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Submitted on May 21, 2001 by Fr. Serge
Keleher of Dublin (A personal account)
On Thursday, 10 May 2001, Patriarch Gregory III of Antioch, Alexandria,
Jerusalem and All the East arrived in Boston for his first visitation to the
United States. Bishop John (Elya) of Newton with a number of clergy welcomed
His Holiness at Boston's Logan Airport in the early evening; after
completing customs and immigration formalities, the party proceeded to the
temporary seat of the Eparchy of Newton, at Saint Aidan's Church in
Brookline, where a larger group of hierarchs, clergy and faithful were
waiting.
As the Patriarch entered the house, traditional shouts of triumph greeted
him, with the chanting of Ton Despotin in Greek and in Arabic. Arabic
hospitality is legendary, but for this occasion the Eparchy of Newton added
yet more luster to the good name of the Arabs for welcoming guests: there
was a most bountiful Middle Eastern dinner, deliciously irresistible and
with plenty of time to enjoy it. This was an occasion to gather many old
friends and to meet new ones, a genuine "fellowship" in the full
extent of the word. Hierarchs were there from Canada, from Australia, from
Latin America, from the Middle East and from the United States, including
Bishop John of Newton, Bishop John-Michael of Canton, and Bishop Nicholas (Samra)
of Gerassa, Auxiliary of Newton. Most of the guests lodged at a Brookline
hotel three or four blocks from the temporary diocesan building; it was an
easy walk for those who cared to stroll, and there was abundant
transportation for those who were a bit weary from travel.
On Friday morning cars and buses took the whole party to the waterfront,
where we boarded the Spirit of Boston ship for a lovely luncheon cruise
around the Bay. The weather was bright and warm, and while enjoying our
lobsters we had a spectacular view of Boston such as most of us had never
seen before. In such good company, the time passed all too quickly.
Soon the ship returned to the docks, and it was time to go back tothe hotel
and get ready to be at the Greek-Catholic Cathedral of Our Lady of the
Annunciation. At 6:30 Patriarch Gregory blessed the site of the new diocesan
center and Chancery. At 7:00 PM the clergy, the hierarchs and the Patriarch
processed into the nave for the Divine Liturgy. The Cathedral was filled
beyond capacity. Bernard Cardinal Law headed the guest list of Latin clergy
and ecumenical guests; all the Greek-Catholic hierarchs and most of the
clergy (including at least four Archimandrites and about two dozen priests,
with about ten deacons) served with the Patriarch.
For the Enarxis the Patriarch and Hierarchs remained in the center of the
nave, entering the Altar after the Protodeacon had carried in the Gospel
Book. In place of the Trisagion there was the Paschal verse "All ye who
have been baptized in Christ have put on Christ. Alleluia!". His
Holiness gave the hierarchal blessing in Greek, in Arabic and in English,
asking God to "visit this vine and perfect it". One of the deacons
intoned the diptychs in Arabic, and Bishop Nicholas then lead the chanting
of the Polychronion for the Patriarch in Greek. After the Gospel, His
Holiness preached in English, describing some of the difficulties of the
Church in the Middle East. The Great Entrance was done in full procession
around the Church so that the Patriarch could receive the Gifts at the Royal
Doors. At the Kiss of Peace Cardinal Law came into the Altar and remained
throughout the Anaphora.
The Patriarch read most of the Anaphora in English. After the Epiclesis the
Patriarch and Cardinal offered the traditional prostration before the Holy
Gifts. At the diptychs, the Patriarch commemorated
Patriarch Maximos V, whose retirement in November 2000 brought about the
election of Patriarch Gregory III.
After the Elevation and the infusion of hot water into the Chalice, the
Patriarch lead the Prayer Before Holy Communion. After the Patriarch and
Bishops had communicated, several Bishops gave Holy Communion to the priests
and Deacons. There were an uncountable number of faithful to receive Holy
Communion.
After the Dismissal, Bishop Nicholas intoned the Polychronion for the
Patriarch and the Bishop of Newton; the choir sang the "Many
Years" in the traditional Slav setting harmonized by Dmitri Bortniansky.
The hierarchs and clergy distributed the Antidoron to the faithful.
A grand banquet in the Cathedral hall followed the Divine Liturgy. Cardinal
Law offered a warm welcome to Patriarch Gregory on the Patriarch's first
visit to America. Bishop John introduced many of the guests to the assembly.
The Patriarch spoke again in English, thanking everyone for this most
enthusiastic welcome and expressing the hope that the rest of his visit to
the United States would be equally joyful. Everyone was reluctant to leave,
and bring this extraordinary evening to an end.
On Saturday morning at 10 AM at the temporary diocesan center, the Patriarch
presided at the Third Hour and then held a meeting with the Reverend Clergy,
both presbyters and deacons. There were many questions and much interaction;
Bishop John commented that even though the canonists think that the Eparchy
of Newton, being away from the Middle East, is not strictly part of the
Patriarchate, the fact is that during the time of Patriarch Maximos V the
Eparchy of Newton welcomed the Patriarch much more often than any other
Eparchy, and now Patriarch Gregory III has chosen to come to the Eparchy of
Newton before visiting any other Eparchy! So the ties of the Eparchy of
Newton to the Patriarchate are close and firm, and will become even closer.
At the same time, the Patriarch noticed that an absolute majority of the
Reverend Clergy are completely loyal to the Patriarchate without themselves
being of Arab ethnic extraction, and that in every way the Eparchy of Newton
functions primarily through the English language. One of the priests
observed that the Church in the USA has rather more than a hundred years of
experience, and can offer reflections on that experience to the Church in
other countries where a Greek-Catholic presence is much more recent.
There was some discussion of liturgical matters. On this point, the
Patriarch commented that there is room for legitimate pluralism - for
example, one may abbreviate the Divine Liturgy in the manner approved by the
Holy Synod, but it always remains lawful to serve without abbreviations. In
response to a question about the prostration after the Epiclesis, the
Patriarch said clearly that this is certainly a part of our proper
tradition, and should be retained. Several other points of liturgical
practice were discussed.
The Patriarch mentioned as an interesting example that he is personally
familiar with several parishes in various countries of the European Union,
organized with no Arabic parishioners or clergy, which nevertheless maintain
a full cycle of liturgical services and are enjoying a good success in
making our Church and our tradition better known. The Patriarch expressed
the hope that this movement will expand in the future, because such parishes
are needed. Most importantly of all Patriarch Gregory III expressed several
times his deep love and concern for everyone, and his wish to embrace
everyone in that paternal love. The visible sincerity of the Patriarch's
words moved everyone present to offer their own love and loyalty, and their
well-founded hope in the leadership which Patriarch Gregory offers to the
Church.
After another delicious meal, the Patriarch honored me with a brief private
audience. It was then time for me to make my adieux to His Holiness, to
Bishop John, to the other hierarchs and to so many friends, because I had to
pack my bags and hasten to Logan Airport to fly home to Ireland.
I offer this report on those unforgettable days with special thanks to
Bishop John (Elya) for his most kind and thoughtful invitation for me to
participate in this unique welcome for Patriarch Gregory. This was a
privilege which I shall assuredly not forget. Bishop John and the Eparchy of
Newton offered me outstanding and exemplary hospitality, which only God can
reward adequately. |
