Recent Saints Who Supported the Western Rite

Recent Orthodox Saints Who Supported the Western Rite:

• St. Tikhon (Bellavin)
• St. Raphael of Brooklyn (Hawaweeny)
• St. Nicholas of Japan
• Russian New-Martyrs
• St. John the Wonderworker (Maximovitch)

This omits St. John of Chicago (Kochurov), who accompanied St. Tikhon on many missionary journeys to Episcopalian churches and was part of the "Fond du Lac Circus" photo. (He was the beardless sainted priest.) St. John could be assumed to support his hierarch's Western Rite initiative -- but to my knowledge he did not specifically say so. (If anyone has information to the contrary, please let me know.)

This list also overlooks the uncanonized divine healer Dom Denis Chambault, a holy monk who celebrated the Benedictine monastic office and the Liturgy of St. Gregory in France under the patronage of St. John the Wonderworker.

Orthodox Saints Who Opposed the Western Rite:

(This space intentionally left blank.)

Take your choice.

From the Mailbag: Canonizing Uncanonized Saints

Q: I find that these unilateral glorifications [of saints] cause me no small disturbance. It would be more appropriate to say, in the case of those not yet revealed by God and recognized by the Church to be saints, "requiem aeternam" instead of "ora pro nobis," as we have no way of knowing with certainty greater than our own feeble reason whether or not they have indeed obtained boldness before the throne of the Most High.

A: Thank you for your comment, my friend; I truly appreciate your feedback, although I disagree with your sweeping conclusion. As the Most Unique School of Orthodoxy reminds us, this is precisely how (some) glorifications occur in Orthodoxy: a holy person is commemorated by a local following after his or her repose and later recognized by the Church. Here's a representative description:

For the first thousand years of the history of the Church saints were recognized without any formal rite of canonization. Local congregations of the faithful simply began to remember certain well-known Christians in their liturgical gatherings, to ask them for help in prayer, to visit their relics, which frequently remained vehicles of the Holy Spirit, curing the sick in soul and body, as they had during earthly life...

The Holy Orthodox Church never developed any comparable methods for canonizing her saints [to that of Roman Catholicism]. The situation remained very much determined by local practices, local cults, and local traditions. Holy men and women continued to be recognized as such during their own lifetime; they continued to be venerated (honored) after their death; Christian people continued to ask for their prayers and to visit their shrines.

In time, especially in the Slavic Churches, a more disciplined method of canonization became the rule, due to the influence of the example of the western Christians. But no Orthodox Church has developed a system as detailed and as legalistic as that of the western groups.

Although committees may ultimately confer church recognition of an individual's sainthood, that's far from endorsing the notion that one must wait for that recognition to ask for the prayers of a righteous Orthodox; in fact, as long as the individual in question was both righteous and Orthodox, it instructs the opposite. Without such a local cultus, the likelihood of Church recognition would be at best remote.

Your comment was not submitted to a post that had anything to do with asking for prayers of anyone, but I assume you were referring to the category on this blog called "saints (uncanonized)." As the name states, these are holy Orthodox people who are not yet canonized by the Church. You will note I have added only three names to this list:

• Dom Denis Chambault, a holy Benedictine Orthodox monk and acknowledged healer;
  
• His Holiness ALEXANDER III (Tahan), Patriarch of Antioch, who renovated the patriarchate and approved the Western Rite patriarchate-wide; and
• Fr. Alexander Turner, the pioneer who gave up the episcopacy to lead his diocese into Orthodoxy, becoming the seed of the Antiochian Western Rite Vicariate.
  

All are long reposed; Dom Denis manifested the miraculous gift of healing; and I know at least two of the three had a cultus at the times of their deaths. And I stress, this is merely my private view (apparently shared by others); it's hardly a pronouncement that I feel must be shared by all. This blog doesn't take itself that seriously. I certainly respect your opinion.

Since we are on good terms, I don't mind telling you, as the Orthodox told the Non-Jurors, it appears you "were in great fear where no fear was." But it's hardly a big deal if you don't follow this practice, my friend.

