Listen To Talks Online at:

http://ancientfaith.com/specials/2012_missions_and_evangelism_conference

This year, the Missions and Evangelism Department of the Antiochian Archdiocese teamed with North Texas Orthodox Missions for a joint conference held in the Dallas/Ft. Worth Metroplex. The speakers were Fr. Joseph Huneycutt, Fr. Evan Armatas, and Fr. Peter Gillquist. The dates were January 20-21, 2012. The conference was dedicated to the memory of His Eminence, Archbishop Dmitri.

Father Alexander Atty, a St. Vlads graduate and Dean of St. Tikhon's Seminary will be speaking at St. Raphael in Inverness on Saturday, February 11th at 9 am.  The topic of this pre-Lenten retreat will be "The Prodigal Son: Repentance and Forgiveness".  The afternoon session will focus on parish dynamics and growth.  Father Alexander is an expert on this subject.  As the Rector of St. Michael in Louisville, KY( http://www.stmichaelorthodoxchurch.org/ ) he witnessed 30 years of continuous parish growth.  Today, St. Michael's has hundreds of parish members.  The opportunity to meet and speak with Fr. Alexander will most likely be well worth the drive for yourself and members of your parish.

Details are on the attached handout in pdf format.

So that we can get a better idea for donuts in the morning and how many to plan for lunch in our hall, please RSVP if you can attend

In Christ's enduring love,

Fr. David

On Sunday, January 29, 2012, Dr. Margaret Barker, the independent scholar who developed what is now known as “Temple Theology”—a unique approach for studying ancient Christianity—will be presenting afree and public lecture at St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary, Yonkers, NY. Her presentation, titled “Our Great High Priest: The Church as the New Temple” will begin at 4 p.m., in the John G. Rangos Family Building on the seminary campus.

Dr. Barker, a British scholar who studied at the University of Cambridge, is the former President of the Society for Old Testament Study and a Research Fellow of the University of Wales. She was awarded an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree in 2008 by the Archbishop of Canterbury. She is also a Methodist preacher, and author of 15 books and numerous papers.

Her works focus upon the premise that early Christians preserved the ancient tradition of the first Temple, destroyed in the time of King Josiah at the end of the seventh century BCE. In her writings, she reconstructs the worldview of the first Christians and restores to their original settings such key concepts as the Messiah, divine Sonship, covenant, atonement, resurrection, incarnation, the Second Coming, and the kingdom of God.

Her biblical research has been of interest to a diverse number of religious bodies—from Orthodox Christians, to Reformed Protestants, to Latter Day Saints—and her perspectives have challenged traditional scholarly viewpoints. To get a sampling of Dr. Barker's research, and to hear her on YouTube, visit her website www.margaretbarker.com.
 
For more information and directions to St. Vladimir’s Seminary, visit: http://www.svots.edu/events/schmemann-lecturer-2012-professor-margaret-barker.

Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Please see this request for books to educate the new faithful of the Orthodox Church, and assist if you have Orthodox books you are not using.

Thank you!

---------------------------------------------

Almost two weeks ago I had an unexpected meeting with HE Metropolitan Seraphim of Zimbabwe. He told me the story of how his missionary work is rapidly growing throughout Central and Southern Africa.

Many new missions are being established and in just the past year he has ordained 119 new priests to serve the growing Orthodox Church in   metropolitanate. On a per capita basis, that is a lot faster than the growth of the Orthodox Church in the U.S.

However Zimbabwe is poor. The average wage earner brings home about $400 per year -- just over a dollar per day. Many others have no work as unemployment is over 90%. Parishes face problems such as food shortages for parishioners, increasingly frequent droughts, an expanding range of new diseases - caused by the warming and drying climate, a high rate of HIV/AIDS, and even a lack of floors in some mission parishes.  Despite all this, the literacy rate is over 90% and Zimbabweans are avid readers. A big need, says the Metropolitan, is Orthodox books -- in English.

One of HE's hopes is to develop a library for clergy and seminarians. When he asked me for help with books, I told him, YES, I will provide some books. AND I would invite others to assist in this drive for Orthodox books. Therefore this letter. They particularly need books on saints and theology. He says they also need books on how Orthodoxy
relates to issues such as farming, water, and issues of the land and the environment generally. I suspect good quality, edifying books on many subjects would be welcome.

As a Christmas gift from you or from your parish, please consider this invitation to help our brethren in the Church in Africa by sending Orthodox books in good condition to HE at the following address:

HE Metropolitan Seraphim of Zimbabwe
Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria and All Africa
P.O. Box 2832
Harare, ZIMBABWE

One more thing. He asks that if someone sends books, please add a notation on the package saying,

“DONATION -- Not for Sale.”

Without this note, the post office may charge them a tax for receiving
the books.

Thank you, and a blessed and holy Christmas to you.

Yours in Christ,

Fred Krueger

P.S. Please feel free to circulate this request to other parishes and
Orthodox Church members.

If you are looking to have any wood working done for your church, consider Toroney Enterprises.  Fr. Joseph Toroney is an Orthodox Priest in Pennsylvania, and his company has experience making Altar Tables, Iconstasis and other cabnitry items used in Orthodox worship.  Please see his Facebook listing here, or check out the pictures below to see an Iconostasis recently built and installed for St Tikhon's.

Dear clergy, faithful, and friends of the Diocese of the South,

The plans for the Archbishop Dmitri Memorial (Burial) Chapel to be built at St Seraphim's Cathedral are awaiting their final approval.  Please see the preliminary drawing of the Chapel (to be built on the southwest 'corner' of the cathedral).  We will continue to update the diocesan website as more information --- final plans, construction schedule, and proposed date for the reinterment of Vladika Dmitri --- is available.  In the meantime, if anyone would like to contribute to the construction of the chapel in His Eminence's honor and memory, checks may be made out to the Diocese of the South with "Archbishop Dmitri Memorial Chapel" in the memo line.  The address is Diocese of the South, PO Box 191109, Dallas, TX 75219.

This December, we will host our Seventh Annual Winter Service Retreat for Older Teens and Young Adults. Each year, we schedule this during the week after Nativity, when students are out of school for their winter break in studies. Our parish of St. George Orthodox Church (OCA) is located right on the Texas border with Mexico. In year's past, the week included a visit and work project in an orphanage for girls just across the border in Mexico. However, because of increased border violence in recent years, we no longer cross into Mexico. Thanks be to God, this year, we will have a Brand New Church Hall to help accommodate both our Retreat Participants and our Service Projects!
 
Some retreat highlights include:
 
* A Speaker/Retreat Master Sharing Talks on Topics the Participants Themselves Have Requested
 
* Hands-On Orthodox Service Projects, including Preparing For and Staffing a special Nativity Season Distribution at our St. George Food Pantry - which has fed over 50,000 people in the last few years.
 
* Working as Teams to Actively Help with Retreat Functions
 
* Praying Together: Actively Participating in Reading, Singing, Praying & Participating in Liturgical Services
 
* Time for Fun, Christian Fellowship, including a South Padre Island Beach Trip and Talent Show
 
Who:  Geared for Older Teens, College Students & Young Adults plus Adult Chaperones & Orthodox Clergy. Orthodox Christians, Catechumins, Inquirers and their Friends from All Jurisdictions are WELCOME
 
Retreat Master: Abbot Melitios Webber of St. John of Shanghai Monastery in CA., Metro. Jonah's former monastery.
 
SPIRITUAL TOPIC: Why Become (or Remain) Orthodox? How Do We Stand Up for & Live the Faith?
 
Expanded Version: Why become or remain Orthodox rather than simply following the "easier" more populated versions of Christianity practiced by friends and society in general? Why would/should we choose or continue on the more narrow path, which often includes isolation since most parishes are smaller and within which we have few if any peers? How are we to become knowledgeable "apologists" and stand on a firm foundation in the faith? In everyday life? In times when we face special challenges and/or temptations?  How do we stand with our heads held high knowing that our beliefs are right and true? How do we do this without being prideful or thinking "low" of our brothers and sisters in Christ outside of the Orthodox Church? What are the real dividing lines which separate our Orthodox beliefs from those held by other Christians?
 
Dates:  This year's actual activities will begin on the morning of December 27th.  People will travel, arrive and get settled in on the evening of December 26th.  The event will end after Divine Liturgy and a meal on Sunday, January 1st, but anyone is welcome to stay until the following day before returning home.
 
Cost:  $225.00 Per Participant - Includes all Food, Lodging, Local Transportation and Fees. Note: If Adult Chaperones prefer an on-site Motel-type room, we can reserve one for an additional fee.
We try to keep our registration fees as low as possible so as many students and other young people (who often are financially challenged and/or do not have wealthy parents) can attend. To help with this, we even cook most of the food and the retreat staff do not receive salaries. We do this for the love of Christ and in hopes that this experience will touch the lives of the young people who attend.

