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Christ is Risen!
Truly He is Risen!

Dear Tony

Source: A Scientific Examination of the Orthodox Church Calendar, by Hieromonk Cassian, Chapter 9.
St. George is specifically referred to in a footnote there, Tony. If this source is incorrect, then mea culpa.

http://www.orthodoxinfo.com/ecumenism/calsci_ch9.aspx

As for my other error, I meant that to read: of the NON- Old Calendar Jurisdictions, ONLY Finland and Estonia can celebrate Kyriopascha, as they are wholly on the GREGORIAN calendar. The rest of the Orthodox world is eother Old Calendar, or Revised Julian. Old Calendar jurisdictions certainly do celebrate that wonderful holiday. Thank you for correcting that.

Gaudior, in gratitude.

Administrator,

After having written "I sincerely do not understand the vitriol about the calendar," I decided it needed clarification. The calendar change was not implemented in a proper way in many places, including GC Hungary. Certainly in Greece the calendar was and is a divisive issue. In those places I can understand the lasting hurt.

However, where we live, in the West mostly surounded by Western Christians, I think it is a different story. Also, there are way too many false allegations hurled about concerning the suitedness of the Gregorian calendar. These simply are that, false.

The issue of the mixed calendar is another matter altogether and to confuse the two is not helpful.

Tony

It should also be considered that three Orthodox synods condemned the Gregorian calendar. Thus churches that are truly canonical would never violate these canons and use the Gregorian (or Revised Julian) calendar,

Gaudior,

Here is what I think you refer to "[a] similar thing occurs with regard to the Feast of Saint George the Trophy-Bearer, April 23. When April 23 is observed according to the Church Calendar, it always falls within the Pentecostarion period (and in those instances when Pascha falls on April 23, 24, or 25, the Typicon transfers the Feast of Saint George to Bright Monday, i.e., one to three days later). If you read the footnote carefully it says clearly "(and in those instances when Pascha falls on April 23, 24, or 25, the Typicon transfers the Feast of Saint George to Bright Monday, i.e., one to three days later)." All it takes is what is commonly called the process of elimination. If Pascha falls on April 25th, when is Great Friday? April 23rd as I said above.

The Typikon allows it to fall on the only day it can, April 23rd. If that is from Great Friday to Pascha its celebration is moved as the note references above. This has nothing to do with the new calendar. Just read the footnote carefully.

Tony

Dear Theodore,

Christ is risen!

Which synods were those?

Tony

Tony,

Truly He is risen!

I'm suprised they don't teach these things at St. Vladimir's Seminary?!

Anyway the three synods in question were all in Constantinople in the years 1583, 1587, and 1593.

Oh, believe me, if I ever did locate Elko's grave, I'd be tempted to do more than jump - this is bearing in mind that when I found Doge Enrico Dandalo's grave in Hagia Sophia, I spat on his tombstone

There is a good reason why some departed clergy are referred to as being "of venerable memory" and some aren't. I have no doubt plenty of latinisers (such as Elko) and typicon-murderers (such as Violakis and Metaxakis) should be referred to as being "of excerable memory".

It is possible to be serious as well as joyful.

Matters of the typicon are not icing on the cake. One cannot substitute plaster of paris for sugar in a cake and still expect the result to work.

The servant who is faithful in small matters will be faithful in great ones as well.

Theodore,

Your punctuation leaves me confused, but I will respond nevertheless. Most likely these synods were covered in a history class.

I wish I could say that I recall everything that has ever been taught to me, but I am not so arrogant. And if I meet someone who claims to have total recall, I wont believe him.

Thanks for the reply!

Tony

Tony,

I am not exactly sure to what you are referring. If it is the use of a question mark and an exclamation point, that is commonly used to add an element of shock in a question. In this case it was used sarcasticly.

Since I have never claimed to posses total recall I am not sure what exactly you are talking about here. I was simply noticing a trend by new calendarists to claim that there are no canons saying that the Gregorian calendar may not be used. I wonder if the fact that this is often overlooked is simply a reflection of poor scholarship or a deliberate act? Besides the synods in question there are several letters and statements by various Orthodox bishops against the Gregorian calendar that are of interest, even if they do not carry the authorative weight of a synod.

Christos Voskrese!

I believe regardless of whatever opinion we may have that we should respect the priesthood. Mr. Yong please respect our priests! It is nice to have priestly commentary on this Forum; if you have "beef" keep it to your self--at least word your responses in such a way that would express a polite nature. Regarding what Father said: if you knew the humor of Rusyn priests you would of been able to get it, ok. I do not think any of us would want to lose Father as a source of wisdom and yes, hunky humor.

I am saying this as a sinner, indeed chief among them, but I have seen many priests leave Forums for less. Let's keep priests on this Forum!

Sincerely in Christ,


Robert Horvath

Dear Robert,

You are right on with your analysis of my post, and other posts. "They don't get it."
Some people take themselves too seriously. Something I got over a long time ago.
In the grand scheme of things, only God will judge us.

Which brings me to a sad decision.
Yours is my last post on this forum.

