SPECIAL Wed. Oct. 27th NO VESPERS-- TWU event Fr. John Behr

PLEASE NOTE: for this date only, Oct. 27th, our Wednesday daily vespers will be CANCELLED to enable us to attend this free event with St. Vlad's professor Fr. John Behr at Trinity Western University.  Fr. John has agreed to spend a little time with us afterward, likely at the Dublin Crossing-- details to be confirmed on the day. 

Map & Directions to TWU

The Very Rev. John Behr, Professor of Patristics, St. Vladimir’s Seminary in New York 

WED. OCT. 27^TH AT 7:30 P.M. 

IN THE NW AUDITORIUM AT TRINITY WESTERN UNIVERSITY

 SPONSORED BY THE CANADA RESEARCH CHAIR IN INTERPRETATION, RELIGION AND CULTURE

AND BY THE RELIGIOUS STUDIES DEPARTMENT AT TWU.

“Orthodox Christianity as Paideia: Faith, Reason, and Culture in the Early Church.”

Fr. John Behr is the Dean of St Vladimir’s Seminary and Professor of Patristics, teaching courses in patristics, dogmatics and scriptural exegesis at the seminary, and also at Fordham University, where he is the Distinguished Lecturer in Patristics. Fr. John hails from England, though his family background is Russian and German - and clerical on both sides.

After completing his first degree in Philosophy in London in 1987, Fr. John spent a year studying in Greece. He finished an M.Phil. in Eastern Christian Studies at Oxford University, under Bishop Kallistos (Ware), who subsequently supervised his doctoral work, which was examined by Fr. Andrew Louth and Rowan Williams, now Archbishop of Canterbury. While working on his doctorate, he was invited to be a Visiting Lecturer at St Vladimir’s Seminary in 1993, where he has been a permanent faculty member since 1995, tenured in 2000, and ordained in 2001. Before becoming Dean in 2007, he served as the editor of St Vladimir’s Theological Quarterly, and he still edits the Popular Patristics Series for SVS Press.

His early work was on issues of asceticism and anthropology, focusing on St. Irenaeus of Lyons and Clement of Alexandria. After spending almost a decade in the second century, Fr John began the publication of a series on the Formation of Christian Theology, and has now reached the fifth and sixth centuries. He has recently completed an edition and translation of, and introduction to, the remaining texts of Diodore of Tarsus and Theodore of Mopsuestia. He has also published a synthetic presentation of the theology of the early centuries, focused on the mystery of Christ.

Fr. Behr is the author of the following books which will be available for purchase at the lecture:

• The Mystery of Christ: Life in Death (Crestwood, NY: SVS Press, 2006). 186 pp.
• The Nicene Faith, vol. 2 of The Formation of Christian Theology (Crestwood, NY: SVS Press, 2004). 2 vols in paper; single hardcover volume 580 pp.
• The Way to Nicaea, vol. 1 of The Formation of Christian Theology (Crestwood: SVS Press, 2001). 261 pp

Baby Bishop

Just a reminder to the parish women about the baby shower for Robyn & Ryan's wee one

When: Sunday, November 28th
Time: 2:00pm
Where: Ana Wright's house
What: please bring something edible to share - remember it will be the Advent fast.

Also - I am collecting money for a stroller so if you are so inclined you are welcome to give your stoller donation to me any Sunday between now and November 21st.

Thanks!

Re: The Allegations against Abp. Seraphim

By now most of you have heard that our Archbishop is under investigation by the Winnipeg police. He is on a leave of absence, which was announced on OCA.org. That announcement is also quoted by Bishop Irenee in a newly posted letter,which can be read via this link:

http://archdiocese.ca/news/2010/20101006-Leave-of-absence.htm

Some of you were present at vespers on Wednesday when we prayed about this matter, along with various other requests for particular needs, as we do every vespers. At that time, Fr. Lawrence gave a brief message prepared by him with help from Dn. Kurt and Dn. Greg. Several people have since asked for a copy, so it is now being posted here. You will find that Fr. Justin has also posted a helpful message on the St. John's blog.

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Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ:
No doubt most of you will have heard about the allegations made about our Archbishop in the media. Regarding this situation, I would like to say the following:
1. The first thing to remember is that Jesus Christ is the same, yesterday, today and forever. He is the true head of our Church, not Archbishop Seraphim or Fr. Lawrence or anyone else. As such, we continually look to Him for support. As the Scripture says, the joy of the Lord is our strength.
2. The archdiocese is currently in the capable and loving hands of Vladika Irenee, who has been given the task of being the Administrator of the Archdiocese for the present time. He has been at our church, and we have already experienced his pastoral care. 
3. The clergy of the Archdiocese, to the best of my knowledge, do not know anything beyond what they have read in the media and on the official OCA website. We found out about this situation when everyone else did.
4. The Archbishop has not been charged yet with anything. Certain allegations have been made, but to date, no charges have been laid.
5. The Church is cooperating with the police, and is also conducting its own investigation, as mandated in its Policies, Standards and Procedures on Sexual Misconduct. 
6. The early date of the alleged offence has no moral significance for the question one way or the other--the passage of time in itself does not lessen any offence.
7. The sacramental acts done by any cleric are not dependent upon his moral state--any baptisms or ordinations done by the Archbishop will remain valid regardless.
8. The proper response to the situation is prayer for all concerned, not speculation.
It is tempting to cope with the situation by talking endlessly about anticipated or feared outcomes.
The hardest thing is to simply wait and pray. But we must not let either any love for our Archbishop on the one hand, or any sense of moral indignation regarding the alleged offence on the other, dislodge us from our posture of prayer. We do not know the events of the past, or the outcomes of the future. All we know is that we are all in the hands of God.

All my love in the Lord,
Fr. Lawrence

Thanksgiving next weekend-- please bring your harvest baskets for blessing!

Sorry this announcement got missed yesterday! 

Sun. Oct 10th—Liturgy w. blessing of 

THANKSGIVING HARVEST

Please bring your harvest bounty (on Saturday night or early before liturgy) to decorate the temple and be blessed with holy water.