VIGIL THE. Growth, outreach focus of 43rd diocesan assembly. Archbishop Job addresses assembly

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1 orthodox CHURCH IN AMERICA DIOCESE OF THE MIDWEST VOLUME 25 NUMBER THE VIGIL Growth, outreach focus of 43rd diocesan assembly LIVONIA, MI The need to grow the Church emerged as a top concern for delegates to the 43rd annual assembly of the Diocese of the Midwest at Holy Transfiguration Church here October 4-6, In his address to over 100 clergy and lay delegates from parishes across the diocese, His Eminence, Archbishop Job of Chicago challenged the faithful to reverse the decline in parish membership while renewing their commitment to proclaim the Gospel. The Very Rev. John Zdinak, diocesan chancellor, echoed Archbishop Job s observations. Stressing that an interest in Church growth and evangelization involves more than merely boosting numbers, Father Zdinak emphasized the importance of diagnosing the problem in an effort to develop the proper response to the decline in membership. It was also noted that, while the Diocese of the Midwest has planted nearly 20 new communities during the past decade, membership in older, established parishes continues to decline. Several newer parishes, however, have experienced rapid growth. In an effort to explore the causes of decline and models for growing the Church, the Rev. Jonathan Ivanoff, a member of the Orthodox Church in America s Department of Evangelization and Church Growth, offered an enlightening presentation. Emphasizing how a parish can reverse a decline in membership if it is willing to scrutinize its vision and resources, Father ASSEMBLY/ 2 Livonia s Holy Transfiguration Church, site of the assembly. Archbishop Job, pictured with Frs. John Zdinak and Robert Kondratick, addresses assembly delegates. Archbishop Job addresses assembly Reverend Fathers, delegates, brothers and sisters in the Lord: Glory to Jesus Christ! I am pleased to greet you with these words words of love, of hope, of purpose as once again we gather as Diocesan Church for the purpose simply of rendering glory to the Lord by the grace of the Holy Spirit. In the opening Service of Prayer, we have prayed that That He will send down the Spirit of wisdom and understanding upon this diocesan assembly, opening our minds and lips and enlightening our hearts. that He will look with mercy upon this assembly, bestowing grace upon its endeavors for the building up of His Church. that He will instill within us oneness of mind, harmony of spirit, good intentions, and wise action for the benefit of His Holy Church. To each of these petitions we have responded with Lord, have mercy perhaps the simplest, most direct, most familiar, and most powerful prayer of the Church. In the observa- ARCHBISHOP/ 6 Complete minutes of the 43nd Diocesan Assembly/ Page 12

2 THE vigil published by the diocese of the midwest orthodox church in america His Eminence, the Most Reverend JOB Archbishop of Chicago and the Midwest 927 N. LaSalle, Chicago, IL / FAX 312/ Father John Matusiak/ Editor Send articles and photos to The Vigil Editorial Office One Wheaton Center #904 Wheaton, IL / FAX 630/ tocmed@aol.com Send address corrections and changes to Diocese of the Midwest 927 N. LaSalle, Chicago, IL Articles in The Vigil do not necessarily reflect the opinions or policies of the Diocese of the Midwest. The publisher and staff assume no responsibility for their contents. ORDINATIONS LUKASHONAK, Alexander, a seminarian of the Diocese of the Midwest,was ordained to the Holy Diaconate by Metropolitan Herman at Three Hierarchs Chapel, St. Vladimir Seminary, Crestwood, NY, to which he is attached. He is under the omophorion of Metropolitan Herman/ May 15, ASSIGNMENTS BOULOS, The Rev. Marc is appointed Priest-in-Charge of St. Elizabeth the New Martyr Mission, Eagan, MN. He remains attached to St. Mary Cathedral, Minneapolis, MN/ September 28, MORBEY, The V. Rev. Andrew, who was Acting Dean, is appointed Dean of St. Mary Cathedral, Minneapolis, MN/ February 15, MUELLER, Rev. Elijah is released from duties at SS Cyril and Methodius Church, Milwaukee, WI, and appointed Acting Rector of St. Clement of Ohrid Church, Merrillville, IN/ August 30, RICHTER, The Rev. Anastasy [Stacey], who was released from the Archdiocese of Canada, transferred to the omophorion of Archbishop Job of T R A N S I T I O N S Chicago, and attached to the Diocese of the Midwest, is assigned Second Priest of St. Mary Cathedral, Minneapolis, MN/ October 15, WILLIS, Deacon Kelsios is released from duties at St. Mary Cathedral, Minneapolis, MN, to which he remains attached, and assigned to Holy Cross Mission, St. Croix Falls, WI/ July 28, WOJCIK, Rev. Bartholemew, in addition to duties at St. Nicholas Mission, Pella, IA, is attached to St. Mary Cathedral, Minneapolis, MN/ September 7, parishes NEW STATUS/ Mission Outreach of Northwest Columbus, OH, is granted Mission Status and is now called All Saints of North America Mission, Columbus, OH. It is serviced by Columbus Deanery clergy/ July 26, NEW MISSION/ The Minnesota Orthodox Outreach, Eagan, MN, has been granted mission status and is now known as St. Elizabeth the New Martyr Mission. The Rev. Marc Boulos is Priestin-Charge/ September 28, Be a part of history Plan now to participate in the celebration of the 100th Anniversary of Saint Tikhon of Zadonsk Monastery, South Canaan, PA America s oldest Orthodox Christian monastery Memorial Day weekend ASSEMBLY /1 Livonia site of assembly Ivanoff traced the parish life cycle and offered insights into areas of serious concern. He also stated that such models must be adapted to each parish s unique situation and setting, adding that no two communities, even those experiencing rapid growth, are alike. In addition to hearing departmental and deanery reports, assembly delegates passed the diocese s 2005 budget and responded positively to the new method for funding diocesan missions developed by Mission Department director, the Rev. Basil Aden. Delegates also approved a recommendation to hold a mini-assembly during the July 2005 All-American Council in Toronto in lieu of a regular assembly. The recommendation was made in light of the financial burden some parishes may face in budgeting for two major events in the coming year. His Beatitude, Metropolitan Herman encouraged the delegates to return to their parishes and put into action all that was discussed and shared during the gathering. Also present at the assembly was Protopresbyter Robert S. Kondratick, OCA Chancellor, who updated delegates on recent events in the life of the OCA and the Church around the world. The highlight of the assembly was the closing Divine Liturgy, at which Metropolitan Herman and Archbishop Job concelebrated. During the closing session, the Very Rev. Andrew Yavornitzky, Michigan dean, and the Very Rev. Michael Matsko, host pastor, were thanked for their efforts in organizing the assembly.

