http://www.antiochianarch.org.au/NewsItem.aspx?i=38

Philippine denominations join the Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese of Aust. & NZ

Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia and New Zealand

PRIMATE

To be read from the pulpit

To all of our reverend clergy and beloved faithful,

Greetings to all of you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

We would like to inform you that after long discussions with two denominations from the Philippines, one belong to the Catholic Patriarchate of the East and the other Evangelical, we reached an agreement in principles,
to accept them in our Antiochian Archdiocese. The Archdiocese will take care of the education, training and ordination of all the thirty plus religious leaders and their followers. It is a historic moments in the history of the Patriarchate of Antioch and the Archdiocese of Australia and New Zealand

Your Archdiocese has been chosen by the Holy Spirit for this heavy task.
Are we going to say “Lord I am here, use me?”.

All of the faithful of our churches are called to pray to the Holy Spirit to inspire and lead them to be His instrument in this endeavour.

All of our members are invited to help financially, through their local churches, the poor and needy of their brothers and sisters in the new land. God is providing us with an opportunity to help the ones whom He loved, let us listen to His voice and get the Grace of the Holy Spirit.

The bank account number is: 062 468 103 258 00


+Paul



Metropolitan Archbishop Paul
Primate of Australia and New Zealand and Philippines

Is this the group led by Jeptah Aniceto? There were talks of it last year. Nevertheless, praise the Lord and let us pray that those embarking on this challenging but life-changing journey will be blessed with the fruits of the Spirit. Axios!

What is "the Catholic Patriarchate of the East"? Perhaps the Assyrian Apostolic Catholic Church of the East (in other words, the Nestorians?).

Fr. Serge

could be anything. Hi Fr. Serge!

I think that they are from a group in the Philippines called "Byzantine Catholic Church Incorporated" whose headquarters are located only 15 minutes from my residence. This group has married bishops, and celebrates "Qurbono" but facing the people, and with a liberal sprinkling of "inculturations" and Latinizations (!) and other innovations that would give Fr. Serge a heart attack. They claim to be an autocephalous Church that recognizes the spiritual authority of the Assyrian Patriarchate / Church of the East. When I asked them which Assyrian Patriarchate -- the one in the USA or the one in Iraq, the "Ancient Church of the East" -- well, they didn't know!

(Given the absence of canonical Eastern Churches from the Philippines until recently, there have arisen many pseudo-Orthodox groups in the Philippines that could be charitably described as sad and laughable mimicries of these Churches, with clergy who knew next to nothing about the real Eastern rites. The BCCI is one of the worst.)

Nevertheless, there are men of real spiritual fervor in these groups, who want to be in communion with genuine Eastern Christianity. I would like to point out that about a third of the Greek Orthodox community in the Philippines today is made up of former members of a "pseudo-dox" group that converted en masse in the early 1990's. Their "bishop" was ordained an Orthodox priest, was sent to study in Holy Cross in Brookline, and is now known as Archimandrite Philemon. I pray that the group from the "Catholic Patriarchate of the East" will have the same fruitful journey into the heart of genuine Eastern Christianity.

Although I would have preferred that these two denominations enter full communion with Rome, I am happy enough that they are now entering communion with a Church that has valid sacraments and apostolic succession.

prima facie, it sounds good, however, approach it all with caution, and perhaps a salt shaker. are these folks grounded, or is it a passing fancy. I don't want to rain on anyone's parade, but the conservative approach is always the wisest. has any hierach approached them to see where their collective head is at? if all is in order, I only wish that I could be the first one to rejoice.
Much Love,
Jonn

Remember the thousands of Protestants who journeyed to Antiochian Orthodoxy in the 20th century?

These new converts do need our prayers because they will have to make changes.

That is a very noble and honest statement.

The Antiochian Church in Australia and New Zealand has both Byzantine and Western Rite expressions, as in North America. I would assume that the vast majority of these converts will transition into normal Byzantine usage, but given their history of Latinizations, it would be interesting if the Western Rite was presented as an option to them.

Well, it is hoped so... I'm sure the move to add more Western Rite parishes amongst the new converts will be a move welcomed. There's one in Australia, 2(?) in New Zealand and hopefully, a few in the Phillipines.

Amen !!!

Jonn,

While I agree with your cautious approach, it occurs to me that in many parts of the world to leave Islam for another religion is punishable by death. Under such circumstances, doesn't it seem unlikely that such a move would be a mere passing fancy?


Peace,
Deacon Richard

true, very true. however, I have those who are already Christian in mind.while on the idea of leaving Islam for the True Faith, keep our new Egyptian brother in mind and in prayer, the one who receive Baptism at the hand of the Holy Father.
Much Love,
Jonn

do I ever! many years ago, a Greek Orthodox Priest friend of mine gave me an issue of Word (Antiochian Orthodox) that covered that very topic. I still have it. I did make a copy of the article and give it to a PCA Presbyterian pastor friend of mine, and he knew several of the movers and shakers in that brief lived exodus to Orthodoxy. prayers for these folks you have.
Much Love,
Jonn

I was wondering, are there any statements or reactions from the Greek Orthodox Church in the Philippines under the Metropolitanate of Hong Kong regarding the creation of another Orthodox jurisdiction in the Philippines?