Orthodoxy Cognate PAGE Society
 The logo of Orthodoxy Cognate PAGE Society. | |
| Founded | 2007 |
|---|---|
| Founders | George Alexander, Boaz John, Deacon Subin Varghese |
| Type | Non-governmental organization, Scientific and Charitable Society |
| Focus | Pan-Orthodox Christian Unity. Conciliar Unification of Eastern and Oriental Orthodox Churches |
| Location |
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| Origins | Orthodoxy Beyond Limits Forum |
Area served | Worldwide |
| Slogan | “The United Orthodox Christian Witness” |
| Website | theorthodoxchurch.info |
The Orthodoxy Cognate PAGE Society (OCP) is a society for the Promotion of Orthodox Christian Unity and Faith established under the Travancore-Cochin Literary, Scientific and Charitable Societies Registration Act, 1955.[1] Formerly known as Orthodoxy Beyond Limits, the name of the Society changed to Orthodoxy Cognate PAGE in 2010, and received legal registration in July 2010.
OCP provides equal importance to Eastern and Oriental Orthodox Churches and its mission statement says that it "firmly believes that both the Eastern Orthodox Church and the Oriental Orthodox Churches are the true heirs to the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church of Christ, which was the Church of the apostles and the Holy Fathers", and "Let us unite together, let us pray together and let us act together for the Unity of Orthodoxy."[2]
The Society's motto is The United Orthodox Christian Witness.
History
OCP began as Orthodoxy Beyond Limits Forum in June 2007. Inspired by Rt. Rev Kyriakose Thottupuram of Chicago, George Alexander, Subin Varghese, Boaz John, formed the OBL Forum. Forum website was inaugurated by Mor Gregorious Gabriel of Trivandrum at Chicago in the presence of Chorbishop Kyriakose Thottupuram in July 2007 at Chicago, USA.[3]
Initially it was a forum broadcasting Orthodox Christian news encompassing both Byzantine and Oriental Orthodox Churches. A board was constituted which consisted of Chancellor, Chairman, Vice Chairman and Secretary. The board then registered the forum and changed its outlook.
In 2010 Orthodoxy Beyond Limits Forum was changed to Orthodoxy Cognate PAGE Society, and registered under the Societies Registration Act. K C Jacob became chairman and the governing board was formed, with ten members.
Structure
- Statute,General Body and Executive Council
The OCP Society is registered as an NGO under the Travancore-Cochin Literary, Scientific and Charitable Societies Registration Act, 1955. It has an apex General Body from which the Executive Council is elected every three years. The Council comprises a chancellor, chairman, vice-chairman, secretary, treasurer, and five elected members.
According to the decision of the Executive Council and approved by the General Body an administrative Mechanism was instituted for Orthodoxy Cognate PAGE Society such as OCP Advisory Board and Ambassadors, OCP Associates and OCP Departments.
- OCP Delegate Council
This consists of several selected representatives from different Orthodox Churches worldwide. They act as advisers and ambassadors make recommendations and suggestions to the Executive Council. The Panel of advisers also act as correspondents and consultants of OCP, and promotes the mission.
- OCP Associates
OCP Associates are external supporters, without voting rights.
- OCP Departments
Various departments are constituted. OCP Executive council members and OCP Advisory Board and Ambassadors, and OCP Associates provide their services simultaneously in each of the departments as needed. The Departments may hire employees according to need.The departments are External Church Relations, Public Relations, Finance, Publications, Church Research and Studies, Charity and Social Welfare and Technical Support.
The members of Orthodoxy Cognate PAGE are Orthodox Christian professionals from different disciplines who contribute their time and resources. The members are distributed worldwide representing different Orthodox Churches.
Membership
Membership is provided to acting Orthodox Christians of both Eastern Orthodox and Oriental Orthodox Churches.