3 THE VIGIL 3 C H R I S T I S B O R N! G L O R I F Y H I M! The Nativity Message of His Eminence, Archbishop Job To the Reverend Clergy, Monastics, and Faithful of the Diocese of the Midwest: Christ is born! Glorify Him! On behalf of His Eminence, Archbishop Job, the members of the Diocesan Council, and the Chancery and Vigil staffs, we wish you every blessing during this most holy season and throughout the new year! Dearly Beloved, In the Vespers for the Pre-feast of the Nativity, we find the following words spoken by the Theotokos: O Most High God, O King unseen, how is it that I look upon You? This theme of looking upon the newborn Infant in the manger; of gazing at the sight of the Lord in the cave at Bethlehem; of beholding the Savior of the world wrapped in swaddling clothes this theme permeates our hymnography and liturgical celebration of the birth of Christ. The shepherds, having been visited by the angels, immediately made haste to Bethlehem, to see this thing which has come to pass [Luke 2:15], and afterward they made known to all around what they had seen. The Magi saw the star, and followed it in order to behold Him Who made the stars. When they arrived at the place where the Child was, they first saw Him with His Mother and fell down and worshipped Him only then did they offer their gifts. In the icon of the Feast, even the animals are not passive: they look with astonishment at the Babe Who is lying in their manger. Numerous hymns in all of the services for the Feast reiterate the importance of this visual experience of the infant Jesus. The dogmatic significance of all these references to seeing, looking, and beholding is clear. We are celebrating the appearance of the Incarnate Word of God. We rejoice that the Only-begotten Son of the Eternal Father, Who cannot be contained by the whole universe, is pleased to be sheltered in a cave. The Unapproachable One is held in human hands and is approached by both small and great. He Whose presence was veiled by the cloud upon the mount in the wilderness, now invites all of humanity to see Him in the face of His Son who has taken on human flesh. As we come to this Feast of the Nativity, let us call to mind the Prophet Moses. His great desire was to see the Lord; to see the salvation of the Lord; to see the Promised Land. For forty years he led the people of God in the wilderness. There were the attacks and temptations of ungodliness and unfaithfulness, both outside of and within Israel. Moses struggled always to be the faithful servant of God and to do His will in all things. Sometimes he failed in his struggle, but always he returned to the Lord in repentance and received the assurance of God s boundless love. It was a great disappointment and sadness for him that he would not enter the Promised Land; but God took him up onto the mountain where he could look out across the valley and see all the land that would be given to Israel. Having been comforted with this sight, he was ready to leave this life. We, too the New Israel are sojourners in the wilderness of a fallen and sinful world. Wickedness, injustice, and brokenness are all around. In a secular society that seems sometimes to have forgotten God completely, we are bombarded by the evil one with words and images that draw us away from the Lord. Sadly, even within our church life we find divisions, strife, and lack of charity. But we must never despair! The ways of the fallen world and our own sinfulness never have the final word. God does not abandon us, but takes each of us not to the top of the mountain like Moses, but to the cave in Bethlehem to see our salvation in the manger. Let us not take a casual or cursory look at the wonderful sight, but let us humbly and lovingly gaze at the Infant lying there, so that we may know; may understand; may feel in the depths of our hearts the greatness of our God and the power of his love. This is our comfort, our strength, our courage, and our life. As we stand before Christ with the Magi and the Shepherds, we can say with Moses [Deuteronomy 34:29]: Happy are you, O Israel! Who is like you, a people saved by the Lord? Invoking God s Blessing upon you, and with prayerful best wishes for your celebration of our Lord s Holy Nativity, I remain Faithfully yours in Christ, + JOB Archbishop of Chicago and the Midwest

4 Chicago Orthodox Christians for Life to participate in annual march on US capital CHICAGO For the fourth consecutive year, the Chicagobased Orthodox Christians for Life is organizing a bus trip to Washington, DC to participate in the annual March for Life January 22-25, Every year, the March is held in January to commemorate that ill fated day January 22, 1973 on which the US Supreme Court s Roe v. Wade decision legalized abortion on demand in the US, said Mrs. Helen O Sullivan, a member of Holy Resurrection Church, Palatine, IL, who is organizing OCLife s participation in the march. We invite everyone to join us as we offer prayerful witness to the sanctity of human life, from its conception. As we join hundreds of thousands of others in marching down Constitution Avenue, we will sing hymns and conclude with a Memorial service led by His Beatitude, Metropolitan Herman, in front of the US Supreme Court. Synergy, a pan-orthodox organization, is funding the bus, with participants paying only $ for lodging. The bus will depart from Saints Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Church, Palos Hills, IL, at 5:00 a.m. on Saturday, January 22, On Sunday morning, January 23, participants will attend the Liturgy at Saint George Greek Orthodox Church, Bethesda, MD, before making an initial visit to DC. Later the same evening, they will either attend Metropolitan Herman with members of Chicago s OC-Life at 2004 March for Life in the nation s capital. a prayer service at the OCA s Saint Nicholas Cathedral or the Rock for Life concert. On Monday, January 24, participants will attend a prayer service and rally at the Elipse at 10:00 a.m. The March formally begins at 1:00 p.m. At 6:00 p.m. the same evening, participants will board the bus for their return trip to Chicago, arriving in Palos Hills at 8:00 a.m. on Tuesday, January 25. To register or to obtain additional information, interested parties are invited to contact Mrs. O Sullivan at 630/ or 630/ New mission extablished in Omaha SOUTH OMAHA, NE On the first weekend of December 2004, His Eminence, Archbishop Job of Chicago received a new mission community into the Diocese of the Midwest, bringing the total number of diocesan parishes and missions m i s s i o n s Omaha mission faithful with Archbishop Job [above]; Fr. Dank and Archbishop Job concelebrate Liturgy in Lincoln [left]. to an all-time high of 77. While the mission has yet to receive a name, its faithful gather in a former Romanian church building. The Rev. James Dank of Lincoln, NE, will oversee the mission s growth until a permanent pastor is assigned. During the same weekend, Archbishop Job visited Saint John of Kronstadt Church, where he concelebrated the Divine Liturgy with Father Dank.

5 THE VIGIL 5 T H E D I O C E S E Archbishop Job makes first archpastoral visit to new Iowa mission PELLA, IA His Eminence, Archbishop Job made his first archpastoral visit to the recently established Saint Nicholas Mission here in conjunction with the celebration of the community s patronal feast. On Sunday, December 5, Archbishop Job was present for the celebration of Vespers, after which he entertained questions from parishioners and visitors. Archbishop Job and the Rev. Bartholomew Wojcik, priest-in-charge, concelebrated the festal Liturgy on Monday, December 6. Two servers, Jonathan and Matthew Klein, were blessed to wear the orarion at the conclusion of the Liturgy. A festive meal followed. Saint Nicholas Mission, of which Father Wojcik is the first resident priest, has grown rapidly during its brief three-year history. It is the only parish of the Orthodox Church in America in the state. Chicago Deanery higher ed class to be repeated WHEATON, IL The Chicago Deanery s higher education program on Orthodox Spirituality, which has been meeting on Sunday afternoons at Chicago s Christ the Savior Church and in Milwaukee, WI since September 2004, will be repeated at Saint Joseph s Church, Wheaton, IL, beginning January The Rev. Elijah Mueller, a Ph.D. candidate at Milwaukee s Marquette University and priestin-charge of Saint Clement Church, Merrillville, IN, will teach the bi-weekly class. Meetings are tentatively slated to convene on Sunday afternoons at 2:00 p.m. A course syllabus may be found on the diocesan web site at pages/news/orthodox_spirituality _class/ The intensive class is of special interest for those desiring to obtain a deeper understanding of the faith. For information or to register for the class, call Saint Joseph rectory at 630/ or send an e- mail to wheatonstj@aol.com. i n b r i e f The newly redesigned diocesan web site recently made its debut through the efforts of Fr. John Schroedel, web master, at In addition to providing a comprehensive directory of diocesan offices, parishes and missions, clergy, and related information, the site also features photo coverage of various events throughout the diocese. Recent back issues of The Vigil are also available in PDF format and may be downloaded. Log on to the site regularly for current news about the Diocese of the Midwest and its parishes. New features will be added to the site on an ongoing basis. Archbishop Job visited with diocesan seminarians studying at St. Vladimir s Seminary, Crestwood, NY in mid-november Nine students from the diocese are studying this year at St. Vladimir s and at St. Tikhon s Seminary, South Canaan, PA. Thanks to the generosity of diocesan faithful and various fundraising events, such as the recent dinner sponsored by the Cleveland Deanery, the diocese was able to present each seminarian with a $1, scholarship in December. Fire recently ravaged the building rented by Holy Cross Mission, Millersburg, OH, temporarily leaving the faithful without a place to worship. According to Fr. Daniel Swires, priest-in-charge of the fledgling community, the mission lost a number of liturgical and other items in the blaze. Parishes, organizations, or individuals wishing to assist with financial donations may send them to the Diocese of the Midwest, 933 North LaSalle, Chicago, IL

