|
This
edition of "Istocnik" marks two decades since the
founding of the Canadian Diocese. On October 10th of this
year, it will be fully 20 years from the day the Diocese
became independent, and our look back to that time points to a
great many wonderful successes that we achieved together. Of
that there will be more said in upcoming pages, in the
diocesan journal, and even more in the Shematism of the
Canadian Diocese, a voluminous book which is being published
on the occasion of this anniversary, and which is being
prepared to be ready for publication at the same time as this
edition of "Istocnik". Here, as briefly as possible,
may we mention the following:
Upon
being seated on the throne of Bishop of Canada, in this newly
formed Diocese we found eight Serbian places of worship and
the same number of priests, mainly administrators. In less
than twelve years, fifteen new places of worship have been
consecrated: one monastery, ten churches and four chapels. In
addition there have been ten church halls and four rectories
blessed.
Today,
the Canadian Diocese has 15 church-school congregations with a
total of 27 parishes, five of which are missionary. The
Diocese has one monastery, sixteen churches and three chapels.
All the places of worship are always full and services are
held regularly in them. Two new church-school congregations
have been formed and seven new parishes in which boards
already exist.
This
story of our success certainly goes hand in hand with the
preservation of the original Christian faith, Orthodoxy.
Istocnik (meaning the source), according to its meaning and
the etymology of the word, relates to wellspring, source,
origin, originality, to convey the idea of that which is
Orthodox. From that, we decided to dedicate some space in this
issue to consider some of the differences between Orthodox and
other Christian churches.
The
theme is profuse were we to consider it in detail, especially
now that out of the lap of the Roman Catholic Church the
Protestant church has been created, which has further been
divided to the extent that some of her members no longer
resemble a Church, which is the Body of Christ. How else are
we to understand various immoral and unusual things, which
Christ publicly condemned, and which now some of these
so-called churches endorse? That is the heritage of liberality
in the church, though Christ warns us that we cannot be
liberated until He liberates us...
Availing
ourselves of some documents and of some of our collaborators,
we put before you only some of the more important differences
between the Orthodox Church and other churches. In that regard
it is our intention to point to characteristics of holiness in
the Orthodox faith and to her endurance established on the
teachings of the Holy Fathers and her submission to the Holy
Ecumenical Councils which are required for all generations
including ours.
It
is not our intention by this to open up a dialogue or
unnecessary zeal rather to just examine things through, we
would hope, the objective eyes of the editors of Istocnik,
which represent the official position of the Canadian Diocese.
We
leave it to you, our dear readers to, through this prism,
follow the newest events around the pastoral visits of the
head of the Roman church, Pope John Paul II. We again declare
that it is the right and the duty of every head (of the
church) to inspect their believers. Then there only remains
the dilemma of whether to teach, reprimand and advise them if
they do something wrong, or to give them approval and
forgiveness for the sins that are visible but for which,
unfortunately, at least publicly, they have not repented.
In
the hope that you will keep your holy faith, I remain your
Intercessor before God,
Georgije,
Bishop of Canada
|
