Archbishop Daniel Pilarczyk of Cincinnati and Metropolitan Maximos of Pittsburgh chaired the meeting.
At the first theological session, Father Paul McPartlan of The Catholic University of America offered an analysis of the October 2007 document of the international Orthodox-Catholic theological dialogue, “Ecclesiological and Canonical Consequences of the Sacramental Nature of the Church: Ecclesial Communion, Conciliarity and Authority.” Also known as “The Ravenna Document,” this text examines the canonical structures that serve the understanding of koinonia (community) in the Church at the local, regional and world-wide levels. Father McPartlan is himself a member of the international dialogue. A Catholic reaction to the document was then presented by Father John Galvin and an Orthodox reaction by Robert Haddad, Ph.D.
At the second session, Father Joseph Komonchak, from Catholic University, presented a select bibliography on synodality and commented on a number of the sources. Jesuit Father Brian Daley of the University of Notre Dame, presented an overview and commentary of the Cyprus Agreed Statement, the 2006 document of the Anglican-Orthodox theological dialogue, titled “The Church of the Triune God.” This was followed by brief presentations by Father David Petras and Father McPartlan on how the two churches might function were there reestablishment of full communion.
At the third session, Metropolitan Maximos presented the paper, “Will the Ecclesiology of Cardinal Ratzinger Influence the Pontificate of Pope Benedict XVI?” This was followed by discussion of the Consultation’s efforts exploring primacy and synodality so far. The discussion continued at the fourth session.
While at Holy Cross, the members also shared in the spiritual life of the seminary, attending Vespers on Monday evening and a celebration of the Divine Liturgy in the seminary chapel on Tuesday morning, presided over by Metropolitan Maximos.
Father John Erickson of Saint Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary, who had been an Orthodox member before he was named seminary dean in 2002, was welcomed back to the Consultation. He takes the place of Dr. John Barnet, also of Saint Vladimir’s Seminary. The next meeting is slated for October 23-25, in Montreal, Quebec. It will be sponsored by the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops, which has been an official participant in the North American Consultation since 1997.
In addition to the co-chairs, the Consultation include Orthodox representatives Father Thomas FitzGerald (Secretary), Father Nicholas Apostola, Susan Ashbrook Harvey, Ph.D., Father James Dutko, Paul Meyendorff, Ph.D., Father Alexander Golitzin, Robert Haddad, Ph.D., Father Paul Schneirla, Father Robert Stephanopoulos, Father John Erickson, Father Theodore Pulcini, and Father Mark Arey, General Secretary of SCOBA (staff).
The additional Catholic members are Jesuit Father Brian Daley (Secretary), Thomas Bird, Ph.D., Holy Cross Father Lucien Coutu, Father Peter Galadza, Chorbishop John D. Faris, Father John Galvin, Father Sidney Griffith, Father Joseph Komonchak, Father Paul McPartlan, Father David Petras, Sister Susan K. Wood, Vito Nicastro, Ph.D., and Paulist Father Ronald Roberson, who serves as staff.
The North American Orthodox-Catholic Theological Consultation is sponsored jointly by the Standing Conference of Canonical Orthodox Bishops in the Americas (SCOBA), the Bishops' Committee for Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), and the Canadian Conference of Cathol For the rest of this News Release, visit the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America website
Message of Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew on World Environment Day
June 4, 2008
World Environment Day, commemorated each year on June 5, is one of the principal vehicles through which the United Nations stimulates worldwide awareness of the environment and enhances political attention and action. His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew declares the following message in recognition of this day:
Today's celebration of World Environment day is a unique opportunity for all of humanity to contemplate the incomprehensible dimensions of the environmental crisis. This opportunity extends not only personally to each citizen of the world, but to the world community at large, the business community, and of course to religious and political leaders. The moment has come to remove our current way of thinking from its pedestal and to reconsider the means by which we interact with this unique world, which the Almighty God left to us with the command "Work and protect".
Henceforth, it cannot satisfy humanity to remove that which is necessary and profitable from the natural world. But humanity must maintain to its full potential the renewal of the natural ecosystem through the enrichment of our natural resources. Humanity unfortunately has transgressed the Divine command for the protection of creation. We experience the results of this neglectful and avaricious behavior today, as weak-willed spectators of the repercussions of catastrophic climactic changes. We observe the pollution of fresh and ocean waters, overfishing, the loss of biodiversity, the desertification of soil, the catastrophes occurring in forests from deadly fires, and many more expressions of this unprecedented environmental crisis.
Our Patriarchate, which symbolically celebrates September 1st, the beginning of the Ecclesiastical year, as the Day of Creation, today unites its voice with the environmentally sensitive and active people and institutions throughout this earth, regardless of religious or political beliefs.