6 ARCHBISHOP/ 1 Archbishop Job addresses assembly delegates tions of one author on prayer, The mercy of God is the transforming presence of God Himself; it is this awesome presence made conscious, respected and loved. The mercy of God is the lifegiving perpetuation of that divine energy of the supreme act of the Redeemer s love. It is for this mercy, this transforming presence, this life-giving perpetuation of that divine energy, that we beseech the Lord God for our deliberations during these precious days. Our prayer is no mere formality fulfilling rubrics, tradition, or requirements with the attitude of let s get this over with. My friends, we are dealing here with mercy, with power, with divine grace, with wisdom, enlightenment, and understanding. We encounter challenge and opportunity. We find ourselves being exhorted by the Holy Apostle Paul to redeem the time [Ephesians 5:16a]. And we will fulfill this if we are prepared for wise action and have the conviction, confidence, and determination to let God have His way with us and accomplish His work. My brothers and sisters, every year at this time I am confronted with the task of preparing my report to the diocesan assembly, and no easy task it is for me. By nature, I am not a writer. I prefer to write with paint something I have not done, to my shame, in almost ten years. But preparing my report that I must do, despite my limitations and lack of oratorical skills. I ask myself each year, Can my report be like an icon describing the life of the Diocese of the Midwest and my part in her life as diocesan hierarch? a formidable task to be sure! As in the creation of an icon, with its theme, coloring, and certain iconographic devices such as background, curtains, and gestures, I have employed various themes, images, illustrations, and even a gimmick or two. Over the past several years, I have compared a year in the life of our diocese as a roller coaster ride, with its mixture of hills Donation for orphanages/ During the assembly, Fr. John Memorich [far right], rector of Archangel Michael Church, Broadview Heights, OH, presented Metropolitan Herman with a check for distribution to orphanages in Russia. Fr. Memorich raised the funds through his personal efforts. Also pictured below are Fr. Robert Kondratick, Fr. John Zdinak, and Archbishop Job. Archbishop Job installs the newly elected and returning members of the diocesan council, newly elected representatives to the Orthodox Church in America s metropolitan council, and the 2005 diocesan auditors at the conclusion of the assembly. and valleys, ups and downs, successes and failures, joys and concerns. This image may well characterize each year between assemblies, and its value is not without merit, but I do not want to beat it to death either. In the past, I have spoken about newness, about brush fires and conflagration, and at least once contrasted good news and bad news. I will probably wind up doing that again because it would seem that life in our Diocesan Church always deals with good news and bad news. I have also used the image of a half-filled bottle and how we often look at the bottle as being half-full or half-empty, and what the difference is between the two observations in terms of attitude. Three years ago I prided myself in resisting the temptation to utilize as the theme of my report, 2001 A Space Odyssey, but I will not even mention that! A few days ago, I was reading from Saint Paul s Epistle to the Romans, from the twelfth chapter. The words leapt from the page as I thought about this Assembly: And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith. For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, and so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another. Having then gifts differing, according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy in proportion to our faith; or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching; he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, in liberality; he who leads with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness [Romans 12:2-8]. And so, my friends, we have words here by which to live to live as Diocesan Church, as parishes, as missions, as monastic communities, as Orthodox Christians. In rereading my report to last year s diocesan assembly, one portion of Saint Paul s exhortation became all the more apparent: As Diocesan Church, we must not think of ourselves more highly than we ought to think. Yes, we may on occasion stress diocesan integrity and strive to preserve it in a noble way. Yes, we may speak of our ARCHBISHOP/ 10

7 THE VIGIL 7 S A I N T S O F T H E M I D W E S T ohn Kochurov was born on J June 13, 1871, in the village of Bigildino in Russia s Ryazan province, where his father was the priest. In 1895, after graduating from the St. Petersburg Theological Academy, he met the Bishop of the Aleutians and Alaska, Nicholas [Ziorov]. Inspired by the hierarch s tales of missionary work, he asked if he could be assigned to service in America. Bishop Nicholas consented, and after his marriage to Alexandra Vasilievna, the daughter of a priest in St. Petersburg, and ordination to the priesthood, he arrived in the US in October He was assigned rector of Saint Vladimir Church, Chicago, and priest-incharge of a Slovak mission in Streator, IL, some 90 miles southwest of the city. The faithful of Saint Vladimir parish worshipped on the ground floor of a house, above which were living quarters for the priest, choir director, and their families. The congregation consisted of Russians, Serbs, Galicians, Bulgarians, and Arabs. Father John knew that the parish would require a proper church building to meet the needs of Chicago s growing number of Orthodox Christians. Father John traveled to Russia to raise funds to construct an appropriate church. Upon his return to Chicago, he appealed to prominent citizens for assistance. Eventually, with the help of one of the most renowned architects of the time, Louis Sullivan, he saw to the design and construction of a new church today s Holy Trinity Cathedral which blended traditional Russo-Byzantine architecture with contemporary American elements. Saint Tikhon, who at the time was Bishop of North America, consecrated the church. In addition to his monthly mission trips to Streator, Father John ministered to faithful in Hartshorne, OK; Slovaktown, AK; Buffalo, NY; and Joliet and Madison, IL. He worked diligently to bring isolated Greek Catholics back into communion with the Orthodox Church of their forefathers, and encouraged other clergy to do the same. He also held a deep commitment to the religious education of young people, so as to instill in them the firm spiritual and moral foundations they would need in secular American society. Saint John of Chicago With the vast majority of parishes at that time in the east, Father John was somewhat isolated, yet his wife Alexandra and their three sons were a source of strength. His brother clergy throughout the US held him in high honor and love, and he was awarded the Order of Saint Anna by Tsar Nicholas II in 1903 in recognition of his dedication in building Holy Trinity Cathedral and his missionary efforts. Saint Tikhon elevated him to the rank of archpriest before they both returned to Russia in 1907, after 12 years of ministry in the midwest. The Russia to which Father John returned was very different from the Russia he had left 12 years earlier. Social and political unrest were everywhere, and the Empire was ripe for revolution. At Tsarskoe Selo near Petrograd [Saint Petersburg], Father John was celebrating a Service of Thanksgiving when he chastized an angry and unruly mob of revolutionary sailors who had interfered with his priestly ministry. The sailors attacked, shot, and apparently dragged him over railroad tracks until he was dead. Thus, he became the first priest-martyr of the Russian Revolution. The date of his death is variously given as November 1, November 13, or December 8, 1917 just weeks after the Bolshevik Revolution. He met a martyr s death at the hands of Bolshevik sailors, reads one contemporary account of his death. These revolutionaries objected to Father John s serving a molieben for the salvation of Russia. When he refused to stop, they killed him. Another account relates that Archpriest John Kochurov was shot to death while in his vestments. Wounded, he fell to the ground and sighed heavily, convulsing before death. A voice in the crowd cried, Let s finish him off like a dog. From the day of his martyrdom, Father John has been revered for the mighty witness he offered, both in his homeland and during his ministry in the American heartland. In 2000, he was glorified, together with his contemporary, Father Alexander Hotovitzky (who was responsible for the building of New York s Saint Nicholas Cathedral), by the Russian Orthodox Church with the participation of Metropolitan Theodosius and many faithful from the Orthodox Church in America.