Where: St. George Orthodox Church; Pharr, Texas - Rio Grande Valley of South Texas near the Texas-Mexico Border. See Driving Directions: http://www.stgeorgetx.org/directions.html  The church is located at 704 W. Sam Houston in Pharr, Texas and overnight lodgings will be at the Valley Baptist Retreat Center in Mission, Texas. See the retreat center's website at: http://www.valleybaptistretreat.org/
What:  A week of hands-on Service Work, Spiritual Talks & Sessions & Prayers, Christian Fellowship, & Fun. Reunite with your friends and make new friends in a wholesome and spirtually-profitable atmoshere.

To learn more or to see photos from previous year's Winter Service Retreats, see links at:
http://www.stgeorgepantry.org/winteryouthretreat.html
 
Please let me know if you have additional questions at mateliza@aol.com or by phone at 956-781-2388.
 
In Christ, Matushka Elizabeth Perdomo

Please see the news posting from the OCA that outlines guidance for using online social networking services for the Church.

[SVOTS Communications/Yonkers, NY] Struggling with disease and terminal illness is part of the human condition, but dealing with suffering in a redemptive, Christian way presents a special challenge. To help our seminarians, neighboring clergy, health professionals, and friends better understand how to approach and manage human suffering, St. Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary will offer a free seminar Friday, October 21, from 9:15 a.m. to 11:45 a.m., titled "Spiritual Issues in Suffering and Palliative Care."
 
Drs. Daniel and Jane Hinshaw, both medical doctors and Orthodox Christians, will lead the seminar. Daniel B. Hinshaw, M.D., is Professor of Surgery at the University of Michigan Health System, in the Section of General Surgery based full time at the Ann Arbor Veterans Administration Medical Center. Dr. Hinshaw completed a fellowship in Palliative Medicine at the Cleveland Clinic in June of 2001, during a sabbatical. His clinical research interests are focused on care at the end-of-life and the use of complementary medicine in the relief of pain.
 
Dr. Jane (Carnahan) Hinshaw is Clinical Instructor of Psychiatry at the University of Michigan Health System, and Staff Psychiatrist at the Mental Health Clinic at Ann Arbor Veterans Administration Medical Center. Her area of special interest involves psychiatric issues in palliative care.
 
The seminar will be held in the Metropolitan Philip Auditorium of the John G. Rangos Family Building on the seminary campus. No registration is necessary.
 
Find St. Vladimir’s Seminary on Google Maps!

Please see the linked flyer for more information on the Music and Arts festival to be held Holy Ascension Orthodox Church on Saturday, October 8th.

Notice from AFR: Ancient Faith Radio is pleased to present its first Spanish-language podcast.  Fr. Antonio Perdomo, priest at St. George the Great Martyr Orthodox Church in Pharr, TX, shares the daily scripture readings and lives of the saints.  Listen seven days a week beginning this coming Sunday, but first listen to his touching tribute to Archbishop Dmitri of blessed memory:

On August 28, 2011 our Archbishop DMITRI of Dallas and the South fell asleep in the Lord peacefully at his home in Dallas surrounded by his friends praying and reading the scriptures.  I was honored and blessed to be asked to come to Dallas on a moments notice to lead the preparation of his body for burial in the ancient Christian tradition.  This was a very powerful experience for me, and I think of call those involved.  I have performed this service many times but never for such a holy man.  It was necessary to keep his body in the church for five days.  This is also the longest I have every attempted.  As you see, ever tying went beautifully, not by any efforts of mine but, I believe simply, God loves his servant.

On August 28, 2011 our Archbishop DMITRI of Dallas and the South fell asleep in the Lord peacefully at his home in Dallas surrounded by his friends praying and reading the scriptures.  I was honored and blessed to be asked to come to Dallas on a moments notice to lead the preparation of his body for burial in the ancient Christian tradition.  This was a very powerful experience for me, and I think of call those involved.  I have performed this service many times but never for such a holy man.  It was necessary to keep his body in the church for five days.  This is also the longest I have every attempted.  As you see, ever tying went beautifully, not by any efforts of mine but, I believe simply, God loves his servant.

[YONKERS, NY/SVOTS COMMUNICATIONS] On the Feast of the Nativity of the Theotokos, September 8, 2011, at an academic convocation, St. Vladimir's Seminary bestowed the degree of Doctor of Divinity, honors causa on Metropolitan Kallistos (Ware), bishop of Diokleia and renowned churchman, scholar, and author. The ceremony preceded a keynote by His Eminence, titled The Present and Future of Orthodox Theology, which commenced the North American Conference of the Fellowship of Ss. Alban and Sergius, held on the seminary campus September 89.

Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Attached are links to letters of condolence to the faithful of the Diocese of South in regards to the falling asleep of Archbishop Dmitri.  As the letters continue to come in we will post them on this page.

Letter from
Metropolitan Alexios

Here is the link to photos taken at the services for Archbishop Dmitri. 

Video of the procession of the church.

Video of Bp Basil serving a Panikhida for Archbishop Dmitri.

Video of the final 'Eis Polla.'

More photos will be added as the services continue.

Dear Brothers and Concelebrants,

Christ is in our midst!

All clergy are invited and encouraged to vest and serve for both services.  Vestments color is white or white/gold.

For the Funeral Service tonight, please gather in the St Seraphim parish hall to vest (the area that was formerly the chapel and the bookstore) at 6 pm.  Please vest in epitrachelion, cuffs, and phelonion.  

For the Funeral Divine Liturgy tomorrow morning please gather in the St Seraphim parish hall to fully vest at 8:15 am.

Burial will take place following the Divine Liturgy at Restland Cemetery and the mercy meal at Holy Trinity GOA (links for directions below).

in Christ

Fr Marcus

--
VRev Fr Marcus C Burch
Chancellor, DOS
864 299 1140

Link for directions to Restland

Link for Holy Trinity GOA

Dear Clergy and Faithful of the DOS,

Orthodox Christians were deeply saddened to hear of the falling asleep in the Lord on Sunday, August 28, 2011, at 2:00 am, of His Eminence, The Most Reverend DMITRI, retired Archbishop of the Diocese of the South, Orthodox Church in America.  The Archbishop was eighty-seven years old.  Ordained in 1954, then consecrated to the episcopacy in 1969, his ecclesial ministry spanned fifty-seven remarkable years.  

     His Eminence was born Robert R. Royster on November 2, 1923, into a Baptist family in the town of Teague, Texas. He often credited his mother for providing him and his sister with a strong, initial faith in Christ.  After discovering Orthodoxy as teens they asked their mother for a blessing to convert, whereupon she asked one basic yet predictive question:  "Does the Orthodox Church believe in Christ as Lord and Savior?"  As it turned out, a specific emphasis on the person and work of Jesus Christ became the hallmark of the future hierarch's ministry, profoundly influencing his preaching and writing.  Additionally the Archbishop would later recall that an Orthodox clergyman and mentor advised him early on in his priesthood to include always the name of Christ in every conversation; to make Him the focus of every sermon.

     Having received their desired blessing, and after a period of inquiry and study, brother and sister were received together as Orthodox Christians at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church in Dallas, Texas in 1941. It was at that point that the two received the names of Dmitri and Dimitra.

     Dmitri was drafted into the US Army  in 1943, after which he underwent intensive training in Japanese and linguistics in Ann Arbor, Michigan and the Military Intelligence Service Language School in Fort Snelling, Minnesota. Following this he served as a Japanese interpreter at the rank of Second Lieutenant on the staff of General Douglas MacArthur.  Dmitri was required to undergo the usual training given to all soldiers and was recognized, interestingly enough, as an expert marksman. He was blessed with a strong constitution and good physical abilities: as a teenager he represented his Dallas high school during the tennis state semi-finals.  Later as hierarch he would comment that good health and physical strength should also be used in service to Christ.  Following his own advice he pushed himself physically, traveling repeatedly by car for years, from one end of his fourteen state Diocese to the other in the early stages of its inception, visiting parishes and founding missions.    

     After his military service Dmitri completed his education, receiving a Bachelor's Degree from the (now) University of North Texas in Denton, just outside of Dallas, and a Master's Degree in Spanish in 1949 from Southern Methodist University.  He completed two years of post graduate studies at Tulane University in New Orleans whereupon he returned to his home in Dallas.

