Lecture by Archpriest Alexis Vinogradov From the conference “The Shape of the Sacred: Eastern Christianity and Architectural Modernity,” held at Fordham University May 30 – June 1, 2023 From panel session 2, “The Sacred and the Avant-Garde,” moderated by Sergei Chapnin
Continue readingThe Russian Orthodox Church and Coronavirus
Rethinking the Question of “Relevance to the System”
by Regina Elsner | ελληνικά | ру́сский In some respects, the global coronavirus crisis has brought to light ruptures that in normal times were often dismissed as marginal problems of small groups. Unresolved and underestimated social injustices became obvious and were recognized as threatening more than just the existence of the respective groups. A similar…
Continue readingLiturgical Literacy
by Richard Barrett Recently, the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America’s Metropolis of Chicago announced the ten areas of strategic focus they had developed during a three-day retreat. His Eminence Nathanael, Metropolitan of Chicago, said that these areas represent “who we are and what we stand for as Orthodox Christians[.]” Number nine on the list was…
Continue readingEpiscopacy and Hierarchy
by Mark Arey For many years now, the word “hierarch” has become a catch-all when referring to bishops with differing titles (e.g. Archbishop, Metropolitan, Auxiliary Bishop). Many of us have had that moment of discomfort when we address a “hierarch” and get their salutation or title wrong! The reactions can range from neutral indifference to…
Continue reading“Taking Orthodoxy to America” – Thirty Years Later
by Fr. Marc Dunaway Thirty years ago this month, Metropolitan Philip of the Antiochian Archdiocese began the process of bringing into the Orthodox Church seventeen “Evangelical Orthodox” communities from across America. At that time, he declared Orthodoxy to be “America’s best kept secret,” and he urged us as new converts to do something about this. “Take…
Continue readingIs it Time to Relinquish Liturgical Greek?
Every religious tradition in the United States is seeing its membership decline. But according to the most recent Pew Study, few Christian traditions are seeing their members head for the doors as quickly as the Orthodox—only 53% of adults who were raised in the Orthodox Church still identify as Orthodox. Professional statisticians will note that…
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