Archimandrite Robert F. Taft stance

On January 21st, 2007, Archimandrite Robert Taft visited our parish in San Jose. The talk that he gave was reassuring and helped many in their stance in support of H.G. Mar Bawai Soro. Many of you reading this probably already know of Fr. Taft, who is a learned scholar with many works to his name; at the time, I myself had one of his books in my bookshelf.

When he weighed in on the situation as it existed in the beginning of 2007, he made it clear that he did not want to be used as a polemical tool in any kind of attack; what he had stated should be left as it is without alteration. I have done my best to faithfully transcribe his words from the video, leaving out just a personal note he had made near the beginning. The video itself can be seen at:

http://marbawai.netfirms.com/nfblog/?p=79

I am very happy to be with you today because as father said I have been very close to the Assyrian and the Chaldean communities ever since the 1950s when I was teaching in [ ] Baghdad. …

I have been accused by some people for taking sides in the very unfortunate dispute, which Mar Bawai at this very moment is in Phoenix meeting with Mar Addai trying to resolve. I know Mar Dinkha personally, of course. The only side I have taken is the side of truth in attempting to give Mar Bawai support in resolving his unfortunate problems as he is trying to do in the way of truth, Christian unity, and service to God in Christian charity. I support Mar Bawai because, rather than engaging in personal attacks or unchristian behavior, he is attempting to resolve an unfortunate problem that threats all of us because he is such a great Christian bishop. Some people call him an ex-bishop. There are no ex-bishops in the Christian Church, because once you are a bishop you are “sayedna” forever.

Mar Bawai is attempting to serve God and the Church because he realizes that the Church is not some kind of a tribal club, it is not some kind of an ethnic institution, it is the Church of God in which all of the apostolic churches such as the Assyrian Church and the various Catholic Churches must finally come together and resolve all of these stupid disputes that come from the past; disputes in which there is fault from both sides. The Catholic Church often acted as an aggressor in the Christian East at times when the other apostolic churches were in a state of weakness; but, now it is no longer a question of one church trying to swallow the other but of churches coming together in brotherly communion, accepting the apostolic foundation of both of the churches, of all of the churches of God that do trace their origins back to the apostles. So that’s what I support and that’s the only side that I take just as that is the side that Mar Bawai himself takes.

Mar Bawai, as some of you may know, was a student of mine in Rome. I was one of the members of the jury that judged his wonderful doctoral dissertation on your Assyrian tradition, your ancient tradition, but looking at it, as I said one must do today, in a modern and objective and scholarly way. The Assyrian Church is no longer hiding from persecution in a cave in the Hakkari. It is living in the real world, and we have to learn to live in that real world. It is not a world of tribalism or ethnicity. That doesn’t mean one does not remain faithful to ones tradition. It does not mean one does not remain faithful to our nation.

One thing I have always loved about the Assyrian Church and the Armenian Church is they are two churches that have been persecuted throughout their history but they are churches that have never had it in for anybody. They simply want to be left alone to live their own tradition. That is our prayer today for you, for your church, for your community and for the work that Mar Bawai is now trying to do on this very day in his visit with Mar Addai in Phoenix, Arizona.

So today, let us pray for him and for this intention and for all of the holy churches of God that they may turn the page on what was sometimes an unfortunate past and look to the future. We are now living in a modern world. We’re not hiding in some cave in Hakkari; we are living in a modern world and we have to learn that that is a world not of tribalism and personal interest, not a world of seeking power but a world of Christian unity and love for all peoples no matter what their church is and the peoples of all faiths.

We pray also for Iraq that the violence there, the terrible violence, may stop, that people may come together and live in God’s peace which is His Will for them and for us. May God bless you all!