Activities
OCP Media Network
OCP Media Network provides news articles, information on Eastern and Oriental Orthodox Churches equally, resources on Orthodox faith and photographs from various Orthodox Churches. It is updated regularly with news, photos, articles, and events from the world of Orthodoxy. In particular, it broadcasts news and events from Ethiopian, Chinese, Pakistan, and Indonesian Orthodox Churches.
Official Meetings and Visits
OCP society holds visits, interviews and meeting with several Orthodox Church delegations, notably with the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, Greek Orthodox Church, Armenian Apostolic Church in Lebanon, the British Orthodox Church, the Syrian Orthodox Church and the Orthodox Church of the Czech lands and Slovakia.
Historic Visit to Brahmavar Orthodox Church and aftermath
OCP delegation visited the Brahmavar Orthodox Community,[4] (a reunited Latin Catholic Christian Community under the Indian Malankara Orthodox Church) in November 2009. A report was prepared and submitted with a number of resolutions to the Holy Episcopal Synod of the Indian Orthodox Church, and was published online. It contributed to the re-establishment of an episcopal diocese for Brahmavar after a gap of eighty-seven years. The report was also published in The Glastonbury Review: Issue 119 (November 2010) under the title ‘Holy Brahmavar’.
Meeting with British Orthodox Church delegation
The OCP met[5] with Metropolitan Abba Seraphim and the British Orthodox Church delegation in February 2008. This helped OCP Society to establish relationships with the British Church and the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria.
Meeting with the delegation of Armenian Orthodox Church in Lebanon
The meeting with the head of and delegation from the Holy See of Cilicia took place in 2010. It was more than a press conference which resulted in discussion on need for Eastern- Oriental Orthodox unity. This meeting paved the way to the meeting with the Syrian Orthodox delegation.
Meeting with Syrian Orthodox Delegation of Antioch and All East
OCP delegation met[6] with Syrian Orthodox Metropolitans who were the representatives of the Syrian Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch to Malankara during February 2011and also several other Pilgrims who were in Kerala to mark the 79th Dukhrono (memorial feat) of Saint Ignatius Elias-III of Manjinikkara.
It was considered to be an historic meeting since OCP delegation consisted of both Indian Malankara Orthodox Church Members as well as members of the Syrian Orthodox (Jacobite) Church in India. It was for the first time ever that some representations of both churches meet on an official platform ever since the schism between the Syrian Orthodox Church and the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church.
Visit to Ethiopia
During the month of October 2013,OCP Society secretary George Alexander made an official visit to Ethiopia. He met with Abune Mathias the Patriarch of Ethiopia, also with Abune Thimotheos,the dean of Holy Trinity Theological College, and with Archbishop Abune Samuel, Head of the Developmental Commission of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church. He was fortunate to meet Greek Orthodox Archbishop Petros of Axum and all Africa. The visit was organized by Fr Dr Jossi Jacob who is the IMOC delegate to Ethiopia and Faculty at the Holy Trinity College in Addis Ababa. Secretary George made several discussions and official request to the Patriarchate to organize the second Addis Ababa Conferee in 2015. He also met and interviewed eminent personalities like Dr Ralf Lee who is a convert to Ethiopian Church and also a faculty at the Trinity College.
Conference with Oriental Orthodox Prelates
During the first week on 1 February 2014, Orthodoxy Cognate PAGE Society Delegation received the representatives of various Oriental Orthodox Churches (Coptic, Armenian, Indian and Ethiopian) at Samanvaya Ecumenical of the Indian Malankara Orthodox Church. OCP delegates urged for increasing the phase of Oriental Orthodox Unity and creating a permanent secretariat for administration needs.
Speech at I.A.O. Conference
During the month of May 2014, OCP Secretary on the invitation of Interparliamentary Assembly on Orthodoxy (I.A.O.) spoke at the Mass Media Conference which was held in Thessaloniki Greece. Secretary George Alexander spoke on the subject ‘Seeking United Orthodox Christian Witness through Mass Media’. He urged for conciliar unity between Eastern and Oriental Orthodox Churches and called for creating international Orthodox Mass Media Centre. He was the only speaker at the conference from the ancient Oriental Orthodox communion as well as of the Indian origin representing India where he officially represented OCP Society. He also met with several Orthodox Prelates, journalist and dignitaries.
