We need the fire...

[ChristianOrthodox]

I am venting here, but I want the voice of the Orthodox Christians to be heard around the world. I feel that nobody knows about us, and if they do, they have misconceptions. Does anyone feel the same? I would love to start general Orthodox Christian Youth Meetings, so that we can become united and maybe if we do this, we can become one church, one voice, one bride of our Lord Jesus Christ. I had a dream recently that the Popes and Bishops of each Orthodox church met and planned to start a United Orthodox church where there many different sects of Orthodoxy, such as Los Angeles or New York. Anyways, in my dream they set up this church as a test, and it became very successful. Can we here be used by God to start this unity? I live in Los Angeles, and I am very close to the Coptic Orthodox Bishop of Los Angeles, His Grace Bishop Serapion, I have no problems discussing this issue with him. Maybe this forum is what can be used to finally bring us together. I know I am thinking big here, but with God anything is possible. Is anyone here interested to help? Please pray, I feel this is important!

in Christ,
george yassa

 

[Matthias]

I'd love to help, but I am not officially Orthodox yet, and I am in New Zealand.

 

[brewmama]

I'm not sure what I could do. I do know that there is ongoing discussion in the Antiochian patriarchate (and others I guess) to create an independent American Church, which would unite all the different jurisdictions.
I'm praying for that!!

 

[Reader Nilus]

There used to be a group called Orthodox People Together in California that put out a directory of parishes. It included all jurisdictions and both Eastern and Oriental Orthodox were part of it. The web link to them is no longer functional so I do not know if they are still active or not.
I think most lay folk are ready, but it is the Bishops, and more likely the Patriarch of Constantinople and other old world countries that stand in the way.
Jeff the Finn

 

[Photini]

If one day an independant American Orthodox Church does come about, I pray it will take care and be as responsible and preserve the Royal Treasure undefiled as the other countries, such as Russia and Greece have for so many centuries.

 

[ChristianOrthodox]

We need to pray in the meantime, and thanks for mentioning that group in California. I am trying to set up a meeting with the Coptic Orthodox Bishop of Los Angeles, regarding this issue. God bless you all.

 

[MariaRegina]

We need to pray in the meantime, and thanks for mentioning that group in California. I am trying to set up a meeting with the Coptic Orthodox Bishop of Los Angeles, regarding this issue. God bless you all.

Dear George:

Do you attend St. Mary's Cathedral near Eagle Rock, California? I've been there. It has beautiful icons. I also visited the new St. Mary and St. Athanasius Coptic Parish out in the Northridge area. It's huge. The people there are quite friendly. I heard that their previous church was sadly burned down in an arson attack.

ATTENTION ALL, especially George and Jeff:

Orthodox People Together is going to publish a new Orthodox directory. I just talked with the publisher and it is almost completed. There will be ads everywhere when it is published probably around Christmas.

I was a member of the OCCA - the Orthodox Christian Coalition in America -- founded by Antiochians and Coptic Orthodox. It disbanded in 2001 when the Bishops of these different jurisdictions started getting together for meetings to discuss unity.

It's happening -- keep praying.

Yours in Christ,
Elizabeth

 

[ChristianOrthodox]

Elizabeth,

I have been to those churches several times, but I normally go to St. George in Bellflower. The update sounds good and I am really looking forward to that newsletter. I am really praying.

thanks