Father Jarjis Robert Sayd & Mar Bawai Soro At The Vatican: Hope, Defiance, Unity

The following blog was nicely written by asimplesinner:

Father Jarjis Robert Sayd & …

Clarification of Unity by Fr. Dimitri

Recently, Fr. Dimitri posted in a forum the following response to attempt to clear up some confusion that had been taking place about the union that was just achieved under the guidance of H.G. Mar Bawai Soro. Fr. Dimitri is one of the priests who recently united into the Chaldean Catholic Church. He writes:

There seems to be more than a little confusion regarding the status of the parishes and their clergies who have supported His Lordship Mar Bawai. Permit me to try to clear up this confusion and set the record straight.

First, let us recall that Mar Bawai made several promises to us. He promised NOT to try to make us “Roman Catholics.” He promised NOT to start another Church. And he promised to seek unity with both churches of our Church of the East patrimony, the Chaldean Catholic and the Ancient Church of the East.

We should all acknowledge that he has kept these three promises. His Grace found it prudent to incorporate a diocese, the “Assyrian Catholic and Apostolic Diocese,” to serve his followers. This was not a “church,” but a legal covering.

Regarding seeking unity, while the Ancient Church of the East has shown great charity and openness towards Mar Bawai and his supporters, (which is appreciated on every level) her leadership was not interested in pursuing unity with the other apostolic Churches at this time. This did not fit the criteria His Grace had set for the Diocese in seeking unity.

The Chaldean Church however was just as helpful and the Diocese of St Peter (San Diego) invited our clergy to their clergy meetings, ordinations and special events. They attended our services as well. Discussions were held as to how we who followed Mar Bawai could unite with the Chaldeans and still retain our identities as parishes and communities. There were also concerns from some of our people regarding what changes we would HAVE to make if we united with the Chaldeans….which would make us CATHOLIC. These have nearly completely been laid to rest.

Please note that the Chaldeans are 100% Catholics – as much as the Pope, although they are not “Roman” Catholics. The term “Roman Catholic” is itself an improper one that started in Protestant usage. The Proper term is “Western Catholic Church” or “Latin Catholic Church.” There is only one Western Catholic Church, but there are 22 Eastern Catholic Churches, each a full church in its own right. Several churches use the same “rite” or practice. For instance, the Chaldeans and the Syro-Malabars both use the Chaldean or Mesopotamian rite we are used to. And there are 14 Catholic Churches that use the Byzantine rite!

All that said, what happened this weekend was that the members of the Assyrian Catholic and Apostolic Diocese, both clergy and parishes, that are located within the geographic boundaries of St Peter’s Diocese, were accepted into the Diocese of St Peter. It was a merger of part of our diocese, the Californian and Washington part, with the regional Chaldean diocese. This was done in reply to the requests made by our parishes and youth groups. We were “accepted” and “joined to” the Chaldean diocese, not converted to being “Catholic.”

Look at it this way; when we were members of the Assyrian Catholic Church of the East, Rome declared in 2001 that we had a certain, incomplete communion with the Catholic Church. Although it was incomplete, still under certain circumstances Chaldeans could receive communion from us and we from them. This issue of having a “full” or “complete” communion with Rome was something the Pope and Mar Dinkha, on behalf of their Churches, pledged themselves “to do everything possible to dispel the obstacles of the past which still prevent the attainment of full communion between our Churches, so that we can better respond to the Lord’s call for the unity of his own, a unity which has of course to be expressed visibly.”

Quite frankly, with our being accepted into the Chaldean Church we have done just that. Yes, we were “catholic” before, but in an incomplete way and now we have completed our catholicity. Now we are in full communion with 22 other Churches. Ironically, the largest church of our Mesopotamian tradition is not the Chaldean, but the Syro-Malabar of India! We have now attained full communion with over half of all Christians and one-sixth of the world’s population!

