The Society evolved from a local non-official Orthodox/Catholic dialogue group. That group began to meet in 1994 at various churches. Led by Richard Mattiussi (Roman Catholic), Father Daniel Rohan (Orthodox), and others, the group explored topics such as: Who are Eastern Christians; The Mother of God in the East and West; The Role of Deacons-East and West; Purgatory and the Afterlife, etc.

On February 17, 1998 a meeting was held at Lucianno’s Restaurant in Youngstown to explore forming a local Society Chapter. In attendance were Bishop John Michael (Botean) of the Eparchy of Canton, Ohio for the Romanians, and Jack Figel, publisher of the “Eastern Churches Journal.” Approximately 25 people, mostly clergy, attended the meeting.

(The SSJC has existed in England since 1926, however, in the U.S. its presence was manifested primarily through ECJ. A U.S. National Chapter was established in 1998.)

On September 22, 1998 a meeting was held at St. Mary Byzantine Catholic Church, Boardman, Ohio to introduce interested people to the Society.

On November 13, 1998 a special event sponsored by the organizers of the Society was held at St. John the Forerunner Greek Orthodox Church in Boardman. Three bishops: Bishop John Michael; Byzantine Catholic, Metroplitan Maximos of Pittsburgh; Greek Orthodox, and Bishop Dale J. Melczek of Gary, Indiana; Roman Catholic addressed the subject of church unity. Jack Figel was in attendance.

On March 2, 1999 an organizational meeting was held at St. Mary Byzantine Catholic Church, Boardman for the purpose of firmly establishing the local group. An Orthodox priest (Father Gregory Becker) spoke on “Fasting in the Orthodox Tradition.” Meeting schedules, dues structure, agenda, bank account, etc. were established. (Vito R. Carchedi assumes chairmanship)

On May 4, 1999 the first regular meeting of the established Society took place. At this time the Society had 21 official members. The speaker was a Redemptorist priest from South Africa (Father Gary George). The meeting was held at St. Dominic Roman Catholic Church and Priory in Youngstown.

The Orientale Lumen III Conference of “Mary the Mother of God, and the Church” was held June 15-18, 1999 at the Catholic University of America, Washington, D.C. No local members were able to attend. This event is part of the Society’s annual schedule.

The next regular meeting of the Society took place July 6, 1999 at St. John the Baptist Orthodox Church in Campbell, Ohio. Father Daniel Rohan showed a video of an Orthodox Monastery and answered questions. As of this meeting the Society had 25 registered members. The next regular meeting of the Society took place on September 7, 1999 at St. Maron Maronite Church in Youngstown. Father Anthony Salim, pastor, provided an informative presentation on the Maronite Church. Geography, history, language, monastic origins, vestments, and icons were part of his talk.

Three members of the Society attended and reported on the Eastern Church Traditions and Celebrations Seminar at Notre Dame College of Ohio, Cleveland, October 15-16, 1999. This seminar is part of the Society’s regular schedule.

Tuesday, November 9, 1999 was the date of the next regular Society meeting held at Infant Jesus of Prague Byzantine Catholic Church, Boardman. Monsignor Alexis Mihalik, pastor, presented a brief video which introduce Eastern Christianity and followed with a history of the Ruthenian/Rusin Church.

The chapter has 27 members. Orthodox 3(2 laypersons, 1 clergy) Byzantine Catholics 7(4 laypersons, 3 clergy/religious), Maronites 2 (1 layperson, 1 clergy), Roman Catholics 15 (9 laypersons, 6 clergy/religious).

*As of February 29, 2000 the chapter counts 32 members.
**All meetings begin with a prayer service in the tradition of that particular church.
***Compiled by Vito R. Carchedi, 1-4-00

The regular meeting took place on Wednesday January 12, 2000, 7 p.m. at St. Mary Byzantine Catholic Church in Boardman. The main speaker was Bishop John Michael (Botean) of the Romanian Catholic Diocese of Canton and CO-patron of the National SSJC. His Grace spoke of the Pope’s visit to Romania and Catholic/Orthodox relations. Local membership is 27.

The regular meeting took place March 22, 2000, 7p.m. at St. Luke Roman Catholic Church in Boardman. The main speaker was Father James Daprile who spoke on “The Crucifixion in Western Art.” Father’s talk was accompanied by slides.