8 p e r s p e c t i v e Father Stephen Kostoff A liturgical hymn from the Vespers of the Great Feast of the Nativity reveals the cosmic dimensions of the Incarnation of Our Lord: What shall we offer Thee, O Christ, Who for our sakes hast appeared on earth as man? Every creature made by Thee offers Thee thanks! The angels offer a hymn; the heavens, a star; the wise men, gifts; the shepherds, their wonder; the earth, its cave; the wilderness, a manger. And we offer Thee a virgin mother! O Pre-eternal God, have mercy on us! All of creation was suffering and groaning in travail as it also awaited the revealing of the sons of God since the time of the Fall into sin, when it too was subjected to futility, not of its own will but by the will of him who subjected it in hope [cf. Romans 8:19-25]. According to the hymn quoted above, in the fullness of time, when God sent His Son into the world, all of creation from the angelic realm to the humble earth itself mysteriously and mystically responded to the recreation of the world and humanity. This recreation was accomplished once and for all when heaven was united to earth through the birth of Christ. When the virgin mother offered herself in response to the Lord s initiative, revealed through the angel Gabriel, all of humanity was represented, so to speak, by her obedience and love. A contemporary Athonite elder, Archimandrite George Capsanis, explains when he writes, We could not have offered the Virgin Mary to God if she had not offered herself to God. This free offering of the Virgin made the incarnation of God possible, for God would not violate our freedom by becoming incarnate without our own consent. The Virgin was able to stand before God as our representative, and to say yes to God. Her deed is a deed of unique responsibility, of love, and of freedom. She gave God what He Himself did not have human nature in order that God might give man what he did not have deification (theosis). Thus the Incarnation of Christ is not only God s free act of offering to man, it is also a free offering from man to God through the Virgin. The anthropological implications of the above passage are truly awesome and worthy of our meditation. Responsibility, love, freedom. What do we do with these incredible gifts that set us apart from the rest of creation? Have we used them recklessly? Toward what goal do we direct them? How often do we consciously offer these gifts back to God in The Incarnation thanksgiving and obedience so as to use them effectively for His service? The very richness of our human nature can be turned against God s will to introduce and perpetuate evil in the world. This is revealed in the slaughter of the innocents, a dark event that attempted to extinguish the Light that entered the world from its very inception. King Herod was furious when he felt deceived by the magi. In the words of Saint Nikolai Velimirovic, Fury was an atmosphere that he [Herod] breathed every day, as is the case, without exception, with men who are slaves to their passions. We can examine this in ourselves: the more we give ourselves over to some passion, the more we find ourselves the children of anger. And anger is the father of murder, as it ultimatley leads to murder. Although others actually executed the innocent children, it is Herod who bears the guilt, according to Saint Nikolai. Herod alone was guilty, he writes. The evangelist seeks by this to teach us to be aware of doing evil through others. If we incite anyone to kill, we have killed, and not he; if we incite anyone to lie, we have lied, and not he; if we incite anyone to steal, we have stolen, and not he; if we incite anyone to commit adultery, we have done this, not he; if we incite anyone to commit any sort of sin, we are the sinners, not he... So it was children that were the first martyrs for Christ. Their premature death by martyrdom is explained by the depths of human sin... They, the most beloved by Christ, suffered first for Him. Is there perhaps something Herodian about our courts and legislators that have legalized and through that very legalization tempted many a massive slaughter of innocents in our day, a slaughter covered up by euphemisms and pseudo-philosophical jargon about the beginning of human life? We have simply lowered the age the nine months of pregnancy and changed the environment from Jerusalem to the womb. And what is our level of resistance to all of this? However, it is spiritually better to look into our own hearts for Herodian traces of fury, blindness, paranoia, lust for power and the other passions that place us in the darkness that the Son of God came into this world to illuminate. May that process of illumination begin or continue as we now await a new year in which, with the help of God incarnate, we will continue to battle against dark forces, both in the world and sometimes in our own hearts, fully knowing that darkness can not overcome the Light [cf. John 1:5].

9 THE VIGIL just for kids! 9 Glory to God in the highest! Hidden in this Christmas tree are at least 10 things found in the icon of the Nativity of Our Lord, God, and Savior Jesus Christ. How many can you find? Here s a hint: Answers may be found vertically, horizontally, diagonally, and even backwards!! After you find all the words, see if you can identify everyone and everything you see in the Nativity icon! During the Nativity season, we greet everyone by saying, Christ is born! And when someone says this to us, we answer, Glorify Him! Hidden words: Angels, star, cave, manger, Mary, baby, shepherds, Magi, Joseph, cattle

