winter 2002 orthodox vision newsletter, diocese of the west

8/8/2019 Winter 2002 Orthodox Vision Newsletter, Diocese of the West

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Winter 2002


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The Official Publication of the

Diocese of the West of the

Orthodox Church in America

Diocese of the West

650 Micheltorena Street

Los Angeles, CA 90026-3612

Publisher

His Grace Bishop TIKHONBishop of San Francisco and

the Diocese of the West

650 Micheltorena Street

Los Angeles, CA 90026-3612

Phone: (323)666-4977

Fax: (323)913-0316

Address all stories & comments:

Editor-in-Chief

Priest Eric George Tosi5400 Annie Oakley Drive

Las Vegas, NV 89120

Phone: (702)898-4800

Fax: (702)898-0303

Email: [email protected]

Send All Address Changes to:

Mary Caetta

25 Captains Cove

Oakland, CA 94618-2311

Email: [email protected]

The Orthodox Vision is published three times

a year by the Diocese of the West. It is free to

all parish members and outreach within the

Diocese.

The articles contained herein do not neces-

sarily reflect the views or policies of the Dio-

cese or the editors. The advertisements con-

tained herein are not necessarily endorsed

by the Diocese or Editorial Staff.

In This IssueVolume 8, Number 3

WWW.OCADOW.ORGFor the latest information on the Diocese of the West

Information on all parishes, institutions and departments

Archived issues ofThe Orthodox Vision

Complete letters of instruction from His Grace

And much, much more

From His Grace:Singing in the Church 1

Internship Program at Raphael House 2

Diocese Gathers in Assembly 4

Thirtieth Anniversary in Littleton 5

Youth Work in Los Angeles 6

Mission Deanery to Hold Retreat 7

Choir Workshop in Southern California 7

New Mosaics in Colorado Springs 7

Christian Life in the Teenage Years 8

Clergy Wives to Gather in Retreat 9

Eureka Mission Reaches Out to the Community 10

Teen Retreat at Retreat Center 11

Stewardship in the Church 12

From the Fathers:How to Study the Fathers 13


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From His Grace TIKHON:

The Orthodox Vision

Sing Unto the Lord

And when they had sung a hymn, they went out into the Mount of

Olives. (Matthew XXVI: 30)(Mark XIV: 26)

The ability to sing is one of the many possible gifts God may bestow on a

human being. As in the case of all gifts, the person so gifted must be

thankful for it, and be a good steward of it. It should be easy, due to the

many meanings of the word, to understand that this gift is atalent, and to

understand, therefore, ones responsibilities relative to it. How blessed,

therefore, and grateful to God must we be when we are further blessed to

enjoy the privilege of singing on the kliros of an Orthodox Church! To be

able to use ones gift, to return it with increase to the Giver of all gifts, in the

very most sacred of all acts in which human beings can be joined, the Holy

Eucharist, and all the services of the Church, the Body of Christ, in giving

Glory to the same Giver of Gifts, is a blessing of almost unspeakable

magnitude. I am always concerned that those who have been blessed with

this gift of singing would not consider that it is some kind of elevation over

those upon whom the gift has not been bestowed, and that those who have

not been given this, but another gift or gifts, would not underestimate or

even decry the gift as somehow vain or inconsequential. This latter dispo-sition was common among some extreme sectarian variations on Protestant-

ism, where singing was viewed as frivolous, unbecomingly emotional and

misleading, and where, therefore, only mass mumbling of Psalms or other

prayers in a compelling and mechanical recitation was permitted.

How compelling, how moving, how even overwhelming is it, then, for our

Orthodox singers on Great, Good, and Holy Thursday, when the Gospel is

read at Liturgy, to hear these words, indicating the conclusion of the meal at

which Christ gave man for the first time His own Flesh and Blood at the

Mystic Supper in the upper room: And when they had sung a hymn [or,

as in the Slavonic and Russian versions of the Scriptures, having finished

singing (vospevshe)]they went out into the Mount of Olives!

To be present then, as the Gospel makes possible, at such a moment, whenthe God-Man Himself, our Lord, God, and Saviour, Jesus Christ may

Himself be heard singing with His beloved Discipleswhat a sublime mo-

ment for us all! What must it have been like for those Disciples to be

actually joining their own voices to those of the Saviour Lord, in what was,

as scholars tell us, the so-called Hallel, a group of psalms beginning,

Praise the Lord, O ye servants, praise ye the name of the Lord, Blessed be

the name of the Lord from henceforth and for evermore. From the rising of

the sun unto the going down of the same, the name of the Lord is to be

praised

How many of the singers in our choirs, how many of us have the realization

that when these words are sung in our Churches, as they most certainly

continue to be, our Lord Himself may be singing with us? When we sing,

Blessed be the name of the Lordthree times towards the conclusion ofDivine Liturgy before Psalm 33, do we listen and hear our Saviors voice

singing with us? When, at some Hierarchical services, before the meeting, as

we are singing, From the rising of the sun.do we listen whilewe are

singing, to hear our Saviors voice singing with us? It is very important for

any choir member to develop this skill of listening while singing: what

better reason could there be?

Some may feel that this is a strange idea, that singing at worship is just a

human idea, common to all religions, and not really essential to Christianity.

But it is essential to our Tradition: it is essential in our life in Christ, in the

Church, and with Christ in the Church. We do not have to look far to find

evidence of this; for example, in four of the Matins Prayers that the Priest

reads at the Six-Psalms that

begin Matins, very clear

reference is made to this

essential tradition. In the

Fifth Matins Prayer arethese words: Remember,

O Lord, those who watch

and those who sing to Thy

glory, and to that of Thine

Only-begotten Son, and of

Thy Holy Spirit.In the

Sixth Matins Prayer, we

pray, O Lord, give us

grace and power that we

may be found worthy to sing unto Thee with wisdomIn the Eighth

Matins Prayer, we pray, And grant us to reach the beginning of the day

praising, singing, and blessing the ineffable beneficence of Thy good-

nessAnd in the Eleventh Matins Prayer: And every breath and every

creature doth sing Thine unapproachable glory

But not only in the prayer services from the offices, such as Matins, but

also in the Divine Liturgy which stands above and beyond all offices and

even all time, the importance, the necessity of song is not hidden. We al

may think immediately of the familiar, And who sing during the

Cherubim Hymn, and Singing the hymn of victoryduring the anaphora

but there are other places, at least as, and perhaps more, important.

