I thought I might share part of a letter I wrote to Reader Daniel...
Dear Daniel,
... Some people seem to greatly desire a statement from ROCA(A) about our relationship to the MP.
But, for decades every ROCOR synod has found that difficult to do. How is it all of a sudden going to be any easier for Vl. Agafagnel? Was there such a concern for a statement 10 years ago? Nothing has changed. The MP is still the same. The only difference is that the destruction of the Church is taking place from within instead of from without. ROCA(A) has not changed, except that a large portion of us fell away into the union and World Orthodoxy. Everything else is the same. Whatever our policy was with MP in the decades before the union, it is the same now after the union. This was never such an issue in the past, and it does not need to be now.
Our policy has always been that we are not in communion with the MP.
Our policy also has always been that WE WILL NOT SAY whether the MP has grace or does not have grace.
But with this we have to be extremely careful to clarify. Because if we say, "We do not say that the MP does not have grace" guess what happens then? Then some people make an assumption and interpret that to mean that we say MP does have grace. Now hold on there - we did not say that. We have to be extremely careful to clarify. It is misleading if we say to the right-wing, "We do not say that the MP has grace." That opens the door for them to misinterpret that we admit the MP has no grace. Likewise, it is misleading if we say to the left-wing, "We do not say that the MP does not have grace." That opens the door for them to misinterpret that we admit the MP has grace. I'm certain that is what happened with (our friend) when he heard what Vl. Agafangel said as it was passed on to him after being translated.
So, if any statement needs to be made it needs to be made clear that we do not say one way or the other.
Being human, though, we have our opinions on the matter. And, being human, we do not always keep our opinions to ourselves. And our opinions are not all the same, in fact they are very different. We know that St. Philaret of NY held one opinion and St. John of Shanghai held another. Yet both of them agreed they were of one mind with each other. If the saints do not place so great an importance on their opinions, neither should we consider our opinions so important.
So, here are all the CLUES one needs to solve this MYSTERY of ROCA(A)'s stand on the MP. End of story.
Love, Joanna
Another letter written earlier this same day Click Here.
Jan 31, 2009
Jan 28, 2009
Patriarch Kyrill Really Hates ROCOR
It is time to review some very important recent history.
Met. Cyril Gundyaev Really Hates ROCOR
Dr. Vladimir Moss has a photocopy of the original letter written and signed by Met. Kyrill and sent to Mr. Putin August 2006. After calling Metropolitan Laurus a “heresiarch”, and his clergy “false pastors”, Met. Kyrill writes:
Original Post CLICK HERE
http://rocorrefugees.blogspot.com/2008/10/metcyril-gundyaev-really-hates-rocor.html
Met. Cyril Gundyaev Really Hates ROCOR
Dr. Vladimir Moss has a photocopy of the original letter written and signed by Met. Kyrill and sent to Mr. Putin August 2006. After calling Metropolitan Laurus a “heresiarch”, and his clergy “false pastors”, Met. Kyrill writes:
“No contacts whatsoever are permitted with the schismatic collaborationist Russian Orthodox Church Abroad, which has not repented publicly before us for the great sin of blessing the stooge Fascists by her heresiarch and collaborator, Anastasy.
“We confirm the decision of the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church-Moscow Patriarchate which excommunicated from our Church the false Metropolitan Anastasy and the schismatics of the ROCA during the years of the holy war [WWII] of the Soviet people under the leadership of our great Orthodox leader, Joseph Stalin, against the fascist enslavers. This verdict against the criminal was pronounced by the State Court.
No assembly whatsoever, much less one of the political character, or pannikhidas for the followers of Vlasov or the Cossacks, who entered into the service of Hitler, can be allowed. We bless all our faithful children to publicly expel the followers of the Karlovchanians from the parishes of the ROC/MP and of the ROCA. Our clergy and laity are permitted to overthrow the monuments of the fascists stooges von Panwitz, Sultan-Girey, Kras nov, Shkuro, and Vlasov on the territory of the Patriarchate's metochion of All Saints at Sokol and of the parishes of the ROCA...
“May the Lord aid you in the God-pleasing labor of eradicating the impious Karlovchanians with their Vlasov-Fascist world-view, headed by their false Metropolitan Laurus...”
Original Post CLICK HERE
http://rocorrefugees.blogspot.com/2008/10/metcyril-gundyaev-really-hates-rocor.html
Patriarch Kyrill I
From: Archbishop Chrysostomos
Date: 28 January 2009 19:14:34 GMT
To: "H.G., Bishop Auxentios of Photiki":;
Subject: Patriarch Kyrill I
As the Soviet-style propaganda machine of the Moscow Patriarchate sedulously tries to paint the new Patriarch of Moscow as anything but a trader in tobacco and liquor (if not Iraqi oil), even attributing these activities to the failed candidate Kliment, the truth leaks out through the cracks in the lies. Attempts to cover up Kyrill's links to the Vatican and to Nikodim of Leningrad, his mentor and a not-so-secret Roman Catholic KGB agent playing Orthodox prelate, are also weak at best, since Nikodim's links to Rome were exposed by Roman Catholic clergy themselves, and Kyrill's outrageous pro-Catholic views are well-known. (Our own Synod's many videos and scores of publications on the MP's political ecumenism have often featured Kyrill and his unabashed religious syncretism in word and action.)
It seems that Kyrill's attempts to present himself as someone at odds with Putin's Soviet nationalism and, once more, as a religious conservative opposed to links to the Vatican, are also falling on some deaf ears. Putin's last choice (he was, of course, Putin's first choice) for Patriarch and ecumenism's foe (he is in fact an irresponsibly avid ecumenist whose commitment to the Orthodox Church's most basic identity dogmatically, its claim to historical primacy in Christianity, is for sale at the drop of a title) has not escaped the truth in the eyes of Paul Goble, a State Department analyst well-informed in Russian matters.
I think that Paul's ideas about Kyrill's view of Orthodoxy are naive. As a Roman Catholic, he does not understand the complex, intricate game that Kyrill is playing with regard to Russia and Orthodoxy, an issue more closely associated with Russian nationalism than it is with any commitment to Orthodoxy. But he is absolutely on the mark with regard to the new Patriarch's views on civil rights, his authoritarianism, and his closeness to the security agencies (which one would expect of a KGB agent, of course.)
I would only add to the comments below that Kyrill's anti-Americanism is not just incidental; it is disgusting. That too is an element in this picture that should not be ignored. Eastern Europeans were nurtured for decades on anti-American propaganda, much of it designed to foster, not just political doubts about the U.S., but fierce and irrational hatred for America. Kyrill is a confirmed anti-American, dismissive of democracy, and beset by all of the conspiratorial fantasies that reinforced Soviet-anti-Americanism. For this reason alone, we should have doubts about his goals and objectives and his basic decency. + AC
The Archbishop is referring to an article by Paul Goble, Vienna, January 27, 2009 Window on Eurasia: New Patriarch to Push Nationalist Agenda at Home, Ecumenism Abroad CLICK HERE.
http://rocorrefugeesreadmore.blogspot.com/2009/01/patriarch-kyrill-i.html
Date: 28 January 2009 19:14:34 GMT
To: "H.G., Bishop Auxentios of Photiki":;
Subject: Patriarch Kyrill I
As the Soviet-style propaganda machine of the Moscow Patriarchate sedulously tries to paint the new Patriarch of Moscow as anything but a trader in tobacco and liquor (if not Iraqi oil), even attributing these activities to the failed candidate Kliment, the truth leaks out through the cracks in the lies. Attempts to cover up Kyrill's links to the Vatican and to Nikodim of Leningrad, his mentor and a not-so-secret Roman Catholic KGB agent playing Orthodox prelate, are also weak at best, since Nikodim's links to Rome were exposed by Roman Catholic clergy themselves, and Kyrill's outrageous pro-Catholic views are well-known. (Our own Synod's many videos and scores of publications on the MP's political ecumenism have often featured Kyrill and his unabashed religious syncretism in word and action.)
It seems that Kyrill's attempts to present himself as someone at odds with Putin's Soviet nationalism and, once more, as a religious conservative opposed to links to the Vatican, are also falling on some deaf ears. Putin's last choice (he was, of course, Putin's first choice) for Patriarch and ecumenism's foe (he is in fact an irresponsibly avid ecumenist whose commitment to the Orthodox Church's most basic identity dogmatically, its claim to historical primacy in Christianity, is for sale at the drop of a title) has not escaped the truth in the eyes of Paul Goble, a State Department analyst well-informed in Russian matters.
I think that Paul's ideas about Kyrill's view of Orthodoxy are naive. As a Roman Catholic, he does not understand the complex, intricate game that Kyrill is playing with regard to Russia and Orthodoxy, an issue more closely associated with Russian nationalism than it is with any commitment to Orthodoxy. But he is absolutely on the mark with regard to the new Patriarch's views on civil rights, his authoritarianism, and his closeness to the security agencies (which one would expect of a KGB agent, of course.)
I would only add to the comments below that Kyrill's anti-Americanism is not just incidental; it is disgusting. That too is an element in this picture that should not be ignored. Eastern Europeans were nurtured for decades on anti-American propaganda, much of it designed to foster, not just political doubts about the U.S., but fierce and irrational hatred for America. Kyrill is a confirmed anti-American, dismissive of democracy, and beset by all of the conspiratorial fantasies that reinforced Soviet-anti-Americanism. For this reason alone, we should have doubts about his goals and objectives and his basic decency. + AC
The Archbishop is referring to an article by Paul Goble, Vienna, January 27, 2009 Window on Eurasia: New Patriarch to Push Nationalist Agenda at Home, Ecumenism Abroad CLICK HERE.
http://rocorrefugeesreadmore.blogspot.com/2009/01/patriarch-kyrill-i.html
Jan 27, 2009
Portal-Credo.Ru Censored
This is one of 4 or 5 independent news sources that are not mouthpieces for the MP that were part of the "shut down." For more information visit NFTU before it gets shut down, too. (archives: January 24-27, 2009) -jh
Censorship from the Church and government has blocked “Portal-Credo.ru” on the eve of the Council of Bishops and Local Council of the ROC MP
A press release from the editorial board of the independent news-analytical Internet website on religion “Portal-Credo.ru” (www.Portal-Credo.ru)
(Temporary website address on Live Journal – http://credo-rating.livejournal.com/)
On the evening of January 23, 2009, access to our Portal was blocked by unknown forces. We were unable to restore access after trying for 16 hours after that. It seems to be a massive DOS-attack, which can also lead to the erasure of all the content of the Portal.
