The Province of Saint Flannan is an outreach ministry of Fides in Adversis Ministries Inc. (USA non-profit). The eparchy is autonomous (omophor of the Province of Saint Brendan) and ecumenical (see sidebar), and in full communion with Orthodox, Celtic Apostolic, Old Catholic, and free Lutheran communions. We are an English-speaking province, with a provision for Chinese-speaking faithful.
Our communion is part of the One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church ("4 Marks of the Church", part of the Nicene Creed of Constantinople, 381 AD). We affirm both Holy Scripture and Holy Tradition. Our bishops' apostolicity descends directly from the Orthodox (Greek, Ukrainian, Russian, Oriental) and Petrine (Roman Catholic) lines, and can be traced to Apostles Peter, Andrew and Philip. At the same time, we love and respect our brethren of mainstream traditions, as all of us are part of the broken body of Christ.
We aim to keep the group small and private (family and very close friends), so that we can walk in the same journey of faith together, with depth and exploration. We are NOT evangelical but contemplative. We recognize that everyone has a different disposition to their walk in spirituality. The Communion aims to be apostolic in service and ministry, and serves the community at large whenever possible. The Communion embraces the Orthodox ways of liturgy and theology, and celebrates the Divine Liturgy (Eucharist) as often as possible.
Our Charism
First and foremost, we believe our Charism is one of a place of comfort and spiritual direction. As Christ said, "Come to me, all you that labor, and are burdened, and I will refresh you. Take up my yoke upon you, and learn of me, because I am meek, and humble of heart: and you shall find rest to your souls. For my yoke is sweet and my burden light." (Matthew 11:28-30, DRC).
We also believe our Charism is one of true fellowship of Christ's people, as seen in Saint Paul's Epistles to the Christians of Corinth, Greece, "Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no schisms among you; but that you be perfect in the same mind, and in the same judgment." (1 Corinthians 1:10). In the same spirit of peace and wisdom, we also believe in the expression of peace, as seen in Matthew 5:9, "Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God." (DRC).
In a hurried and busy city life, many people are increasingly stressed and lost. We believe our Charism also embraces the contemplative praying life, as seen in Psalm 46:10, "Be still and see that I am God." (DRC). And as Orthodox believers, we partake in the Divine Liturgy and that of the faithful (Eucharist) as regularly as we can, to embrace the spiritual experience of the Holy Mysteries, as we see in Matthew 18:20, "For where there are two or three gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them." (DRC).
About Saint Flannan (our patron saint)
Saint Flannan was a 7th century bishop and saint of Ireland, and a son of a chieftain. He was consecrated as bishop in Rome and resided in Killaloe. He was the first bishop of Killaloe and preached also in Hebrides. His feast day is December 18th.
Statement of Faith
At Saint Flannan's Communion, we affirm the standard Apostles' Creed:
I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, God's only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; he descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again; he ascended into heaven, he is seated at the right hand of the Father, and he will come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
We affirm the primitive and apostolic Christian faith of the 7 Ecumenical Councils, of Nicea (325 AD), Constantinople (381 AD), and Ephesus (431 AD), and the pre-Nicene (or ante-Nicene) thought. We affirm the Nicene Creed sans Filioque, in accordance with Orthodox theology. We affirm the Orthodox sacraments, including Baptism, Chrismation (confirmation), Eucharist (communion), Reconciliation (confession), Marriage, Ordination to the Holy Priesthood, and Holy Oil Unction.
For daily prayer and contemplation, we tend to use the Orthodox Study Bible (preferred), translations of the Septuagint, the King James Version with Apocrypha, or the Douay-Rheims Catholic Bible (DRC, since it is public domain). We also frequently refer to, and contemplate on, the Didache (writings of the 12 Apostles of Christ), the early Church Fathers, Desert Fathers, Apostolic Fathers, and Eastern and Oriental Orthodox saints and their writings, such as the Philokalia and The Way of a Pilgrim (Откровенные рассказы странника духовному своему отцу). For daily prayer, we use the common Eastern Orthodox daily family prayer, or the Prayer of the Heart (Jesus Prayer).
Financials
You will not find a collection plate during our services, nor will you find paid clergy, as said in Matthew 10:8 (DRC): "Freely have you received, freely give." This ministry is self-funding. Therefore, any expense that is incurred (e.g. web hosting, development costs, software, Skype charges, use of location for worship, liturgical items, etc) will be borne by the founding clergy (who are "tent makers" or bivocational priests). Should you feel compelled to donate, please donate to any charitable cause you feel strongly for. Thank you.
Our Provincial Administrator
Very Rev Father Raphael+ (or Father Seamus+) is a bi-vocational priest ("tent maker") and spiritual director (anamchara), an incardinated* priest of Province of St Brendan (an apostolic tradition related to the Copts), and also Eastern Orthodox. He focuses on spiritual direction, writing apostolate, contemplative prayer, and community service. His ecclesiastical name is "Raphael", or "God heals". He is interested in pre-Nicene, Orthodox texts, Desert Fathers, Apostolic Fathers, liturgy and sacramental practices. He is a member of the International Chaplains Association (ICA) and Spiritual Directors International (SDI). Fr. Raphael's secular work is in corporate training and information technology (IT). He admires Saint Benedict's ideal of "Ora et Labora" (prayer and work), and teachings of the Philokalia, Way Of A Pilgrim, and Desert Fathers such as Saint Antony of Egypt. Fr. Raphael is married to Presbytera Gabrielle Simone.