The lectures by Metropolitan Ware were very good. I got back yesterday, and here is a summary of what happened based upon my recollection.
Metropolitan Ware had a voice that was beautiful to listen to: English, educated and spiritual.
The first lecture, on preparing for Lent, encouraged us to use Lent as an opportunity for true
metanoia and not merely following rules on eating and drinking. He exhorted us to make use of the tools of repentance --prayer, fasting and almsgiving, in the fullest senses of those words. And he also encouraged people to make use of the sacrament of Confession. The lecture was preceded by Vespers, which made the whole experience quite spiritual. Finally, on a personal note, it was quite gratifying to receive the final blessing individually from Metropolitan Ware at the end of the service and to be able to thank him for writing his books which helped me so much.
The second lecture, on the future of Orthodoxy in North America, was many pointed. He began with the observation that the Church is a Eucharistic community, that the Eucharist can only be celebrated in the local parish, and, therefore, Orthodoxy must emphasize the work and life of the local parish. He then admonished Orthodox for blaming each other for various faults. He later said that, while we pray with "all our hearts" for a unified Orthodox jurisdiction, we may have to live with the current situation --caused by the historical anomaly of immigration-- for "some time in the future." Hence, he encouraged people to meet and work with each other meanwhile; and encouraged people to show respect to each other as fellow Orthodox. He also observed that, while
theologians can work out understandings of unity (such as has happened between the Copts and the Orthodox, and such as may occur in the future between the Catholics and the Orthodox), true unity must be still
received by the laity and the clergy.
The first lecture, at a Greek Orthodox church, attracted about 300 people. They almost all looked Greek (although I saw a Bulgarian Orthodox priest whom I recognized), and they almost all dressed formally (and in black). The women even wore skirts and skirt suits. The church building was marvelously decorated on the inside: with icons in the Byzantine style covering the walls. It was a symphony of color! The people were friendly and polite; and they nicely asked me what my ethnicity is ("Well, you don't look Greek, but you certainly behave like an Orthodox" . . .); and after my response of "I'm OCA" drew blank looks, I simply said that I am a convert to a Russian parish, and all was then well . . .
The second lecture I attended was in an Antiochian Orthodox church, and it attracted 250-300 people. The church was not as decorated as the Greek church, but the decorations that were there were quite bright (including a beautifully illustrated interior of the dome and a very bright sanctuary/altar space). The population that attended was mixed: Roman Catholics, Chaldean Catholics, an Old Catholic priest, the Romanian Orthodox nuns in Michigan, other Orthodox, and many ethnicities. Clothing styles were also mixed: some were dressed in suits and other formal clothes; others were dressed casually in jeans or jogging suits. I also saw more men (not in clerical garb) with pony tails and beards than at the Greek church.
All went well, but I was surprised that so few people attended. Detroit has thousands, perhaps tens of thousands, of Orthodox Christians. Metropolitan Ware's books are
immensely popular throughout the English speaking world of Orthodox Christians. Yet, maybe only 600 people attended over two nights when he was available in person. Part of the problem was communication; I only became aware of these lectures last weekend (i.e., the weekend immediately before the lectures!). I wish there were some kind of central clearing house or network for disseminating Orthodox announcements; if one already exists, I would be glad to know about it. And, perhaps, I wish there had been simply more popular support.
But, overall, the lectures went quite well, and they were quite thought provoking and edifying. And I am grateful that I could attend.
-- John