The editorial board believes it is connected to the forthcoming Council of Bishops and Local Council of the Moscow Patriarchate of the Russian Orthodox Church, which will take place January 25-30, 2009, and at which a new Patriarch of this church will be elected. On the eve of these Councils, a number of church organizations (including the “Union of Orthodox Citizens,” a group dear to the patriarchal locum tenens, Metropolitan Kirill (Gundyaev)) have organized a campaign targeting our Portal, which is one of the more well-known sources of independent information on religious and societal life in Russia. The reason for this targeting has been the regular publication of information and analyses on the Portal about the candidates for patriarch and developments in the election campaign. In publishing such information, the editors maintained strict adherence to professional practices and did not allow any agitation, or the distribution of uncorroborated information, or defamation, and carefully observed all Russian laws.
Even though no official accusations were made against our Portal, the patriarchal locum tenens and representatives of his immediate circle stated on numerous occasions that they would prefer that this mass media outlet be stopped. On the eve of the election of the Patriarch, security agencies of the Russian Federation took it upon themselves to “provide for its security.” The Portal learned of discussions between workers of the FSB of the RF with representatives of the clergy and church organizations regarding their preference of one of the candidates for Patriarch. A number of other opposition church Internet sites, including the Russian Autonomous Orthodox Church website and forums in support of Bishop Diomid (Dzyuban) of Chukotsk, have also been shut down. Unprecedented security measures have been taken around the Church of Our Savior, where the Councils will be held. Moscow authorities have
announced the formation of a special Headquarters for the Councils “with the participation of all the involved parties,” while the Moscow Chief Directorate of Internal Affairs has assigned 12,000 members of the Special Police Force (OMON) and internal units to the church.
This is not the first time that a campaign of targeting and gossip has been undertaken against the Portal, which simply tries to discuss various aspects of church life in our country. Its professionalism and trustworthiness is demonstrated in that not a single accusation against it has ever led to a court case. In this instance, the public figures of the ROC MP and their supporters in the government have shown their fear of truthful information and have turned to coarse bullying instead of an honest and open dialogue.
The editorial board asks other sources of mass media, institutions of secular society, and its readers to demonstrate forcefully against the censorship of the church-government forces and to make all effort to restore the activity of the Portal.
During the time when the Portal will remain blocked, its information can be read in the Live Journal at http://credo-rating.livejournal.com/. We also expect other similar sites and sources of mass media to distribute our information and analyses. Censorship – is our common enemy.
Chief Editor
“Portal-Credo.ru”
Alexander Soldatov
Moscow, January 24, 2009
Censorship from the Church and government has blocked “Portal-Credo.ru” on the eve of the Council of Bishops and Local Council of the ROC MP
A press release from the editorial board of the independent news-analytical Internet website on religion “Portal-Credo.ru” (www.Portal-Credo.ru)
(Temporary website address on Live Journal – http://credo-rating.livejournal.com/)
On the evening of January 23, 2009, access to our Portal was blocked by unknown forces. We were unable to restore access after trying for 16 hours after that. It seems to be a massive DOS-attack, which can also lead to the erasure of all the content of the Portal.
The editorial board believes it is connected to the forthcoming Council of Bishops and Local Council of the Moscow Patriarchate of the Russian Orthodox Church, which will take place January 25-30, 2009, and at which a new Patriarch of this church will be elected. On the eve of these Councils, a number of church organizations (including the “Union of Orthodox Citizens,” a group dear to the patriarchal locum tenens, Metropolitan Kirill (Gundyaev)) have organized a campaign targeting our Portal, which is one of the more well-known sources of independent information on religious and societal life in Russia. The reason for this targeting has been the regular publication of information and analyses on the Portal about the candidates for patriarch and developments in the election campaign. In publishing such information, the editors maintained strict adherence to professional practices and did not allow any agitation, or the distribution of uncorroborated information, or defamation, and carefully observed all Russian laws.
Even though no official accusations were made against our Portal, the patriarchal locum tenens and representatives of his immediate circle stated on numerous occasions that they would prefer that this mass media outlet be stopped. On the eve of the election of the Patriarch, security agencies of the Russian Federation took it upon themselves to “provide for its security.” The Portal learned of discussions between workers of the FSB of the RF with representatives of the clergy and church organizations regarding their preference of one of the candidates for Patriarch. A number of other opposition church Internet sites, including the Russian Autonomous Orthodox Church website and forums in support of Bishop Diomid (Dzyuban) of Chukotsk, have also been shut down. Unprecedented security measures have been taken around the Church of Our Savior, where the Councils will be held. Moscow authorities have
announced the formation of a special Headquarters for the Councils “with the participation of all the involved parties,” while the Moscow Chief Directorate of Internal Affairs has assigned 12,000 members of the Special Police Force (OMON) and internal units to the church.
This is not the first time that a campaign of targeting and gossip has been undertaken against the Portal, which simply tries to discuss various aspects of church life in our country. Its professionalism and trustworthiness is demonstrated in that not a single accusation against it has ever led to a court case. In this instance, the public figures of the ROC MP and their supporters in the government have shown their fear of truthful information and have turned to coarse bullying instead of an honest and open dialogue.
The editorial board asks other sources of mass media, institutions of secular society, and its readers to demonstrate forcefully against the censorship of the church-government forces and to make all effort to restore the activity of the Portal.
During the time when the Portal will remain blocked, its information can be read in the Live Journal at http://credo-rating.livejournal.com/. We also expect other similar sites and sources of mass media to distribute our information and analyses. Censorship – is our common enemy.
Chief Editor
“Portal-Credo.ru”
Alexander Soldatov
Moscow, January 24, 2009
Jan 23, 2009
Happy Birthday ROCOR Refugees Blog!
January 10/23
St. Gregory of Nyssa (395)
Blessed Theosebia the Deaconess (385), sister of St. Basil the Great and St. Gregory of Nyssa
St. Theophan the Recluse, bishop of Tambov (1894).
Woman Hieromartyr Arsenia abbes (1939)
PARTS I & II
PART I
FROM JOANNA'S NOTEPAD:
Well it has been quite a year for me. Coming out of the ROCOR(MP) has been like pulling my head out of the sand. Like coming out of a trance. I had been one of those obedient (lazy?) types: "stay out of politics" and "trust your hierarchs." But my hierarchs were suddenly saying different things. I really had tried hard to accept the idea of the union; but it is not easy to kick against the pricks.
When I made my decision to leave ROCOR(MP), I felt an instant relief from the confusion I had been suffering. Suddenly I was back with my familiar hierarchs (St. John, St. Philaret, Blessed Averky, Fr. Seraphim of Platina). This was the old ROCOR that I suddenly realized had been drifting away from me since Met. Vitaly "retired." That relief, and coming out from under what has been called "the ever-deadening hand," was quite an awakening in itself, and a powerful confirmation that I had made the right decision to leave the ROCPOR(MP).
Upon leaving ROCOR(MP), I was thrown into a world of unfamiliar jurisdictions. I had always been very solid in knowing about the "official" churches (SCOBA). In fact, one of the unsettling things about the union was that I found myself back in the "official" churches, as if I had been railroaded back into what I had purposely left before for definite reasons. I remembered that ROCOR used to be "friends" with the Sister Churches, but this memory was not so solid. My knowledge of the "True" Churches was limited to some vague memories of what Fr. Seraphim Rose had written about the Greeks in Boston and the Matthewites, he called them "super-correct" and said it was a spiritual disease. I had heard about the Vitaly-group, but I had no idea they had joined the ranks of the Super-Correct. And I had no idea that there is now a number of Russian "True" Churches, following the pattern of the Greek "True" Churches of continued fragmenting.
For me a big part of this past year has been learning about the Super-Correct vs. the Royal Path. On the surface the Super-Correct look like us, being traditional and appearing steadfast. They certainly do not have their heads in the sand. But a closer examination reveals something quite amiss. One of the first things I noticed is that they seem (as a whole) to be obsessed with the subject of who has grace and who does not have grace. Just read through some of the conversations on the Euphrosynos Cafe. And I've seen them (as a whole) become very frustrated when they can't pin you down to a black&white statement, then they dismiss you with disgust.
In learning about the super-correct I learned about myself. It is not my way to take facts and form my impressions from the facts. This seems to be the super-correct method. My method is the opposite, my impressions are what interpret the facts. And my impression of the super-correct is that they are terribly tragically fragmented, and therefore, disqualified to interpret the facts. The impression I have of the Royal Path is such that I can trust their interpretations. The super-correct can argue/debate facts until they are blue in the face, and it won't make a difference to me.
I want to make note that my impression of the Royal Path has absolutely nothing to do with how "nice" the people are - or how tactfully they word things. Somebody who says they are offended by the way something is said, usually is looking for an excuse to reject what is being said. That makes me roll my eyes. My impression of the Royal Path has its root in a deep inner belief (supported by the knowledge) that my Patron Saint was of the Royal Path.
Bishop Agafangel was the only one of the pre-MP ROCOR Synod with the strength to refuse to go along with the union. The unionites tried to dismiss him as a schismatic. But, despite what they called him, he was a witness. Why did Bishop Agafangel not just join up with the Vitaly group or one of the other Russian "True" Churches? If he was simply looking for a haven to "escape" the union, he could have also chosen a safe Greek jurisdiction for his flock. No, instead he, despite much criticism, took the task of continuing the original old ROCOR. This is another witness.
Looking at the Sister Churches, we see they did not hesitate to re-establish their friendship with ROCOR under Vladyka Agafangel. They issued statements recognizing ROCOR(A) as the valid continuation of ROCOR. This is another witness - one which the opposition just despised. For years the Sister Churches had not recognized any of the Russian "True" Churches as the valid continuation of old ROCOR. Yet, ROCOR(A) they recognized immediately. The super-correct do not understand this, and they seem insulted. We can expect to continue being misunderstood by both the "left" and the "right," as St. Philaret Of New York was also misunderstood by both the left (which said he was too strait-jacket strict) and by the right (which said he was ecumenist)
If I may interject here, this past year I have met a few ROCOR Refugees that want to "prove for themselves" that ROCOR(A) is the valid continuation of old ROCOR. So they pick apart facts and compare official historical and current documents. They critically examine every human slight of imperfection not just of Vladyka Agafangel, but also of the Sister Churches and of individual Royal Path laymen. To those refugees, I say: You can not debate your way into heaven, and we don't need any "armchair canon law experts." You might be more comfortable elsewhere.
Another important witness was/is the priests who did not go along with the union. Fr. Gregory Williams being the one with whom I am most familiar. I met Fr. Gregory in 1999 and recognized him as a Lover of Truth. I recall telling this to Bishop Gabriel a year later, assuming Bishop Gabriel already knew it. Fr. Gregory is criticized for being "isolated" and some unionites blame his "isolation" for the fact that he was not able to "keep up with" events leading to the union. They say he is "stuck" back in the old days. That he knows no other way to serve the Truth except to stand up against an enemy of the Truth. This is how they explain that he can not accept that Communism is over.
Well! There is much to say to that!
