiaminor/Forms/fLemmaBodyExtended.aspx?lemmaID=6611 Φιλόθεος Νικομηδείας].'' '''Encyclopaedia of the Hellenic World, Asia Minor'''. 23/7/2002. Retrieved: 2013-04-09.
* ''[[w:Philotheos Bryennios|Philotheos Bryennios]].'' '''Wikipedia'''. Retrieved: 2013-04-09.
* [[w:Philip Schaff|Philip Schaff]]. ''[http://www.ccel.org/s/schaff/encyc/encyc02/htm/iv.v.cdiii.htm BRYENNIOS, PHILOTHEOS].'' '''The New Schaff-Herzog Encyclopedia of Religious Knowledge, Vol. II: Basilica - Chambers.''' 1908–14. (Christian Classics Ethereal Library (CCEL)). Retrieved: 2013-04-09.
* Demetrius Kiminas. ''[http://books.google.ca/books?id=QLWqXrW2X-8C&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false The Ecumenical Patriarchate: A History of Its Metropolitans With Annotated Hierarch Catalogs].'' Volume 1 of Orthodox Christianity. Wildside Press LLC, 2009. p.80. ISBN 9781434458766
* ''"Bryennios, Philotheos."'' Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica 2009 Ultimate Reference Suite. Chicago: Encyclopædia Britannica, 2009.

[[Category:Bishops]]
[[Category:19th-20th-century bishops]]
[[Category:Bishops of Serres]]
[[Category:Bishops of Nicomedia]]
[[Category:Theological School of Halki Graduates]]
[[Category:Modern Writers]]

Kyprian (Pyzhov)

2013-04-09T01:23:44Z

Чръный человек:

Archimandrite '''Kyprian (Pyzhov)''' was a [[monasticism|monastic]] and [[icon]] painter of the twentieth century Russian emigration under the [[jurisdiction]] of the [[Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia]]. Known for the iconography of many churches in the United States of America, he led the icon-painting studio at [[Holy Trinity Monastery (Jordanville, New York)|Holy Trinity Monastery]] in Jordanville, New York until his repose.

==Life==
Kyrill Dimitrievich Pyzhov (Кирилл Дмитриевич Пыжов) was born on [[January 20]], 1904 in St. Petersburg, Russia to Dimitri Mikhailovich Pyzhov and his wife Alexandra Konstantinovna, nee Strinskaya. His father was appointed the regional supervisor of the Bezhetsk district in the province of Tver soon after Kyrill Dimitrievich's birth. His mother, who died in 1912, was an artist. She had graduated from the Moscow School of Painting and Sculpture and worked in the studios of Makovsky, Polenov, and Perov. She followed in the foot steps of her father, who had graduated from the Academy of Art in Florence.

After the February Revolution in 1917, Dimitri Mikhailovich and his three sons, Eugene, Kyrill, and George, moved to Petrograd, where they endured hunger and cold. Late in 1918, they moved to Shchigri in the Kursk province. Then, when the White Army arrived in Kursk, the Pyzhovs made their way to Simferopol in the Crimea. While in Simferopol, Kyrill, 15-years old volunteered as a soldier and was sent to the front and endured the tribulations of the Volunteer Army, including evacuation from the Crimea and service at Gallipoli. There, Kyrill joined the Alexandrov Military School at which he studied for three years until it was closed in 1923. Then traveling through Bulgaria, Kyrill moved to France where he joined his older brother, Eugene.

In Paris, Kyrill worked in a studio that made toy horses before he joined a designers workshop in the Russian studio "Films Albatross," where he participated in creating the film Don Quixote, in which Feodor Chaliapin playing the lead role. After Kyrill moved to Paris, he was soon joined by his father and brother George. The three then began working as painters, while during the evenings, Kyrill and George attended Montparnasse School of painting and drawing, where professors from the Ecole des Beaux Arts taught.

While living in Paris, Kyrill began feeling ill. Diagnosed as suffering with tuberculosis, he was advised to move south. The French design firm sent Kyrill as an expert to its office on the Riviera, where he soon regained his health and began decorating fashionable villas. In Nice, Kyrill lived with his brother, [[Hieromonk]] Gregory. Kyrill became an ardent parishioner of the local [[cathedral]], where he befriended [[priest]] Alexander Elchaninov. Under Father Alexander's influence, Kyrill immersed himself in the study of the Orthodox faith, and he begins sensing a pull towards the Church and church services. He began to study the techniques of [[icon]] painting under Fr. Alexander's matushka, a student of the artist [[Pimen Sofronov|Sofronov]].

During the summer of 1932, Hieromonk Savva (Struve) arrived in Nice to collect donations for [[Monastery of St. Job of Pochaev (Munich)|Ladomirovo Monastery]] in Czechoslovakia. As Fr. Savva showed photographs of the monastery, Kyrill awoke to the desire to help distribute its publications. Fr. Savva's response was that the best way to help the monastery would be that Kyrill go to Ladomirovo and apply his abilities there. When Kyrill noted he lacked an international passport, Fr. Savva offered to write an appeal to [[Archimandrite]] [[Vitaly (Maximenko) of Jersey City|Vitaly]] to accept Kyrill as a [[novice]], and to send an invitation to him. Fr. Savva added that Kyrill could paint frescoes in their new church an idea that Kyrill liked.
Arriving during the winter of 1933 before the Nativity of Christ, Kyrill began his first frescoed decoration of a church, a canvas of his talent, that was completed in 1934.

That autumn, [[Bishop]] Vitaly [[tonsure]]d the Novice Kyrill to the [[Monastic Ranks|rassophore]] with name Kyprian. His tonsure to the [[Mantiya]] as [[Monastic Ranks|stavrophore]] was performed in 1937. In 1938, Monk Kyprian was [[ordination|ordained]] a [[Deacon|hierodeacon]]. In 1940, with Europe at war, Metropolitan [[Anastasy (Gribanovsky) of Kishinev|Anastasy]] of the [[Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia]], arriving from Yugoslavia, ordained Fr. Kyprian to the rank of [[hieromonk]].

As the Soviet army began to approach Czechoslovakia in 1944, the monastery's brethren evacuated through Bratislava to Berlin, where they found shelter in a half-ruined house. Fr. Kyprian, suffering from pneumonia, was sent to a convent dormitory across from a [[church]], whose [[rector]] was Archimandrite [[John (Shahovskoy) of San Francisco|John (Shahovskoy)]]. While recuperating, Fr. Kyprian entered the church and noticed on the candle desk printed copies of [[icon]]s he painted for a Dresden commission. After his recovery, Fr. Kyprian and the monks continued their escape from Berlin, first to Geneva, then the United States, to a final destination after his wanderings, [[Holy Trinity Monastery (Jordanville, New York)|Holy Trinity Monastery]] in Jordanville, New York.

"My very first days in Holy Trinity Monastery," remembered Fr. Kyprian, "reminded me of my first days at the Monastery at Ladomirovo in Carpathian Russia". This feeling did not last, as he soon had set up an icon-painting studio and was joined by the Novice [[Alypy (Gramanovich) of Chicago|Nikolai]] whom he had met in Germany before their escape. Nikolai, who had been tonsured with the name of Alypy in honor of the icon-painter of Pechersk, became an irreplaceable helper, both in the studio and in obedience, as an emulator of the ancient monk of Kievo-Pecherskaya Lavra, Hieromonk Alypy.

In 1946, the monastery began building a brick church dedicated to the [[Holy Trinity]] of which Fr. Kyprian and Mk. Alypy painted the interior. In 1950, the church was completed, including the iconographic painting of the interior, and consecrated by Metr. Anastassy. Fr. Kyprian continued his painting of the newly built four-story monastic residence at the monastery, which also contained the monastery print shop, offices, and refectory. Then, Fr. Kyprian continued with the icon-painting of a small church dedicated to the Dormition of the Mother of God, designed by V. Glinin, and built in the monastic cemetery.

During the following years, Fr. Kyprian fulfilled commissions for painting the interiors of a number of churches. These included, in the United States, the Entrance into the Temple Church in Syracuse, New York, St. John of Kronstadt Memorial Church in Utica, New York, the Cathedral of the Mother of God "Joy of All Who Sorrow" in San Francisco, California and, in Europe, in 1982, the newly built Church of SS Peter and Paul in Luxembourg. In 1988, he painted the frescoes in St. Vladimir Memorial Church in Jackson, New Jersey, that was built with the blessing of [[Archbishop]] [[Vitaly (Ustinov) of New York|Vitaly]].

During his tenure leading the icon-painting studio at Holy Trinity Monastery, Fr. Kyprian educated a generation of iconographers throughout the world who painted icons in the canonical ecclesiastical style. As the spiritual father of monks and seminarians, Fr. Kyprian also educated many future archpastors and pastors of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia.

Fr. Kyprian reposed in [[April 15]], 2001, and is buried in the [[crypt]] under the [[altar]] of the Monastery Cathedral.

==Sources==
*[http://www.russianorthodoxchurch.ws/synod/engdocuments/enart_archimkyprianpyzhov.html Life of Archimandrite Kyprian (Pyzhov)]
*[http://www.artrz.ru/menu/1804809263/1805036139.html Pyzhova Cyril D. (Fr Cyprian)] In Russian

[[Category: Monastics]]
[[Category: Priests]]
[[Category: Iconographers]]

Assumption of the Virgin Monastery (Bachkovo, Bulgaria)

2013-04-06T17:03:04Z

Wsk: link

The '''Bachkovo Monastery''' “Assumption of the Virgin”, also '''Uspenie Bogorodichno''', is the second largest [[monastery]] in Bulgaria and one of three [[Stavropegial]] monasteries of the [[Church of Bulgaria]]. As one of the oldest monasteries in the Balkans, the character of the monastery is unique, reflecting the cultures under which it has existed: Georgian, Byzantine, and Bulgarian.

==History==
The origins of the [[monastery]] are traced back to its founding in 1083 on land donated by Gregory Bakuriani, who was a Byzantine military commander of Georgian origin, in the valley of the Chepelare river about ten kilometers south of the town of Asenovgrad in present day south central Bulgaria. After it was founded, the monastery developed as a center of Georgian [[monasticism]] that continued until the end of the twelfth century as the area in which it was located became of importance in the [[w:Second_Bulgarian_Empire|Second Bulgarian Empire]]. The empire existed from 1185 to 1396. In 1344, the Bulgarian king Ivan Alexander established hegemony over the Turnovo Kingdom part of the empire, in which the monastery was located. However in 1393, when the Turnovo Kingdom fell to the [[Ottoman empire|Ottoman Turks]] the monastery became the place of exile of the last Bulgarian [[Patriarch]] [[Evtimiy of Tamovo|Evtimiy]] and that had been ransacked by the Ottoman Turks and fallen into decadence. It wasn't until the end of the sixteenth century that restoration of the Bachkovo Monastery began, and which took on the appearance of today.

==Facilities==
While Bachkovo Monastery was founded in 1083, only a two-story ossuary remains of the original monastery, located some 400 meters from the present day monastery. During the turn of the twelfth to thirteenth century the Holy Archangels Church was built that provided facilities for divine services during the winter months. The church was attached to the second floor terrace of the west wing of the [[monk]]s' living quarters.

As the sixteenth century ended, reconstruction of the monastery began, first with the eastern wing and the fortified main entrance. The southern wing was rebuilt in 1601 with its spacious dining hall, and in 1604, the Assumption of the Virgin [[Cathedral]] was built, with its three [[nave]]s, [[apse]], [[narthex]], and a cupola. The wall-paintings of the dining hall, that were finished in 1603 by an unknown painter, are impressive for their artistic value. In 1864, a mural, “The Presentation of the Miraculous Icon”, was painted on the northern wall of the dining hall. Along with the beautiful frescoes in the church, the [[icon]] of Virgin Mary Eleusa, that is believed to be wonder-working, has drawn the attention of most visitors. This miraculous icon dates from 1310 and was a gift to the monastery by two Georgian travelers Atanasii and Okrapir. In addition to the main church, the monastery complex also contains two smaller [[shrine]]s. One from the thirteenth/fourteenth century is dedicated to the Holy Archangels and stands in the northern part of the inner yard, next to the main church. The other, dedicated to St. Nikola, is of more recent vintage, built in 1834-1837. It displays paintings that included some by the Bulgarian artist Zahari Zograf who in 1841 also completed the frescoes on the exterior of the Holy Archangels Church.

The monastery is the burial site of the Exarch of Bulgaria, Metropolitan Stefan I and Patriarch [[Cyril (Markov) of Bulgaria|Cyril (Markov)]].

==Sources==
*[[W:Bachkovo_Monastery]]
*[http://www.bulgarianmonastery.com/bachkovski_monastery.html Bulgarian Monastery]
*[http://bulgariatravel.org/en/object/347/Bachkovski_manastir The Bachkovo Monastery "Assumption of the Virgin" and the village of Bachkovo]
*[http://peakview.bg/monasteries/bach_l.htm The Bachkovo Monastery "Uspenie Bogorodichno"]
*[http://members.virtualtourist.com/m/p/m/21cb32/ Bachkovo monastery]

[[Category: Monasteries]]
[[Category: Bulgarian Monasteries]]

George the Confessor

2013-04-06T07:50:45Z

Inistea: ro

Saint '''George the Confessor''', Bishop of Mitylene, lived during the [[iconoclasm|iconoclastic]] period. His memory is celebrated on [[April 7]].

==Life==
The righteous George was born into a faithful family. From a young age, he was distinguished by his piety, humility, and charity. These virtues were recognised by the faithful, and he was [[ordination|ordained]] and eventually elected to the [[episcopate|episcopacy]] and appointed as [[Bishop]] of Mitylene.

As a bishop he was well regarded by the faithful for his virtuous life, his charity and his enlightening teaching. He dedicated himself to supporting his flock and winning back those who had been led astray by the iconoclasts. His efforts were crowned with success, and when he gave up his spirit in 821, his flock mourned him deeply.

During the reign of [[Patriarch]] Methodius, the translation of many [[relics]] of [[saint]]s who died in exile was undertaken. These saints included [[Theophylactus of Nicomedia]], [[Theodore the Studite]] and [[Nicephorus I of Constantinople]].

The place of Saint George’s burial was at “Tria Kyparissia” (Three Cypresses, or Sari Baba) near the [[chapel]] of St. [[John the Forerunner]]. Between 846 and 847, the holy relics of the saint were translated in Mitylene with honours befitting the humble and saintly hierarch.

The memory of St. George the Confessor is honoured again on [[February 1]] together with his brothers, Ss. Symeon the New Stylite and David the Monk.

[[Category: Saints]]
[[Category: Bishops]]
[[Category: Bishops of Mitylene]]

[[ro:Gheorghe al Mitilenei]]

Kalliopius

2013-04-06T06:55:40Z

Wsk: link, category

The Holy Glorious Martyr Kalliopius was [[martyr]]ed for his faith under Diocletian. His memory is celebrated [[April 7]].

==Life==
Saint Kalliopius was born in Perge of Pamphylia and lived during the reign of the Emperor Diocletian. Orphaned as a young boy, he was raised by his virtuous mother Theokleia, who nurtured him with the life-giving Words of the Saviour. When the persecutions arose he was not afraid but on the contrary, provided comfort and support for those who were weak in their faith, encouraging them until the end, to receive the crown of glory.

When the Eparch Maximus arrived in the region and began his cruel persecution of Christians, Kalliopius presented himself on his own accord with his characteristic bravery and boldness to the eparch, warning him that he would give account to God for the crimes he committed against the people. Enraged, the eparch commanded that Kalliopius be tortured and cast into prison.

A few days later, he was brought before the eparch where despite the tortures he again confessed his faith in Jesus Christ. He was condemned to death by crucifixion on [[April 7]] which coincided with [[Holy Friday]], and thus received the incorruptible crown.

According to tradition, his mother gave up her soul after embracing his holy [[relics]].

[[Category: Saints]]

Gerasimos of Byzantium

2013-04-06T06:32:13Z

Wsk: copy edit - links, categories

Our Righteous Father '''Gerasimos of Byzantium''' lived in the eighteenth century. His memory is celebrated [[April 7]]

==Life==
Gerasimos, the teacher, was born in Constantinople to a faithful family.

Little is known of his early life. He had a reputation as a wise man who was well regarded by the educated. He travelled to the island of Patmos where he became a [[disciple]] of St. Makarius at the famous [[seminary]] of Patmos. He became the rector of the seminary after the blessed repose of St. Makarius.

Having distanced himself from the cares of the world he received the [[monasticism|monastic]] [[tonsure]] at the Royal and Patriarchal Monastery of St. John the Theologian in Patmos, where he was later [[ordination|ordained]] [[deacon]] and [[priest]].
He lived a righteous life and was regarded as an excellent teacher for the students of seminary.
When he fell ill, he left for Smyrna for treatment. When this failed, he travelled to [[Archdiocese of Crete|Crete]] were he reposed in 1770 and was buried in the Holy Trinity Monastery.

