Orthodoxy Cognate PAGE Society
The Orthodoxy Cognate PAGE Society (OCP) is a society for the Promotion of Orthodox Christian Unity and Faith established under the Travancore-Cochin Literary, Scientific and Charitable Societies Registration Act, 1955. Formerly known as Orthodoxy Beyond Limits, it was changed to Orthodoxy Cognate PAGE in 2010 and received legal registration in the month of July 2010.
OCP provides equal importance to Eastern and Oriental Orthodox Churches and believes in a philosophy that both the Byzantine (Eastern) Orthodox Churches and the Oriental Orthodox Churches are the true heirs to the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church of Christ, which was the Church of the apostles and the Holy Fathers.
The Society strongly promotes its motto “Seeking United Orthodox Christian Witness”.
The vision of OCP Society is to build a pan orthodox unity, a conciliarity of all orthodox churches in the true sense of “One Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church.”
History
OCP began as Orthodoxy Beyond Limits Forum in the month of June 2007. Inspired by Rt. Rev Kyriakose Thottupuram of Chicago, George Alexander, Subin Varghese, Boaz John, formed the OBL Forum. Forum website was inaugurated by His Grace Mor Gregorious Gabriel of Trivandrum at Chicago in the presence of Chorbishop Kyriakose Thottupuram during the month of July 2007 at Chicago, USA.
Initially it stayed as a forum broadcasting Orthodox Christian news and the unique nature of broadcasting news comprising both Byzantine and Oriental Orthodox Churches gained wide readership. A Board was constituted which consisted of Chancellor, Chairman, Vice Chairman and Secretary. Continues motivation from Vice-Chairman Mr Subin Varghese, the board decided to register and revamp the forum with entirely new outlook.
In 2010 Orthodoxy Beyond Limits Forum was changed to Orthodoxy Cognate PAGE Society registered under the Societies Registration Act. K C Jacob becomes new Chairman and the governing board is formed with ten representatives.
In 2012 Orthodoxy Cognate PAGE Society celebrated five glorious years of United Orthodoxy Worldwide.
Structure
Statute,General Body and Executive Council
The OCP Society is registered as an NGO under the Travancore-Cochin Literary, Scientific and Charitable Societies Registration Act, 1955. It has an apex General Body from which the Executive Council is Elected for every three years. Executive Council consist of ten members which control the activities of the Society. It includes Chancellor, Chairman, Vice-Chairman Secretary, Treasurer and five elected members.
As per the decision of the Executive Council and approved by the General Body an administrative Mechanism is instituted for Orthodoxy Cognate PAGE Society such as OCP Advisory Board and Ambassadors, OCP Associates and OCP Departments.
OCP Advisory Board and Ambassadors
This board consists of several selected representatives from different Orthodox Churches worldwide. The board of Advisers and Ambassadors make recommendations and suggestions to OCP Executive Council for betterment of the Society and Media Network. The Panel of advisers also act as correspondents and consultants of OCP, promoting the mission through word of mouth, e media and other relevant sources.
OCP Associates
OCP Associates are external well wishers who support its mission and works. The external associates of OCP does not have any voting rights.
OCP Departments
Various departments are constituted for the smooth functioning of the Society and Media Notwork. OCP Executive council members and OCP Advisory Board and Ambassadors, and OCP Associates provide their services simultaneously n each of the departments depending upon the need and tiers skills. The Departments may hire external people as employees as per need and requirement.The departments are namely Department of External Church Relations, Department of Public Relations, Department of Finance, Department of Publications, Department of Church Research and Studies, Department of Charity and Social Welfare and Department of Technical Support.
The members of Orthodoxy Cognate PAGE are Orthodox Christian professionals from different disciplines who contribute their time and resources. The members are distributed worldwide representing different Orthodox Churches.
Membership
Membership is provided to acting Orthodox Christians of both Eastern Orthodox and Oriental Orthodox Churches.
Activities
OCP Media Network
OCP Media Network provides news articles, information on Orthodox Churches, resources on Orthodox faith and photographs from various Orthodox Churches.
It is claimed to be the World’s largest Orthodox Christian news Portal with more than a million readers monthly. It is updated regularly with news, photos, articles, and events from the world of Orthodoxy.
OCP media Network updates news and events both Eastern and Oriental Orthodox Churches with equal importance so that readers get glimpse of all major events in a single blog. It also broadcast exclusive news and photographs via OCP News Service.
It takes special interest in broadcasting news and events from Ethiopian, Chinese, Pakistan, Indonesian Orthodox Churches and so on.
Meetings and Visits
OCP society holds visits, interviews and meeting with several Orthodox Church delegations notably with the Armenian Orthodox Church in Lebanon, The British Orthodox Church, The Syrian Orthodox Church, The Orthodox Church of Czech and Slovak Orthodox Church and so on. The meetings and visits have brought fruitful results of mutual recognition.
Historic visit to Brahmavar Orthodox Church and Aftermath
OCP delegation made a historic to the Brahmavar Orthodox Community based in Brahmavar, (a reunited Latin Catholic Christian Community under the Indian Malankara Orthodox Church) in November 2009. A report was prepared and submitted with a number of key resolutions to the Holy Episcopal Synod of the Indian Orthodox Church and was published online. It played a vital role in raising concerns about this neglected mission of the church and was instrumental in the re-establishment of a specific Episcopal diocese for Brahmavar after a gap of eighty-seven years.