Patriarch ALEXANDER III: Pray for Us

His Holiness Patriarch ALEXANDER III (Tahan) was translated to eternal life 50 years ago today. As noted, on May 31, 1958, His Holiness the Patriarch of Antioch authorized the celebration of the Western Rite throughout his patriarchate.

The 167th patriarch of Antioch became only the third Antiochian patriarch of Arabic descent in the last several centuries before his time. His Holiness ALEXANDER III served from 1928 to 1958. During that time he "enthusiastically set about to revitalize the parishes, monasteries and the theological seminary at Balamand. Perhaps the most important factor to consider in this spiritual renaissance is the Orthodox Youth Movement, which was founded in 1942 by a group of dedicated laymen."

His Holiness named the young deacon Philip Saliba his secretary; that deacon would go on to become Met. PHILIP of North America. (He also ordained another deacon, whom we now know as Bp. ANTOUN.) And just weeks before his death, he authorized the reintroduction of Western Rite liturgical worship into the Orthodox Church.

In both these ways, his glorious tradition continues and abides within the Antiochian Church today.

Patriarch Alexander III, pray for us!

From the Divine Office:

Antiphon at Vespers: Ecce sacérdos magnus, * qui in diébus suis plácuit Deo, et invéntus est justus. ("Behold a great priest * who in his days pleased the Lord, and was found righteous.")

The Hymn

This the Confessor of the Lord, whose triumph
Now through the wide world celebrate the faithful,
At his departure entered with rejoicing
Heavenly mansions.

Fervent and holy, prudent in his converse,
Humbly and chastely here on earth he sojourned,
Curbing all passions, and in peace and meekness,
Constant abiding.

What though the grave now hold his hallowed relicks?
He, ever living, ever interceding,
Reigns with the Blessed, nor from us his brethren
Is he divided.

Whence we in chorus gladly do him honour,
Chanting his praises with devout affection,
That in his merits we may have our portion,
Ever and ever.

Glory and virtue, honour and salvation,
Be unto him that, sitting in the highest,
Governeth all things, Lord and God Almighty,
Trinity blessed. Amen.

The Lesson is taken from a Sermon by St. Maximus, the Bishop of Turin

It is idle to strive to add anything to the praise of our holy and most blessed Father His Holiness Patriarch ALEXANDER III, whose Feast is this day kept. For verily, the beauty of his godliness must needs be set forth in our lives rather than on our lips. Now the Scripture saith : A wise son maketh a glad father. Thus, if very many do make glad this Saint by the wisdom and devotion wherewith they follow his example, how great will be his glory! For in Christ Jesus he will have begotten us through the Gospel.

Whatsoever, therefore, of virtue and grace there may be in this holy people, all the bright streams thereof do flow from him, as from a most clear fountain. By his manly chastity, by his sternly noble temperance, by the graceful courtesy which marked him, he drew all men's love to God : and by him eminent ministry in his bishoprick he hath left behind him in his disciples many heirs of his priesthood.

Very meet and right it is on this day which hath been made a holy day for us by the passage to paradise of our blessed Father, His Holiness Patriarch ALEXANDER III, that we should sing this verse of the Psalms : The righteous shall be had in everlasting remembrance. Right worthy is he to be had in remembrance amongst men who is at this present keeping holy-day amongst Angels. The word of God saith : Judge none blessed before his death, as though to say Judge a man blessed only when his life is ended ; praise him only when he is made perfect. For there is a two-fold reason why it is better to praise a dead man than a living ; to call a man holy and worthy after his death can never be participation in the sin of flattery on the part of him that praiseth, nor of vanity on the part of him that receiveth the praise.

Response to the First Lesson of Matins: Euge, serve bone * et fidélis, quia in pauca fuísti fidélis, supra multa te constítuam * Intra in gáudium Dómini tui. ("Well done, thou good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things : * Enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.")

Response to the Sixth Lesson of Matins: Iste est, qui ante Deum magnas virtútes operátus est, et omnis terra doctrína ejus repléta est : * Ipse intercédat pro peccátis ómnium populórum.("This is he who wrought mighty deeds and valiant in the sight of God, and all the earth is filled with his doctrine: * May his intercession avail for the sins of all the people.")