When the monks from his [[monastery]] in Patmos learned of his repose, they travelled by boat to Crete where they asked that his holy [[relics]] be returned to his monastery. The monks of Holy Trinity Monastery refused this request, however during a vigil, the holy right hand of the saint was miraculously cut off while the Cherubic Hymn was being chanted and so this treasured relic was returned to Patmos where it remains to this day and is a source of many healings.

The holy relics of St. Gerasimos was kept under the Holy [[Altar]] of the main [[church]] of the monastery together with the relics of St. Akakios until 1821 when the [[Ottoman empire|Ottoman Turks]] set fire to the monastery, destroying this source of Grace.

[[Category: Saints]]
[[Category: Monastics]]

Gregory the Byzantine

2013-04-06T05:43:41Z

Wsk: copy edit - links, categories

[[Saint]] '''Gregory the Byzantine''', also known as Saint '''Gregory the Athonite''', was a native of [[Constantinople]]. He pursued the [[asceticism|ascetic]] life on [[Mount Athos]] in the [[Great Lavra (Athos)|Great Lavra]]. He was the spiritual guide of [[Gregory Palamas]]. He reposed in 1310. His memory is commemorated [[April 6]].

[[Category: Saints]]
[[Category: Monastics]]

Juvenaly (Poyarkov) of Krutitsy

2013-04-01T01:09:28Z

Чръный человек:

His Eminence '''Juvenaly (Poyarkov)''', Russian: Ювеналий, митрополит Крутицкий и Коломенский, is Metropolitan of Krutitsy and Kolomna an [[auxiliary bishop]] of the [[Diocese|Eparchy]] of Moscow with a special elevated status equal to a ruling diocesan [[bishop]] for the suburban part of the Eparchy of Moscow.

==Life==
Vladimir Kirillovich Poyarkov (Russian: Владимир Кириллович Поярков) was born in Yaroslavl on [[September 22]], 1935. In 1953, he entered the [[St. Petersburg Theological Academy|Leningrad Spiritual Academy]], graduating in 1957.

On [[October 10]], 1959, Vladimir was [[tonsure]]d a [[monk]] with the name Juvenaly, followed by his [[ordination]] as [[hierodeacon]] on [[November 4]], 1959 and assignment to the Prince Vladimir Cathedral in Leningrad. Dcn. Juvenaly was ordained to the [[priest]]hood on [[January 1]], 1960. On [[July 7]], 1962, Father Juvenaly was named [[Igumen]] and then raised to the dignity of [[archimandrite]] on [[February 21]], 1963.

Fr. Juvenaly was elected to the [[episcopate]] as [[Bishop]] of Zaraisk, [[vicar]] to the Moscow Eparchy on [[November 25]], 1965 and [[consecration of a bishop|consecrated]] on [[December 26]], 1965 at Holy Trinity [[Cathedral]] of the [[Alexander Nevsky Lavra]] in Leningrad.

In 1969, Bp. Juvenaly was installed as Bishop of Tula and Belyov with additional duties as an assistant of the Department of External Church Relations (DECR) of the [[Church of Russia]].

On [[June 18]], 1971, Bp. Juvenaly was elevated to the dignity of [[archbishop]] and to [[metropolitan]] on [[April 27]], 1972.

He was named Metropolitan of Krutitsy and Kolomna in 1977 and chairman of the DECR. Metr. Juvenaly served as chairman until 1981.

==Sources==
*[[Wikipedia: Juvenaly_Poyarkov]]
*[http://orthodoxresearchinstitute.org/hierarchs/russia/current.html ORI: His Eminence Yuvenalii Metropolitan of Krutitsy and Kolomena]
{{start box}}
{{succession|
before=see created|
title=Bishop of Zaraisk<br> Vicar of the Diocese of Moscow|
years=1965 - 1969|
after= Chrysostom (Martishkin) }}
{{succession|
before=Bartholomew (Gondarovsky)|
title=Metropolitan of Tula and Belyov|
years=1971 - 1977|
after=Victorine (Belyayev)}}
{{succession|
before=Seraphim (Nikitin)|
title=Metropolitan of Krutitsy and Kolomna|
years=1977 - Present|
after=—}}
{{end box}}

[[Category: Bishops]]
[[Category: Bishops of Zaraisk]]
[[Category: Bishops of Tula]]
[[Category: Bishops of Krutitsy]]
[[Category: 20th-21st-century bishops]]

Joseph (Bosakov) of America and Australia

2013-03-30T21:15:05Z

Wsk: category

His Eminence Metropolitan '''Joseph (Bosakov)''' was the ruling hierarch of the Bulgarian Eastern Orthodox [[Diocese]] of the USA, Canada, and Australia, under the [[jurisdiction]] of the [[Church of Bulgaria]], from 1986 until he submitted his resignation on [[February 26]], 2013.

== Life ==
Metr. Joseph was born Ivan Blagoev Bosakov, on [[December 6]], 1942 in the village of Slavovitsa, Pazardzhik, Bulgaria. From 1956 to 1961, Ivan was enrolled as a student of the Sofia [[Seminary]]. After his graduation in 1961, he continued his theological education at St. Kliment Ohridski Theological Academy in Sofia, graduating in 1970.

On [[April 12]], 1970, Ivan entered Troyan Monastery and was [[tonsure]]d a [[monk]] by Metropolitan [[Maxim (Minkov) of Bulgaria|Maxim]] of Lovech, with the name Joseph in honor of the righteous [[Joseph of Arimathea|Joseph of Arimathea]]. On [[May 3]], 1970, he was [[ordination|ordained]] [[deacon]] by Metr. Maxim. On [[December 27]], 1970, Dcn. Joseph was ordained to the rank of a [[priest]] and was appointed protosyngellos of [[Diocese]] of Lovech. After Metr. Maxim was [[enthronement|enthroned]] as Patriarch of Bulgaria, Father Joseph was appointed [[protosyngellos]] of the Diocese of Sofia in July 1971.

On [[October 10]], 1971, Fr. Joseph was assigned by the Bulgarian [[Holy Synod]] to conduct specialist theological studies at [[Moscow Theological Academy and Seminary|Moscow Theological Academy]]. After defending his doctoral thesis, and with the blessing of the Patr. Maxim, Fr. Joseph was raised to the dignity of [[archimandrite]] by Patriarch [[Pimen (Izvekov) of Moscow|Pimen on [[July 21]], 1973. After returning to Bulgaria, he resumed his duties as protosyngellos of the Diocese of Sofia,

On [[December 7]], 1980, Archim. Joseph was [[consecration of a bishop|consecrated]] Bishop of Velichskogo and appointed second [[vicar]] of the Diocese of Sofia. On [[March 24]], 1981, Bishop Joseph was appointed [[abbot]] of Troyan Monastery, and on [[June 1]], 1982 he became the first vicar of the Diocese of Sofia.

On [[April 1]], 1983, Bishop Joseph was appointed to lead the Bulgarian Diocese of Akron in the United States, and on [[April 17]], 1986, he was formally elected Bishop of Akron. On [[December 18]], 1989, the Holy Synod of the Church of Bulgaria decided to restore the unified Bulgarian American and Australian diocese that had existed until 1969. The next day, [[December 19]], 1989, Bp. Joseph was elected Metropolitan of the US and Australia. By the decision of the Fifth Assembly of the Church and Laity, held in Sofia on [[December 17]], 2001, he was named Metropolitan of the US, Canada, and Australia with the [[see|seat]] in New York City.

On [[November 27]], 2012, Metropolitan Joseph was appointed by the Holy Synod as the spokesman on the Patriarchal church council election. On [[February 15]], 2013 at the meeting of the Holy Synod Metr. Joseph was appointed Chairman of the Central Commission, the purpose of which was to nominate three candidates for the patriarchal throne after the repose of Patr. Maxim on [[November 6]], 2012.

Late February 2013, Metr. Joseph submitted a petition for retirement. He advised that he had prepared a candidate as a replacement and wants to return to Bulgaria permanently.

{{start box}}
{{succession|
before=?|
title=Bishop of Velichskogo<br>vicar Diocese of Sofia|
years=1980 - 1983|
after=?}}
{{succession|
before=?|
title=Bishop of Velichskogo<br>vicar Diocese of Akron|
years=1983 - 1986|
after=?}}
{{succession|
before=?|
title=Bishop of Akron|
years=1986 - 1989|
after=?}}
{{succession|
before=?|
title=Metropolitan of the US and Australia|
years=1989 - 2001|
after=?}}
{{succession|
before=?|
title=Metropolitan of the US, Canada, and Australia|
years=2001 - 2013|
after=?}}
{{end box}}

==Source==
*[http://sofiaglobe.com/2013/02/26/bulgarian-orthodox-church-metropolitan-joseph-of-the-us-canada-and-australia-resigns/ Sofia Globe: Bulgarian Orthodox Church Metropolitan Joseph, of the US, Canada and Australia, resigns]

[[Category: Bishops]]
[[Category: Bishops of Velichskogo]]
[[Category: Bishops of Akron]]
[[Category: 20th-21st-century bishops]]

Seraphim (Melkonian) of Baltiysk

2013-03-30T01:06:22Z

Wsk: link

His Grace '''Seraphim (Melkonian)''' is the Bishop of the Baltiysk, Vicar of the Smolensk and Kaliningrad Diocese under the [[jurisdiction]] of the [[Church of Russia]].

==Life==
Vladimir Melkonian was born on [[December 29]], 1961, in the city of Adler in the Krasnodar Krai in south western Russia. After completing his secondary school education in 1979, Vladimir worked as a manual worker at a construction site before he was called to serve in the Soviet army during the period from 1980 to 1982. After completing his army service, Vladimir moved to the city of Ufa in the south eastern edge of European Russia. There, he worked as a watchman and boiler-man for the local diocesan administration and carried out the obedience of [[Reader]] at the Church of the Intercession of the Holy [[Theotokos]] in Ufa.

In 1984, Vladimir entered the Odessa Seminary with the blessing of Bishop Anatoly of Ufa and Sterlitamak. After graduating from the [[seminary]] in 1988, he entered the [[Moscow Theological Academy and Seminary|Moscow Theological Academy]], graduating in 1992.

In 1990, he entered the [[monasticism|monastic]] community of the [[St. Daniel Monastery (Moscow)|Monastery of St. Daniel]] in Moscow, Russia. In December 1990, Vladimir was [[tonsure]]d a [[monk]], with the name Seraphim in honor of St. [[Seraphim of Sarov]], by [[Archimandrite]] Ippolit, the father [[superior]] of the monastery. In January 1991, he was [[ordination|ordained]] [[deacon]] and, in April 1990, [[hieromonk]] by [[Archbishop]] Valentin of Orenburg and Buzuluk.

In 1992, Father Seraphim was transferred to the [[Russian Ecclesiastical Mission in Jerusalem|Russian Orthodox Mission]] in Jerusalem where he served until late 1999. In 1995, [[Patriarch]] [[Alexei II (Ridiger) of Moscow|Alexei II]] awarded him a [[pectoral cross]]. In 1997, he was elevated to the dignity of [[Igumen|igumen]], at the Church of the Holy Trinity of the Jerusalem Mission. In 1999, Fr. Seraphim was recalled to Russia and assigned as head of the Orthodox pilgrimage section under the chairman of the Department of External Church Relations (DECR).

On [[April 3]], 2001, the [[Holy Synod]] of the Church of Russia elected Igumen Seraphim to the [[episcopate]] as Bishop of Baltiysk, [[Vicar]] of the [[Diocese]] of Smolensk and Kaliningrad. On [[April 18], Igumen Seraphim was elevated to the dignity of archimandrite by [[Metropolitan]] [[Kyrill (Gundyayev) of Moscow|Kirill]] of Smolensk and Kaliningrad, chairman of the DECR, at the church of the Holy Trinity at Khorochevo. On [[May 19]], Archim. Seraphim was [[consecration of a bishop|consecrated]] Bishop of Baltiysk by Patr. Alexei II, assisted by nine other hierarchs at the [[Cathedral]] Church. After the liturgy, Patr. Alexei presented the newly-consecrated bishop with his bishop’s [[Crosier|crosier]].

{{start box}}
{{succession|
before=[[Panteleimon (Kutovoy) of Krasnoyarsk|Panteleimon (Kutovoy)]]|
title=Bishop of Baltiysk <br> Vicar of the Diocese of Smolensk|
years=2001 - Present|
after=—}}
{{end box}}

==Source==
*[http://www.orthodoxresearchinstitute.org/hierarchs/russia/bios/bio_seraphim_melkonian_bishop_baltics.htm ORI: Archimandrite Seraphim (Melkonian) Consecrated Bishop of the Baltics]

[[Category: Bishops]]
[[Category: Bishops of Baltiysk]]
[[Category: 21st-century bishops]]

Nectarius of Constantinople

2013-03-28T01:09:13Z

Inistea: ro

Our father among the [[saint]]s '''Nectarius''' was the [[Archbishop]] of Constantinople from 381 to 397. Although an unbaptized layman, Nectarius was elected by the people, the [[clergy]], and emperor [[Theodosius the Great (emperor)|Theodosius]] to succeed [[Gregory the Theologian|Gregory]] as the bishop of Constantinople. His [[feast day]] is [[October 11]].

==Life==
Little is known about the early life of Nectarius. He was born in Tarsus, into a senatorial family. He was praetor of Constantinople. His brother, [[Arsacius of Tarsus|Arsacius]], was also Archbishop of Constantinople from 404 to 405. Yet, while only a [[catechumen]], he had lived a divine and holy life. In preparation for a trip to Tarsus, Nectarius asked that Diodorus, the [[bishop]] of Tarsus, who was in Constantinople for the [[Second Ecumenical Council]], to deliver a letter for him. Bp. Diodorus was so impressed with Nectarius' demeanor and appearance that he became determined that Nectarius should be advanced as a candidate for [[bishop]]. Bp. Diodorus asked Nectarius to delay his return to Tarsus and took him to meet Bishop [[Meletius of Antioch]].

With the resignation of Archbishop [[Gregory the Theologian|Gregory]] as Archbishop of Constantinople during the time of the Council, emperor [[Theodosius the Great|Theodosius]] asked the bishops attending the Council to suggest candidates for the [[see]] of Constantinople from which he could make a selection. Bp. Meletius placed the name of Nectarius at the bottom of his list. From the submitted lists, emperor Theodosius selected Nectarius to be his choice for Archbishop of Constantinople. The emperor's choice of Nectarius took everyone by surprise, as Nectarius had not yet been baptized. The people of Constantinople were delighted at the news as was the council. After he had been baptized and admitted to the [[Holy Orders]], Nectarius was duly [[consecration of a bishop|consecrated]] and installed as Archbishop of Constantinople and became at once president of the Second Ecumenical Council.

Initially, a number of Bishops of the West who opposed the election attempted to initiate a council for reconsideration. But, the election of Abp. Nectarius stood, other than a council in Rome from which no formal account remains of its proceedings, nor of how its members treated the question of Nectarius. On the other hand a letter from Nectarius to the bishops of Illyria noted that the church in Rome had finally agreed to recognize him as well as Abp. [[Flavian I of Antioch]], who also was elected during the period.

During Nectarius' episcopate at Constantinople, the disputes continued with the [[Arianism|Arians]] in its variations. In spite of the decrees of bishops and the emperor, the Arians continued to spread their doctrines. Emperor Theodosius summoned all parties to Constantinople for a great discussion in June 383, hoping to reconcile all differences. Before this he had sent for Nectarius and told him that all questions should be fully debated. Returning home, Nectarius, full of anxiety, consulted the [[Novatian|Novationist]] Bishop Agelis, who felt himself unsuited to arbitrate on such a controversy. However, he did have a reader, Sisinnius, a philosopher and theologian, to whom he referred the argument with the Arians. Sisinnius suggested that they should produce the testimonies of the old Fathers of the Church on the doctrine of the Son, and ask the leaders of the several parties whether they accepted these authorities or desired to anathematize them. Both Abp. Nectarius and emperor Theodosius agreed to his suggestion. When the Bishops met, Theodosius asked whether they respected "...the teachers who lived before the Arian division?" The assembled bishops confirmed that they did. He then asked if they acknowledged, "...them sound and trustworthy witnesses of the true Christian doctrine?". This question, however, produced divisions among the bishops and so the emperor ordered each party to draw up a written confession of his doctrine. When this was done, the Bishops were summoned to the Imperial palace where the emperor received them with kindness and then he retired to his study with their written confessions. After considering them Theodosius rejected and destroyed all except that of the orthodox, because he felt that the others introduced a division into the [[Holy Trinity]].

Theodosius, then, forbade all sectaries, except the Novatianists, to hold divine services or to publish their doctrines or to [[ordination|ordain]] [[clergy]], under threat of severe civil penalties.

Towards the close of his episcopate, Nectarius abolished the office of presbyter penitentiary, whose duty was to receive confessions before communion. His example was followed by nearly all other bishops.

Nectarius reposed in 397 or 398 and was succeeded by [[John Chrysostom]].