Historic meeting with Patriarch Ignatius Aphrem II of Antioch and All East at Puthenkurish
The Orthodoxy Cognate PAGE Society delegation met with His Holiness Moran Mor Ignatius Aphrem II – Patriarch on the Apostolic Throne of St Peter in Antioch and All East at Puthenkurish – headquarters of the Syriac Orthodox Church in India. The meeting took place on 7 February 2015 which was the first day of the apostolic visit to Malankara. OCP Society made history by becoming the first Pan-Orthodox organization to hold meeting with Patriarch Ignatius Aphrem II in India. OCP Delegation shared their concern on pan-orthodox unity with Patriarch and submitted written request as well. The delegation presented Patriarch with the first ever Indian icon of St Peter and St Thomas, with a special gift of Seyfo 2015, traditional Nilavilakku and a personal copy of the pan-orthodox publication titled ‘Collected Writings on orthodox Christianity.
Projects and Institutes
In 2013 Orthodoxy Cognate PAGE Society Executive Council approved two new projects. The first one is titled as MARP (Metropolitan Alvares Julius Research Project), which aims to promote research and publish known and unknown aspects of Metropolitan Julius, his life and mission. feature history, mission, life, and details of personalities like St Gregory of Parumala, Archbishop Rene Villate, famous Indian Orthodox and Syriac Orthodox Church Fathers, laymen who were directly and indirectly connected to Metropolitan Alvares.[7] The second one is titled as Orthodox Christian Educational Institutions (OCEI),and was published in the month of May 2013. It is an effort to make a comprehensive list of Orthodox Christian higher educational institutions worldwide. It includes theological seminaries, institutions, academics, University faculties, Universities, iconography institutes etc. Related areas to Orthodox Christianity like Byzantine studies, Coptology, Armenian studies, eastern Christian studies, Hellenic Studies are also included. The list will be updated as per requirements. OCEI is considered to be the largest ever list of Eastern and Oriental Orthodox institutions published online till date.
OCP Foundation
The OCP Foundation was launched in the year 2014 as a special initiative charted by the Executive Council of OCP with the approval of the General Body to honour personalities, organize human resource development activities, event management and sponsorship's, as well as to boost inter-orthodox cooperation and dialogues. The Foundation has honoured large number of perosonalities, institutions and Primates with various awards and honours.
Rediscovery of Lost Orthodox Community of St Gregorius and the Independent Catholic Church
In the month of September 2012, Ajesh T Phillip (OCP Delegate and Chief Project Coordinator - MARP) found lost Orthodox Christians of St. Gregorius of Parumala in Dindigul, in Tamil Nadu.[8] An article was published about them. As per the decision of the Executive Council the OCP delegation visited this community in October 2012 and made further discussions and published extensive information about their faith, history, living conditions and life.
In the year 2013 Ajesh T Philip (OCP Delegate and Chief Project Coordinator - MARP) rediscovered the Chempatty church which was found in 1890 and belonged to the Independent Catholic Rite of the Indian Malankara Orthodox Church. The Church was lost during the period of 1956-57. Ajest Phillip rediscovered this church after a gap of 57 years. During the month of December 2013 Metropolitan Dioscoros Yuhanon of the Chennai diocese of the Indian Malankara Orthodox Church made a historic visit to the Independent Catholic Church at Chempatty. Metropolitan and delegation from Madras diocese along with Ajesh T Philip (OCP delegate) met with caretakers of the Church. Metropolitan and the delegation also visited the St Gregorious community at Dindigul and made discussions with the leaders and faithful. He also visited their homes. Several people gathered to receive blessings from the prelate. It was decided that a new mission at Dindigul in The name of St. Gregorious will be created soon. ‘St Gregorious Mission Dindigul, will be under the jursitriction of the Madras diocese of the Indian Malankara Orthodox Church with the spiritual guidance of the Metropolitan Dioscoros. A new chapel is being planned to be constructed in the area. Orthodoxy Cognate PAGE Society will monitor the Mission activities. OCP Department of Church Researchand Studies will act as the consultant agency to the Mission and Ajesh Philip will hold the office of Chief consultant.
