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player ready...The Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, whose visit to Chicago earlier this month put a spotlight on the normally low-profile Greek Orthodox Church, has returned to the Phanar, his outpost in modern-day Istanbul.
But this week, Patriarch Bartholomew sent his American hosts some intriguing gifts–new titles.
Bishop Iakovos of Chicago, four other Greek Orthodox bishops in the U.S. and one Carpatho-Russian Orthodox bishop have all been elevated to the status of “metropolitan.”
It is clear that metropolitan is a step up the titular ladder from bishop, but it is not clear what the practical implications are.
Although the Ecumenical Patriarch has spiritual precedence among the leaders of the world’s 250 million Orthodox Christians, his administrative control is limited to scattered Greek Orthodox jurisdictions in Europe, America, Australia and elsewhere.
In America, the Patriarch is represented by an archbishop, who in turn has had authority over the bishops of the different dioceses.
The Religion News Service reports that the administrative duties of the new metropolitans are unchanged. Archbishop Spyridon, according to his spokesman, Rev. Alex Karloutsos, will still oversee the church in America.
At the same time, however, metropolitans in other Orthodox jurisdictions have traditionally reported directly to a patriarch.
Since the American promotions have been rumored for months, there has been plenty of time for those who are critical of the current leadership to spin out their own theories.
One is that Patriarch Bartholomew wants direct connections to each of the dioceses in America as a way of strengthening his hold over the wealthiest parts of his far-flung patriarchate. Another version has him heading off any attempts to create an independent Orthodox Church in America.
But Rev. Demetri Kantzavelos, chancellor of the Diocese of Chicago (it remains a diocese, despite the elevation of His Eminence, Metropolitan Iakovos), said it is a natural evolution institutionally, and a personal honor.
“It doesn’t make the function different; it elevates the person,” Kantzavelos said. “It indicates that the church of America is coming of age.”
Spreading the word: Before departing for a month in Rome, Archbishop Francis George left his Roman Catholic flock in Chicago a gift as well–his first pastoral letter.
Published a week ago in the archdiocesan newspaper, The New World, “Becoming an Evangelizing People” articulates thoughts that were on George’s mind back in April and early May, when he was packing boxes for Chicago–indeed, ideas he has been exploring for years, as a bishop, a scholar and an administrator of a missionary religious order.
The letter is an intellectual and spiritual appeal to Catholics to listen “for the movement of the Spirit in a friend’s heart” and “look for opportunities to tell others who Christ is.”
George adds that to evangelize, Catholics must first know their own faith–through adult education, religious education for children in churches and, of course, Catholic schools.
The future of those schools, meanwhile, has become a topic of growing discussion, as archdiocesan officials keep tight wraps on the information gathered by the special task force on schools.
George has said that the report recommends opening some schools and closing others. But the archdiocese’s strategy of parceling out its findings so that pastors and principals see recommendations only for their immediate neighborhoods, and parishioners remain in the dark until some indefinite point in the future, suggests that the big picture may be far worse than anticipated.
After all, who hides good news?
Heady stuff: Finally, as Hanukkah approaches, a gift suggestion from the pages of the Chicago Jewish News: “He’Brew–The Chosen Beer.”
So far the beer–advertised with the slogan “Exile never tasted so good”–is available only in the San Francisco area, home of microbrewer Jeremy Cowan and his “Schmaltz Enterprises.”
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The label points out that barley has a place of honor in the Bible, that a local kashrut agency certifies the beer as kosher, and that a portion of the profits go to charity.
It also claims “no preservatives (or gefilte fish) added.”
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