Membership Qualifications
Any
person over 18 years of age, baptized according to the provisions of the Greek
Orthodox Church, and living according to the faith and canons of the Church, has
the right to be registered as an active member of the Sacred Patriarchal and
Stavropegial Monastery of Saint Irene Chrysovalantou, with the exception of
those persons under 21 years old, who cannot serve as members of the
Ecclesiastical Council, when such service contravenes the local Laws.
Persons exemplifying outstanding services and
support to the Monastery are recognized as "Honorary Members".
No one
shall be accepted as a member so long as, nevertheless a Christian Orthodox,
continues to belong to a non Christian religious community, or to a non-Orthodox
faith community. Furthermore, those belonging to a sect or non-canonical
ecclesiastical organization and to unions of unknown origin or faith, or to
organizations with secret dogmas and secret hierarchy shall not be accepted as a
members.
Membership Obligations
The
religious, moral and social duties of members are as follows:
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To observe firmly the principles of the Orthodox faith
in his thoughts and actions;
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To attend regularly the Divine Liturgy and other
services of worship of the Church;
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To keep the Canons, fasts, customs and practices of
the Orthodox Church;
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To participate frequently in the Sacraments of Penance
(confession) and Holy Communion;
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To train and teach thy children according to the
teachings and the spirit of Orthodoxy;
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To respect the clergy, the ecclesiastical authority,
the governing bodies of the Church and the canonical jurisdiction of the
Ecumenical Patriarchate;
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To be obedient in matters of faith and ecclesiastical
Order;
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To observe the Calendar of Holidays of the Church.
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To work conscientiously for the welfare and progress
of the community and the success of its sacred mission.
The
material obligations of the member of the community which environs the Monastery
shall be:
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To
pay all due membership fees in accordance with financial ability;
-
To
respond promptly to special calls of the General Assembly of the community
for contributions or special community needs and to fulfill his/her
financial obligations, according to his/her financial abilities.
Membership Benefits
Members of the Patriarchal Monastery
enjoy the
following benefits:
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The right to attend
(and freely express the opinion thereof) all Community Assemblies;
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The
right to take part in discussions and vote for or against propositions;
-
The
right to be elected a Member or Officer of the Ecclesiastical Council and in
such position to take part in the administration of the Patriarchal
Monastery, up to the permissible level;
-
The
right to attend, if elected, in the Clergy-Laity Conventions of the
Patriarchal Monastery.
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Participation in the Holy Sacrements.
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The right to receive, upon request, legal
church certifications including, but not limited to, certifications of
marriage, baptism, church residency, etc;
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Free annual subscription to the Monastery's
monthly publication "The Voice of Orthodoxy";
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Advanced notification (via our mailing list)
of upcoming monastery services an events;
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Tax deductible contributions and fees.
Membership is acknowledge by the Greek Orthodox
Archdiocese of North and South America. For more information about membership,
feel free to read the
Constitution of the Metochia.
