It seems that the EP is getting support from an unusual source. The Turkish Journalist Mehmet Ali Birand has written an article in support of him. Please read the article on the AOI Blog.

Last night, His All Holiness, Bartholomew, Archbishop of Constantinople, New Rome and Ecumenical Patriarch was on the CBS program 60 Minutes. If you scroll down you will find a link to the video from last night. The program was well done and very informative.

Today many people are complaining about, what I would consider, minor inaccuracies in the reporting of the story. First off the story was not a catechism lesson but a story about how the Greek minority in Turkey does not have the same rights and freedoms as other do.

The EP is considered the Spiritual Head of all of the Orthodox Christians in the world. The Orthodox Church, unlike Rome, does not have one head of the church. Each of the National Churches, ie Greek, Russian, Romanian, have Patriarchs and they are all equal to one another. The EP is the first among equals. What does that mean? When they have a meeting he sits at the head of the table. It really is that simple. He does not speak for all Orthodox as no one speaks for all Orthodox. Each Patriarch speaks for their particular part of the Church. Very confusing I know.

The other thing that has people talking is the part of the program when it was stated that Constantinople (Modern day Istanbul) is the cradle of Christianity. That is not exactly true. Actually according to Scripture the first place they were called Christians was Antioch. Constantine moved the capital of his empire to Constantinople from Rome after Rome became unbearable. The 2nd Ecumenical Council placed Constantinople in the second place of honor after Rome in what is called Dyptics.

So all in all it was a great interview. I do not always agree with the EP especially his view on life and his traveling around the world for ecological reasons but I have a new found respect for him because of the suffering of the Church there. If he spoke more on those topics and less on political ones he might be known more as the Spiritual Patriarch and less as the Green Patriarch.

Below is the list of the Patriarchates in their order of precedence

The Church of Rome (Not in Communion)

Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople
Patriarchate of Alexandria
Patriarchate of Antioch
Patriarchate of Jerusalem
Patriarchate of Moscow
Patriarchate of Serbia
Patriarchate of Romania
Patriarchate of Bulgaria
Patriarchate of Georgia
Church of Cyprus
Church of Greece
Church of Poland
Church of Albania
Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia
Orthodox Church in America (although listed with the others, at this time Moscow is the only church that recognizes the Autoecphaly of the OCA)

UPDATE: Funeral Arraignments Here

SYOSSET, NY [OCA Communications] — On Friday, December 18, 2009, His Eminence, Archbishop Job of Chicago and the Midwest unexpectedly fell asleep in the Lord.

His Eminence, Archbishop Job was born Richard John Osacky in Chicago on March 18, 1946. He completed university studies at Northern Illinois University and, after graduating from Saint Tikhon Seminary, South Canaan, PA, in 1970, he served as cantor and youth director at Saint John the Baptist Church in Black Lick, Pennsylvania. He assumed responsibilities in leading Divine Services in the prescribed manner for readers, conducting religious education and youth work, and painting icons. It was his extraordinary affinity with Orthodox youth that gained him the recognition of the Church at large.

In 1973 Reader John was ordained to the holy diaconate and consequently to the holy priesthood by Bishop Theodosius of Pittsburgh [later Metropolitan Theodosius of All American and Canada]. He was assigned to the parish in Black Lick, where he also served as spiritual director for the Orthodox Christian Fellowship at nearby Indiana University of Pennsylvania.

As a celibate priest, he maintained a zeal for the monastic life in all his endeavors. In 1975 he was made a riasaphor monk, and later was tonsured a monk in the Lesser Schema by [then] Bishop Herman in August of 1982. In November of that year he was elevated to the rank of archimandrite.

Recognizing that zeal and spirit of dedication to Church service in Father Job, the Diocese of New England nominated hieromonk Job as their diocesan bishop. The Holy Synod of the Orthodox Church in America ratified the nomination and elected him Bishop of Hartford and the Diocese of New England. He was consecrated to the episcopacy on January 29, 1983, at All Saints Church in Hartford, Connecticut.

At its session of November 5, 1992, the Holy Synod of Bishops elected Bishop Job as Bishop of Chicago and Diocese of the Midwest. He was enthroned as Bishop of his native city at Holy Trinity Cathedral on February 6, 1993.

In his years in the See of Chicago, the Diocese of the Midwest experienced tremendous growth. This was witnessed in–but certainly not limited to–the establishment of numerous new mission parishes in the diocese.

In addition to his regular duties as the ruling hierarch of the Diocese of the Midwest, His Eminence enjoyed his long-standing and excellent reputation as an iconographer and iconologist.

He was often called upon to offer lectures on this subject, and he was willing to assist and encourage other iconographers.

In recognition of his more than twenty years of “good and faithful” service as archpastor, at the March 2004 Session of the Holy Synod, Bishop Job was elevated to the rank of archbishop.

Information about funeral services for Archbishop Job will be posted as they become available.

May His Eminence, Archbishop Job’s memory be eternal!