OCP Secretary George Alexander has criticized MOC publications, the publication division of the Indian Church for ignoring the vital report. He has also stated several times that the Indian Orthodox Church has completely ignored the vital role played by OCP Society in reviving the Brahmavar Orthodox community.
But the Primate of the British Orthodox Church Metropolitan Abba Seraphim took a keen interest in publishing the report and hence it was published in The Glastonbury Review: Issue 119 (November 2010) under the title ‘Holy Brahmavar’.
Meeting with British Orthodox Church Delegation
The meeting with Metropolitan Abba Serpahim and the British Orthodox Church delegation during the month of February 2008 is considered to be a milestone for OCP Society. This helped OCP Society to establish fraternal retaliations with the British Church as to establish cordial communications with the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria.
Meeting with the delegation of Armenian Orthodox Church in Lebanon
The Meeting with His Holiness and the delegation from the Armenian Orthodox Church in Lebanon took place in the month of 2010. It was more than a press conference which resulted in discussion on need for Eastern- Oriental Orthodox unity. This meeting and cordial relation with the Armenian Orthodox Church paved way to the historic meeting Syrian Orthodox delegation.
Historic meeting with Syrian Orthodox Delegation of Antioch and All East
OCP delegation met with Syrian Orthodox Metropolitans who were the representatives of the Syrian Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch to Malankara during February 2011and also several other Pilgrims who were in Kerala to mark the 79th Dukhrono (memorial feat) of Saint Ignatius Elias-III of Manjinikkara.
It was considered to be an historic meeting since OCP delegation consisted of both Indian Malankara Orthodox Church Members as well as members of the Syrian Orthodox (Jacobite) Church in India. It was for the first time ever that some representations of both churches meet on an official platform ever since the schism between Syrian Orthodox Church and the Indian Malankara Orthodox Church.
Network and Communication with Orthodox Churches and Pan Orthodox Organizations
Orthodoxy Cognate PAGE maintains fraternal relation and communications with Ethiopian Orthodox Church, The Armenian Orthodox Church – Mother See, St Vladimir Orthodox Theological Seminary and several other Pan-Orthodox Christian organizations.
Campaign for Eritrean Orthodox Church and Persecuted Christians in Eritrea
OCP Society has taken special interest in broadcasting news and speaking for the persecuted Christians of Eritrea and the detained Patriarch Abune Antonios. The article titled “Detained Patriarch, Persecuted Christians and a Dying Church” written by OCP Secretary George Alexander had gained much international attention. It was published in several print and e-media. OCP Society in association with COLT Crew observed three days of fasting and prayer exercise titled Save Eritrea. All these activities have received support from Metropolitan Abba Seraphim and the British Orthodox Church.
Record breaking lecture at Orthodox Theological Seminary
During the month of September 2012, Mr George Alexander was invited to give lecture at the Orthodox Theological Seminary (OTS) of the Indian Malankara Orthodox Church. He spoke on the topic “Orthodoxy in the Twenty in the First Century: Growth and Development”. The lecture was part of the External Lecture series which was held at the Seminary Ecumenical hall. Mr George Alexander became the youngest person to lecture at the Orthodox Theological Seminary till date.
Discovery of Lost Orthodox Community of St Gregorius of Parumala in Dindigul
In the month of September 2012, Mr Ajesh T Phillip (OCP Ambassador and Correspondent)found out lost Orthodox Christians of St. Gregorius of Parumala in Dindigul a place in Tamil Nadu. An article was published about the same which gained critical acclaim. As per the decision of the Executive Council the OCP delegation visited this community in the month of October 2012 and made further discussions and published extensive information about their faith, history, living conditions and life.
Publications
OCP brought its first publication in 2008 on Orthodox Church Management. A copy of the book is kept in the National Sunday School Library of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church. OCP members regularly contribute articles in various national and international print and web media. OCP articles has been published in Glastonbury Review, Jerusalem Post, Travelujah,Pakistan Christin Post, Assist News, Ethiosun and so on.
Approach to Ecumenism
OCP Society describes them as an organization exclusively dedicated to Orthodox Christian unity with ecumenical respect.
Orthodoxy Cognate PAGE consider ecumenism outside Eastern and Oriental Orthodox Churches that is to denote relationship and dialogue between Orthodox Churches and heterodox denominations. Inter-Orthodox/Intra-Orthodox relation is the term used to denote relationship among all Orthodox Churches.
It has been clearly stated in the OCP media Network website that general articles which will no way hinder the faith and teachings of the Orthodox Church shall be published as well as materials/news which will no way hinder the faith, teachings and unity of the Holy Orthodox Church shall be published.
The OCP society does not say no or yes to ecumenism or ecumenical dialogue but always emphasizes the fact that the fist and prime importance of all Orthodox Churches(Eastern and Oriental)is to establish unity and communion and to build a common platform and administrative structure based on Orthodox Christian conciliar system. It stresses on the need to establish continuous dialogue, not only between Eastern and Oriental Orthodox Church but also with Old Believers, new generation, non-canonical orthodox churches and with traditional Orthodox churches.
Administrative Hierarchy
Chancellor
Rt. Rev Dr Kyriakose Thottupuram of Chicago (2007–Present)
Chairman
Lejit George (2007–2010)
K C Jacob (2010–Present)
Vice-Chairman
Subin varghese (2007–Present)
Secretary
George Alexander (2007–Present)
Treasurer
Abraham P Koshy (2007–Present)