Worship, Unity in Christ Key Themes in Metropolitan JOSEPH’s Address to Archdiocese

Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America ^ | 3 August A.D. 2020 | Peter Samore

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For the first time since the Coronavirus pandemic took hold of the world, His Eminence Metropolitan Joseph returned to doing what he loves most – celebrating the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy among his clergy and laity. He had been worshipping God from his chapel at the Archdiocesan headquarters for months, praying for the world and its healing. On Sunday, August 2, 2020, the leader of the Antiochian Archdiocese led worship at St. Nicholas Cathedral in Brooklyn, New York.

Following the reading of the epistle and gospel, Sayidna Joseph addressed the entire Archdiocese via live video (go to 2:06:00). He acknowledged the wide variety of forces that seek to divide, but instead, Sayidna Joseph focused on how to be united during this crisis.

“Christ asks us to follow Him. Following Him means trusting in Him; denying ourselves; praying our way through pressures and anxieties; sowing the seeds of good, kindness, and understanding everywhere; and ultimately living in true unity with one another through love, humility, mutual forgiveness, and service.” His Eminence continued: “Shall a virus or economic instability or political tensions separate us from the love of Christ? The answer is clearly NO.”

His Eminence also referred to Sunday’s epistle reading in which St. Paul talks about preaching the gospel “and not with eloquent wisdom lest the Cross of Christ be emptied of its power.” (I Cor. 1:1-17) “Inundated by media from many sources with words of philosophy, opinion, and rhetoric, we see that the false eloquence of the world does not bring us to salvation or to any understanding of what God wants from us,” Sayidna said. “Quite the opposite. It dangerously sends us into separation from Him – and from one another – by insisting on our own sensibilities, interpretations, and understandings. God has made foolish the wisdom of this world ‘for since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God.’” (I Cor. 1:21-22)

As he leads the Archdiocese that God has entrusted to him, Sayidna Joseph discussed how he has needed to strike a balance between ensuring his churches open for worship while protecting spiritual and physical health. The wisdom of St. Nikodemos of Mount Athos examines violations of the Sixth Commandment – “Thou shalt not kill” – which would include reckless gatherings to spread infectious disease. “Thus, we have justifiably been asked by the civil authorities to act with caution when we gather,” His Eminence said. “I believe St. Nikodemos would agree that those who gather in these times with reckless disregard of the advice of so many Orthodox Christian healthcare professionals could certainly fall under the condemnation of the Sixth Commandment.”

However, the United States and Canada have laws ensuring the freedom of the practice of religion. “We are aware that there have been those in civil authority using this current crisis to unfairly burden churches and deny the faithful of the Holy Sacraments by placing a priority on entertainment and sporting events while virtually ignoring the essential need of every human being to worship,” Sayidna said. “Do not think that this has gone unnoticed or has escaped me. Rest assured that we intend to stand firm in our position to never let any civil authorities violate our right to freely exercise the Orthodox faith according to our traditional practices – including the reception of the Holy Eucharist.”

Following the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy, the cathedral community presented three faithful men with hand painted icons for their dedication and faithfulness during the COVID-19 pandemic, especially during the Great Fast, Holy Week and Paschal periods. They helped keep worship at the cathedral going by their sacrifice. Mark Asproyerakas was given with an icon of St. John the Forerunner, his patron saint, for his tireless efforts in maintaining the cathedral. The community then gave its two main chanters and choir leaders, Protopsaltis Fadi Broumana and George Zain, an icon of St. Romanos the Melodist.

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“We are aware that there have been those in civil authority using this current crisis to unfairly burden churches and deny the faithful of the Holy Sacraments by placing a priority on entertainment and sporting events while virtually ignoring the essential need of every human being to worship,” Sayidna said. “Do not think that this has gone unnoticed or has escaped me. Rest assured that we intend to stand firm in our position to never let any civil authorities violate our right to freely exercise the Orthodox faith according to our traditional practices – including the reception of the Holy Eucharist.”

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Orthodox Ping!

Save Thy people, O Lord,
and bless Thine inheritance.
Grant victory to Thy Church over her enemies,
and protect Thy people by Thy Holy Cross!