10 ARCHBISHOP/7 responsibility and stewardship to the Orthodox Church in America, and with gratitude to God for His mercy and gratitude to our people of good will, we may state that we have been able to continue to do our part. I commented last year about our faithful response to the various annual appeals of the OCA. To my knowledge, our support has been maintained. I might point out, this time, that because of my preference for driving to meetings of the Holy Synod, Lesser Synod, and other official occasions, rather than flying, our diocese over the past 10-plus years has saved the territorial Church thousands of dollars in travel expenses. Also, I believe it is noteworthy to mention that on occasion within the last couple of years, when the Central Church Administration has experienced a temporary cash flow problem, if we were able to send our monthly assessment pardon me, our fair share a couple of weeks early, we have done so. This may perhaps be a small assistance, but I think it is still a helpful expression of our concern and readiness to be of assistance. We still can be grateful that we have good things happening in the diocese on the diocesan level, the parochial level, in the field of missions, with a few new communities being established. We can boast at having nine seminarians this year six at Saint Vladimir Seminary and three at Saint Tikhon Seminary. We continue to attract to our diocese seminarians from elsewhere, perhaps to the consternation of some of my brother bishops, but they are attracted to the Diocese of the Midwest and I am not about to apologize for that. Parish visitations continue, as do visits to summer camps. Deacons and priests are being ordained. New missions are being developed; in fact, a new mission under the patronage of Saint Elizabeth the New Martyr was established officialaly just last week to serve to the south suburbs of the Minneapolis-St Paul area. Our diocesan restructuring, set in motion at last year s assembly, is going well. I had chosen Archpriest John Zdinak, dean of Saint Theodosius Cathedral in Cleveland, OH, to serve as diocesan chancellor. This arrangement already has proven to be very effective. Father John and I talk several times each week, and thus far it has been rather easy for us to maintain oneness of mind when dealing with problems and various situations. Our diocesan council is working diligently for the good of the diocese, and I am pleased to say that I feel encouraged and energized after each meeting. I confess that several years ago I could not have made the same statement. I am grateful to Mr. Joseph Kormos who, although temporarily off the council this year, has provided tremendous input at the meetings as a facilitator for discussion and organization. Reality check. Well, my sisters and brothers, everything looks and sounds quite rosy, does it not? Is the Diocese of the Midwest really in such good shape? And is the purpose of this assembly to give ourselves a great big pat on the back? And are our intentions just to send everyone back to their homes on Wednesday smiling and content that all is as it should be? I submit to you, my beloved, that it is time for a reality check. We have problems real problems concerning growth. We are certainly not the only diocese affected by trends, demographics, and natural attrition. Some dioceses are more greatly affected than ours. The chancellor s report will deal with the nuts and bolts of the problem and provide statistics. I simply want to introduce the topic and provide some observations. For the purpose of illustration, I offer the following scenario: At the annual meeting of a parish let us call it Saint Paphutius parish it was announced that during the previous year there was birth, two baptisms, no conversions, and eighteen funerals. There is a general stir of concern, but then it is revealed that the parish managed to break even financially for the year and that it would probably not be sooner than three years that the church roof would need to be replaced. This is followed by a general sigh of relief. Now, the parish is neither a large one, nor a small one; it is now down in numbers by 17 souls. The new soul added to the community will not be a supporting member for a minimum of 18 years, but the parish broke even and there is the sigh of relief. What is wrong with this picture, and does it sound familiar? My beloved, there is a strange dynamic going on in our diocese. We have a growing number of communities we are up to 76 parishes and missions now. Before long, God willing, there will be 80. As a diocese we are growing and that is wonderful! But our total membership is declining and that is alarming! We are growing and shrinking at the same time. I submit that this is disturbing and unnatural. Something is terribly wrong! And God forbid that anyone leaves this assembly without realizing that there is a problem and that we are obliged to recognize it and to begin dealing with it. There is no place for denial, no room for complacency. It has been said that in the last 25 years or so, there have been various themes or focus areas on an all-church level, presumably carried over to the diocesan level. But history has shown that results were minimal. For instance, concerning the All-American Councils: in 1977, the theme was stewardship, but there is little sacrificial giving and we still have the head tax, although we now refer to it with a prettier name. In 1983 we discussed at length Church growth, but we did not grow. Three years later it was evangelization, but we did not evangelize. Certainly there are some exceptions, and in many cases these generalizations could be considered most unfair. But overall statistics cannot be ignored or discounted. In the last almost 12 years, I have observed many young people in our parishes. Then they take off for college and, I am afraid, most of them I do not see anymore, anywhere. After two or three parish visits over a period of five or so years, I might inquire about some that I remember. Where is so-and-so? Oh, she is in graduate school in California. And how about what s-his-name? Oh, he just got a good job in Florida. That s all fine, but is she part of a worshipping community in California, and is he going to church in Florida? Or have they, along with dozens, perhaps hundreds, of others, simply slipped through the cracks? It seems as though we have no mechanism for keeping track of our young people. Contact is broken and as a result many souls can be lost. My friends, as leaders of the diocese, we must realize that we are at war spiritual warfare and it is time for us to roll up our sleeves and fight for the souls of our people, especially our youth. This requires tremendous work, genuine concern, and personal contact. Our Church school programs and summer camps as such are not sufficient, and there are no guarantees. When someone drops out of sight, we must seek him or her out, as the Good Shepherd left the flock of 99 sheep to save the one who was lost. In terms of evangelism, in many cases we are not going out and preaching Christ and His Church to people who might be interested, or even to those who are not interested but who might just have a change of heart if they encounter excitement about the faith, zeal, love, genuine concern, and commitment. We often wait for someone to discover us, and hope that they stick around. With regard to outreach, we must use the tools available to us. I have met several young people who are now in the Church who told me that their initial contact with Orthodoxy was over the internet, through visiting the OCA website, or a local parish

11 THE VIGIL 11 website. This seems to be the most effective tool we have at the present time for reaching many people. Our diocesan website is really shaping up and can provide links to other sites for maximum effectiveness. I encourage every parish and mission of the diocese to develop a website and to maintain it and update it regularly. In this day and age of cyberspace, a person can begin to hear the Good News and learn about the life of a parish without even leaving the comfort of his or her living room. But there must be the invitation to come and see. Perhaps the greatest and most common detriment to evangelism and Church growth is the apparent lack of enthusiasm for the True Faith of parishioners themselves. Let us face the fact that many of our parishes have become or are becoming Sunday morning only parishes. It is natural in Orthodoxy to celebrate at the Great Feasts, the great and saving events in the life of Our Lord, Jesus Christ, and that opportunity for celebration can be very appealing to the potential convert who has read about such opportunities in articles, in books, perhaps reproduced in a church bulletin or newsletter. For instance, let us consider the Great Feast of the Annunciation a wonderful celebration of the Incarnation of the Divine Logos, a mystery central to the faith. Here is the opportunity through the liturgy of the Church to enter into that mystery, to sing and celebrate it, and to give thanks to the All-merciful Father for the gift of His Christ. The man or woman enters the church only to find a handful of people, some appearing to be in various stages of boredom! Where is the excitement; where is the celebration; where is the zeal for the Faith; where is the glory of the Kingdom? There is nothing that stifles our witness, that sabotages our outreach, more than a near-empty church. Sabbatical. Perhaps I should switch gears for a while. In last year s report, I mentioned milestones in my life for the year years as bishop, 10 years as Bishop of Chicago, and 30 years as priest. For some reason, I did not include my personal celebration of these milestones, but I would like at this time to describe it, because it makes for a good story. Late in 2002, I got the idea that perhaps a type of sabbatical was in order. After all, I had not had a real vacation since 1974, when I visited Mount Athos, and I was considering taking not quite one month off so I did not need the blessing of the Holy Synod. The idea became more and more appealing. I would retreat to my little cottage in Black Lick, PA, the day after the clergy convocation, and I would return right before the beginning of Great Lent. I would spend the entire time attending divine services at Saint John the Baptist Church, reading, sleeping, and walking in the woods. My plan was perfectly delightful. The diocesan council was supportive and most agreeable. Then the unforeseen happened. The priest who had been serving in Black Lick was transferred, and Saint John parish was again without a pastor. But then who turned up again like a bad penny? Yours truly. My sabbatical had ended before it began. With the blessing and encouragement of His Eminence, Archbishop Kyrill of Pittsburgh, I became interim priest for the parish, doing virtually all the things that I did when I was pastor there 20 years before. I served the divine services, heard confessions, counseled some parishioners, and reached out to some who had slipped through the cracks. And, my friends, it was wonderful! There was little rest; rather, there was a great deal of work but a different kind of work that I had not done in quite some time and I loved it! I was reminded of a promise I made to my brother priests in the Altoona-Johnstown Deanery prior to my consecration as bishop. I promised them that I would not forget what it is like to be a parish priest, in the trenches, so to speak. My time back in the parish was a confirmation of the fact that I had not forgotten. I had kept my promise to them, and I keep the same promise to the priests of our diocese. I understand. I came back to the Midwest grateful for the experience, enthused and, as they would say in Black Lick, all charged up, committed to do my part to make our diocese the best that it can be. Elevation. At the Spring Session of the Holy Synod this year, I was taken by surprise. Following the Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts and the meal that followed, I had been talking with some of our diocesan seminarians from Saint Vladimir Seminary who had sung the hymns and responses. As a result, I arrived late for the next session in the Metropolitan s chapel. His Beatitude, Metropolitan Herman stopped me as I was walking in and informed me that the Holy Synod had just elevated me to the rank of Archbishop. My first reaction was to state my unworthiness. His Beatitude replied, We made you worthy. My friends, whenever I confer a clergy award, I remind the recipient that the award is not only for him, but also for his family, his parish family, for myself, and for all who cooperate and assist him in doing God s work. It is in this spirit that I was pleased to accept this honor. I still feel that I am unworthy, but you, my spiritual family, are worthy. The Diocese of the Midwest is worthy, and so is my hometown, the great city of Chicago. Axios! The Tikhvin icon. Much has been publicized about the return of the miraculous Tikhvin icon of the Mother of God from its sojourn of over 50 years in Chicago to its home in Russia at the Tikhvin Monastery. I need not reiterate the history, both ancient and modern. I was privileged to accompany the icon on this journey home and participate in the truly once-in-a-lifetime events that accompanied it. Rather than describe the services, the processions, and the multitudes of faithful, we will be able to see a remarkable video and photomontage, photographed and assembled by my aide, Mr. Joel Wilson, who accompanied me on the trip. I am confident that you will enjoy it and will be uplifted by it. The Vigil. I am pleased to announce that our diocesan publication, The Vigil, is in its 25th year. The current issue, hot off the press, has moved into color, much like The Orthodox Church newspaper. We are grateful to Father John Matusiak for this valuable service to the faithful of our diocese. And once again, on behalf of Father John: Send in your parish news articles! Other concerns. My brothers and sisters in the Lord, in the final analysis as contained in this highly disjointed and often incoherent report, it is still accurate to describe life in the Diocese of the Midwest as a series of hills and valleys, successes and failures, ups and downs. Yes, we have our share of negative factors, but we have our positive aspects as well. Last year s unprecedented assessment increase passed with unprecedented ease. I do not have a deacon yet to assist me in traveling and by serving at all hierarchical services, but we are working on that, and I do have my aide, Joel Wilson, from our Crawfordsville, IN parish who, following his graduation from college, volunteered to assist me during the interim period. When reviewing statistics, I confess that I do get discouraged and occasionally depressed about declining numbers, but then something positive happens to restore the balance and to uplift the spirit. I am happy to say that I receive precious few letters from our people expressing complaint or criticism. Instead, there is an abundance of correspondence that can be characterized as encouraging and even edifying. I would like to share por- ARCHBISHOP/ 14

