The venerable Clergy and People of this Holy Exarchate under the protection of the Lord’s Apostles.
SANCTA MARIAM MATER DEI: ORA PRO NOBIS!
It is with immense Joy in Christ who is the resurrection and the life of all who believe; the glorious Bishop of his Church that I announce and ratify the renewal and usage of the ancient liturgical observances of the Oriental Christians in this Year of our Lord and Dormition fast Season of 2020AD:
+ The Rite of the Nine Saints of Aksum. All Oriental Churches – those who split from the Chalcedonian (Eastern Orthodox) Churches in accepting the first three Ecumenical Councils and One nature of Christ (Monophysites) developed the Liturgy of St. James within the context of their territories. Although the Apostles Matthew, Nathaniel Bartholomew, Jude Thaddeus, Thomas and Philip missioned to the nations within the oriental family – Syria, Iran, Iraq, Ethiopia, Armenia, and India and the rite of these lands (the anaphora of the apostles) were named after them differing culturally, yet they (such rites) are one and the same. Furthermore, variations of presentation (structure) differ according to culture, practice, devotion, and tradition!
Hence, after much prayer, inspiration and contemplation, we have decided to devote the rite to the nine Syriac fathers (Abbas: Aftse, Alef, Aragawi, Garima, Guba, Liquanos, Pantelewon, Sehma, and Yemata) who fled the persecutions that the eastern churches waged against them. Thus, these came to Ethiopia which was Evangelised by the Apostles Matthew (martyred within) and Philip who in Jerusalem baptized the servant (Simeon Bachos) of Aksum’s Queen Candice (a populace entrenched with old testament observances from the time of Solomon) in developing the existing rites of St Frumentius of Alexandria - a rich monastic anchorite (ascetic) tradition flourished which may be observed in the beautifully preserved cliff churches of Tigray and beyond.
Like our Father amongst the hierarchs St. Nectarios of Agena who revised the existing Coptic (Alexandrian) rite which we further revised for use in our holy exarchate (rite of St. Mark) however remote from this blessed saint’s eloquence; we have strived to produce a rite in the oriental tradition remaining faithful to certain elements so that it may be offered in our Chalcedonian (Eastern Church) setting.
Hence, as the Church in formative years developed under the leadership of the Apostolic Fathers – each territory had the grace of autonomy in the cultivation of culture within the context of worship. As we know only too well, when the Church became instituted according to worldly empires with the reaping of the benefits thereof; the local churches were crippled and became slaves of the empire (Christian and Non) and forced to conform to the prevailing rites, customs and indignities of the mighty who replaced the Lord and became lords!
Thus, as the Church of Apostolic times was a suffering Church, who were exposed to ridicule, crippling, and isolation; we too who via Holy Succession from Orthodox Rome are in truth the thorn in the side of those who consider themselves all that is Church in their limited understanding and endurance. Therefore, we stand with Peter, Paul, Linus, Cletus, and Clement and the Church Universal – the significance of being KATHOLIC in our faith and ORTHODOX in canonicity; like the mustard seed which is the smallest – the Lord will enable us to grow in being fruitful branches that live in him who is the vine!
This Holy Exarchate consecrated to the Holy Apostles of Christ our Bishop thus herby preserve and bring back to liturgical service all the Rites and Customs that the Faith of our Father’s used which were violently suppressed and tarnished!
Therefore, as ARCHBISHOP and EXARCH of the Orthodox Church present in Australia within the Elder Tradition under the protection of the Holy Apostles of Christ our Bishop, I reiterate my pleasure, support and approval for all clergy to implement these rites within their communities to compliment and enrich the spirituality of the people in their care and the spirituality of those who come and join them for prayer.
May this be the beginning of true ecumenism: between the much divided ORTHODOX CHURCH – may we come to the realization that Jesus greatly desires us to be one in him; let us lay aside our differences, misunderstandings and blunders of the past! Therefore, may we strive to cross the shaky paths of arrogance caused by corrupted mentalities within the tight nit groups we associate with; initiating the building of sound bridges in reconciliation with the certainty that the Holy Spirit who lives, moves and breaths in his Church unites not divides!!!
With sincere thanks and deepest appreciation in IESUS KRISTOS our Bishop,
+Raffaele
Archbishop and Exarch of Australia and all Oceania
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