First of all we are the Church Militant. What? ...the Mystery of Iniquity doth not work anymore? Communism is not over. Proof after proof of that has been revealed. And as many times as it has been shown, that's how many times it gets ignored. So, who is it with their heads in the sand now? And even if Communism were over, the MP is in World Orthodoxy. Since when did ROCOR belong in World Orthodoxy? Only since the union. Second of all is something that Fr. Gregory noticed right away. The people who did not go along with the union are those who have the ability to stand alone. I can not fault anyone who does not have this ability. I believe it is God-given. Those who do not have the ability to stand alone, do have the ability to offer much welcomed support to those who otherwise would be standing alone.
So what is going to happen in 2009? We can expect trouble because we are getting bigger and stronger. That means MP will send us more and more infiltrators. More and more trouble-makers who work to cause internal strife and schisms. (We've already seen some of this.) We need to pray that God not allow any false bishops in our Synod. (By "false" I mean KGB agents.) And to thank God for the Faithful Hierarchs and Clergy He has given us. May we be worthy of them.
We can expect to see more progress in the 5-year MP plan to absorb ROCOR completely. I really grieve for the parishes that might want to leave ROCOR(MP). It is already too late. Their property belongs to MP, now. They would have to start over. We are nearing the end of the times where the wealth of the world will be concentrated in the hands of a few, so says St. Seraphim of Sarov.* We can not expect our American government to side against this trend, since our government plays into the hands of Antichrist. *See Prophecies About Russia
PART II
FROM JOANNA'S NOTEPAD:
Reconnecting With Real ROCOR
Church Life Under Isolated Circumstances
Between Portland and Eugene
This report is on how I am able to make Church life work in my isolated situation. My example may not be of interest to everyone. It's not a form or an ideal, but it shows a sense of priorities.
Once I knew for sure I was unable to go along with the union, I emailed Fr. Gregory Williams about it.
Next I emailed my old ROCOR(MP) parish priest writing that I had made my final decision. I said that I loved everything about his parish- the fellowship, the icons, the choir. But there was one important thing missing: namely, I need to be able to love and trust my bishops. I said I hoped we could stay on friendly terms.
Then I sent a copy of that email to Fr. Gregory. This way Fr. Gregory would have something concrete. People say this and people say that all the time. I wasn't just thinking aloud, and I wanted to make that clear. Fr. Gregory responded by welcoming me as one of his flock.
I tithe to Fr. Gregory's Annunciation Parish in Tennessee. I am commemorated at the altar there. Weekly I mail in my Commemorations list along with a dollar for a prosphora that I've asked somebody eat on my behalf (rather than try to mail it back to me). Fr. Gregory is my "spiritual father" (ie: my parish priest).
It seems absurd to be living 2,000 miles away from your parish. But this works in lieu of a normal situation. What does not work is dangling out there not connected to anything while waiting for an imagined ideal situation to bloom forth.
The first months after leaving ROCOR(MP) I commuted up to Portland to attend services in a really nice Super-Correct church. I was welcomed as a visitor from ROCOR(A). The services are sweet and have a natural easy flow, which was very refreshing to me. Even though there was that "grace" issue, I felt far more spiritually akin to this particular super-correct parish than my old ROCOR(MP) parish. Also, these people were very kind to me, helping me sort out what had happened. It was quite a drive, though, 5-6 hours roundtrip. Soon I started going up only for Vigils and doing Typicas at home.
Then the gas crunch came around the same time that Vladyka Agafangel scandalized the super-correct world by accepting help from SIR in ordaining bishops. Those two things together caused me to start doing Vigils at home, also. I purchased the series of the Music for the All-Night Vigils in the 8 Tones from SJKP. I think it was about $160, but I figured I was saving on gas.
With the Music Books and the All-Night Vigil Services in the 8 Tones online, I was able to put together Services that really do tap into the otherworldly reality of the Church in heaven. I was surprised and I was not surprised at the same time. Same still today.
The left side bar of the ROCOR Refugees Blog has a Link List, "Help With Reader Services." These links helped me. Someone who does not read music would surely prefer to have audio music links. So, if anyone finds good audio links that will help with reader services, please tell me so I can put them on the blog. My computer does not play audios (because of dial-up) so I have no way of testing them.
As for my receiving the Holy Mysteries, I do not know yet. I've asked Fr. Gregory for a blessing and an introduction to maybe go to the SIR monastery in Etna, California for a day or two during Great Lent. These are not easy times. But pilgrimages have historically been a normal part of an Orthodox life.
St. Gregory of Nyssa (395)
Blessed Theosebia the Deaconess (385), sister of St. Basil the Great and St. Gregory of Nyssa
St. Theophan the Recluse, bishop of Tambov (1894).
Woman Hieromartyr Arsenia abbes (1939)
PARTS I & II
PART I
FROM JOANNA'S NOTEPAD:
Well it has been quite a year for me. Coming out of the ROCOR(MP) has been like pulling my head out of the sand. Like coming out of a trance. I had been one of those obedient (lazy?) types: "stay out of politics" and "trust your hierarchs." But my hierarchs were suddenly saying different things. I really had tried hard to accept the idea of the union; but it is not easy to kick against the pricks.
When I made my decision to leave ROCOR(MP), I felt an instant relief from the confusion I had been suffering. Suddenly I was back with my familiar hierarchs (St. John, St. Philaret, Blessed Averky, Fr. Seraphim of Platina). This was the old ROCOR that I suddenly realized had been drifting away from me since Met. Vitaly "retired." That relief, and coming out from under what has been called "the ever-deadening hand," was quite an awakening in itself, and a powerful confirmation that I had made the right decision to leave the ROCPOR(MP).
Upon leaving ROCOR(MP), I was thrown into a world of unfamiliar jurisdictions. I had always been very solid in knowing about the "official" churches (SCOBA). In fact, one of the unsettling things about the union was that I found myself back in the "official" churches, as if I had been railroaded back into what I had purposely left before for definite reasons. I remembered that ROCOR used to be "friends" with the Sister Churches, but this memory was not so solid. My knowledge of the "True" Churches was limited to some vague memories of what Fr. Seraphim Rose had written about the Greeks in Boston and the Matthewites, he called them "super-correct" and said it was a spiritual disease. I had heard about the Vitaly-group, but I had no idea they had joined the ranks of the Super-Correct. And I had no idea that there is now a number of Russian "True" Churches, following the pattern of the Greek "True" Churches of continued fragmenting.
For me a big part of this past year has been learning about the Super-Correct vs. the Royal Path. On the surface the Super-Correct look like us, being traditional and appearing steadfast. They certainly do not have their heads in the sand. But a closer examination reveals something quite amiss. One of the first things I noticed is that they seem (as a whole) to be obsessed with the subject of who has grace and who does not have grace. Just read through some of the conversations on the Euphrosynos Cafe. And I've seen them (as a whole) become very frustrated when they can't pin you down to a black&white statement, then they dismiss you with disgust.
In learning about the super-correct I learned about myself. It is not my way to take facts and form my impressions from the facts. This seems to be the super-correct method. My method is the opposite, my impressions are what interpret the facts. And my impression of the super-correct is that they are terribly tragically fragmented, and therefore, disqualified to interpret the facts. The impression I have of the Royal Path is such that I can trust their interpretations. The super-correct can argue/debate facts until they are blue in the face, and it won't make a difference to me.
I want to make note that my impression of the Royal Path has absolutely nothing to do with how "nice" the people are - or how tactfully they word things. Somebody who says they are offended by the way something is said, usually is looking for an excuse to reject what is being said. That makes me roll my eyes. My impression of the Royal Path has its root in a deep inner belief (supported by the knowledge) that my Patron Saint was of the Royal Path.
Bishop Agafangel was the only one of the pre-MP ROCOR Synod with the strength to refuse to go along with the union. The unionites tried to dismiss him as a schismatic. But, despite what they called him, he was a witness. Why did Bishop Agafangel not just join up with the Vitaly group or one of the other Russian "True" Churches? If he was simply looking for a haven to "escape" the union, he could have also chosen a safe Greek jurisdiction for his flock. No, instead he, despite much criticism, took the task of continuing the original old ROCOR. This is another witness.
Looking at the Sister Churches, we see they did not hesitate to re-establish their friendship with ROCOR under Vladyka Agafangel. They issued statements recognizing ROCOR(A) as the valid continuation of ROCOR. This is another witness - one which the opposition just despised. For years the Sister Churches had not recognized any of the Russian "True" Churches as the valid continuation of old ROCOR. Yet, ROCOR(A) they recognized immediately. The super-correct do not understand this, and they seem insulted. We can expect to continue being misunderstood by both the "left" and the "right," as St. Philaret Of New York was also misunderstood by both the left (which said he was too strait-jacket strict) and by the right (which said he was ecumenist)
If I may interject here, this past year I have met a few ROCOR Refugees that want to "prove for themselves" that ROCOR(A) is the valid continuation of old ROCOR. So they pick apart facts and compare official historical and current documents. They critically examine every human slight of imperfection not just of Vladyka Agafangel, but also of the Sister Churches and of individual Royal Path laymen. To those refugees, I say: You can not debate your way into heaven, and we don't need any "armchair canon law experts." You might be more comfortable elsewhere.
Another important witness was/is the priests who did not go along with the union. Fr. Gregory Williams being the one with whom I am most familiar. I met Fr. Gregory in 1999 and recognized him as a Lover of Truth. I recall telling this to Bishop Gabriel a year later, assuming Bishop Gabriel already knew it. Fr. Gregory is criticized for being "isolated" and some unionites blame his "isolation" for the fact that he was not able to "keep up with" events leading to the union. They say he is "stuck" back in the old days. That he knows no other way to serve the Truth except to stand up against an enemy of the Truth. This is how they explain that he can not accept that Communism is over.
Well! There is much to say to that!
First of all we are the Church Militant. What? ...the Mystery of Iniquity doth not work anymore? Communism is not over. Proof after proof of that has been revealed. And as many times as it has been shown, that's how many times it gets ignored. So, who is it with their heads in the sand now? And even if Communism were over, the MP is in World Orthodoxy. Since when did ROCOR belong in World Orthodoxy? Only since the union. Second of all is something that Fr. Gregory noticed right away. The people who did not go along with the union are those who have the ability to stand alone. I can not fault anyone who does not have this ability. I believe it is God-given. Those who do not have the ability to stand alone, do have the ability to offer much welcomed support to those who otherwise would be standing alone.
So what is going to happen in 2009? We can expect trouble because we are getting bigger and stronger. That means MP will send us more and more infiltrators. More and more trouble-makers who work to cause internal strife and schisms. (We've already seen some of this.) We need to pray that God not allow any false bishops in our Synod. (By "false" I mean KGB agents.) And to thank God for the Faithful Hierarchs and Clergy He has given us. May we be worthy of them.