     In 1954, as a subdeacon with the Ukrainian Orthodox Church under Constantinople, Dmitri worked with the Mexican Orthodox Community of Our Lady of San Juan de Los Lagos, at which time he began translations of Orthodox liturgical services into Spanish.  In April of 1954 Subdeacon Dmitri, his sister Dimitra and their priest, Fr. Rangel sought permission of the local hierarch, Bishop Bogdan, to establish an English language Orthodox mission in Dallas, the future St. Seraphim Cathedral.  Dmitri was ordained to the diaconate and priesthood that same year and assigned as rector of St. Seraphim's. In 1958 permission was sought and given to bring both Fr. Dmitri and the parish into the Russian Metropolia, predecessor to the Orthodox Church in America. During his pastorate Fr. Dmitri served as an instructor of Spanish at Southern Methodist University.  He functioned in this capacity for a number of years.  Dmitri also taught at Tulane University in New Orleans for a brief period during his tenure as student.   While serving in the military, and afterward, particularly in New Orleans, he cultivated a taste for strong, chicory coffee, which became a characteristic trademark throughout his life.  Years later, out of great respect for their hierarch, and with a certain sense of satisfaction, parishes would seek to make the perfect pot of Cafe Du Monde or Community Club Coffee upon a visit from His Eminence.    

      During the early years of St. Seraphim's Fr. Dmitri continued his missionary activities among the Mexican Americans but was intent on developing the new community placed in his care. As a direct result of his desire that people from all walks of life hear the message of Orthodox Christianity, the Cathedral remains to this day, a multi-ethic parish, consisting of both cradle Orthodox and converts.

     While functioning as both priest and university instructor Fr. Dmitri found time to help his sister with her local restaurant.  As children, responsibilities in the family restaurant provided an appreciation for the art of cooking.  As adults, the two came to be regarded as gourmet chefs.  Not surprisingly celebrations at the Archbishop's home in honor of specific religious holidays were awaited with great anticipation by members of the Church and local Dallas clergy.  Following the teaching of St. Paul, His Eminence was enthusiastically "hospitable" (1 Timothy 3:2).

     At such gatherings the Archbishop on rare occasions would recall in passing, certain struggles of the Depression.  He did not dwell on the subject, but it seemed that the experience of going without, of laboring to put food on the table, was never far from his consciousness.  He lived modestly and was generous to a fault, not only giving beyond the tithe to his Cathedral, but donating to seminaries, charities, diocesan missions, and persons in need.

     While working outside the Church and tending to priestly responsibilities, Fr. Dmitri found time to print his own original articles in a weekly Church bulletin. In the 1950's and 60's Orthodox theological works in English were scarce, particularly on a popular level of reading.  Fr. Dmitri saw a need and sought to address it.  Later, his curriculum for catechumens used at St. Seraphim's would be published by the Department of Christian Education of the Orthodox Church in America, with the title: Orthodox Christian Teaching. The Dallas community grew steadily;  Fr. Dmitri had a unique gift for relating to all people. Both young and old looked to him as a loving father.

     From 1966 to 1967 Fr. Dmitri attended St. Vladimir's Orthodox Seminary in New York while concurrently teaching Spanish at Fordham University. He studied with people like Fr. Alexander Schmemann, Fr. John Meyendorff, and Professor Serge Verhovskoy.  In 1969 Fr. Dmitri was elected to the episcopate.  On June 22 of that year he was consecrated Bishop of Berkeley, California as an auxiliary to Archbishop John (Shahovskoy) of San Francisco.  The consecration of Bishop Dmitri is regarded by some historians as the first consecration of a convert to the episcopate in America (though Ignatius (Nichols) was consecrated in 1932 but subsequently left the Church).    

     In 1970 Bishop Dmitri was given the title, Bishop of Washington, auxiliary to Metropolitan Ireney. He would later recall the helpful training he received as an auxiliary under both Archbishop John and Metropolitan Ireney, particularly the many periods of instruction in Church Slavonic.   

     On October 19, 1971, Bishop Dmitri was elected Bishop of Hartford and New England.  In 1972 the Holy Synod of Bishops brought Mexico under the auspices of the Orthodox Church in America, which had received its autocephaly (the right to govern itself) in 1970 from the Moscow Patriarchate.  Given his knowledge of and fondness for Mexican culture and the Spanish language, Bishop Dmitri took on additional responsibilities from the Holy Synod  as Exarch of Mexico.  He was as much beloved by the Mexican people as by those in his own Diocese.

     In 1977 at the 5th All American Council convened in Montreal, Bishop Dmitri received a majority of popular votes in an election for a new Metropolitan of the Orthodox Church in America. For the sake of continuity -- a cradle Orthodox occupying the Primatial See was viewed as more in keeping with the contemporary challenges of a young territorial Church -- the Holy Synod chose instead The Right Reverend Theodosius (Lazor), Bishop of Alaska who became an advocate and supporter of missionary work in the southern United States.  

     In 1978 the Synod of Bishops took an important step by creating the Diocese of Dallas and the South.   His Eminence became its first ruling hierarch, taking St. Seraphim Church as his Episcopal See.  Christ the Saviour Church in Miami, Florida, a prominent Orthodox community in the South, became the second Cathedral of the newly formed Diocese.  The Archpriest George Gladky, a veteran missionary and rector of Christ the Saviour, was named Chancellor.  He and Bishop Dmitri worked admirably with others to establish Churches and teach Orthodoxy in a region of America where Orthodox Christianity was relatively unknown.  The first Diocesan Assembly of the South was convened in Miami, August 25-26, 1978.                                                                                                                                        

     In 1993 the Holy Synod elevated Bishop Dmitri to the rank of Archbishop. During his tenure as hierarch the Archbishop chaired various departments of the Orthodox Church in America.  Early on he was instrumental in speaking with representatives of the Evangelical Orthodox Church seeking entrance into canonical Orthodoxy.  His understanding of Christ as central to the Faith, helped guide these discussions.  As an example, an episode occurred in which members of the EOC wanted to focus on particulars of worship during initial dialogues.  It is said they were cautioned by the Bishop:  "Let's first discuss our approach to Jesus Christ, since everything that we have in Orthodoxy proceeds from that core set of teachings."

     On September 4, 2008, following the retirement of Metropolitan Herman, the Holy Synod named Archbishop Dmitri as the locum tenens. Archbishop Seraphim (Storheim) assisted him as administrator.  In November of 2008, Archbishop Dmitri's role as OCA locum tenens ended with the election of Bishop Jonah (Paffhausen) of Fort Worth as Metropolitan.  On March 22, 2009, the Archbishop requested retirement from active duty as a Diocesan Bishop effective March 31, 2009.  Under his leadership the Diocese of the South grew from approximately twelve communities to over seventy at the present time and remains one of the most vibrant Dioceses in the OCA.   

     During the past two years the Archbishop has lived quietly at his home, writing, making occasional visits to Diocesan communities, and maintaining a quiet involvement with the life of St. Seraphim Cathedral.  He was blessed in his last days to have many parishioners who visited and cared for him at home twenty-four hours a day as well as medical professionals who came to his bedside to treat and evaluate his condition.  The community in turn received a great blessing from the love and courage with which the Archbishop welcomed them and approached his illness. He remained courteous, hospitable and dignified throughout, even attending Church when his strength allowed.  These unexpected visits to the Cathedral by the Archbishop were sources of joy and inspiration to the faithful.

     For his former Diocese and the Orthodox Church in America, His Eminence leaves behind a progressive vision of evangelism and ecclesial life, a solid foundation upon which to develop future communities and schools. He leaves the faithful the experience of having had a compassionate father whose enthusiasm was contagious, inspiring many to look profoundly at their own vocations in the Church.

     Archbishop Dmitri's greatest joys as well as sorrows were connected to his episcopal ministry. The establishment of new missions, the ordinations of men to the priesthood or diaconate, and the reception of others into Orthodoxy were continual sources of delight.  In addition he patiently dealt with clergy and laymen during his tenure who needed correction.  In fact, it would be difficult to recall an instance where he strongly reprimanded anyone, at least publicly.  Private, gentle advice when needed was more "his style."  At times his approach confused and frustrated some who believed that his manner of oversight should be stricter; that he should be more demanding in his expectations.  Again, this was never the Archbishop's way.  It was not in his character to remind people bluntly of their responsibilities. The Archbishop chose to lead by example rather than by decree.  Ultimately and personally this became a source of his extraordinary influence and popularity.  Mere suggestions were readily received as directives because of people's fondness for His Eminence.  More than once the comment was made:  "you cannot buy that kind of authority," authority that proceeds from integrity and proven dedication, from a loving relationship between a father and his children.