Let us understand, beloved brothers, sisters, and children in the Lord, that each of us from our own position must make every effort to confront the environmental crisis. Let us leave behind whatever differences and problems may have separated peoples and nations throughout the course of history. Especially let the developed world acknowledge this catastrophe and let it give every available economic and educational assistance unsparingly and unselfishly to those nations which daily confront hunger and are torn apart by civil war. Let us remember that the pejoratively titled "Third World," that is to say, those countries which fall short of economic development, do not maintain just cultural riches, but also natural ones, which are critical for the salvation of our entire planet.
Schedule of Events for His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios for June 4 – 15, 2008June 4, 2008
MEDIA ADVISORY
For further information, please contact the number listed or 212-570-3556.
Wed. June 4
Tanenbaum Center for Interreligious Understanding
7:00 p.m.
15th Anniversary Awards Ceremony and Memorial Lecture
Lecture by the Hon. Madeleine Albright
United Nations, NYC
Thurs., June 5
Feast of the Ascension
9:00 a.m.
Archieratical Divine Liturgy
Church of Our Saviour, Rye, NY (tel. 914.967.2838)
Sat., June 7
Archdiocese 2008 Oratorical Festival Finals
9:45 a.m.
25th ANNIVERSARY
St. Nicholas Church, Lexington, Mass. (tel. 781.862.0315)
8:00 p.m.
Pops Goes Hellenic
A Fundraiser for St. Catherine’s Greek Orthodox Church
Boston Pops Orchestra Concert featuring Harris Alexiou.
Boston Symphony Hall, Boston, Mass.
Sun., June 8
Centennial – Greek Orthodox Community of Los Angeles
10:00 a.m.
Archieratical Divine Liturgy
St. Sophia Cathedral, Los Angeles
12:30 p.m.
Greek Festival Celebration
Tue., June 10
Archdiocese Headquarters, NYC
1:00 p.m.
Visit of Senator John McCain
3:30 p.m.
Visit of Dr. Christos Patsalidis, Minister of Health of Cyprus
Thurs., June 12
Archdiocese Headquarters, NYC
10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Standing Conference of Orthodox Bishops in America (SCOBA) Meeting
Sat.-Sun., June 14-15
Centennial Celebration of St. John the Baptist Church
Omaha, Nebraska (tel.: 402.345.7103)
Sat. June 14
4:00 p.m.
Great Vespers Service
7:30 p.m.
Centennial Ball, Double Tree Hotel Ballroom
Sun., June 15
10:00 a.m.
Archieratical Divine Liturgy
Contact: Stavros H. Papagermanos
Tel.: 212.570.3556
Come Receive the Light Schedule of Programs for June 2008June 2, 2008
June 6, 2008
Topic: Gambling
Guest: Fr. Luke Veronis
This week's episode of Come Receive the Light, THE NATIONAL ORTHODOX RADIO PROGRAM, deals with the topic of gambling. Fr. Luke Veronis, Holy Cross professor and author of Missionaries, Monks, and Martyrs: Making Disciples of All Nations discuss the topic of gambling.
June 13, 2008
Topic: Surprised by Christ
Guest: James Burnstein
Raised in Queens, New York by formerly Orthodox Jewish parents whose faith had been undermined by the Holocaust, Arnold Bernstein went on a quest for the God he instinctively felt was there. He was ready to accept God in whatever form He chose to reveal Himself—and that form turned out to be Christ.
Surprised by Christ combines an engrossing memoir of one man’s life in historic situations—from the Six-Day War to the Jesus Movement in Berkeley—with a deeply felt examination of the distinctives of Orthodox theology that make the Orthodox Church the true home not only for Christian Jews, but for all who seek to know God as fully as He may be known.
June 20, 2008
Topic: Speaking about Fatherhood
Guest: Fr. Rick Andrews
Want to understand the true meaning of Fatherhood? Tune in to this week's episode for an engaging discussion on how this question inform our understanding of ourselves and our current relationship with our children and God.
June 27, 2008
Topic: What happens when we die?
Guests: Dr. Bouteneff
There is a lot of mystery surrounding death. Tune in to this week's episode to hear from Dr. Bouteneff about what happens when we die.
Come Receive the Light, the only nationally syndicated Orthodox Christian radio broadcast, is a weekly program that features interviews with noted Orthodox Christian clergy, theologians, and lay leaders on theological, spiritual, pastoral, and modern social issues. Heard on the radio in more than 100 cities in the United States and the Bahamas, this unique weekly broadcast offers the ancient, Christ-centered message of Orthodox Christianity to the modern world. You can listen to past programs on demand and find many other online resources to deepen your faith at www.MyOCN.net.
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