12 O F F I C I A L MINUTES 43rd Assembly of the Diocese of the Midwest October 4-6, 2004 MONDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2004 The diocesan council held a dinner meeting at 6:00 p.m. under the chairmanship of His Eminence, Archbishop Job of Chicago and the Midwest to review the agenda and consider resolutions. TUESDAY, OCTOBER 5, 2004 The 43rd Assembly of the Diocese of the Midwest was called to order by Archbishop Job at Holy Transfiguration Church, Livonia, Michigan at 10:07 a.m. with the singing of O Heavenly King. I. PLENARY SESSION 1 A. Credentials. The credentials committee reported a total of 116 attendees [1 archbishop, 1 OCA chancellor, 6 lay diocesan council members, 62 clergy delegates, 37 lay delegates, 5 observers and 4 guests], of which 106 were entitled to vote [1 archbishop, 6 lay diocesan council members, 62 clergy delegates and 37 lay delegates]. B. Appointment of Presidium. Fr. John Zdinak, chancellor, lor, appointed Fr. Thaddeus Wojcik lay vice-chairman and Mr. Joseph Kormos clergy vice-chairman. C. Appointment of Secretariat. Fr. Zdinak appointed Frs. John Matusiak and Michael Butler and Mrs. Mary Jane Lucak. D. Appointed Committees. 1. Nominating Committee: Frs. Thomas Mueller and Bartholomew Wojcik; Messrs. Michael Herzak and Sam D Fantis; and Ms. Kitty Mabus. 2. Tellers: Deacon Robert Northrup, chief teller, and all deacons. 3. Parliamentarian: Mr. Herzak. E. Minutes. Minutes of the 42nd Assembly, held in Columbus, OH 6-8 October 2003, were approved as presented upon motion by Fr. Thaddeus Wojcik, seconded by Mr. D Fantis. F. Address of the Archbishop. In his report, which is attached to these minutes and made a part thereof, Archbishop Job highlighted the ministry of the Diocese of the Midwest during the past year. While citing the positive consequences as a result of the diocesan restructuring process, he noted the decline in parish membership and the loss of college-age members. He spoke of the need for evangelization, the use of the internet, and the return to Russia of the Tikhvin Icon. He also shared some of the uplifting correspondence he had received from clergy and faithful of the diocese. At the conclusion of his report, Archbishop Job entertained questions. G. Diocesan Chancellor s Report. In his report, which is attached to these minutes and made a part thereof, Fr. Zdinak reviewed various aspects of the diocesan restructuring process, addressed the importance of growth, discussed the restructuring of the diocesan mission department, announced the appointment of a coordinator for the late vocations program, spoke of standardization of clergy compensation, an urged full compliance with the OCA s policies on preventing sexual misconduct. H. Reports. 1. Chicago Deanery. Fr. Mueller, dean, added that St. Matthew Church, Green Bay, WI had lost several families due to job transfers and the area s economic downturn, emphasizing how relocation due to the economy is a factor that must be considered in assessing the Church s growth. 2. Cleveland Deanery. No additions. 3. Columbus Deanery. No additions. 4. Michigan Deanery. Fr. Andrew Yavornitzky, dean, thanked everyone for their expressions of concern during his recent illness. 5. Minneapolis Deanery. Fr. Thaddeus Wojcik added that the deanery is focused on missionary outreach, with the possibility of establishing two additional missions in the near future. Prospects for establishing a mission in South Dakota are also being explored. 6. St. Louis Deanery. Archbishop Job spoke of the ongoing health problems of the dean, Fr. Thomas Succarotte, and praised the Nativity of the Holy Virgin parish, Madison, IL for the tremendous support it has offered him and his family. The appeal for funds to assist the Succarotte family netted over $15, Greetings will be sent to Fr. Succarotte. 7. Presentation of the Virgin Mary Monastery, Canton, OH. No additions. 8. St. John Monastery, Hiram, OH. No additions. 9. Metropolitan Council Report: Fr. Vladimir Berzonsky added that, since the report was written, arrangements have been made to hold a metropolitan council meeting on November 11. He commended the OCA Chancery for its effectiveness despite financial constraints. 10. Missions. Fr. Basil Aden, mission department director, highlighted various points made in his written report, highlighting the new method by which mission funding would be disbursed, the enhanced role of the department director, and the need for ongoing evaluation of mission efforts. 11. The Vigil. Fr. Matusiak noted that, with the current issue, The Vigil will be printed in full color. He outlined expectations with regard to the submission of articles and photos. With regard to circulation, he noted that 16 parishes had yet to submit their mailing lists, causing delays in distribution. I. Adjournment. The session adjourned at 12:30 p.m. with the singing of the Hymn to the Theotokos. II. PLENARY SESSION 2 The assembly reconvened at 2:02 p.m. with the singing of O Heavenly King. A. Credentials. The credentials committee reported a total of 111 attendees [1 archbishop, 1 OCA chancellor, 6 lay diocesan council members, 60 clergy delegates, 34 lay delegates, 5 observers and 4 guests], of which 93 were entitled to vote [1 archbishop, 6 lay diocesan council members, 54 clergy delegates and 32 lay delegates]. B. Treasurer s Report. The treasurer s report, which is at- MINUTES/ 13