Often in some English translations (as if there were some innate anti-

esthetic bias amongst Anglophones!) verbs that indicate singing or hymn

ing are translated as praising, thus inadvertently seeming to omit a

musical element in such praise. However, the Slavonic translations very

plainly speak (or sing!) of singing, and the Greek originals definitely

speak of hymning. For example, in the first long prayer of the Anaphora

we pray,It is meet and right to hymn Thee (se hymnein, Gr., Ta petiCh.Sl.), to praise Thee, to bless TheeAt the very height of the Anaphora

when the Deacon lifts up the Diskos and Chalice, we pray We offer unto

Thee (literally, having offered unto Thee (prinosashche

Ch.Sl.)Thine Own of Thine Own on behalf of all and for all, (continu

ing:) we hymn (or sing) Thee (se hymnoumen, Gr., Tebe poem, Ch.Sl.),

we bless TheeAnd then, at the conclusion of the Anaphora proper, the

Priest or Bishop exclaims: And grant us with one mouth and one heart to

glorify and sing (anymnein, Gr., vospevati, Ch.Sl.) Thine all honorable

and magnificent Name.

It is not through large defense and security budgets, through well-funded

programs (in the world and in the Church), through proper priorities and

proper vision, but through such simple human offerings as singing with

Christ that our enemies will be overcome, the world will be overcome, andthe One Thing Needful gained. Lets focus, then, not on such ephemera

things, but on singing with the Lord as we go forth from our Mystic

Suppers, as did the Disciples before the Passion, and on singing as those

were heard by St. John to do, who in heaven sung a new song (Rev

V: 9).

+ His Grace TIKHON

Bishop of San Francisco and the West


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The Orthodox Vision

Orthodox Internship Program at Raphael HouseBy Priest David Lowell

The work is easier and life in community a bit more fun when we

have groups of interns at Raphael House of San Francisco. For the

past several months weve had six volunteer interns living at Raphael

House.

Robert Downs and George Donner came to us from the Holy Apostles

OCA Mission in Portland, Oregon. Rachel Dombowsky and Naomi

Funk are from St. Vincent of Lerins Antiochian Orthodox Church in

Saskatoon, Canada. And Esther and Sarah Gurt joined us from Swit-

zerland! In a few weeks we look forward to the return of Rose

Trautmann from Koln, Germany.

For those of you who have not yet visited Raphael House or heard

about it in any detail, here is a quick synopsis. We serve homeless

families in our residential program (approximately a dozen families at

a time) and we provide ongoing support services to more than 700

parents and children who have successfully transitioned into stable

housing.

While we do serve some families with fathers, single parent mothers

head the majority of the families at Raphael. Domestic violence is a

factor in about 25% of the families who stay with us.

Our antidote to domestic crisis is stability, predictability, order and

beauty. Raphael House is a stable household, in large part because

of the continuous presence of our Orthodox live-in community. Even

when we are off duty, we still join in activities, meals, prayers, and

are generally part of the normal life that keeps Raphael House safe.

Live-in volunteers work in every area of Raphael House. These

areas of service include the residential shelter, childrens activities,

AfterCare, Thrift Store, fundraising, general administration, and the

kitchen. To one degree or another, we all work in the kitchen. Even

the Executive Director has to do his share of dishes.

Naomi, Rachel, Sarah, and Esther are all tremendously helpful in our

Childrens Program, as well as in the kitchen and Thrift Store. George

and Robert have been our computer troubleshooters, breakfas

cooks, and maintenance team, and they also helped receive and

distribute hundreds of presents for former residents at Christmas.

Occasionally we have volunteers who stay on to become full timestaff. Nearly every paid live-in staff member started out as a volun

teer for a year or more. But the live-in volunteer training is designed

primarily for people who can only give a few months of service

before returning to school or career. Three to six months at Raphae

House provides a valuable experience that will be remembered (usu-

ally fondly) for the rest of a persons life.

The Live-in volunteer program includes weekly study and daily

prayer. I serve mid-week Liturgies at Raphael House. Holy Trinity

Cathedral, a few blocks away, is where I participate in Saturday

night Vigil and Sunday Divine Liturgy, serving with the Archpries

Victor Sokolov. Many of our live-in staff attend either Holy Trinity

or they are members of the Synaxis of the Theotokos Mission, withPriest Thomas Alessandroni. Our Antiochian volunteers retain

membership in their home parishes, of course, and sometimes at-

tend Antiochian conferences and events in the Bay Area. But for

obvious reasons of convenience, warm welcome, and common pur

pose we normally worship together.

This past November we formed an Orthodox Advisory Committee

to help us build relationships nationally with seminaries and other

Orthodox ministries, as well as to help in the recruitment of those

who might be interested in serving at Raphael House. With His

Grace Bishop TIKHONs blessing, our Orthodox Advisory Commit


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The Orthodox Vision

tee is comprised of a solid

core of leaders and lay

people from the Diocese of

the West, as well as a num-

ber of people from beyond

the Diocese, who are able to

introduce Orthodox from

other dioceses and jurisdic-

tions to the work of Raphael

House.

Our first Advisory Commit-

tee meeting was attended by

Fr. Thomas Hopko ( still em-

ployed by St Vladimirs Semi-

nary, but in a capacity that

allows him to move about

more easily); Dr. Anton

Vrame from the Patriarch

Athenagoras Institute in Ber-

keley; Fr. Michael Nasserfrom the Antiochian Village

in Pennsylvania; Fr. Basil

Rhodes, Dean of the Pacific Central Deanery; Fr. Victor Sokolov , the

Dean of Holy Trinity Cathedral in San Francisco; and Fr. Thomas

Alessandroni, former Raphael House Residential Program Supervi-

sor, Matushka Angela Alessandroni, our Human Resources Man-

ager, and Randa Aoun, Live-in Volunteer Training Program Coordi-

nator. I was there, as well. Archpries Ian MacKinnon, Chancellor of

the West, and Fr. Lawrence Gaudreau, representing the Orthodox

Stewards of the West, and the Life Giving Spring Retreat Center,

could not, at the last minute, attend the meeting, but they are very

active in helping to make the committee a success.

