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Fr. Chad Hatfield, Chancellor/CEO, drapes Metropolitan Joseph with the doctoral hood (Photo: Jasmine Yedigarian)[SVOTS Communications/Yonkers, NY] 

On Monday, September 14, 2015, the Board of Trustees and Faculty of St. Vladimir’s Seminary bestowed a Doctor of Divinity degree, honoris causa, on His Eminence Metropolitan Joseph. (View the photo gallery)

Additionally, His Beatitude the Most Blessed Tikhon, primate of the Orthodox Church in America, was awarded with an honorary doctorate as well.

“We have the great honor today of being able to bestow the degree of Doctor of Divinity, honoris causa, not upon one, but two worthy recipients—two leading hierarchs of the Orthodox Church in this country—the President and Vice President of the Board of Trustees of St. Vladimir’s Seminary,” noted the Very Rev. Dr. John Behr, Dean. “Both hierarchs, although only appointed to their positions in recent years, have distinguished themselves through many years of ministry. Your Beatitude and Your Eminence, you truly honor us today by your presence and acceptance of the degree to be awarded.”

Pastoral Message for the Elevation of the Precious and Life Giving Cross
September 14, 2015

"As the Cross is lifted up, it urgeth all of creation to praise the immaculate Passion of the One Who was lifted up thereon. For by means of the Cross, He slew him that slew us; and He made the dead to live again, making them beautiful, granting them the Heavens as dwelling-place, because He is compassionate, in the unsurpassed and unspeakable excess of His goodness. With joy, then, let us all exalt His Name, while magnifying His infinite condescension toward our race."

(From The Vesperal Stichera for the Elevation of the Cross)

We greet you with love and joy on this Feast of the Elevation of the Precious and Life Giving Cross. The Sticherion from the Vespers of the feast which is quoted above transmits to us the essence of this feast. The lifting up of the Cross upon which our Lord and God and Savior Jesus Christ was crucified draws us near to His passion, and reminds us that He has defeated Satan and all his power once and for all. By His Passion He brought life to those who were in the tombs, restoring them to the beauty with which they had when God created them and opening up the heavens as their dwelling place. Lastly, He did this not only for those who were in the tombs, but for all of us who place our hope in Him.

The following article inaugurates a new series on Antiochian.org. In "Antiochian Profiles," we will feature some of the many eminent Christians of past and present who have found a spiritual home in the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America. This story, written by Michael Price and published by the Conciliar Press (now Ancient Faith Publishing) magazine AGAIN in 2004, describes the remarkable life of the newly reposed Archdeacon Basil Rives of Santa Fe, NM.

Deacon Basil Rives of Holy Trinity Orthodox Church in Santa Fe, New Mexico, is a man of many names. He began his life under the name of Harold, “although for some reason I was always called Bill as a child, even though that is nowhere in my name,” he said. Other monikers include Hal and Slim. Nowadays, his fellow parishioners know him affectionately as Fr. Basil.

Like many veterans, no matter from which war, his military experiences have affected and solidified his spiritual beliefs.

August 2015

I send you greetings on behalf of the new officers and coordinators of the North American Board (“NAB”) of the Antiochian Women.  We were blessed to have been sworn in by His Eminence Metropolitan Joseph on Wednesday, July 22, 2015 during the Archdiocese Convention in Boston, Massachusetts.

Earlier that same day at the Antiochian Women’s brunch, we were honored to present a check for $142,724.42 to Metropolitan Joseph – in the presence of His Beatitude John X – for our 2014-15 Project:  “Nurturing the Seeds of Orthodoxy Across North America: Regional Camps and Learning Centers and Monastic Communities.”  We also presented His Eminence with a check for additional contributions to our 2013-14 Project to “Help the Orphans of War in Syria,” for a combined total of $300,095.00.  God bless each of you for your magnificent efforts. 

Knowing that we will not allow ourselves rest, Metropolitan Joseph tasked us with a NEW Project: “Hungry Children At Home and Abroad.”  Read information about this very worthy cause from our Vice-President/NAB Project Coordinator, Kh. Suzanne Murphy.

A new prayer section was recently launched on Antiochian.org. The section is linked on the Archdiocese website's homepage "Worship & Devotion" sidebar and in the footer navigation, and is available across all devices. This means that the most popular sections of A Pocket Prayer Book, the well-loved Antiochian Archdiocese spiritual resource affectionately known as "The Little Red Prayer Book," are now readily available to Antiochian.org's many weekly visitors.

So far, the collection of online prayers includes: Morning Prayers, Midday Prayers, Evening Prayers, Occasional Prayers, Prayers in Preparation for Holy Communion, Prayers of Thanksgiving After Holy Communion, Self Examination Before Confession, and Prayers After Confession. Other prayers may be added as appropriate.

The original prayer book, containing Daily and Occasional Prayers as well as the Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom, was first published in 1956 and is in its thirteenth printing.

Order a hard copy from the Antiochian Village Bookstore.

A Synaxis of the Antiochian World:
A Report on the 52nd Convention of the
Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America
Boston, Massachusetts, July 20-26, 2015
By Subdeacon Peter Samore

“O Antioch: lift up your eyes and look around, for your sons came like the pearls shining with the light of God from the West, and the North; from the sea, and the East, glorifying Jesus Christ in you to the ages of ages.” – St. John of Damascus

These words best describe the communion of the apostolic Orthodox Church of Antioch that can never be broken, even if oceans keep her children at a distance from one another. Our Lord, God and Savior Jesus Christ is at the center of the Antiochian communion, manifest by the apostles and their spiritual descendants who proclaimed Christ’s gospel in all corners of the world throughout all ages.

Icons of the Dormition of the Theotokos, the patronal feast of St. Mary Antiochian Orthodox Church of Cambridge, MA, host parish of the 52nd Archdiocesan Convention.The Liturgical Texts for August, blessed by His Eminence Metropolitan Joseph, are now ready for clergy and laity to download from the Online Liturgical Guide.

This month, the last of the Orthodox Christian liturgical calendar, features two of the twelve Great Feasts celebrated by the Church: the Transfiguration of our Lord, God and Savior Jesus Christ (August 6); and the Dormition, or Falling-Asleep, of the Most-Holy Theotokos, the Ever-Virgin Mary (August 15). Celebration of these two feasts are not limited to one day each, but are expanded to seven days after the Transfiguration, and eight days after the Dormition.

In preparation for the Dormition, many parishes sing the famous Paraklesis Service with the Little Supplicatory Canon to the Theotokos.

L to R: Fr. John Behr, Patriarch John X, Metropolitan Tikhon, Metropolitan Joseph, Fr. Chad HatfieldView the Patriarchate's Facebook photo album

On Monday, July 27, 2015, the Board of Trustees and Faculty Council of St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary bestowed a Doctor of Divinity degree honoris causa upon The Most Blessed John X (Yazigi), Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch and All the East [read the Citation here].

In his remarks following the ceremony, His Beatitude underscored the bonds of unity—past, present, and future—between the Church of Antioch and the seminary, He also captivated the hearts of the more than 200 people who had gathered to honor him, as he passionately called for peace for all peoples in his homeland of Syria and its neighboring countries in the Middle East.

“I am very thankful for two important facts,” His Beatitude began, “first, for the numerous Antiochian priests and bishops who received their theological formation at St. Vladimir’s Seminary, and second, for the longstanding relationship that exists between the [Antiochian] Archdiocese and the seminary, a relationship fostered by the late Metropolitan Philip of thrice-blessed memory, which continues to be strengthened today by my brother [in Christ], Metropolitan Joseph.