     As stated, Archbishop Dmitri's episcopacy was strongly characterized by a single-minded devotion to the person and work of Jesus Christ.  His publications are testimony to this dedication.  They include commentaries on: The Sermon on the Mount, The Parables of Christ, The Miracles of Christ, St. Paul's Epistles to the Romans and to the Hebrews,  The Epistle of St. James, and the Gospel of St. John.  His works also include the aforementioned Introduction to Orthodox Christian Teaching, as well as A Layman's Handbook on The Doctrine of Christ.  Some of these have been translated into other languages, enthusiastically received as instructional tools by the faithful abroad.  When asked to document his personal thoughts concerning evangelism or American Orthodoxy the Archbishop consistently hesitated, preferring instead to dwell on the teachings of the fathers regarding Scripture and Church doctrine.

     For many years His Eminence was the editor of the first diocesan newspaper in the Orthodox Church in America:  The Dawn.  This modest publication was a primary means of education and an instrument of unity amongst members of a Diocese spanning over one million square miles. One full page in The Dawn was regularly devoted to making available his translations of Orthodox Spanish material.  Later the Archbishop included a Russian page as well to minister to the needs of new immigrants.  

     The dignity that he brought to his episcopacy was well known.   People commented on his bearing, the way he carried himself as a bishop of the Orthodox Church.  Some found it surprising that such an august figure possessed great love and respect for others, that he presented himself as one of the people.

     Without exaggeration it can be said that His Eminence was a rarity, a unique combination of faith, talent, intelligence and charisma. For the Diocese of the South, indeed for the Orthodox Church in America, he was the right person at the right time.

     Forty- two years a bishop, each day offered in service to Christ with Whom he now enjoys the blessedness of the Kingdom.  We pray for his continued prayers and we thank the Lord for having given His flock the gift of Archbishop Dmitri. May his Memory Be Eternal.

     "Remember those who rule over you, who have spoken the Word of God to you, whose faith follow, considering the outcome of their conduct" (Hebrews 13:7).

     "For though you might have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet you do not have many fathers; for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel..." (I Corinthians 4: 15)

Information regarding the funeral arrangements will be made available as soon as the plans are finalized.

As hurricane Irene makes its way up the east coast, parishes and missions in the eastern coastal areas of the Diocese of the South are bracing for the worst. St. Basil’s Orthodox Church in Wilmington, NC, and Dormition of the Theotokos in Norfolk, VA, have already cancelled weekend services in anticipation of the expected flooding and generally hazardous conditions that are expected in the wake of Irene as the hurricane carves it slow path up the eastern seaboard. Other parishes, such as St Andrew’s Orthodox Church in Ashland, VA, and St Cyprian of Carthage Orthodox Church in Richmond, VA, may yet be forced to cancel or curtail services.
 
When Hurricane Isabel devastated Edenton, NC, eight years ago in 2003, members of Edenton’s St. George's Orthodox Church spent the following days helping neighbors in Edenton contend with collapsed roofs, homes flooded by the Albemarle Sound, and possessions destroyed; other friends' homes here were knocked off their foundations by the same storm surge.  “From Edenton's perspective, the path and strength of approaching Hurricane Irene are practically identical to that of Hurricane Isabel, which we know so well, our memories haunted so vividly,” reports St George’s member John Morehead. “As our town remained without electricity for nine days last time, you likely won't hear from us for a while [after the impact of the storm].  But, with many of our members living within walking distance of the church, which stands in the historic district across the corner from Edenton Bay, know that we will pray the Hours and sing the Typika at ten o'clock this Sunday at St. George's, no matter what the circumstances and conditions, as always.”
 
In low lying coastal areas and those areas particularly exposed to Irene’s high winds people have evacuated inland, some by choice, many by order. It is unclear when it will be safe for people to return. For everyone in Irene’s path, especially the elderly and those without some other place to go, this is an especially difficult and even dangerous time. As such, the clergy and faithful throughout the affected area call on our brothers and sisters throughout the Diocese of the South and the Orthodox Church in America as a whole to intercede on our behalf and on behalf of all those who will suffer as a result of hurricane Irene, that our Lord would be merciful to us and keep us in His care.

Please see this link for more information from the OCA.

The Mystery of Holy Unction was celebrated Tuesday evening for His Eminence, Archbishop Dmitri, at St Seraphim's Orthodox Cathedral to a packed church. Many clergy and faithful from around the DOS came to pray for Vladyka Dmitri.  This was actually the second unction service celebrated for the Archbishop.  When his condition began deteriorating on Monday evening, several of the Dallas Deanery clergy together with many of the local faithful gathered in the Archbishop's house to anoint him.  By Tuesday the Archbishop was sufficiently strong to come to the Cathedral for a portion of the full anointing service.  Following the service Tuesday evening Vladyka Dmitri displayed his well-known penchant for hospitality, insisting that the clergy stay and visit for a while.

The archbishop is receiving around the clock care from the faithful of St Seraphim's Cathedral and several local clergy and is under doctor's and hospice supervision. He continues to be gracious to visitors and caregivers alike, demonstrating even in this difficult time the love and care for his flock that has characterized his hierarchical ministry.  Please continue to pray for the Archbishop, asking that God will grant him strength and healing of soul and body.

The Mystery of Holy Unction will be celebrated for His Eminence, Archbishop Dmitri, on Tuesday, August 23, at 6:30 pm at St Seraphim’s Orthodox Cathedral in Dallas, TX.  Archbishop Dmitri was released from Baylor Medical Center on Wednesday evening, August 17.   “Vladyka’s doctors concluded that he could be treated at home just about as well as in the hospital,” wrote Mr. Milos Konjevich, DOS Treasurer, in a late evening correspondence.  “The conditions that could best be addressed by hospital care have been addressed; a case could always be made for staying in a few days longer to clear up other issues, but his peace of mind in being back home was the overriding consideration.”
 
While in the hospital the Archbishop gave his blessing to DOS Chancellor, Archpriest Marcus C Burch, to make arrangements for the service to take place in the Cathedral.  “Given the Archbishop’s continued weakness as he fights the infection for which he had been admitted to the hospital, it has been decided to move forward with the unction service sooner than later,” Fr Marcus reported.  “Bishop Nikon [locum tennens for the DOS] suggested that it would very appropriate for the service to be celebrated by the Archbishop’s spiritual sons.  Therefore, we have specifically asked the Diocese of the South priests in the Dallas/Ft Worth area to participate.  Of course, any other clergy from the Diocese or other local Orthodox parishes are welcome to participate, as are the faithful of St Seraphim’s, area churches, and the Diocese of the South as a whole.’
 
His Grace, Bp Nikon, has asked that prayers continue to be offered in all Diocese of the South parishes and missions for the healing of soul and body for His Eminence, Archbishop Dmitri, the founding bishop of the Diocese.

His Eminence, Archbishop Dmitri, was admitted on Monday afternoon, August 15th, to Baylor Medical Center in Dallas in order to obtain
optimal treatment for a Urinary Tract Infection.  VRev Fr Marcus C Burch, Chancellor of the Diocese of the South, spoke with His Eminence by phone this afternoon, and reports that He was in good spirits and looking forward to leaving the hospital as early as tomorrow.

While at home his doctors are limiting visit to the Archbishop to late afternoons and early evenings to ensure that he is getting adequate rest.  He is able to participate in the services of the church or be present during fellowship to the extent that his strength allows.  The doctors' goal is to work on improving his strength, endurance, and nutrition, but this can only be accomplished with adequate rest.  His Eminence is being well cared for by the faithful of St Seraphim's Orthodox Cathedral.

We appreciate your prayers 'for the health and salvation' of our beloved retired Archbishop.  And correspondence may be sent to the following address:

The Most Rev'd Dmitri
Retired Archbishop of Dallas
PO Box 191109
Dallas, TX 75219-1109

[SVOTS Communications] From September 8-10, 2011, St. Vladimir's Seminary, Yonkers, NY, will host the North American Conference of the Fellowship of Ss. Alban and Sergius. On the evening of September 8th, Metropolitan Kallistos (Ware) Co-chair of Orthodox-Anglican Dialogue from 2008 to the present will commence the proceedings by delivering a free and public keynote. Just prior to Metropolitan Kallistos' presentation, at 7 p.m., the seminary will bestow an honorary doctoral degree upon him.
 
His Beatitude Metropolitan Jonah (Paffhausen), primate of the Orthodox Church in America, and Fr. Stephen Platt, general-secretary of the Fellowship from the United Kingdom, will also be in attendance. Metropolitan Jonah will serve on a discussion panel Saturday.
 
Throughout the conference, members of the Orthodox Church in America (OCA) and Anglican Church of North America (ACNA) Dialogue will present various papers addressing the history of Orthodox and Anglican relations. For details and to register, visit: www.svots.edu, Upcoming Events; or contact the Events Coordinator, 914-961-8313 EXT 351, events@svots.edu.

