SPOTLIGHT 1972- 1978

 The following is a digest of the newsletters from the beginning of Fr Jack's ministry in Dunedin, in so far as they have survived, including the early SPOTLIGHTs. We have included the original colour photos wherever possible, although these were not printed in colour until 2004. They provide some sort of record of the development of our Church in New Zealand from its beginning as a single Orthodox parish when Fr Jack was ordained in September 1972.



PARISH OF' ST. MICHAEL ANTIOCH ORTHODOX, DUNEDIN.
Church: 72 Fingall Street                                                                                                                                                                                              Presbytery: 21 Eglinton Rd.
Newsletter - September 1973

SERVICE IN CHRISTCHURCH


This has been arranged and Mr Walter Barbara is organising things. Mr & Mrs Brown have  kindly offered their home as a place for dinner afterwards - I am told there is plenty of room - all are welcome - please consult with Mrs Brown about what to bring.  We are most grateful to Mr Chobotow and the Russian Committee for the use of their Church.

Details:
 

AT ST. NICHOLAS'  RUSSIAN ORTHODOX  CHURCH , BROUGHAM STREET, CHRISTCHURCH:
                                                     Vespers 7 p.m.  Saturday October 27
                                                     Matins 8.30 a.m.
                                                DIVINE LITURGY 10 a.m.  SUNDAY OCTOBER 28

I hope most people will manage to get to both the Vespers and the Liturgy - the Matins is "for God" and for the really keen ones. I shall be available after the Vespers for confessions.
 

AFTER THE SERVICE ON SUNDAY:
Shared lunch at the Browns' - 28 Ontario Place.

Our Dunedin people will note that there is no service in Dunedin that day. But it is held every other week - Saturday Vespers  6.30 .m. & SUNDAY LITURGY 9.00 a.m.
 As a number of Dunedin people have relatives and friends in ChCh some may like to go up with me - there will be up to 7 free seats in the van.

 The visit of our Bishop Gibran should be fairly soon now - within the next two months - and as soon as I have dates and details I shall let everyone know.

 We are grateful to Miss L. Amunie for a recent gift of a gallon of oil for the Church.

 Our Telephone number again is 55 232. Please ring if you need me at any time
.frjack
Fr Jack

[?YEAR?]

ST MICHAEL'S CHURCH ANTIOCH ORTHODOX,
72 Fingall Street, Dunedin.
CHRISTMAS NEWSLETTER TO ALL OUR FAITHFUL PEOPLE IN NEW ZEALAND.




Greetings and blessings from Father Jack and family, to all our orthodox christians in the Dunedin parish, and to our friends of the Antioch Orthodox (and other friends) throughout New Zealand.Personal contact has now been made in Auckland also with many of our people,and we send our special good wishes to Father Elias and his people,and hope that many of our people will be paying him a visit at Christmas in his Church there.
I am going to be in Christchurch Jan 6 (evening) to Jan l2, and hope to see many of our people then. I hope we can somehow arrange to meet in Church also on the 12th. I hope too that our people will make the effort to go to the Orthodox Christmas service in Malvern Street Church of the Assumption. I have printed the special parts opposite so that with our booklet anyone can follow a service anywhere, in any language. So take this letter to Church with you, in Dunedin, in Christchurch, in Auckland.

.

A new book of easy musical responses in English has arrived, and all those in Dunedin who can sing even the least amount are asked to join us at Mr. & Mrs.Idour's,178 Bayview Road, on Thursday 19th at 7.30 p.m. to run over them on the piano so that we can have really congregational singing .Those who have asked most strongly for a completely ENGLISH service have the corresponding duty to help make this a reality. We know you are only an amateur at singing - so are we all!  So join in and let our shared weaknesses become strength.

SHARING OUR CHRISTMAS DINNER WITH  THE STARVING.....

    Our Lord told us plainly to hold parties not for those as well off as ourselves, but for the poor and needy; 'for they cannot repay you, and you will be repaid in heaven.'
I cannot see how our Christmas feast can be any spiritual blessing to us unless we obey our Lord in this matter. The National Council of Churches continues to make a Christmas appeal for the hungry and needy overseas, and in spite of some controversy about World Council aid I think this still remains one of the best ways to carry out our Lord's command to us who however much we bemoan inflation are still the world's rich  -  richer than the richest who heard our Lord preach in the flesh. You can send in the envelopes directly, or I will pass on donations sent through me.

-Fr.Jack.

CHRISTMAS LITURGY

Troparion. At end of Great Doxology. (p. 1).  Thy Nativity, O Christ our God, hath given.rise to the light of knowledge in the world; for they that worshipped the stars did learn therefrom to worship thee, O Sun of justice, and to know that from the east of the Highest thou didst come O Lord, glory to thee.

Second Antiphon. (p. 4).  O Son of God, who wast. born of the Virgin, save us who sing unto thee: Al1e1uia.

Third Antiphon.( p. 5). Troparion: Thy Nativity.. Entrance Hymn.(p. 5). From the womb before the morning star I begat thee. The Lord hath sworn, and he will not repent; thou art a
priest for ever according to the order of  Melchisedek .O Son of God ...(as above)

Troparion  Thy Nativity; troparion of the Church. Kontakion.Today the Virgin giveth birth to the Transcendent in essence; the earth offereth the cave to the unapproachable one; the  angels with the shepherds glorify him; and the Magi with the star travel on their way; for a new child hath been born for our sakes, God before the ages.

Instead of Holy God (p.5) Ye who have been  baptised into Christ, have put on Christ, Alleluia.

Epistle: Gal.4,4-7. Gospe1: Matth.2, 1-12.

Instead of: lt is truly meet (p.13): I behold  a strange and wonderful mystery:  the cave a heaven, the Virgin a cherubic throne, and the manger a noble place in which hath lain
Christ the uncontained God. Let us therefore praise and magnify him. Magnify, O my soul, the God born in flesh from the Virgin.

Communion Hymn. (p.15) The Lord hath sent a redemption to his people, Alleluia.

Instead of : We have seen the true light  (p .16), The Troparion:Thy Nativity (as above).


[1975]

CHRISTMAS NEWSLETTER OF ST.MICHAEL'S CHURCH ANTIOCH ORTHODOX, DUNEDIN
To our parishioners in Dunedin, our Antioch Orthodox people throughout New Zealand, and to our friends in all jurisdictions and in other Churches.

FATHER JACK'S TRAVELS DURING DECEMBER To Palmerston North and KIWITEA.

 An exciting prospect has opened up in Kiwitea, (just north of Feilding) where Mr. B .Mooney has a farm adjacent to a country Church. It is hoped that this might become a centre for Orthodoxy among New Zealanders, if a sufficient number of English-speak:ing Orthodox can collect to support those already living in the area. Some of these are :interested in becoming monks and founding a monastery there; and it is in order to meet them and to hold services with them, that I am going to join them for a week on December 5. We shall have Vespers in the Palmerston North Anglican Church on Friday even:ing, and we hope to worship in the Kiwitea Church over the following days, includmng a Sunday Liturgy for any interested Orthodox in the district. The interest that is shown on this visit will be a guide as to whether plans can be developed further around this centre. Anyone who is keen on this idea and might eventually like to be involved with it is asked to contact me, or Bernard Mooney, Waitui Farm, Kiwitea, Feilding. I ask all faithful Orthodox to pray for us during the week of Dec. 5-12.

On December 13-14 I shall be attending the 125th anniversary of the town and parish of Lyttelton, where I was Vicar 1965-71. Owing to the Lyttelton events which I am attending, the times for our own Orthodox services will be slightly different from usual:

IN ST NICHOLAS' RUSSIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH, BROUGHAM ST.
Saturday, Dec. 13: 6 p.m. Vespers.
SUNDAY, Dec. 14: 11.30 a.m. LITURGY

I hope a good number of our people can get to the services, as this is my first visit since May. We shall be pleased also to see any Orthodox in Christchurch who would like to attend an English service - also interested visitors. As I am alone this time, I should appreciate offers to read for me both on Saturday evening and Sunday morning. I shall be at my mother's (Tel. 584 139) from early Saturday morning.