The regular meeting took place Tuesday May 9, 2000, 7 p.m. at St. Mark Orthodox Church in Liberty.

Father Dan Rohan, pastor and member, led a discussion of “Easter and the Risen Christ,” in which the Holy Fire, the date of Easter, and customs and traditions of the season were included.

Orientale Lumen Conference held June 2000 in Washington DC No members attended, but area Byzantine Catholic priest was there.

The regular meeting took place July 11, 2000, 7p.m. at St. Anne Ukrainian Byzantine Catholic Church in Austintown. The main speaker was Monsignor George Appleyard, pastor and member, who spoke on problems: doctrinal, ethnic, political, etc. in terms of Catholic/Orthodox dialogue.

The regular meeting took place Saturday September 16, 10:30 a.m. at the Newman Center on the campus of Youngstown State University. Speaker was Jack Figel, national chair of the SSJC and publisher of “Eastern Churches Journal.” He spoke and showed slides of trip with Archbishop Vsevolod to Bari and Rome. The local SSJC counts 38 members.

Eastern Churches Traditions and Celebrations seminar held October in Cleveland. Several chapter members attended.

Special Meeting November 19, 2000 held at Sts. Peter and Paul Ukrainian Orthodox Church. “Forum on the Papacy” with Archbishop Vsevolod of Scopelos, Bishop Thomas J. Tobin and Bishop John Michael (Botean).

*All meetings begin with prayer or prayer service in the tradition of that particular church.
**Compiled by Vito R. Carchedi, 11-14-2000.

The next regular meeting of the Society was March 13, 2001 at S. John the Forerunner Greek Orthodox Church in Boardman. Beginning prayer service led by the pastor, Father Andrew Kolitsos, assisted by Fr. Abbot Leo, Fr. George Gage and Fr. Brian Mulcahy. In this year of celebration of the Holy Resurrection on the same day by Orthodox and Catholics, the Society rejoices that our prayer service included Orthodox, Roman Catholic, and Eastern Catholic clergy. “Journey of East and West to the Resurrection” was the topic addressed by the evenings’ speakers: Fr. Kolitsos; Fr. Mulcahy; Fr. Anthony Salim; Fr. Abbot Leo and Dr. Susan Selim.

Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church in Niles was the site of our May 15, 2001 regular meeting. Father MulQueen, assistant priest, spoke on the topic: Religion in America. Four periods of America’s religious development were highlighted: 1) Calvinist; 2) The Great Awakening; 3) Irish immigration; 4) Immigration of southern and eastern Europeans.

The Orientale Lumen V conference sponsored by the National Society of Saint John Chrysostom was held in Washington DC in June 2001. The theme this year was “Primacy and Conciliarity.” Father David Shortt attended the conference.

The next regular meeting of the Society was July 10, 2001. St. Mary Byzantine Catholic Church, Boardman hosted the meeting. Fr. Anthony Salim introduced his newly published book: Captivated By Your Teachings, a resource book for Maronite Catholics and others. Father David Shortt reported on the Orientale Lumen V conference. Father George Gage, host pastor, spoke on “The Miracle of Damascus.” Myrna, a young woman of Damascus Syria, has experienced visions of Jesus and Mary, oozing of holy oil, and the stigmata. Myrna had visited St. Mary’s church in the mid-90s.

The regularly scheduled meeting of September 11, 2001 was canceled because of the terrorist attack upon the United States. Prayer services were held throughout the area.

On November 10, 2001 the Society sponsored a full day seminar entitled, “Who Are Eastern Christians?”

This event was in cooperation with the Christian Formation Series of the Office of Religious Education of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Youngstown. Five credit hours toward certification offered. Speakers included: Richard Mattiussi; Fr. Mikhail (Coptic Orthodox); Fr Vladimir Demshuk (Eastern Orthodox); Msgr. Appleyard (Byzantine Catholic); and Fr. Salim, Maronite Catholic. St. Mary Byzantine Catholic Church in Boardman and Fr. George Gage hosted the seminar. (The Society has 44 members.)