{{start box}}
{{succession|
before=[[Gregory the Theologian|Gregory]]|
title=[[List of Patriarchs of Constantinople|Patriarch of Constantinople]]|
years=381 - 397|
after=[[John Chrysostom]]}}
{{end box}}

==Sources==
*[http://www.patriarchate.org/patriarchate/former-patriarchs/nectarius Nectarius]
*[[Wikipedia:Nectarius_of_Constantinople]]
*[http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/10737a.htm Catholic Encyclopedia: Nectorius]

[[Category:Bishops]]
[[Category:4th-century bishops]]
[[Category:Patriarchs of Constantinople]]
[[Category:Saints]]
[[Category:Byzantine Saints]]
[[Category:4th-century saints]]

[[ro:Nectarie al Constantinopolului]]

John and Ann Betar

2013-03-26T21:33:42Z

Wsk: links

{{orthodoxyinamerica}}
'''John and Ann Betar''' were selected winners of the 2013 Longest Married Couples Project run by Worldwide Marriage Encounter, a faith-based [[marriage]] enrichment organization. They are [[parish]]ioners and founding members of St. [[Nicholas of Myra|Nicholas]] [[Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America|Antiochian Orthodox]] [[Church]] in Bridgeport, Connecticut.

==Life==
John Betar and Ann Shawah were from the same Syrian community in Bridgeport. John Betar immigrated to America in 1921 with his brother and settled with their father in Bridgeport, Connecticut. After completing grammar school, he took a job peddling fruit in Grenwich and would drive Ann Shawah and her friends to school. Though Ann had been promised to a man twenty years her senior in an arranged marriage, she fell in love with John and they eloped in Harrison, New York, on [[November 25]], 1932 at the ages of 21 and 17.

In 1938, John Betar opened a the grocery store Betar's Market in the south end of Bridgeport, with Ann a housewife. They raised five children. In their later years, Ann discovered a talent for painting with oils and watercolor and their favorite passtime became cooking soup together. Their family has grown to fourteen grandchildren and sixteen great-grandchildren.

On November 25, 2012, John and Ann Betar celebrated their eightieth wedding anniversary at St. Nicholas Antiochian Church in Bridgeport. They were 101 and 97, respectively.

==Longest Married Couple Project==
In a press release dated [[January 29]], 2013, faith-based marriage enrichment organization Worldwide Marriage Encounter selected John and Ann Betar as winning the third annual Longest Married Couple Project. The Betars are not the statistically longest married couple in America, but were rather hand selected from a group of nominees submitted to the organization. They were officially recognized on [[February 9]] in a ceremony held by WWME coordinators Diane and Dick Baumbach at the home of Betar grandchild Heather Mitchell in Fairfield.

Proclamations were issued to the Betars by President Barack Obama, Connecticut Governer Dannel Malloy, the US House of Representatives, and WWME. Prizes included a personalized Bible, a lighthouse, and figurine entitled "Endless Love", which encompass the Christian tennats of Faith, Hope, and Love. Following this event, they were recognized nationally from TV hosts such as David Letterman to Kelly Ripa.
==Source==
*[http://www.wwme.org/node/58631/view 2013 Longest Married Couple Winners Announced!] ''WWME Press Release''. January 29, 2013.
*[http://abcnews.go.com/US/john-ann-betar-celebrate-80th-wedding-anniversary-share/story?id=17769043 Couple Celebrates 80th Wedding Anniversary, Shares Secrets to Lasting Marriage] Sher, Lauren. ABC News. November 20, 2012.
*[http://www.ctpost.com/default/article/Longest-married-couple-lives-in-Fairfield-4258220.php#photo-4147442 'Longest married couple' lives in Fairfield] CT Post. February 7, 2013.
*[http://www.ctpost.com/default/article/Fairfielders-80-year-marriage-a-record-group-4260492.php Fairfielders' 80-year marriage a record, group proclaims] CT Post. February 7, 2013.
*[http://www.ctpost.com/default/article/Best-and-the-rest-of-the-past-week-4260521.php Best and the rest of the past week] CT Post. February 7, 2013.
*[http://www.ctpost.com/default/article/Blizzard-no-barrier-to-honors-for-Fairfielders-4272752.php Blizzard no barrier to honors for Fairfielders' 80-year marriage] Barone, Meg. CT Post. February 13, 2013.
*[http://www.ctpost.com/news/slideshow/Couple-celebrates-80th-anniversary-52938.php Couple celebrates 80th anniversary] CT Post. November 25, 2012.

[[Category:People|Betar, John and Ann]]

Evtimiy of Tamovo

2013-03-23T01:09:30Z

Wsk: link

[[File:Evtimiy patr bulgaria.png|right|thumb|300px|Evtimiy of Tamovo Patriarch of Bulgaria 1375 to 1393]]
Our father among the [[saint]]s '''Evtimiy of Tamovo''', also '''Euthymius of Tamovo''' was the last [[Patriarch]] of the [[Church of Bulgaria]] as [[Ottoman empire|Ottoman]] forces defeated Tsar Ivan Shishman and captured the Bulgarian capital Tamovo during the late fourteenth century, thus ending the Tamovo based Bulgarian patriarchate. He was the Patriarch of Bulgaria from 1375 to 1393. His [[feast day]] is [[January 20]].

==Life==
A member of the boyar family of the Tsamblaks, Evtimiy was born about 1325 in Turnovo. He received his education at the [[monastery]] schools in the vicinity of Turnovo. In 1350, he became a [[monk]] and entered the Kilifarevo Monastery that was founded by Theodosius of Turnovo. After Theodosius appointed him his assistant, they traveled in 1363 to Constantinople and spent some time at the [[Studion Monastery]], known for its center of learning and rich library. There, Evtimiy became well-known among the educated [[clergy]] of the area as he was influenced by many outstanding thinkers, scholars, and reformers of the spiritual life and beliefs in Southeastern Europe. However, soon after their arrival Theodosius died. Evtimiy then joined the [[Great Lavra (Athos)|Great Lavra]] of Athanasius the Anchorite on [[Mount Athos]].

In 1365, Evtimiy went to Aton in what is now Greece, then a center for the Orthodox Church, where earlier that century many scholars and thinkers had lived, among them [[Gregory of Sinai|Gregory the Sinaite]], [[Gregory Palamas]], and John Kukuzelis. It was later, after he had moved to Zograph Monastery, that Evtimiy began to reflect on the spelling reforms and planned corrections to the translations of the sacred books.

In 1371, Evtimiy returned to Bulgaria and founded a [[monastery]] near Turnovo called “Holy Trinity” that became the center of the famous “Turnovo Literary School”. Here, he established his legacy. Evtimiy led the reform in the Old Bulgarian language, a reform that widely influenced the written language form in principalities the Serbia, Walachia, Moldova, and Russia. He discarded old translations of the sacred books, full of mistakes, and supplied the peoples of the Orthodox faith with new translations, in Old Bulgarian, that destroyed all reasons for disputes among Christians and their [[heresy|heresies]].

In 1375, Patriarch Joanicius (Ioanikiy) died and Evtimiy was elected Patriarch of Bulgaria, with his [[see]] in Turnovo. An [[asceticism|ascetic]], Evtimiy persecuted the heresies and the moral decay. He became famous throughout the Orthodox world and a number of metropolitans and [[Igumen|hegumens]] addressed him to interpret theological matters.

In the spring of 1393, the [[Ottoman empire|Ottoman Turks]] laid siege to Turnovo while Tsar Ivan Shishman was defending Nikopol. Left to defend Turnovo, Patr. Evtimiy and his forces held out for three months before the city was over whelmed. Patr. Evtimiy was sent in exile to the Bachkovo Monastery, now in south central Bulgaria. With his [[deposition]] and exile, the Tarnovo Patriarchate ceased to exist. The Bulgarian church having lost its independence became subordinate to the [[Church of Constantinople|Patriarchate of Constantinople]] until the establishment of the Bulgarian Exarchate 1870.

The date of his repose is unknown, but it is believed to have been between 1402 to 1204. Patr. Evtimiy was subsequently [[glorification|glorified]]. His memory is honored on January 20, the same day as that of his namesake [[Euthymius the Great]].

{{start box}}
{{succession|
before=Joanicius II|
title=Patriarch of Bulgaria|
years=1375 - 1393|
after=[[Cyril (Markov) of Bulgaria|Cyril (Markov)]]<br>1953}}
{{end box}}

==Sources==
*[http://www.plovdivguide.com/Current-News/Remembering-a-great-Bulgarian---Patriarch-Evtimii-of-Turnovo-1603/_p59/ Remembering a great Bulgarian - Patriarch Evtimii of Turnovo]
*[[Wikipedia: Evtimiy_of_Tarnovo]]
*[http://www.orthodoxresearchinstitute.org/hierarchs/bulgaria/bios/kaimakamova_patriarch_evtimiy.htm Patriarch Evtimii of Bulgaria]

[[Category: Bishops]]
[[Category:14th-15th-century bishops]]
[[Category: Bishops of Tarnovo]]
[[Category: Patriarchs of Bulgaria]]
[[Category: Saints]]
[[Category: Bulgarian Saints]]

[[ro:Eftimie de Târnovo]]

Cyril (Markov) of Bulgaria

2013-03-21T01:06:01Z

Wsk: link

His Holiness '''Cyril (Markov)''', [[Patriarch]] of Bulgaria, was the [[primate]] of the [[Church of Bulgaria]] from 1953 until 1971. He was the first Patriarch after the restoration of the [[Church of Bulgaria|Bulgarian Patriarchate]] in 1953.

==Life==
Constantine Markov, (Bulgarian: Константин Марков), was born on [[January 3]], 1901 in Sofia, Bulgaria. Entering a theological career in the Orthodox Christian Church, Constantine received the name Cyril as he was [[tonsure]]d into a [[monasticism|monastic]] life on [[December 30]], 1923 at St. Nedelya Church in Sofia.

He advanced through the [[Holy Orders]] and was [[consecration of a bishop|consecrated]] the [[Metropolitan]] of Plovdiv in 1938. During World War II., Metr. Cyril participated in the Bulgarian popular resistance to the Holocaust. In 1943, he confronted the captors of Bulgarian Jews slated to be deported. While he initially pledged to join in solidarity with the deportees, Metr. Cyril then told the guards he would block the train with his own body. After which the guards reply that they have just received new orders to release the Jews. This episode was recounted in the oratorio "A Melancholy Beauty," composed by Georgi Andreev with libretto by [[Scott Cairns]] and Aryeh Finklestein, that was first performed in June 2011 in Washington, D.C.

In 1945, after many decades of negotiations, Patriarch of Constantinople recognized the restoration of [[autocephaly]] of the Church of Bulgaria whose last patriarch was Patriarch [[Evtimiy of Tamovo|Evtimiy]] in the late fourteenth century. On [[May 10]], 1953, Metr. Cyril was elected Patriarch of Bulgaria.

Patr. Cyril reposed on [[March 7]], 1971 and was buried in the main church of the [[Assumption of the Virgin Monastery (Bachkovo, Bulgaria)|Bachkovo Monastery]] in south central Bulgaria.

{{start box}}
{{succession|
before=?|
title=Metropolitan of Plovdiv|
years=1938 - 1953|
after=?}}
{{succession|
before=[[Evtimiy of Tamovo|Evtimiy]]|
title=Patriarch of Bulgaria|
years=1953 - 1971|
after=[[Maxim (Minkov) of Bulgaria|Maxim (Minkov)]]}}
{{end box}}

==Source==
*[[Wikipedia: Cyril_of_Bulgaria]]

[[Category:Bishops]]
[[Category:20th-century bishops]]
[[Category:Bishops of Plovdiv]]
[[Category:Patriarchs of Bulgaria]]

[[ro:Chiril (Markov) al Bulgariei]]

Porphyrios (disambiguation)

2013-03-20T22:28:29Z

Angellight 888: /* Saints */

'''Porphyrios''', also ''' ''Porphyrius'' ''' or ''' ''Porfiriy'' ''' may refer to the following:

==Saints==
* Porphyrius, martyr, in Thessaly († 202), [[February 10]]<ref>Great Synaxaristes: {{el icon}} ''[http://www.synaxarion.gr/gr/sid/2080/sxsaintinfo.aspx Οἱ Ἅγιοι Βάπτος καὶ Πορφύριος οἱ Μάρτυρες καὶ οἱ τρεῖς πιστεύσαντες γυναῖκες].'' 10 Φεβρουαρίου. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ.</ref><ref>''[http://oca.org/saints/lives/2013/02/10/100476-martyr-porphyrius-in-thessaly Martyr Porphyrius in Thessaly].'' OCA - Lives of the Saints.</ref>
* Porphyrius the General and 200 Soldiers with him, martyrs († ca.305), [[November 25]] (''Greek use'');<ref>Great Synaxaristes: {{el icon}} ''[http://www.synaxarion.gr/gr/sid/1277/sxsaintinfo.aspx Ὁ Ἅγιος Πορφυρίων (ἢ Πορφύριος) ὁ Στρατηλάτης καὶ οἱ 200 Στρατιῶτες του].'' 25 Νοεμβρίου. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ.</ref> [[November 24]] (''Slavonic use'')<ref>''[http://oca.org/saints/lives/2013/11/24/103387-martyr-porphyrius-the-general-martyred-at-alexandria-with-greatm Martyr Porphyrius the General martyred at Alexandria, with Greatmartyr Catherine].'' OCA - Lives of the Saints.</ref>
* Porphyrius of Ephesus, martyr († ca.305), [[November 9]]<ref>Great Synaxaristes: {{el icon}} ''[http://www.synaxarion.gr/gr/sid/1125/sxsaintinfo.aspx Οἱ Ἅγιοι Ὀνησιφόρος καὶ Πορφύριος οἱ Μάρτυρες].'' 9 Νοεμβρίου. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ.</ref><ref>''[http://oca.org/saints/lives/2013/11/09/103253-martyr-porphyrius-of-ephesus Martyr Porphyrius of Ephesus].'' OCA - Lives of the Saints.</ref>
* Porphyrius, martyr, at Caesarea, in Palestine († ca.308-309), [[February 16]]<ref>Great Synaxaristes: {{el icon}} ''[http://www.synaxarion.gr/gr/sid/2152/sxsaintinfo.aspx Οἱ Ἅγιοι Πάμφιλος, Δανιήλ, Ἠλίας, Ἡσαΐας, Θεόδουλος, Ἱερεμίας, Ἰουλιανός, Οὐάλης, Παῦλος, Πορφύριος, Σαμουὴλ καὶ Σέλευκος οἱ Μάρτυρες].'' 16 Φεβρουαρίου. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ.</ref><ref>''[http://oca.org/saints/lives/2013/02/16/100537-martyr-porphyrius-at-caesarea-in-palestine Martyr Porphyrius at Caesarea, in Palestine].'' OCA - Lives of the Saints.</ref>
* Porphyrius the Actor (''Porphyrius the Mime''), martyr († 361), [[September 15]]<ref>Great Synaxaristes: {{el icon}} ''[http://www.synaxarion.gr/gr/sid/651/sxsaintinfo.aspx Ὁ Ἅγιος Πορφύριος ὁ μίμος].'' 15 Σεπτεμβρίου. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ.</ref><ref>''[http://oca.org/saints/lives/2013/09/15/102620-martyr-porphyrius-the-actor Martyr Porphyrius the Actor].'' OCA - Lives of the Saints.</ref>
* [[Porphyrios of Gaza]] († 420), Bishop of Gaza, [[February 26]]<ref>Great Synaxaristes: {{el icon}} ''[http://synaxarion.gr/gr/sid/2244/sxsaintinfo.aspx Ὁ Ἅγιος Πορφύριος Ἐπίσκοπος Γάζης].'' 26 Φεβρουαρίου. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ.</ref><ref>''[http://oca.org/saints/lives/2013/02/26/100606-st-porphyrius-the-bishop-of-gaza St Porphyrius the Bishop of Gaza].'' OCA - Lives of the Saints.</ref>

==Deceased Bishops==
* Porphyrios of [[Metropolis of Serres and Nigrita|Serres]] (1824-1829)
* [[Porphyrius (Uspensky) of Chigirin]] († 1885), Bishop of Chigirin, Vicar of the Eparchy of Kiev.

==Current Bishops==
* [[Porfyrios of Neapolis]].

==Other==
* [[Porphyrios (Bairaktaris) the Kapsokalivite]] († 1991), Athonite hieromonk.