There have been several reports in the last day or so of His Eminence, Archbishop Dmitri's, deteriorating health. I have spoken with both Fr John Anderson and Milos Konjevich who are close to the situation in Dallas. Vladyka Dmitri has been seen by a doctor, he is receiving more intensive and attentive in-house care, and he is eating better. While he continues to be weak, he actually seems to be improving. While none of us clearly sees the future, it does seem that these changes in the Archbishop's health are more incremental in nature, and part of the what the Psalmist expresses in Psalm 90.10: 'The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labor and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away.'

Please pray for the Archbishop, asking that God will grant him strength and healing.  We will try to keep the diocese updated on any significant changes with postings on this website.

In Christ,

Fr. Marcus Burch
Chancellor of the Diocese of The South

Two priests in the Diocese of the South, Fr. Antonio Perdomo and Fr. Moses Berry, lead a Missiology and Evangelism Workshop at St Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary on June 7th and 8th.  For more information on this workshop, please visit St Vladimir's Website.

(Dallas, TX)  His Eminence, Metropolitan Hilarion (Alfeyev) will visit here on the weekend of February 12-13, 2011.  As part of his itinerary, Metropolitan Hilarion will be at St. Seraphim Cathedral for the Vigil service. He is scheduled to make a presentation after the Saturday evening Vigil.  

“We are extremely honored to have His Eminence with us at St. Seraphim Cathedral and look forward to his visit” stated Archpriest Joseph Fester, Dean of St. Seraphim Cathedral and Chancellor of the Diocese of the South. “I first met Metropolitan Hilarion when he was attached as a priest to our OCA Representation Church in Moscow. He was a tremendous asset to our Representation Church in its formative years.”

Metropolitan Hilarion will be in Dallas for a series of talks and for the performance of his musicl at Highland Park Presbyterian Church on Sunday, February 13th. His "St Matthew Passion", grand oratorio for soloists, choir and orchestra, received standing ovations at its performances at the Great Hall of Moscow Concervatory (27 March 2007), at the Auditorium Conciliazione, Rome (29 March 2007), and at St Patrick's Cathedral, Melbourne (28 September 2007). Equally well received was his "Christmas Oratorio.”

Born in 1966, Metropolitan Hilarion received his initial education in music, studying violin, piano and composition, at the Moscow Gnessins School and the Moscow State Conservatory. After military service from 1984-86, he entered, in January 1987, the Monastery of the Holy Spirit in Vilnius, Lithuania, where he was tonsured a monk on 19 June, ordained deacon on 21 June and ordained priest on 19 August the same year.

In 1989 he graduated from the Moscow Theological Seminary and in 1991 from the Moscow Theological Academy. From 1991 to 1993 he taught Homiletics, Dogmatic Theology, New Testament Studies and Byzantine Greek at the Moscow Theological Schools. In 1995 he completed his doctoral thesis on ‘St Symeon the New Theologian and Orthodox Tradition’ at Oxford University, Great Britain, under the supervision of Bishop Kallistos Ware.

From 1995 to 2001 he served as Secretary for Inter-Christian Affairs of the Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate. On 27 December 2001 he was elected Bishop, and on 14 January 2002 consecrated by His Holiness Alexy II, Patriarch of Moscow and all Russia, and 10 other bishops. He served as an Assistant Bishop of the Diocese of Sourozh in Great Britain until his nomination, on 17 July 2002, as Head of the Representation of the Russian Orthodox Church to the European Institutions.

On 7 May 2003 he was appointed Bishop of Vienna and Austria, as well as temporary administrator of the Diocese of Budapest and Hungary, in addition to his position as the Representative of the Russian Orthodox Church to the European Institutions in Brussels.

On 31 March 2009 he was appointed Bishop of Volokolamsk, Chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate Department for External Church Relations. On 20 April 2009 he was elevated to the dignity of Archbishop. Metropolitan Hilarion is the author of more than 300 publications, including numerous books in Russian, English, French, Italian, German and Finnish. Apart from his doctoral degree in philosophy from Oxford, he also holds a doctorate in theology from St Sergius Orthodox Theological Institute in Paris.

More information on Metropolitan Hilarion’s visit will be posted on the DOS and St Seraphim Cathedral websites as it becomes available.

(Dallas, TX)  His Grace, Bishop Mark (Maymon) Administrator for the Diocese of the South, is now in residence here.  He has been serving at St. Seraphim Cathedral since his arrival and will make his first Archpastoral trip this weekend to south Florida.

His Grace will depart Dallas on Friday and fly to Ft. Lauderdale where he will be met by Archpriest Ernesto Rios of St James Church in Port St. Lucie, FL.  St. James has broken ground on the construction of their new temple.  Bishop Mark will serve Vespers at St. James on Friday evening.  He will depart Port St. Lucie on Saturday morning and travel to Miami and meet with Archpriest Alexander Padlo and the faithful of Saints Peter and Paul Church in Miami. He will then travel to Christ the Saviour Cathedral in Hialeah, FL. for Great Vespers on Saturday night and Matins and Liturgy on Sunday. Sunday evening, His Grace will go to Jupiter, FL. for Sunday evening and celebrate an Akathist with Priest Philip Kontos and the faithful of St Peter the Apostle Mission.  His Grace will return to Dallas on Monday.

St. Philip the Apostle Church in Tampa, FL has a new dome thanks to their sister parish St. Mark’s in Bradenton.  When St. Mark’s built their new temple the dome from their old church needed a new home and St Philip’s hoisted it into place recently. Many thanks St. Mark's for your generosity.

Speaking of new temple’s, St Jonah Mission in Alpine, TX recently purchased their new temple and have been busy renovating from top to bottom.  The top includes a new cross and a red metal roof (very typical for the region of Texas).  Work on the interior continues as St. Jonah’s continues to grow!

The 2011 DOS Pastoral Conference is rapidly approaching. If you have not made your hotel reservations you must do so by January 31 to secure the special room rate of $75 per night at the Holiday Inn Express in Clinton, MS.  To make your reservation, click here and more information

Archpriest Paul Yerger and his new assistant priest, Matthew Jackson along with the faithful of Holy Resurrection Church in Clinton are looking forward to hosting this year’s event.  For a working schedule of the Conference, click here. Bishop Mark will visit Christ the Savior Mission in McComb, MS on February 12 and Holy Resurrection Church in Clinton, MS on February 13.


St Seraphim Cathedral will host two important events in January and February.  January 27-29 the Cathedral will host the Orthodox Christian Camping Association meetings.  Archimandrite Meletios (Webber) will be the main speaker. For more information on the meeting, please click here.

On February 12, St. Seraphim’s will host His Eminence, Metropolitan Hilarion (Alfeyev), Metropolitan of Volokolamsk and Chairman of the Department of External Affairs for the Moscow Patriarchate. His Beatitude, Metropolitan Jonah will also be at St. Seraphim’s that weekend to bid farewell to Archpriest Joseph Fester, Dean of the Cathedral and Chancellor of the Diocese of the South who will take up his new duties at St. Nicholas Cathedral in Washington DC. in late February.

The Holy Synod of Bishops of the Orthodox Church in America will hold their annual retreat this year in Santa Fe, NM. in late February. We welcome them into the borders of the DOS!

Memory eternal to Priest Lawrence Zalikowski who fell asleep in the Lord on January 3. Fr. Lawrence before retiring was the priest of St. Simeon Church in Titusville, FL.

Archpriest Jacob Myers, Rector of St John the Wonderworker Church in Atlanta, GA, was recently named the President of the Atlanta Clergy Association. Congratulations Fr. Jacob.

TITUSVILLE, FL [OCA] -- On Monday, January 3, 2011, the Chancery of the Orthodox Church in America learned with deep sorrow that Priest Lawrence Zalikowski had fallen asleep in the Lord.

Father Lawrence was attached in retirement to Saint Simeon Church, Titusville, FL.

Additional information will be posted as it is received.

May Father Lawrence's memory be eternal!

(Dallas)  His Beatitude, Metropolitan Jonah celebrated the Feast of the Nativity of our Lord here with Great Compline, Festal Matins and the Festal Divine Liturgy at midnight.  At the service, His Beatitude tonsured Iosif Wynn as a reader and subdeacon. Celebrating with the Metropolitan was Archpriest Joseph Fester, Dean of St Seraphim Cathedral and Chancellor of the Diocese of the South, Archpriest John Anderson, Associate Pastor at St. Seraphim, Deacons Gregory Norris, Steven Kroll, Gregory Conley and Photius Avant.

Prior to the start of the Festal services, two catechumens, Seraphim and Mary Long were received into the Orthodox Church and three new catechumens were enrolled, Tikhon and Helen Tadlock and James McCormick.

