Medford, NJ – The bishops of the Standing Conference of Oriental Orthodox Churches encourage their clergy and their faithful to put their unity in Christ with their fellow Oriental Orthodox Christians into practice by inviting them to share in the lives of their parishes. On Thursday, August 22, 2024, St. Anthony Coptic Orthodox Church did precisely that by inviting the local Oriental Orthodox Christians of their region to join in a vespers service and reception ceremony convened to welcome their new priest – Rev. Fr. Peter Makarious – who will now join V. Rev. Fr. John Bishara in serving the parish.
In addition to V. Rev. Fr. John Shimchick of the Orthodox Church in America and dozens of Coptic Orthodox priests and deacons who traveled from all over New Jersey and beyond to take part in this blessed event, representatives of the local Armenian, Eritrean, Ethiopian, Knanaya, and Malankara Syriac communities were also present. V. Rev. Father Megabe Haimanot Walelign Chane and Archdeacon Yonas Kinfu from Debre Ganet Kidus Ammanuel Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church, V. Rev. Fr. Boghos Tinkjian from St. Gregory the Illuminator Armenian Apostolic Church, V. Rev. Fr. Eldhose K.P. and V. Rev. Fr. Jose Daniel Paitel of St. Peter’s Syriac Orthodox Cathedral, and V. Rev. Fr. Anil Thomas Konnackal and Rev. Subdeacon Subin Shaji of St. Mary’s Knanaya Syriac Orthodox Church all took active roles in the prayers. The Secretary of the Standing Conference of Oriental Orthodox Churches, Rev. Archdeacon Gebre Kristos Nicholas Siniari, was also on hand to coordinate the participation of the visiting clergy from the Sister Churches.
The atmosphere of brotherly love and true unity in Christ and in Orthodoxy was absolutely palpable as the visiting Fathers expressed their share in the joy of the faithful of St. Anthony at the marvelous gift that the Holy Spirit has bestowed upon the parish in the form of Fr. Peter. After the vespers service, the assembled faithful were treated to a beautiful selection of hymns from choirs composed of the youth Fr. Peter will be serving, and after that, a delectable agape meal. The visiting clergy presented congratulatory gifts to Fr. Peter, and the hosting church presented gifts to each of them in turn.
The Standing Conference of Oriental Orthodox Churches encourages the Oriental Orthodox clergy and faithful to live out our unity in Christ at the parish level by inviting the clergy and faithful of our Sister Churches to regularly share in our joys, sorrows, parish feast days, liturgies and other services, conventions, retreats, and other activities in order to form real and lasting bonds that endure beyond landmark annual events. If your local parish needs help in implementing this vision, ask the clergy to contact the Standing Conference for help and guidance.