This has been arranged and Mr Walter Barbara is organising things. Mr & Mrs Brown have  kindly offered their home as a place for dinner afterwards - I am told there is plenty of room - all are welcome - please consult with Mrs Brown about what to bring.  We are most grateful to Mr Chobotow and the Russian Committee for the use of their Church.

Details:
 

I hope most people will manage to get to both the Vespers and the Liturgy - the Matins is "for God" and for the really keen ones. I shall be available after the Vespers for confessions.
 

.

Fr Jack

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[?YEAR?]

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ST MICHAEL'S CHURCH ANTIOCH ORTHODOX,
72 Fingall Street, Dunedin.
CHRISTMAS NEWSLETTER TO ALL OUR FAITHFUL PEOPLE IN NEW ZEALAND.

Greetings and blessings from Father Jack and family, to all our orthodox christians in the Dunedin parish, and to our friends of the Antioch Orthodox (and other friends) throughout New Zealand.Personal contact has now been made in Auckland also with many of our people,and we send our special good wishes to Father Elias and his people,and hope that many of our people will be paying him a visit at Christmas in his Church there.
I am going to be in Christchurch Jan 6 (evening) to Jan l2, and hope to see many of our people then. I hope we can somehow arrange to meet in Church also on the 12th. I hope too that our people will make the effort to go to the Orthodox Christmas service in Malvern Street Church of the Assumption. I have printed the special parts opposite so that with our booklet anyone can follow a service anywhere, in any language. So take this letter to Church with you, in Dunedin, in Christchurch, in Auckland.

.

A new book of easy musical responses in English has arrived, and all those in Dunedin who can sing even the least amount are asked to join us at Mr. & Mrs.Idour's,178 Bayview Road, on Thursday 19th at 7.30 p.m. to run over them on the piano so that we can have really congregational singing .Those who have asked most strongly for a completely ENGLISH service have the corresponding duty to help make this a reality. We know you are only an amateur at singing - so are we all!  So join in and let our shared weaknesses become strength.

SHARING OUR CHRISTMAS DINNER WITH  THE STARVING.....

    Our Lord told us plainly to hold parties not for those as well off as ourselves, but for the poor and needy; 'for they cannot repay you, and you will be repaid in heaven.'
I cannot see how our Christmas feast can be any spiritual blessing to us unless we obey our Lord in this matter. The National Council of Churches continues to make a Christmas appeal for the hungry and needy overseas, and in spite of some controversy about World Council aid I think this still remains one of the best ways to carry out our Lord's command to us who however much we bemoan inflation are still the world's rich  -  richer than the richest who heard our Lord preach in the flesh. You can send in the envelopes directly, or I will pass on donations sent through me.

-Fr.Jack.

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CHRISTMAS LITURGY

Troparion. At end of Great Doxology. (p. 1).  Thy Nativity, O Christ our God, hath given.rise to the light of knowledge in the world; for they that worshipped the stars did learn therefrom to worship thee, O Sun of justice, and to know that from the east of the Highest thou didst come O Lord, glory to thee.

Second Antiphon. (p. 4).  O Son of God, who wast. born of the Virgin, save us who sing unto thee: Al1e1uia.

Third Antiphon.( p. 5). Troparion: Thy Nativity.. Entrance Hymn.(p. 5). From the womb before the morning star I begat thee. The Lord hath sworn, and he will not repent; thou art a
priest for ever according to the order of  Melchisedek .O Son of God ...(as above)

Troparion  Thy Nativity; troparion of the Church. Kontakion.Today the Virgin giveth birth to the Transcendent in essence; the earth offereth the cave to the unapproachable one; the  angels with the shepherds glorify him; and the Magi with the star travel on their way; for a new child hath been born for our sakes, God before the ages.

Instead of Holy God (p.5) Ye who have been  baptised into Christ, have put on Christ, Alleluia.

Epistle: Gal.4,4-7. Gospe1: Matth.2, 1-12.