(Bossier City, LA)  The greater Shreveport, LA area will have a new Orthodox presence starting with the Feast of the Nativity of our Lord. Priest Jason Foster is the pastor of the new mission-station here and looks forward to the start of the newest community in the DOS. “I have received calls from many Protestant friends of mine who live in the area and they are anxious to come to the mission for Christmas” says Fr. Jason. “This is a very exciting time.”

Father Foster was working full-time in the Advancement office of St. Vladimir’s Seminary where he was a special student.  He will continue to work for SVS on a part-time basis while he starts his new assignment in the DOS.

For more information on the Bossier City Mission Outreach, visit their website.

(Dallas, TX)  Three  videos with DOS connections are now available for viewing on YouTube.  One is a PSA (Public Service Announcement) produced by St. Dimitri of Rostov in Los Alamos, NM and is now being shown in their local movie theatre.  Interesting idea for outreach!!!!

St. Dimtri PSA Video

The other is a video produced by the OCA Diocese of Mexico with many photos of His Beatitude, Metropolitan Jonah, Archbishop Dmitri and DOS clergy Archpriest Ernesto Rios and Priest Antonio Perdomo.

Diocese of Mexico Video

The last is a presentation of Metropolitan Hilarion (Alfeyev's) St. Matthew's Passion composition which will be presented in New York and Dallas in February 2011.

St. Matthew Passion Video

(Venice, FL) On Saturday, December 12th over 60 parishioners and friends from Holy Spirit Orthodox Church in Venice gathered to participate in the inaugural Kathy Lazor Memorial Retreat led by Fr Thomas Soroka of Pittsburgh, PA on the topic, "The God Who Loves."  Kathy Lazor recently lost her long and courageous battle with cancer. She was the wife of Dr. James Lazor former Board Member of St. Tikhon’s Seminary and member of St. John the Baptist Church in Campbell, OH.  Kathy and Dr. Jim were frequent visitors to Holy Spirit Church and the west coast of Florida. Dr Lazor was present for all the weekend's events.
 
The day began with a coffee fellowship followed by the opening of the retreat with a prayer service. Fr Thomas delivered the first presentation enumerating the various ways in which God demonstrates His love for us. Citing various scriptural passages from the Gospel of St John and St John's first Epistle, he recounted the love of God shown in the incarnation of Christ, in adopting us as His Children, in dying on the cross, in uniting to us as His Bride, and in pouring out His forgiveness and restoration. Numerous questions were asked both on the topic and on various other scriptural and doctrinal questions. A short presentation was also given by Fr Thomas about Ancient Faith Radio where he is heard on "The Path" and "Sermons at St Nicholas."
 
After a delicious lunch prepared by the Ladies Guild and lively fellowship among the participants, the group gathered again to hear the final presentation given by Fr Thomas on the implications of loving God and our neighbor. Practical insights from the scriptures in various epistles of St Paul and St John were shared regarding the obedience to God's command as a sign of our Love for God, as well as specific actions of love toward those in the Church and our larger community of neighbors. Following the talk, questions about loving our neighbor, the relationship between the soul and the body, the Allah of Islam, as well as Eucharistic participation, were asked. The enthusiastic participants were engaged and enriched to continue their growth in loving God and neighbor.
 
The retreat was followed by Great Vespers served by Fr Thomas, and the choir was led by Dr Nicola Nicoloff of Campbell, OH. Following Vespers, numerous individuals remained to participate in the sacrament of Confession.

On Sunday morning, the Divine Liturgy was celebrated by Fr Thomas, Fr Stephen Plumlee and Fr Dean Mendrinos. Fr Thomas gave the homily. The choir was led by Dr. Nicoloff and the epistle was read by John Mindala, who is also the webmaster of the parish's website. Following the Divine Liturgy, a Ninth-day Memorial was served for Kathy Lazor.

We are grateful to all those who made this spiritually uplifting gathering about "The God Who Loves" possible and look forward to making the Kathy Lazor Memorial Retreat an annual event for our spiritual growth and another opportunity for loving fellowship in our parish.

To view video highlights of the weekend, click here.

(Dallas, TX)   Today, it was announced by His Beatitude, Metropolitan Jonah, that His Grace, Bishop Mark (Maymon) was officially received into the Orthodox Church in America. His title will be Bishop of Baltimore, Auxiliary to the Metropolitan and Administrator of the Diocese of the South. Bishop Mark is the former Bishop of Toledo of the Antiochian Archdiocese. In a letter from Metropolitan Philip to His Beatitude, His Eminence, Metropolitan Philip wrote that "Bishop Mark is a very good bishop and I am sure he will contribute his talents for the edification of the faithful of the Orthodox Church in America."

His Grace will reside in Dallas and take up temporary residence at the Dallas home of Metropolitan Jonah. His Beatitude purchased the home here when he was Chancellor of the Diocese of the South and then for 10 days Bishop of Fort Worth, Auxiliary Bishop to Archbishop Dmitri. Since then, the Dallas residence has been used only when His Beatitude traveled to Dallas.

Yesterday it was announced that Archpriest Joseph Fester, Chancellor of the Diocese of the South and Dean of St Seraphim Cathedral will be transferred to the Diocese of Washington and be assigned as Dean of St. Nicholas Cathedral.  At the time the announcement was made in Dallas, His Beatitude announced in Washington, DC, that upon the request of Archpriest Constantine White, Dean of St. Nicholas Cathedral, Fr. White will be transferred to St. Matthew Church in Columbia, MD. The transfers will take effect in February 2011. Father Fester will work with Bishop Mark during this transition period to acclimate him to DOS and Cathedral life. Bishop Mark will meet with the DOS Diocesan Council in February.

In other news, His Beatitude will be in the DOS starting this weekend when he visits St Cyril of Jerusalem Mission in The Woodlands, TX.  The Woodlands is a fast-growing northern suburb of  greater Houston. Metropolitan Jonah will serve Great Vespers on Saturday and the Divine Liturgy on Sunday. He will then fly to Dallas on Sunday evening and spend Christmas Week visiting parishes and mission in North Texas.  His Beatitude will also bless the ground for the new monastery chapel of The Nativity of our Lord Monastery in Kemp, TX on Thursday, December 23.

The Metropolitan will lead the Nativity of our Lord services at St Seraphim Cathedral on Friday, December 24 and Saturday, December 25 with a midnight Liturgy for the Feast.

The DOS Pastoral Conference will be held this year in Clinton, MS hosted by Holy Resurrection Church.  Bishop Mark will be a participant at the annual event.  For more information and to reserve a hotel room, click here.

St Jonah the Wonderworker Mission in Alpine, TX purchased their new church building and held their first service in it last week. They will be doing some needed renovations, including a new red metal roof (all the rage in Texas these days) plus expanding fellowship space.  The interior of the church has beautiful exposed wood beams and with a temporary iconostases in place, already looks like an Orthodox Church!

Speaking of new iconostases, St. Tikhon Mission in Chattanooga, TN has erected a beautiful new iconostases, reports Priest Daniel Talley.  More beautification projects are in store for the mission as they transform their current location into a more beautiful temple to worship God.

Priest Thomas Soroka, rector of St Nicholas Church in McKees Rocks, PA lead a two-day retreat at Holy Spirit Church in Venice, FL this past weekend.  Over 60 retreat guests participated.  A complete story on the retreat with pictures will be posted on the DOS website.

Congratulations to Priest Robert Royer and the faithful of Holy Resurrection Mission in Augusta, GA who were awarded a 2011 OCA Church Planting Grant. Another DOS Mission, Holy Cross Mission in Greensboro/High Point, NC completed their three-year grant this year. Congratulations to Priest Christopher Foley and his flock in North Carolina who during their three-year grant saw significant growth, moved to a new facility to accommodate their growth expanded their community life.

More News and Notes will be posted soon. Stay tuned.

(Dallas, TX)  The 2011 Orthodox Camp and Youth Worker Conference will be held here on January 27-29 at St. Seraphim Cathedral.  The Conference Theme will be “Equipping the Saints” and will be led by Archimandrite Meletios (Webber).

The annual event is held in an effort to provide Orthodox clergy and laity desiring to provide the best possible camping and youth ministry experience for their parish, deanery or diocese.

The conference will be a multi-faceted gathering including worship, education and fellowship.  Archimandrite Meletios, the Abbot of St. John the Wonderworker Monastery in Manton, CA. will present on the topics: “Our Own Thoughts - Does Self Get in The Way?”, “Holy Thoughts to Replace Unholy Thoughts”, “Remove Self - Replace with Christ”,

In additional to the presentations by Archimandrite Meletios breakout groups will work on ways to overcome challenges and best practices to keep improving youth ministries.

For more information and to register, click here.

