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Last Updated: 19 February 2013

CWN - Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill dedicated a church at the site of the Katyn massacre on July 15, saying that with the acknowledgment of the Soviet execution of thousands of Poles, “finally, the truth prevailed over lies.”

In 1940, on orders approved by Stalin, Soviet troops shot many thousands of unarmed Polish military officers and civilians—the exact number is in dispute—and left them buried in the Katyn Forest. For many years the Soviet government denied the slaughter, but after the fall of the Soviet Union, Russian leaders acknowledged the deaths—while emphasizing that many Russians had died at Katyn as well.

“The Katyn tragedy united Russians and Poles, and the two people should always remain brothers,” said Patriarch Kirill as he dedicated the Church of the Resurrection. He appealed for reconciliation between Poland and Russia.

The next day, July 16, Catholic Church officials in Poland held a press conference to express their enthusiasm about plans for Patriarch Kirill to visit Poland in August, in another step toward reconciliation. During his visit the Russian prelate will sign a joint statement with Archbishop Jozef Michalik, the president of the Polish Catholic bishops’ conference, urging Poles and Russians to put aside old enmity and forgive past offenses.

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Last Updated: 19 February 2013

cwn - Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill dedicated a church at the site of the Katyn massacre on July 15, saying that with the acknowledgment of the Soviet execution of thousands of Poles, “finally, the truth prevailed over lies.”

In 1940, on orders approved by Stalin, Soviet troops shot many thousands of unarmed Polish military officers and civilians—the exact number is in dispute—and left them buried in the Katyn Forest. For many years the Soviet government denied the slaughter, but after the fall of the Soviet Union, Russian leaders acknowledged the deaths—while emphasizing that many Russians had died at Katyn as well.

“The Katyn tragedy united Russians and Poles, and the two people should always remain brothers,” said Patriarch Kirill as he dedicated the Church of the Resurrection. He appealed for reconciliation between Poland and Russia.

The next day, July 16, Catholic Church officials in Poland held a press conference to express their enthusiasm about plans for Patriarch Kirill to visit Poland in August, in another step toward reconciliation. During his visit the Russian prelate will sign a joint statement with Archbishop Jozef Michalik, the president of the Polish Catholic bishops’ conference, urging Poles and Russians to put aside old enmity and forgive past offenses.

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Last Updated: 19 February 2013

JOHNSTOWN, PA [Christ The Saviour Cathedral] -- Meeting in Special Assembly today which was presided over by His Eminence, Archbishop Demetrios of America, Diocesan Locum Tenens, the priests of the American Carpatho-Russian Orthodox Diocese of the USA nominated the Very Rev. Archimandrite Grigorios (Tatsis)  as successor to His Eminence, Metropolitan Nicholas of Amissos.

Having  formally designated Archimandrite Grigorios as the nominee, His  Eminence, Archbishop Demetrios, as Exarch of the Ecumenical Patriarchate will submit his name to the Holy and Sacred Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate for Canonical Election.

Archimandrite Grigorios was born in Charlotte, NC on Dec 7, 1958, with the baptismal name of George, the first of two children of Peter and Antonia Tatsis. He is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill earning a BA degree in Biology (1981) and the University of North Carolina at Charlotte earning a MS degree in Biology (1989). Working for more than 20 years in the field of Cardiovascular Research at Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte, NC, he authored/co-authored over one hundred articles, abstracts, and book chapters.

A true son of the Church, from his early youth Archimandrite Grigorios served in his home parish of Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Charlotte, NC in various capacities including altar server, Sunday School teacher for 13 years and in several leadership positions including Parish Council President. He was also a founding member of St. Nektarios Greek Orthodox Church in Charlotte, NC where he served on the Parish Organizing Committee, as Sunday School teacher for four years, as a member of the choir and as its first parish council president.

After taking part in a mission trip to Alaska sponsored by the Orthodox Christian Mission Center, Archimandrite Grigorios felt the calling to pursue his life-long dream of studying for the Holy Priesthood. Leaving his secular job in early 2003, he entered Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology in Brookine, MA in the Fall of 2003 and graduated in May of 2006 with the Masters of Divinity degree.

Archimandrite Grigorios was ordained a Deacon at St. Nektarios Greek Orthodox Church in Charlotte, NC on November 4, 2006 by His Eminence, Metropolitan Alexios of Atlanta. He was tonsured a Monk at Agia Lavra Monastery in Kalavryta, Greece on January 17, 2007, receiving the name Grigorios with St. Gregory Palamas as his Patron Saint. He was ordained a priest at Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Atlanta, GA on January 28, 2007 also by His Eminence, Metropolitan Alexios of Atlanta and was elevated to the rank of Archimandrite on the same day. On February 1, 2007, he was appointed as the Ierokyrix (Itinerant Preacher) of the Metropolis of Atlanta. On September 14, 2007, he received the offikion (rank) of Confessor at the Archangel Michael Greek Orthodox Chapel in Atlanta, GA.