CHRISTMAS IN DUNEDIN
I shall be back from Christchurch at least in time for the weekend of December 20-21, so Sunday services resume on that weekend after a break of 2 Sundays.

CHRISTMAS SERVICE - December 25

THE HOLY  LITURGY will be celebrated in the morning, at the usual time of 9.00a.m. I hope to see very many of our Dunedin people there at that time. In addition may I remind you of the possibility of attending the evening service (Vespers) on the NIGHT BEFORE this and every Sunday and festival. This takes place at 6.p.m, and is a  chance to prepare, and if needed, to make confession, and is also a chance to celebrate a festival if you are working and can't attend the Mass in the morning of a weekday.

  And finally, may I remind you that to prepare for Christmas we have the FAST (beginning Nov.15) which is less strict.than Lent, but should be observed if we are to be spiritually ready for the Feast.





".......the Disciples were called Christians
first in Antioch!
Acts 11:20
BISHOP GIBRAN                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  BOX M86
Patriarchal Exarch                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 SYDNEY MAIL EXCHANGE
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               AUSTRALIA

<>              Father Jack Witbrock                                                                                                                         ST. MICHAEL'S CHURCH              
<>
<>              21 Eglinton Road,                                                                                                                                   72 Fingall Street                                                                                                                       Tel.  Dn.  55 232
              Dunedin, NZ.                                                                                                                                           Dunedin<>

Vespers and Matins daily in St.Michael's at 6.30 p.m.& 7.30 a..m. Sunday Mass 9a.m.

NEWSLETTER FOR LENT AND EASTER, 1976.
Lent begins March 8;  Easter Sunday is April 25.

Change of Bishop.

Our Bishop Gibran has now left Australia for the Patriarchate. He will be replaced by Bishop Elias Najm. Meanwhile Bishop Gibran has committed his Diocese to the care of the Greek Archbishop Stylianos of Australia.and to the chairman, Mr.Nicholas Aboud, and board of our Diocese. I shall pass on news of the  new Bishop's arrival when I receive it. I must record my personal gratitude to His Grace Bishop Gibran for his kindncss to me, especially for his willingness to receive me as a priest into tho Orthodox Churoh. I also welcome our being entrusted to Bishop Sty1ianos, whom I met when I was a student in Bonn.

Lent and Easter.

On MEAT FARE  SUNDAY, the Gospel gives us the terriblc picture of the LAST JUDGMENT. In it are judgcd all men, whether christian or not. Those who havo not done good to their neighbours (which all man know is thcir duty) hear the dreadful words: "DEPART FROM ME, YE CURSED, INTO EVERLASTING FIRE, PREPARED FOR THE DEVIL AND HIS ANGELS" .For christians, of course, the judgement is the more severe, because they know better and have more obligations. So in the Epistle to tho Hebrews we read "OF HOW MUCH SORER PUNISHMENT, SUPPOSE YE, SHALL HE BE THOUGHT  WORTHY, WHO HATH TRODDEN UNDER FOOT THE SON OF GOD, AND HATH COUNTED THE BLOOD OF THE COVENANT, WHEREWITH HE WAS SANCTIFIED, AN UNHOLY THING, AND HATH DONE DESPITE UNTO THE SPIRIT OF GRACE?

  In moving around our country, and meeting and observing. those who have been 'born' Orthodox of various nations, I have been most concerned to observe THE MAJORITY OF THEM in most places doing precisely what the text condemns. There is now a regular Orthodox Liturgy in all the main centres, and no part of the country is very far from a centre of worship.Yet we find Orthodox people ignoring the Lord's sacrifice, and practising no public worship, or going by preference to HETERODOX services, which, WHEN ORTHODOX SERVICES ARE AVAILABLE, is just as bad. The teaching of the Orthodox Churoh, reinforcing the command of Christ in the Gospel, is expresscd clearly in the Canon of the Council of Nicaea which ordered that anyone who had  been absent trom tho Liturgy for 3 weeks in a row was to be excommunicated.You do not excommunicate people who are safely on the road to heaven. If this is not enforced today, the danger is as real, and I should be failing in my duty if I did not at least sometimes warn most seriously all those who stay away from Mass that they are in direct danger of hell fire. I guess that if the Canon of Nicaea were applied, only about four souls apart from my family would remain in the communion of the Church in Dunedin; and a similar proportion would apply in many places.Of course people are full of excuses: they dislike thc language or the service or the priest. I must tell you most seriously that you will like hell even less. On the other hand some feel sorry for the priest and come to encourage. This is kind, but the words of our Lord put it in the right perspective: "Weep not for me, but for yourselves and for your ohildren". We go to Mass because it is the one place to find the salvation Christ brought to us: and without it we die eternally. LENT is a good time to decide to be saved and begin to obey Christ.

THE FAST OF LENT

In many countries like ours, the Eastern fasting customs are difficult to observe. The  concessions suggested for presentation at the coming Great Council may be helpful, although they have not been authorized yet.



21 Eglinton Road, Tel. 55 232.
NEWSLETTER TO DUNEDIN PARISHIONERS AT ST. MICHAEL'S CHURCH ANTIOCH ORTHODOX
HOLY WEEK AND EASTER - APRIL 18-25, 1976.
Dear Orthodox Christians,
                                       It is only a few weeks since I wrote to our people in all New Zealand for the seaaon of Lent and appealed for repentance about the dangerous neglect of the worship of God. I was encouraged to see a small improvement in attendance here at St. Michael's. It would be a great joy to see that trend continue. Because of the need to work to support a growing family I am not able to call on you personally as often as I should like. Also, in some cases I feel it is a pretence for me to call as your priest if you give no sign (apart from being hospitable when I call, which of course I appreciate) that you belong to the Church. I hope therefore that you will accept this as a personal call to take part in the sa.ving mysteries of the Church on Sundays and Holy Days, especially in the most holy season which is coming.
    For the Easter Midnight Service we are most fortunate to have had an offer from a. group of young people (not of our Church, but just interested to sing for us) to form a choir, and sing in a mixture of languages, mostly English, to the beautiful Slavonic chants. I hope that evcn those who find tho time difficult will make the effort to be loyal to their Church, accept its tradition of holding the sorvice at this time, and join in this which is always a. most joyful service. Please note that as the Mass is held at night, there is at Easter NO SERV1CE ON THE SUNDAY MORNING, but only Vespers.

Hero is a chart of the Holy Week services:                             (transport is available)


PALM SUNDAY      April 18
9a.m.MASS                                           6.30p.m.Vespers              7.00  Bridegroom Matins
Holy Monday           April 19
9 a.m. Mass                                          6.30 Compline                 7.p.m. Bridegroom Matins
Holy Tuesday                April 20
9a.m. Mass                                           6.30 Compline                  7 p.m.  Bridegroom Matins
Holy Wednesday         April 21
9a.m Mass                                           6..30  Compline          6. 45   Holy Oil Service, Matins
MAUNDY THURSDAY      April 22
9 am MASS of the LORD'S SUPPER                     6.30pm .MATINS OF THE LORD'S PASSION (of the twelve Gospels)
GOOD FRIDAY             April 23
7.30am. Hours                                                                                                  6.30p.m.VESPERS & MATINS OF THE
                                                                                               BURIAL OF THE LORD
HOLY SATURDAY       April 24
9a.m.Mass                                                                                             11.30 p.m. MATINS AND MASS OF THE.
                                                                                                         RESURRECTIOl\f OF THE LORD
EASTER SUNDAY         April 25
                                                                  6.30p.m."Vespers ot Love"


THE MORE IMPORTANT DAYS AND SERVICES ARE IN CAPITAL LETTERS.

Let us unite ourselves to our Lord in his Passion and share with him in the dawn of the coming age in his Resurrection.



