Divine Liturgy and the rite of consecration, and the rite of nomination held the evening before, were celebrated and performed by His Eminence Metropolitan Hilarion, President of the Synod of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, His Grace Bishop Daniel of Erie, and His Grace Bishop Peter of Cleveland.
The election of Fr John as Bishop of Caracas took place at the recent Council of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, and, in accordance with the Act of Canonical Communion signed on May 17, 2007, was confirmed by His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II and the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church.
The divine services of June 21, as is customary in the Old-Rite Church of the Nativity in Erie, was performed in the ancient tradition. Participating were a multitude of clergymen who gathered in the city for the Orthodoxy in the 21st Century Conference, including Priest John Mirolub, Secretary of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Committee on Old-Rite Parishes.
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beautiful pictures showing the richness of the Liturgy.
ReplyDeleteWhy aren't Bishops allowed to marry in the Eastern churches?
ReplyDeleteAnonymous,
ReplyDeleteCelibacy among the clergy (which is universal and mandatory at all ranks among the Romans) has a long history. St. Paul clearly affirms that living a life of celibacy is the preferred state though not all are called to it. In the apostolic era (roughly ending with the Martyrdom of Polycarp) there was an evolving attitude about celibacy among bishops and presbyters. There is evidence (including scriptural) that in the earliest days of the church both were allowed to marry. However by the end of the 2nd century it had opinion had shifted strongly in favor of the either celibacy or at least continence on the part of bishops.
In the West the Council of Elvira (295-302) was the first move to codify clerical celibacy (canon 33) but efforts to extend this discipline to the Eastern Churches was rejected at the Council of Nicea. Several other local councils and synods passed similar canons which were not universally accepted.
The requirement of celibacy among bishops became gradual in the Eastern Churches. One of the earliest codifications can be found in Justinian's Civil Code which forbade persons with children from being consecrated to the episcopacy. The Council of Trullo (692) finally settled the matter and forbade bishops from being married. If a married person was to be consecrated he had to separate himself from his wife forthwith upon consecration. It also codified the tolerance of married presbyteres and deacons provided they married before ordination (canon 13). Marriage after ordination was prohibited.
This has since that time been the universal and uncontroversial discipline of the Orthodox Catholic Church. It should be noted that the discipline of universal celibacy adopted by the Western Church, although considered somewhat odd in its strictness, did not become particularly controversial among the Eastern Churches until sometime after the estrangement between East & West. It was treated as a custom and discipline of a local church.
The idea that bishops should not be married (they are normally selected from among the ranks of the monastic clergy with widowers being rare exceptions) is today seen as an extremely beneficial discipline. It is almost completely non-controversial among the faithful (unlike the much more severe discipline of the Roman Catholic Church). It is also seen as one which has in some ways contributed to the doctrinal stability of the Orthodox Church as monastics are by their very nature among the most conservative of the clergy.
It needs to be noted that celibacy is not a matter of doctrine. It is a discipline of the Church which could in theory be altered. However the ancient standing of this discipline and its endorsement by virtually all of the Fathers and saints who have spoken on the matter makes this so unlikely that it does not bear serious discussion.
I hope this answers your question at least somewhat.
Yours in ICXC
John