January 14, 2002 at Infant Jesus of Prague Byzantine Catholic Church, Boardman. Speaker, Richard Mattiussi, one of the founders of the local Catholic/Orthodox Dialogue on “Where We Have Been, Where We Are, Where We Are Going.” (Review of our chapter history)

March 11, 2002 at St. Mary Byzantine Catholic Church, Boardman. Speaker, Father George Gallaro, pastor of a Melkite church in Warren, Michigan and instructor at Sts. Cyril and Methodius Seminary in Pittsburgh, spoke on “The Italo-Byzantine Church.”

May 13. 2002 at St. Dominic Roman Catholic Church and Priory, Youngstown. Speaker, Father Brian Mulcahy of St. Dominic’s on “The Roman Curia: Help or Hindrance to Unity?”

June 3-7 2002 Orientale Lumen conference on “Eastern Catholic Churches: Window Between East and West”.

July 11, 2002 at St. Mary Byzantine Catholic Church, Boardman. Speaker, His Grace Bishop John Michael (Botean) on the recent Orientale Lumen conference.

September 12, 2002 at St. Mark’s Antiochian Orthodox Church, Liberty. Speaker, Father Daniel Rohan, pastor, on “What is the Baptism with the Holy Spirit?”

October 11-12 Eastern Church Traditions seminar at Notre Dame in Cleveland on “Christians and Their Neighbors in the Holy Land.”

November 6, 2002 Special Event at the McDonough Museum on the campus of Youngstown State University. Speaker, Dr. Stephanie Smith on “Death and Commemoration in Early Christian Rome.”

November 12, 2002 St. Michael Carpatho-Russian Orthodox Church, Youngstown. Speaker, Protopresbyter Lawerence R. Barriger, Vice-chancellor the the Carpatho-Russian Diocese of Johnstown on: “The Use of the Old Testament in Eastern Christian Worship.”

Speaker, Msgr. William D. Bonczewski, rector on “The History and Development of the Shrine, Hail Mary Full of Grace.”

March 19, 2003 at St. Mary Byzantine Catholic Church, Boardman. Speaker, pastor, Father George Gage on “Lenten Practices in the Byzantine Church.”

May 13, 2003 at St. Mary Byzantine Ruthenian Catholic Church, Youngstown. Speaker, Anthony Dragani, doctoral candidate and teacher at Duquesne, on “The Role of the Patriarchy.”

June, 2003 Oriental Lumen VII Washington D.C.

September 2, 2003 at Queen of the Holy Rosary Catholic Church (Traditional Latin-rite) Vienna. Speaker, pastor, Father Joseph Valentine on “Traditional Catholicism.”

October 10-11 Eastern Churches Traditions seminar at Notre Dame, Cleveland.

December 2, 2003 at Holy Trinity Romanian Orthodox Church, Youngstown. Speaker, Father Andrew Gall on “The Spirituality of Sanctification or The Orthodox Way.”

March 23, 2004 at Ss. Peter and Paul Croatian Roman Catholic Church, Youngstown. Speaker, pastor, Father Joseph Rudjak on “Ethnic Links Between Ethnic Culture and Christianity.”

May 25, 2004 at St. Mary Byzantine Catholic Church, Boardman. Speakers, Father George Gage, pastor, on Myrna of Soufanieh and His Grace Bishop John Michael (Botean), society patron, on “The Role of Violence in the Separation of Churches.”

June 21-24, 2004 Oriental Lumen VIII “Orthodox-Catholic Dialogue: What’s Our Bottom Line?” Washington D.C.

July 21, 2004 at St. Maron Maronite Catholic Church, Youngstown. Speaker, Father David Fisher of the Marianist University of Dayton on “Ideas of Salvation: St. Augustine and the Eastern Tradition.”

October 8-9, 2004 Eastern Churches Traditions seminar on “The Holy Spirit: Source of Freedom and Unity in our World.” Notre Dame, Cleveland.

October 13, 2004 at Christ Our King Roman Catholic Church, Warren. Speaker, pastor, Father Fred Lukehart on “The Luminous Mysteries of the Holy Rosary.”

November 13, 2004 at St. Mary Byzantine Catholic Church Boardman. Second of chapter “Who Are Eastern Christians?” seminar in conjunction with the Youngstown Catholic Diocese. Speaker, Father Thomas J. Loya, pastor of Annunciation of the Mother of God Byzantine Catholic Church, Homer Glen, Illinois. Spoke on, “Eastern Spirituality, Liturgy, and Icons.”