S.P.O. T. - LIGHT
  a     e       r        r
   i      t       t        u                                               This is the first number of an enlarged newsletter,
   n     e       h        t                                               to present the news of our Antiochian Orthodox
    t      r       o        h                                             Church in New Zealand and throughout the world,
                    d                                                       and  Orthodoxy in general. Much of the material
                     o                     Service                     in this issue is due to similar publications - the
                      x                                                     Australian Greek 'Enquiry', the St.George Orthodox
                                                                                                                    Information Service, whose editor urged me to this
                                                                                             enlarged Journal, and the periodicals of the 'Eglise
                                                                                              Catholique Orthodoxe de France' which have now
                                                                                              arrived, and which I shall continue to pass on as I
read them to those who are keen on our  missionary work along the same lines. This issue contains two things of' great
importance: a factual account of the situation in the Lebanon about which it is so difficult to be well-informed, and which
concerns so many of our people so deeply; and, most amazingly to me, the words of the late ECUMENICAL PATRIARCH
when he welcomed Fr. Kovalevsky, leader of the French Western Rite, and later their Bishop.

SPOTLIGHT was chosen as our name partly because the editor noticed belatedly that St. Peter Orthodox Truth Service has the initials 'S.P.O.T.S.' - and partly in the hope that we can indeed shed a clear light on the affairs of the Church and of society.

At present, when members of the Anglican Communion throughout the world are disturbed by progressive abandonment of revealed truth, and look to Orthodoxy as a possible home, we should be irresponsible not to warn our own Orthodox people that the old confidence with which they could attend Anglican Churches for lack of their own, HAS NO LONGER ANY BASIS. We feel very close of course to some Anglicans who are standing manfully for holy tradition; but now that there are Orthodox clergy in all the main centres, it ought to be possible for our people to receive the sacraments from their own Church; and it would really be safest if they tried to redirect their religious practice entirely, EITHER to the Orthodox parish in their centre (Greek or other) OR to such provision as we can arrange both for them and for those who are approaching Orthodoxy. We are sure that this is what the Anglican clergy who are caring for our Orthodox people would want too.

THE ORTHODOX CHURCH AND CONFLICT IN THE LEBANON
BY GABRIEL HABIB.
Gabriel Habib is. General Secretary of the World Fellowship of Orthodox Youth Organisation (SYNDESMOS.)
which has its headquartors in Beirut.
The Facts
Due to the continuous fighting, approximately 100,000 members of the Orthodox Church in Lebanon (Patriarchate of Antioch) are now homeless refugees in different parts of Lebanon and Syria.Their places of residence were destroyed,  burned or completely looted. In the north of Lebanon about 22 villages in the region of Akkar and Koura were seriously affected. The total population can be estimated at 79,000 and the number of displaced persons at 49,000. Last July the war affected the region of Koura quitc severely and left destruction and a good number of homeless families. Approximately 12,000 to 14,000 pcople are homeless.Most of them have had their homes completely looted, some burned or partly destroyed, they have fled Tripoli to Syria and to other parts of Lebanon. 73% of the population of Al Koura is Orthodox.

 Three of the most famous monasteries of the Orthodox Church of Antioch exist in the region of Al Koura, including the monastery of the Theotokos at
Balamand which has been since the 13th century a centre of spiritual inspiration for the christians of Syria and Lebanon. The same monastery since 1971 contains tho first and only School of Theology of the Patriarchate of Antioch, as well as a very important secondary school serving Tripoli, Koura and their dependencies. Not less than ten church buildings have been damaged, burnecd, or looted. Among them is the famous Beirut Cathedral of St .George. Some of the monasteries were damaged by  guns and rockets. The 13th century convent of Mar Yacoub near Tripoli, where one community of sisters had to abandon it to intruders, was looted of everything including thc icons.

The church-sponsored hospitals and clinics serving thousands of Christians and Muslims are now found without tho minimum necessary medication and equipment for either emergency situations or general treatment. Damages have also occurred in the agricultural projects and yo other property which has always been a major source of financial support to  the life and activity of certain dioceses. In the centre  of Beirut, the hottcst battle-field in Lebanon, the destruction of property is complete.

Non-Violence.

The Orthodox Church in Lebanon does not have an armed 'militia'. The term 'Christian' forces used in the media refers to the Phalangist and the PNL parties which have a Maronite Christian majority.The term 'Christian coalition' refers to the Maronite Political summit that includes the President of the Republic, the heads of the two above-mentioned parties, the head of the Orders of Maronite monks. In an interview given to the press His Beatitude Elias IV said: 'The Orthodox are not at all implicated in confessional fighting and they will not become implicated, no  matter what means are used to compromise them at that point. This is because the non-violent attitude of the Orthodox community has made it become the object of attacks from the extremist forces of the opposing groups. The sad events at Akar and Koura as described earlier are typical examples of this reality.

Reconciliation.

The spirit of rcconciliation with justice that motivate the Orthodox involvement in the Lebanon conflict is expressed by the following extract from an interview given to the press on 14 November 1975 by His Bcatitude Elias IV:
"Our sensitivity to the national problems is not circumstantial but derives from our very being. In other connections we have already declared unambiguously that we are against priviledges related to membership in a given confession or class. That position also derives from the very nature of the Orthodox Church. It is founded in Christ  who has taught us equality among men, passion for freedom, the priority of love for those who are deprived, thc hungry and the suffering....  The Church is either a Church of love, fraternity and understanding, or it is not. Her first duty is to publicly oppose the confessional fighting, and hatred. Wc are in solidarity with all men and live in the same land and especially with every Arab who suffers, whether he be Christian or Muslim.... The Orthodox is a man of dialogue; dialogue is our characteristic, no matter where or in what circumstances it is practiced. I am firmly convinced that the temptation to partition is altogether against Christian interests, and that there is no worsc trap to weaken their presence in the region."

NEED FOR INTERNATIONAL ORTHODOX SOLIDARITY

The Catholic, Maronite and Muslim communities are getting moral and material support respectively from the Vatican and some Arab governments.
The WCC and MEJC arc doing their best in supporting their constituency in the country. However, in order to fulfil her pastoral, and social responsibility, the Orthodox Church in Lebanon finds herself in need for the moral and material support of the Autocephalous and Autonomous Orthodox Churches in the world. This support will undoubtedly express the spirit of participation that characterises the nature of Orthodox unity.

THE ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN VICTIMS OF THE LEBANON CONFLICT NEED BOTH PRAYER AND MATERIAL SUPPORT.
DONATIONS SHOULD BE SENT TO:

Syndesmos.
P.O.Box 4047
Nicosia, Cyprus.


SAUDI ARABIA. - An Orthodox Diocese was established recently in Saudi Arabia, depending spiritually on the Patriarchate of Antioch.This is considered to be the first Orthodox Diocese in that country after some 1300 years.
3



The Interparochiall Bulletin of the 'Catholic Orthodox Church of France' (pioneer of Western Rite Orthodoxy ) lists news of seven parishes, the opening of another centre, and gives an impression of vigorous life: a cathedral choir of over 50, several Church guilds, 2 priests and 3 deacons and several minor orders ordained in 3 months alone, etc .It is canonically dependant on the Patriarchate of! Rumania, and uses a Gallican f Mass and the Byzantine Liturgy.

The following address was given by His All-Holiness, Patriarch Athenagoras of Constantinople, to a deputation from this Church to the University of Halki:
"Well! Behold a great event!
It is a marvellous thing for us to learn of the revival of Orthodoxy in the West. But I am not surprised that this movement comes from France, this France which has already given us so many beautiful and sweet things. It is an historic moment for all christendom, and it would be a great fault on our part if we didn' t understand that we must work at its realisation. We know that there is in the West great thirst again for the true christian tradition.We know also that the climate of' the Church of Rome, by its authoritarianism so heavy to bear, cannot make :possible a true birth in the heart of tradition. May you be the bridge which shall be projected between the Orthodox Church, repositary of the true light,and the Roman Church which we .love."
And to Fr. Kovalevsky:
'It is an honour for us to come to your aid, you who have devoted all your life to this historic work of French Orthodoxy. France has brought us by its revolution liberty, justice, and fraternity. Perhaps France will bring a new revolution for christianity, thanks to your work."  (26 October, 1954. ) .



