From: AxiosUSA@aol.com Date: Sat, 22 Jul 1995 22:03:20 -0400 AxiosFAQ available using either of two URLs: http://vector.casti.com/QRD/religion/eastern.orthodox ftp://ftp.netcom.com/pub/ba/battweb/axios/axios.html AXIOS U.S.A. Inc. -- Eastern & Orthodox Christian Gay Men and Women ------------------------------------------------------------------------- What is AXIOS? AXIOS is an organization of Eastern & Near Eastern Orthodox, and Byzantine & Eastern-rite Catholic Gay & Lesbian lay Christians. What does the word AXIOS mean? It is taken from the Greek liturgical word which describes a truly worthy and deserving person. Who belongs to AXIOS? A Gay or Lesbian person who belongs to, or has been educated and reared in, or converted to the Eastern Christian tradition. It often, but not always, means people of Greek, Slavic, Albanian, Semitic or Armenian heritage. Though AXIOS is a lay organization, bishops, priests and other clergy have also become members. Who founded AXIOS? AXIOS was founded in Los Angeles, CA in 1980. Interested gay people in New York established an east-coast branch founded on the same principles as the Californian group. Chapters also have formed in Colorado; Ohio; Pennsylvania; Chicago, IL; Boston, MA; San Francisco, CA and Detroit, MI (the Detroit chapter is only operating informally at this time). We also have two chapters outside the U.S., in Canada and Australia. While Roman Catholics and Protestants have had recourse to their own varied support groups, Eastern Christians have had none until the founding of AXIOS, an organization in which all may participate who come from the various Eastern Christian traditions. Together we can render support and positive reinforcement based on our common situations: being a religious minority in the United States and within that, and above all, a sexual-orientation minority as well. Why was AXIOS founded? * In order to address the issue of human sexuality within Eastern Christianity. * In order to affirm that gay men and women can live an active life of prayer and witness. * For our mutual spiritual strength, stability, and well-being. * For our desire to bridge the gulf between the church community and the gay community with love and through dialogue, prayer, service, and education. * For the comfort, help, and support of our brothers and sisters and their families in realizing the joys and responsibilities of God's wondrous gift of sexuality. * For the protection against stigmatization, repression and acts of intolerance. * For the opportunity to serve others in acts of charity and love as individuals and as a group. * For the study of our rich and varied heritages and traditions. * For a true sense of appreciation for each other and to achieve a spirit of fun and enjoyment in our development. What is Eastern Christianity? * AXIOS includes within its membership most Eastern Christian Churches. * We number predominantly Orthodox of the Greek and varied Slavic Churches, and their counterparts among Byzantine-rite Catholics. We also include non-Chalcedonian Orthodox Christians as well as their Catholic affiliates. * In general we all employ the same Eastern liturgical rites and follow the Byzantine-rite prayer book. * Among the membership of AXIOS, we use English in our prayer meetings and accept in ecumenical brother- and sisterhood all Eastern Christians. What does AXIOS do? * Meetings begin with a Vespers service and typically include a guest speaker, discussion, or presentation. * Members engage in research, dialogue with church authorities and members of the gay and lesbian community, help with the newsletter or other projects. We keep in regular contact between meetings and share and disseminate news of interest to our community. * The New York and Washington, D.C. chapters have been regular participants in the Pride festivals of their respective cities and also have participated in other events, e.g. the Spiritual Rainbow and some N.C.C.C. conferences. * We have a variety of literature and other items available: essays on theological issues, homosexuality and Orthodoxy, lives of saints, biblical misinterpretation, the Rite of Brotherhood; icons of Our Lord Jesus Christ, the Theotokos, and various saints; buttons. * We are currently publishing a prayer book containing well-known and harder-to-find prayers of the Church in a format suitable for the private or public devotions of laypersons anywhere, without a priest necessarily being present. * We refer members to understanding priests or warn them about hostile ones, where the information is available. Chapters and Contact Persons for AXIOS U.S.A. * Head Chapter: AXIOS USA Meets 2nd Friday of every month, 8 P.M., P.O. Box 990 Village Station at L/G Community Center, 208 W. 13 St. New York, NY 10014-0704 (near Seventh Avenue), New York, NY. (718) 805 - 1952 Newsletter published bimonthly. (917) 614 - 1693 Has AIDS Ministry & referral service. (212) 989 - 6211 E-mail: AxiosUSA@aol.com * Other Chapters: AXIOS - D.C. Meets 3rd Friday of every month, 7:30 P.M., 1630 "R" St. NW, #426 St. Thomas Episcopal Church, 18th & Church Washington, DC 20009 St., N.W., near Dupont Circle; also other (202) 387 - 5326 events at various locations. Newsletter: Charis. AXIOS - San Francisco Newsletter: The Orthodox Convert. 640 Polk St., Apt. #201 Chapel on premises. San Francisco, CA 94102 Call or write for other information. (415) 673 - 6729 AXIOS - Chicago Newsletter, monthly meetings, and more. 5601 N. Sheridan Rd., #5B Call or write for details. Chicago, IL 60660. (312) 271 - 1027 E-mail: AxiosChi@aol.com * Chapters without Regularly Scheduled Meetings; contact for more information: AXIOS - Los Angeles Join choir forming to practice for Vespers. P.O. Box 461423 Join reader group to learn Tones together. West Hollywood, CA 90046-9423 Phone: (213) 851-2256 Fax: (213) 851-2372 E-mail: gbattell@netcom.com URL ftp://ftp.netcom.com/pub/ba/battweb/axios/axios.html AXIOS - Ohio (in formation) P.O. Box 6742 Youngstown, OH 44501-6742 (216) 270 - 0526 e-mail: pasisozis@aol.com AXIOS - Colorado P.O. Box 1173 Colorado Springs, CO 80901-1173 (719) 475 - 8273 (Colorado Springs, CO) (303) 343 - 9997 (Denver, CO) AXIOS - Western Pennsylvania (in formation) Arbutus Village #A-18 Johnstown, PA 15904 AXIOS - Boston P.O. Box 380739 Cambridge, MA 02238 (617) 648 - 5737 or (617) 569 - 4364 Jim_Dupre@hchp.org (preferred) JimDupre@aol.com AXIOS - New Orleans (in formation) 3500 Division Avenue, #399 Metairie, LA 70002 (504) 885-6856 e-mail: 75672.3302@compuserve.com * International Chapters: AXIOS - Edmonton (Canada) Meets at Les./Gay Centre of Edmonton. 10214 116 St., #1 Edmonton, Alberta T5K 1W4 (403) 454-8449 e-mail: dbednars@gpu.srv.ualberta.ca AXIOS - Australia 12 Capella Street Coorparoo 4151 (07) 397-4813; (+61-7) 397-4813 outside Australia e-mail: re018587@student.uq.oz.au ------------------------------------------------------------------ Membership is $18/year; contact individual chapters regarding special arrangements or newsletter-only subscriptions. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- (detach membership form here) ----------------------------------------------------------------------- M E M B E R S H I P F O R M (facsimiles are OK also) YES! I would like to join AXIOS USA. I understand that the information I provide below will remain confidential. Sustaining dues $18.00 Name:_________________________________________ Address:______________________________________ ______________________________________________ (Optional information): Telephone: ( )_____-__________ Fax: ( )_____-__________ E-mail/Internet address:______________________ Please make checks payable to: AXIOS, and mail with this form to: P.O. Box 990 -- Village Station New York, NY 10014-0704. Axios USA, Inc. is incorporated as a nonprofit organization under New York State law.