HCHC President Rev. Fr. Christopher T. Metropulos to Provide Live CommentaryJune 17, 2016, Crete—The press office for the Holy and Great Council, an historic gathering for the Orthodox Christian Churches and the first of its kind in 1200 years, has just announced that several events will be available for the public to watch via live streaming at www.holycouncil.org/livebeginning with the Orthros and Diving Liturgy of Holy Pentecost this Sunday, June 19, at 1am (eastern time).
The English commentary for this and the Orthros and Synodal Divine Liturgy, the Feast Day of All Saints, on June 26, will be provided by Hellenic College Holy Cross President Rev. Fr. Christopher T. Metropulos and translated into several different languages.
“I invite you to join me as we journey together through one of the most sacred services in Orthodox Christianity celebrated by His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch BARTHOLOMEW as the first amongst equals along with the heads of the autocephalous Churches throughout the world,” said Fr. Metropulos. “It is going to be an experience, a flashback in time for Orthodox Christians, a glimpse of a glorious future, as well as a window for those who are seeking guidance and true direction for their lives to experience the breath of the Holy Spirit.”
The schedule of live streaming events is (given in eastern standard time):
This is the third time Fr. Metropulos has been asked to provide live commentary in English for historic occasions over the past two years. In May 2014 he offered the live English commentary from Rome for the worldwide televised broadcast of the historic meeting of Pope Francis and Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew in Jerusalem. A few months later he was invited to return to Rome to provide the English commentary for Pope Francis’ visit to the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Constantinople (Istanbul) in celebration of the Feast Day of St. Andrew.
“The commentary will be offered in five languages English, Greek, Russian, French and Arabic,” continued Fr. Metropulos. “I encourage all people to come and watch listen, read, watch and learn about the historical Church of Christ.”
The Holy and Great Council, an event expressing the unity of the Orthodox Church and its witness to the Gospel of Christ, has been in the planning stages for several decades and will mark the first time the heads and representative bishops of Autocephalous Orthodox Churches have come together for such a Council in over 1000 years.
The meeting begins this Sunday, June 19 and ends on June 26. The Holy and Great Council is expectedto discuss issues ranging from the mission of the Orthodox Church in the modern world and its relations with other Christian churches, to the importance of fasting and the sacrament of marriage.
For background information on the Holy and Great Council, go to the Press Office of the Holy and Great Council of the Orthodox Church Ecumenical Patriarchate, Hellenic College Holy Cross, Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America and Orthodox Christian Network and Holy and Great Council Pentecost 2016.
“The ancient, historical Church of Christ will be in full view of a worldwide audience,” Fr. Metropulos explained. “This witness is important in that the heavenly will be in communion with the earthly. The Hierarchs you will see are the direct descendants of Christ’s original Apostles, tracing their ordination in apostolic succession. It is time for mankind to witness and hear this profound voice.”
“I invite you to join me as we journey together through one of the most sacred services in Orthodox Christianity celebrated by His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch BARTHOLOMEW as the first amongst equals along with the heads of the autocephalous Churches throughout the world,” said Fr. Metropulos. “It is going to be an experience, a flashback in time for Orthodox Christians, a glimpse of a glorious future, as well as a window for those who are seeking guidance and true direction for their lives to experience the breath of the Holy Spirit.”
The schedule of live streaming events is (given in eastern standard time):
- Sunday, June 19, 1am -- Orthros and Divine Liturgy of Holy Pentecost
- Monday, June 20, 4am-7am -- Opening Session of the Holy and Great Council
- Saturday, June 25, 10am-12:30pm -- Closing Session of the Holy and Great Council
- Sunday, June 26, 1am -- Orthros and Synodal Divine Liturgy
This is the third time Fr. Metropulos has been asked to provide live commentary in English for historic occasions over the past two years. In May 2014 he offered the live English commentary from Rome for the worldwide televised broadcast of the historic meeting of Pope Francis and Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew in Jerusalem. A few months later he was invited to return to Rome to provide the English commentary for Pope Francis’ visit to the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Constantinople (Istanbul) in celebration of the Feast Day of St. Andrew.
“The commentary will be offered in five languages English, Greek, Russian, French and Arabic,” continued Fr. Metropulos. “I encourage all people to come and watch listen, read, watch and learn about the historical Church of Christ.”
The Holy and Great Council, an event expressing the unity of the Orthodox Church and its witness to the Gospel of Christ, has been in the planning stages for several decades and will mark the first time the heads and representative bishops of Autocephalous Orthodox Churches have come together for such a Council in over 1000 years.
The meeting begins this Sunday, June 19 and ends on June 26. The Holy and Great Council is expectedto discuss issues ranging from the mission of the Orthodox Church in the modern world and its relations with other Christian churches, to the importance of fasting and the sacrament of marriage.
For background information on the Holy and Great Council, go to the Press Office of the Holy and Great Council of the Orthodox Church Ecumenical Patriarchate, Hellenic College Holy Cross, Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America and Orthodox Christian Network and Holy and Great Council Pentecost 2016.
“The ancient, historical Church of Christ will be in full view of a worldwide audience,” Fr. Metropulos explained. “This witness is important in that the heavenly will be in communion with the earthly. The Hierarchs you will see are the direct descendants of Christ’s original Apostles, tracing their ordination in apostolic succession. It is time for mankind to witness and hear this profound voice.”