U.S.A. -Two Antiochian Orthodox groups in North America, The Arch:liocese of New York headed by Metropolitan Philip Saliba and the Archdiocese of Toledo headed by Archbishop Michael.Shaheen.have decided reoently, after thirty years of division, to unite into one body .The name of the united Church will be the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America,with a constituency for some 130,000 members.


New Zealand. -We rejoice that Bishop Nicolas of the Serbian Church has taken under his care the farm at Kiwitea to become a monastery with Bernard Mooney and Ken Morgan as the first monks. On a recent visit the signs of the new status were to be seen: a beautiful chapel in the front room, local Serbs at services, plans afoot for training at Mt.. Athos. We pray for God's blessing for this great step towards New Zealand Orthodoxy.

THIS ISSUE IS SENT TO ALL WHO  WE THINK HAVE SOME CONNEXION WITH US
Let us know if we were wrong.  21 Eglinton Rd, Dunedin.
4



1976


LOCAL NEWS
During the August holidays, Father Jack will make a visit to Christchurch.
SERVICES:
RUSSIAN CHURCH OF ST.NICHOLAS,
Brougham St., Sydenham.
6.30 p.m.Saturday,August 27:Vespers.
10 a.m. Sunday, August 28, LITURGY.

We thank once again the Russian community in Christchurch for their kind hospitality and the loyal way they come to services we hold. We hope all members of the Antioch Orthodox Church will make a real effort to be there.

There will thus be no service in Dunedin over that weekend, but every Sunday (apart from this) LITURGY is held, NOW AT TEN a.m.


St. Michael's, 72 Fingall St., S. Dunedin


N.B. Now 10 a.m. Sunday Liturgy in St.Michael's, DUNEDIN


This decision was made after discussion among those actually coming to the service at 9 a.m. It has eased the difficulty for some of us in getting organised so early,but still leaves time to get dinner early. The time was always rather early for winter, but recently daylight saving has made it really 8 a.m. in summer.We hope the change will encourage some who said they found the previous time too early.



THE AVAILABILITY of a more versatile copying machine has enabled us to expand into a new format. In order to fill it, we are dependent on those who send us articles of Orthodox news, often from other publications. Such contributions, and original articles and letters, will be most welcome.


 While Father Jack is in Christchurch, the Monastery of the Assumption in Kiwitea, Feilding will be celebrating the (old calendar) Feast of the Assumption by dedicating the foundation of a new Church in the grounds of the farmhouse. Our Antiochian Church will be represented by Mr.Alastair Price of Auckland and his family. Next year the two novices hope to be training at Mt. Athos.This step of faith by the Serbian Church must rejoice all Orthodox in New Zealand, and we hope that many will pray for it, and that some will go and join it., (see p.4 for picture of present house-chapel in the living-room of the farmhouse).
1



FROM "PRESENCE ORTHODOXE": THE PROBLEM OF "WESTERN ORTHODOXY"

 (we apologize to any of our readers to whom the current emphasis on this subject seems tiresome. We must explain that the essentially simple, innocent christian object of persuading the western christians to return to Orthodoxy and restore their own christian heritage seems to arouse all sorts of suspicion, and that those who respond to the "western rite" psoposal, not being "pushy" people, are inclined to think of giving away their cultural heritage in order to silence these repeated criticisms. Those who read French are strongly recommended to read this issue of "Présence Orthodoxe" in full; but we translate some important parts:)

From a statement of the late Jean de Saint-Denis: (1958 before he became Bishop):

"The Orthodox Church of France of which I have the honour and the heavy responsibility of being the President, presents only one part of the canonical problem of the western orthodox Church in general. On the true or false solution which is given to it, depends in part the future of the western orthodox Church.

...2.Let us not confuse the orthodox Church in the West with the Western Orthodox Church. The first, born of the political and ecoinomical "diaspora" (dispersion) is a phenomenon of our age, as new as ecumenism. We believe firmly that Providence has willed the "diaspora"  in order to spread among the western peoples the luminous message of Orthodoxy. We pay
homage  to those who, in the midst of the dispersion, have understood and responded to this call from above. However, to prea.ch Orthodoxy is one thing, and to confuse the Church of the "diaspora" with the western orthodox Church is another. The Orthodox Church in the west, called to assist the western orthodox Church, .can neither replace it, nor absorb it. The churches of the "diaspora"' are not abstract; willy-nilly, their nature is twofold:: orthodox on the one hand, Russian, Greek, Serbian etc.on the other. Likewise their task is double: to live Orthodoxy AND to  maintain their national inheritance.

  Certain young émigrés have pronounced in favour of a Church of the: "diaspora" detached from all frontiers and earthly limitations. This disincarnate Church, ignoring history, "cosmopolitanist" and "Monophysitist" is the product ef the imagination of a young group without roots. In truth, the Church is not only spirit, she has a body. She is not only spiritual life, she is an organization involved in the destiny of nations, in consequence of the Word who involved himself freely in human history to save the whole man.

The Orthodox Church in the West is a vast problem, but it is not the Western Orthodox Church.

3.The initiative of celebrating the Eastern Liturgy translated into western languages - French, German, English... . so that "youth which by the neglect of parents have forgotten their mother tongue, may not lose touch with their original Church" (official document of the Russian Emigré Church) is a laudable initiative but in no way touches the question of the Western Orthodox Church That language is the spirit of a nation, that the Lturgy celebrated in the language of the people sanctifies and transfigures it, this is true, but only if this language expresses the marriiage of eternal ideas with the genius of the nation.....

4.Finally, the conversion of individuals or small groups in the West to EASTERN Orthodoxy does not amount to Western Orthodoxy either. WESTERN ORTHODOXY IS THE REBIRTH, the restoration of the Orthodox Churches of the West. It confesses and proclaims the dogmas which  the Churches of the East confess, those of Constaninople, Alexandria, 'Antioch, Jerusalem, Moscow, Rumania, etc. It recognizes unambiguously that these Churches have remained faithful in their belief and in their tradition to the undivided Church. It is peniitent  for its historical sins and errors, but it asserts :its apostolic past and the preservation of its spiritual, canonical and liturgical heritage.

It: is in the light of Orthodoxy that the Westerners want to solve THEIR pproblems, heal THEIR anguish, build THEIR Church and through it bring salvation to THEIR nation. They are not satisfied to be western on the secular plane, they want to be also on the ecclesiastical plane.



WEST GERMANY. - According to information received recently, the Orthodox Church in Germany has in its various ethnic jurisdictions nine Bishops, ninety one priests and ten deacons.


BELGIUM. - According to information given by the Orthodox Brotherhood in Belgium, there are in that country some 26 Orthodox Churches. As for use of liturgical language, twelve of them use Greek, five Slavonic, and the rest use Dutch and French.


CZECHOSLOVAKIA. - According to recent statistics, the Orthodox Christian Church in Czechoslovakia consists of four Dioceses, 134 priests abd 180,000 Orthodox faithful, with one Theological faculty functioning.


U.S.A. - A recording and tape of a new Hierarchical Divine Liturgy has recently been made available by the Liturgical Choir of Cleveland's St. George Antiochian Orthodox Church. The music, mostly in English, is based on Byzantine melodies in the hymns and responses. This recording offers an opportunity to hear good Byzantine music in English and is available from the Choir at 6473 Gale Drive, Seven Hills, Ohio, U.S.A., 44131.


U.S.A. - The Department of sacred Music of the Antiochian Archdiocese of Amerca announced thecompletion of the first phase of its 'Byzantine Project' with the publication of the Vesper Service, in which Byzantine melodies are used in Western notaton.The work is available from theDepartment ef Publications, 358 Mountain Road, Englewood, New Jersey, USA 07631. Phase two of  this project is in the final: stages of producton.
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DETROIT
The Anglican church of the Incarnation, 200-member, 100-year-old parish in Detroit, and its pastor, the Revd Joseph Angwin, have been received into the Antiochian Orthooox Christian Archdioccse of North America. Thc parish has become part of the Archdiocese's small Western Rite Community. In English and with small changcs to reflect Eastcrn Orthodox doctrine, the rite's liturgy is othwise very similar to that used by Roman Catholicism before the second Vatican Council.