We can expect to see more progress in the 5-year MP plan to absorb ROCOR completely. I really grieve for the parishes that might want to leave ROCOR(MP). It is already too late. Their property belongs to MP, now. They would have to start over. We are nearing the end of the times where the wealth of the world will be concentrated in the hands of a few, so says St. Seraphim of Sarov.* We can not expect our American government to side against this trend, since our government plays into the hands of Antichrist. *See Prophecies About Russia
PART II
FROM JOANNA'S NOTEPAD:
Reconnecting With Real ROCOR
Church Life Under Isolated Circumstances
Between Portland and Eugene
This report is on how I am able to make Church life work in my isolated situation. My example may not be of interest to everyone. It's not a form or an ideal, but it shows a sense of priorities.
Once I knew for sure I was unable to go along with the union, I emailed Fr. Gregory Williams about it.
Next I emailed my old ROCOR(MP) parish priest writing that I had made my final decision. I said that I loved everything about his parish- the fellowship, the icons, the choir. But there was one important thing missing: namely, I need to be able to love and trust my bishops. I said I hoped we could stay on friendly terms.
Then I sent a copy of that email to Fr. Gregory. This way Fr. Gregory would have something concrete. People say this and people say that all the time. I wasn't just thinking aloud, and I wanted to make that clear. Fr. Gregory responded by welcoming me as one of his flock.
I tithe to Fr. Gregory's Annunciation Parish in Tennessee. I am commemorated at the altar there. Weekly I mail in my Commemorations list along with a dollar for a prosphora that I've asked somebody eat on my behalf (rather than try to mail it back to me). Fr. Gregory is my "spiritual father" (ie: my parish priest).
It seems absurd to be living 2,000 miles away from your parish. But this works in lieu of a normal situation. What does not work is dangling out there not connected to anything while waiting for an imagined ideal situation to bloom forth.
The first months after leaving ROCOR(MP) I commuted up to Portland to attend services in a really nice Super-Correct church. I was welcomed as a visitor from ROCOR(A). The services are sweet and have a natural easy flow, which was very refreshing to me. Even though there was that "grace" issue, I felt far more spiritually akin to this particular super-correct parish than my old ROCOR(MP) parish. Also, these people were very kind to me, helping me sort out what had happened. It was quite a drive, though, 5-6 hours roundtrip. Soon I started going up only for Vigils and doing Typicas at home.
Then the gas crunch came around the same time that Vladyka Agafangel scandalized the super-correct world by accepting help from SIR in ordaining bishops. Those two things together caused me to start doing Vigils at home, also. I purchased the series of the Music for the All-Night Vigils in the 8 Tones from SJKP. I think it was about $160, but I figured I was saving on gas.
With the Music Books and the All-Night Vigil Services in the 8 Tones online, I was able to put together Services that really do tap into the otherworldly reality of the Church in heaven. I was surprised and I was not surprised at the same time. Same still today.
The left side bar of the ROCOR Refugees Blog has a Link List, "Help With Reader Services." These links helped me. Someone who does not read music would surely prefer to have audio music links. So, if anyone finds good audio links that will help with reader services, please tell me so I can put them on the blog. My computer does not play audios (because of dial-up) so I have no way of testing them.
As for my receiving the Holy Mysteries, I do not know yet. I've asked Fr. Gregory for a blessing and an introduction to maybe go to the SIR monastery in Etna, California for a day or two during Great Lent. These are not easy times. But pilgrimages have historically been a normal part of an Orthodox life.
Jan 22, 2009
Three Announcements
Three announcements:
1. St. Andrew's Parish in St. Petersburg Florida has decided to go back to the MP. We don't know why, at least we don't know the REAL reason. They are giving as reasons all the old party-line arguments.
Related Post: CLICK HERE
UPDATE: THE REAL REASON REVEALED
See: Russians Without A Church
April 24, 2009 on this blog
2. Joanna has a new email address. The old one still works, but I will be checking it less and less often as time goes on.
JoannaHigginbotham@exchangenet.net
3. The MP has transferred all the old ROCOR archives to their Moscow HeadQuarters. It will be easier now for them to rewrite history. See the latest issue of Vernost Magazine Online (scroll down on left side bar to "Magazines"), Issue No. 120, the article by Seraphim Larin titled "Lest We Forget" is the 16th article listed in this issue.
1. St. Andrew's Parish in St. Petersburg Florida has decided to go back to the MP. We don't know why, at least we don't know the REAL reason. They are giving as reasons all the old party-line arguments.
Related Post: CLICK HERE
UPDATE: THE REAL REASON REVEALED
See: Russians Without A Church
April 24, 2009 on this blog
2. Joanna has a new email address. The old one still works, but I will be checking it less and less often as time goes on.
JoannaHigginbotham@exchangenet.net
3. The MP has transferred all the old ROCOR archives to their Moscow HeadQuarters. It will be easier now for them to rewrite history. See the latest issue of Vernost Magazine Online (scroll down on left side bar to "Magazines"), Issue No. 120, the article by Seraphim Larin titled "Lest We Forget" is the 16th article listed in this issue.
Jan 20, 2009
On The Day Of Servant Eugene's Funeral
What Is Public Information On The Life & Ideas of Dr. Eugene L. Magerovsky
From: Reader Daniel
Just A Few More Facts About Newly-Reposed Servant ('Agent') of God, Dr. Eugene L. Magerovsky, A True Orthodox Hero:
First of all, to know from Dr. Eugene L. Magerovsky himself, his and his father's biographies see (in Russian):
Eugene's biography http://zarubezhje.narod.ru/mp/m_255.htm
Leo Florinovich Magerovsky http://zarubezhje.narod.ru/mp/M_533.htm
To read these biographies in English, use the Google translator (scroll down left side bar to "Machine Translators" under the Links List -jh).
Father and son, were their whole lives, committed and genuine:
Both, had careers in military activities, in addition to their many-faceted scholarly academic pursuits, aimed at freeing their Russian homeland from the satanic grip of the foul enemies of mankind, the cursed-bolsheviks and their successors, the KGB/FSB current criminal gang in Moscow under ganster-Putin. Wonderful, God-blessed-America gave them a home, jobs, freedom, security, and to GOOD!-America....both of them (as with many other 'white-Russian' refugees,) owed a deep debt of gratiitude and loyalty.
Dr. E. L. Magerovsky had a long VERY PROUD! career in US military intelligence, though he retired from that work....many long years ago. HIS SOLE reason to enter the more recent battle against the behind-the-scenes betrayal/takeover of ROCOR by the KGB/FSB gansters, via their MP pseudo-church, was because he was a sincere Orthodox Christian and also a true son of Russia, and nothing more!!! When I asked him a few years ago, if... our US government was going to do anything to stop that KGB church takeover of ROCOR, he answered me with a chagrined sad resignation: "The US government has as much interest in this matter, as.....'sitting, watching a snowdrift form' " (i.e. none!)
All his efforts at battling that false 'union' were totally from his heart, not in any way.....as his...paid 'job' (for anyone!). And, how absurd to insinuate otherwise!
HURRAY for America! HURRAY! for our wonderful CIA!! ...I know that there are noble CIA agents in Heaven, but how could KGB agents ever! be in Heaven!?
For these past few years, through the google translations, I daily read his elmager blog site, with the sundry attacking 'comments' which he allowed to be posted there, and to which he patiently & very politely attempted to respond. Every possible, absurd and vulgar and pathetic attack that the KGB could conjure up or from the distorted minds of other idiots, Dr. Magerovsky gave his answers, including being very humble & open about himself, his life's activities, and so on. And speaking with him on the phone daily, I.....KNEW! his mind and his heart, first hand. He was no phony, no 'agent' for anyone (but, maybe GOD!)
So, still now, even on the day of his funeral, today, Jan. 20, 2009, we read more rubbish against his good name, such as: "...he was just a CIA agent!" etc. YOY!
Memory Eternal! Vechnaya Pamyat! to you, dear good and true brother Eugene L. Magerovsky, a noble son of Russia, and a noble Orthodox Christian, and a noble warrior for truth and for virtue.
Reader Daniel Everiss, friend and fellow conversationalist for these past several years, of a really great man, now lost to us mortals.
From: Reader Daniel
Just A Few More Facts About Newly-Reposed Servant ('Agent') of God, Dr. Eugene L. Magerovsky, A True Orthodox Hero:
First of all, to know from Dr. Eugene L. Magerovsky himself, his and his father's biographies see (in Russian):
Eugene's biography http://zarubezhje.narod.ru/mp/m_255.htm
Leo Florinovich Magerovsky http://zarubezhje.narod.ru/mp/M_533.htm
To read these biographies in English, use the Google translator (scroll down left side bar to "Machine Translators" under the Links List -jh).
Father and son, were their whole lives, committed and genuine:
1) sincere Orthodox Christians,
2) loyal sons of Russia,
3) active anti-communists,
4) intellectual giants.
Both, had careers in military activities, in addition to their many-faceted scholarly academic pursuits, aimed at freeing their Russian homeland from the satanic grip of the foul enemies of mankind, the cursed-bolsheviks and their successors, the KGB/FSB current criminal gang in Moscow under ganster-Putin. Wonderful, God-blessed-America gave them a home, jobs, freedom, security, and to GOOD!-America....both of them (as with many other 'white-Russian' refugees,) owed a deep debt of gratiitude and loyalty.
Dr. E. L. Magerovsky had a long VERY PROUD! career in US military intelligence, though he retired from that work....many long years ago. HIS SOLE reason to enter the more recent battle against the behind-the-scenes betrayal/takeover of ROCOR by the KGB/FSB gansters, via their MP pseudo-church, was because he was a sincere Orthodox Christian and also a true son of Russia, and nothing more!!! When I asked him a few years ago, if... our US government was going to do anything to stop that KGB church takeover of ROCOR, he answered me with a chagrined sad resignation: "The US government has as much interest in this matter, as.....'sitting, watching a snowdrift form' " (i.e. none!)
All his efforts at battling that false 'union' were totally from his heart, not in any way.....as his...paid 'job' (for anyone!). And, how absurd to insinuate otherwise!
HURRAY for America! HURRAY! for our wonderful CIA!! ...I know that there are noble CIA agents in Heaven, but how could KGB agents ever! be in Heaven!?
For these past few years, through the google translations, I daily read his elmager blog site, with the sundry attacking 'comments' which he allowed to be posted there, and to which he patiently & very politely attempted to respond. Every possible, absurd and vulgar and pathetic attack that the KGB could conjure up or from the distorted minds of other idiots, Dr. Magerovsky gave his answers, including being very humble & open about himself, his life's activities, and so on. And speaking with him on the phone daily, I.....KNEW! his mind and his heart, first hand. He was no phony, no 'agent' for anyone (but, maybe GOD!)