And lastly, rather than leaving our Church of the East traditions, consider that perhaps we are actually rediscovering them. Yes, we are reclaiming what was lost long ago. For instance, icons ….. most Assyrians have one or more at home, almost every house has an icon of St Mary. Ah, but never in a church? Why? Oh, that would be idolatry! Really? No other apostolic and orthodox Church would say that. Yet I’ve recently seen it on a Church of the East website. THE TRUTH IS we had icons in our churches! The Hhudra clearly says that before the consecration of the church, THE ICON WHICH IS ABOVE THE ALTAR is to be taken down, later to be placed back. What was this icon? It was an icon of Jesus in his humanity. What we saw at the altar of the new St Matthew church was the ancient and liturgically correct use of icons in our Church.

This is not some “Catholic” or “Chaldean” idea, this is the true tradition of the Church of the East. And here’s another regarding the Pope… “And as the patriarch has authority to do all he wishes in a fitting manner in such things as are beneath his authority, SO THE PATRIARCH OF ROME HAS AUTHORITY OVER ALL PATRIARCHS, like the blessed Peter over all the community, for he who is in Rome also keeps the office of Peter in all the church. He who transgresses against these things the ecumenical synod places under anathema.”

Now you may ask, “Who wrote this? Surely he was a Chaldean or some other Catholic!” No, my brothers and sisters. Long before there was a “Chaldean Church” there was Mar Odisho of Sauwa, the author of Marganitha. Those were his words from his Nomencanon. For him, there was the Church in the West and the Church in the East, divided by hostile kingdoms, united in belief, one apostolic catholic church. He was with us this Saturday, I’m sure.

Sermon of Hope during Unity Prayer

In sermon delivered by H.G. Mar Sarhad Jammo during a prayer service of unity, the bishop repeated and emphasized, no more is it “you and I, or I and you”, but now it is us. We are now one. The clergy and laity of parishes and missions in Western US had united and come under the guidance and leadership of H.G. Mar Sarhad Jammo.

Indeed, there was no you and I on Saturday, May 10th. It was a wonderful day, when all our spirits ran high, and many were emotional, crying forth tears of joy. From the meeting that begun the day, with the gathered councils of the Church laity which help administer and run the parishes, until the end of the dinner fund-raiser for the newly consecrated Church of St. Matthew, this was a day of thanks giving and praising the Lord for bringing forth this wonderful day.

H.G. Mar Sarhad had a message of hope for our people, especially in this time when our people in the Mideast are facing great persecution. Bringing forth the prophet Jonah as an example when doom was prophesied to Nineveh, and the people repented, he called on us to also challenge the prophecies of doom that now abound about our people:

Challenge destiny, by the force of the Holy Spirit! … Are we doomed? Not if we unite. Not if we are with the Truth of the Lord. Not if we fulfill His will. Not if we are loving each other and loving the Truth. Where can we reach? Survive? I don’t think so, I think we can do better!

The bishop had a message of unity and hope for us, and exhorted us to work as one and in the Lord:

All of Nineveh is all of us, and all of Babylon is all of us. And all the name of Assyrians is for all of us. And all of the name of Chaldeans is for all of us… this is really the beginning of the chapter of Hope!

…

Unless the Lord builds the house,
those who build it labour in vain.
Unless the Lord guards the city,
the guard keeps watch in vain.

Both bishops, Mar Sarhad and Mar Bawai, emphasized the need to be tied to the successor to Peter, the Pope of Rome. Two banners were prominently displayed that day read “That they all be one”, and “On this rock I will build my Church”. H.G. Mar bawai emphasized that in reading the Holy Scriptures, our liturgy, our canon laws, the thoughts of our church fathers, it was clear that we needed to work honestly to coming into communion with the Church of Rome. This unity that we had achieved was in true faithfulness to the Apostolic tradition that had been handed down to us. Like H.G. Mar Sarhad, he too emphasized the need for our people to act as one, and to work according to the will of the Lord.

We are currently working on putting out videos of the events that took place that day and more about what had been said that day will be posted.

