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mike
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« on: September 30, 2009, 04:30:20 PM » |
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Abandoned Pennsylvania church to become an Orthodox Monastery
�
We're not talking about people from the southern state of Georgia being in
Pennsylvania (although chances are that there are some). What we are talking
about is a place for Orthodox Christians from the country of Georgia to call
their home. While the country of Georgia has over 80% of its population being
Orthodox, things in the US are a little different.
�
A former Roman Catholic parish that fell into disuse after it was closed due to
finances in 2007, is now being made into an Orthodox monastery. While it is not
an actual parish church, the Orthodox faithful will still be able to attend
services there. The monastery will also serve as a religious center and will
cater to the needs of Orthodox Christians in the area of Hanover Township.
�
This will undeniably make Georgians living in the area happy that there will be
a place for them to visit where they can reminisce about their days in the
Caucasus while building their new lives in America. There are an estimated 50
Georgian families in the area. According to the Georgian Patriarchate's website,
the name of the church building itself will be St. David the Builder.
�
Having been evangelized by St. Andrew the Apostle in the early first century,
the country of Georgia has been Orthodox for nearly 2000 years and is headed by
Patriarch Ilia II. Recently, the Patriarch has been lauded for his effortsto
stop the decline in birth rate throughout the country. At the end of 2007, His
Holiness announced that he would personally baptize any child born to a family
that already had two children. The stipulation was that they had to be born
after he made the announcement. It was a tremendous success with the birth rate
increasing by nearly 20% in 2008.
�
The entire property that Holy Rosary Catholic Church was on was sold for $65,000
and was neogitated by the St. George Foundation. May God grant the future monks
and priests of the monastery many years!�
source |
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My Parish
As I've been posting here for quite a long time I would welcome pieces of advice how to improve my etiquette, behaviour, language and activity on the forum in general because I don't get all your less outspoken signs given to me.
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Schultz
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« Reply #1 on: September 30, 2009, 04:42:15 PM » |
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If this is the Hanover Twp in York County, this is great news! It's only about an hour from my house!  |
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"Hearing a nun's confession is like being stoned to death with popcorn." --Abp. Fulton Sheen
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SolEX01
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« Reply #2 on: September 30, 2009, 04:56:18 PM » |
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If this is the Hanover Twp in York County, this is great news! It's only about an hour from my house! There are more than one Hanover Township in PA. The former Church is located near Wilkes-Barre, PA, much further from you and me both. |
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Schultz
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« Reply #3 on: September 30, 2009, 05:02:48 PM » |
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I figured as much (there being more than one Hanover Twp). I didn't think to check where the former parish church was. Oh well, it's still good that there's another monastery in the United States |
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"Hearing a nun's confession is like being stoned to death with popcorn." --Abp. Fulton Sheen
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Iconodule
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« Reply #4 on: February 11, 2010, 06:01:31 PM » |
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The monastery is open now and there are pictures of my bishop (Bishop Tikhon of Eastern PA) visiting here: http://doepa.org/news_100209_2.html |
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"We are not nationalists for in Christ and in His Church there are no nations. As Russians and Tartars and Jews and Americans we have become one new people of the Covenant."- Fr. Daniel Sysoyev, New Martyr
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ialmisry
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« Reply #5 on: February 11, 2010, 06:36:59 PM » |
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That would seem to indicate that there are no problems between the OCA and the CoG over the new Georgian parishes in North America. I remember HG Tiikhon's chrismation in the same small parish that received me. |
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Question a friend, perhaps he did not do it; but if he did anything so that he may do it no more.
A hasty quarrel kindles fire,
and urgent strife sheds blood.
If you blow on a spark, it will glow;
if you spit on it, it will be put out;
and both come out of your mouth
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LakaYaRabb
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« Reply #6 on: February 11, 2010, 11:38:10 PM » |
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This is awesome!
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Alveus Lacuna
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« Reply #7 on: February 12, 2010, 12:13:11 AM » |
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How wonderful! Those pictures are beautiful!
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Alveus Lacuna
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« Reply #8 on: February 12, 2010, 12:32:03 AM » |
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Alveus Lacuna
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« Reply #9 on: February 12, 2010, 12:39:04 AM » |
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Alpo
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« Reply #10 on: February 12, 2010, 05:21:21 AM » |
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wonderful pictures
That pretty much sums it up. Since that is a former Catholic church I'm curious how does they feel about this. Due to laxness of Catholics outrageous schismatics the S-people have gotten your church. Does those pictures settle you? |
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Has your heart bound by love? My dear friend, do not be embarassed with theories and debates, but it is enough to do as St. Augustine said, "Love and do whatever you wish, because God is love"
-Fr. Zakaria Botros
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Alveus Lacuna
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« Reply #11 on: February 12, 2010, 01:03:22 PM » |
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Since that is a former Catholic church I'm curious how does they feel about this. Due to laxness of Catholics outrageous schismatics the S-people have gotten your church. Does those pictures settle you? I don't think it's fair to say that Roman Catholics were lax in their faith and that's why the church failed. Orthodox churches close all of the time too. Buildings this big are very expensive to maintain. This was originally a church for Polish immigrants, and what likely happened was that they all moved away of time. The ethnic community dismantled and they couldn't afford to keep the place open. Every time I drive to church I drive past a huge abandoned Presbyterian church. It is enormous and gorgeous. Does that mean that Presbyterians are lax or unfaithful? Nope. It means the demographics changed, and now it's in a "rough" neighborhood where everything is dilapidated. If someone fixed it up, it would really be out of place with all of the other run-down buildings around. Anyway, I'm just glad such a beautiful church will not be left to rot, but instead will be filled anew with the praises of the Lord Jesus Christ. |
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monkvasyl
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« Reply #12 on: February 12, 2010, 02:19:49 PM » |
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If this is the Hanover Twp in York County, this is great news! It's only about an hour from my house! There are more than one Hanover Township in PA. The former Church is located near Wilkes-Barre, PA, much further from you and me both. Ah, Wilkes-Barre, my hometown. |
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The unworthy hierodeacon, Vasyl
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SolEX01
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« Reply #13 on: February 12, 2010, 06:11:23 PM » |
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Has the Georgian effort become a Church, a Monastery or Both?
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