Posted by Dean Calvert
on 5/3/2009, 3:32 pm
His Beatitude Metropolitan Jonah chaired the St. Innocent Conference at St.
Tikhon University
On Saturday, May 2, the St. Innocent Conference, organized by the Orthodox
Church in America, together with Saint Tikhon's Orthodox Humanitarian
University, was held in the University building. This year the conference
coincided with the arrival in Russia of the Leader of the Orthodox Church in
America, His Beatitude Metropolitan Jonah.
At the opening of the conference +Jonah, Metropolitan of All America and Canada,
outlined the principles of the missionary work of St. Innocent of Moscow, which
are of great importance for the history of the Orthodox mission in America.
The Leader of the American Church said that a missionary must be a man of deep
prayer, respect for people, and be selfless. "A missionary should be a pilgrim ,
a wayfarer, who brings the Good News of Jesus Christ to people and reveals the
Gospel, the Kingdom of Heaven", noted Metropolitan Jonah. "He must be filled
with genuine love for those to whom he is sent".
During the Q &A, Vladyka explained that the Orthodox faith is practiced by a
large number of indigenous residents of Alaska, Eskimos and Aleuts. In Nicaragua
and El Salvador there is a group of Mayan Indians, who also want to join the
Orthodox Church. "I am not talking about individuals; I'm talking about
hundreds, even thousands of people", stressed the Leader. "We need missionaries.
The Mayan language is as easy for an American as it is for a Russian -- that is,
it is very difficult".
"This will require your help", His Beatitude, Metropolitan Jonah appealed to
the students, "you are getting a good theological education, and you will have
the opportunity to do missionary work, not only in your community and in your
country, but, perhaps, even beyond the ocean".
Later a presentation was made by +Zosima, Bishop of Yakutsk and Lensk. Vladyka
explained how St. Innocent translated the Divine Services into the language of
the Yakuts. This year marks 150 years since St. Innocent (Veniaminov) served
the first Divine Liturgy in the Yakut language.
Upon completion of the conference, His Beatitude Metropolitan Jonah and Bishop
Zosima led evening prayers in the temple of St. Nicholas in Kuznets.
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