Instead of: lt is truly meet (p.13): I behold  a strange and wonderful mystery:  the cave a heaven, the Virgin a cherubic throne, and the manger a noble place in which hath lain
Christ the uncontained God. Let us therefore praise and magnify him. Magnify, O my soul, the God born in flesh from the Virgin.

Communion Hymn. (p.15) The Lord hath sent a redemption to his people, Alleluia.

Instead of : We have seen the true light  (p .16), The Troparion:Thy Nativity (as above).

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[1975]

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CHRISTMAS NEWSLETTER OF ST.MICHAEL'S CHURCH ANTIOCH ORTHODOX, DUNEDIN
To our parishioners in Dunedin, our Antioch Orthodox people throughout New Zealand, and to our friends in all jurisdictions and in other Churches.

FATHER JACK'S TRAVELS DURING DECEMBER To Palmerston North and KIWITEA.

 An exciting prospect has opened up in Kiwitea, (just north of Feilding) where Mr. B .Mooney has a farm adjacent to a country Church. It is hoped that this might become a centre for Orthodoxy among New Zealanders, if a sufficient number of English-speak:ing Orthodox can collect to support those already living in the area. Some of these are :interested in becoming monks and founding a monastery there; and it is in order to meet them and to hold services with them, that I am going to join them for a week on December 5. We shall have Vespers in the Palmerston North Anglican Church on Friday even:ing, and we hope to worship in the Kiwitea Church over the following days, includmng a Sunday Liturgy for any interested Orthodox in the district. The interest that is shown on this visit will be a guide as to whether plans can be developed further around this centre. Anyone who is keen on this idea and might eventually like to be involved with it is asked to contact me, or Bernard Mooney, Waitui Farm, Kiwitea, Feilding. I ask all faithful Orthodox to pray for us during the week of Dec. 5-12.

On December 13-14 I shall be attending the 125th anniversary of the town and parish of Lyttelton, where I was Vicar 1965-71. Owing to the Lyttelton events which I am attending, the times for our own Orthodox services will be slightly different from usual:

IN ST NICHOLAS' RUSSIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH, BROUGHAM ST.
Saturday, Dec. 13: 6 p.m. Vespers.
SUNDAY, Dec. 14: 11.30 a.m. LITURGY

I hope a good number of our people can get to the services, as this is my first visit since May. We shall be pleased also to see any Orthodox in Christchurch who would like to attend an English service - also interested visitors. As I am alone this time, I should appreciate offers to read for me both on Saturday evening and Sunday morning. I shall be at my mother's (Tel. 584 139) from early Saturday morning.

CHRISTMAS IN DUNEDIN

I shall be back from Christchurch at least in time for the weekend of December 20-21, so Sunday services resume on that weekend after a break of 2 Sundays.

CHRISTMAS SERVICE - December 25

THE HOLY  LITURGY will be celebrated in the morning, at the usual time of 9.00a.m. I hope to see very many of our Dunedin people there at that time. In addition may I remind you of the possibility of attending the evening service (Vespers) on the NIGHT BEFORE this and every Sunday and festival. This takes place at 6.p.m, and is a  chance to prepare, and if needed, to make confession, and is also a chance to celebrate a festival if you are working and can't attend the Mass in the morning of a weekday.

  And finally, may I remind you that to prepare for Christmas we have the FAST (beginning Nov.15) which is less strict.than Lent, but should be observed if we are to be spiritually ready for the Feast.

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".......the Disciples were called Christians
first in Antioch!
Acts 11:20

BISHOP GIBRAN                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  BOX M86
Patriarchal Exarch                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 SYDNEY MAIL EXCHANGE
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               AUSTRALIA

<>              Father Jack Witbrock                                                                                                                         ST. MICHAEL'S CHURCH              
<>

<>              21 Eglinton Road,                                                                                                                                   72 Fingall Street                                                                                                                       Tel.  Dn.  55 232
              Dunedin, NZ.                                                                                                                                           Dunedin<>

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In many countries like ours, the Eastern fasting customs are difficult to observe. The  concessions suggested for presentation at the coming Great Council may be helpful, although they have not been authorized yet.