----
==References==
<small><div><references/></div></small>

<br>
{{disambig}}

[[ro:Porfirie]]

Porphyrios of Gaza

2013-03-20T04:34:54Z

Angellight 888: add icon;

[[File:Porphyrios of Gaza.jpg|right|thumb|220px|]]
Our father among the saints '''Porphyrios of Gaza''' ({{el icon}}: ''' ''Πορφύριος'' '''; {{la icon}}: ''' ''Porphyrius'' '''; {{cu icon}}: ''' ''Порфирий, Porfiriy'' ''') was the Bishop of Gaza from 395 to 420 AD, known from the account in his ''Life'' for [[Missionary|Christianizing]] the recalcitrant [[pagan]] city of Gaza, and having its temples demolished. His [[feast day]] is celebrated on [[February 26]] / March 11 (March 10).<ref name=SYNAX>Great Synaxaristes: {{el icon}} ''[http://synaxarion.gr/gr/sid/2244/sxsaintinfo.aspx Ὁ Ἅγιος Πορφύριος Ἐπίσκοπος Γάζης].'' 26 Φεβρουαρίου. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ.</ref>

Saint Porphyrios of Gaza is known to us from the ''Vita Porphyrii'', the vivid biography by Mark the Deacon,<ref group="note">Mark the Deacon was a monk in the Egyptian desert of Scetis (Wadi El Natrun) who became the biographer of Saint Porphyrius in the 5th century. He was, at a later date, made [[deacon]] of his church. To effect the sale of the property still owned by Porphyrius in his native city, Mark set out for [[Thessalonica]] and, upon his return, the proceeds were distributed among the monasteries of Egypt and among the necessitous in and around Jerusalem. His masterpiece, the ''"Vita S. Porphyrii"'' ("Life of St. Porphyrius"), formerly known only in a Latin translation, was published in 1874 by M. Haupt in its original Greek text. A new edition was issued in 1895 by the Bonn Philological Society.</ref> which is a contemporary account that chronicles in some detail the end of [[paganism]] in Gaza in the early fifth century.<ref group="note">The text has come down to us in a Greek and a Georgian recension. [[w:Henri Grégoire (historian)|Grégoire]] and Kugener (1930), the editors of the ''Vita Porphyrii'', reviewed the challenges to the integrity of the work and summarized the previous scholarship. These included the lack of other attestation to major figures, including Porphyry himself, in an otherwise well-documented period of history. But they concluded that the text had a historical basis and ''"that the solution of most problems is to be found in the fact that the text of the Vita transmitted to us represents a revision of the sixth century, which borrowed from the church history of [[Theodoret of Cyrrhus]] of 444..."'' In addition, Paul Peeters (1941) published the Georgian texts, and showed that they depended on a lost Syriac original that must have been written in the later fifth or sixth century.</ref>

==Life==
Saint Porphyrius was born of wealthy and pious parents about the year 347 in [[Thessalonica]]. From his youth until age twenty-five Porphyrius remained in Thessalonica, the town of his birth.

===Monk at Scetes===
Having the inclination for [[Monasticism|monastic life]], he left his native region at twenty-five years of age, and set off for Egypt where he lived in the [[w:Wadi El Natrun|Nitrian desert]] (Scetes), a great monastic center at that time, and went under the guidance of St [[Macarius the Great]]. Under the guidance of this experienced spiritual father, the young Porphyrius was [[tonsure]]d a [[monk]], and remained there for five years. Here, he also met St [[Jerome]], who was then visiting the Egyptian monasteries.

===Ascetic in the Jordan===
He then went on [[pilgrimage]] to [[Jerusalem]], preaching the [[Gospel]] of [[Christ]] to the Jews and the Greeks.<ref name=SYNAX/><ref group="note">{{el icon}} "Μετὰ πενταετὴ διαμονὴ ἦλθε στὰ Ἱεροσόλυμα καὶ κήρυσσε στοὺς Ἰουδαίους καὶ τοὺς Ἕλληνες τὸ Εὐαγγέλιο τοῦ Χριστοῦ."</ref>

In the proximity of Jerusalem, he lived an [[Asceticism|ascetical]] life in a cave in the Jordanian wilderness for five more years. There he became seriously ill from [[w:Cirrhosis|liver cirrhosis]],<ref name=SYNAX/> but in spite of his impaired health, he frequently visited the [[Church of the Holy Sepulchre (Jerusalem)|Church of the Resurrection]] and the other sacred shrines. Here he met the Asiatic Mark, who later became a [[deacon]] of his church and his biographer.<ref name=SYNAX/>

Mark proved a loyal companion and agreed to look after an unresolved matter for Porphyrios in his native city Thessaloniki, regarding the sale of the estate that was still owned by him. When Mark returned he brought with him 4,400 coins from the sale of the assets, as well as many silver vessels and precious garments, all of which were distributed to the poor and donated for the adornment of the monasteries of Jerusalem and Egypt.<ref name=SYNAX/>

During Mark's absence in Thessaloniki, Saint Porphyrius health was [[Miracle|miraculously]] restored, after he received a vision of the Crucifixion of the Lord and of the [[Dismas the thief|Good Thief]].<ref name=SYNAX/>

===Ordination===
In 392 AD, when Porphyrius was 45 years old, he was [[Ordination|ordained]] to the [[Presbyter|priesthood]] by Patriarch [[John II of Jerusalem]] (386-417), and was appointed as the custodian of the Venerable Wood of the [[Cross]] of the Lord.

===Bishop of Gaza===
In 395 AD the bishop of the city of Gaza (in Palestine) died. The local Christians went to Caesarea to ask Metropolitan John of [[w:Caesarea Palaestina|Caesarea Palaestina]] to send them a new bishop who would be able to contend against the pagans, which were predominant in their city and were harassing the Christians there. The Lord inspired the Metropolitan to summon the priest Porphyrios. With fear and trembling the ascetic accepted the office of bishop, and with tears he prostrated himself before the Life-Creating Wood and went to fulfill his new obedience.

====Persecution of Christians in Gaza====
Gaza had a history as a place that was hostile to the early Christians. Several people had suffered [[martyr]]dom there in the persecution of [[Diocletian]] (303-313), as well as under the brief [[pagan]] revival under [[Julian the Apostate]] (362-363) which saw the burning of the Christian basilica and various Christians put to death. The people of Gaza were so hostile to the Christians that the Christian church had been built outside the walls, at a safe distance, and the Christian bishops of the 4th century were specifically termed ''"bishops of the churches about Gaza".''

The Christian community then scarcely numbered 280 individuals in Gaza, according to the ''Vita'' of St. Porphyry, and the community-at-large, who were very fanatical idolaters, resisted the closing of temples and destruction of [[pagan]] images which had already started in more Christianized regions.<ref group="note">Compare the contemporary treatment of the [[w:Serapion of Alexandria|Serapion of Alexandria]] in 391, followed soon after by the destruction of the temples of [[w:Heliopolis (ancient)|Heliopolis (Egypt)]] and [[w:Apamea, Syria|Apameia (Syria)]].</ref>

Only by his great faith and patience did Porphyrios succeed in converting the inhabitants of Gaza to the Faith of Christ. By performing many [[miracle]]s there, he guided many idolaters and heretics to the true knowledge of God. At one time, there had been a long spell without rain, causing a severe drought. The pagan priests brought offerings to their idols, but the woes did not cease. St Porphyrius imposed a [[fast]] for all the Christians, and he then served an [[All-Night Vigil]], followed by a church procession around the city. Immediately the sky covered over with storm clouds, thunder boomed, and abundant rains poured down. Seeing this miracle, many pagans cried out, ''“Christ is indeed the only true God!”'' As a result of this, 127 men, thirty-five women and fourteen children were united to the Church through [[Baptism|Holy Baptism]], and another 110 men soon after this.

Overall however, the pagans continued to harass the Christians, passing them over for public office, and burdening them with taxes.

====Appeals to Constantinople====
Therefore in order to protect his flock from the injustices of the pagans and archons of Gaza, he twice appealed to the court to close and destroy the heathen temples of Gaza.

In 398 AD Bishop Porphyrios sent his [[deacon]] and chronicler Mark to Constantinople, to obtain aid. An official named Hilarius duly arrived with soldiers to close the temples, but the Marneion (a great cult center of paganism, founded by Emperor Hadrian in 129 AD)<ref group="note" name="Marneion">The ''Vita'' of Porphyry of Gaza, mentions the great god of Gaza, known as Marnas (Aramaic: Marnā the "Lord"), who was regarded as the god of rain and grain and invoked against famine. Marna of Gaza appears on coinage of the time of Hadrian. He was identified at Gaza with [[w:Zeus|Cretan Zeus, ''Zeus Krētagenēs'']]. It is likely that Marnas was the Hellenistic expression of [[w:Dagon|Dagon]]. His temple, the ''Marneion'' — the last surviving great cult center of paganism — was burned by order of the Roman emperor in 402. Treading upon the sanctuary's paving-stones had been forbidden. Christians later used these same to pave the public marketplace.</ref> remained open, because Hilarius was bribed with a large sum of money (''Vita 27''). There was no great change, however, in the attitude of the people, who refused to allow Christians "to hold any civil office, but entreated them as naughty slaves" (''Vita 32'').

Then during the winter of 401-402 Bishop Porphyrios personally traveled to [[Church of Constantinople|Constantinople]], accompanied by Bishop John of [[w:Caesarea Palaestina|Caesarea Palaestina]], to see Emperor [[Arcadius]] and Patriarch [[John Chrysostom]] to seek their support in this unequal struggle with the idolaters.

Saints John and Porphyrius were presented to the Empress [[w:Aelia Eudoxia|Eudoxia]] who was expecting a child at that time. ''“Intercede for us,”'' said the Bishops to the Empress, ''“and the Lord will send you a son, who shall reign during your lifetime”''. Eudoxia very much wanted a son, since she had given birth only to daughters. Through the prayer of the saints an heir was born to the imperial family ([[Theodosius II]]).

As a result of this, the Emperor issued an edict in 401 that restricted the activities of the Pagans and the other heretics, restored privileges to Christians, and provided for a royal grant whereby churches were erected on sites which had previously been pagan temples.

====Destruction of Pagan Temples====
Cynegius, a special imperial envoy, executed the decree in May, 402. Eight temples — those of Aphrodite, Hecate, the Sun, Apollo, Kore (Persephone), Tyche (Tychaion), the shrine of a hero (Heroeion), and even the great Marneion,<ref group="note" name="Marneion"/> — were either pulled down or burnt. Simultaneously soldiers, who were billeted in the vacated houses visited every house, seizing and burning the idols and private libraries as "books of magic".

The Marneion, the temple sacred to [[w:Zeus|Zeus Marnas]], who was the local Hellenistic incarnation of [[w:Dagon|Dagon]], the patron of agriculture, a god who had been worshipped in the Levant since the third millennium BC, was set afire with pitch, sulfur and fat; it continued to burn for many days; stones of the Marneion were triumphantly reused for paving the streets.

Directly upon the ruins of the Marneion was erected, at the expense of Empress [[w:Aelia Eudoxia|Eudoxia]], a large beautiful church with thirty-two large marble columns, called the ''' ''Eudoxiana'' ''' in her honor, which was [[Consecration of a church|dedicated]] on April 14 ([[Pascha]]), 407 AD.<ref name=SYNAX/><ref group="note">{{el icon}} Κατάφερε δὲ ὁ Ἅγιος τὰ κατεδαφιστεῖ τὸ Μαρνεῖον, ὁ περίφημος ναὸς τῶν Ἐθνικῶν Γαζαίων, ποὺ εἶχε ἱδρυθεῖ ἀπὸ τὸν αὐτοκράτορα Ἀδριανὸ τὸ ἔτος 129 μ.Χ. Στὴν θέση του ἀνοικοδομήθηκε περικαλλὴς ναὸς μὲ χορηγία τῆς αὐτοκράτειρας Εὐδοξίας, ἡ ὁποία ἀπέστειλε γιὰ τὸν σκοπὸ αὐτὸ στὴν Γάζα τὸν Ἀντιοχέα ἀρχιτέκτονα Ρουφίνο. Ὁ ναὸς αὐτός, ποὺ ὀνομάστηκε Εὐδοξιανός, εἶχε 32 μεγάλους κίονες ἀπὸ καρυστινὸ μάρμαρο καὶ τὰ ἐγκαίνιά του ἔγιναν τὸ Πάσχα τοῦ 407 μ.Χ.</ref> Thus paganism officially ceased to exist in Gaza.

====Later Life and Departure====
In subsequent years Saint Porphyrius worked for the establishment of his diocese, and his biographer Mark records in vibrant tones his charitable and missionary activity.

In 415 AD Saint Porphyrius took part in the [[Council of Diospolis]] (Lydda, Lod), which was chaired by Patriarch [[John II of Jerusalem]]. This synod dealt with [[w:Pelagius|Pelagius]], who had fled to Jerusalem after the conflict he had in Africa with Blessed [[Augustine of Hippo|Augustine]], Bishop of Hippo, on the themes of [[Original Sin]] and [[Grace|Divine Grace]]. At this synod Pelagius condemned the theses that were attributed to him, and was restored to communion.

Saint Porphyrius continued to uphold the Christian Faith in Gaza to the very end of his life and guarded his flock from the vexatious pagans, but only after his many efforts, sufferings and prayerful tears to God. Through the [[prayer]]s of the saint numerous [[miracle]]s and healings occurred. The holy arch-shepherd guided his flock for twenty-five years, and reposed peacefully in 420 AD at an advanced age, having fought the good fight against the idolaters until the day of his repose. He was a miracle-worker both during his life and after his death. Even today, his [[relics]] repose in Gaza.

==Church of Saint Porphyrius==
After the Muslim conquest in the 7th century, the Church of St. Porphyrios (''Eudoxiana'') in Gaza City, founded as a Byzantine Church in 407 AD, was transformed into the [[w:Great Mosque of Gaza|Great Mosque of Gaza]].

The existing structure of the Church of Saint Porphyrius today dates from the twelfth century. It is located in the [[w:Zeitoun, Gaza|Zaytun Quarter]] of the Old City, and is the oldest active church in the city. The [[relics|tomb]] of St. Porphyrios is situated in the northeastern corner of the church.<ref>Michael Dumper, Abu-Lughod, Janet L.. ''[http://books.google.ca/books?id=3SapTk5iGDkC&printsec=frontcover&dq=Cities+of+the+Middle+East&hl=en#v=onepage&q=Cities%20of%20the%20Middle%20East&f=false Cities of the Middle East and North Africa: A Historical Encyclopedia].'' ABC-CLIO, 2007. p.156. ISBN 9781576079195</ref>

On March 11th, 2013 (N.S.), the feast of St. Porphyrios, the Orthodox community in Gaza City with Archbishop [[Alexios (Moschonas) of Tiberias]] celebrated the 1,606th anniversary of the founding of the Church of St. Porphyrios.<ref>Asmaa al-Ghoul. ''[http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2013/03/gaza-orthodox-church.html Gaza's Orthodox Church Celebrates 1,606 Years].'' Al-Monitor. March 11, 2013.</ref> Saint Porphyrius is also Gaza’s [[patron saint]].

==Hymns==
'''Apolytikion - Tone 4'''<ref name=HOROLOGION>''The Great Horologion or Book of Hours.'' Transl. from the Greek by [[Holy Transfiguration Monastery (Brookline, Massachusetts)|Holy Transfiguration Monastery, Boston, Massachusetts]], 1997. p.430.</ref><br>
The truth of things hath revealed thee to thy flock as a rule of faith,<br>
an icon of meekness, and a teacher of temperance;<br>
for this cause, thou hast achieved the heights by humility, riches by poverty.<br>
O Father and Hierarch Porphyrius, intercede with Christ God that our souls be saved.

'''Kontakion — Tone 2'''<ref name=HOROLOGION/><br>
Arrayed with a most sacred life,<br>
thou wast adorned with the priestly vestment,<br>
O all-blessed and godly-minded Porphyrius;<br>
and thou art conspicuous for miracles of healing,<br>
interceding unceasingly for us all.

==See also==
'''Wikipedia'''
* [[w:Church of Saint Porphyrius|Church of Saint Porphyrius]].
* [[w:Great Mosque of Gaza|Great Mosque of Gaza]].

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

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

==Sources==
* G.F. Hill (Transl.). ''[http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/basis/porphyry.asp Medieval Sourcebook: Mark the Deacon: Life of Porphyry, Bishop of Gaza].'' Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1913.
:<small>(A now out-of-copyright translation of this fascinating ''Life''.)</small>
* Great Synaxaristes: {{el icon}} ''[http://synaxarion.gr/gr/sid/2244/sxsaintinfo.aspx Ὁ Ἅγιος Πορφύριος Ἐπίσκοπος Γάζης].'' 26 Φεβρουαρίου. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ.
* Bishop Nikolai Velimirovich. ''[http://www.westsrbdio.org/prolog/my.html?month=February&day=26&Go.x=8&Go.y=12 SAINT PORPHYRIUS, BISHOP OF GAZA].'' The Prologue from Ohrid.
* ''[http://oca.org/saints/lives/2013/02/26/100606-st-porphyrius-the-bishop-of-gaza St Porphyrius the Bishop of Gaza].'' OCA - The Lives of the Saints.
* Alexander P. Kazhdan. ''[http://www.oxfordreference.com/view/10.1093/acref/9780195046526.001.0001/acref-9780195046526-e-4423 Porphyrios of Gaza].'' In: The Oxford Dictionary of Byzantium. Oxford University Press, 1991. Current Online Version: 2012. eISBN: 9780195187922
* Philip Schaff (Ed.). ''[http://www.ccel.org/s/schaff/encyc/encyc09/htm/iv.iii.xxxviii.htm PORPHYRY].'' The New Schaff-Herzog Encyclopedia of Religious Knowledge. (Christian Classics Ethereal Library (CCEL)). Retrieved: 2013-03-19.
* Weber, Nicholas. ''"[http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/12282c.htm St. Porphyrius]."'' The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 12. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1911. (New Advent. Retrieved: 2013-03-19)
* ''[[w:Porphyry of Gaza|Porphyry of Gaza]].'' Wikipedia. Retrieved: 2013-03-19.
* H. Grégoire and M.-A. Kugener. ''Marc le Diacre, Vie de Porphyre.'' Paris. 1930.
* Paul Peeters. "La vie géorgienne de Porphyre de Gaza". ''Analecta Bollandiana'' '''59''' (1941), 65-216.