Randa Aoun assumed the leadership of our live-in volunteer pro-

gram this past September, after successfully completing her theo

logical studies at St. Vladimirs Seminary. It was Randa who initially

asked Fr. Thomas Hopko to visit us, and who knew Dr. Anton Vrame

at the Seminary before he moved west to take up the leadership of

the Athenagoras Institute. In addition to being academically and

theologically credentialed, Randa has been serving at Raphael House

for ten years and knows how all of our services work together. For

women volunteers especially, Randa is an energetic mentor who

works alongside those whom she is training.

In 2002 we hosted a Rea

Break college student team

through the Orthodox Chris

tian Fellowship. In 2003, we

will have two more groups of

college students coming

through the OCF. Each group

will have an intense, packed

week of prayer, hard work and

local sightseeing. Maybe they

will catch up on their sleep

when they get back to school

If you are interested in learn

ing more about Raphae

House, please view our

website at the following

www.raphaelhouse.org. And

if you would like to learn more

about our live-in volunteer

program, give Randa a call at

415-474-4621.


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The Orthodox Vision

Protopresbyter Rodion Kondratrick recounted the news from the

central Church. He was thrilled at the results of the recent All

American that had the largest attendance in history. He also re

counted the many travels and work that the new Metropolitan is

engaged in at this time. He was able to report that seminary atten

dance is at a high point in all three seminaries. He also answered

many questions on the state of the Church and other dialogues.

Mary Caetta then presented the treasurers report for the Diocese

These reports are available on the website. The Diocese did welthis year though the impact of Fair Share was still being reviewed

Mrs. Caetta was able to present in detail the requirements and fig

ures for the new assessment. There will be an increase in the as

sessment from the Diocese and this number will be known after the

parishes and missions report the numbers in January.

Most of the other reports were not presented, as they were in-

cluded in the book. Some specific issues that were spoken abou

was the need for more education material, constant need for com-

munication within the Diocese an other programs such as Martha &

Mary House, Life Giving Spring Retreat Center and our monaster-

ies. All of them are doing well but in need of support financially.

Priest Lawrence Gaudreau, the new stewardship chairman, spoke at

length about the new method of raising money for the Stewards of

the West. He asked all parishes to help so that the many projects

and institutions in the Diocese can be funded adequately. He se

a goal of $60,000 to be collected to help in projects and solicited

every individual to be a part of this exciting growth. The incredible

growth of missions in the Diocese is an example of what has been

successful with the program.

The Assembly concluded with the election of the new Diocesan

Council. Priest Lawrence Margitich, Archpriest Michael Senyo

Daraoh Powell and Nadine Wood were elected to serve a three-yeaterm. Johann Morse, Andre Perez and Archpriest Michael Regan

were selected as auditors.

The Assembly was completed with a Hierarchical Divine Liturgy

presided by His Grace

Many thanks go to the

parishioners of Holy

Transfiguration Cathe

dral who cared for the

participants in a truly

wonderful way.

The Assembly waspeaceful and positive

full of optimism for the

future. May we

blessed by God to have

the same when we

gather next year to do

the business of the

Diocese. Next year

assembly is scheduled

to be held in the Seattle

Washington area.

Diocese of West Gathers in Council

Over 48 clergy and 41 lay delegates from the Diocese of the West

gathered for the annual assembly. This year Holy Transfiguration

Cathedral in Denver, Colorado hosted the gathering at their facili-

ties. In special attendance was Protopresbyter Rodion Kondratick,

Chancellor of the Orthodox Church in America and Archdeacon

Vsevolod Borzakovsky of St. Nicholas Cathedral in Washington,

DC. The assembly began with the traditional Molieben led by His

Grace TIKHON.

Following the service, the first session opened with address by His

Grace. His Grace thanked God for his three anniversaries this year. It

was the thirtieth anniversary of his ordination, his fifteenth anniver-

sary as bishop of the Diocese and his 70th birthday. May God Grant

Him Many Years!

His Grace also spoke of the enthronement of His Beatitude HERMAN

in Washington, DC. It was one of the first gatherings in which

bishops from every Orthodox jurisdiction in America (as well as

representatives from most Orthodox Churches around the world)

were present. He also was pleased to see new bishops being in-

stalled around the country.

His Grace also announced the appointment of Archpriest Ian

MacKinnon as the new Chancellor of the Diocese. Archpriest Mat-

thew Tate was elected as the new Dean of the Mission Deanery. He

also recounted the recent ordinations and appointments in the Dio-

cese.

His Grace specifically spoke about the Fair Share Assessment that

was passed at the recent All-American Council. His Grace stated

that we must follow this new program and that Mary Caetta will be

working closely with parishes and missions to help make this hap-

pen. He also congratulated Archpriest Victor Sokolov on his elec-

tion to the Metropolitan Council. Finally, His Grace is considering

changing his title to Bishop of San Francisco and Los Angeles in

homage to the diversity of the Diocese of the West.

Archpriest Ian MacKinnon spoke briefly on his new appointment as

Chancellor. He specifically thanked many people who assist him in

his work and for all those who labor for the Church in the Diocese.


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The Orthodox Vision

30-Year Anniversary for St.

Herman Orthodox ChurchThe day came and went, but God revealed His glory!

St. Herman Orthodox Church in Littleton, Colorado celebrated 30years of ministry the weekend of October 13, 2002. Festivities in-

cluded a Hierarchal Divine Liturgy served by His Grace, Bishop

Tikhon, and a Banquet in the newly expanded church hall on Sun-

day evening.

More than 100 people were in attendance at the Divine Liturgy,

including His Grace, His Grace TIKHON, the Archpriest Ian

McKinnon, the newly appointed Chancellor of the Diocese of the

West, the Archpriest Andrew Harrison, founding priest of St.