So, still now, even on the day of his funeral, today, Jan. 20, 2009, we read more rubbish against his good name, such as: "...he was just a CIA agent!" etc. YOY!
Memory Eternal! Vechnaya Pamyat! to you, dear good and true brother Eugene L. Magerovsky, a noble son of Russia, and a noble Orthodox Christian, and a noble warrior for truth and for virtue.
Reader Daniel Everiss, friend and fellow conversationalist for these past several years, of a really great man, now lost to us mortals.
Jan 18, 2009
Servant Eugene Reposes In The Lord
From: Reader Daniel
Very Sad News: Memory Eternal to Eugene L. Magerovsky!
Died today @ 74 Years of Age
Sunday January 5/18, 2008
A SHORT TRIBUTE
Today I received the very sad news that long time churchworker and tireless battler of the machinations of the communists/KGB and their dupes, who made that foul 'union' of our formerly free ROCOR, to the STILL! KGB-enslaved & controlled Moscow Patriarchy, ....has passed from this world at age 74, from heart failure and the complications of his long time diabetes, in a hospital in New Jersey.
Silenced now, is a powerful voice.
Dr. Eugene L. Magerovsky was a very remarkable and gifted man, of deep education and wide life's experiences, and a life-long sincere Orthodox Christian.
It was my great pleasure to speak almost daily via phone with him for more than a year, and I got to depend on hearing his voice and his opinions on church matters and also on many varied topics. He was never boring to listen to. He understood life and people, in a way that is unusual for most men.
Eugene Magerovsky was a no-nonsence truth seeker and truth teller, no matter who liked the truth or not. Thus, among his many admirers and friends, he also has had many detractors, and many.....who did not understand his motives, or his choice of the way he related matters. He was not always correct, in everything he pronounced, as he was ....a mere human being (which fact, he was quite aware of, always!) but when he did make an error, he would admit it.
Dr. Eugene L. Magerovsky was battling the gradual KGB-engineered takeover of ROCOR....long before anyone else even perceived that such a scheme was underway. His aim was to awaken the sleeping, and to alert us all to the danger of what was happening, so if possible, we might have stopped it.
And for all his efforts, he was often misunderstood and reviled from many quarters, especially from those who didn't want to hear ANY unpleasant things. He upset people by the....terrible truth. He did not create that unpleasant truth, he only reported it, thus he received the age-old punishment for doing such: "To kill the messenger who brings bad news," etc.
Of his many memorable quotes,....when I had asked him: But, why did you become involved with this anti-'union' matter and in fighting the KGB controlled Moscow Patriarchy? His answer:" SIMPLY, BECAUSE I DIDN'T WANT TO SEE THE BOLSHEVIKS WIN"
Servant of God, Eugene, wanted our Russian Orthodoxy to be what it is supposed to be, serving GOD alone, and not controlled by God-hating atheists or their dupes, pseudo-'clergy'...who actually serve a civil-government and it's questionable/unspiritual aims and goals (i.e. the Stalin created 'Moscow Patriarchy" -SERGIANISM! that enslaved entity in Moscow, which is STILL a virtual department of the Putin apparatus).
Now his mighty truth-telling voice is silenced, to the joy of his critics and detractors, and to the joy of those who want to see our continued ROCA under Vl. Agafangel.....destroyed and silenced also.
Dr. Eugene L. Magerovsky's efforts at raising up and strengthening our Church......he worked at day and night for these past many years. In fact, I know that he hastened his death by caring more about the Church, rather than about his own declining physical condition. There is no one who can replace him, no one.
Dearest Friend and fellow Orthodox Christian, warrior for truth, Dr. Eugene L. Magerovsky: May Almighty God forgive you all your sins of your lifetime, and grant you rest now in His Heavenly Mansions where all the saints abide, and may you hear from His mouth: "Well done, thou faithful and good servant, inherit the kingdom and the crown prepared for you!". MEMORY ETERNAL! MEMORY ETERNAL! MEMORY ETERNAL! VECHNAYA PAMYAT my dear friend!
"The memory of the just, is celebrated with hymns of praise!"
With deepest sadness and in much respect for a truly great man who has left us, to our enormous loss.
Reader Daniel Everiss in Oregon
Very Sad News: Memory Eternal to Eugene L. Magerovsky!
Died today @ 74 Years of Age
Sunday January 5/18, 2008
A SHORT TRIBUTE
Today I received the very sad news that long time churchworker and tireless battler of the machinations of the communists/KGB and their dupes, who made that foul 'union' of our formerly free ROCOR, to the STILL! KGB-enslaved & controlled Moscow Patriarchy, ....has passed from this world at age 74, from heart failure and the complications of his long time diabetes, in a hospital in New Jersey.
Silenced now, is a powerful voice.
Dr. Eugene L. Magerovsky was a very remarkable and gifted man, of deep education and wide life's experiences, and a life-long sincere Orthodox Christian.
It was my great pleasure to speak almost daily via phone with him for more than a year, and I got to depend on hearing his voice and his opinions on church matters and also on many varied topics. He was never boring to listen to. He understood life and people, in a way that is unusual for most men.
Eugene Magerovsky was a no-nonsence truth seeker and truth teller, no matter who liked the truth or not. Thus, among his many admirers and friends, he also has had many detractors, and many.....who did not understand his motives, or his choice of the way he related matters. He was not always correct, in everything he pronounced, as he was ....a mere human being (which fact, he was quite aware of, always!) but when he did make an error, he would admit it.
Dr. Eugene L. Magerovsky was battling the gradual KGB-engineered takeover of ROCOR....long before anyone else even perceived that such a scheme was underway. His aim was to awaken the sleeping, and to alert us all to the danger of what was happening, so if possible, we might have stopped it.
And for all his efforts, he was often misunderstood and reviled from many quarters, especially from those who didn't want to hear ANY unpleasant things. He upset people by the....terrible truth. He did not create that unpleasant truth, he only reported it, thus he received the age-old punishment for doing such: "To kill the messenger who brings bad news," etc.
Of his many memorable quotes,....when I had asked him: But, why did you become involved with this anti-'union' matter and in fighting the KGB controlled Moscow Patriarchy? His answer:" SIMPLY, BECAUSE I DIDN'T WANT TO SEE THE BOLSHEVIKS WIN"
Servant of God, Eugene, wanted our Russian Orthodoxy to be what it is supposed to be, serving GOD alone, and not controlled by God-hating atheists or their dupes, pseudo-'clergy'...who actually serve a civil-government and it's questionable/unspiritual aims and goals (i.e. the Stalin created 'Moscow Patriarchy" -SERGIANISM! that enslaved entity in Moscow, which is STILL a virtual department of the Putin apparatus).
Now his mighty truth-telling voice is silenced, to the joy of his critics and detractors, and to the joy of those who want to see our continued ROCA under Vl. Agafangel.....destroyed and silenced also.
Dr. Eugene L. Magerovsky's efforts at raising up and strengthening our Church......he worked at day and night for these past many years. In fact, I know that he hastened his death by caring more about the Church, rather than about his own declining physical condition. There is no one who can replace him, no one.
Dearest Friend and fellow Orthodox Christian, warrior for truth, Dr. Eugene L. Magerovsky: May Almighty God forgive you all your sins of your lifetime, and grant you rest now in His Heavenly Mansions where all the saints abide, and may you hear from His mouth: "Well done, thou faithful and good servant, inherit the kingdom and the crown prepared for you!". MEMORY ETERNAL! MEMORY ETERNAL! MEMORY ETERNAL! VECHNAYA PAMYAT my dear friend!
"The memory of the just, is celebrated with hymns of praise!"
With deepest sadness and in much respect for a truly great man who has left us, to our enormous loss.
Reader Daniel Everiss in Oregon
Jan 16, 2009
The Receptions Of Our Two Catacomb Bishops
Late last year our ROCA received two catacomb bishops of the TOC, Bishop Ioann and Bishop Afanasiy. Some people decided to make an issue out of it. Now that the dust has settled, we find that things written in defense of the receptions do much to help us understand (and appreciate!) the Royal Path of ROCA.
Memorandum from Bishop Georgiy
on the acceptance into the body of the ROCA of the bishops
of the Russian Orthodox Catacomb Church (sekachevtsevs) CLICK HERE
On the matter of the canonical standing of the catacomb episcopate of the Tikhon-Pozdeev-Sekach branch of the true RTOC.
Fr. Victor Dobroff CLICK HERE
Fr. Victor raises the question of, what were the motives behind those who decided to make an issue about this? I heard that the behavior of some at the Sobor was disruptive. Do they truly just not understand? Or is it that they do not want to understand and would prefer to have something to criticize in Vladyka Agafangel? I recall reading an interview with Bishop Tihkon Pasechnik (Sbn. Nathanael's Church News, maybe?) where after a meeting with Vladyka Agafangel he said something like this:
He does not understand. It appears to him that Vladyka Agafangel contradicts himself. So he becomes critical of Vladyka Agafangel.
Typical of the black&white Super-correct thinking. Which, Fr. Seraphim Rose tells us, is worldly thinking and the flip side of ecumenism which is also worldly thinking. Super-correct thinking can not see that YES + NO = ANSWER. And when the Catacomb Bishops were received in such a fashion, super-correct thinking can't understand this either. So, they get riled up and critical of Vladyka Agafangel.
So, when Fr. Victor says that those who object to the TOC bishps' receptions are opposed to unity, we see it is true. But I wonder why they are opposed. Is it really because they truly do not understand? Or are a few of them, maybe, pretending not to understand so they have an excuse to be disruptive? We want to give them the benefit of the doubt, but the behavior of some at the Sobor raises doubts about their motives.
Memorandum from Bishop Georgiy
on the acceptance into the body of the ROCA of the bishops
of the Russian Orthodox Catacomb Church (sekachevtsevs) CLICK HERE
On the matter of the canonical standing of the catacomb episcopate of the Tikhon-Pozdeev-Sekach branch of the true RTOC.
Fr. Victor Dobroff CLICK HERE
Fr. Victor raises the question of, what were the motives behind those who decided to make an issue about this? I heard that the behavior of some at the Sobor was disruptive. Do they truly just not understand? Or is it that they do not want to understand and would prefer to have something to criticize in Vladyka Agafangel? I recall reading an interview with Bishop Tihkon Pasechnik (Sbn. Nathanael's Church News, maybe?) where after a meeting with Vladyka Agafangel he said something like this:
(paraphrasing) "I don't understand. He (Vladyka Afagafangel) won't be in communion with us. But he says he will accept us as is."
He does not understand. It appears to him that Vladyka Agafangel contradicts himself. So he becomes critical of Vladyka Agafangel.