Dom Denis Chambault

Dom Denis (Lucien) Chambault reposed on this date in 1963. He was "an acknowledged healer" and the abbot of an Orthodox Benedictine monastery in France that celebrated the Liturgy of St. Gregory (the "Tridentine" Mass). Although a Frechman, this holy man played a pivotal role in the development of the Western Rite Vicariate of the Antiochian Orthodox Church, in North America and throughout the patriarchate...

For more on Dom Denis, see our previous entry.

Dom Denis Chambault, ora pro nobis!

Fr. Alexander Turner, Ora Pro Nobis

The last known photo of Fr. Alexander Turner before being hospitalized.

Fr. Alexander Turner, the first Vicar-General of the Antiochian Western Rite, passed away 35 years ago today. In honor of his translation, Fr. Matthew Thurman has posted an obituary and part of a eulogy by Fr. Paul Schneirla that was printed in The Word magazine. He's also added a chronology, which gives an overview of the major events in Fr. Turner's life.

May Fr. Turner rest in peace. And may he, Dom Denis Chambault, and all the saints intercede for us.

Ecce Sacerdos Magnus: Patriarch Alexander III

Today marks the repose of HH Alexander III (Tahan), the 167th Patriarch of Antioch. In addition to reviving the churches, monasteries, and seminary of the patriarchate around the world, HH Alexander III approved the establishment of the Western Rite throughout the patriarchate.

The founding of the Western Rite Vicariate -- unlike nearly every other event in WRO history -- can be seen as nearly a series of happy coincidences. Fr. Paul Schneirla visited France, where he felt no particular attraction to the "Gallican Liturgy" celebrated within L'ECOF, but he happened to visit the parish of Dom Denis Chambault in Paris. The Orthodox Benedictine monk's reverent celebration of the Liturgy of St. Gregory (the so-called "Tridentine" Mass) and Benedictine Hours so moved him that upon his return to America, he asked Met. ANTONY Bashir about the possibility of a similar Western Rite within Antioch. Fr. Schneirla says he merely raised the eventual potentiality; the question was more theoretical than actual. Met. ANTONY queried HH Patriarch ALEXANDER III, who -- to Fr. Schneirla's surprise -- sent in return a copy of the Russian ukase on the Western Rite and tasked the archdiocese with its implementation in North America. Thus was born the Antiochian Western Rite Vicariate (to the rejoicing of men and angels).

Fr. Schneirla's question could scarcely have come a moment later. His Holiness, in consultation with hierarchs in other autocephalous Orthodox churches, authorized the Western Rite on May 31, 1958. He was translated on June 17, 1958. His full legacy -- not just the Western Rite -- remains with us today, and undoubtedly mulitiplied his crowns in Heaven.

Well done, good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things,
I will make thee ruler over many things, saith the Lord. -- Antiphon the
Benedictus.

May every Western Rite Christian live in a manner worthy of his faith in us. May he rest in peace, and may we poor sinners be aided by his prayers below.

Dom Denis Chambault, Pray for Us

"Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints." -- Psalm 116:15.

Dom Denis Chambault was translated to glory on May 3, 1963. As Superior of d’Alleray Priory in Paris, Dom Denis (formerly "Lucien") cared for all the souls who came seeking advice or his charismatic gifts. (He was "an acknowledged healer" for the last 17 years of his life.) In addition to maintaining the traditional Benedictine life and hours, he served the ancient Roman rite Liturgy of St. Gregory (the so-called "Tridentine Mass"). His devotion and reputation attracted a following throughout the French capital, and he remains today an uncanonized saint.

Although a Frechman, this holy man played a pivotal role in the development of the Western Rite in North America -- a work that continues today. After having visited Dom Denis during a trip to Europe, current Vicar-General of the Antiochian Western Rite Vicariate Fr. Paul Schneirla was so impressed by the beauty of these services that he inquired about the Antiochian Patriarchate's view of the Western Rite. Metropolitan ANTHONY (Bashir)'s letter asking for elucidation reached the patriarch. To Fr. Schneirla's joyful surprise, the patriarch immediatley authorized the Western Rite.

The AWRV and Christminster Monastery carry on in the spirit of Dom Denis, and all his children happily commemorate him today. Until he takes his place among the saints connected to the Western Rite, may he ever intercede for us. Ora pro nobis!