www.byzcath.org Forums General Discussions Town Hall 34th March for Life

The 34th Anniversary of Roe v. Wade has come and gone but the Catholic Church spearheaded again the 34th March for Life in Washington, D.C., in continuing peaceful protest against the legalization of abortion here in the U.S. on January 22nd, 1973.

This year, highlights of this annual event included a celebration of the Holy Mass for the youth at the Verizon Center where more than 20,000 attended and the proclamation by Pres. Bush of January 21 as “National Sanctity of Human Life Day.”

http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/new.php?n=8446

http://www.cwnews.com/news/viewstory.cfm?recnum=48787

By the Catholic World News:

I was very pleased to see Metropolitan Herman (OCA) speak at the event. I also remember he was there last year. But, why is he the only Orthodox bishop (at least that I know of) who publicly denounces abortion and is visibly involved in the pro life movement? Are others too scared of losing popularity points?

Metropolitan Herman's Statement:
(http://oca.org/Docs.asp?ID=175&SID=12)

My dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

As we gaze upon the icon of the most Holy Mother of God and our Savior, we are reminded of the truths in which our faith as Orthodox Christians is rooted: the One Who is Life Itself emptied Himself and took on our human nature, that we might become partakers of His divine nature.

The Holy Virgin gave birth in time and space to the eternal God, Who came into the world to free us from sin, death, and corruption. He took on our human nature to transform us, to reconcile us to the Father, and to restore in us all that had been lost through the devil�s deceit. All creation rejoiced, as we sing during the Liturgy of Saint Basil the Great, as God �made her body into a throne, and her womb more spacious than the heavens.�

The icon of the Mother of God, however, reveals another truth. The Mother of God tenderly embraces her Son, caressing Him as He clings to her. Like all mothers, she protects her child from every harm and danger. She reassures Him with the same maternal love every mother offers her child. Recognizing Him as God�s greatest gift to the world, she lovingly and selflessly accepts her duty to defend this precious gift of Life Itself, regardless of the costs or consequences.

Sadly, the culture in which we live seems to have forgotten that life is a gift from God -- the very God Who all too often is not acknowledged as the Source of Life, if acknowledged at all. Abortion on demand, branded as a �human right,� remains the law of the land and a blatant denial of the very image of God in which all human life is created. Hastening the death of the elderly or terminally ill under the deceptive guise of �pain management� and �death with dignity� is hardly an isolated event today. Sacrificing human life in the name of freedom or as a means of �protecting� society from �criminal elements,� has become an accept fact. The very thought of life as a sacred gift and the possibility of repentance is shunned outright among the �enlightened,� who deem any connection whatsoever between creation and its Creator as �politically incorrect.� Our society trumpets its commitment to ensuring �life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.� Yet we, as people of faith, cannot blind ourselves to the fact that society has not only embraced the �culture of death,� but has sadly perfected it -- at the expense of those created in God�s image, not the least of which are the millions of innocent unborn children upon whom the death penalty has been proclaimed for no reason other than they exist.

I call upon you to join me in praying that our society, like the prodigal son, will come to its senses and experience a collective repentance. Let us pray that everyone, from civic and religious leaders to common citizens, will bravely denounce the culture of death that surrounds us and embrace life -- in the womb, beyond the tomb, and at every point in between -- as a sacred gift from God that must be protected by all means. If we, as people of faith, truly believe that we possess the fullness of revealed truth, then it is our duty -- rather, our divine calling -- to proclaim, in our words and actions, the truths of which the icon of the Mother of God and Our Savior reveals to us. We cannot wall ourselves off from the society in which Our Lord has planted us. While we are not �of the world,� as Saint Paul reminds us, we are nevertheless �in the world� -- just as Our Lord, in the very midst of the world, proclaimed its salvation.

May He Who is Life Itself open our eyes, our hearts, our minds, and our lives to His presence in this world, and may He strengthen us to proclaim the precious gift of life that finds its life in Him.

With love in Christ,



+ HERMAN
Archbishop of Washington and New York
Metropolitan of All America and Canada

https://www.byzcath.org/forums/ubbthreads.php/ubb/showflat/Number/219691/page/2#Post219691

Alexandr

Many years ago, I was in a pro-life band that performed on the main stage at the March for Life in DC. While there, I met one of the hierachs backstage and as I recall he was from the GOA. I spoke briefly with him about my love for Orthodoxy and he was very gracious. He also addressed the many, many thousands that were there.

I have also been told that Bishop Andrew Pataki of Passaic has been a regular attendee at the March for Life, which has always softened my view of him in some respects. Bishops could come up with 100 different reasons not to have time to attend, so for one to do so speaks volumes about his commitment to the cause for life.

I thought that I would pass this along as well - it is the website and handbook for Orthodox Christians for Life.

God bless,

Gordo

www.oclife.org [oclife.org]

http://www.oclife.org/OCLife%20HB2.pdf

If I recall right, Metropolitan Nicholas of ACROD was also one of the founding Orthodox hierarchs to participate in the Annual March. Unfortunately, due to poor health he is unable to participate any longer in these events. I believe before his recent retirement Bishop Dimitrios of Xanthos (GOA) was a participant representing the archbishop at these events as schedules allowed. In most cases, several of the Orthodox jurisdictions in this country do have appointed representatives to these events, specifically appointed by the hierarchy. In most cases participation is encouraged and is publicized on their websites or through other forms of communications. In fact a recent "Come Receive The Light" program, a production of Orthodox Christian Networks which is a SCOBA agency featured a program on this event and the issue in general.

In IC XC,
Father Anthony+

Here is the archpastoral letter that came out from our Metropolitan in regards to the March for Life.

http://www.acrod.org/mn/message47.html


Here are some photos

http://www.acrod.org/autopgimages/march07/autopgmarch07.html

Ebed,

Glory to Jesus Christ!

Yes, Bishop Andrew again participated in the activities of the Right to Life March in Washington.

On Sunday evening, as a continuation of the All-Night Vigil, Bishop Andrew celebrated the Compline at the Basilica of the National Shrine. The evening activities consisted of a Mass at 8 pm celebrated by Cardinal Rigali, the Rosary at 10:30 pm, and the Byzantine Compline at 11:30 pm.

Along with Bishop Andrew were priests of the Byzantine Catholic Metropolia, deacons, seminarians from Pittsburgh, and many faithful from near and far. Responses were led by the Slava Men�s Chorus and cantors from Epiphany of Our Lord Church.

It is a very late hour. Many have been at the Basilica for numerous hours. Yet the energy of the occasion is something to behold. Dozens of large busses continue bringing in the faithful all day and night. Most are young adults and teens. It is so encouraging and uplifting to see these young people involved in this activity. The level of energy is hard to describe. You can only experience it.

The acoustics of the Crypt Church in the Basilica carries the sounds marvelously throughout the church. Those familiar with Byzantine services along with uncountable first-timers come out with a true sense of prayer and one-ness of the Church. Hopefully this will last for a while with them.

It is a cold and dark time of year to be in Washington. Yet, the actions of the bishops, priests and faithful speak more than could be imagined.

Deacon El

Thank you Father Deacon El for sharing these details. Again, kudos to Bishop Andrew and all the Eastern hierarchs (Orthodox and Catholic) who offer a bold witness for life! God grant them many years!

Gordo