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The Very Reverend Thomas Moore, Dean of the Carolina Deanery, visited St. George's Orthodox Church December 7-8, 2018. This was his first visit since St. George’s took possession of the former St. John the Evangelist Church as its new home. After a short Vesper service on Friday evening, which demonstrated the excellent acoustics inside the St. George nave, parishioners accompanied Fr. Moore and St. George’s resident priest, Rev. Dr. Benedict Churchill, to a dinner held at the Nothin Fancy Café in Edenton, North Carolina. The potential for the Carolina Deanery to hold its annual retreat in Edenton was discussed. Saturday morning, Fr. Moore visited St. George’s again, this time to get a better view of the Church in the daylight. Fathers Moore and Benedict, along with several parishioners then met at the Edenton Coffee House for coffee and pastries before Fr. Moore left to continue his visits to other churches in his jurisdiction. It was a pleasurable and memorable experience for all, and parishioners are waiting with eager anticipation to learn if the Carolina Deanery will hold its upcoming retreat in Edenton.   

The Nicene Creed Summarizes What Orthodox Christians Believe

 I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of Heaven and Earth and of all things visible and invisible. And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the only-begotten, begotten of the Father before all ages. Light of light; true God of true God; begotten, not made; of one essence with the Father, by Whom all things were made; Who for us men and for our salvation came down from Heaven, and was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary, and became man. And He was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate, and suffered, and was buried. And the third day He arose again, according to the Scriptures, and ascended into Heaven, and sits at the right hand of the Father; and He shall come again with glory to judge the living and the dead; Whose Kingdom shall have no end. And in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the Giver of Life, Who proceeds from the Father; Who with the Father and the Son together is worshipped and glorified; Who spoke by the prophets. In one Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church. I acknowledge one baptism for the remission of sins. I look for the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come. Amen.

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To answer this question, we turn to the late Very Rev. Protopresbyter, Thomas Hopko, former professor of dogmatic theology and dean of St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary, where he also earned his M.Div (1963) before obtaining his Ph.D. in Theology (1982) from Fordham University. A dedicated servant of the Lord, Hopko was engaged in numerous activities and had many affiliations, having served as the President of the Orthodox Theological Society in America (1992-95) and as a member of the Faith and Order Commission of the World Council of Churches and as a delegate for the Orthodox Church in America. He was a popular author, producing works like The Orthodox Faith: Doctrine (1972), All the Fulness of God (1982), Women and the Priesthood (1999), Christ in the Old Testament (2002), and Speaking the Truth in Love (2004). A natural lecturer, he produced numerous YouTube videos and many popular podcasts on Ancient Faith Radio. Therefore, it is the pleasure of St. George’s Orthodox Christian Church to share with you the Very Rev. Protopresbyter, Thomas Hopko’s lecture on the differences between Orthodox and Protestant Christianity.

What is the Orthodox Christian Church? The following series by author Frederica Mattewes-Green provides a robust description of Orthodoxy, offering viewers a glimpse into the lives and worship of Orthodox Christians in America and around the world. 

Thursday, January 31, 2019

The Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the United States of America affirms the sanctity of life based on the firm conviction that life begins at the moment of conception. The Assembly remains steadfast in its conviction that any interference in the development of life is a serious issue, and therefore it regularly participates in a variety of relevant events and also releases pertinent statements on the topic.

While recognizing that there are rare but serious medical instances where mother and child may require extraordinary actions, the Assembly of Bishops is deeply concerned that the taking of innocent life through abortion has become an acceptable cultural norm. This phenomenon – increasingly prevalent throughout contemporary societies – was exacerbated by a recent law of the New York State Senate (Bill S.240). The Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the United States of America categorically denounces these adverse developments that allow for abortion, under certain unjustifiable circumstances, even within the third trimester of existence.