Typical of the black&white Super-correct thinking. Which, Fr. Seraphim Rose tells us, is worldly thinking and the flip side of ecumenism which is also worldly thinking. Super-correct thinking can not see that YES + NO = ANSWER. And when the Catacomb Bishops were received in such a fashion, super-correct thinking can't understand this either. So, they get riled up and critical of Vladyka Agafangel.
So, when Fr. Victor says that those who object to the TOC bishps' receptions are opposed to unity, we see it is true. But I wonder why they are opposed. Is it really because they truly do not understand? Or are a few of them, maybe, pretending not to understand so they have an excuse to be disruptive? We want to give them the benefit of the doubt, but the behavior of some at the Sobor raises doubts about their motives.
Jan 15, 2009
Welcome!
APPOINTMENTS AND ASSIGNMENTS OF ROCA CLERGY:
By the Decree №21 (2008) of the North American Diocesan District,
Priest Oleg Mironov has been accepted as clergyman of the above District and appointed to the parish clergy of the Cathedral of the St. Blessed Xenia of St. Petersburg in Ottawa, Canada.
By the Decree №22 (2009) of the North American Diocesan District,
Hieromonk Vasiliy (Konstantinovich) and Honorable Sister Evfimia (Orlova) have been, pursuant to their request, accepted as clergy of the above District and assigned to serve at the Holy Ascension Skete in Fallbrook, California.
By the Decree №21 (2008) of the North American Diocesan District,
Priest Oleg Mironov has been accepted as clergyman of the above District and appointed to the parish clergy of the Cathedral of the St. Blessed Xenia of St. Petersburg in Ottawa, Canada.
By the Decree №22 (2009) of the North American Diocesan District,
Hieromonk Vasiliy (Konstantinovich) and Honorable Sister Evfimia (Orlova) have been, pursuant to their request, accepted as clergy of the above District and assigned to serve at the Holy Ascension Skete in Fallbrook, California.
Jan 12, 2009
The Beautiful Old Calendar
Beauty worth preserving. Beauty worth defending. Beauty worth dying for. -jh
The Patristic Church Calendar: An Indissoluble Element of Universal Church Tradition
Bishop Photii of Triaditza
First Hierarch of the Old Calendar Orthodox Church of Bulgaria
"Keep Thy Church in Orthodoxy, O Christ, and our lives in peace."
(Fifth Resurrectional stichera on "Lord, I have cried," Tone 1)
In 1993, the Bulgarian Orthodox Church saw the passing of seventy years since the so-called "Pan-Orthodox" Council in Tzarigrad, which decided, albeit in an uncanonical manner, to reform the Church Calendar; ...[this] marked the twenty-fifth anniversary of the calendar reform in the Bulgarian Orthodox Church.
The tragic decision of the "Pan-Orthodox" Congress of 1923, in Constantinople, to replace the Church Julian Calendar with the so-called New Julian Calendar -- which, by the end of 2800 and after 2900 will coincide fully with the Papal or Gregorian Calendar -- was gradually accepted by the administrative authorities of a number of local Churches, among which, sad to say, was also the Bulgarian Church. The calendar reform is not a small, insignificant change, as those who advocate it would have us believe. It is one step on a slippery path that leads to a broader religious and ecclesiastical reform in the spirit of the panheretical rapprochement of ecumenism, which is virtually a "transformation of all things into impiety" (Saint Theodore the Studite). In the name of rapproachement with Roman Catholics, Anglicans, and Protestants, the advocates of the calendar reform have rent asunder the age-old liturgical unity of the Holy Orthodox Church.
In those local Churches which have adopted the New Calendar in establishing the Festal Menaion, Sacred Feasts and the memory of Saints are celebrated thirteen days earlier than the corresponding events according to the Julian Calendar. From the sixth century on, when the Church once and for all established a uniform Festal Calendar and Paschalion, there has never existed the divergence in time for the celebration of one and the same Feast that we see today. This present divergence is quite obvious on the days of the Greater Feasts: the Nativity of Christ, Theophany, or the Dormition of the Theotokos. Some Orthodox fast while others feast; for example, the New Calendarists celebrate the Dormition of the Theotokos on what is the second day of the Fast preceding this great Feast on the Church Calendar. Not to mention the tragic case of the local Church of Finland, which celebrates even Pascha according to the Gregorian Calendar - separate from all other Orthodox and together with the Roman Catholics, Anglicans, and Protestants. This improper divergence in the times at which Church Feasts are celebrated raises the question: "Who celebrates-we or the Church?" If the answer is, "We," then we lessen and obliterate the sacred nature of the Church's Feasts, subordinating them to incidental considerations and personal preferences. If we answer, "The Church," then, only a uniform time of celebration is possible, since the Church is One.
Why is this uniformity in the time of the celebration of Feasts dependent on the Julian Calendar, and why is it that precisely this calendar is considered a Church Calendar, in the proper meaning of the word?
It is because the Julian Calendar is vitally linked to the Alexandrian Paschalion of the ancient Church, to a common system of calculating time known among the Byzantines and the Slavs as the "Great Indiction" and in the West as the "Great Cycle." It is precisely this system of calculating time that has determined for over a thousand years (that is, until the Gregorian Calendar reform of 1582) the liturgical calendar of all Christian peoples. Only the system of the Great Indiction and the traditional Orthodox Paschalion conform to the requirements of the Seventh Apostolic Canon and the dicta set forth by the First Ecumenical Synod, which are confirmed in the First Canon of the Council of Antioch. These rules explicitly forbid the celebration of the Christian Pascha on the same day as the Jewish Passover. Roman Catholics, Anglicans, and Protestants, as well as the Orthodox (?!) Church of Finland, have adopted the Gregorian Paschalion, according to which the Pascha of Christ (Easter) occasionally falls on the same day as the Jewish Passover, if not often even before it (which is in discord with the order of the events in the last week of Jesus Christ's earthly life as we find it set out in the Gospels). It is not by accident that the New Calendarists (with the exception of the Church of Finland) have adopted the New Calendar only for the festal cycle for permanent Feasts (that is, those Feasts fixed to a definite calendar date). For they still calculate the movable Feasts (those dependent on the date of Pascha) by the Julian Church Calendar. By so doing, they paste together, in a most artificial manner, the Church and New Julian (Gregorian) Calendars, using both at the same time and thus adding even greater confusion into the Church's liturgical life.
Advocates of the New Calendar tenaciously argue that the Gregorian Calendar is more chronologically precise when compared to the Julian. For its part, however, the Julian Calendar has indisputable mathematical advantages over the Gregorian-it is not by chance, for example, that it is still used in many chronological and astronomical calculations.
Chronological accuracy in and of itself, however, cannot be an absolute standard, as far as the Church Calendar is concerned. Otherwise, the Church would fall to permanent dependence on the progress of astronomical science, which would in turn inevitably lead to a common date for Pascha and the Jewish Passover, in violation of the Canons, that is, to a disruption of the common mind established by the Church Synods and Councils and of the Tradition of the Fathers. "Time is a mystery," a certain Orthodox monk once said, "and a mystery can be approached only through a symbol.
"The Julian Calendar is an Icon of time. If we want to make the notion of 'time' material, as the Icon can be materialized by its transformation into a portrait, why should we, in any case, turn to the Gregorian Calendar? There are far more precise calendars, such as the Calendar of the Incas or that of Omar Khayyam, the mathematical specifications of which are brilliant, and an even more precise calendar may appear in the future. However, we should not reach out in the direction of the observatories. We, the Church, possess these mysteries of time, which have been inscribed in the Bible and in the works of the Fathers. These mysteries have been entrusted to us and we are obliged to reveal them to the world."
Let no man, therefore, imagine that we argue about times, months, and days or suffer privations and persecutions for the sake of full moons and equinoxes (cf. Colossians 2:16 ["Let no man therefore judge you in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days"]). To us, the Great Indiction, the Julian Calendar, and the Orthodox Paschalion are not one system of measuring time among many others. They are the fruit of the collective genius and work of a number of anonymous champions of science and the Faith, an integral part of the precious heritage of our Universal Church Tradition, to which the Holy Orthodox Church holds firm, proclaiming Her Good Tidings to the world!
-Reprinted as Essay III in Bishop Photii of Triaditza, The Road to Apostasy: Significant Essays on Ecumenism (Etna, CA: Center for Traditionalist Orthodox Studies, 1995), pp. 38-41.
A brilliant essay on the Old Calendar by Bishop Photii of Triaditza, First Hierarch of our Sister Church in Bulgaria and former Assistant Professor at the University of Sofia. +Archbishop Chrysostomos
The Patristic Church Calendar: An Indissoluble Element of Universal Church Tradition
Bishop Photii of Triaditza
First Hierarch of the Old Calendar Orthodox Church of Bulgaria
"Keep Thy Church in Orthodoxy, O Christ, and our lives in peace."
(Fifth Resurrectional stichera on "Lord, I have cried," Tone 1)
In 1993, the Bulgarian Orthodox Church saw the passing of seventy years since the so-called "Pan-Orthodox" Council in Tzarigrad, which decided, albeit in an uncanonical manner, to reform the Church Calendar; ...[this] marked the twenty-fifth anniversary of the calendar reform in the Bulgarian Orthodox Church.
The tragic decision of the "Pan-Orthodox" Congress of 1923, in Constantinople, to replace the Church Julian Calendar with the so-called New Julian Calendar -- which, by the end of 2800 and after 2900 will coincide fully with the Papal or Gregorian Calendar -- was gradually accepted by the administrative authorities of a number of local Churches, among which, sad to say, was also the Bulgarian Church. The calendar reform is not a small, insignificant change, as those who advocate it would have us believe. It is one step on a slippery path that leads to a broader religious and ecclesiastical reform in the spirit of the panheretical rapprochement of ecumenism, which is virtually a "transformation of all things into impiety" (Saint Theodore the Studite). In the name of rapproachement with Roman Catholics, Anglicans, and Protestants, the advocates of the calendar reform have rent asunder the age-old liturgical unity of the Holy Orthodox Church.
In those local Churches which have adopted the New Calendar in establishing the Festal Menaion, Sacred Feasts and the memory of Saints are celebrated thirteen days earlier than the corresponding events according to the Julian Calendar. From the sixth century on, when the Church once and for all established a uniform Festal Calendar and Paschalion, there has never existed the divergence in time for the celebration of one and the same Feast that we see today. This present divergence is quite obvious on the days of the Greater Feasts: the Nativity of Christ, Theophany, or the Dormition of the Theotokos. Some Orthodox fast while others feast; for example, the New Calendarists celebrate the Dormition of the Theotokos on what is the second day of the Fast preceding this great Feast on the Church Calendar. Not to mention the tragic case of the local Church of Finland, which celebrates even Pascha according to the Gregorian Calendar - separate from all other Orthodox and together with the Roman Catholics, Anglicans, and Protestants. This improper divergence in the times at which Church Feasts are celebrated raises the question: "Who celebrates-we or the Church?" If the answer is, "We," then we lessen and obliterate the sacred nature of the Church's Feasts, subordinating them to incidental considerations and personal preferences. If we answer, "The Church," then, only a uniform time of celebration is possible, since the Church is One.