Hermans, and the Priest John Armstrong, the current rector of St.

Hermans. The choir sang magnificently, and His Grace was filled

with loving, practical instruction for the faithful. Two men were

tonsured Readers: Brett (Simeon) Johnson and Steve Martin. Sev-eral persons received Grammotas from His Grace: Deacon Nicholas

and Matushka Elizabeth Jannakos, George and Dorothy Eckert,

founding members; Kathleen and Dennis Smith, choir director and

organizer of our Readers; Thomas and Mirjana (Acimovic) Hill, pil-

lars in the community in recent years; and Louis and Dorothy Zang,

long-time faithful servants of the parish.

The 30th Anniversary Banquet was held on Sunday evening at 6:00

PM with over 160 in attendance. This was a joyful time of food

fellowship, and inspirational words. The six-course meal was deli

cious, prepared and served by parishioners, headed by Tom and

Mira Hill. Tophat Productions provided special music. His Grace

and all four priests who have served St. Hermans gave words of

encouragement: Fr. Andrew Harrison (1972-1984), Fr. James Worth

(1984-1995), Fr. Eugene Tarris (1997-2000), and Fr. John Armstrong

(2000-present). Founding members and parishioners also shared

anecdotal stories and words of encouragement and of Gods faith

fulness in our midst over the 30 years of our parish history. Othersin attendance included Fr. And Mrs. Joseph Hirsch, Dean of the

Rocky Mountain Deanery and Transfiguration Cathedral in Den-

ver, CO; Fr. And Mrs. Nicholas Dotson of St. Marys in Calhan, CO

Fr. Anthony Karbo of Ss. Constantine and Helen, in Colorado

Springs, CO; Fr. and Matushka Paul Fedec, retired OCA priest from

St. Marys Calhan, CO; Fr. Deacon and Matushka Nicholas Jannakos

and, Keith Cruse, General Contractor for the project.

The true spirit of the

event was captured in

the words of Fr. Nicho-

las Dotson in a note of

thanksgiving to the par-

ish: The love and com-

mitment to Christ and

His Holy Church was in

great abundance

know that I was not the

only one moved by your

love, not only for Chris

but most especially for

each other. I felt that a

father and his children

had come together to

manifest the love of Godin your community.

Thank you, Fr. Nicholas

and thanks be to our Al-

mighty God for His grace!

It truly is remarkable and quite an accomplishment that the parish

began this building expansion project in July of 2002 hoping to

have it completed in time for the banquet in October, a seemingly

impossible task. The building project consisted of an ex

pansion to the current parish hall, more than doubling its

capacity, an elevator, new classrooms, a conference/Bible

study/library room, and a new office, for a total of about

2200 sq. ft. of new space. Many contributed to the timelycompletion of the project including about 25% from outside

the parish. That we were able to complete the expansion in

time for the banquet is truly a testimony of Gods faithful

ness and the hard work of His people. Founding membe

Dagmar Drakulich completed the time of testimonies chal

lenging us with the famous words of our heavenly patron

and the marching orders for our parish and for all of us

From this day, from this hour, from this very moment, let u

love God above all, and seek to do His holy will! When

we take these words seriously, theres nothing that we can

not accomplish for the Lord and His glory and the salvation

of our souls!


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Choir Workshop in

Southern California By Julia Azrael

On the Saturday before Thanksgiving, the choir of Holy Virgin MaryCathedral in Los Angeles sponsored a half-day music workshop led

by Vladimir Morosan, D.M.D, a well-known expert in Orthodox mu-

sic and choral techniques. Choir members and directors represented

about 20 parishes and missions in Southern California. Lunch was

followed by four lectures: correct American diction for Orthodox

Choirs, vocal & choral techniques, a music reading session of re-

cent publications from PSALM, and a discussion of of Orthodox

church singing in the 21st-Century. Dr. Morosan directed a splen-

did Vigil service for the Post Feast of the Entrance of the Theotokos

and the Hieromartyr Katherine of Alexandria. The participants ex-

pressed a hope the workshop will repeat in 2003.

NNNNNooooow Aw Aw Aw Aw Avvvvvailableailableailableailableailable

$11.00 plus S&H

Order from:Deprtment of Communications

Diocese of the West5400 Annie Oakley Drive

Las Vegas, NV 89120

Make Checks Payable to the Diocese of the West

Sts Constantine and Helen Church in Colorado Springs, Colorado

blessed the new mosaic of their church. The church building is one

of the newest in the Diocese. The present ongoing project include

new iconography and mosaics both inside and outside the building

The church has been recognized as one of the new architectua

treasures of Colorado and has received many visitors to the new

building.

Mission Deanery Retreat to be Held

The Mission Deanery of the Diocese of the West will hold their

annual retreat at the Life Giving Spring Retreat Center in Boulder

City, Nevada. The retreat dates are February 17 to 19, 2003.

This year, the retreat will be lead by Archpriest Paul Lazor, Dean

of Students at St. Vladimirs Orthodox Theological Seminary in

Crestwood, New York. Fr. Paul is a well known lecturer and the

author of numerous books. This years theme will be Until Christ

be born in you and will deal with the integration of the Christian

life and the service in the mission field.

The cost of the retreat is $135 which includes room and meals.

The retreat is open to clergy and lay people both within and out-

side of the deanery.

If you are interested in attending the retreat, please contact

Archpriest Matthew Tate, Dean of the Mission Deanery at

(503)659-3646 or contact the Life Giving Spring Retreat Center at

(702)293-7208.

The Orthodox Vision

Church Blesses New Mosaic inColorado Springs


10/18

When children are older, if their experience of Church life and a

Christian family has been positive, this is enough to carry their

Orthodox faith into adulthood. In many cases life itself during these

crucial years, and the example given in the home, may preserve

children from abandoning a Christian lifestyle. Many of the prob-

lems we will speak about never reach a critical degree in a home

where good foundations have been laid during the childs earliest

years.