Rediscovery of the historic Cathedral of Metropolitan Alvares Julius in Colombo
In December 2014, the OCP Society-MARP initiative have successfully rediscovered the lost Cathedral of Alavres Julius in Colombo, Sri Lanka which was once, the main Church and headquarters of the Western-Latin Rite Community of the Indian Orthodox Malankara Church. The Western-Latin Rite of the Church of Malabar (Indian Orthodox Malankara Orthodox Church) was a huge community that had large number of faithful, missions and congregations all over South India, Sri Lanka, some part of North East India and also outside India regions.
The church building is in good condition despite the fact that there remain only a handful of members. There are about eight to ten Sinhalese Independent Catholics (Sinhalese Orthodox) families who are currently members of the church, whereas others have returned to nearby Roman Catholic parishes like St Sebastian’s or Holy family Church.
The faithful of Our Lady of Good Death Church are still depended on the Priest of the nearby Roman Catholic Church for Liturgical and spiritual needs. OCP Secretariat has announced extensive research and studies to learn more on the constitution, present status and their historical connections with the Malanakra Orthodox Church.
Publications
OCP brought its first publication in 2008 on Orthodox Church Management. A copy of the book is kept in the National Sunday School Library of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church. In 2014 OCP Published their first pan-orthodox book titled Collected Writings on Orthodox Christianity: Various Aspects of Eastern and Oriental Orthodox Churches.OCP members regularly contribute articles in various national and international print and web media. Articles has been published in Glastonbury Review, Jerusalem Post, Travelujah,Pakistan Christian Post, Assist News, Ethiosun and so on.
Books
1. Orthodox Church of the East in the Twenty First Century : Challenges and Opportunities
2. Collected Writings on Orthodox Christianity : Various Aspects of Eastern and Oriental Orthodox Churches
3. The Orthodox Dilemma
Other Activities
Receiving Historical Document
During the visit of OCP Secretary to the Greek Metropolis in Addis Ababa, Fr Dr Jossi Jacob was presented with the historic Greek publication on the first Addis Ababa Conference which was held in 1965. Fr Jossi received the book from Greek Orthodox Archbishop Petros of Axum and Ethiopia on behalf of Orthodoxy Cognate PAGE Society. The Greek publication on Addis Ababa Conference is very rare. Only three copies exist, where one has been presented to OCP Society, one is kept at the Greek Archdiocese in Addis Ababa and the final copy is preserved at the Alexandrian Patriarchate archives.
Campaign for Eritrean Orthodox Church and Persecuted Christians in Eritrea
OCP Society has taken special interest in broadcasting[7] news and speaking for the persecuted Christians of the Eritrean Orthodox Tewahedo Church and their third Patriarch, Abune Antonios. The article titled “Detained Patriarch, Persecuted Christians and a Dying Church”[8] written by OCP Secretary George Alexander had gained much international attention. It was published in several print and e-media. OCP Society in association with COLT Crew observed three days of fasting and prayer exercise titled Save Eritrea. All these activities have received support from Metropolitan Abba Seraphim and the British Orthodox Church.
Apart from this, OCP Media Network continues to publish news on persecuted Christians in Eretria, particularly on the status of the detained Patriarch Abune Antonis. In the month of May 2014, OCP Media Network released a clandestinely taken snap of Abune Antonios from a cellphone, which showed His Holiness looking tranquil and at peace, although still under house arrest. It remains the latest update on the canonical detained hierarch of the Eritrean Orthodox Church.