The parish lcft the Episcopal Church in large measure because it was displeased with the prospect of liturgical changcs and the ordination of women.

At a Sunday Divine Liturgy at Saint Mary's Orthodox Church in the New York Borough of Brooklyn, Metropolitan Philip Saliba of thc Antiochian Archdiocese placed his hand on Fr Joseph's head  and spoke the words of the Orthodox ordination ritc, the new priest having been made deacon the day before.



U.S.A. His Beatitude Elias IV, Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, is to make an Archpastoral visitaton to the United Stateds and Canadaduring the summer of 1977. This will be the first time tha t a Patriarch of Antioch will make a visitation to the North American Continent. Since his enthronement His Beatitude has made visits to the sister Orthodox Churches of Greece, Romania., Bulgaria, Cyprus and Russia.


3




Litiya held during ASCENSION DAY Vigil service by Fr.Jack in Kiwitea monastery house-chapel during May holidays.
The chapel was built by the novices and kept secret as a most pleasant surprise for the visit by Fr Jack and Mother Julia.
Services are now held regularly by Fr.I1iya of  Wellington with support by local Serbs and others interested.


Mt.Athos.-The number of monks on Mt.Athos has considerably increased in the past few years.The movement of spiritual renewal has spread from Stavronikita, Philotheou and Simonopetra, to Grigoriou, Kostamonitou and Koutloumousiou, with the presence of a number of monastic personalities, able to give spiritual leadership.

FIRST PRE-CONCILIAR CONFERENCE OF THE ORTHODOX CHURCH
This was held at the Patrtarchal centre of Chambesy in Switzerland from November 21-30 last. Only the Primates of the Local Churches were called to this conference. All the other non-autocephalous or non-autonomous Churches - called Churches of the Diaspora - of Europe, America, Africa, Australia, were represented by the Primates of their respective "Mother-Churches". The date of the Council itself is not yet known, and another long preparatory conference is expected before it.

Preparation for dialogue of the Roman Church with the Orthodox Church.
The Roman Catholic preparatory commission for the theological dialogue with the Orthodox Church met for the first time in Rome, October 3-8, 1976. This commission, created on the initiative of Pope Paul VI, is to work in parallel with the Pan-Orthodox theologica1 commission to prepare for the dialogue with Rome created on the initiative of the Ecumenical Patriarch.


Orthodox and Anglicans - agreement on the 'filioque'.
His Holiness Poimen, Patriarch of Moscow opened in the summer of 1976 the second general assembly of the mixed commission for dialogue between Ortrlodox and Anglicans. The President of this assembly was Archbishop Stylianos of Australia (Ecumenical Patriarchate) replacing Archbishop Athenagoras of Thyateira, absent for reasons of health, and the Anglican President was Bishop Robert Runcie. According to the communiqué published by this assembly,the Anglicans affirmed that "the addition of 'and the Son' (filioque) does not belong to the Nicene Creed".

Ordination of women to the Priesthood.

After the decision taken by the Anglican / Episcopalian Churches of' the U.S.A. to confer the priesthood on women, lively protests were raised in the Orthodox world.In spite of the excellent ecumenical relationships between the Anglican Church and the Orthodox Church, this factual situation introduces a great divergence hindering a possible eucharistie communion.
(the above 4 items translated from "Présence Orthodoxe")


THIS PUBLICATION IS SENT FREE TO ALL THOSE WHO WE THINK TO BE INTERESTED, OR TO BE THE PASTORAL RESPONSIBILITY OF OUR PARISH, AS A CHARGE ON THE S.P.O.T.S. FUNDS. DONATIONS TO THE TRUTH SERVICE ARE MOST WELCOME.
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".......the Disciples were called Christians
first in Antioch!
Acts 11:20
BISHOP GIBRAN                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   BOX M86
Patriarchal Exarch                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 SYDNEY MAIL EXCHANGE
                                                                                                                                                                                                                           AUSTRALIA

Father Jack Witbrock                                                                                                                             ST. MICHAEL'S CHURCH
21 Eglinton Road,                                                                                                                                      72 Fingall Street                                                                                               Tel.  Dn.  55 232
Dunedin, NZ.


HOLY WEEK AND EASTER NEWSLETTER

Here are the times of our Holy Week Services which I hope our faithfu1 Orthodox people will attend as much as they are able. The most important services are in CAPITAL LETTERS.

April 2: (Lazarus Saturday) 9.30a.m. GREEK Liturgy conducted by His Grace Bishop Dionysius and Fr. Constantine.

April 3: (PALM SUNDAY) 9.OOa.m. LITURGY   6.30 p.m. Vespers & Matins.

April 4: Holy Monday) 7.30a.m.Presanctified Liturgy 6.30p.m.Compline &;\;atins

April 5: (Holy Tuesday) 7.30a.m.Presanctified Liturgy 6.30p.;n.Compline & Matins

April 6: (Holy Wednesday) 7. 30a. m. Presanctified Liturgy   6.30 p.m. Compline

April 7: (GREAT HOLY THURSDAY) 9. OOa. m. LITURGY 6. 30 p. m. MATINS OF THE 12 GOSPELS OF OUR LORD'S PASSION

April 8: (GREAT HOLY FRIDAY) 9.00a.m. Hours 6. 30 p.m. VESPERS & MATINS OF THE BURIAL OF OUR LORD

April 9: (GREAT HOLY SATURDAY) 9a.m. LITURGY  11. 30 p.m. MATINS AND LITURGY OF THE RESURRECTION
(with Holy Communion)

April 10: (Sunday of the Resurrection):  6.30p.m. Vespers of Easter (NO morning Liturgy)

   It is an honour that the usual Greek service will be held this year with the Greek Bishop visiting us. I hope he will be given a worthy welcome by all who can come.


     A few weeks ago I succeeded in telephoning Bishop Gibran in Melbourne during a short visit. He is remaining our Bishop, although he  must be at the Patriarchate for some time yet. I was glad to be able to discuss with him two matters which needed his guidance: the growth of interest in the monastic life in New Zealand among converts to Orthodoxy and the desire of some converts and potential converts to worship as Orthodox believers in the Western Rite which is the original Orthodox culture of the English and other Western European nations. I was particularly glad to have his full support of the modest beginnings that are being made by a group in Auckland and that may soon be made in other centres. In view of the rather emotional reactions to Western Rite Orthodoxy in some quarters, Orthodox and other, I hope our people will echo the enlightened stance taken by our Patriarchate in allowing Western christians to unite with the Church on the basis of the Orthodox Faith without having to make themselves cultural orphans. This option may be of help to some of those who are deeply disturbed about trends in Western Churches and who long for a Church that is familiar yet thoroughly sound. On the matter of monasticism, some possibilities present themselves and they are being discussed by those most concerned. I commend these two matters to the prayers of you all.

 As in other years, a special choir has been practising for the Easter Midnight Service, and I hope their efforts will reccive  appreciation in the form of a good attendance.

Fr Jack.


[1977]

21 Eglinton Road, Dunedin. New Zealand                                                                                                                         Tel.Dn 55 232

                                      SAINT
                                           PETER
                                                    ORTHODOX
                                                             TRUTH    SERVICE OF ST. MICHAEL'S PARISH ANTIOCH ORTHODOX, NEW ZEALAND.




SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 1977: 10.00 a.m. LITURGY today NOT IN DUNEDIN,            Interior of Melbourne Church. Bp Gibran & Fr Jack at memorial service.
but in St Nicholas'  Russian Orthodox Church, Brougham Street, CHRISTCHURCH


SPECIAL ISSUE: INTRODUCING THE ORTHODOX CHURCH


We dedicate this issue to introducing Orthodoxy to those whe attend the FELLOWSHIF OF ST.ALBAN AND ST.SERGIUS Conference in Christchurch on November 19-20, 1977, to those who live around St.Michael's Church and may often have wondered what this Church is all about, and to any who may come in contact with Orthodox christians and be interested te know more about their faith.

WHAT IS THE ORTHODOX CHURCH IN TODAY'S WORLD?

     In terms of numbers,Orthodox are the second largest group of christians, next to the Roman Catholics, who number about half of all christians. The 1960 figures gave about 500, 000, 000 Catholics, about 151, 000, 000 Orthodox, and about 200, 000, 000 Protestants and Anglicans (40 m. Anglicans). Thus, although the New Zealand membership of' Orthodoxy is only a few thousand, on the world scale Orthodox are about as many as all protestants of all denominations put together.

  Geographically, the national churches of Greece, Russia, Rumania, Serbia ( Yugoslavia), Bulgaria, would make up most of the membership. The ancient Patriarchates of Constantinople, Alexandria, Antioch, and Jerusalem have an importance out of all proportion to their numbers, because of their history, and except for Jerusalem, because they govern Churches spread throughout the world.

   In New Zealand, the canonical Orthodox Churches at present:
   -The Ecumenical Patriarchate, with Bishop Dionysius in Wellington, with responsibility mainly for Greek-speaking Orthodox.
   -The Russian Church Abroad, whose priest, Fr. Alexei, lives now in semi-retirement in Waikanae, near Wellington, has Churches in Auckland, Wellington   and Christchurch (as do the Greeks).
   - The Serbian Patriarchate has a priest (Fr. Iliya) and Church in Wellington, and a monastery in Kiwitea (see photos on page 4).
   - The Patriarchate of Rumania has Fr.George Speranza in Wellington, using at present the Kent Tce Presbyterian Church for services.
   - The Patriarchate of Antioch has Fr Jack in Dunedin at St. Michael's Church, and a small community in Auckland which hopes to become a parish    before long.
<> 
<>WHAT IS ORTHODOXY?  IS IT AN ETHNIC CULT?

      One might be pardoned for thinking that all that distinguishes the Orthodox is a collection of charming folk-customs  about which western visitors conceive a patronising enthusiasm. It is salutary to  realise how quaint the customs of the English, Americans or New Zea1anders seem when they are displayed overseas, but Orthodoxy under this camouflage of distraction is a serious a faith as other - even if it does turn out to have a unique spiritual character which strikes the serous student.

ORTHODOXY IS THE ORIGINAL CHRISTIANITY.

    Most Orthodox might be able to give you such an answer, and that is what we say on the door of St. Michael's. But that does not explain why being the original is of any importance. Many christians today believe that christianity is improving and reforming itself all the time. It is in this more than anything else that Orthodox christians stand almost alone in the modern world. Orthodox believe that Jesus Christ was, and is, God the Word, come to earth to bring his heavenly kingdom to earth as His Church, which is to last until he comes to make the whole world new. So we treat his words as the words of God, and true,  we take, his promises as the promises of God, and true, and in particular, his words and promises when he said he was founding a Church which the powers of hell could not dereat, and which the Holy Spirit would guide in all truth. For a thousand years these promises were illustrated strikingly in the spread over the known world of ONE Church, united in one Communion, agreeing in one faith, regulating its life by one universal body of canons, and deciding its vexed questions by Ecumenical Councils in which one decision  was found for all. Orthodoxy is simply that same Church continuing on, as first Rome, then Luther, Calvin, and countless others, moved away into new teachings in which they found 'progress' or reform'. Orthodoxy means to decide that Jesus Christ does not need our progress or refom or improvement, but simply our faith. It means to assent to what Jesus has taught, in His Church, in the beginning and unchangeably down the ages. It means to immerse oneself in Him by immersing oneself in the saving life of the Church.

THE HOLY MYSTERIES

The inside of an Eastern Orthodox Church is usually a surprise to a visitor. It is obviously  not a mere meeting-house, nor is it a thatre fo a clerical performance. To begin with, the holy place is screened off so that, unless the curtains are opened, none of what happens can even be seen.To ask what is  the yalue of an action in Church that cannot be seen, is the BEGINNING of a train of thought that may well lead to a deep understanding of Orthodox Christianity. For the Church lives the life of Christ through the holy mysteries or sacraments, which means ho1y prayers and ceremonies which Christ has chosen to be the god-bearing vehicles of his divine lite in the world. These have their divine life and power whether we respond to them or not.They do not work merely as impressive symbolism, although often the symbolism is impressive.They work because Christ has given to them his own divine and sinless life, and so in confronting the divine mysteries we confront Christ himself. The Orthodox Church recognises the same 7 mysteries as are known in the West: Baptism, Holy Chrism, Confession, the Holy Eucharist, Holy Orders, Marriage, and the Annointing of the sick; but beyond these, the whole life of the Church and all her prayers are mysteriously filled with the presence and life of Jesus Christ. This also any Orthodox could tell you, for it is a deep knowledge in all who have shared in it. Even those wbo aren't very 'religious' and are quite slack about going to Church will still have a deep sentiment for
the spirituality ot the Church.

ORTHODOXY AND 'ECUMENISM'

   During this century the old hatreds bwtween divided christians have been replaced by a sincere desire to overcome the divisions. The Orthodox Church took a lead in the 'Ecumenica1 Movement' in the 1920's and when the World Council of Churches took official form the main Orthodox Cburches joined it over the years. Orthodox have however been disappointed that there has been no real progress on the differences that divide us, but rather a turning aside into matters on which agreement is easier, such as social or political 'causes'. Because of this, some Orthodox churches have avoided involvement in 'ecumenical' organisations, while others have continued to bear a witness which is usually ignored or misunderstood.

     For Orthodox the recovery of unity means returning to the faith that united christians in the first 1000 years; for liberal protestants it seems rather to mean agreeing to differ about all things except a short and shrinking list of 'essential' beliefs; and 'ecumenical' organisations usually behave as if the liberal protestant idea of unity were the enly one in existence.The Fellowship of St. Alban and St.Sergius is one 'ecumenical' society which tackles the question of unity at a deep and realistic level, but it is a question whether its rôle as in the past, involving mainly Orthodox and Anglicans, can have any real future so long as Anglicanism moves along a line away from the faith and practice of the origina1 Church into various projects of modern liberal protestantism such as female ministers, united parishes, and a 'secular' re-organisation of worship.

  The Church of Rome which began a reform under Pope John, a great friend of Orthodoxy, now seems to be losing its way between liberal protestantism  and reactionary ultramontanism.

2

PATRIARCH SEES ORTHODOX UNITY
by Clifford T. Argue

  Full unity among the ethnic' Eastern Orthodox groups in America is inevitablc, but the manner in which this unity is accomplished requircs further study, according to the head of one of the ancient centers of the Church.

  Elias IV, Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, presently on a two-month visit to the United States, discussed the point during a press conference in his suite in thc Los Angelcs Bonavcnture Hotel.

   Hc denicd spcculation in some Greek circles, especially in certain Athcns newspapers, that the purpose of his U.S. trip is to establish an autocephalous American Orthodox Church and to install Greek Archbishop Iakopvos as its hcad.

   "That is the farthest thing from my mind," the Patriarch responded with a smile. "I am here to visit my Antiochian flock in Amcrica and to foster good  rclations among all Orthodox."

   "While we are already united by a common faith, any administrative unity for the Orthodox of Amcrica can come about only with lhe approval of
the mother Churches who have faithful on this continent," thc 63-year-old prclate noted during the press conference.

     The subject of the Orthodox in the diaspora (non-Orthodox lands) has been placcd high onl the agenda of the forthcoming Great Synod of Orthodoxy. The various Churches are prcparing detailed studies of the agcnda itcms, and the Antiochian Patriarchate is one of those rescarching thc diaspora issue.
 

