A Publication of the ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN LAITY
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| Volume 6 Number 39 - Tuesday, September 28th, 2004 |
A Publication of the ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN LAITY |
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The Orthodox Christian News Service |
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To the Editor, I am unable to understand the logic of the Greek Orthodox Hierarchy regarding its reluctance to adopt more English in its Church services. It is no secret that countless American natives of Greek ancestry who have been infant baptized as Orthodox Christians avoid going to church due to their lack of Greek speaking skills. In addition, there certainly must be countless non Greek-Americans who might consider the Orthodox faith if Church services were celebrated in English. Many noted theologians have noted this situation as a shortcoming of the Church, including the late bishop Timothy Ware.
Both the
Antiochian and Old Calendar Churches employ
English in their liturgies and their membership
continues to grow significantly, while the Greek
Orthodox Church remains stagnant. The fear of
deleting the Greek language in American Orthodox
churches is unfounded, for language is neither
dogma nor doctrine, but simply a method of
communication. With due respect to our holy faith
and Church, and in view of 200 years of American
residency, I suggest that times awaistin'. Lest we
forget the words of our God, “Go among all
nations...”
Orthodox News
Editor’s note: In his letter, the author includes
the phrase: “the late bishop Timothy Ware.”
Bishop Kallistos (Timothy) Ware is still very much
alive. He is the
titular Bishop of Diokleia and assistant bishop in
the Orthodox Archdiocese of Thyateira and Great
Britain (under the Ecumenical Patriarchate). |
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