Iconography
OCP has taken much initiatives in propagating the importance of Orthodox Icons particularly in the Indian Subcontinent. OCP had taken the initiative to write one of the first ever icons of St Gregorious of Indian, the first canonized Indian Saint.
Charity Initiatives
OCP Society through department of Charity and Social Welfare reach out to the needy and poor since its founding in the year 2007. Charity works are provided in India for education and health needs.
Support to Orthodox Missions Worldwide
OCP supports several Orthodox Missions worldwide through publicity, advertisement, reach out programmes, fund raising. Missions in Christian Minority places like Pakistan and Indonesia along with Orthodox minority areas like Philippines are catered.
Record breaking Lecture
OCP Secretary made a record breaking lecture at Orthodox Theological Seminary (OTS) of the Indian Malankara Orthodox Church during the month of September 2012. He spoke on the topic “Orthodoxy in the Twenty First Century: Growth and Development”. Mr George highlighted the objective perspective of Orthodox faith (based on the article by Jaison Baysee), practical aspects of the growth and development of Orthodox Churches worldwide and identity of the Indian Malankara Orthodox Church. Mr George Alexander became the youngest person to lecture at the Orthodox Theological Seminary till date.
Network and Communication with Orthodox Churches and Pan-Orthodox Organizations
Orthodoxy Cognate PAGE maintains fraternal relation and communications with several Orthodox Churches and Pan-Orthodox Christian organizations.
Relations with the Assyrian Church of the East
OCP has fraternal relations with the One Holy Catholic Apostolic Church of the East. OCP Delegation met with His Beatitude Mar Aphrem of India. OCP media Network regularly broadcast news about Assyrian Christians through cooperation with Assyrian Church Media. Apart from this, there exist various levels of contacts between OCP and Assyrian Church. Varghese John (Director of Dept. of Publications) is appointed as the Adviser on the Assyrian Church Affairs to the OCP Delegate Council and Secretariat.
Approach to Ecumenism
OCP Society describes them as an organization exclusively dedicated to Orthodox Christian unity with ecumenical respect.
Orthodoxy Cognate PAGE consider ecumenism outside Eastern and Oriental Orthodox Churches that is to denote relationship and dialogue between Orthodox Churches and heterodox denominations. Inter-Orthodox/Intra-Orthodox relation is the term used to denote relationship among all Orthodox Churches.
It has been clearly stated in the OCP media Network website that general articles which will no way hinder the faith and teachings of the Orthodox Church shall be published as well as materials/news which will no way hinder the faith, teachings and unity of the Holy Orthodox Church shall be published.
The OCP society does not say no or yes to ecumenism or ecumenical dialogue but always emphasizes the fact that the fist and prime importance of all Orthodox Churches(Eastern and Oriental)is to establish unity and communion and to build a common platform and administrative structure based on Orthodox Christian conciliar system. It stresses on the need to establish continuous dialogue, not only between Eastern and Oriental Orthodox Church but also with Old Believers, new generation, non-canonical orthodox churches and with traditional Orthodox churches.
Ecumenical Relations
Orthodoxy Cognate Page has maintained cordial ecumenical relations with various non-orthodox churches. In 2015, OCP secretary George Alexander met with the prelates of Anglican and Roman Catholic Churches and visited various churches and convents in Sri Lanka.
Administrative Hierarchy
Chancellor
Kyriakose Thottupuram of Chicago (From 2007)
Chairman
Lejit George (2007–2010)
K C Jacob (From 2010)
Vice-Chairman
Subin Varghese (From 2007)
Secretary
George Alexander (From 2007) [9]
Treasurer
Abraham P Koshy (From 2007)
Executive Council Members
Fr Thomas P John, Dr Mariamma Jacob,Boaz John,Soney Cherian, Jacob Mathew
Representing Eastern and Oriental Orthodox Churches Worldwide to OCP Society
Coptic Orthodox Church, Serbian Orthodox Church, Greek Orthodox Church (Church of Greece) Greek Orthodox Church of Antioch and All East, Ethiopian Orthodox Church, Syriac Orthodox Church of Antioch and All East, Armenian Orthodox Church, Indian Orthodox Malankara Church, Serbian Orthodox Church, Russian Orthodox Church, Romanian Orthodox Church, Orthodox Church in America, Indonesian Orthodox Church - Ecumenical Patriarchate.