January 11, 2005 at Saint Matthias Slovak Catholic Church in Youngstown. Speaker: John Righetti, president of the Carpatho-Rusyn Society on “The Quest for the Rusyn Soul: Misunderstanding and Healing in the Rusyn Religious Community.” This covered how the Rusyn community split into Orthodox and Greek-Catholic and how they are working to heal the split.

June 2005 Orientale Lumen IX East in Washington, DC and West in San Diego CA. Topic: “Structure of the Church, East and West.”

June 29, 2005 at St. Mary Byzantine Catholic Church, Boardman. Speaker, Father George Gage, pastor. Topic: “Journey of Faith from Romania to the USA, Part 1”

October 7-8, 2005 Notre Dame Cleveland Eastern Church Traditions Seminar on “Mysticism: The Experience of God in Today’s World.”

October 8, 2005 Byzantine Spirituality Conference Pittsburgh on “Heaven on Earth: The Church and Liturgy.”

October 11, 2005 St. Mark’s Antiochian Orthodox Church in Liberty. Speaker, Protopresbyter Thomas J. Hopko, Dean Emeritus of St. Vladimir’s Seminary on “Roman Presidency and Church Unity in our Time: Orthodox Reflections on the Primacy of the Pope of Rome.”

November and December 2005. Jack Figel of Eastern Christian Publications and the Society of St. John Chrysostom was involved in an ecumenical delegation to Rome and Constantinople. Mr. Figel accompanied Archbishop Vsevolod of Scopelos, one of the Society patrons and Bishop John Michael (Botean) of Canton. They were in Constantinople for the feast of St. Andrew, the patronal feast of the Ecumenical Patriarch.

December 13, 2005 at St. Mary Byzantine Catholic Church, Boardman. Speaker, Father George Gage, pastor. Topic: “Journey of Faith from Romania to the USA, Part 2.”

February 7, 2006 at St. Dominic Catholic Church in Youngstown. Speaker: Melinda Knight, Director of the Diocese of Youngstown Office of Pro-Life, Marriage and Family. She spoke on “People of All Faiths Coming Together for the Cause of Life.” (March for Life in Washington D.C.) Also speaking was the assistant director of the same office, Dan Thimons. His topic was Pope Benedict’s first encyclical “Deus Caritas Est” (God is Love).

March 23, 2006 at The Shrine of Our Lady of Lebanon in North Jackson. Speaker: Monsignor Anthony Spinosa, rector of the shrine, on “Maronite Lenten Traditions in Connection with Gospel Readings of the West Syriac Church.”

April 26, 2006 at St. Mary Byzantine Catholic Church in Boardman. Speaker: Jack Figel, founder of the Society of St. John Chrysostom in this country and publisher of Eastern Churches Journal. PowerPoint presentation on trip to Rome and Constantinople with pilgrims including Archbishop Vsevelod and Bishop John Michael (Botean). The group had private audiences with Pope Benedict XVI and Patriarch Bartholomew.

Oriental X West, June 12-15, 2006 at San Diego California. Topic: Church Unity Before 2054?

June 13, 2006 at St. John the Baptist Orthodox Church in Campbell. Speaker: Very Rev, Fr. Thomas J. Hopko, Orthodox theologian on “What the Orthodox would have to do in order for the Orthodox Church and Catholic Church to be in sacramental communion.”

Orientale X East, June 19-22, 2006 at Washington, D.C. Topic: Church Unity Before 2054?

August 8, 2006 at Infant Jesus of Prague Byzantine Catholic Church in Boardman. Speaker: Monsignor Alexis Mihalik on “The Transfiguration of Our Lord in Byzantine Theology, Spirituality, and Art.”

September 12, 2006 at St. Mary’s Byzantine Catholic Church in Boardman. Speaker: Michael Aquilina, author or editor of more than a dozen books on Catholic history, doctrine, and devotion. Co-host with Scott Hahn of various TV series on EWTN. Topic: The Family on Mission: Lessons from the Early Church.

October 6-7, 2006 at The Eleanor Malburg Eastern Churches Seminar, Notre Dame College in South Euclid, Ohio. Topic: Learning the Language of Icons.”