Non-Violence.

Reconciliation.

The following address was given by His All-Holiness, Patriarch Athenagoras of Constantinople, to a deputation from this Church to the University of Halki:
"Well! Behold a great event!
It is a marvellous thing for us to learn of the revival of Orthodoxy in the West. But I am not surprised that this movement comes from France, this France which has already given us so many beautiful and sweet things. It is an historic moment for all christendom, and it would be a great fault on our part if we didn' t understand that we must work at its realisation. We know that there is in the West great thirst again for the true christian tradition.We know also that the climate of' the Church of Rome, by its authoritarianism so heavy to bear, cannot make :possible a true birth in the heart of tradition. May you be the bridge which shall be projected between the Orthodox Church, repositary of the true light,and the Roman Church which we .love."
And to Fr. Kovalevsky:
'It is an honour for us to come to your aid, you who have devoted all your life to this historic work of French Orthodoxy. France has brought us by its revolution liberty, justice, and fraternity. Perhaps France will bring a new revolution for christianity, thanks to your work."  (26 October, 1954. ) .

We thank once again the Russian community in Christchurch for their kind hospitality and the loyal way they come to services we hold. We hope all members of the Antioch Orthodox Church will make a real effort to be there.

There will thus be no service in Dunedin over that weekend, but every Sunday (apart from this) LITURGY is held, NOW AT TEN a.m.

This decision was made after discussion among those actually coming to the service at 9 a.m. It has eased the difficulty for some of us in getting organised so early,but still leaves time to get dinner early. The time was always rather early for winter, but recently daylight saving has made it really 8 a.m. in summer.We hope the change will encourage some who said they found the previous time too early.

From a statement of the late Jean de Saint-Denis: (1958 before he became Bishop):

"The Orthodox Church of France of which I have the honour and the heavy responsibility of being the President, presents only one part of the canonical problem of the western orthodox Church in general. On the true or false solution which is given to it, depends in part the future of the western orthodox Church.

The Orthodox Church in the West is a vast problem, but it is not the Western Orthodox Church.

4.Finally, the conversion of individuals or small groups in the West to EASTERN Orthodoxy does not amount to Western Orthodoxy either. WESTERN ORTHODOXY IS THE REBIRTH, the restoration of the Orthodox Churches of the West. It confesses and proclaims the dogmas which  the Churches of the East confess, those of Constaninople, Alexandria, 'Antioch, Jerusalem, Moscow, Rumania, etc. It recognizes unambiguously that these Churches have remained faithful in their belief and in their tradition to the undivided Church. It is peniitent  for its historical sins and errors, but it asserts :its apostolic past and the preservation of its spiritual, canonical and liturgical heritage.

It: is in the light of Orthodoxy that the Westerners want to solve THEIR pproblems, heal THEIR anguish, build THEIR Church and through it bring salvation to THEIR nation. They are not satisfied to be western on the secular plane, they want to be also on the ecclesiastical plane.

The parish lcft the Episcopal Church in large measure because it was displeased with the prospect of liturgical changcs and the ordination of women.

At a Sunday Divine Liturgy at Saint Mary's Orthodox Church in the New York Borough of Brooklyn, Metropolitan Philip Saliba of thc Antiochian Archdiocese placed his hand on Fr Joseph's head  and spoke the words of the Orthodox ordination ritc, the new priest having been made deacon the day before.

3

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Litiya held during ASCENSION DAY Vigil service by Fr.Jack in Kiwitea monastery house-chapel during May holidays.
The chapel was built by the novices and kept secret as a most pleasant surprise for the visit by Fr Jack and Mother Julia.
Services are now held regularly by Fr.I1iya of  Wellington with support by local Serbs and others interested.