==External Links==
* {{de icon}} Karl-Heinz Uthemann (1994). ''[http://www.bautz.de/bbkl/p/porphyrius_b_v_g.shtml PORPHYRIUS, Bischof von Gaza].'' In: Bautz, Traugott. Bibliographisches Kirchenlexikon (BBKL). 7. Herzberg: Bautz. cols. 848–854. ISBN 3-88309-048-4.
* Asmaa al-Ghoul. ''[http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2013/03/gaza-orthodox-church.html Gaza's Orthodox Church Celebrates 1,606 Years].'' Al-Monitor. March 11, 2013.

[[Category:4th-5th-century bishops]]
[[Category:5th-century saints]]
[[Category:Bishops of Gaza]]
[[Category:Byzantine Saints]]
[[Category:Greek Saints]]
[[Category:Monastics]]
[[Category:Missionaries]]
[[Category:Wonderworkers]]

[[ro:Porfirie din Gaza]]

Joachim (Parr)

2013-03-19T12:32:23Z

Wsk: links

[[Schema#Great_Schema|Schema]]-Archimandrite '''Joachim (Parr)''' (born 1936) is the [[Abbot]] of [[Our Lady of Mercy Monastery (New York City, New York)|St. Mary of Egypt Orthodox Monastery]] in New York, of the [[Russian Orthodox Church in the USA]].

== Biography ==
He was born in 1936 in a Catholic family from [[w:Great Britain|Great Britain]].

At the age of 18 he took monastic vows in the [[w:Benedictine Order|Benedictine Order]]. In 1950s he served as a [[missionary]] in Calcutta. He read lectures in atholic schools in Brazil and the USA.

Under the influence of St. [[John (Maximovitch) the Wonderworker|John of Shanghai]], he turned to the Orthodox church. In 1970s he lived in St. [[Elias Skete]] on [[Mount Athos]].

In 1993 hieromonk Joachim (Parr) established the St. Mary of Egypt Monastery at the Mercy House in [[w:Lower Manhattan|Lower Manhattan]]. Fr Joachim's primary goal was to serve the needs of the inner-city poor.

In 1995 the community opened a small [[chapel]] for a wide range of divine services.

Hieromonk Joachim was an ardent advocate of ROCOR’s reunion with the Moscow Patriarchate. In early 2000 he was in charge of foreign affairs of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia (ROCOR).

In 2001 his monastery was included in the Patriarchal Parishes of the Moscow Patriarchate in the United States.

In 2008 the community bought a land plot in [[w:Treadwell, New York|Treadwell, New York]], and founded the Savior’s Desert Monastery.

== Sources ==
* ''[http://news.belta.by/en/news/society?id=705185 Abbot of New York’s Orthodox monastery to visit Belarus].'' Belarusian Telegraph Agency. 25.01.2013 17:51.

[[Category:Monastics]]
[[Category:Converts to Orthodox Christianity from Roman Catholicism]]

Arseny (Chekandrakov) of Plovdiv

2013-03-19T01:03:10Z

Wsk: new article

His Eminence '''Arseny (Chekandrakov)''' is the [[Metropolitan]] of Plovdiv under the [[jurisdiction]] of the [[Church of Bulgaria]], a position he has held since 1987.

==Life==
Angel Blagoev Chekandrakov was born on [[July 29]], 1932, in the village of Dylgo Pole in Plovdiv Province, Bulgaria. After completing his early education Angel entered the Plovdiv Theological [[Seminary]], graduating in 1951. He then enrolled in the Sofia Theological Academy in Sofia, Bulgaria. After his graduation, he was appointed an assistant to the librarian of the Rila [[Monastery]] in 1955.

On [[June 2]], 1956, Angel was [[tonsure]]d a [[monk]] with the name Arseny. A week later, on [[June 10]], 1956, he was [[ordination|ordained]] a [[hierodeacon]]. In 1956, Dcn. Arseny enrolled as a graduate student in the [[Moscow Theological Academy and Seminary|Moscow Theological Academy]]. On [[October 18]], 1958, he was ordained a [[hieromonk]] by [[Patriarch]] [[Alexei I (Simansky) of Moscow|Alexei I]] of Moscow. After his graduation from the Moscow Academy, Father Arseny returned to Bulgaria, and became a member of Rila Monastery. On [[July 23]], 1961, Fr. Arseny was elevated to the dignity of [[archimandrite]] and began teaching on [[September 1]], 1961 at the Theological Seminary in Cherepish, a position he held until [[April 1]], 1968. On [[January 1]], 1968, Archim. Arseny was appointed the [[protosyngellos]] of [[Eparchy]] of Vratsa while concurrently serving as a specialist at the Theological Faculty of Humboldt University in Berlin, Germany.

On [[March 30]], 1969, Archim. Arseny was [[consecration of a bishop|consecrated]] the [[Bishop]] of Stobilsk, [[vicar]] of the Eparchy of Vratsa. On [[July 21]], 1974, Bishop Arseny was elected Metropolitan of Vratsa. However, under pressure from the Communist authorities, the [[Holy Synod]] annulled his election and appointed Bp. Arseny [[igumen]] of Troyan Monastery, secretary of the Synod, and vicar of the Eparchy of Plovdiv. On [[February 1]], 1987, Bp. Arseny was elected Metropolitan of Plovdiv.

{{start box}}
{{succession|
before=?|
title=Bishop of Stobilsk<br>Vicar Eparchy of Vratsa|
years=1969 - 1974|
after=?}}
{{succession|
before=?|
title=Bishop of Stobilsk<br>Vicar Eparchy of Plovdiv|
years=1974 - 1987|
after=?}}
{{succession|
before=?|
title=Metropolitan of Plovdiv|
years=1987 - present|
after=—}}
{{end box}}

==Source==
*[http://www.orthodoxresearchinstitute.org/hierarchs/bulgaria/bios/bio_arsenii_metr_plovdiv.htm ORI: Metropolitan Arsenii of Plovdiv]

[[Category:Bishops]]
[[Category:20th-21st-century bishops]]
[[Category:Bishops of Stobilsk]]
[[Category:Bishops of Plovdiv]]

Anthony of Provat

2013-03-17T01:06:05Z

Wsk:

His Grace, '''Anthony of Provat''' was a [[bishop]] of the [[Church of Bulgaria]] during the post-World War II era of communist rule of Bulgaria. He sided for a few years with the [[schism]]atics within the Church of Bulgaria following the fall of the communist government.

==Life==
Bishop Anthony was born in 1915 in the village of Hurletz in the Vratsa region in northwestern Bulgaria. After graduating from the Theological Faculty in 1941, he entered a [[monasticism|monastic]] life in 1943 when he was [[tonsure]]d a [[monk]], with the name Anthony, and [[ordination|ordained]] a [[deacon]]. He was ordained to the [[priest]]hood later in 1943. In 1944, Fr. Anthony served in Drama in Greek Macedonia when the Bulgarians occupied part of northern Greece. In 1944, after the communists had taken control of the government in Bulgaria, he was jailed, but was released after he appealed to the Communist party chief [[w:Georgi_Dimitrov|Georgi Dimitrov]].

Fr. Anthony was [[consecration of a bishop|consecrated]] a bishop in 1962 and appointed a [[Vicar]] of the Vidin [[Diocese|eparchy]]. From 1977 to 1985 he served as Vicar of the Dorostol and Cherven eparchy. In 1988, Bp. Anthony was given charge of the Patriarchal [[cathedral]] in Sofia, serving until 1992. In 1992, Bp. Anthony became part of the [[Bulgarian Alternative Synod|schismatic movement]] in the Church of Bulgaria following the dismissal of the [[Holy Synod]] led by [[Patriarch]] [[Maxim (Minkov) of Bulgaria|Maxim]] by the new democratic government of Bulgaria headed by [[w:Philip_Dimitrov|Philip Dimitrov]]. He led the schismatics' organization in Rousse. However in 1997, he re-joined the Maxim led [[synod]].

Bishop Anthony reposed in Rousse, Bulgaria, on [[April 15]], 2002. His funeral service was led by Patr. Maxim.

{{start box}}
{{succession|
before=?|
title=Bishop<br>Vicar of the Vidin Eparchy|
years=1962-1977|
after=?}}
{{succession|
before=?|
title=Bishop<br>Vicar of the Dorostol and Cherven eparchy|
years=1977-1992|
after=?}}
{{succession|
before=?|
title=Bishop of Provat|
years=1997-2002|
after=?}}
{{end box}}

==Sources==
*[http://www.orthodoxresearchinstitute.org/hierarchs/bulgaria/obituaries/obit_antonii_bishop_provat.htm Bishop Antonii Dead at 87]
*[http://www.orthodoxresearchinstitute.org/hierarchs/bulgaria/bios/bio_antonii_bishop_provat.html Bishop Antonii of Provat]

[[Category:Bishops]]
[[Category:20th-21st-century bishops]]
[[Category:Bishops of Provat]]

Seraphim Scheidler

2013-03-16T13:55:07Z

Angellight 888: add cat.;

Fr. '''Seraphim Scheidler''' (1942 - 2011) was [[priest]] of the [[Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia]], rector of [[parish]] of St. Innocent of Moscow in Nashville, Tennessee.

== Early life ==
He was born [[November 25]], 1942 in [[:w:Vienna|Vienna]], Austria of both European and Slavic backgrounds, Father Seraphim, like most Austrians, was born into the [[Roman Catholic Church]], and always considered the [[Orthodox Church]] another side of the same coin.

As a young man he immigrated to Australia, eventually taking on the citizenship of his chosen homeland. It was in this country that he came into contact with the [[w:Liberal Catholic Church|Liberal Catholic Church]] (derived from the [[w:Old Catholic Church of the Netherlands|Old Catholic Church of Holland]]), meeting his future wife, Margaret, at a church congress. After extensive study for [[Holy Orders]] under the direction of the late Bishop Sten von Krusenstierna, then Regionary Bishop of the Province of Australia, he was eventually ordained a priest serving in various locations in [[w:NSW|NSW]] and [[w:Queensland|Queensland]] for about 11 years.

== Conversion ==
Father Seraphim has always been an avid reader, and when he found an image of the great Russian Saint, St. [[Seraphim of Sarov]], in a magazine, he was inexplicably taken by it, so cut it out and placed it in a frame next to his bed. From this time on, grew such a desire to learn more about Orthodoxy that he reached the point of making the most difficult decision of his life: to request release from his ministry in order to join the Holy Orthodox Catholic and Apostolic Church.

With the commencement of the ceremony taking place on St. Seraphim’s Day in August 1987, he, Margaret, and two of their children, their daughters, Leolie Tatiana and Jasmine Mary, were chrismated at the Orthodox Church of the Holy Annunciation ([[OCA]]) in [[w:Brisbane|Brisbane]].

Although living about 3 hours’ away, they attended there as regularly as possible, as well as the [[Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia]] and occasionally visiting the [[Serbian Orthodox Church|Serbian]] and Greek churches. In 1991 the family joined the [[Church of Antioch|Antiochian Orthodox Church]] of St. Mary the Virgin in [[s:Sydney|Sydney]].

It was also about this time that Father Seraphim’s lifelong studies, interest and involvement in the arts and crafts culminated in his graduating as a studio potter from the College of Art, Lismore TAFE, in 1992.

== Ministry in the U.S. ==
Changes in their lives brought about the decision to relocate temporarily to the [[w:United States|United States]], and in 1993, Father Seraphim, Margaret and their two daughters arrived in [[w:Nashville, Tennessee|Nashville]]. Their sons were already independent and living their own lives. The temporary move extended into many more years than originally planned, and both daughters, one with an American born family, eventually moved back to the land of their birth, joining their brothers and their families.

In the meantime, the family was actively involved in the many facets of church life at St. Ignatius Antiochian Orthodox Church, even living with the Pastor, Father Gordon Walker and his wife, Khouria Mary Sue, for the first two years. Father Seraphim, in particular, not having a work visa, was able to devote considerable time to helping Father Gordon, most importantly, managing the large church bookstore.

Although not able to pursue his love of pottery, he was fortunate enough to be able to participate in several Iconography workshops by Master Iconographers [[w:Philip Zimmerman|Philip Zimmerman]] and [[w:Ksenia Pokrovsky|Ksenia Pokrovsky]].

Residing with Father Gordon presented the opportunity to meet and have closer contact with Father [[Daniel (Byantoro)]], the founder of the Indonesian Orthodox Church, and in 2004, at Father Daniel's request, Father Seraphim followed him back into the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad.

In 2005, Father Daniel and Father Gordon (now retired and CEO of Grace Ministries, an important arm of support for Father Daniel's work), asked Father Seraphim to travel to Jakarta, Indonesia, as Father Daniel's representative, for the inaugural Archpastoral visit of His Eminence, Archbishop [[Hilarion (Kapral) of New York|Hilarion]] of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad, [[Diocese of Australia and New Zealand (ROCOR)|Diocese of Australia and New Zealand]] and under whose [[omophorion]] Father Daniel and the Indonesian Orthodox Church (GOI) had been received the year before. Upon his return to the United States via Australia, Archbishop Hilarion raised Father Seraphim to the office of [[Reader]] on [[April 16]], 2005, at the Church of All Saints of Russia, in [[w:Croydon, Sydney|Croydon, Sydney]].

It is interesting to note that there is a personal link to the land of Indonesia, as Margaret's father was born in Bandung, Java, Indonesia, of Australian and Dutch parents and lived here for the first 13 years of his life. Margaret also looks forward to a closer connection with this country and its people in the future.

Following that time, Father Seraphim functioned as a Reader at the Orthodox Church of the Annunciation, [[w:Liberty, Tennessee|Liberty, Tennessee]], under the pastoral direction of Father Gregory Williams.

In 2006, Father Seraphim accompanied Father Gordon Walker to Indonesia once more, to [[w:Jakarta|Jakarta]] and Solo, on the occasion of the second Archpastoral visit of Archbishop Hilarion During that visit he was elevated to the [[Subdeacon]]ate on February 23, 2006, at The Apostle Thomas Orthodox Church in Jakarta, Indonesia.

==Ministry in Indonesia==
At the end of the same year, Father Seraphim was informed by His Eminence, Archbishop Hilarion and Father Daniel, that he was to be assigned to visit Indonesia once again, that he was to prepare for serving the mission there, including his [[ordination]] to the Diaconate and Priesthood in Sydney, prior to his traveling.

With fear and trembling, Father Seraphim approached this momentous step in his life, while giving thanks to God that he would once more be able to serve Him at His Holy Altar. On Palm Sunday, 2007, he was ordained to the Holy [[Priest]]hood at St. Vladimir's Russian Orthodox Church, Centennial Park, Sydney (having been ordained to the Diaconate the previous day at St. Peter and Paul Cathedral, Strathfield).

Father Seraphim's mission and ongoing prayer is to faithfully serve the One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church all the days of his life and he looks forward to further serving his beloved brothers and sisters in Indonesia.

Due to serious illness, Fr. Seraphim moved to Nashville and was transferred to the [[Diocese of Eastern American and New York (ROCOR)|Eastern American Diocese]]. With the blessing of Metropolitan Hilarion, Fr. Seraphim founded the missionary parish of St. Innocent of Moscow in Nashville.

[[January 17]], 2011 Priest Seraphim reposed in the Lord. He was 68. Fr. Seraphim is survived by his Matushka Margaret, his sons James and Nicholas, and his daughters Tatiana and Mary.

== Sources ==
*[http://turcograecus.wordpress.com/2010/07/20/hristiyan-ortodoksluka-dogru-yolculuklar/ Ortodoksluk'a Christian Right Journeys The Story of Fr. Seraphim Scheidler]
*[http://www.stinnocentsnashville.org/p/father-seraphim-scheidler.html Fr Seraphim Scheidler]
*[http://www.eadiocese.org/News/2011/jan/16/scheidler.en.htm Priest Seraphim Scheidler reposed in the Lord]

[[Category: Priests]]
[[Category:Converts to Orthodox Christianity from Roman Catholicism]]

Neofit (Dimitrov) of Bulgaria

2013-03-15T18:47:41Z

Kamasarye: interwiki ro

His Holiness '''Neophyte''' or '''Neofit (Dimitrov)''' is the [[Patriarch]] of Bulgaria, Metropolitan of Sofia, and [[primate]] of the [[Church of Bulgaria]]. He was [[enthronement|enthroned]] on [[February 24]], 2013.