13 THE VIGIL 13 MINUTES/ 12 tached to these minutes and made a part thereof, was given by Mr. John Sedor in the absence of Mr. Robert Koncel, diocesan treasurer. He noted that the 2005 budget reflected a cost of living increase of 2.7% and announced that the fair share for 2005 likewise will be increased by the same percentage. Hence, for 2005, the per member fair share is $73.00 per adult member, reflecting an increase of $2.00 per adult member. The treasurer s report was accepted as presented upon motion by Mr. Sedor, seconded by Fr. Adamcio. C. Auditors Report. The written report noted that all financial matters were in good order with no noted discrepancies. The auditors report was accepted as presented upon motion by Mr. John Mindala, Sr., seconded by Fr. Andrew Clements. D. Address of OCA Chancellor. Protopresbyter Robert Kondratick, OCA Chancellor, addressed the assembly and fielded questions on a variety of issues affecting the life of the Church. He highlighted significant events slated to take place in the coming year, including the 40th anniversary of His Beatitude, Metropolitan Herman s ordination to the holy priesthood and the 100th anniversary of St. Tikhon Monastery; noted that the OCA pension fund was in excellent condition; and reviewed the situation of autocephalous Sister Churches. E. Special presentation on evangelization and Church growth. Fr. Jonathan Ivanoff, a member of the OCA Department of Evangelization, delivered an interesting power point presentation on parish revitalization, turn-around ministry, and Church growth. At the conclusion of the presentation, he fielded questions. F. Video on the return to Russia of the Tikhvin Icon. Attendees viewed the video highlighting the icon s return, in which Archbishop Job participated. G. Adjournment. The session adjourned at 5:20 p.m. with the singing of the Hymn to the Theotokos. WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2004 Metropolitan Herman and Archbishop Job concelebrated the Liturgy with Fr. Kondratick, the deans, and other clergy at Holy Transfiguration Church. Following the Liturgy, the assembly reconvened with the singing of O Heavenly King at 10:35 a.m. III. PLENARY SESSION 3 A. Credentials. The credentials committee reported a total of 114 attendees [1 metropolitan, 1 archbishop, 1 OCA chancellor, 6 lay diocesan council members, 60 clergy delegates, 34 lay delegates, 7 observers and 4 guests], of which 93 were entitled to vote [1 archbishop, 6 lay diocesan council members, 57 clergy delegates and 29 lay delegates]. B. Address of Metropolitan Herman. Metropolitan Herman greeted the assembly and spoke of the importance of growth and revitalization of the Church on every level. He shared his recent experience visiting the Orthodox Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia, where the Church has renewed its life in the face of extreme adversity, and encouraged the faithful of the diocese to follow their example. He urged participants not to get discouraged, to invite the lost sheep to return to the fold, and to grow from success to success in the image of Saint Innocent Veniaminov. Finally, he commended Archbishop Job the clergy and faithful of the diocese to continue their good work in building up the Body of Christ, the Church. C. Resolution regarding the 2005 assembly. Fr. Thaddeus Wojcik called for a motion regarding the 2005 diocesan assembly, noting that the 14th All-American Council is slated to convene in July of the same year. Fr. Zdinak added that the mini-assembly would be limited to reports, finances, and the 2006 budget, with no further business contemplated. Upon motion by Fr. Bartholomew Wojcik, seconded by Fr. Robert McMeekin, it was decided that the 2005 diocesan assembly will meet outside the territory of the diocese, in Toronto, Ontario, during the All-American Council. D. Elections. Nominees for positions on the diocesan council and the metropolitan council and diocesan auditor were presented to the assembly. In the ensuing vote Dr. Richard West, the sole nominee for lay member of the metropolitan council, was elected by acclamation. Frs. Michael Matsko and John Adamcio were elected to the diocesan council, with Fr. Stephen Hrycyniak serving as alternate. Messrs. Joseph Kormos and John Sedor were elected to the diocesan council, with Mrs. Helen O Sullivan serving as alternate. Mr. George Lichvarik was elected diocesan auditor. E. Other resolutions. 1. A resolution submitted by Mrs. Cynthia Bodnar calling for a diocese-sponsored clergy wives retreat was tabled for further consideration by the diocesan council. 2. The diocesan council, citing the intricacies of financing the work of the Church and processes currently in place, did not support a resolution submitted by Mrs. Bodnar calling for parishes to remit 10% of their total income to the diocese and for the diocese to remit 10% of this income to the OCA, nor did it recommend its consideration to assembly delegates. 3. A resolution submitted by Saint Nicholas Church Mogadore, Ohio, to change the date of the diocesan assembly to the second week of October was not supported or recommended by the diocesan council. F. Other business, announcements. 1. Fr. Adamcio announced that Holy Trinity Cathedral would undertake the preparation of a media presentation on the life of the diocese in preparation for the 14th All-American Council and invited interested individuals to assist in this effort. 2. Fr. John Schroedel offered a power point presentation on the new diocesan web site. 3. A brief discussion on parish growth brought to light a variety of ideas and suggestions in this regard. 4. Mrs. Lucak announced the forthcoming Cleveland deanery fundraiser for the benefit of our seminarians. G. Adjournment. Upon motion by Fr. Christopher Wojcik, seconded by Fr. Adamcio, the assembly was adjourned at 12:15 p.m. with a brief Service of Prayer, during which the newly-elected metropolitan and diocesan council members and auditor were installed. Respectfully submitted, Fr. John Matusiak, Fr. Michael Butler, and Mrs. Mary Jane Lucak Approved, Archbishop Job of Chicago

14 ARCHBISHOP/ 11 tions of two letters received within the last two weeks. The first letter is from one of our faithful priests. He writes, I m still walking around bumping into walls in shock that I am a priest in the Orthodox Church in America. I cannot tell you how relieved [we are] to finally be [sic] home. It has been an arduous journey for us, with loss and grief, yet with great joy and peace. We know that we are not alone, we are fellow pilgrims. We re growing liturgically deeper in our worship and adoration of the Holy Trinity. There is a profound sense of God s presence at work in our midst constituting us His Church and making us into a Eucharistic People... The faithful report the peace they have and the sense of being really connected to the larger Church and the experience of continuity that comes from knowing that they are organically members of the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church the very Body of Christ... [Our] youth are excited about the Kingdom of God and His Church... The past several years have been very difficult for the people here, but absolutely necessary for our journey to Christ and His Church. We had to come through a time of purgation and cleansing. This community was invited to experience the Cross by crucifying our pride and dying to the idolatry of our independence and schism. We then were given the gift of experiencing the resurrection that can only come by denying oneself, picking up the cross and really following Our Lord, Jesus Christ in the context of His Apostolic Church. I am excited about what the future holds for [our parish]. On the next day, I received another letter, this time from a young man in his mid-twenties: How wonderful it is to write this to my archpastor, spiritual father and friend... I ve been thinking a lot recently about my life in Christ, and I reflect on all of the wonderful activities I have been blessed to witness. Whether it be experiences at church camps, retreats, FOCA conventions, the All-American Councils, not to mention participation in the liturgical life of the Church, I can t help but believe how lacking my life would be if I did not have these experiences. What s strange is that in each one of these events, I know there were parts that were difficult or that I didn t like, but I can t put my finger on a single incident. It s as if all of the baggage that can come along with Church life in my memory is erased, and all I remember are the good experiences. I often wonder what I would be like if I didn t even go to an All- American Council or my trips to Russia. What would I know? What would I understand? What would I think of the Church and her role in the world? At least for me, I don t know if I would understand what it really means to be Orthodox and I would probably question my orthodoxy. Having watched people choosing to be isolated and not participate in the life the Church outside of their parish, I am saddened. Has your pastoral experience given you any insight as to why so many Orthodox choose to remain isolated? Is it because we are afraid to step outside of our comfort zone? Have we lost our missionary spirit? Do we not understand that a parish is like a family where we have brothers, sisters, parents, children, aunts, uncles, grandparents, all tied to one another by a common bond, full in our own life but even more complete, more full when we come together? Conclusion. My beloved, when I receive letters such as these, I cherish them as true blessings, and I am often brought to tears out of gratitude to God for these fine people and their love and also over my own lack of faith and confidence in the Lord s mercy and compassion. Then I feel humbled, encouraged, and energized. Yes, my friends, we have our ups and downs, but I feel that the positive far outweighs the negative. With God s help, we will overcome the negative entirely. i n m e m o r i a m MRS. ANNA PATEYUK MINNEAPOLIS, MN [OCA Communications] Mrs. Anna Pateyuk, 93, wife of the late Very Rev. Karp Pateyuk, former rector of Saint Mary Cathedral here, fell asleep in the Lord at her home here on Sunday, December 5, Born in what is today Belarus, she and her husband arrived in the US in the late 1940s. From 1948 until 1959, they served Holy Trinity Church, Clayton, WI, after which they served Saint Mary Cathedral until Father Pateyuk s repose in Mrs. Pateyuk was a woman of prayer who put her faith into action through her involvement in many parish and community ministries. She was a long-time member of Saint Mary O Club, the cathedral s Women s Club, and the choir. She was consistently available to the parish faithful, sharing in her husband s ministry and maintaining his legacy after his repose. She is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, Jerry and Diane Patiuk; three grandchildren, Michael Patiuk, Gina Lambert, and Amy Ward; five great-grandchildren, Anna, Nicholas, Alexandra, Natalie, and Gabriella; one sister, Nadia Zaleski; and several nieces and nephews. Funeral services were celebrated at Saint Mary Cathedral on Wednesday, December 8, with interment in Saint Mary Cemetery. May Anna s memory be eternal! I wish to thank the Michigan Deanery and Holy Transfiguration parish for all the time and effort put into hosting this 43rd diocesan assembly and for taking good care of us. I am grateful to Protopresbyter Robert Kondratick Father Bob for being with us to represent the Central Church Administration, and to His Beatitude, Metropolitan Herman, who will join us this afternoon and will be the main celebrant at tomorrow s Divine Liturgy. Many thanks and a tip of the klobuk to our venerable deans, to the members of our diocesan council, to the chancery staff, all of whom work so hard and so faithfully for the building up of our Diocesan Church, for all their efforts and their prayerful support. Once again, I quote from Saint Paul s Second Epistle to the Corinthians: Finally, brethren, farewell. Become complete. Be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with all of you. Amen [2 Corinthians 13:11, 14]. Thank you. Log on to the Diocese of the Midwest s web site at for photos and other information on the recent diocesan assembly.