(Orlando, Longwood, FL)  Priest Fr Peter Milanovich, retired priest and attached to St Stephen the Protomartyr Church here,  fell asleep in the Lord on November 24. Priest Daniel Hickman, rector of St. Stephen’s announced the funeral service schedule as follows:

Friday, November 26 - 6:00pm Visitation at Funeral Home
Saturday, November 27 - 10:am Divine Liturgy with burial to follow

Friday visitation will be at Banfield Funeral Home, 420 W. State Rd 434, Winter Springs, FL  32708

Saturday’s Divine Liturgy will be at St. Stephen’s.  For more information one may contact Father Hickman at 407-388-4241

With the souls of the righteous departed O Lord, give rest to the soul of thy servant, Priest Peter. May his memory be eternal!

(Dallas, TX)  His Beatitude, Metropolitan Jonah recently received an Honorary Doctorate from Nashotah House in Wisconsin.  The most traditional of Anglican seminaries in the USA, Nashotah House has a long history of contacts with the Orthodox Church dating back to St. Tikhon when he was the Russian bishop in the USA.

Although a seminary of The Episcopal Church (TEC), “The House” has long been an outspoken critic of the ordination of women and practicing gays to orders in the Episcopal church.  Such a stance in recent years cost the school dearly as enrollment plummeted, however in recent years and with the establishment of the Anglican Church in North America (ACNA) enrollment is again growing, especially from students of the Anglican Diocese of Fort Worth, which is being hounded by legal battles led by TEC over property as Diocese of Fort Worth parishes exit TEC over doctrinal and ecclesiological issues.

His Beatitude and Archpriest Chad Hatfield, a graduate of Nashotah House, were present for the 2010 Academic Convocation at which the Metropolitan received his Doctor of Divinity, honoris causa.  Father Hatfield delivered the sermon at the liturgy encouraging the students and faculty to stand fast for the Truth against the onslaught of relativism destroying the Episcopal church.

In conjunction with the Convocation, members of the Diocese of the South continued their dialogue with representatives of the ACNA in the wake of His Beatitude’s presentation to the forming ACNA Convention in 2009 in Texas.  The OCA, Diocese of the South was represented by Archpriest Joseph Fester, DOS Chancellor, Priest John Parker, Mt. Pleasant, SC., and Deacon Gregory Norris of St Seraphim Cathedral in Dallas.  The lead delegate from the OCA was Father Hatfield.

Progress was marked at the meetings with ACNA representatives, headed by Bishop Ray Sutton of Dallas, TX, who reported that the ACNA has recommended to its synod of Bishops that the original form of the Creed be prayed in all ACNA churches. Thus the “filioque” would no longer be added.  A series of educational programs on the original creed as crafted by the first and second Ecumenical Councils are being planned.

In other meeting developments, as a result of the Concord signed between St. Vladimir’s Seminary and Nashotah House a proposal for two convocations one at St. Vladimir’s in 2011 and the second at Nashotah House in 2012 be offered with academic papers on issues of faith and practice between Anglicans and Orthodox presented. 

UPDATED PHOTOS OF ENTIRE WEEKEND VISIT

(Bixby, OK) His Beatitude, Metropolitan Jonah has concluded his Archpastoral weekend trip to Holy Apostles Church.  The Metropolitan arrived on Friday, November 5 and offered a lecture at Grace Lutheran Church in Tulsa on the Orthodox Faith.

On Saturday, November 6, His Beatitude, accompanied by Priest Ambrose Arrington, Rector of Holy Apostles and a group of faithful from the parish travelled to the oldest parish in the DOS, Sts Cyril and Methodius Church in Hartshorne, OK.  Sts Cyril and Methodius is also the oldest Orthodox Church in the Oklahoma. His Beatitude celebrated the Divine Liturgy there and afterwards spoke with the Hartshorne faithful about the possibility of a new women’s monastic community being established in Hartshorne.  The community embraced the vision with great enthusiasm.

On Saturday evening, His Beatitude traveled back to Bixby for Great Vespers and then on Sunday led the community in worship at the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy at which time Priest Ambrose Arrington was awarded the Gold Cross for his faithful service as rector of Holy Apostles.  Also at the Liturgy, His Beatitude performed two Reader tonsurings. Protodeacon Joseph Matusiak and Deacon Steven Kroll assisted His Beatitude at the Liturgy. A celebratory luncheon followed the Liturgy before His Beatitude departed back to New York on Sunday evening.

(Rock Hill, SC) With the blessing of His Beatitude, Metropolitan Jonah, Locum Tenens of the Diocese of the South, a new mission station is ready to officially launch its ministry in the southern suburbs of Charlotte, NC.  Under the guidance of Priest Paul Coats, the Rock Hill Orthodox Mission Outreach will celebrate its first Divine Liturgy on the Feast of the Entrance of the Theotokos in the Temple on November 21.

“We have been celebrating Vespers since the summer,” states Father Coats, “and we have been blessed with a small and committed group of faithful, already including one catechumen.” 

The Rock Hill Mission Outreach is part of a planned effort growing out of the Nativity of the Holy Virgin Mary Church in Charlotte. “We are most grateful for the active support of Priest Bill Mills and the faithful of Holy Virgin Mary in Charlotte," says Father Paul.

Archpriest Marcus Burch, dean of the Carolinas Deanery and OCA Mission Director is also helping in guiding the new mission outreach. According to Father Marcus, “Rock Hill is a natural place for a new mission to be planted.”

Now, with a suitable location to now hold the Divine Liturgy, the newest missionary outreach of the DOS is poised to bring the Orthodox Faith to Rock Hill!  May the Lord richly bless this new effort.

For more information on the Rock Hill Mission Outreach, click here.

(Dallas, TX)  His Beatitude, Metropolitan Jonah, Locum Tenens of the Diocese of the South has announced the location and date of the 2011 DOS Pastoral Conference. Holy Resurrection Church in Clinton, MS. will be the host parish with the Conference beginning on February 15 and ending on February 17.  His Beatitude also announced that Protodeacon Kirill Sokolov will be one of the Conference presenters leading liturgical practicums for deacons.

His Beatitude is strongly encouraging all diocesan deacons to make every effort to participate in the Pastoral Conference, especially those who are currently participating in the OCA Diaconal Vocation Program.

Additional Conference and hotel reservation information will be forthcoming, but for now, SAVE THE DATE and plan on participating. 

(Dallas, TX)  His Eminence, Archbishop Dmitri, Retired Hierarch of the Diocese of the South celebrated his 87th Birthday today at St. Seraphim Cathedral.  The Divine Liturgy was celebrated by Cathedral Dean, Archpriest Joseph Fester. Area clergy and faithful worshiped at the Liturgy and gathered for fellowship at the Cathedral hall after the services.  This Sunday, after Liturgy there will be a parish-wide celebration of His Eminence's birthday. If you would like to send His Eminence a birthday card, please do so by sending it to Archbishop Dmitri, c/o St Seraphim Cathedral PO Box 191109, Dallas, TX 75219.

(Baton Rouge, LA) Except for the intermittent hum of passing traffic, the Country Club Shadows mini-mall along Jefferson Highway is a quiet place on Sunday morning.

Then someone enters Suite E to attend Divine Liturgy at St. Matthew the Apostle Orthodox Church and lets the music out. (Read more hear)

(CRESTWOOD, NY) -- Saint Vladimir's Seminary here will host an open house for prospective students November 10-12, 2010.

The open house will provide those contemplating ministry or a deeper study of the Orthodox faith with first-hand experience of seminary life. Participants will attend classes, worship in the chapel, tour the campus and its resources, and meet faculty members and seminarians.

Detailed information on the seminary's various degree programs, financial aid, and admission process also will be provided.

A special feature of this year's open house will be the extraordinary opportunity for participants to venerate the relics of the seminary's patron saint, the Holy Great Prince Vladimir, on November 12th, with the seminary community prior to public veneration the following two days. In addition, prospective students will enjoy sharing the seminary's annual Pre-Thanksgiving Day meal.

There is no cost to participants, other than personal travel costs to and from the seminary campus. Prospective students may explore transportation options on the seminary web site at www.svots.edu. Participants needing help in navigating their way from the New York airports or Railway/Bus stations, however, may contact Protodeacon Joseph Matusiak, Director of Alumni and Recruitment, at the seminary's Recruitment Office: 914-961-8313, EXT 342, or by sending an e-mail to jmatusiak@svots.edu. He also will be pleased to offer additional information, a schedule of activities, and/or Open House registration forms.

Saint Vladimir's Seminary, a graduate school of theology, offers Master of Divinity, Master of Arts (Theological Studies), and Master of Theology degrees.