==Life==
Simeon Nikolov Dimitrov (Симеон Николов Димитров) was born in Sofia, Bulgaria on [[October 15]], 1945. After completing his secondary education, Simeon began his theological studies at the Sofia [[Seminary]] in Cherepish Station, graduating in 1965. Then, in September 1967, he entered the St. [[Clement of Ochrid]] Theological Academy in Sofia, graduating in 1971. He then continued his post-graduate theological education at the [[Moscow Theological Academy and Seminary|Moscow Theological Academy]] for two years, where he specialized in liturgical music and earned a doctoral degree.

Returning to Sofia, he was appointed lecturer of liturgical music and conductor of the Theological Seminary Choir on [[September 1]], 1973. On [[August 3]], 1975, Simeon was [[tonsure]]d a [[monk]], with the name Neofit, at the Troyan Monastery by Patr. [[Maxim (Minkov) of Bulgaria|Maxim]]. On [[August 15]], 1975, he was [[ordination|ordained]] to the [[deacon|diaconate]] followed by his ordination to the [[priest]]hood on [[March 23]], 1976, both by Patr. Maxim at the Cathedral of "Sveta Nedelya" (St. Kyriaki) in Sofia.

On [[September 30]], 1975, Father Neofit was appointed the conductor of the Sofia Priests' Choir, serving until [[March 17]], 1986. On [[July 15]], 1977, he was appointed senior lecturer in Eastern church chant and liturgical practice at the Theological Academy in Sofia, a position he retained until January 1980. On [[November 21]], 1977, Fr. Neofit was raised to the dignity of [[archimandrite]]. On [[January 1]], 1981, Archim. Neofit was named [[chancellor]] of the Sofia Eparchy.

While remaining chancellor, Archim. Neofit was [[consecration of a bishop|consecrated]] the [[titular bishop]] of Levkas on [[December 8]], 1985 and served as the second [[vicar]] of the Sofia [[diocese|eparchy]]. On [[December 1]], 1989, Bp. Neofit was appointed rector of the St. Clement of Ochrid Theological Academy in Sofia. On [[July 26]], 1991, he was chosen the first dean of the reestablished Theological Faculty at Sofia University. On [[January 27]], 1992, he was named Secretary of the [[Holy Synod]] of the Church of Bulgaria and chairman of the Board of Trustees of the St. Alexander Nevsky Patriarchal Cathedral.

On [[March 27]], 1994, Bp. Neofit was elected Metropolitan of the Eparchy of Dorostol and Cherven and in 2001, after the eparchy had been divided into two eparchies, he was appointed Metropolitan of the Eparchy of Rousse on [[December 17]], 2001. Following the death of Patr. Maxim on [[November 6]], 2012, Metr. Neofit was elected Patriarch of Bulgaria on [[February 24]], 2013 and enthroned later that day.

{{start box}}
{{succession|
before=?|
title=Bishop of Levkas<br>Vicar of Sofia Eparchy|
years=1985-1994|
after=?}}
{{succession|
before=Sophronius (Stoychev)|
title=Metropolitan of Dorostol and Cherven|
years=1994-2001|
after= Hilarion (Tsonev)}}
{{succession|
before=—|
title=Metropolitan of Rousse|
years=2001-2013|
after=?}}
{{succession|
before=[[Maxim (Minkov) of Bulgaria|Maxim (Minkov)]]|
title=Patriarch of Bulgaria|
years=2013-Present|
after=—}}
{{end box}}

==Sources==
*[http://www.collegiummusicum.org/collegium/?cat=38 Neofit, Metropolitan of Rousse]
*[http://oca.org/news/headline-news/bulgarian-church-elects-successor-to-late-patriarch-maxim Bulgarian Church elects successor to late Patriarch Maxim]
*http://www.novinite.com/view_news.php?id=148158]
*[http://www.dvemogili.bg/index.php?option=com_content&id=13&Itemid=21&lang=en Metropolitan Neophit]

[[Category: Bishops]]
[[Category: Bishops of Levkas]]
[[Category: Bishops of Dorostol]]
[[Category: Bishops of Rousse]]
[[Category: Patriarchs of Bulgaria]]
[[Category: 20th-21st-century bishops]]

[[ro:Neofit (Dimitrov) al Bulgariei]]

Holyrood

2013-03-13T22:14:08Z

Mishakaz: I hope I did this right.

'''''Holyrood''''' may refer to the following places:
*[[Timeline of Orthodoxy in the British Isles#Anglo-Norman Britain: Latin Continental Ecclesiology Formalized .281066-1154.29|Holyrood Abbey]], an Augustinian [[Roman Catholic]] [[monastery]] founded after the Norman in Scotland in 1128.
*[[Monastery of the Assumption of Our Lady of Mount Royal (Jacksonville, Florida)|Monastery of the Assumption of Our Lady of Mount Royal]], a Benedictine [[Western Rite]] in Jacksonville, Florida.

Monastery of the Assumption of Our Lady of Mount Royal (Jacksonville, Florida)

2013-03-13T22:06:48Z

Mishakaz: added {{orthodoxyinamerica}} and fixed category to American, not Canadian Monasteries.

'''Dormition of Our Loady of Mount Royal''' (Holyrood) is a [[Western Rite]] [[stavropegial]] [[monastery]] of the [[Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia]] (ROCOR). It is currently located in Jacksonville, Florida.
{{orthodoxyinamerica}}
== History ==
Founded in 1910 as an Old Catholic monastery, Mount Royal's mission and work continued under [[Old Catholic]] auspices until 1962. In that year the community was received into the patriarchal Russian Orthodox Church by its American [[exarch]], Bishop [[Dositheus (Ivanchenko) of New York|Dositheus (Ivanchenko) of New York]]. For several years, the [[monk]]s of Mount Royal staffed a Western Rite chapel in the Russian Cathedral of St. Nicholas in Manhattan, later moving to Woodstock, New York. Bishop Dositheus' successor, Archbishop [[John (Wendland) of New York and the Aleutians|John (Wendland)]], blessed and confirmed the Western Rite observance and mission of Mount Royal and the leadership of its [[abbot]], Dom [[Augustine Whitfield]].

In 1975, under Abbot Augustine, the monastery was received into the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia by Archbishop [[Nikon (Rklitski) of Florida|Nikon (Rklitzsky)]], who again authorized and blessed its mission and observances.

In 1993, the former Prior of Mount Royal, Dom James (Deschene) founded [[Christminster]] in Rhode Island, which subsequently relocated to Hamilton, Ontario.

In 2010, Dom Augustine reposed and was succeeded as abbot by Dom David (Pierce).

==External links==
* [http://orthodoxwesternrite.wordpress.com/mount-royal-monastery] Unofficial site
* Dom Augustine Whitfield (Abbot of Mount Royal). ''[http://www.allmercifulsavior.com/Liturgy/DomAugustineCustomary.pdf Directions for the Celebration of The Western Orthodox Liturgy Commonly Called the Mass].'' Revised Edition. Privately Printed, 1975. <small>(Usage of Mt Royal - Part 1)</small>
* Dom Augustine Whitfield (Abbot of Mount Royal). ''[http://www.allmercifulsavior.com/Liturgy/Dom-Augustine-Mass.pdf The Order for the Celebration of The Western Orthodox Liturgy].'' <small>(Usage of Mt Royal - Part 2)</small>

[[Category:Monasteries]]
[[Category:ROCOR Monasteries]]
[[Category:American Monasteries]]
[[Category:Western Rite]]

St. Elizabeth the New Martyr Convent (Mohawk, New York)

2013-03-12T01:12:46Z

Wsk: link

{{monastery|
name=Saint Elizabeth Skete|
jurisdiction=[[Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia|ROCOR]]|
type=Female Monastery|
founded=1987|
superior= Abbess Elisabeth (Czwikla)‎|
size=6 monastics|
hq=Mohawk, New York|
language=Slavonic, English|
music=[[Russian Chant]]|
calendar=[[Julian Calendar|Julian]]|
feasts=[[Elizabeth the New Martyr#Glorification|New Martyrs Grand Duchess Elizabeth and Nun Barbara]]|
website=[http://www.saintelizabethskete.org Official Website]
}}
'''Saint Elizabeth Skete''' is a female [[monastic]] community in the [[jurisdiction]] of [[Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia]], located in Mohawk, New York. It is located adjacent to [[Holy Trinity Monastery (Jordanville, New York)|Holy Trinity Monastery]] in Jordanville. It is named in honor of St. [[Elizabeth the New Martyr]].
{{orthodoxyinamerica}}

==History==
In 1984, the widowed professor Natalia Sergeevna Markov was invited by [[Archbishop]] [[Laurus (Škurla) of New York|Laurus (Škurla) of Syracuse and Holy Trinity]] to teach Russian language and history at [[Holy Trinity Orthodox Seminary (Jordanville, New York)|Holy Trinity Orthodox Seminary]] in Jordanville, New York. After many talks with her father-in-law, [[Protopresbyter]] [[Michael Pomazansky]], she decided to enter the monastic life. Abp. Laurus gave for her disposal a small house down the road from the monastery, and invited a young woman by the name of Maria Czwikla to join her. On the eve of the [[Feast]] of St. [[Nicholas of Myra]], 1984, both women were made [[novice|novices]].

Two years later, Abp. Laurus tonsured them [[Monastic Ranks|rassaphore]] nuns gave them a larger house next door to use as a dormitory. Nun Natalia decided to name the community after the [[New Martyrs and Confessors of Russia|Russian New Martyr]] Grand Duchess Elizabeth, and the sisters' spiritual father, [[Archimandrite]] [[Luke (Murianka)]], painted an icon of her for them. A chapel was built on the second floor for daily prayer services, and blessed by Abp. Laurus to have the [[Divine Liturgy]] served occasionally. On the eve of the Feast of the [[Kursk Root Icon]] in 1993, Nun Natalia was tonsured into the [[Monastic Ranks|Little Schema]] and given the name Ioanna in memory of the resposed Abp. [[John (Maximovitch) the Wonderworker|John of San Fransisco]].

The first Divine Liturgy was served in the chapel on the Feast of St. Elizabeth in 1993. In April of 2010, the community was finally granted the status of [[skete]] by the Synod of Bishops. Mother Ioanna fell asleep in the Lord on the Feast of [[Theophany]] in 2011, after [[Matins]] for the [[Synaxis of the Baptist]]. The twenty-fifth anniversary of the skete was celebrated with a Divine Liturgy officiated by Archbishop [[Gabriel (Chemodakov) of Montreal]] on the Feast of St. Elizabeth, during which Nun Elisabeth was elevated to abbess.

The skete now occupies four buildings on its property and is remodeling the chapel. On [[December 14]], 2012, the expanded chapel was blessed and on the Feast of St. Nicholas five days later, Archimandrite Luke with Archpriest Vladimir Tsurikov served the first Divine Liturgy there.

==Iconography==
St. Elizabeth Skete has a small studio with two iconographers: Nun Theodora (Livchitz) and Nun Sophronia (Hofstead). Icons are painted the traditional way with egg tempera on wooden boards.

==Store==
St. Elizabeth Skete runs a small store, in which it sells incense, beeswax candles, herbal tea, skin cream, face cream, lip balm, solid perfume, and herbal salts. All produces are hand-made by the sisters.

==Daily Life==
*5:00 am - [[Midnight Office]]
*6:00 am - Divine Liturgy (at Holy Trinity Monastery unless otherwise stated)
*12:00 pm - Lunch
*6:00 pm - [[Vespers]] and [[Compline]]
**[[Akathist]] to St. Nicholas on Wednesdays after Vespers
**Akathist to the [[Mother of God]] on Fridays after Vespers and Compline
**Akathist to the New Martyr Elizabeth on Sundays after Vespers

==Sources==
*[http://www.saintelizabethskete.org/nun_ioanna_pomazansky.html Nun Ioanna Pomazansky]
*[http://www.saintelizabethskete.org/history.html St. Elizabeth Skete: Our History]
*[http://saintelizabethskete.org/schedule.html St. Elizabeth Skete Schedule]
*[http://jordanville.org/schedule.html Holy Trinity Monastery Schedule of Divine Services and Meals]
*[http://jordanville.org/news_120729_1.html 25th Anniversary at St. Elizabeth Skete in Jordanville, NY] ''Holy Trinity Monastery'', News & Events.
*[http://www.eadiocese.org/News/2012/sept/steliz.en.htm Jordanville, NY: St. Elizabeth Skete has undertaken a remodeling project] ''Media Office of the Eastern American Diocese'', September 13, 2012.
*[http://www.eadiocese.org/News/2012/aug/steliz.en.htm Jordanville: Archbishop Gabriel of Montreal led the 25th Anniversary Celebrations in St. Elizabeth Skete] ''Media Office of the Eastern American Diocese'', August 15, 2012.

==Links==
*[http://saintelizabethskete.org Official Site]
*[http://eadiocese.org/Parishes/newyork/en.jordanvilleconvent.htm Eastern American Diocese Directory Listing]

[[Category:ROCOR Monasteries]]
[[Category:American Monasteries]]
[[Category:Monasteries]]

Synthronon

2013-03-12T00:49:17Z

Wsk: new article

The '''synthronon''' is a structure in the [[apse]] at the back of the [[altar]] of an Orthodox Christian [[church]] that combines the [[bishop]]'s throne/cathedra and seats for the [[clergy]]. During the Trisagion, the clergy assembles at the synthronon. The bishop's cathedra is centered in the set of chairs or tiered benches for the clergy. The synthronon came into use in the fourth century.

The psalterion, in the nave, that is thought by many to be the Bishop's throne was originally his stasidion, or choir stall, where he stood for the offices, such as [[Vespers]] and [[Matins]]. In monasteries, it is the Abbot’s stall.

==Sources==
*[http://www.fhw.gr/chronos/projects/justinian/en/journey/j1c.html Constantinople: Churches - Synthronon]
*[http://www.oodegr.com/english/biblia/Divine_Liturgy/5.Liturgy_of_Word.htm The Liturgy of the Word]
*[http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Synthronon Synthronon] In German
*[http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Synthronon Synthronon]

==External link==
*[http://www.flickr.com/photos/5telios/4406599538/ Iznik - Nikaia - Nicaea: St. Sophia, apse with synthronon, July 2007]

[[Category: Church architecture]]

Hagia Eirene (Constantinople)

2013-03-09T16:37:51Z

Wsk: link

[[File:HagiaEirene c1900.jpg|right|thumb|300px|Hagia Eirene, circa 1900]]
The '''Church of Hagia Eirene''', Greek: Ἁγία Εἰρήνη, ''Holy Peace'' or ''Divine Peace'', commonly rendered incorrectly in English as '''St. Irene''', is a former Orthodox Christian church located in the outer courtyard of the Topkapi Palace in the ancient area of Constantinople in Istanbul, Turkey. Since the [[Fall of Constantinople|fall of Constantinople]] in 1453 to the Ottoman Turks, the church has been used variously as an armory, warehouse, museum, and concert hall.

==History==
Traditionally, the site of Hagia Eirene was occupied by a pre-Christian temple and an earlier small church that were demolished during the reign of emperor [[Constantine the Great|Constantine I]] in the early decades of the fourth century to be replaced by a much larger [[church]] that was dedicated to the Divine Peace. Upon its dedication, Hagia Eirene served as the [[cathedral]] of [[Constantinople]] until the completion of [[Hagia Sophia (Constantinople)|Hagia Sophia]] in 360.

The [[Second Ecumenical Council]] took place in Hagia Eirene from May to July 381. During the Nika riots of 532, the church was burned along with Hagia Sophia. Restored in 548 by emperor [[Justinian]] I, as a domed [[basilica]], Hagia Eirene served again as the cathedral of Constantinople during the rebuilding of Hagia Sophia. The church was again damaged during an earthquake in 740 and was restored, in 753, to its present state by the [[iconoclasm|iconoclast]] emperor [[Constantine V]]. The large cross in the half-dome above the [[narthex]], where the image of the [[Pantocrator]] or [[Theotokos]] is usually placed, is a vestige of iconoclastic art incorporated during Constantine's restoration. During the eleventh and twelfth centuries the church was enlarged.
[[File:HagiaEireneCrossConst'ople.jpg|right|thumb|250px|The Constantine V Cross in the narthex]]
After the fall of Constantinople in 1453 to the [[Ottoman empire|Ottoman Turks]] the church was enclosed inside the walls of the Topkapi palace, but was never converted into a mosque. Initially, the church was used as an armory by the Janissaries, including the storage of war booty. In the early eighteenth century it became a weapons museum before coming a museum of military antiques in 1846.

In 1978, the Church of Hagia Eirene was transferred to the administration of the Turkish Ministry of Culture and has served as a concert hall for classical music performances due to its exceptional spatial and acoustic qualities.