".......the Disciples were called Christians
first in Antioch!
Acts 11:20

Father Jack Witbrock                                                                                                                             ST. MICHAEL'S CHURCH
21 Eglinton Road,                                                                                                                                      72 Fingall Street                                                                                               Tel.  Dn.  55 232
Dunedin, NZ.

Here are the times of our Holy Week Services which I hope our faithfu1 Orthodox people will attend as much as they are able. The most important services are in CAPITAL LETTERS.

   It is an honour that the usual Greek service will be held this year with the Greek Bishop visiting us. I hope he will be given a worthy welcome by all who can come.

     A few weeks ago I succeeded in telephoning Bishop Gibran in Melbourne during a short visit. He is remaining our Bishop, although he  must be at the Patriarchate for some time yet. I was glad to be able to discuss with him two matters which needed his guidance: the growth of interest in the monastic life in New Zealand among converts to Orthodoxy and the desire of some converts and potential converts to worship as Orthodox believers in the Western Rite which is the original Orthodox culture of the English and other Western European nations. I was particularly glad to have his full support of the modest beginnings that are being made by a group in Auckland and that may soon be made in other centres. In view of the rather emotional reactions to Western Rite Orthodoxy in some quarters, Orthodox and other, I hope our people will echo the enlightened stance taken by our Patriarchate in allowing Western christians to unite with the Church on the basis of the Orthodox Faith without having to make themselves cultural orphans. This option may be of help to some of those who are deeply disturbed about trends in Western Churches and who long for a Church that is familiar yet thoroughly sound. On the matter of monasticism, some possibilities present themselves and they are being discussed by those most concerned. I commend these two matters to the prayers of you all.

                                      SAINT
                                           PETER
                                                    ORTHODOX
                                                             TRUTH    SERVICE OF ST. MICHAEL'S PARISH ANTIOCH ORTHODOX, NEW ZEALAND.

     In terms of numbers,Orthodox are the second largest group of christians, next to the Roman Catholics, who number about half of all christians. The 1960 figures gave about 500, 000, 000 Catholics, about 151, 000, 000 Orthodox, and about 200, 000, 000 Protestants and Anglicans (40 m. Anglicans). Thus, although the New Zealand membership of' Orthodoxy is only a few thousand, on the world scale Orthodox are about as many as all protestants of all denominations put together.

  Geographically, the national churches of Greece, Russia, Rumania, Serbia ( Yugoslavia), Bulgaria, would make up most of the membership. The ancient Patriarchates of Constantinople, Alexandria, Antioch, and Jerusalem have an importance out of all proportion to their numbers, because of their history, and except for Jerusalem, because they govern Churches spread throughout the world.

   During this century the old hatreds bwtween divided christians have been replaced by a sincere desire to overcome the divisions. The Orthodox Church took a lead in the 'Ecumenica1 Movement' in the 1920's and when the World Council of Churches took official form the main Orthodox Cburches joined it over the years. Orthodox have however been disappointed that there has been no real progress on the differences that divide us, but rather a turning aside into matters on which agreement is easier, such as social or political 'causes'. Because of this, some Orthodox churches have avoided involvement in 'ecumenical' organisations, while others have continued to bear a witness which is usually ignored or misunderstood.

     For Orthodox the recovery of unity means returning to the faith that united christians in the first 1000 years; for liberal protestants it seems rather to mean agreeing to differ about all things except a short and shrinking list of 'essential' beliefs; and 'ecumenical' organisations usually behave as if the liberal protestant idea of unity were the enly one in existence.The Fellowship of St. Alban and St.Sergius is one 'ecumenical' society which tackles the question of unity at a deep and realistic level, but it is a question whether its rôle as in the past, involving mainly Orthodox and Anglicans, can have any real future so long as Anglicanism moves along a line away from the faith and practice of the origina1 Church into various projects of modern liberal protestantism such as female ministers, united parishes, and a 'secular' re-organisation of worship.

  Full unity among the ethnic' Eastern Orthodox groups in America is inevitablc, but the manner in which this unity is accomplished requircs further study, according to the head of one of the ancient centers of the Church.