You see, I thought the word "forum" meant an "open" discussion of ideas. It should be enjoyable to jump into conversations, to stirr the mind, and the pot, challenge people, and to do it in a lighthearted way at times.
While we may get contentious, I believe that it's because of our passionate love for our church, not because we have some personal unfinished business, or issues with our church.

I believe that the recent crop of posters on this forum, and the forum itself seems to have deteriorated into a group of cynical individuals who, reading these posts, spit on priests graves, make fun of priests years of service, think they know it all, and worse, do not have a sense of humor hunky or otherwise.
Who think that everything Orthodox is good, and everything Byzantine Catholic priests past and present do is bad if it is not Orthodox. I know how duplicitious the Orthodox Church has been in Europe. That's why they (Orthodox)have no unity among themselves let alone the world as we do in the Catholic Church. Is that what we should embrace? Not as long as I'm alive.

But, Robert as for me, I do not need this kind of abuse.
I'll stick to my global evangelism on EWTN. My weekly live radio talk show on Sunday mornings, and doing what I feel is the best for the growth of my parish, even if I had to move Easter Sunday to do it! There, one more shot across the bow for these pernicious posters. Too bad, I won't be around to read them.

Leaving this mutual admiration society, I remain, in the Risen Christ,
Fr. Michael Sopoliga,
yes a priest celebrating his 25th anniversary on May 20th not that that means anything to anyone on this forum.

Christos Voskrese!

Father, Bless!

Dear Father Michael:

Could I use reverse psychology by telling you to go to possibly get you to stay?

Father, no matter what you do: thank you for your time here, but come back when the Admin possibly posts some Forum rules on *how* to treat our clergy respectively. You know Father I don't want you to leave, but Father might you take some time and think about it? I know myself included really enjoy your posts; you minister to Byzantine Catholics who may be away from their Churches for whatever reason.

I want to offer Many Years to you on your Anniversary! Looking forward to many more of your posts...

Thank you for your time and for your gracious spirit.

In the Mother of the Light,


Robert Horvath

Anyone who would do such a thing is either ignorant or a fool. What a horrible witness of Christ.

Father Michael,

Although I don't believe we have ever crossed swords in posting, I am one who has not always been a fan of yours in some respects, particularly as regards what I see as a less than open and welcoming stance toward our Orthodox brothers and sisters and a less than appreciative view of what we can learn from them (as I am concerned when I see Orthodox posters who fail to see the converse - what they can learn from us).

That said, I also see you as a dedicated and concerned servant of God who has meaningfully contributed to this Forum and to evangelization on the part of the Eastern Catholic Churches. I agree with you wholeheartedly in your view of what this Forum is intended to be. I'm not going to repeat in detail here what I've recently said in other threads and on another Eastern website about the Forum, but the type of attitudes that you describe runs entirely counter to all that has ever been said as a selling point for this venue - that it is a place of respectful, open discussion, where dissension from individual and even prevailing views is taken, but in a charitable and respectful manner.

I would urge you to remain for what you can bring to the Forum and what, too, you can learn from it. I remain convinced that, its faults aside, it continues to be a unique place and one in which Easterners - Catholic and Orthodox - and those who have an interest in the East - Latin or Protestant - can meet to educate one another, learn from each other, amuse at times, edify at others, and pray together for each other and for the eventual reunion of our Churches before God.

I believe that, in the long run, the dust will settle, once again, and the Forum continue on the mission that it has always had.

Regardless of what decision you reach, I congratulate you on the upcoming anniversary of your priestly service and pray that God grant you many more years in health and in His service and that your parish community continue to thrive.

Many years,

Neil

Edward,

While I have been posting here for a relatively short time, I've been reading here long before that. Although I haven't bothered to go back and locate them, I am mindful of having seen the occasional post from you in times past that was irreverent in a similar sense to that of which you complain here about the posts of another. I suspect that you would have taken offense to any such barbed reply directed at you in those instances.

More importantly, I think it an example of youthful immaturity at its worst to compare the effects of latinization by Archbishop Nicholas, of blessed memory, to the horrific indignities that transpired under the leadership of Doge Enrico. And, yes, I spoke of Kyr Nicholas as of blessed memory; he is as far as we know, as are all who went before. The times in which they lived were different than those in which we are presently and we can only presume, without evidence to the contrary, that they did what they did in the belief that it was appropriate in the time and place. We may regret the choices they made, but it is not our place to judge them.

As a member of the Russian Church, you are in a particular position to see and understand the compromises that some, in your Church's Orthodox counterpart, made to reach accomodation - not with a parallel liturgical culture - but with civil authorities - and the injustices and perversion of religion that came about. When you look at Archbishop Nicholas' actions, decisions, and - yes - the damage that he did to his Church, you should see that it has no basis for comparison.

In my personal opinion, you owe an apology to our Ruthenian brothers and sisters for your unkind remarks about a man who will most assuredly never be canonized, but who deserves to at least be remembered and acknowledged as the Protopriest that he was.

Many years,

Neil