==Architecture==
[[File:HagiaEireneConst'opleFloorplan.png‎|left|thumb|300px|Floor plan of Hagia Eirene in ancient Constantinople showing the [[atrium]] at the West entrance.]]
Construction of the present structure of the Church of Hagia Eirene began as the replacement of the earlier church destroyed during the Nika riots.
Hagia Eirene is a domed, three-aisled [[basilica]] in the architectural style that emerged in Constantinople in the late fifth-early sixth century. The dome of the church collapsed during the earthquake of 740. The building remained in ruins until rebuilt by emperor Constantine V around 753. During this restoration, the church acquired a cross-domed unit and the elliptical, domical vault over the western part of the naos as well as an [[atrium]] and a seven-stepped [[synthronon]] with a kyklion, a vaulted passage under the synthronon. Also, substantial changes were made in the vaulting system throughout the building that significantly improved its stability against earthquakes. The vault of the semi-dome of the [[apse]] of the [[bema]] was given a slightly pointed shape and was decorated with the simple, two-dimensional mosaic of a stepped [[cross]]. The cross is outlined in black tesserae set against golden background. The cross, which resembles images of the Cross of Golgotha, suggests the beliefs of Constantine V and other iconoclasts for whom only the Cross and the [[Eucharist]] were acceptable images of [[Christ]].

After the Ottomans took possession of Hagia Eirene only minor architectural changes were made to the building: the floor level of the church was raised, and the arcades were altered slightly, while infilling of original openings and addition of side chambers were made.

==Sources==
*[http://constantinople.ehw.gr/Forms/fLemmaBody.aspx?lemmaid=10895 Hagia Eirene]
*[[Wikipedia: Hagia_Irene]]
*[http://www.istanbul-istanbul.net/churches/hagiaeirene.htm Istanbul Churches: Hagia Eirene Church]

[[Category: Churches]]
[[Category: Churches in Turkey]]

Holy Dormition Convent (Nanuet, New York)

2013-03-03T03:08:57Z

Mishakaz: /* Sources */ added source for added relics

{{monastery|
name=Holy Dormition Convent|
jurisdiction=[[Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia|ROCOR]]|
type=Female Monastery|
founded=1949|
superior=Abbess Irene (Alexeev)‎|
size=4 monastics|
hq=Nanuet, New York|
language=Slavonic|
music=[[Russian Chant]]|
calendar=[[Julian Calendar|Julian]]|
feasts=[[Dormition]]|
website=[http://novo-diveevo.org Official Website]
}}
'''Holy Dormition Stavropegial Convent''' (Novo-Diveevo) is a female [[monastic]] community in the [[jurisdiction]] of [[Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia]], located in Nanuet, New York. It is home to the largest cemetery in the Russian Diaspora, and also operates the ROC Old Peoples Home (OPH). It is named for the [[Holy Trinity St. Seraphim-Diveyevo Convent|Holy Trinity Serafimo-Diveyevsky Monastery]] in Russia, where St. [[Seraphim of Sarov]] served as an [[elder]].
{{orthodoxyinamerica}}
==History==
===Foundation===
The concept of a Russian [[convent]] in America was formulated in 1946 by the newly-arrived Bishops [[Nikon (Rklitski) of Florida|Nikon (Rklitzky) of Florida]] and [[Seraphim (Ivanov) of Chicago|Seraphim (Ivanov)]] of [[Holy Trinity Monastery (Jordanville, New York)|Holy Trinity]] as a home for displaced female monastics in the Russian Diaspora. The [[Diocese of Eastern American and New York (ROCOR)|Diocese of North America and Canada]] prepared measures for its implementation, but nothing concrete occurred until the arrival of a group of Russian and Ukrainian refugees led by [[Archpriest]] [[Andrei (Rymarenko) of Rockland|Adrian Rymarenko]] on August 31, 1949 in Rockland County, New York via the [[Tolstoy Foundation]]. The flock included such notable figures as Prince Dmitry Vladimirovich Myshetsky, Dr. A.P. Timofievich, choir director P.P. Didenko, and [[Subdeacon]] [[Nektary (Kontzevitch) of Seattle|Oleg Mikhailovich Kontzevitch]]. Before the Revolution, Fr. Adrian had studied at the St. Petersburg Polytechnical Institute in Russia, and was the son of an industrialist. [[Archbishop]] [[Vitaly (Maximenko) of Jersey City|Vitaly (Maximenko) of Detroit]] blessed him to work under the supervision of Bishop Nikon to create the new spiritual center and to serve as its spiritual father. Bishop Seraphim styled it Novo-Diveevo (New Diveevo).

Upper Nyack resident and renowned yogi Dr. Pierre Arnold Bernard (better known as The Omnipotent Oom or Theos Bernard) took pity on the refugee's plight, and offered his empty elephant stable at the Clarkstown Country Club for their uses, known as the Elephant House. The expansive structure allowed for Fr. Adrian set up a temporary church and construct [[cell|monastic cells]]. The [[iconostasis]] was built out of cardboard and the only [[icon]] hanging on the wall was an original portrait of St. Seraphim of Sarov that Fr. Adrian had recovered and taken with him into exile from Kiev. The first service held was the [[Divine Liturgy]] on the [[Feast]] of the [[Protection of the Mother of God]].

The parish savings added up to 50 cents, but as word spread of a new spiritual center being built north of New York City, volunteers began arriving on a regular basis to help in any way possible. The arrival from Germany of [[Abbess]] Emilia with a group of elderly nuns and her novices the Countess Golovina and Yulia Popova began monastic life in the convent. Soon Russian émigrés began settling Nyack and bolstered the number of volunteers. One of the first secular residents was established immigrant K.N. Maleev, who donated his entire $5,000 retirement fund to the convent's cause. Fr. Adrian moved the community into a large house on Midland Avenue, paying $200 a month in rent. This property still did not meet the needs of the convent, so a daily [[akathist]] and other prayers were said before St. [[Ambrose of Optina]]'s copy of the [http://www.pravoslavie.ru/english/7424.htm Vladimir icon of the Mother of God], which had been rescued from destruction by Fr. Adrian.

===Establishment===
Refugee nuns on the Island of Samar and from [[Gorny Convent]] in [[Russian Ecclesiastical Mission in Jerusalem|Jerusalem]] were invited to Novo-Diveevo, and Abbess [[Elizabeth (Ampenoff)]] appointed [[superior]]. The official opening of the monastery took place on the Feast of the [[Presentation of the Theotokos]], 1949. Bishop Nikon officiated the Divine Liturgy in the Chapel of the Dormition, with Fr. Adrian, Archpriest [[John (Legky) of Rockland|John Legky]], and [[hierodeacon]] Pimen (Kachan) as concelebrants. Prominent figures in attendance included President Sophia Mikhailovna Dragomirov-Lukomsky of the Russian Christian Labor Movement, Baroness Elena Petrovna Meyendorff (née Wrangel), and ''Rossiya'' newspaper editor N. Rybakov. Countess Golovina and Yulia Popova were soon [[Tonsure#Monasticism|tonsured]] as Catherine and Barbara, respectively.

In 1950 it became known that a piece of land belonging to the [[Roman Catholic]] Institution of Mercy in Nanuet, New York, was being sold for only $30,000, with the only stipulation for acquisition that its historical sanctity be respected in the future development of the property, to which the nature of Novo-Diveevo obliged. Fr. Adrian travelled to New York City to secure a loan, with Prince Dmitry as his translator. They visited ten banks on foot in the rain, but were denied interest-free loans because they could provide no financial guarantee. Finally, Charles W. Hawkins, president of the First National Bank in Spring Valley, agreed on a $15,000 loan. The remaining half was donated by Maleev. The land was officially purchased in May of 1951.

The severity of the Arab-Israeli Conflict effectively stranded Abbess Elizabeth and her nuns from Gorny inside East Jerusalem. In January of 1951, Metropolitan [[Anastasy (Gribanovsky) of Kishinev]] released her from rectoral duties, appointing Nun Catherine (Golovina) as temporary administrator. A superior was found in the newly-immigrated [[Schema]]-abbess Mikhaila (Mertsalova), who had fled the [[Moscow Patriarchate]]'s takeover of her convent in Peking. Mother Mikhaila and her nuns were halted in San Francisco due to the failing health of the elderly Mother Juliana, only arriving upon the Feast of the [[Meeting of the Lord]]. They were welcomed by Abp. Nikon, who served a [[Moleben]] of Thanksgiving.

===Expansion and Influence===
Through the generous donations of the churchwarden Prince Sergei Sergeievich and Princess Florence Beloselsky-Belozersky, A.A. Pashkov, and others, Fr. Adrian was able to build a cemetery for the Russian Diaspora, divided into five tracts and able to fit approximately 5,000 graves. On August 24, 1952, Metropolitan Anastasy led the blessing of the cemetery before the [[Kursk Root icon]] of the [[Mother of God]], co-served by Archbishop [[James (Toombs) of Manhattan]], Bishop Seraphim of Holy Trinity, Bishop Nikon of Florida, Archimandrite [[Averky (Taushev) of Syracuse|Averky (Taushev)]], Fr. Adrian, and Priest [[Serafim Slobodskoy|Seraphim Slobodskoy]], among others. An [[antiphonal]] liturgy was served, with the monastic choir under the direction of P.P. Didenko and neighboring Nyack choir under M.M. Rodzianko. Approximately 500 faithful attended the services, travelling anywhere from Washington DC to Seattle. The rite was researched by Abp. Vitaly through Serbian sources.

After the festal celebrations, Fr. Adrian saw a need to build a larger, freestanding church dedicated to St. Seraphim of Sarov. He enlisted [[Protodeacon]] Cornelius Chigrinov as head architect, whose occupation was house painting. The impoverished émigré artist Nicholas Alexandrovich Popkov painted the frescoes and designed the iconostasis and chandelier, asking only for a roof over his head and a bowl of soup in return. After the completion of St. Seraphim Church, Popkov became a well-respected [[iconographer]] and was invited to fresco many more ROCOR churches.

On October 3, 1963, [[Protopresbyter]] Adrian Rymarenko's wife Matushka Eugenia Grigorievna fell asleep in the Lord, and was buried in the Novo-Diveevo Cemetery. On October 14, he was tonsured a monk with the name Andrew and elevated to Bishop of Rockland in 1968, all the while continuing to reside in the convent next to the new church. That same year, the New York Transit Authority had publicized their intent to transform Ramapo Valley Airport, a neighboring flight school and small airport, into a hub for jet planes and other large air taxi services. The Transit Authority's plan included the requisition of a sizable chunk of monastery property, which would have made it near impossible to live in a monastic fashion. The invested financiers had made it very clear that the convent grounds could not be extricated.

A court battle between the NY Transport Authority and Novo-Diveevo Convent ensued. Bishop Andrew rallied Rockland County locals, and both church and secular circles of Russian society, through which eventually came support from influential figures in New York City, providing the convent the ability to hire expert lawyers. Under their experienced advocacy, the New York State Assembly unanimously agreed to kill the project in 1970. The influence and prestige of Novo-Diveevo and Bishop Andrew had grown from this event to such that a stream of letters and congratulations came to them from New York State assemblymen, Rockland County locals and officials, and celebratory and interest articles written in local newspapers. The amount of nuns grew to 40, and as many as 50,000 Orthodox made pilgrimage to Novo-Diveevo a year. During this time, Mother Mikhaila reposed in the Lord in 1969 and her assistant Mother Christina was appointed superior and elevated to the rank of abbess.

By this time, Russian Émigré society experienced a growing population of elderly people left without family. In 1972, Bp. Andrew took to erecting a main building for Novo-Diveevo, with an attached old peoples home. The structure of the complex would allow for the nuns to live on one side, and the elderly on the other. The cost of the center would cost $600,000 dollars, most of which was borrowed from local banks, though much was accumulated by the deaness. The convent fell short of the price, but the contractor agreed to complete construction on credit. For his accomplishments, Bp. Andrew was raised to the rank of Archbishop of Rockland, and was congratulated by President Richard M. Nixon and Governor Nelson A. Rockefeller, who remembered his accomplishments in preserving Novo-Diveevo. In 1973, P.P. Didenko succumbed to illness and Boris I. Mitrohin was appointed to temporarily fill the position of choir conductor, which he did until his death in 2012.

In 1975, Novo-Diveevo was visited by the exiled Soviet activist [[Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn]]. Archbishop Andrew of Rockland fell asleep in the Lord on [[July 12]], 1978. A second wing of the old peoples home was constructed in May of 1982 under the supervision of Fr. Alexander Fedorowski. Plans for the addition had been drawn up but never realized in Abp. Andrew's time. The current superior, Abbess Irene (Alexeeva) was appointed in 1992.

===Today===
Novo-Diveevo was selected as one of three hosts for the first Joint Pastoral Conference of the Eastern American Diocese (ROCOR) and [[Russian Orthodox Church in the USA]] in celebration of the fifth anniversary of the [[Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia#Rapprochement with Moscow|Reunification of the Russian Church]] and appearance of the [[Myrrh-streaming]] [[Orthodoxy in Hawaii#A Miracle in the Islands|Hawaiian-Iveron icon of the Mother of God]] from October 11-13, 2012. Participants in the conference celebrated the All-Night Vigil before the Hawaiian icon at Novo-Diveevo on the evening of [[October 12]]. The service was led by Metropolitan [[Hilarion (Kapral) of New York]], who was co-served by Archbishop [[Justinian (Ovchinnikov) of Naro-Fominsk]], Bishops [[George (Schaefer) of Mayfield]] and [[Jerome (Shaw) of Manhattan]]. Metropolitan [[Pavel (Ponomarev) of Ryazan]] was also in attendance as a representative of His Holiness, [[Patriarch]] [[Kyrill (Gundyayev) of Moscow]]. The service was sung by a combined choir from [[St. Tikhon's Orthodox Theological Seminary]], [[Holy Trinity Orthodox Seminary (Jordanville, New York)|Holy Trinity Orthodox Seminary]], and the Eastern American Diocesan Youth Choir.

==Relics==
The convent has many sacred items including:
*A full-length portrait of St. Seraphim of Sarov painted during his lifetime
*A cross from the Ipatiev House, where the Royal [[passion-bearers]] were killed
*A copy of the Vladimir icon of the Mother of God which was gifted by St. Ambrose of [[Optina Monastery|Optina]] to Kiev
*Two icons of [[Christ]] belonging to [[Nicholas II of Russia]]
**A rounded ancient hand-painted icon encased in silver which was an heirloom that he kept with him at all times.
**A copy of the [[Image Not-made-by-hands]] painted on wood.

==Daily Life==
===Weekday Schedule===
*8:30 am - Hours
*8:50 am - Liturgy
*12:00pm - Lunch
*6:00 pm - Vespers & Matins (with an Akathist to St. Seraphim on Wednesdays)
===Sunday & Vigil-rank Feast Schedule===
Evening before
*6:00 pm - Vigil
Sunday
*9:00 am - Hours
*9:20 am - Akathist to the Holy Theotokos
*10:00 am - Liturgy
Major Feasts
*9:40 am - Hours
*10:00 am - Liturgy
===Office Hours===
Convent/Cemetary Main Office Hours
*Weekdays: 9:00 am - 4:00 pm (closed for lunch)
*Saturdays: 10:15 am - 2:00 pm
ROC Old Peoples Home Main Office
*Weekdays: 9:00 am - 4:00 pm

==Sources==
*[http://www.pravoslavie.ru/put/33568.htm Обитель преподобного Серафима] Веселкина, Татьяна. ''Православие.Ru'', Встреча с Православием: Святые и святыни. 15 января 2010 г..
*[http://www.russkiymir.ru/russkiymir/en/magazines/archive/2009/01/article0003.html Novo Diveevo: Lest We Forget] Lunina, Lyudmila. ''РУССКИЙ МИР.RU'', №1. 18 January 2009.
*Архiепископъ Никонъ (Рклицкiй). (1975). ''Мой трудъ въ виногадникѣ Христовомъ'', томъ I. Diocesan Publishing House, Bronx. pp 241-254.
*Moss, Vladimir. (2010). ''The Golden Chain''. pp.89-93 [http://www.orthodoxchristianbooks.com/downloads/300_THE_GOLDEN_CHAIN.pdf PDF]
*[http://www.russian-inok.org/page.php?page=monastery2&dir=monastery&month=0303 У ВРАТ НОВОГО ДИВЕЕВА В США] Немировский, П.. ''Монастырская Хроника'', №7 (170). Март 2003.
*«Хроника Церковной Жизни: Изъ жизни Новодивѣевскаго Монастыря въ Наякъ». ''Православная Русь'', №1 (475). 1 января 1951 г..
*«Хроника Церковной Жизни: Прибытiе монахинь съ о. Тубабао въ Новодивѣевскую обитель». ''Православная Русь'', №4 (479). 28 февраля 1951 г..
*[http://www.holyvirginprotectionchurch.org The Russian Community and The Holy Virgin Protection Church in Nyack, NY]
*[http://www.airfields-freeman.com/NY/Airfields_NY_SE.htm#springvalley Spring Valley Airport / Ramapo Valley Airport (N24), Spring Valley, NY] Freeman, Paul. ''Abandoned & Little Known Airfields'', Southeastern New York State. Revised 4 February 2013.
*[http://eadiocese.org/News/2012/jan/abbssirene.en.htm Nanuet, NY: Met. Hilarion awarded the Synodal Order of the Sign 1st Class, to the Abbess of the Holy Dormition Convent "Novo-Diveevo"] ''Media Office of the Eastern American Diocese'', January 25, 2012.
*[http://eadiocese.org/News/2012/aug/mitrohin.en.htm Novo-Diveevo, NY: Holy Dormition Convent’s Longtime Choir Director Boris I. Mitrohin reposed in the Lord] ''Media Office of the Eastern American Diocese'', August 7, 2012.
*[http://www.eadiocese.org/News/2011/july/novodiveevo.en.htm Novo-Diveevo: Metropolitan Hilarion led the 50th anniversary of Archpriest Alexander Fedorowski's clerical service] ''Media Office of the Eastern American Diocese'', July 14, 2011.
*[http://www.eadiocese.org/News/2012/oct/novodiveevo.en.htm Novo-Diveevo: On the Second Day of the Joint Pastoral Conference, Metropolitan Hilarion led the All-Night Vigil in Holy Dormition Convent] ''Media Office of the Eastern American Diocese'', October 13, 2012.
*[http://www.eadiocese.org/News/2012/oct/confschedule.en.htm Program of the Joint Pastoral Conference of the Eastern American Diocese & the Moscow Patriarchate (October 11-13, 2012)]
*[http://www.eadiocese.org/News/2012/sept/hawicon.en.htm Visitation Schedule of the Hawaiian Iveron Icon of the Mother of God within the Eastern American Diocese] ''Media Office of the Eastern American Diocese'', September 28, 2012.
*[http://www.russian-inok.org/page.php?page=monastery1&dir=monastery&month=0903 УДEЛ ПРEПOДOБНAГO СEРAФИМA СAРOВСКAГO В СEВEРНOЙ AМEРИКE] Инок Всеволод (Филипьев). ''Монастырская Хроника'', №13 (176). Сентябрь, 2003.

