The venerable Clergy and People of this Holy Exarchate under the protection of the Lord’s Apostles.
CHRISTVS RESSUREXIT!
It is with immense Joy in the Risen Saviour who is the glorious Bishop of his Church, which I announce and ratify the revival of two ancient liturgical observances in this Year of our Lord and Paschal Season of 2019AD:
+ The Rite of Alexandria consecrated to the Apostle Mark who is the first Bishop of Egypt and oversaw the Africas. The Liturgy of St. Mark is the second ancient rite after St. James…it was used in Alexandria and is not to be confused with the Liturgy of St. Kirill of Alexandria which our brothers and sisters: the Coptic Christians from a Monophysite tradition use. (The accusations of heresies due to language misrepresentation between the ancient theological schools of Alexandria and Antioch quarrelling over the natures of Christ) Certain papyrus with this very liturgy was discovered from the fourth century and revised via the Alexandrian Patriarchate under the church of Greece in 1585, then later adjusted by St. Nektarios Bishop of Pentapolis in 1890 and further revised for English usage within this season of Pascha by our Holy Exarchate.
+ The Rite of the Celts consecrated to the Apostle Patrick who was sent as Bishop amongst the Irish and neighbouring territories. England, Ireland, Scotland and other Celtic lands were missioned by the later known as Basilian (Early Brotherhood) Monks who came to those shores. Syriac - Byzantium (Orthodox) was the style "facing East" the Early Church of the Celts worshiped. Therefore, amongst the early saints of these isles, Patrick cultivated the faith via Byzantine worship in order to accommodate the ancient spiritualties like the druids who then came and receive the true faith which is Orthodox. Therefore, considering that such spiritualties rendered occult in darkness, Patrick offered true worship in the evening that those who worshiped fire could come and bow down and be illumined by HE who is fire unquenchable and light that pierces through the darkness of deceit and oppression. Thus, such has been revised for our usage within this season of Pascha by our Holy Exarchate.
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.
With sincere thanks and deepest appreciation in IESUS KRISTOS our Bishop,
+Raffaele
Archbishop and Exarch of Australia and all Oceania
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