A teenager who believes in Christ, who

attends church, and who wishes to re-

main pure until marriage, is already rare

among his contemporaries. We must re-

alize how much even this demands of

those who spending much of their time

among people who take liberal ethical

and spiritual values for granted, as nor-

mal. Even among the minority of

churchgoers in our childrens schools

there will probably be no one else who

ever fasts, or venerates icons, or goes

to confession. There will be people of

all religions and Christian denomina-

tions and people who may have never

prayed. To preserve the ideals of theGospel, and at the same time to get along

with people who directly or indirectly

challenge the Gospelthat is the

ascesis of our teenagers. At the same

time they are struggling to sort out a set

of values for themselves; gradually the

faith they have received must become

their own conviction, and this process does not always take place

smoothly. Our teenagers need all our understanding, attention,

love and prayer.

The Desire for Freedom

Human nature is created in the image of God; the Fathers tell us that

one of the characteristics of this image is our personal freedom.

Sometimes children who are sorting out their ideas about life and

God, come to understand that freedom is a spiritual necessity, and

they clamor for freedom out of spiritual instinct, although not al-

ways with discernment. Parents, who have already committed them-

selves to Christs way, are often afraid of letting their children go

outside the limits they have set for themselves. Sometimes this pre-

vents the children (who are exposed to other social contexts) from

building freely a personal faith, adequate for their life and their cir-

cumstances.

Children need to exercise their freedom of choice while we are there

to guide them. We must loosen the reins gradually as our children

grow up. We should be prepared for moments when our childrens

freedom causes us anguishthis anguish is akin to the compas-

sionate suffering of God, who undertook the risk of creation

Restraint of almost grown-up children is a cheap solution; it is easier

but less effective, than understanding and prayer. If a child ha

been brought up in the spirit of Christ, it will hardly ever be neces

sary.

Freedom does notmean doing wha

you want. We do not help our chil

dren by letting them live independently

of us from the age of thirteen. A mea

sure of restriction provides security for

teenagers, especially if they trust and

respect their parents. Problems occu

when parents are so strict that the chil-

dren start to resent them; their hear

grows cold toward their parents and

what they stand for, including the

Church, or even the Lord Himself. The

royal way between carte blanche and

over-protection must be constantly

sought and re-sought with prayer and

understanding.

Even when we have to say no to a

teenagers request, we should really lis-

ten to our childrens requests, and show

our willingness to give way if there were

not a real obstacle. Otherwise our chil

dren will stop telling us their real de-

sires and thoughts. It is sad when teenagers say, Id never dare tel

my mother that, or My father would be shocked if I even asked.

The well-known saying of Blessed Augustine: Love, and do wha

you will, really means: Love God, and do what you will. This

could be a good motto for teenagers and those who are trying toguide them on a Christian path. The love of God is a safeguard, a

guarantee of repentance, whatever transgressions we may commit

A child who loves God is safer than a child who is restricted to the

point where he rebels against God. A girl asked a Christian adul

once how she should dance, and the adult answered, Dance in

such a way that you enjoy yourself; but enjoy yourself in such a

way that when you come home to your room, you can face the icon

of the Lord and thank Himnot so that you come home and fee

ashamed to look upon His face.

Cont. on next page

Christian Life in the Teenage Years By Sister Magdalen

Sister Magdalen is a monastic at the Orthodox Monastery of St. John the Baptist in Tolleshunt Knights, Essex,

England. This is an excerpt from her book Children in the Church Today (Chapter 8, pp. 81 - 86). Fr. John

Armstrong, chairman of the Youth Department of the Diocese of the West will be reprinting selections from various

books to assist in teaching the youth of our parishes.

The Orthodox Vision


11/18

Diocesan Clergy Wives to

Hold Annual Retreat

Once again the clergy wives of the Diocese will hold their annual

retreat at the Life Giving Spring Retreat Center in Boulder City

Nevada. This annual tradition has become a great source of

strength and fellowship for the many participants that live

throughout the Diocese. Each year they gather together to spend

time strengthening their own lives and the life of their parishes.

This years retreat will be held on May 15th through May 18th.

The cost is $175 that includes all lodging and meals. Airfare is not

included. This years speaker will be Archpriest Joseph Hirsch,

the Dean of Holy Transfiguration Cathedral in Denver, Colorado.

He will be speaking on the relationship with children, both our

own and those of the parish. This timely topic is of great impor-

tance in todays society and especially in clergy families that have

much pressure. Fr. Joseph has lead many retreats, particularly on

the theme of children.

One final note. Many of the clergy wives are in small mission

parishes that are hard pressed to pay for their Matushka to come

to such a retreat. The Diocese always makes a general appeal to

the faithful to help by sponsoring one of the clergy wives for a

retreat. It is an important way for us all to show our appreciation

for the many hats these wonderful women wear in parish and

family life.

If you are interested in the retreat or in sponsoring one, please

contact Matushka Susanne Senyo at Holy Virgin Mary Cathe-

dral at (323)666-4977 or send your donations to Holy Virgin

Mary Cathedral, 650 Micheltorena Street, Los Angeles, CA

90026-3623 ATTN: Matushka Retreat.

A Genuine Relationship With Our Young People

People say that they talkwith their children, but often they are really

talking to their children. Teenagers need real dialogue with their

parents. Too often the relationship has broken down by the time the

child is fifteen. Children envy their friends with understanding

parents. Our children should feel that they can peacefully say

anything: questions, doubts, criticisms, points of view. They should

feel that we are genuinely interested in what they do and think. We

should not deprive them of privacy, but all our words and conduct

should encourage an open relationship. One cannot overestimate

the value of such relationships. When we remember what compro-

mises the Lord made to speak with those in need, we will not hesi-

tate to do all awe can to preserve easy contact with our young

people. If there is not this real contact, even our loving advice will

be taken as yet more nagging or preaching. Sadly, there are children

who hide from their parents something negative that happened at a

friends house, for example, for fear of never being allowed out any-

where.

Sometimes a rigid attitude in the parents of a rebellious teenager is acause of great anguish to a pastor whom the child has confided his

real searchings and questionings. Without the parents cooperation

he cannot always restore the childs relationship with God.