15 THE VIGIL 15 mission director, also concelebrated, the new sign in front of the church was blessed. Holy Apostles Mission has experienced a great deal of growth in the past few years, despite the fact that Father Brown had been deployed for active duty as a military chaplain in the Middle East during the Iraqi war. The mission also boasts a seminarian, Eric John Iliff, who is completing his second year of studies at Saint Vladimir s Seminary, Crestwood, NY. Archbishop Job with faithful of Bloomington-Normal s Holy Apostles Mission. Mentor bowlers weary but happy after two hours! Cleveland area teens sponsor bowl-a-thons to raise funds for OCA Christmas Stocking project MENTOR, OH Fourteen teens from Saint Nicholas Church here spent two hours of fun during a bowl-a-thon they sponsored to raise funds for the Orthodox Church in America s annual Christmas Stocking project. For several years, the OCA has asked parishes, youth groups, and individuals to raise funds to provide filled Christmas stockings to needy children abroad. This year s project aims to provide stockings or similar Christmas gifts to needy children throughout central and eastern Europe, Albania, and Alaska. The bowlers, according to the Very Rev. Andrew Clements, rector, were a bit weary after two hours of non-stop bowling, but the effort was well worth it! Thirty-three teens from Saint Innocent Church, Olmsted Falls, OH and Saints Peter and Paul Church, Lakewood, OH, joined forces to hold a similar bowl-a-thon for the project. Cheering the youth on were the Very Rev. Michael Butler of Saint Innocent s and the Rev. TImothy Sawchak of Saints Peter and Paul s. According to Mrs. Arlene Kallaur, director of the OCA Office of Humanitarian Aid and Christmas Stocking project coordinator, some 60,000 stockings and similar gifts will be distributed this year, thanks to the overwhelming response of a growing number of parishes. Central IL mission welcomes Archbishop Job BLOOMINGTON-NORMAL, IL The Rev. John D. Brown and the faithful of Holy Apostles Mission here hosted His Eminence, Archbishop Job for an archpastoral visit December 11-12, The faithful have put a substantial amount of work into their recently-purchased church building and property, completely renovating it since Archbishop Job s last visit. Following the Divine Liturgy, at which the Rev. Basil Aden, diocesan Thank you to our Vigil donors With ever-increasing printing and postage costs, your donations to The Vigil are always deeply appreciated! Please consider making a donation today! Anonymous John and Linda Argyrakis, Bloomingdale, IL Ms. Anna Kost, Fairmont, MN Mrs. Roselle Laskowski, Northfield Center, OH S. P. Rydgig, Maryville, IL Mr. Nick Sutko, Oak Lawn, IL DONATIONS TO THE VIGIL Your generosity is deeply appreciated! Name Address City/State/Zip Parish AMOUNT ENCLOSED $100 $50 $15 $25 $ Return with your check payable to the Diocese of the Midwest to THE VIGIL, 933 N. LaSalle, Chicago, IL

16 H A P P E N I N G S Green Bay parishioners knit, send clothing to orphanages GREEN BAY, WI Women from Saint Matthew Church here recently got together to knit warm clothing and blankets for children in two overseas orphanages. Their loving fashions were sent to the Children s Home of Hope in Albania and Saint Nicholas Children s Home in Romania, both of which are operated by OCMC missionaries. We had a great response to the almsgiving opportunity, and collected a nice array of garments for the children, said parishioner Krista Luethje. The packages were completed and shipped in hopes of reaching their destinations well before Christmas. The Rev. John Wehling is acting rector of the active parish. Two Chicago area parishes offer support to seminarians BURR RIDGE, IL In an expression of commitment to the training of future priests for the Orthodox Church in America, THE vigil 933 N. LaSalle, Chicago, IL RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED two Chicago area parishes recently announced that they are offering support to two diocesan seminarians. At their recent annual meeting, the members of Saints Peter and Paul Church here voted to continue providing support to a deserving seminarian s family. According to Mr. Joseph Bilas, this year s recipients are Nicholas and Cathy Dellermann and their family. Nicholas is a student Saint Tikhon s Seminary, South Canaan, PA. The parish conducts a free-will offering on the fourth Sunday of every month which is earmarked for the Dellermann family. Our parish has a history of extending a helping hand to those in need, said Mr. Bilas. In past years we assisted Father John Wehling and his family when he was pursuing seminary studies. Father John is now acting rector of Saint Matthew Church, Green Bay, WI. In years past, the parish also has offered loans to help new parishes or to assist with building projects, including Saint Herman Church, Wallingford, PA; Holy Resurrection Church, Palatine, IL; Archangel Michael Church, Burbank, IL; Saint John the Baptist Church, Black Lick, PA; and Saint John Monastery, Hiram, OH. The Very Rev. Stephen Karaffa is rector of the parish. The faithful of Saint Joseph Church, Wheaton, IL, are sponsoring Joseph and Nina Matusiak this year. Joseph is a second-year student at Saint Vladimir s Seminary, Crestwood, NY. Joseph, a son of St. Joseph s, and Nina, a native of Bialystok, Poland, are expecting their first child in March With at least one other member of our parish contemplating future studies at the seminary, we hope to set a precedent in terms of offering financial assistance, said Mr. Frank Markov, parish treasurer. In 2004, the parish also donated a full annual salary for a missionary priest in Africa through the Orthodox Christian Mission Center in St. Augustine, FL. Both parishes also have been major supporters of the Chicago deanery s annual fundraiser, the proceeds of which help provide regular stipends to the Midwest Diocese s growing number of seminarians. Non-Profit Organization U.S. Postage PAID Permit No. 1 Hinsdale, IL 60521