Gallery of Events
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Carmel Apologetics Trust Receives OCP Society Delegation : Secretary Lauds Pan-Orthodox nature & commitment of the Trust
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Secretary Receives Svetigora Orthodox_Radio Journalists from Montenegro
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OCP Delegation Meets Metropolitan Geevarghese Yulios Pulikkottil of Ahmadabad
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OCP Society honors Coptic Bishop Anba Paulose of Greece with the Icon of St Gregory of Parumala
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Special Envoy of OCP Secretariat Monu John Visits Coptic Orthodox Prelates in Cairo
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OCP Secretary Receives Belorussian Orthodox Journalists and Media Experts at I.A.O Conference
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OCP Secretary George Alexander Address all UAE National Ethiopian Youth Conference: Calls for Second Addis Ababa Conference
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OCP Delegation Meets Team Project Prayer Rope
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OCP Society and Pan-Orthodox Movement : Lecture by Maria Sidiropoulou at Westphalian Wilhelm University of Munster
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OCP's Secretary with Archbishop Petros, Archmandrite Christomos and Fr. Dr. Jossi Jacob.
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Greek Orthodox Archbishop Petros of Axum and All Africa with OCP's Secretary.
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OCP Secretary George Alexander with Patriarch Abune Mathias of Ethiopia, Abune Thimotheos (Dean of Holy Trinity University College )and Fr. Dr. Jossi Jacob (IMOC Delegate and Faculty at Holy Trinity College).
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OCP's delegate Ajesh Phillip with Metropolitan Yuhannon Diascorous of Chennai.
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OCP's delegate Ajesh Phillip with Metropolitan Pulikkotill Geevarghese Yulios.
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Yonas Geredew (OCP Ambassador & Correspondent in Ethiopia and Africa region) presenting a copy of the OCP Orthodox Church Management book to Mr Dawit (Head of the Library of the Ethiopian Sunday School. A copy of the book is kept in the National Sunday School Library of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church.
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OCP Secretary making his record breaking lecture at Orthodox Theological Seminary (OTS) of the Indian Malankara Orthodox Church.
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OCP Delegate Ajesh T Philip presenting the icon of St Gregorious to Mr Xavier member of the lost Orthodox Community of St Gregorious of Prumala which he discovered in Dindigul,Tamil Nadu, India.
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OCP Chairman K C Jacob with Archbishop Bishop Julius Hanna Aydin of the Syrian Orthodox Church
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Visit to the Icon Writing School of the Indian Malankara Orthodox Church
References
- ↑ "Travancore-Cochin Literary, Scientific and Charitable Societies Registration Act, 1955".
- ↑ "The OCP Mission". The OCP Society. 2010. Retrieved 22 July 2013.
- ↑ "OCP Timeline".
- ↑ "Holy Brahmavar". The Glastonbury Review: Issue 119. Retrieved November 2010.
- ↑ "OBL Forum Delegation Meets Metropolitan Abba Seraphim".
- ↑ "OCP Delegation meets Syriac Orthodox Metropolitans".
- ↑ "Metropolitan Alvarus Julius Research Project". Metropolitan Alvarus Julius Research Project. Retrieved 10 March 2016.
- ↑ "The Lost Orthodox Christians of St Gregorious of Parumala in Dindigul - Orthodox Christian Resource Center". Theorthodoxchurch.info. Retrieved 3 September 2013.
- ↑ "Administration".
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