An elder in the desert had a disciple who was tempted to leave

monastic life. He advised him: Eat what you like, drink what you

like, sleep as much as you like, but stay in your cell. It is of course

true that the elder had discerned the need for such advice in the

specific case of his disciples current struggle, and we cannot copy

his formula as if we were following a recipe. Nonetheless we can

learn from the elders ability to go to the heart of the problem, leav-

ing for later the fasting and vigils that he would prescribe already for

another. When Christian parents worry because their children arebegging for permission to go dancing, to listen to rock music, to go

to parties, this elders wise discernment may on occasion serve as a

model. One could imagine a parent saying, after prayer and reflec-

tion: Dance, listen, go; but keep love for Christ alive in your heart.

Often the desire to do what their contemporaries are doing is a

phase that children must get out of their system, similar to a child-

hood illness like chickenpox.

Teenagers vary in their degree of commitment to the Church. With

Gods help, we must speak to children on their real level. If there is

only a spark of interest in Orthodoxy, we cannot speak as if to one

who wishes to become a monk. We have to cultivatesometimes

even to just keep alivewhat there is, if contact is to be real andprofitable. An Anglican bishop wrote about Christian teenagers

and warned parents against frightening your children away by

forcing them into spiritual life. A style of rather casual commitment

fits the conditions of those who are still anxiously discovering who

they are and where their affections lie. He has obviously had real

contact with young people. Those children who are committed will

ask and be answered; they are blessed, because they are hungry for

righteousness, and they will be filled (Mt. 5:6). But it is nave to

think that all Orthodox teenagers, even those who attend church

school, are committed and convinced Orthodox Christiansand it

may be harmful to speak to them as if they were.

Cont. from previous page

The Orthodox Vision


12/188

The Orthodox Vision

Our church in Eureka, California is celebrating its second year under

the ministry of Fr. John Ramos and his Matushka, Kathy and their

two children. We are celebrating over six years of existence in prob-

ably one of the hardest areas to minister in Northern California.

Church attendance in our area is a mere 20%, nearly half the national

average. Humboldt County is one of those communities that have

felt the effects profoundly.

Saint Innocent, whom is our patron saint, engaged the culture around

him. We believe that he provides a wonderful model as we seek to

engage the culture around us. In some ways, we face the same

challenge that he faced over 200 years ago. Foremost among this is

to preserve the essence of the Gospel while presenting it in a man-

ner that would be heard and heeded by the people.

We face the challenge of living in an area of 21% unemployment, a

shocking rate of alcohol and drug use that is close to 30%, and all

the depression that comes with these things. There are many good

programs in place to meet these needs, but one of the tasks for us

was to find where we could fit our talents and resources to help

those in need.

Each year we collected toiletries that our children gathered and put

together into bags for distribution to various service agencies that

are dealing with the homeless. Fr. John is involving himself in a localyouth agency supervising teens in an abstinence program. We

believe strongly in being a presence in our local community. We are

also considering ways to involve ourselves with the local women

here.

The most profound impact we have seen in our community is that

people have been drawn to the beauty and peace of the services

and prayers in our church. We often have visitors and some have

stayed and been received into the Orthodox faith. This has given us

a varied group of believers from all economic backgrounds that defy

typical church structures.

Friendship evangelism has probably been the most effective and

sincere form of evangelism in our community. Christians who take

their faith seriously and honestly impress people. They are also

appreciative of Orthodox Christians who clearly enjoy their church

and show it through their enthusiasm for the prayers and services

With the rich wealth of theology and spiritual writings, the Ortho

dox Church has also been a major draw for college students. We

currently have two colleges who encourage their students to visi

one of our services as part of their religious studies classes becausewe are so different from the usual mix of Protestant or Catholic

churches.

Fr. John also has had the opportunity to speak at Humboldt State

University on a regular basis. Currently our attendance averages

25-45 on any given Sunday with more attending for Nativity or

Pascha. In the last two years we have added ten new converts and

presently we have several catechumens preparing to enter into the

Church. The critical thing is that those who have come in have

stayed. That is a good sign.

Part of the draw for many new converts to Orthodoxy is the beauty

of the physical building of an Orthodox church and the beauty ofthe prayers. We have a unique building that is over 120 years old

This is both a blessing and a worry. Older buildings often need a

great deal of care especially if they have been badly neglected as

our building has. Still, we have managed to transform an 1884 Con

gregationalist church into an Orthodox church reflecting the flavo

and design of our Alaskan neighbors.

The church was truly transformed when we painted it white with a

deep blue trim. It ceased to be a city eyesore after a paint job tha

had not been done on over twenty years. Before it was painted

many assumed it was abandoned! The inside of course was the

most challenging and the results have been the most pleasing. Ourcommunity rallied together and remodeled the interior of the build-

ing, replacing the wood floor with a new one and painting the walls

We also added to our existing iconostasis. Copying a design from

an iconostasis in Russia, we painted our iconostasis in tones of

yellow-gold and olive green with gold vine work. Mark Sheldon, a

young convert to Orthodoxy and an excellent student of iconogra

phy, painted three icons for us and designed and repainted the

iconostasis. It now looks like a completed work rather than just a

white wall that we hung icons on. Especially moving is the icon

depicting Christ in Glory just above the royal doors. All of this work

has paid off, as the members of our mission are excited and eager to

invite others and continue the work here at St. Innocent MissionParish.

If you would like to visit our church, we are located just a few blocks

from Highway 101 as it travels north or south through Eureka. Jus

look for the gold dome just south of the local landmark hotel, the

Eureka Inn.

Our website is http://saintinnocenteureka.homestead.com

stienter.html and our phone is 707-443-2099. Please feel free to visi

our wonderful mission in northern California.