Why is this uniformity in the time of the celebration of Feasts dependent on the Julian Calendar, and why is it that precisely this calendar is considered a Church Calendar, in the proper meaning of the word?
It is because the Julian Calendar is vitally linked to the Alexandrian Paschalion of the ancient Church, to a common system of calculating time known among the Byzantines and the Slavs as the "Great Indiction" and in the West as the "Great Cycle." It is precisely this system of calculating time that has determined for over a thousand years (that is, until the Gregorian Calendar reform of 1582) the liturgical calendar of all Christian peoples. Only the system of the Great Indiction and the traditional Orthodox Paschalion conform to the requirements of the Seventh Apostolic Canon and the dicta set forth by the First Ecumenical Synod, which are confirmed in the First Canon of the Council of Antioch. These rules explicitly forbid the celebration of the Christian Pascha on the same day as the Jewish Passover. Roman Catholics, Anglicans, and Protestants, as well as the Orthodox (?!) Church of Finland, have adopted the Gregorian Paschalion, according to which the Pascha of Christ (Easter) occasionally falls on the same day as the Jewish Passover, if not often even before it (which is in discord with the order of the events in the last week of Jesus Christ's earthly life as we find it set out in the Gospels). It is not by accident that the New Calendarists (with the exception of the Church of Finland) have adopted the New Calendar only for the festal cycle for permanent Feasts (that is, those Feasts fixed to a definite calendar date). For they still calculate the movable Feasts (those dependent on the date of Pascha) by the Julian Church Calendar. By so doing, they paste together, in a most artificial manner, the Church and New Julian (Gregorian) Calendars, using both at the same time and thus adding even greater confusion into the Church's liturgical life.
Advocates of the New Calendar tenaciously argue that the Gregorian Calendar is more chronologically precise when compared to the Julian. For its part, however, the Julian Calendar has indisputable mathematical advantages over the Gregorian-it is not by chance, for example, that it is still used in many chronological and astronomical calculations.
Chronological accuracy in and of itself, however, cannot be an absolute standard, as far as the Church Calendar is concerned. Otherwise, the Church would fall to permanent dependence on the progress of astronomical science, which would in turn inevitably lead to a common date for Pascha and the Jewish Passover, in violation of the Canons, that is, to a disruption of the common mind established by the Church Synods and Councils and of the Tradition of the Fathers. "Time is a mystery," a certain Orthodox monk once said, "and a mystery can be approached only through a symbol.
"The Julian Calendar is an Icon of time. If we want to make the notion of 'time' material, as the Icon can be materialized by its transformation into a portrait, why should we, in any case, turn to the Gregorian Calendar? There are far more precise calendars, such as the Calendar of the Incas or that of Omar Khayyam, the mathematical specifications of which are brilliant, and an even more precise calendar may appear in the future. However, we should not reach out in the direction of the observatories. We, the Church, possess these mysteries of time, which have been inscribed in the Bible and in the works of the Fathers. These mysteries have been entrusted to us and we are obliged to reveal them to the world."
Let no man, therefore, imagine that we argue about times, months, and days or suffer privations and persecutions for the sake of full moons and equinoxes (cf. Colossians 2:16 ["Let no man therefore judge you in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days"]). To us, the Great Indiction, the Julian Calendar, and the Orthodox Paschalion are not one system of measuring time among many others. They are the fruit of the collective genius and work of a number of anonymous champions of science and the Faith, an integral part of the precious heritage of our Universal Church Tradition, to which the Holy Orthodox Church holds firm, proclaiming Her Good Tidings to the world!
-Reprinted as Essay III in Bishop Photii of Triaditza, The Road to Apostasy: Significant Essays on Ecumenism (Etna, CA: Center for Traditionalist Orthodox Studies, 1995), pp. 38-41.
Jan 9, 2009
ROCOR-MP Being Absorbed Into MP In Germany
An Interview With ROCOR-MP Archbishop Mark - in Russian
http://www.pravoslavie.ru/news/28927.htm
Below is a Google Machine translation of the interview. It looks like ROCOR-MP and MP have started the process of uniting under one diocese. If a better translation becomes available, I'll replace this one below:
-jh
ARCHBISHOP MARK BELIEVES THE CREATION IN WESTERN EUROPE MITROPOLICHEGO DISTRICT OF THE RUSSIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH
Munich, 8 January, 2008
Archbishop of Berlin and Germany and Velikobritansky Mark (RPTSZ) considers the creation in Western Europe Mitropolichego District of the Russian Orthodox Church feasible idea. This архипастырь said in an interview with the correspondent of *Sedmitsy.Ru* Anatoly Holodyukom:
- Your Eminence, how long time you see the process of merging the two branches of the Russian Orthodox Church in Germany?
- Make any predictions in this regard, it is simply impossible. Based on an analysis of pre-unification of the Russian Orthodox Church, you will notice that in the process of restoring the unity of these were questions that dealt with more quickly than we anticipated. But there were those who had to leave the decision up to the time. During the talks, the two commissions, we then determined the five-year term, during which may occur complete reunification of the Church.
Will the same scenario of unification of our two dioceses in one area, it is difficult to say. That we have not so far progovarivali and this is not agreed, because they do not want to break any established tradition. We understand that in the two dioceses are people accustomed to live in a climate in which they lived for decades. And now, a dramatic change in usual circumstances it may be burdensome for them. But in Germany there are now many new priests and parishioners, who will respond very differently to the changes, so they can more quickly be involved in the process of unifying the two dioceses.
- Do you think there really creation in Western Europe Mitropolichego District of the Russian Orthodox Church - under omoforom Moscow?
- I think this is realistic. This is still in time said the late Patriarch Alexy II. And then we have not even in the canonical communion, have agreed to participate in the discussion of this issue. Indeed, at present, the diocese and parishes in Western Europe is very fragmented. Here different diocese partly overlap each other in territorial terms, which creates an anomaly. It would be better if we had one guide, where everything would be concentrated and coordinated with the management of the Cathedral.
At one time we talked with some leaders and believers of the problem, but its general and in-depth discussions have not yet taken place. I think that sooner or later will have to again raise the issue of Russian Mitropolichego creation of districts in Western Europe.
- You have agreed to take the lead in this district, if the post was proposed by the Metropolitan for you?
- I think that in time we will know to whom this position will be offered. It would be premature to choose any candidacy before a thorough discussion of the issue and possible election. First, it is important pronablyudat, as will the idea Mitropolichego district and how it will fit into a single stream of church life. At the moment, it is understandable that I was one of the oldest archbishops on European territory, but it does not mean that you should choose is the oldest . Sometimes the sake of the common cause is even better to choose a young архипастыря that, I think, in this case would have been justified.
- The Russian Orthodox Church is preparing for the forthcoming Local Council of the. What skills and qualities, in your opinion, should have a new Patriarch, which will elect a cathedral?
- In any case, the Patriarch must have all the best qualities. We usually make claims for other people, forgetting their own weakness. But, thank God, there are people gifted by God great gifts. We should expect it to such a candidate. We should also remember that at the Local Council of the elections are taking place with the assistance of the Holy Spirit. And what is more, when the man chosen for the post of Patriarch, the grace of God preumnozhaetsya. Therefore, we must hope that the forthcoming Local Council of the will is not accompanied by any ideological debate and the proposals of various parties, and above all our prayers for the right decision in electing a new patriarch. Patriarchal ministry has the feat, and it must engage all the fullness of the Church.
08 / 01 / 2009
Related comment about the "5-year-plan."
http://www.pravoslavie.ru/news/28927.htm
Below is a Google Machine translation of the interview. It looks like ROCOR-MP and MP have started the process of uniting under one diocese. If a better translation becomes available, I'll replace this one below:
-jh
ARCHBISHOP MARK BELIEVES THE CREATION IN WESTERN EUROPE MITROPOLICHEGO DISTRICT OF THE RUSSIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH
Munich, 8 January, 2008
Archbishop of Berlin and Germany and Velikobritansky Mark (RPTSZ) considers the creation in Western Europe Mitropolichego District of the Russian Orthodox Church feasible idea. This архипастырь said in an interview with the correspondent of *Sedmitsy.Ru* Anatoly Holodyukom:
- Your Eminence, how long time you see the process of merging the two branches of the Russian Orthodox Church in Germany?
- Make any predictions in this regard, it is simply impossible. Based on an analysis of pre-unification of the Russian Orthodox Church, you will notice that in the process of restoring the unity of these were questions that dealt with more quickly than we anticipated. But there were those who had to leave the decision up to the time. During the talks, the two commissions, we then determined the five-year term, during which may occur complete reunification of the Church.
Will the same scenario of unification of our two dioceses in one area, it is difficult to say. That we have not so far progovarivali and this is not agreed, because they do not want to break any established tradition. We understand that in the two dioceses are people accustomed to live in a climate in which they lived for decades. And now, a dramatic change in usual circumstances it may be burdensome for them. But in Germany there are now many new priests and parishioners, who will respond very differently to the changes, so they can more quickly be involved in the process of unifying the two dioceses.
- Do you think there really creation in Western Europe Mitropolichego District of the Russian Orthodox Church - under omoforom Moscow?
- I think this is realistic. This is still in time said the late Patriarch Alexy II. And then we have not even in the canonical communion, have agreed to participate in the discussion of this issue. Indeed, at present, the diocese and parishes in Western Europe is very fragmented. Here different diocese partly overlap each other in territorial terms, which creates an anomaly. It would be better if we had one guide, where everything would be concentrated and coordinated with the management of the Cathedral.
At one time we talked with some leaders and believers of the problem, but its general and in-depth discussions have not yet taken place. I think that sooner or later will have to again raise the issue of Russian Mitropolichego creation of districts in Western Europe.
- You have agreed to take the lead in this district, if the post was proposed by the Metropolitan for you?
- I think that in time we will know to whom this position will be offered. It would be premature to choose any candidacy before a thorough discussion of the issue and possible election. First, it is important pronablyudat, as will the idea Mitropolichego district and how it will fit into a single stream of church life. At the moment, it is understandable that I was one of the oldest archbishops on European territory, but it does not mean that you should choose is the oldest . Sometimes the sake of the common cause is even better to choose a young архипастыря that, I think, in this case would have been justified.
- The Russian Orthodox Church is preparing for the forthcoming Local Council of the. What skills and qualities, in your opinion, should have a new Patriarch, which will elect a cathedral?
