THE GREEK PRESS May 25, 2003
View from the Pew (column) by Katherine G. Valone
MAJOR BREAKTHROUGH FOR ORTHODOXY IN CHINA!
Christos Anesti! Glory to God, the remnant Orthodox Church in China
is alive and well, and estimates of ten thousand souls, at least,
have survived wars and persecution for a century. A living but
oppressed and persistent band of stubborn Orthodox Christians have
not had a liturgy or any sacraments since World War II.
Nevertheless, these brave Christians have survived through small
communities that have prayed together, and through faithful
supplication to God, have withstood all that the atheistic communist
world threw at them.
Orthodoxy was re-introduced in China in the 19th Century just before
the Boxer Revolution of 1900 which produced many Chinese martyrs such
as the 222 men, women, and children in Aghia Sophia Church in Harbin,
in the northern part of China on the Russian border. Father
Mitrophan, the pastor of the church, together with his family died
with his flock even though he could have sought refuge in the Russian
embassy.
Then again, in 1949 during the Cultural Revolution waged by the
Communists under Mao Tse Tung, the Orthodox were again sorely tested
for their faith in Jesus Christ together with other Christians.
Again, God provided a surviving remnant of His church to this very
day.
Today, in 2003, we see a miracle happening to the martyric Chinese
Autonomous Orthodox Church which is both canonical and recently
recognized and approved by the Chinese government. The problem,
though, is that there is not one native priest to serve the people.
Foreign priests are unacceptable to the government. Therefore, there
is a great need for seminary-trained and ordained native Orthodox
priests to serve the devout laity and celebrate their living Faith to
the fullest.
A Russian priest, Father Dionysy Pozdnaev who is under the Moscow
Patriarchate and who is in charge of the Asian missions, has arranged
between China and the Patriarchate for China to send 15 young Chinese
to Russia to train for the priesthood in a Russian monastery/seminary
near Moscow. These seminarians will be readied to serve in such
large places as Harbin, Beijing, Shanghai, and other major cities
which have at least 10,000 Orthodox. Many more Orthodox Christians,
perhaps what we might call cryptochristians," no doubt exist in parts
that were under closer guard and could not meet as a religious
community for prayer and the singing of hymns.
Mother Nektaria, a Russian Orthodox convert and nun from America,
will assist Fr. Dionysy in this project. She has contacted
PHOSADELPHIA and has appealed for financial help for the missionaries
who will come with no funds. The Patriarchate will provide housing
and food and the instruction without cost, but there are practical
needs that call for some small stipend for each seminarian, such as
$300 a year for such necessities as paper, pens, bus and subway
fares, local calls, socks and underwear, and whatever other small
items one needs to survive. The seminarians are penniless as are the
monks and the instructors at the monastery/seminary which also has
Russian students who are poor. But as we said, they will have free
lodging and food there. In addition, one married seminarian who is
already there with his wife and child will need more than the $300
stipend since they will have to live in a small village near the
seminary in a private home that will rent them a room. Since this
seminarian is married, he will have to live and eat at home rather
than at the seminary.
This will represent another cost to the project estimated to be $2500
more and totaling between $7000 to $8000 to cover most expenses for
the entire year for 15 seminarians and the wife and infant of one of
the seminarians. Think of it! We could prepare 15 priests and one
presbytera with their child to return to China in two or three years
to serve a revived church there.
In addition, China has rebuilt a former Orthodox church that is ready
for use and others may be rebuilt as the need arises. God-willing,
PHOSADELPHIA may be able to help once more, and we hope other
Orthodox partners of PHOSADELPHIA can contribute larger sums to
finance the project now and in subsequent years. What a wonderful
opportunity to plans and nurture new congregations in Asia. Who
knows what great future things will come from this "seed" we are
planting. In supporting this holy endeavor, we Orthodox back home
can become missionaries in a real sense and with tangible action.
There is much more we can write. We will be happy to send more
information to anyone requesting it by addressing your letter to me
at 10716 S. Lacrosse Ave., Oak Lawn, IL 60453-5415 or calling after 9
PM: (708) 425-4422, CST. You can make a pledge or send whatever
amount the Holy Spirit prompts you to give making the check out to
PHOSADELPHIA. When one considers that it costs between 20 to 30
thousand a year to train one seminarian here in our Orthodox seminary
at Holy Cross, we can see what a great opportunity this is. I remind
you also that your contribution is fully tax-deductible since we are
a (501) (c) (3) organization that is serving all Orthodox and not
just Greeks.
The Holy Orthodox Church is growing all over the world. The Gospel
of Christ can be and is being spread for the salvation of souls.
Every person is important to God and he wants only our welfare. It
is up to us to respond to His call and to reach out. His reward will
be great.
Orthodoc