St. Innocent Orthodox Mission

in Eureka, CaliforniaBy Roger Elliott


13/189

The Orthodox Vision

o Icons

o Hand-made Rugs

o Worship Items

o Prayer Ropeso Cds

o Books and more Books

Protection of the Holy Virgin

Monastery Catalog

To recieve the catalog call

(719)748-3999

or write

Protection of the Holy Virgin Monastery

2343 County Road 403

P.O. Box 416

Lake George, CO 80827Teen Retreat 2002By Natasha Prybyla

Goodbyes are the hardest, especially when it comes to the church

retreats that I along with many other Orthodox teens attended in the

past years. Meeting people, on the other hand, is inevitable. Three

years ago, when I attended my first retreat at Saint Pauls Church in

Las Vegas, Nevada, I met about fifteen people in less than five min

utes. It was an incredible experience for me to meet so many peers

who have one powerful thing in common: Orthodoxy.

The most recent retreat, which was held at the end of October, teenagers from Colorado, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Las Vegas (o

course) and even Canada attended the retreat. Fr. Michael Senyo

talked to us about the life of Mother Maria Skobtsova. Deacon

David Fabula, Helen Ferrari and Nadine Wood discussed with u

the answers to frequently asked questions about our faith. Thi

year, we took a trip to Hoover Dam. When were not busy discuss

ing our faith, praying or out sight seeing, we are usually playing

games, getting to know each other better and just enjoying each

others fellowship.

Another thing that contributes to my desire to go back each and

every year is the trust that goes on between the adults and the teen

and also how comfortable everyone feels with each other. We are

free to speak our minds without having those limitations we have to

watch out for because we might upset someone or feel embarrassed

This helps us learn more about our religion and even ourselves. Im

sure most people feel the same way since each year they all come

back and even bring along some new faces. I hope that writing thi

article will bring an interest to high school students to attend thi

retreat and I know that they will enjoy it as much as I do, if not more

Trust me, its worth the drive.

Natasha is a teen parishioner at St. Innocent Church in Tarzana

California.


14/1810

The Orthodox Vision

Everyone capable of thanksgiving is capable of salvation and eter-

nal joy. These words, spoken by Fr. Alexander Schmemann during

his last sermon on November 24, 1983, teach us the importance of

giving thanks to God. Indeed, with these words, Fr. Alexander shows

us that in order to be truly human in the manner that God intended

us to be, we must live life with the humble and gracious

acknowledgement that everything, including our lives, is a gift from

Him. Thus, to live a life of thanksgiving is to fulfill one of our

highest callings. Such is expressed at every Divine Liturgy when the

Priest holds up the Patten and Chalice and proclaims: Thine own of

thine own we offer unto thee, on behalf of all and for all. In this

proclamation, the Church recognizes that all of creation belongs to

God alone, and that we, created in His image and likeness, must give

thanks and offer back to God that which is already His.

It is in this context that we must examine our participation and will-

ingness to support our Diocese. By supporting the Diocese and its

work, we are not simply paying our dues, but giving back to God of

our time, talents and treasures. For guidance, we can look to Scrip-ture. For example, in the Book of Leviticus, we can read of the

Jewish practice of thanksgiving. The Jews did not offer to God the

blemished and broken lambs, but the choice ones, spotless and

pure. The lamb was then offered and the blood was sprinkled about

the altar as a sign of Gods participation in the sacrifice. We, as

Orthodox Christians, should have this same approach when giving

to God the fruit of our labors. We are called to offer up our first

fruits, and not what is left over after our needs and wants are met.

I realize that when we hear these words on Stewardship, we seem-

ingly are confronted with the impossible, and tend to immediately

push these words to the back of our minds. However, we can look at

our simplest actions and find an opportunity for repentance. Simplythink about how we tend to give to the collection at Church. Typi-

cally, we reach for our wallet and give the smallest amount possible,

passing quickly over the 20s, 10s and 5s. Not only does this

repeated action damage our own soul, but also our childrens, who

standing next to us, witness that it is only the leftovers that we offer

back to God. This is why from generation to generation we see no

growth in giving, because from generation to generation, our chil-

dren learn to do no differently.

This New Year provides us with an opportunity to start something

new in our lives and in our childrens lives by answering the call to

give thanks to God by supporting our Diocese. With your support,

the Diocese is no longer an intangible institution in the far distance,

but rather becomes yourDiocese. It is no longer work that is beingdone by someone else, but by you, through your generosity.

This years Diocesan assembly approved a plan to raise $60,000 in

Stewardship for the support of a number of important programs.

While some of these programs are budgeted, they still need the help

of charitable and voluntary giving from all the faithful of the Dio-

cese. One such program is the new seminarian financial aid pro-

gram. The Assembly approved $16,000 to be allocated to support

our thirteen seminarians at St. Tikhons and St. Vladimirs. While

$16,000 is a good start, it will not go a long way in offering substan-

tial help to these people who have given up much to go to seminary

and train for leadership positions in the Church. The average cost,

for example, for simply a single student at St. Vladimirs Seminary, is

over $10,000 a year. By supporting our seminarians, the Diocese is

investing in the future and well being of our parishes and Diocese

We all know of the efforts of His Beatitude, Metropolitan HERMAN

and the Holy Synod, in protecting the sanctity of life. We, as Ortho

dox, believe that all human beings are created in the image and

likeness of God. The Martha and Mary House in San Diego is a

Diocesan institution dedicated to not only proclaiming the truth

about the sacredness of life, but also living out that truth in taking

care of single mothers who chose to give birth to their children

instead of having an abortion. They house and provide for these

women while also giving them a Christian environment, making thei

decision to give birth much easier.

Our Mission program also seeks to proclaim the truth of Holy Or-

thodoxy by supporting and planting missions all over the West so

that everyone will have access to the holy work of Christs Church.

Many of our mission priests struggle to make ends meet for theirfamilies. We have the ability to help our mission priests, so tha

they may concentrate fully on proclaiming the Gospel, rather than

constantly worrying how they are going to provide for their family

The Life-Giving Spring Retreat Center in Boulder City, Nevada strives

to be a spiritual haven for all who seek Christ. The Retreat Center i

a wonderful opportunity for Orthodox in the West to come together

for worship, education and fellowship. The retreat center encoun

ters many non-Orthodox groups who want to learn more about ou

Church, providing opportunities for evangelism.