- In any case, the Patriarch must have all the best qualities. We usually make claims for other people, forgetting their own weakness. But, thank God, there are people gifted by God great gifts. We should expect it to such a candidate. We should also remember that at the Local Council of the elections are taking place with the assistance of the Holy Spirit. And what is more, when the man chosen for the post of Patriarch, the grace of God preumnozhaetsya. Therefore, we must hope that the forthcoming Local Council of the will is not accompanied by any ideological debate and the proposals of various parties, and above all our prayers for the right decision in electing a new patriarch. Patriarchal ministry has the feat, and it must engage all the fullness of the Church.
08 / 01 / 2009
Related comment about the "5-year-plan."
Jan 5, 2009
Nativity Epistle Metropolitan Agafangel
2008-2009
Nativity Epistle of His Eminence Agafangel,
Metropolitan of Eastern America and New York
Honorable prelates, dear pastors, brothers and sisters!
The light fades and the darkness deepens – we draw near to the end of the Seventh Day. There is no clear or noticeable difference in the edifice of the world. The economic crisis is discussed everywhere, but no one sees the spiritual crisis, which is far more ruinous and noteworthy – a crisis from which there is no way out. The current spiritual crisis, ignored by many, is unvanquishable, as there is no one capable of defeating it. The more spiritual exemplars of mankind have passed away into eternity and those who could replace them, who would be their equals in virtue, are nowhere to be found. And where would one find them, as the religious and cultural environment from which they would emerge has become impoverished. We can only become used to the spiritual crisis that has overtaken us and try to learn to live with it somehow, if God allows us the time to do so.
Many of the symbols of the past have been swallowed up by the gloom and disappear as if they never existed; nations, culture lose their meaning and populations forfeit their ethos. Globalism mixes it all together into one featureless lump. The borders of the Local Churches become indistinct, become incomprehensible reasons for ancient disagreements and disputes. Superstitions spread everywhere, arising from a cultivation of commonplace reason, emotions and willpower, the characteristic features of the illusory idol of democracy.
In these days, God clearly reveals to us Christians the futility of this world. In this dying world, where once magnificent values that seemed eternal become broken and unwanted potshards, the Person of Christ becomes more distinct and glorious. He is born in hearts as a kind of divine Light, which slowly takes on the features of an Image. For many of the faithful, this is how His Nativity expresses itself. The days drew near to the end, when He will appear before our eyes, flashing throughout the sky brighter than any lightening and shining like a blinding sun. This light will strike fear in this world, but it will show unbelievable mercy to those in whom this light dwelt.
My wish is that we all do not remain idle observers, but humble partakers of the Nativity of Christ, so that the Incarnation of God serves as our birth into life eternal.
+Metropolitan Agafangel
First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad
The coming year of 2009 from the Nativity of Christ
Nativity Epistle of His Eminence Agafangel,
Metropolitan of Eastern America and New York
Honorable prelates, dear pastors, brothers and sisters!
The light fades and the darkness deepens – we draw near to the end of the Seventh Day. There is no clear or noticeable difference in the edifice of the world. The economic crisis is discussed everywhere, but no one sees the spiritual crisis, which is far more ruinous and noteworthy – a crisis from which there is no way out. The current spiritual crisis, ignored by many, is unvanquishable, as there is no one capable of defeating it. The more spiritual exemplars of mankind have passed away into eternity and those who could replace them, who would be their equals in virtue, are nowhere to be found. And where would one find them, as the religious and cultural environment from which they would emerge has become impoverished. We can only become used to the spiritual crisis that has overtaken us and try to learn to live with it somehow, if God allows us the time to do so.
Many of the symbols of the past have been swallowed up by the gloom and disappear as if they never existed; nations, culture lose their meaning and populations forfeit their ethos. Globalism mixes it all together into one featureless lump. The borders of the Local Churches become indistinct, become incomprehensible reasons for ancient disagreements and disputes. Superstitions spread everywhere, arising from a cultivation of commonplace reason, emotions and willpower, the characteristic features of the illusory idol of democracy.
In these days, God clearly reveals to us Christians the futility of this world. In this dying world, where once magnificent values that seemed eternal become broken and unwanted potshards, the Person of Christ becomes more distinct and glorious. He is born in hearts as a kind of divine Light, which slowly takes on the features of an Image. For many of the faithful, this is how His Nativity expresses itself. The days drew near to the end, when He will appear before our eyes, flashing throughout the sky brighter than any lightening and shining like a blinding sun. This light will strike fear in this world, but it will show unbelievable mercy to those in whom this light dwelt.
My wish is that we all do not remain idle observers, but humble partakers of the Nativity of Christ, so that the Incarnation of God serves as our birth into life eternal.
+Metropolitan Agafangel
First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad
The coming year of 2009 from the Nativity of Christ
Jan 4, 2009
Nativity Epistle Vladyka Andronik
2008-2009
Nativity Epistle of the Most Reverend Andronik,
ROCA Archbishop of Ottawa and North America
“What shall we offer You, O Christ, who for our sakes have appeared on earth as a man?”
Sticheron to the Lord, proclaimed at the vigil before the feast of the Nativity of Christ
Congratulations on the Nativity of Christ and the 2009 New Year!
To you, dear brothers and sisters in Christ, honorable pastors, clergy, and the faithful flock of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad, I direct my greeting and congratulations upon the glorious and salvific feast day of the Birth of our Lord in the flesh!
Once again, on this day, our thoughts return more than two thousand years back to the cave in Bethlehem to witness the event that which is sacred to all mankind – the Coming of the Lord, our Jesus Christ, to this world.
Like the Star of Bethlehem, our Mother Church, the Church Abroad, has brought us to this joyful event and with the Magi we bring to the Christ Child in place of gold, frankincense, and myrrh, our spiritual gifts, cleansed by fasting, and we glorify the Most Blessed Empress and Mother of God.
In awe and with song we glorify the wonder before our eyes, the Nativity of Christ, and we offer the Christ Child our profound gratitude for all of God’s blessings that have been bestowed upon the Church Abroad.
The year past, 2008, will remain an epochal year in the history of the Russian Church . By the Grace of God, the ruin wrought on our Holy Church in May 2007, on par with that manifested by the Herodians, was overcome in this year for all time. Slowly and with fidelity to the canons, all the elements of the Church Administration of the Church Abroad were restored; the Vth All-Diaspora Council was convened and concluded; the Synod of Bishops and Council of the Church Abroad were re-established; and the Chairman and First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad was elected – the Most Reverend Agafangel, Metropolitan of Eastern America and New York.
Our Nativity joy is further heightened by the fact that the honorable episcopate of the Church Abroad was further enlarged: the Most Reverend Georgiy (Kravchenko) was named to the Bolgrad cathedra, the Most Reverend Joseph (Hrebinka) was named to the Washington, D.C. cathedra, and two bishops joined the ROCA from the “Tikhon-Seraphim-Gennadiy” branch of the Russian Catacomb Church – Bishop John of Buinsk and Bishop Afanasiy of Vologodsk.
The vessel that is the Church Abroad has weathered the storm through the intercessions of St. John of Shanghai and Holy Hierarch St. Philaret (who was glorified during the Vth All-Diaspora Council), for which we thank the Lord, born those many years ago in Bethlehem.
Sadly our joy is not complete, as several of our brothers have recently left the redemptive haven of the Church Abroad.
Again, I appeal to all our former brethren, brothers and sisters, who left the Church Abroad at various times and under various circumstances and who may now find themselves in various “jurisdictions,” return, for God’s sake return to the Church. Leave behind your hurtful aspersions, pride, and enmity and may all of us here on earth join together in the angels’ joyful singing:
“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to those on whom His favor rests!”
+ Humble Andronik Archbishop of Ottawa and North America
Nativity Epistle of the Most Reverend Andronik,
ROCA Archbishop of Ottawa and North America
“What shall we offer You, O Christ, who for our sakes have appeared on earth as a man?”
Sticheron to the Lord, proclaimed at the vigil before the feast of the Nativity of Christ
Congratulations on the Nativity of Christ and the 2009 New Year!
To you, dear brothers and sisters in Christ, honorable pastors, clergy, and the faithful flock of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad, I direct my greeting and congratulations upon the glorious and salvific feast day of the Birth of our Lord in the flesh!
Once again, on this day, our thoughts return more than two thousand years back to the cave in Bethlehem to witness the event that which is sacred to all mankind – the Coming of the Lord, our Jesus Christ, to this world.
Like the Star of Bethlehem, our Mother Church, the Church Abroad, has brought us to this joyful event and with the Magi we bring to the Christ Child in place of gold, frankincense, and myrrh, our spiritual gifts, cleansed by fasting, and we glorify the Most Blessed Empress and Mother of God.
In awe and with song we glorify the wonder before our eyes, the Nativity of Christ, and we offer the Christ Child our profound gratitude for all of God’s blessings that have been bestowed upon the Church Abroad.
The year past, 2008, will remain an epochal year in the history of the Russian Church . By the Grace of God, the ruin wrought on our Holy Church in May 2007, on par with that manifested by the Herodians, was overcome in this year for all time. Slowly and with fidelity to the canons, all the elements of the Church Administration of the Church Abroad were restored; the Vth All-Diaspora Council was convened and concluded; the Synod of Bishops and Council of the Church Abroad were re-established; and the Chairman and First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad was elected – the Most Reverend Agafangel, Metropolitan of Eastern America and New York.
Our Nativity joy is further heightened by the fact that the honorable episcopate of the Church Abroad was further enlarged: the Most Reverend Georgiy (Kravchenko) was named to the Bolgrad cathedra, the Most Reverend Joseph (Hrebinka) was named to the Washington, D.C. cathedra, and two bishops joined the ROCA from the “Tikhon-Seraphim-Gennadiy” branch of the Russian Catacomb Church – Bishop John of Buinsk and Bishop Afanasiy of Vologodsk.
The vessel that is the Church Abroad has weathered the storm through the intercessions of St. John of Shanghai and Holy Hierarch St. Philaret (who was glorified during the Vth All-Diaspora Council), for which we thank the Lord, born those many years ago in Bethlehem.
Sadly our joy is not complete, as several of our brothers have recently left the redemptive haven of the Church Abroad.
Again, I appeal to all our former brethren, brothers and sisters, who left the Church Abroad at various times and under various circumstances and who may now find themselves in various “jurisdictions,” return, for God’s sake return to the Church. Leave behind your hurtful aspersions, pride, and enmity and may all of us here on earth join together in the angels’ joyful singing:
“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to those on whom His favor rests!”
+ Humble Andronik Archbishop of Ottawa and North America
Stalin-Era Files Raided
More History Being Rewritten
In case anyone still thinks that Communism is over...
"...One hundred thousand witnesses to the terror of Joseph Stalin's rule are
stored on 12 computer hard disks compiled by Memorial, a Russian human rights
group based in St Petersburg..."
To read more click here.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