October 18, 2006 at St. Mark’s Antiochian Orthodox Church in Youngstown. Speaker: Ray Mastroberte, iconographer and cantor on “The Art of God Incarnate.”

November 16, 2006 at St. Mark’s Antiochian Orthodox Church in Youngstown. Special Meeting on Focus Group concerning Viewer Reaction for WYTV Reports from Palestine and Israel Conflict aired in July of 2006. This special meeting was moderated by chapter secretary Ray Nakley.

Regular Chapter Meeting of the Youngstown-Warren Chapter of the Society of Saint John Chrysostom Saturday January, 27, 2007, 11:00 A.M. at St. Mary’s Byzantine Catholic Church in Boardman. Speaker, Jack Figel, president of the national Society of St. John Chrysostom and publisher of “Eastern Churches Journal,” who presented video that he took in Istanbul upon the Pope’s visit this past November.

Regular Chapter Meeting Tuesday, March 13, 2007, 6:30 P.M. at Queen of Heaven Byzantine-Benedictine Monastery, Warren, Ohio. Speaker, Monsignor George Appleyard, pastor of Holy Trinity Ukrainian Byzantine Catholic Church in Carnegie, Pennsylvania. Monsignor spoke on “Can the Eastern Catholic Churches Survive?”

Regular Chapter Meeting Tuesday, May 29, 2007, 7P.M. at St. Mary Byzantine Catholic Church in Boardman. Speaker, Bishop John Michael (Botean), recently returned from the Orientale Lumen East Conference in Istanbul and from Romania where he attended a synod of the Romanian Greek Catholic Church. His was entitled: “What is Needed for Orthodox/Catholic Union?”

SS. Cyril & Methodius Lecture Address-Pittsburgh 5-1-07 Dr. Paul McPartlan, the Carl J. Peter Professor of Systematic Theology and Ecumenism at Catholic University of America. Topic: “The Promise and Challenge of Catholic-Orthodox Dialogue.”

Orientale Lumen Conferences
Orientale Lumen XI East, Washington DC June 2007
Orientale Lumen XI West, San Diego CA June 2007
Orientale Lumen EuroEast II, Istanbul Turkey, May 2007
Orientale Lumen Australasia & Oceania III, Melbourne, Australia, September 26-29, 2007

Regular Chapter Meeting Wednesday, August 1, 2007, 7P.M., St. Mary Byzantine Catholic Church in Boardman. Speaker, the Very Rev. Father Bryan Eyman, whose topic was: “Wild Women of the Dersert: Mothers of the Eastern Church.”

Regular Chapter Meeting Thursday, September 13, 2007, 7P.M. at St. Columba Cathedral, Youngstown. Speaker, David Mills, senior editor of “Touchstone—A Journal of Mere Christianity.” David spoke on the topic: “C.S. Lewis on Catholicism and Orthodoxy.”

SPECIAL EVENT: SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 6:00 P.M. AT HOLY TRINITY ROMANIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH, YOUNGSTON, SAINT JOHN CHRYSOSTOM 1600TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION (REPOSED 407 AD) SPONSORED BY THE CHAPTER AND THE EASTERN ORTHODOX CLERGY ASSOCIATION OF THE MAHONING VALLEY. SPEAKERS: REV. HIERMONK DR. CALINIC (BERGER, THEOLOGIAN AND MICHAEL AQUILINA, AUTHOR AND EDITOR. THEY SPOKE ON THE LIFE AND WRITING OF ST. JOHN CHRYSOSTOM.

NOTRE DAME SEMINAR: God: Glorious in Your Saints
The Eleanor Malburg Eastern Churches Seminar October 5-6, 2007
Notre Dame College , South Euclid
This is the twenty-third annual Eastern Churches Seminar.

Regular Chapter Meeting Tuesday, November 13, (Feast of St. John Chrysostom in the Eastern Church) 7:.M. at St. Mary Byzantine Catholic Church in Boardman. Speaker, Father Gregory Jensen, Orthodox priest and doctor of psychology of religion. Topic: “What’s Wrong with Us? Thoughts on Why East/West Christian Relationships are Difficult.”

(Compiled by Vito R. Carchedi)