   "Therc are realities in the Church in Amcrica that no one can overlook, and we must take this into account in attempting to find a workable and canonical solution," the Patriarch obscrved.

    Onc of thc rcalities of Amcrica is the presence of the Orthodox Church in America, formcrly known as the Russian Metropolia. In 1970, the Moscow Patriarchate unilalerally proclamed the Metropolia as an an autocephalous Orthodox Church in a move that brought immcdiate protest and statements of non-recognition from the four ancient and traditional Orthodox Patriarchates, including Antioch.

   "We still cannot rccognise the autocephalous status of the Orthodox Church in America, but we will continue to maintain very close and friendly relations." Patriarch Elias stated, adding that Antioch must play a role of "peace, love, and goodwill" in inter-Orthodox matters.

   In response to a reporter's question, he said hc did not know if the creation of a Patriarchate in Amcrica sometime in the future was really the answer to the situation here, but he said some sort of Synod of the various ethnic bishops, eachl maintaining ties to his mother Church, might be a good first step.

   While he wants to wait until the present studies and discussions are complete before endorsing a specific plan, the Patriarch added that his own brief visit so far had left him excited about Orthodoxy in America and its potential.

    "If all Orthodox in this country could unite, they could playa great role in America."

   With regard to the situation of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Turkey, he lamented the closing of his alma mater, the Halki Theological School, by the government four years ago and the general interference in the affairs of the Patriarchate by the Turks.

   "It is a shame that Constantinople is not even free to choose its own Patriarch," he said with reference to the most recent election in 1972 when the candidates were approved in advance by the government.

  On olher topics, the Patriarch strongly reaffirmed the Opposition of the Orthodox Church to the ordination of women to the pricsthood, noting that "if Christ had wanted women as priests,  he would have ordained His mother, the Virgin Mary." He said that the action of thc Episcopal Church to ordain women as priests has put a strain on the previously friendly relations, but that theological dialogues with the Episcopalians are going to continue.

Scheduled to meet with President Carter in the White House in mid- July, the Patriarch said hc is impressed with the President's stand on human rights and his understanding of the Middle East problems. He is also pleased with the President's Christian beliefs.

   Questions from the secular media at the press confe:rence centered around the Middle East situation, including the Lebanese Civil War and the Palestinian problems. A native of Lebanon. the Patriarch now resides in Damascus, Syria, and maintains an extcnsive schedule of travel throughout the Middle East visiting both government and rcligious leaders.

    "Our mission as a church is to be an instrument of peace," he noted. "It is not enough to pray for peace at the liturgy and to preach scrmons, but we must take the church to the streets when necessary. We cannot exist in an ivory tower ."

THE HELLENIC  JOURNAL
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4


21 Eglinton Road, Dunedin. New Zealand                                                                                                                         Tel.Dn 55 232

                   April, 1978

                                      SAINT
                                           PETER
                                                    ORTHODOX
                                                             TRUTH    SERVICE OF ST. MICHAEL'S PARISH ANTIOCH ORTHODOX, NEW ZEALAND.



The Mother Superior and some of the Mercy Sisters, who so kindly lent their Retreat Chapel for the Holy Week services, came over for the Vespers and Benediction on Easter Sunday, and posed with some of the congregation. We cannot sufficiently express our delight and gratitude at the fraternal christian reception we enjoyed from the Sisters.

Note: On Fr.Jack's left stands Mr.Wayne Brodeur, candidate for the priesthood for our Auckland congregation, who already conducts some services.


                   EASTER IN DUNEDIN:
                    April 27 MAUNDY THURSDAY:6.30p.m.                                                             IN CHRISTCHURCH:
                                                                                                                                                 St.Nicholas' Russian Orthodox Church,
                    April 28 GOOD FRIDAY 6.30p.m.                                                                          Brougham Street,Sydenharn:
                    April 29 HOLY SATURDAY 11.30p.m.:                                                                  Saturday,May 6: 6p.m.Vespers.
                     Easter Midnight Matins and Liturgy                                                                         SUNDAY May 7: lOa.m.LITURGY.
                          (NO Sunday morning service)


                                                                                                                                                     IN AUCKLAND:
                   THERE WILL BE NO SERVICE IN DUNEDIN                                                    May 14,WHITSUNDAY:1Oa.m.SUNG MASS
                     on May 7 or May 14 while Fr.Jack is                                                                        in Trinity College Chapel,Grafton.
                     in Christchurch and Auckland.                                                                                  (For possible other services and details ring
                                                                                                                                                  Glen Eden 3116 or HSN 39281
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EXODUS 30
22 Moreover, the LORD said to Moses, 23 "Take the finest spices: of liquid myrrh five hundred shekels, and of sweet-smelling cinnamon half as much, that is, two hundred and fifty. and of aromatic cane two hundred and fifty, 24 and of cassia five hundred, according to the shekel of the sanctuary,and of olivc oil a hin; 25 and you shall make of these a sacred anointing oil blended as by the perfumer; a holy anointing oil it shall be. 26 And you shall anoint wth it the tent of meeting and the ark of the tcstimony, 27 and the table and all its utensils, and the lampstand and its utensils, and the altar of incense, 28 and the altar of burnt offering with all its utensils and the laver and its base; 29 you shall consecrate them, that they may be most holy; whatever touches them will bccome holy. 30 And you shall anoint Aaron and his sons, and consecrate them, that they may serve me as pricsts. 31 And you shall say to the people of Israel, 'This shall bc my holy anointing oil throughout your generations. 32 It shall not be poured upon the bodies of ordinary men, and you shall make no other like it in composition; it is holy, and it shall be holy to you. 33 Whoever compounds any like it or whocver puts any of it on an outsider
shall be cut off from his people.'"

EPHESIANS 4 : 30
And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, in whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.

REVELAT ION 7
Then I saw another angel ascend from the rising of the sun with the seal of the living God, and I called with a loud voice to the four angels who had been given power to harm earth and sea, 3 saying, "Do not harm the earth or the sea or the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God upon their foreheads."

From a talk by Nicholas Zernov in the latest SOBORNOST' : The Use of Chrism:

 For all other sacraments which depend on the use of matter, the substances employed - oil, water, bread, wine are available to all Christians, but, in the case of chrismation, it is quite differcnt. The chrism is a substance very carefully prepared out of many differerent vegetablc oils which are boiled together with large numbers of spices, and the prcparation of the chrism is a long and complex process. When the chrism is at last ready. it is joined to the old chrism and sent out to the parishes. In this ceremony normally the presiding bishop is the head of an autocephalous church. Therefore all Orthodox Christians from time immemorial are chrismated by the same chrism. I have, of course, no idea which of my ancestors joined the Orthodox Church for the first time. I have no idca of his nationality, or place of birth, or even what language he spoke, but one thing I can say for certain is that he was chrismated with the same chrism with which I was chrismated, and with which my father and grandfather were chrismated; and that creatcs a special bond of unity among all the Orthodox Christans.
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TO FAST OR NOT TO FAST ?
(this article, contributed by novice Abel Mooney of Holy Assumption Monastery in Kiwitea, Feilding, stresses the spiritual value of one of the great traditions which unite us with the whole Church in all places and in all ages. By bringing out this SPOTLIGHT now, we hope to allow our readers some part of LENT in which to repent, if necessary).

MANY PEOPLE TODAY ADVOCATE THE ABOLITION OF FASTING
They consider it outmoded, irrelevant, and anachronistic. But have these people ever asked themselves the question,"Why do we fast?"

   Fasting is part of our struggle against Satan and his power in the world and in our lives. It reminds us that we are involved with our Lord in His struggle against the powers of darkness. Once the Apostles questioned our Lord when they were unable to expel demons. And the Saviour answered that demons could only come out through prayer and fasting. Christ' s mission on earth was "to abolish by death him who held the dominion of death, that is the devil" (Hebrews 2 ,14) And this is done through prayer and fasting. (Matthew 17,21).