  Elias IV, Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, presently on a two-month visit to the United States, discussed the point during a press conference in his suite in thc Los Angelcs Bonavcnture Hotel.

   Hc denicd spcculation in some Greek circles, especially in certain Athcns newspapers, that the purpose of his U.S. trip is to establish an autocephalous American Orthodox Church and to install Greek Archbishop Iakopvos as its hcad.

   "That is the farthest thing from my mind," the Patriarch responded with a smile. "I am here to visit my Antiochian flock in Amcrica and to foster good  rclations among all Orthodox."

   "While we are already united by a common faith, any administrative unity for the Orthodox of Amcrica can come about only with lhe approval of
the mother Churches who have faithful on this continent," thc 63-year-old prclate noted during the press conference.

     The subject of the Orthodox in the diaspora (non-Orthodox lands) has been placcd high onl the agenda of the forthcoming Great Synod of Orthodoxy. The various Churches are prcparing detailed studies of the agcnda itcms, and the Antiochian Patriarchate is one of those rescarching thc diaspora issue.
 

   "Therc are realities in the Church in Amcrica that no one can overlook, and we must take this into account in attempting to find a workable and canonical solution," the Patriarch obscrved.

    Onc of thc rcalities of Amcrica is the presence of the Orthodox Church in America, formcrly known as the Russian Metropolia. In 1970, the Moscow Patriarchate unilalerally proclamed the Metropolia as an an autocephalous Orthodox Church in a move that brought immcdiate protest and statements of non-recognition from the four ancient and traditional Orthodox Patriarchates, including Antioch.

   In response to a reporter's question, he said hc did not know if the creation of a Patriarchate in Amcrica sometime in the future was really the answer to the situation here, but he said some sort of Synod of the various ethnic bishops, eachl maintaining ties to his mother Church, might be a good first step.

   While he wants to wait until the present studies and discussions are complete before endorsing a specific plan, the Patriarch added that his own brief visit so far had left him excited about Orthodoxy in America and its potential.

    "If all Orthodox in this country could unite, they could playa great role in America."

   With regard to the situation of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Turkey, he lamented the closing of his alma mater, the Halki Theological School, by the government four years ago and the general interference in the affairs of the Patriarchate by the Turks.

   "It is a shame that Constantinople is not even free to choose its own Patriarch," he said with reference to the most recent election in 1972 when the candidates were approved in advance by the government.

  On olher topics, the Patriarch strongly reaffirmed the Opposition of the Orthodox Church to the ordination of women to the pricsthood, noting that "if Christ had wanted women as priests,  he would have ordained His mother, the Virgin Mary." He said that the action of thc Episcopal Church to ordain women as priests has put a strain on the previously friendly relations, but that theological dialogues with the Episcopalians are going to continue.

Scheduled to meet with President Carter in the White House in mid- July, the Patriarch said hc is impressed with the President's stand on human rights and his understanding of the Middle East problems. He is also pleased with the President's Christian beliefs.

   Questions from the secular media at the press confe:rence centered around the Middle East situation, including the Lebanese Civil War and the Palestinian problems. A native of Lebanon. the Patriarch now resides in Damascus, Syria, and maintains an extcnsive schedule of travel throughout the Middle East visiting both government and rcligious leaders.

                   April, 1978

                                      SAINT
                                           PETER
                                                    ORTHODOX
                                                             TRUTH    SERVICE OF ST. MICHAEL'S PARISH ANTIOCH ORTHODOX, NEW ZEALAND.

EPHESIANS 4 : 30
And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, in whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.

REVELAT ION 7
Then I saw another angel ascend from the rising of the sun with the seal of the living God, and I called with a loud voice to the four angels who had been given power to harm earth and sea, 3 saying, "Do not harm the earth or the sea or the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God upon their foreheads."

