http://rocadirectoryusa.blogspot.com/
This is a Directory for English-speaking Americans. If others also find it useful, that is all the better.
We are still making progress in the aftermath of the shipwreck of the most sad Signing of the Act of Uncanonical Union. The first purpose for this Directory is to help refugees make a connection with the Church, for those who have chosen to stay with ROCA, but are just out there "homeless" because there is no established ROCA parish in their neighborhood. These folks are encouraged to study the directory and select a parish to join "long distance" until more suitable circumstances are available, or until better arrangements can be made.
We need a spiritual father, and we need a place to tithe. This is the order Christ has established in His Church for our benefit. Your parish priest (or 'spiritual father' if you prefer to use that term) will then commemorate you at the altar, and you will be officially one of those "absent for honorable reasons."
For those already connected to a parish (or in the process) and doing Reader Services, please let us at least list your city/state in the Directory. It is encouraging to others, and also useful to people who are traveling or thinking of moving.
And then what? Once your "connection" is established, once you have a "home-base," then it is just one step at a time, first things first. With Great Lent upon us, many are now thinking of making Confession and receiving the Holy Mysteries. Maybe some can plan a pilgrimage to a ROCA parish or a Sister Church. Some may eventually gather enough people to form a Mission Parish and even possibly raise up a priest from among themselves. Others in smaller groups may start collecting money to fund the transportation costs of a "traveling priest" which is a real possibility for the future. For some the only workable solution may be to move, but it is really too early to know this yet for sure.
We trust God and look to Him to show us what to do. He has already shown us what NOT to do. Which is NOT to go along with the Laurus schism. We might be small in numbers, but we are crystal clear on that.
-jh
Feb 28, 2009
Feb 27, 2009
The Death Of Sinners Is Evil
Stalin's Death
March 1953
Stalin suffered a cerebral hemorrhage while he was alone in his quarters. This was after a drinking dinner party that had lasted until nearly dawn. He was found paralyzed the next day and unable to speak. He remained in this condition for three days until he died.
Joseph Stalin died in an atmosphere of fear and paranoia which he had created. His doctors, his "attachments" (attendants), and his family were all filled with dread. The doctors' hands trembled when they attended him. Deputy Prime Minister Beria, the closest to Stalin of his inner circle, would appear gleeful when Stalin looked near dead; but then when Stalin would regain consciousness Beria would run to kiss his hand. The rest of his surrounding "attachments" feared for their own safety, that they would be blamed. His drunken son shouted accusations through the hall. His daughter, Svetlana Alliluyeva, describes his death thus:
Svetlana's description of the death bed scene is in her book.
Apparently there is good reason to suspect that Stalin was murdered. Officially the cause of death was a brain hemorrhage. But he also vomited blood. The hemorrhages could have been caused by a certain tasteless rat poison that causes hemorrhaging and weakening of the blood vessels which in turn causes strokes.
Also extremely suspicious is that the night he had the stroke, he reportedly told his "attachments" to not bother to guard him that night - for them to go to sleep. The directive was passed to the guards through the main attendant, the only one to actually hear Stalin give the order. This was the first time ever anyone had heard of such an order from Stalin. And it was entirely out of character for Stalin who usually taunted the guards to keep them fearful of falling asleep.
Just prior to Stalin's death he and Beria, the closest to him of his inner circle, had begun to plan a new purge, which would have removed most of the older party leaders such as Molotov from their positions. The Molotovs, husband and wife, survived only because of the Leader's death. Yet they both went on praising him for the rest of their days. According to Molotov, his wife 'not only never spoke ill of Stalin, she couldn't bear to hear anyone else speak ill of him.'
It's a remarkable fact that masses of people felt bereft at the great dictator's demise. Hundreds of people were crushed to death at his funeral.
Three years later in 1956, at a closed session of the Twentieth Party Congress, Khrushchev made a 4-hour speech about Stalin's crimes and his "cult of personality."
***
From Joanna's Notepad:
More of the same as above, Google Search: STALIN, "DEATH AGONY"
Selected sites from other Google Searches:
Heterodox, but still informative
http://www.plim.org/demonleaders.htm
Stalin Murder Evidence
http://www.mailstar.net/radzinsk.html
Stalin's Cannibalism
http://www.articlearchives.com/environment-natural-resources/ecology/1288088-1.html
Stalin's Psychic
http://www.goarticles.com/cgi-bin/showa.cgi?C=176563
March 1953
Stalin suffered a cerebral hemorrhage while he was alone in his quarters. This was after a drinking dinner party that had lasted until nearly dawn. He was found paralyzed the next day and unable to speak. He remained in this condition for three days until he died.