St. Peter the Apostle Diocesan Announcement on May 9th

The following announcement was published by the St. Peter the Apostle for Chaldeans & Assyrians Diocese on May 9th:

http://www.kaldaya.net/2008/DailyNews/05/May09_08_E1_HistoricalCelebration.html

To all the clergy and faithful of the Catholic Diocese of St. Peter the Apostle for Chaldeans & Assyrians, and to all clergy and faithful of the Assyrian parishes and missions who requested merger with our Diocese.

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

In the midst of the painful news of our people in Iraq, and the wounds of our Church among the challenges of the present situation, the mercy of God sends us aid and comfort, which is the movement of ecclesial Unity, whose fruits are now ripe for harvest. Thus the clergy and faithful of the Assyrian parishes and missions who have publicly requested fullness of communion with the Catholic Church and living union with the Chaldean Church by their entrance into the Chaldean Catholic Dioceses in which they reside have submitted, on March 17, 2008, an official request for the fulfillment of this intention.

In these past three months, we have lived together in mutual interaction and ecclesial and brotherly union, between all the clergy and all the children of these Dioceses, having shared our liturgies, spiritual activities, youth movements, and seminars for deacons.

The most obvious element which has aided this Church Unity movement was the general meeting of the clergy on the Friday of the Confessors, March 28, 2008, in the Cathedral of St. Peter in San Diego, on which a Catholic Profession of Faith was recited publicly before the altar of the Lord, and a mutual acceptance of Church Unity was accomplished within the one Catholic Diocese of St. Peter the Apostle.

After consultation with the highest competent authorities of our Catholic Church, attending to their directives and in total adherence to Canon Law, with great joy we are inviting you all, clergy and faithful, responding to the will of the Lord for the unity of his disciples, to join us in the public gatherings and ecclesial ceremonies within which we will celebrate the grace of full communion, on the days of Saturday and Sunday, May 10-11 2008, according to the following program:

Saturday, May 10^th, 12 PM – Celebration of Unity at St. Thomas Church in Turlock.

Saturday, May 10^th, 5 PM – Consecration of St. Matthew Church in Ceres.

Sunday, May 11^th, 10 AM – Holy Qurbana at St. Matthew Church in Ceres.

– Episcopal Curia of the Catholic Diocese of St. Peter the Apostle for Chaldeans & Assyrians

Msgr. Felix Shabi, Chancel1or
Of the Catholic Diocese of St. Peter the Apostle for Chaldeans and Assyrians

Unity Prayer, May 10th, St. Thomas Church

On Sunday, May 4th, an announcement was made at St. Mary’s Catholic Church. The announcement heralds the entry of the parishes of ACAD {the Assyrian Catholic Apostolic Diocese} into the local Chaldean Catholic dioceses.

It seems that after their uplifting visit to Rome, H.G. Mar Sarhad and H.G. Mar Bawai are fully underway to leading their diocese to a union. On Saturday, May 10th, at noon, at St. Thomas Chaldean Chatholic Church in Turlock, CA, there will be a joint prayer of unity with the clergy of the two diocese. Then at 5pm, there will be the “Syameeda” {laying of hand} of St. Matthew Church in Ceres. This new church will be opened with the clergy as one.

The parishes which were part of ACAD will be joining the local Chaldean Diocese, so that our California parishes will be in the diocese of H.G. Mar Sarhad, where as the parishes in other areas or countries will be joining whichever diocese they fall under territorially.

This is a significant event in history. Truly, it would have been a significantly greater steps towards unity had the entire Assyrian CotE kept in earnest pursuit of communion with the Catholic Church. However, the significance of this diocese uniting with the Chaldean church should not be underestimated: it has been about 180 years since any similar scale unity between our people. This diocese has managed to follow the teachings of our Church, and to establish communion with our brothers already in the Catholic Communion.

Although one can have regrets about not being able to do it as a whole, one must remember to trust in God All-mighty. Our goal now will be two-fold… to continue in the path that is opened to us, in true faithfulness to the teachings of the Church fathers, and to pray and help our brothers and sisters that did not take this step.