SVS VIDEO

(Dallas, TX)  His Beatitude, Metropolitan Jonah, Locum Tenens of the Diocese of the South made an Archpastoral Visit to St Seraphim Cathedral yesterday celebrating the Divine Liturgy and participating in a special Fellowship Hour to mark the occasion of his 51st birthday on October 20. A large crowd of worshippers filled the Cathedral including parishioners from St Sava’s in Allen, TX.

His Beatitude will use Monday for meetings with DOS Chancery staff to review administrative and pastoral issues in the diocese.  The Metropolitan will return to New York early Tuesday morning.  His Beatitude will return to Dallas for the Feast of the Nativity of our Lord in December.

(Dallas, TX) His Beatitude, Metropolitan Jonah, Locum Tenens of the Diocese of the South continues his leadership of the DOS with regular visits to her parishes and missions. His most recent trip to South Carolina had him visiting St. John of the Ladder Church in Greenville, SC and Holy Resurrection Mission in Augusta, GA. Photos of his visit can be found here.

His Beatitude will be back in the DOS starting next Saturday for a visit to St. Seraphim Cathedral. He will be in town for a few days to direct diocesan business. The Cathedral will celebrate his birthday (October 20) with a special Fellowship Hour Meal after the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy on Sunday, October 17.

St James Church in Port St. Lucie, FL is building a new Church. St James has a prime location in downtown Port St. Lucie, directly across the street from the City Hall. Financing has been arranged (quite a feat in these tight money days) and work is scheduled to soon begin. Archpriest Ernie Rios is the long-time pastor of St. James. We will keep you updated as work commences.

St Raphael of Brooklyn Church in Inverness, FL. is celebrating their 10th Anniversary this month. Congratulations to Priest David Balmer and Many Years to all the Faithful of St. Raphael’s.

Moving from one end of the DOS to the other, All Saints of North America Church in Albuquerque, NM has a new priest, Father Nikolay Miletkov. Fr. Nikolay was the Assistant Priest in Greenville SC. The move was necessary with the retirement of Archpriest George Sondergaard who will remain in Albuquerque as Pastor-Emeritus of All Saints. Priest Thaddeus Werner has been received into the DOS after graduating from SVS and will be the new Assistant Priest in Greenville working under Archpriest Marcus Burch, rector of St. John’s.  By the way, a new OCF Chapter (Orthodox Christian Fellowship) has started at Furman College in SC. Fr Marcus is the spiritual advisor and another is starting up at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque with Fr. Miletkov.

The Atlanta Deanery has a new dean, Archpriest Alexander Fecanin, rector of St. Symeon’s in Birmingham, AL. The deanery nominated him and His Beatitude confirmed his election.

Speaking of new Church properties, St. Jonah of Moscow Mission in Alpine, TX is buying a church building. The property will certainly help the Orthodox witness there continue to grow. And on the building theme, Holy Apostles Church in Bixby, OK. is building a new rectory on the church property. His Beatitude will visit Holy Apostles the first weekend in November. Priest Ambrose Arrington is the rector of Holy Apostles. St. Maximus the Confessor in Denton, TX is busting out another wall to make more room for the growing community. Priest Justin Frederick reports that he has 17 Catechumens and Inquirers at the moment. No wonder more room is needed!

Archpriest Stephen Freeman, dean of the Appalachian Deanery and Rector of St. Anne’s Church in Oak Ridge, TN. reports that new icons are being painted for the Church by Dimity Skolnik. Mr. Skolnik is painting icons at the Christ the Savior Cathedral in Miami and also Holy Ascension Church in Mt. Pleasant, SC.

Plans are starting to come together for the 2011 DOS Pastoral Conference being hosted by Holy Resurrection Church in Clinton, MS. Archpriest Paul Yerger is the Rector and he has gathered a local committee to help facilitate the event. News will be up and posted on the DOS website in the next few weeks. Stay tuned.

Milos Konjevich, DOS Treasurer and Administrator, reports that Tithes are running about 5% ahead of last year’s pace. At this rate the projection is that the DOS will receive over $600,000 in Tithes this year. The DOS does not collect the OCA Assessment from her parishes. The Assessment is on the DOS and thus the DOS pays that obligation out of the Tithes that come from the parishes. Milos will be hitting the road for the next 10 days visiting DOS parishes in Alabama, Georgia and South Carolina.

St. Seraphim Cathedral started is Church School program in October. 70 children are enrolled in the church school this year! In addition to church school, the Cathedral offers 4 weekly adult education classes. On Mondays the Continuing Inquirers Class, on Tuesday mornings after Liturgy a Basics of Orthodoxy class, on Wednesday an Introductory Inquirers Class and a Continuing Orthodox Education Class on different topics. The COEC just finished a Bible Study on the Gospel of John and will next study the Early Church Fathers. The Cathedral celebrates daily or Great Vespers on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, Liturgy on Tuesday morning as well as Vigil and Liturgy for the Lord’s Day cycle, and Feast day celebrations. Once-a-month Vespers and Liturgy are offered in Slavonic and Spanish. On Tuesday and Thursday the Cathedral offers Reader Vespers.

Archbishop Dmitri will turn 87 on November 2. Many people ask how he is doing and his answer is, “tell them I am fine, keeping busy writing my latest commentary on the Gospel of Mark and happy to not have to get on a plane anymore!” SVS is publishing His Eminence’s Commentary of the Epistle of James. It is due to hit the streets before Christmas! The Archbishop has also finished his commentary on the Gospel of John that now needs to be retyped into digital form since His Eminence still writes on his good old IBM Selectric!

Looking ahead, the Dallas will be the site for two national events in January when the Orthodox Christian Camping Association has its annual meeting and the OCA Missions Conference meets in Big D. St Seraphim Cathedral will be hosting both events.

Sorry for the long hiatus in posting DOS News and Notes. It was a busy end of the summer. But with the autumn season we hope to post on a much more frequent basis. Please feel free to share your news with us. Send your news to (jfester99@gmail.com)

(Augusta, GA) Holy Resurrection Mission, formerly in Aiken, SC has moved to its new location here last week. The new address for the Mission is 803 Shartom Drive, Augusta, GA. 30907. 

Liturgical services are held each Wednesday evening at 6:30pm, Saturday at 6:30pm and the Sunday Divine Liturgy at 9:30am.  Priest Robert Royer is the Priest-in-charge. 

The Mission's phone number is 803-649-5657.  For more information please visit the Holy Resurrection Mission website

(Morrisville, NC) Holy Transfiguration Orthodox Church will celebrate their Tenth Anniversary as a parish on Sunday, September 12, 2010 with the Divine Liturgy. The festivities will continue with an afternoon lunch at the Cambria Suites in Morrisville.

It was early in September, 2000, that a group of 20 orthodox faithful from the Triangle area asked Archbishop Dmitri for a blessing to start a new mission. With the support of their faithful members, the parish has become a strong family of the Orthodox faith.  The church has been in her present location since July 15, 2006 after outgrowing their previous location.

Priest Edward Rommen and the entire parish community looks forward to this important milestone. For information about the upcoming Tenth Anniversary, please visit the Holy Transfiguration website.

Holy Transfiguration Orthodox Church is located on 3491 Pleasant Grove Church Road in Morrisville.

(Dallas, TX) Without boasting (too much) His Eminence has said to not a few people that the prosfora made at St Seraphim Cathedral here is “the best he has ever seen and tasted.” Allowing for his love for the Cathedral prosfora bakers but also taking into consideration that His Eminence has encountered countless incarnations of prosforas in his 39 years as a bishop - when he says “this recipe is the best” it might be worth trying. So here it is,


Item Needed:
A bowl for dough
Plastic wrap
Boiling water
10 cups of pre-sifted Organic unbleached flour (it makes a difference which flour is used.)
4 tsp of dry yeast
Salt

Yeast solution:
Put 4 tsp of yeast into 1/2 cup of warm water.
Stir.
Add a pinch of salt.

Dough:
In a big bowl add 4 cups of flour.
Pour 4 cups of boiling water over the flour and stir until it cools down and becomes warm.
Add yeast solution.
Stir.
Add 5-6 cups of flour, one or two at a time while kneading the dough.
Put the dough on the table and continue kneading for at least 20 minutes.
Put the dough in the bowl, cover it with plastic wrap and let it rise for about 1 hour.
Roll the dough and form the prosfora.

Baking:
Bake prosfora at 350F for 20-30 minutes. (It’s OK if they get brown on top)
When baked, remove from oven and cover with paper towel, then with regular towel.
Let prosfora cool.
Bag and freeze or use fresh.

Depending on the size of the prosfora, the recipe makes two - three dozen medium size prosfora.

If you have any questions about the recipe or instructions, please feel free to call Subdeacon Michael Gladtskov at 469-733-5007