Jobs: Volunteer Online Editor

The Catholicate of Echmiadzin is looking for a volunteer online editor to edit scripts translated from Armenian into English. Applicants must be fluent in English and have a "working knowledge" of Armenian (specifically its eastern dialect). More on the required skills and responsibilities of the position can be found here.

English-Language Services Introduced in Bangalore Diocese

The Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church's Diocese of Bangalore has introduced a weekly English-language Divine Liturgy on a trial basis for the Diocese's youth, many of whom understand English better than their native Malayalam. More here.

Malankara Orthodox Holy Synod Hears Appeal on English-Language Service Books

During its winter session, which started today, the Holy Synod of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church will be considering an appeal from a senior clergyman of the Church in the United States that concrete steps be taken immediately to publish the services of the West Syrian Rite followed by the Malankara Orthodox Church in English so that the Church's youth abroad aren't lost to sects. The Church has considered the issue in the past, but nothing has yet to materialize on an official level. More here.

Public Service Announcement

Dear English-speaking Orthodox Christians,

"Saint" is one of many words in the English language brought to merry old England by the damnable francophone Normans who many nowadays also like to blame for taking England out of Orthodoxy when they arrived on the Isles in 1066. (It's not true - everything credible I've read places England firmly within the Church of Rome and therefore as much outside of world Orthodoxy after 1054 as the rest of Western and Central Europe was. Admittedly things went back and forth till 1204, but that's not the subject of this announcement, so we won't go there :-).) Apparently many people think it's a title and not an adjective, so I'm here to disabuse you of that notion. "Saint" means holy. It is therefore redundant (as well as highly annoying) to say or write something like "Holy Saint So-and-So, pray to God for us." Either say "holy" or "saint" - both are unnecessary, though God knows we Byzantines have a thing for the wordy and the redundant ;-). Perpetrators, you know who you are! Please stop now ;-).

Many thanks,
The Administrator

P.S. Yeah, there's not a lot of news today :-).