The Assembly of Bishops further reminds the faithful that Christ is a beacon of hope in this challenging world. Accordingly, the Church is always prepared and willing to support women who are considering abortion to find alternative avenues to alleviate any burden, physical and spiritual. The Church is ever a mother – loving, understanding, nurturing, praying, and protecting all human life.

St. Moses the Black Society 

In September, a new poll from NBC News and The Wall Street Journal reported that 7-in-10 Americans viewed race relations in the United States as “poor.” The poll revealed that 28% of the public, including 24% of white and 40% of black Americans, stated that race relations are “very bad,” with another 42 percent of all respondents calling them "fairly bad.” Heartbreaking news. But at St. Vladimir’s a new student interest group is addressing the problem: the St. Moses the Black Society endeavors to foster meaningful conversation on race in the Orthodox Church today and to introduce the Orthodox Christian faith to black communities in America. The society, which began to take shape Spring Semester 2017, now officially takes its place alongside four other student-led interest groups, all under the umbrella of our Student Council.

The president of the newly organized society is Anthony Davis, a seminarian in the Orthodox Church in America, Diocese of the South, and the faculty advisor is Professor Peter C. Bouteneff. Comprising the society are 10 students, among them three African-American seminarians and three African seminarians.  Seminarian Davis revealed upcoming plans for the budding society.  “First of all,” he said, “I led our initial meeting focused around the scriptural verse, Matthew 28:18–20, in which Jesus directs his disciples to go forth to all other nations, baptizing them and teaching them. I reminded society members that we are supposed to reach out not only to people who look like ourselves; we’re supposed to reach out to everyone. “Second, we’re going to build our ministry on prayer, especially prayer to some of the African saints,” he noted. “We hope to schedule Akathist services to ask intercession of holy fathers and mothers like St. Moses the Black and St. Mary of Egypt. “Third,” he explained, “we hope to minister in facilities like Emmaus House of Harlem, rubbing shoulders with people from black communities, and introducing them to the Orthodox faith.”

 The society takes its inspiration from the Brotherhood of St. Moses the Black, a national pan-Orthodox organization that desires to make the Orthodox faith available to the African American community and to help the broader Church in realizing this goal. In fact, several members of the St. Moses Society participated in the Brotherhood’s 24^th Annual Conference held October 6–8, 2017, in Princeton, NJ, which was titled, “Growing Closer to Christ, Growing Closer Together,”. Seminary Board of Trustee member, Carla Ann Newbern Thomas, M.D., spearheaded and organized that national conference, and seminary president, Fr. Chad Hatfield, led the seminary community contingent. (Read related story, which includes photo of St. Vladimir’s attendees.)

 View videos of St. Moses the Black Society members Seminarian Sacristan Anthony Davis and Seminarian Deacon Simon Menya, as they explain how important the daily liturgical life in Three Hierarchs Chapel is to their spiritual formation.

Father Benedict's Suggested Readings and Videos 

From time to time our Chief Priest suggests articles or videos that educate us on our faith and help us in our spiritual growth. These are listed below. If you have read an article or watched a video from this section, and it is no longer listed, please check under About Orthodoxy as more dated items will be moved there.

Articles

A Patristic Checkmate on the Game of Thrones

A Priest's Thoughts on Depression, Anxiety, the Soul, Your Body and Your Brain - Fr. Stephen Freeman

Fasting for Non-Monastics  

St. Vladimir's Seminary Press, A Case Study in Mission-Driven Publishing

The End of Time Is Probably Not What You Think

 To Be Black and Orthodox: Part of My Story

The Wages

Why More African Americans Are Turning to the Orthodox Church 

Why Orthodox Men Love Church: Many men may not love church but Orthodox men do

7 from Seminary at St. Moses Brotherhood Conference

Videos

How Music Works: What Happens to your Brain when you Sing?

Metropolitan Kallistos Ware Salvation in Christ - The Orthodox Approach

 The Nativity Fast - Father Thomas Hopko