The Journey Continues

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Frbrendan

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When I first came among you, I was a priest-monk with an independent Orthodox Church, and with my bishop, we were looking to an Eastern Church in Communion with Rome for stability. The Independent Orthodox movement is a lot like granola, in that amongst the healthy food, you are going to run across a lot of flakes, nuts, and fruit.

We are members at St. John of the Desert Melkite Church here in Phoenix. We are able to receive the Mysteries with the full knowledge and invitation of the Archbishop.

When we filled out the paperwork to join, the Parish Priest was joyful, and I’ve heard from one source that we are considered models of piety. When we are not able to attend, we are missed, and we know the love that this parish has for us. We thank God for this parish every day.

Basically, we have been received as Monks. Our orders are still in limbo, and we have to continue our work with Rome for that (mostly waiting), however, it is well known that we are Monastics in communion with Rome. The Ukrainian Catholics, the Romanians, the Ruthinians, the Maronites and the Chaldeans have all acknowledged that we are welcome in their Churches. Even the local Latin Rite Churches have told us that we are welcome. For that matter, even the Apostolic Nuncio not only knows about us, but has welcomed us, and has given his blessing and prayers for our continued journey

The Journey continues, but we are happy at St. John of the Desert, as we have found it to be the most spiritually fulfilling and spiritually healthy place we have ever been.

As time passes and we move closer to our orders being received, I will let you know. For now, keep us in your prayers.
 
Vitaemo! We welcome you!

Father , bless - as a monastic you may also benefit from contact with the other Greek Catholic monastic foundations in North America, including Holy Transfiguration in California (UGCC); Holy Transfiguration Skete in Michigan(UGCC); and Holy Resurrection Monastery in New Jersey (Romanian). Monastics are dearly needed in this day and age. May God grant you many years as a Greek Catholic monk.
Fr. Deacon RLB (Ukrainian Greek Catholic)

n.b. Stop and see Fr. Hugo in Phoenix sometime at our Ukrainian Catholic parish - he is a very nice priest from Argentina and has a wonderful wife and family.
 
Did the theological differences between Orthodoxy and the Church United to Rome cause any struggle for you in your journey? For example, did the requirement that you must now accpet the Creed with the Filioque Clause, as interpreted by the western councils of Lyons and Florence, as theologically legitimate, cause you any trouble?
 
For example, did the requirement that you must now accpet the Creed with the Filioque Clause, as interpreted by the western councils of Lyons and Florence, as theologically legitimate, cause you any trouble?

Filioque is not used in any of the Byzantine tradition Catholic Churches in the area.

The first article of the Union of Brest said in so many words to not force filioque on the Ukrainian Church.

We were told by the local Melkite priest that the only council after the Seven Great Councils they receive is Vatican II, as it’s the only one at which they were properly represented.
 
Alethiaphile said:
Did the theological differences between Orthodoxy and the Church United to Rome cause any struggle for you in your journey? For example, did the requirement that you must now accpet the Creed with the Filioque Clause, as interpreted by the western councils of Lyons and Florence, as theologically legitimate, cause you any trouble?
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No, that was no problem at all. Remember, I grew up Roman Catholic, so the Filioque clause was part of the Creed from the time I was born. As a matter of fact, the first time I attended a Divine Liturgy in English, I tripped over the Filioque, because it wasn’t there.

However, as Bpbasilphx has already pointed out, there is no Filioque in the Creed in any of the Eastern Churches with the Byzantine Tradition.
 
Frbrendan said:
When I first came among you, I was a priest-monk with an independent Orthodox Church, and with my bishop, we were looking to an Eastern Church in Communion with Rome for stability. The Independent Orthodox movement is a lot like granola, in that amongst the healthy food, you are going to run across a lot of flakes, nuts, and fruit.

We are members at St. John of the Desert Melkite Church here in Phoenix. We are able to receive the Mysteries with the full knowledge and invitation of the Archbishop.

When we filled out the paperwork to join, the Parish Priest was joyful, and I’ve heard from one source that we are considered models of piety. When we are not able to attend, we are missed, and we know the love that this parish has for us. We thank God for this parish every day.

Basically, we have been received as Monks. Our orders are still in limbo, and we have to continue our work with Rome for that (mostly waiting), however, it is well known that we are Monastics in communion with Rome. The Ukrainian Catholics, the Romanians, the Ruthinians, the Maronites and the Chaldeans have all acknowledged that we are welcome in their Churches. Even the local Latin Rite Churches have told us that we are welcome. For that matter, even the Apostolic Nuncio not only knows about us, but has welcomed us, and has given his blessing and prayers for our continued journey

The Journey continues, but we are happy at St. John of the Desert, as we have found it to be the most spiritually fulfilling and spiritually healthy place we have ever been.

As time passes and we move closer to our orders being received, I will let you know. For now, keep us in your prayers.
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Can I ask what jurusdiction you were under when you were Orthodox? Who was your Patriarch?
 
Can I ask what jurusdiction you were under when you were Orthodox? Who was your Patriarch?

**Not all Orthodox Churches call their primate Patriarch.

The OCA, for example, uses the title Metropolitan.

The Church of Greece (which is separate from the Ecumenical Patriarchate) is under the Archbishop of Athens.

Georgia, which is also autocephalous, uses the title Catholicos-Patriarch.**
 
bpbasilphx said:
Can I ask what jurusdiction you were under when you were Orthodox? Who was your Patriarch?

**Not all Orthodox Churches call their primate Patriarch.

The OCA, for example, uses the title Metropolitan.

The Church of Greece (which is separate from the Ecumenical Patriarchate) is under the Archbishop of Athens.

Georgia, which is also autocephalous, uses the title Catholicos-Patriarch.**
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This is true, my apologies!
 
God Bless your journey Fr. Brendan. may Eastern Catholic Monasticism continue to grow.
 
ASimpleSinner said:
For the love of Pete, boys, start a new thread or consider resurrecting one of the 17,546 in the archives on the filioque already!

This thread was started as Father Brendon wished to share his journey into communion with the Catholic Church, and it wasn’t long before we got into polemics over the filoque (!) and sarcasm.

Can we have enough respect for Father Brendon that we find another thread to restart the daily polemic on?
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Seconded!

Fr. Brendan, do you know the lineage of your ordaining bishop?
 
Hello ,aussie_melkite
i’m fine , thanks , and you?
in fact , i have a little tired now, want to sleep!😛 😛
 
So sorry for thinking that maybe the good brother had dealt with theological issues when taking his “journey”, and that maybe he might say something that would be helpful in my struggles with these issues. It is regrettable that the Filioque can’t be discussed without immediately turning into a shouting match. Maybe that wouldn’t happen if one bringing it up isn’t immediately accused of “misrepresenting Catholic doctrine”.
Forget the whole thing.
 
Fr Brendan,

Although I am a Roman Catholic, I want to welcome you and wish you well. May the peace of the Lord be with you always.

By entering one of the eastern rites, you are healing a wound in the Body of Christ and your Order greatly enriches our Church. We need more Eastern Monastics to pray for the entire Church, and especially for our Holy Father Benedict XVI and you have my heartfelt thanks for doing this.
 
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