From a talk by Nicholas Zernov in the latest SOBORNOST' : The Use of Chrism:

   Fasting is part of our struggle against Satan and his power in the world and in our lives. It reminds us that we are involved with our Lord in His struggle against the powers of darkness. Once the Apostles questioned our Lord when they were unable to expel demons. And the Saviour answered that demons could only come out through prayer and fasting. Christ' s mission on earth was "to abolish by death him who held the dominion of death, that is the devil" (Hebrews 2 ,14) And this is done through prayer and fasting. (Matthew 17,21).

     Fasting entails discipline,struggle and obedience. In these times when discipline, struggle and obedience are considered archaic concepts, just ponder the results ofdisobedience, lack of discipline, and the idea that everything should be given to someone without any effort on his part. It might be good if we were to reinstate these concepts in our lives and in the Church. If we destroy such spiritual weapons we only strengthen Satan's power over us.The misused liberty of the Press, the movies, literature, and public and private life would appear in need of some correcting influence. If anything, fasting is more desirable today than it ever was in the past. And here we mean not simply fasting from foods, but also fasting from sin and evil actions.The two go hand-in-hand. In the Old Testament whenever the Lord wanted the Jewish people to repent, He would demand that they fast. We can easily discern the importance of fasting for our times as a means of purification, struggle, repentance, and spiritual strengthening.

   Fasting IS difficult, so is dieting; fasting is difficult, so is learning an occupation; fasting is difficult, so are the hours of practising golf, tennis or skiing; fasting is difficult, but then so is everything that is worthwhile. But to him who truly believes, with the faith of Abraham, all things are possible.
(Mark 9, 23).

   In a letter of March 21, arrived last week, Bishop Gibran sends his regards to "my and your friends in N.Z." and to "the dear Parish of St. Michael - Dunedin" and hopes to get free about June-July to come to New Zealand, to ordain the priest for the Auckland Mission. Mr. Brodeur is at present studying for ordination, and conducting a regular Sunday service of Matins for our people. He writes that he has just secured the use of the chapel of the former Methodist Trinity theological college as a regular centre of worship.

    Fr. Jack is planning to be in Christchurch on May 7 and in Auckland on May 14 (WR Whitsun / Pentecost) and again for the ordination. We think many devout Orthodox people might like to go to Auckland for the ordination,and if we receive sufficient notice, we shall make the exact date widely known.

  As Patriarch Elias is at present visiting South America (where there are a surprising number of Orthodox) we guess that Bishop Gibran may be carrying much of the work of the Patriarchate in the meantime. In any case, he asks for our prayers to enable him to visit us as he plans.

Sincerely,

These have just reached us in the latest SOBORNOST' to which we refer readers for the full text.

   Here we must emphasise that wc honour the ancient practice starting in the Apostolic era, according to which women followed Jesus (Matthew 27; 35), who ministered to the Apostles and who were promoted to the degree of deaconess for the assistance or the people of God. And we declare that in order to be fully honest and sincere towards the Anglicans and other western Churches that we, together with the other Orthodox Churches, reject the movement aiming at the ordination of women to the degrees of Presbyter and Bishop as anti-apostolic. For according to our Orthodox Church we have a sacred and devout duty not pnly to guard the unity, the holiness and the catholicity of the Church but also its attachment to Apostolic practices, and this in agreement with the Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed, towards which all efforts of Christian unity should bc directed.

   The most specific difficulty during the meeting was the ordination of women, which the Ecumenical Patriarchate officially declared to be unacceptable to the Orthodox Church.

   The answer of the Archbishop of Canterbury was that the Anglican Church was not seeking the agreement of the Orthodox Church  on this subject, but was hoping for understanding of it.

   The two leaders agreed that the official dialogue bctwccn thc Anglicans and Orthodox should continue, as being one of the most promising ways of resolving the problems which divide the two Churches as well as the rediscovery of those things which unite thcm, but they also hoped that the agreements alrcady reached by this Commission would bc more widcly shared among thc faithful of our two Churches, for the promotion of the ecumenical movement and Christian unity.