==Further Reading==
*[http://www.wise-travel.ru/north_america/usa/otzyv-2563.html Ново-Дивеево. Штат Нью-Йорк. США.] kotoshka, ''Wise-Travel.Ru'', 2009. '''(Russian)'''

==External Links==
*[http://novo-diveevo.org Offical Website]
*[http://www.facebook.com/NovoDiveevo Official Facebook Page]
*[http://eadiocese.org/Parishes/newyork/en.nanuet.htm Eastern American Diocese Directory Listing]

[[Category:ROCOR Monasteries]]
[[Category:American Monasteries]]
[[Category:Monasteries]]

James (Toombs) of Manhattan

2013-03-02T14:38:47Z

Mishakaz: Abp. James was recieved as an Archbishop, it seems

His Grace, the Most Reverend [[Archbishop]] '''James (Toombs) of Manhattan''' ([[August 30]], 1887 – [[November 1]], 1970) chartered the Orthodox American Church of which he was hierarch from 1959-1970. He had earlier served as head of the American Orthodox Mission and vicar of the Eastern American [[diocese]] of the [[Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia]] (ROCOR) from 1951-1959. Archbishop James is believed to have served the first [[Pascha|Paschal]] Liturgy in America entirely in English.
{{orthodoxyinamerica}}
==Life==
===Early Life===
Archbishop James was born Roy C. Toombs, the ninth of ten children, on August 30, 1887 in Winfield, Kansas to American Civil War veteran Anson Toombs and Canadian immigrant Hannah Elizabeth Nichols. His parents were Baptist, though Roy never showed much interest in religion during his youth. Roy was a farm boy, but in his time Winfield had become the rail hub of the Kansas Flint Hills with a bustling population of 5,000 people by 1900. Fascinated by trains, young Roy was well known to hop freights and visit different parts of the country.

Roy's first wife was Mary E. Toombs. They married in 1910, and by the next year produced a son named Farrell. The family relocated first to Missouri but by 1920 were situated in Chicago's seventh ward. He was co-owner of Toombs-Daley brokerage house on LaSalle Street, and an investment banker in Downers Grove. In 1927, he was made president of the International Life Insurance Company of St. Louis, Missouri. However, by August of the next year, Roy was embroiled in scandal when $3,500,000 in securities was found to have been sent from International Life Insurance Company to Toombs in interlocking $1,000,000 loans, along with irregularities in the Toombs-Daley brokerage firm and the bank in Downers Grove exposed in bankruptcy court. Though released after his initial arrest, Roy was arrested a second time and extradited to Missouri where in 1929 he was sentenced to pay a $3,000 fine and serve three years in the Missouri State Penitentiary. He was also convicted of mail fraud by a Federal Court and by 1931 was an inmate of the Federal Penitentiary in Leavenworth, Kansas. It's unknown whether the federal and state sentences were serves concurrently or if Roy was granted an early release from state prison. This affair followed his as late as 1936 when we was sued for $600,000 in connection with the International Life Insurance Company affair.

Around this time, there is evidence of inquiry by Roy Toombs into the Episcopalian Church and instruction under a Jesuit priest for conversion to the Roman Catholicism. The banking profession of that era was predominantly made up of Episcopalians and Freemasons, and it is theorized that Roy's interest in the Episcopalian faith may have taken place in the early 1920s during his stint in Chicago. The latter is suggest to have possibly taken place during his time served in jail.

===Initial Involvement in "Independent Orthodoxy"===
In 1942 Roy Toombs registered for the draft, listing his profession as "priest of the Holy Orthodox Church in America," an [[Independent_Orthodox_churches|independent Orthodox church]] led by George Winslow Plummer out of New York City. For the duration of the Second World War, Toombs is said to have worked intelligence for the US Government. Around this time, articles by Toombs appear in Plummer's Rosicrucian periodical "Mercury". HOCiA claimed succession from the [[American Orthodox Catholic Church]] of [[Aftimios Ofiesh]] through [[Ignatius (Nichols) of Washington]]. Plummer consecrated Theodotus S. DeWitow (Stanislaus Witowski) in 1936, who in turn consecrated Toombs on January 30, 1944, at which point Archbishop James became primate of the HOCiA. By this time Toombs had remarried to a woman named Maryangela, who'd founded the Better Human Resources Movement based on analysis of the Hawthorne Studies her stepson Farrell helped conduct.

Archbishop James moved to New York City and incorporated his mission into the Cathedral of Our Saviour at 226 West 69th Street, Manhattan, by 1947. He affiliated himself with [[Episcopi vagantes|''episcopus vagans'']] John Chrysostom More-Moreno (consecrated in 1933 by [[Bishop]] [[Sophronios (Beshara) of Los Angeles]]) and founded the Eastern Orthodox Catholic Church in 1951, with John and Gregory R.P. Adair as his priests. Around this time, Toombs had somehow met and come under the mentorship of Archbishop [[Vitaly (Maximenko) of Jersey City]]. It is believed that after the events of the [[ROCOR_and_OCA#1946-1970:_Open_Hostility|Cleveland Sobor]], Toombs was pivotal through his old war contacts in swaying the opinion of the Federal Government away from acknowledging the complaints of the [[Orthodox Church in America|North American Metropolia]] against the relocation of [[Metropolitan]] [[Anastasy (Gribanovsky) of Kishinev]] and ROCOR's Synod of Bishops to the United States from Europe in 1949. During this time, Farrell was ordained a priest by his father under the name Thomas.

===Conversion to Canonical Orthodoxy and Episcopacy===
Archbishop Vitaly's mentoring culminating in the question of the EOCC's canonicity, which prompted Toombs and his second wife Maryangela to be tonsured monastics at [[Holy Trinity Monastery (Jordanville, New York)|Holy Trinity Monastery]] in Jordanville, New York in early July of 1951. A few days later Fr. James (Toombs) was consecrated on the [[feast day|Feast]] of the Holy [[Apostles]] [[Apostle Peter|Peter]] and [[Apostle Paul|Paul]] on July 21 as vicar the Diocese of Eastern America and Jersey City at the [[New Kursk-Root Hermitage (Mahopac, New York)|New Kursk-Root Hermitage]] in Mahopac, New York. Concelebrating with Metropolitan Anastasy were Archbishop Vitaly, Archbishop [[John (Maximovitch) the Wonderworker|John (Maximovich) of Paris]], Bishop [[Nikon (Rklitski) of Florida|Nikon (Rklitzky) of Florida]], and Bishop [[Seraphim (Ivanov) of Chicago|Seraphim (Ivanov) of Holy Trinity]]. Archbishop James was installed as the first Archbishop of Manhattan and was tasked with heading a completely autonomous American Orthodox Mission within ROCOR, insofar that he was allowed by the Synod to stay short-haired and clean-shaven to adequately perform his duty. In 1953, Bishop James single-handedly changed the practice of receiving [[Roman Catholic|Roman Catholics]] into the [[Russian Orthodox Church]] when he delivered a report stating that the American Orthodox Mission received all [[convert|converts]] by [[baptism]], where prior to the Russian Revolution, Catholic converts were accepted simply through [[confession]]. The change garnered no opposition.

Upon his entry into ROCOR, Gregory and John Adair engaged Archbishop James in a lawsuit over the Cathedral of Our Saviour on West 69th Street. Fearing that he would take the church with him, the Adair Brothers claimed rather that it was property of the Eastern Orthodox Catholic Church. There is speculation that a canon lawyer from the North American Metropolia came to the EOCC's aid and helped them win rights to the church in 1952, which was later sold for a great sum to make way for Lincoln Center. For the remainder of his life, Archbishop James would serve in the Chapel of the Holy Apostles, built into his apartment.

Though not part of the Synod of Bishops, during his tenure in ROCOR, Archbishop James was very active. He was a concelebrant at the consecration of Bishop [[Averky (Taushev) of Syracuse]] on the [[Pentecost#After Pentecost|Feast of the Holy Spirit]] in 1953 alongside Metropolitan Anastasy and others, attended Hierarchical Council meetings and celebrations at Holy Trinity Monastery and New Kurk-Root Hermitage, and in so doing, meeting most of the Synod of Bishops. Archishop James attained a flock, but the language barrier between American and Émigré made much of anything outside the Mission difficult. Those who wished to study at [[Holy Trinity Orthodox Seminary (Jordanville, New York)|Holy Trinity Seminary]] in Jordanville could only be instructed by Archpriest [[Andrei (Rymarenko) of Rockland|Adrian Rymarenko]], with Archimandrite [[Lazarus (Moore)]] helping translate seminary materials. Archbishop James's former wife Maryangela couldn't join the Russian-speaking [[Holy Dormition Convent (Nanuet, New York)|Holy Dormition Convent]] "Novo-Diveevo" in Nanuet, New York, and so was allowed to live separately on the second floor of his apartment.

However, his episcopacy was not without controversy. Archbishop James's past connections with the esoteric masonic Christianity of George Winslow Plummer, reminiscent of the Theosophy movement which raged in Pre-Revolutionary Russia, and association with wayward and wandering bishops led to rumors of occultist practices taking place within the Mission. Another sore point came with the inconvenient living arrangement of the formerly-married bishop and nun. Furthermore, to many of the Russian émigré mindset, English-language translations of services were seen as very taboo, compounded by the seeming isolationism of the American Orthodox Mission. [[Protopresbyter]] [[Gregory (Grabbe) of Washington|George Grabbe]] led the opposition against Archbishop James, drawing several members of the Synod of Bishops to his side. By 1955, Archbishop James expressed his desire to Metropolitan Anastasy to continue missionary work as hierarch of an independent American Church.

===The Orthodox American Church, Death, and Legacy===
In 1959 Archbishop James dissociated himself with the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia and founded the Orthodox American Church (formally, The Holy Orthodox Catholic Apostolic American Church), incorporating concepts of the Better Human Relations Movement. For the next decade Archbishop James continued his two-fold mission of bringing Americans to Orthodox Christianity and translating every text of the Church into English. He was known to be a very kind, patient, and loving pastor, and accepted the responsibility of being father confessor to a number of Orthodox bishops in New York.

One of Archbishop James's successes is the second and current primate of the OAC, Metropolitan John Schneyder, who joined the mission in 1952, was baptized and christmated in 1953, studied at Holy Trinity Seminary under Archpriest Adrian Rymarenko from 1953-55, and under Archpriest Damian Krehel at [[St. Tikhon's Orthodox Theological Seminary]] from 1955-57. In November of 1961, Archbishop James ordained him a deacon, and in July of 1962 a priest. On April 25th, 1970, before his death, Archbishop James consecrated Fr. John to the episcopacy.

Once the weakness of his advanced age set in, Maryangela took care of Archbishop James until his repose on November 1, 1970. Though no representatives of ROCOR attended his funeral, Metropolitan [[Andrei (Petkov) of New York]] of the [[Bulgarian Eastern Orthodox Diocese of the USA, Canada and Australia]] did. To this day, the Orthodox American Church considers itself an autonomous mission of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia.

<br>
{{start box}}
{{succession|
before=George Winslow Plummer|
title=Primate of the Holy Orthodox Church in America|
years=1944-1947|
after=Theodotus S. DeWitow}}
{{succession|
before=—|
title=Primate of the Eastern Orthodox Catholic Church|
years=1947-1951|
after=John Chrysostom More-Moreno}}
{{succession|
before=—|
title=Bishop of Manhattan<br>(ROCOR)|
years=1951-1959|
after=[[Laurus (Skurla) of New York|Laurus (Škurla)]]}}
{{succession|
before=—|
title=Head of the American Orthodox Misson<br>(ROCOR)|
years=1951-1959|
after=—}}
{{succession|
before=—|
title=Primate of the Orthodox American Church|
years=1959-1970|
after=[[John Schneyder]]}}
{{end box}}

==Sources==
*[http://orthodoxamericanchurch.com/about_history.htm '''About Us: History'''] from Orthodox American Church
*[http://orthodoxamericanchurch.com/about_bio_mjs.htm '''About Us: Bio: Metropolitan John Schneyder'''] from Orthodox American Church
*[http://www.rocorstudies.org/church-people/lives-of-bishops/2011/12/07/archbishop-james-roy-c-toombs-of-manhattan-head-of-the-american-orthodox-mission-vicar-of-the-diocese-of-eastern-america-and-jersey-city/ '''Archbishop James (Roy C. Toombs) of Manhattan, Head of the American Orthodox Mission, Vicar of the Diocese of Eastern America and Jersey City'''] by Michael Woerl, October 2010 from ROCOR Studies
*[http://www3.telus.net/oldfolk/farrell.htm '''Farrell''']
*[http://abbeysanluigi.files.wordpress.com/2012/09/aecyearbook.pdf '''Yearbook of American Churches''']
*Архiепископъ Никонъ (Рклицкiй). (1975). Мой трудъ въ виногадникѣ Христовомъ, томъ I. Diocesan Publishing House, Bronx.

[[Category:Bishops]]
[[Category:20th-century bishops]]
[[Category:Bishops of New York]]
[[Category:Bishops of Manhattan]]
[[Category:Converts to Orthodox Christianity]]
[[Category:Missionaries]]
[[Category:Orthodoxy in America]]

Sisinnius of Rome

2013-02-26T02:00:25Z

Wsk: new article

'''Sisinnius of Rome''' was the [[Archbishop]] and [[Pope]] of the [[Church of Rome]] for three weeks, from [[January 15]], 708 to [[February 4]], 708. His election came during the time of the Byzantine Papacy.

==Life==
Sisinnius was of Syrian birth, born about the year 650. His father was named John. Virtually nothing is known of his life before becoming the Pope of Rome. His election came after a vacancy of three months following the death of Pope [[John VII of Rome|John VII]]. He was [[consecration of a bishop|consecrated]] on [[January 15]], 708. He probably was not from the aristocracy as witnessed by the paucity of donations to the papacy during his short tenure as pope.<ref>Jeffrey Richards. 1979. ''The popes and the papacy in the early Middle Ages, 476–752''. p. 245.</ref>

At the time he became pope he was noted to suffer seriously with gout and to be unable to feed himself. However, he was said to have been a man of strong character. During his short papacy, Sisinnius [[consecration of a bishop|consecrated]] a bishop for Corsica and ordered the burning of lime for use in restoring portions of the walls of Rome, work that was completed under a later successor [[Gregory II of Rome|Gregory II]].<ref>Charles Isidore Hemans. 1874. ''Historic and monumental Rome''. p. 100.</ref>

Sisinnius reposed on [[February 4]], 708. He was buried in the Old St. Peter's [[Basilica]]. He was succeeded about two months later by Pope [[Constantine of Rome|Constantine]]. Constantine, also Syrian by birth, was probably his brother.<ref>*Williams, George L. 2004. ''Papal Genealogy: The Families and Descendants of the Popes''. McFarland. ISBN 0-7864-2071-5. p. 10.</ref>

==References==
<references/>

{{start box}}
{{succession|
before=[[John VII of Rome|John VII]]|
title=[[List of Popes of Rome|Pope of Rome]]|
years=708 - 708|
after=[[Constantine of Rome|Constantine]]}}
{{end box}}

==Sources==
*[[Wikipedia: Pope_Sisinnius]]
*[http://oce.catholic.com/index.php?title=Pope_Sisinnius Pope Sisinnius]

[[Category: Bishops]]
[[Category: Popes of Rome]]
[[Category: 8th-century bishops]]