Those who continue to pray unceasingly for our salvation, the

dedicated monastics of our Diocese, also need help in many areasThe monks at the Monastery of St. John of Shanghai and San Fran-

cisco, for example, live in extremely dangerous conditions. With ou

help, they may make the needed renovations to their dormitory, in

order that they may live in a warm and safe environment.

When we offer thanksgiving in our lives, we are proclaiming the

glory and saving grace of God, and working toward our eternal

salvation. Let us seek to be joyful in all that we have and to worship

God in love; then we will find that we offer back to God not the

broken lamb grudgingly, but the spotless and unblemished one in

love and faith. If you would like to become a Steward please send a

check to:

Office of the Treasurer

Diocese of the West

25 Captains Cove

Oakland, CA 94618

Please state on the check that it is for Stewards of the West. I

you are already a Steward of the West and did not receive an appeal

this winter then you may also send a check to the above address.

For questions or comments please contact:

Fr. Lawrence Gaudreau.

701 Park Place

Boulder City, NV 89005

702-293-7208

Stewardship & SalvationBy Priest Lawrence Gaudreau, Department of Stewardship


15/18

The Orthodox Visio

11


16/1812

The Orthodox Vision

The Kingdom of God is not a Talmud, nor is it a mechanical collec-

tion of scriptural or patristic quotations outside our being and our

lives. The Kingdom of God is within us, like a dynamic leaven which

fundamentally changes mans whole life, his spirit and his body.What is required in patristic study, in order to remain faithful to the

Fathers spirit of freedom and worthy of their spiritual nobility and

freshness, is to approach their holy texts with the fear in which we

approach and venerate their holy relics and holy icons. This liturgi-

cal reverence will soon reveal to us that here is another inexpress-

ible grace. The whole atmosphere is different. There are certain vital

passages in the patristic texts which, we feel, demand of us, and

work within us, an unaccustomed change. These

we must make part of our being and our lives, as

truths and as standpoints, to leaven the whole.

And at the same time we must put our whole

self into studying the Fathers, waiting and mark-

ing time. This marriage, this baptism into patristicstudy brings what we need, which is not an ad-

ditional load of patristic references and the

memorizing of other Peoples opinions, but the

acquisition of a new clear-sighted sense which

enables man to see things differently and rightly.

If we limit ourselves to learning passages by

heart and classifying them mechanically-and

teach men likewise-then we fall into a basic er-

ror which simply makes us fail to teach and make

known the patristic way of life and philosophy.

For what is altogether distinctive about the

patristic creation is that it is conceived and held

together, it is formed and grows, as a result of the grace and power

of the freedom of the Spirit.

What the Fathers require and give is the change which comes from

the Spirit. If we want to approach them outside this reality, they will

remain for us incomprehensible as writers and scorned as persons.

Communication of the patristic word, the word of the Holy Fathers, is

not a matter of applying their sayings to this or that topic with the help

of a concordance. It is a process whereby nourishment is taken up by

living organisms, assimilated by them and turned into blood, life and

strength. And, subsequently, it means passing on the joy and pro-

claiming this miracle through the very fact of being brought to life, anexperience we apprehend in a way that defies doubt or discussion.

Thus the living patristic word is not conveyed mechanically, nor pre-

served archaeologically, nor approached through excursions into his-

tory. It is conveyed whole, full of life, as it passes from generation to

generation through living organisms, altering them, creating fathers

who make it their personal word, a new possession, a miracle, a wealth

which increases as it is given away. This is the unchanging change

wrought by the power that changes corruption into incorruption. It is

the motionless perpetual motion of the word of God, and its ever-living

immutability. Every day the word seems different and new, and is the

same. This is the mystery of life which has entered deep into our dead

nature and raises it up from within, breaking the bars of Hell.

Offering the words of the Fathers to others means that I myself live

that I am changed by them. And so my metabolism has the power to

change them, so that they can be eaten and drunk by the person to

whom I am offering them. This change of the word within man, andthe change in himself resulting from it, preserve unchanged the

mystery of personal and unrepeatable life which is patristically

taught and given. It is like the food a mother eats: it nourishes he

and keeps her alive, and at the same time becomes within her

mothers milk, the drink of life for the stomach of her baby.

How beautiful it is for a man to become theology. Then whatever he

does, and above all what he does spontaneously, since only what is

spontaneous is true, bears witness and speaks

of the fact that the Son and Word of God was

incarnate, that He was made man through the

Holy Spirit and the ever-virgin Mary. It speaks

silently about the ineffable mysteries which

have been revealed in the last times.

This theological life and witness is a blessing

which sweetens mans life. It is a food which is

cut up and given to others; a drink poured ou

and offered in abundance for man to consume

and quench his thirst. In this state one does

not talk about life, one gives it. One feeds the

hungry and gives drink to the thirsty. By con-

trast, scholastic theology and intellectual con

structions do not resemble the Body of the Lord

the true food, nor His Blood, the true drink;

rather they are like a stone one finds in ones

food. This is how indigestible and inhumanly hard the mass of scho-

lasticism seems to the taste and the mouth of one accustomed to the

liturgy of the Church, and it is rejected as something foreign and

unacceptable.

Our words are often flabby and weak. For the word to he passed on

and to give life, it has to be made flesh. When, along with your word

you give your flesh and blood to others, only then do your words

mean something. Words without flesh, which do not spring from life

and do not share out our flesh which is broken and our blood which

is shed, mean nothing. This is why, at the Last Supper, the Lord

summarized the mystery of His preaching by saying: Take, eat My

Body, Drink My Blood.

Fortunate is the man who is broken in pieces and offered to others

who is poured out and given to others to drink. When his time of

trial comes, he will not be afraid. He will have nothing to fear. He wil

already have understood that, in the celebration of love, by grace

man is broken and not divided, eaten and never consumed. By grace

he has become Christ, and so his life gives food and drink to his

brother. That is to say, he nourishes the others very existence and

makes it grow.

FromHymn of Entry, by Archimandrite Vasileios (Crestwood, NY

St. Vladimirs Seminary Press, 1984), pp. 34-36

From the Fathers

How to Study and Communicate the Words of the Fathers By Archimandrite Vasileios (Gondikakis)


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