Serving in his role as Itinerant Preacher and Confessor, Archmandrite Grigorios has travelled extensively throughout the Metropolis of Atlanta, where he has led parish retreats, heard confessions and provided spiritual direction to countless numbers of clergy and faithful. Recognizing his affinity for youth ministry and his administrative skills, he was given the responsibility of overseeing all youth programs in the Metropolis of Atlanta.

Archimandrite Grigorios also served as the Parish Priest of Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church in Raleigh, NC from December 20, 2010 until May 31, 2011. Since October of 2011, he has served as Dean of the Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral in New Orleans, LA, and as Vicar of the Western Conference of the Metropolis of Atlanta.

Story: http://www.acrod.org/news/releases/nomination-announcement

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Last Updated: 19 February 2013

Washington, DC - Following a nationwide search, John Garvey, President of The Catholic University of America, has appointed Very Rev. Mark Morozowich, associate professor, as dean of the School of Theology and Religious Studies, effective July 1, 2012.

“It gives me great pleasure to appoint Father Mark Morozowich as dean of the School of Theology and Religious Studies,” said President Garvey. “Father Morozowich has the skills and the experience to lead our University’s oldest school, and to address the challenge of leadership in the Church’s intellectual life. Father Morozowich is the first Eastern Catholic to head the school. Symbolically, this demonstrates The Catholic University of America’s commitment to Blessed John Paul II’s vision of the Church ‘breathing with two lungs’ – both Eastern and Western rites.”

Provost James Brennan stated that “Father Morozowich’s leadership during the past academic year as acting dean clearly demonstrated his vision for the school and his considerable talents in building faculty relations and support for students. I believe that the school will continue to prosper, and the University will benefit, from his experience as a scholar and academic leader. ”

Father Morozowich joined the theology and religious studies faculty in 2003 as an assistant professor of liturgical studies and sacramental theology. He completed his doctoral work at the Oriental Institute in Rome where he earned the Doctorate in Eastern Christian Studies with a specialization in liturgy. He served as associate dean for seminary and ministerial programs from July 2006 to June 2011 and as acting dean of the school since July 2011.

“The School of Theology and Religious Studies maintains the highest standards of scholarly excellence and I am privileged to be given this opportunity to assist in directing the future of this noble endeavor,” said Father Morozowich. “I look forward to capitalizing on our strengths and assisting our students and professors in their pursuit of excellence in their studies. I am humbled that I have been given this opportunity to serve my colleagues in our common task of scholarly enrichment of the Catholic intellectual tradition.”

Father Morozowich researches the historical development of the liturgical year in Byzantine tradition with a concentration on Holy Week as well as themes of sacramental theology in the patristic period and its relationship with liturgical history. He has written on pastoral implications of liturgical studies and their effect on Eastern churches today.

http://publicaffairs.cua.edu/releases/2012/strs-dean.cfm

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Last Updated: 19 February 2013

CWN - Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I has reaffirmed the See of Constantinople’s commitment to work for Christian unity.

Patriarch Bartholomew, who has held office since 1991, said that his predecessor Patriarch Athenagoras

was criticized at the time for the openness he had demonstrated. Our Ecumenical Patriarchate, then as now, is continuously criticized for the ecumenical dialogue it pursues, as if it were our wish to sell Orthodoxy. Nothing is more unfounded. And yet today is no longer the epoch of egoistic withdrawal into self, autarchy and self-sufficiency.

“Only through dialogue that it is possible to attain agreement, rapprochement and reconciliation” among Christians, Patriarch Bartholomew added.

The Ecumenical Patriarch holds a primacy of honor, though not of jurisdiction, among the autocephalous Eastern Orthodox churches. The Ecumenical Patriarchate has 3.5 million members, while the largest Orthodox church (the Russian Orthodox) has 110 million members.

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Last Updated: 19 February 2013

and others

1. You will gain new knowledge that you can apply in practice

2. You will have the possibility to tell about you and your work

3. You can see the work of eight icon-painters in real - time

4. You will be able to see the work of internal workshops of the Alexander- Nevsky Lavra in St. Petersburg

5. If you prepare your questions, you can get answers to them in the debates and round tables

5. You will be able to make new interesting contacts and discuss the subjects you are interested in 

6. You can see several modern facilities of the temple construction in Russia

7. You could meet with the manufacturers of products for icon painters and supporting associations and organizations

LINKS:

Information about this Conference is available at: http://www.versta-k.ru/en/conference/

Information about 1st conference held in November 2011: http://www.versta-k.ru/en/conference/conference2011.php

Feedback on the 1st conference: http://www.versta-k.ru/en/conference/Feedback.php

And finally information about our books: http://www.versta-k.ru/en/catalog/list.php?SECTION_ID=8