     Fasting entails discipline,struggle and obedience. In these times when discipline, struggle and obedience are considered archaic concepts, just ponder the results ofdisobedience, lack of discipline, and the idea that everything should be given to someone without any effort on his part. It might be good if we were to reinstate these concepts in our lives and in the Church. If we destroy such spiritual weapons we only strengthen Satan's power over us.The misused liberty of the Press, the movies, literature, and public and private life would appear in need of some correcting influence. If anything, fasting is more desirable today than it ever was in the past. And here we mean not simply fasting from foods, but also fasting from sin and evil actions.The two go hand-in-hand. In the Old Testament whenever the Lord wanted the Jewish people to repent, He would demand that they fast. We can easily discern the importance of fasting for our times as a means of purification, struggle, repentance, and spiritual strengthening.

   Fasting IS difficult, so is dieting; fasting is difficult, so is learning an occupation; fasting is difficult, so are the hours of practising golf, tennis or skiing; fasting is difficult, but then so is everything that is worthwhile. But to him who truly believes, with the faith of Abraham, all things are possible.
(Mark 9, 23).


GREETINGS AND PLANNED VISIT FROM BISHOP GIBRAN:

   In a letter of March 21, arrived last week, Bishop Gibran sends his regards to "my and your friends in N.Z." and to "the dear Parish of St. Michael - Dunedin" and hopes to get free about June-July to come to New Zealand, to ordain the priest for the Auckland Mission. Mr. Brodeur is at present studying for ordination, and conducting a regular Sunday service of Matins for our people. He writes that he has just secured the use of the chapel of the former Methodist Trinity theological college as a regular centre of worship.

    Fr. Jack is planning to be in Christchurch on May 7 and in Auckland on May 14 (WR Whitsun / Pentecost) and again for the ordination. We think many devout Orthodox people might like to go to Auckland for the ordination,and if we receive sufficient notice, we shall make the exact date widely known.

  As Patriarch Elias is at present visiting South America (where there are a surprising number of Orthodox) we guess that Bishop Gibran may be carrying much of the work of the Patriarchate in the meantime. In any case, he asks for our prayers to enable him to visit us as he plans.



      There is rather a lot in this issue about our Auckland Mission and you might think our (Byzantine Rite) parish in Dunedin didn't exist. We hope to correct this balance, in later issues.
     As I wrote about 'women priests' on p.4, I thought that, while praising our RC and High Anglican sympathisers, I had been too harsh on the radical element that is distressing High Anglicans and driving them out. But the news of GENERAL SYNOD brings more:

"UNIFICATION OF MINISTERS".

   This scheme, tossed around since about 1963 in NZ and as full of contradictions as ever, is now being acted on, with initial approval of this Synod. It hopes to remove doubts about "validity" of protestant ministers, but will only succeed in casting doubt on all. I know my former priest colleagues (some) will be still more unhappy about this, and as one who, years ago, decided to be "unified" in a better direction, I can only say with all my heart: "if in conscience you can, then come, and bring your faithful with you. You will find a hard road, new enemies, and new friends; but you will find peace of soul, and a home, and encouragement in your faith, and firm defence of all you hold dearest".

Sincerely,
3



WOMEN PRIESTS / BISHOPS:
Ecumenical Patriarch to the Archbishop of Canterbury:
(extract from the  speech of His AIl-Holiness at the Patriarchate,1 May, 1977)

These have just reached us in the latest SOBORNOST' to which we refer readers for the full text.



   We, as the first servant of Orthodoxy, would like to state from the Ecumenical Tllrone that we wish the theological dialogue bctwcell the Orthodox and the Anglicans to he steady and we consider it as a means for the solution and cnlightenment of the various problems created on account of isolation and estrangement, problems regarding some essential chapters of the faith of the undiviued Church. Consequently we consider that this dialogue may solve the problems that are between us, and as a result we do not consider constructive to our efforts thc formation of new problems, introducing novelties, entirely foreign to the undivided Church and to its faith and tradition.

   Here we must emphasise that wc honour the ancient practice starting in the Apostolic era, according to which women followed Jesus (Matthew 27; 35), who ministered to the Apostles and who were promoted to the degree of deaconess for the assistance or the people of God. And we declare that in order to be fully honest and sincere towards the Anglicans and other western Churches that we, together with the other Orthodox Churches, reject the movement aiming at the ordination of women to the degrees of Presbyter and Bishop as anti-apostolic. For according to our Orthodox Church we have a sacred and devout duty not pnly to guard the unity, the holiness and the catholicity of the Church but also its attachment to Apostolic practices, and this in agreement with the Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed, towards which all efforts of Christian unity should bc directed.

   We rejoice that this pan-Orthodox teaching concurs with that of the rcverend Roman Catholic Church under His Holiness Pope Paul VI. We would describe this agreement on an articlc of the faith as an essential service to the holy and sublime cause of Christian unity, an agreemcnt which indeed we greet.


FROM DR COGGAN'S REPLY:


   Your Holiness has referrcd in kindly terms to the ordination of women. This action has already been taken in certain parts of the Anglican Communion. Wc do not seek to impose this on any part of the Church of Christ: nor do we ask your Church to accept it, but we hold that those who see this action as being right should be free to do so and it is our duty within the Anglican Church to live in love and peace with those who take this action.

FROM THE AGREED STATEMENT signed by both:


    Although we, the leaders of the two Churches and the ecclesiastical  and theological consultants around us, have left the  sacred question of the thcological dialogueu between the two Churches to the Commission concerned,  nevertheless wc have declared our firm wish  that the dialogue should bc  continued constructively on the good foundations already laid, and every effort should be made for the removal of obstacles to its successful progress.

   The most specific difficulty during the meeting was the ordination of women, which the Ecumenical Patriarchate officially declared to be unacceptable to the Orthodox Church.

   The answer of the Archbishop of Canterbury was that the Anglican Church was not seeking the agreement of the Orthodox Church  on this subject, but was hoping for understanding of it.

   The two leaders agreed that the official dialogue bctwccn thc Anglicans and Orthodox should continue, as being one of the most promising ways of resolving the problems which divide the two Churches as well as the rediscovery of those things which unite thcm, but they also hoped that the agreements alrcady reached by this Commission would bc more widcly shared among thc faithful of our two Churches, for the promotion of the ecumenical movement and Christian unity.



     Although these documents have taken almost a year to reach us, we do not know that they have been published in New Zealand before, and certainly they deserve to be widely known. In the meantime New Zealand has been added to the countries whose Anglicans have ignored the unanimous judgement of the ancient Church, of the Roman Catholics,and of Orthodoxy, and clear signs that the action would lead to a split; and have performed ordinations that we can only describe as sacrilegious.We are not surprised that some Anglicans have found they can no longer remain in communion with what their church has become, and have asked to be received into Orthodoxy (seven were received over Easter alone). To those Anglicans who still try manfully to bear witness to the apostolic faith in spite of being outvoted, we offer our admiration, our prayers, and our loyalty.We do not overlook the encouragement to steadfastness that has been offered by the Roman Catholics, who have also given our work their cooperation, and who with the Orthodox seem to represent the only institutional resistance to a tide of "improved" or "updated" religion sweeping away all traditional standards.


     In contrast to the friendship shown to Orthodoxy by continuing Anglo-Catholics and the solidarity shown by publications like the "NZ Tablet" is the attitude of the "apostles" of reform who seem to believe that those who oppose them should have no home to go to. We are sorry that some of this unreasoning hostility should have been turned even on the Greek Church, which has been careful as a guest community in NZ to avoid all involvement in the affairs of other churches. For us who were driven out of our mother church by all this, and think our old friends should have the same chance as we had, it is a different matter.
4



         We choose to end this file at this point, because it represents a real discontinuity: up to this point mission work was proceeding, especially in Auckland, according to guidelines approved by Bishop Gibran, as documented in a number of letters. The visit foreshadowed by this issue resulted in an abrupt change of policy, and  SPOTLIGHT was  next published only after quite an interval. All the details involved will possibly never be known.
                                                                                                         - Fr Jack.