Joseph Stalin died in an atmosphere of fear and paranoia which he had created. His doctors, his "attachments" (attendants), and his family were all filled with dread. The doctors' hands trembled when they attended him. Deputy Prime Minister Beria, the closest to Stalin of his inner circle, would appear gleeful when Stalin looked near dead; but then when Stalin would regain consciousness Beria would run to kiss his hand. The rest of his surrounding "attachments" feared for their own safety, that they would be blamed. His drunken son shouted accusations through the hall. His daughter, Svetlana Alliluyeva, describes his death thus:
"'Father was dying horribly and hard.. His face went dark and changed... his features were becoming unrecognisable. The last hours were nothing but a slow strangulation. The lack of oxygen became acute. The death agony was horrible. God grants an easy death only to the just. He literally choked to death while we watched. At what seemed like the very last moment he suddenly opened his eyes and cast a glance over everyone in the room. It was a terrible glance, a horrid look, insane or perhaps angry and full of the fear of death. ..Then something incomprehensible and terrible happened that to this day I can’t forget. He suddenly lifted his left hand, and sort of either pointed up somewhere, or shook his finger at us all, as though he were pointing to something above and bringing down a curse on us all. The gesture was incomprehensible and full of menace. The next moment, after a final effort, the spirit wrenched itself free of the flesh."
Svetlana's description of the death bed scene is in her book.
Apparently there is good reason to suspect that Stalin was murdered. Officially the cause of death was a brain hemorrhage. But he also vomited blood. The hemorrhages could have been caused by a certain tasteless rat poison that causes hemorrhaging and weakening of the blood vessels which in turn causes strokes.
Also extremely suspicious is that the night he had the stroke, he reportedly told his "attachments" to not bother to guard him that night - for them to go to sleep. The directive was passed to the guards through the main attendant, the only one to actually hear Stalin give the order. This was the first time ever anyone had heard of such an order from Stalin. And it was entirely out of character for Stalin who usually taunted the guards to keep them fearful of falling asleep.
Just prior to Stalin's death he and Beria, the closest to him of his inner circle, had begun to plan a new purge, which would have removed most of the older party leaders such as Molotov from their positions. The Molotovs, husband and wife, survived only because of the Leader's death. Yet they both went on praising him for the rest of their days. According to Molotov, his wife 'not only never spoke ill of Stalin, she couldn't bear to hear anyone else speak ill of him.'
It's a remarkable fact that masses of people felt bereft at the great dictator's demise. Hundreds of people were crushed to death at his funeral.
Three years later in 1956, at a closed session of the Twentieth Party Congress, Khrushchev made a 4-hour speech about Stalin's crimes and his "cult of personality."
***
From Joanna's Notepad:
More of the same as above, Google Search: STALIN, "DEATH AGONY"
Selected sites from other Google Searches:
Heterodox, but still informative
http://www.plim.org/demonleaders.htm
Stalin Murder Evidence
http://www.mailstar.net/radzinsk.html
Stalin's Cannibalism
http://www.articlearchives.com/environment-natural-resources/ecology/1288088-1.html
Stalin's Psychic
http://www.goarticles.com/cgi-bin/showa.cgi?C=176563
Feb 22, 2009
Devils Look Upon In Amazement
The Sunday of the Last Judgment
Excerpt from book Ecumenism-Path to Perdition appropriate for today.
... In 1993, pseudo-Metropolitan Kirill (Gundyaev), while enjoying himself at a Christmas party organized by the Central Television in Moscow was asked the following mocking question by a certain reporter: "What do you think of the Last Judgment and Resurrection? I do not believe in them," replied laughing: "And neither do I" [footnote #481].
Read More *Click Here*
Excerpt from book Ecumenism-Path to Perdition appropriate for today.
... In 1993, pseudo-Metropolitan Kirill (Gundyaev), while enjoying himself at a Christmas party organized by the Central Television in Moscow was asked the following mocking question by a certain reporter: "What do you think of the Last Judgment and Resurrection? I do not believe in them," replied laughing: "And neither do I" [footnote #481].
Read More *Click Here*
Feb 20, 2009
Servant Eugene's 40th Day Pannikhida
THURSDAY FEBRUARY 26
On The 40th Day of the Passing, of The Servant of God, Eugene L. Magerovsky, a Panihida will be served on Thursday 26th of February (new calendar date), 2009 at 1PM in the St. Sergius of Radonezh Church at the Tolstoy Foundation Center, 104 Lake Road, Valley Cottage, New York. After the panihida, there will be a memorial meal at the main house of the Tolstoy Foundation Center.
This notification is on behalf of: The family, the friends, and by The Association of Russian American Scholars in the U.S.A., and by The Russian Expert Commision Abroad, and by The Administrative Council of the North American District of The Russian Orthodox Church Abroad (ROCA).
MEMORY ETERNAL! VECHNAYA PAMYAT! to our dear departed fellow church worker, and brother in Christ, the truly noble and heroic Servant of God, Dr. Eugene L. Magerovsky. May you dear brother Eugene, indeed, REST WITH THE SAINTS! Amen.
On The 40th Day of the Passing, of The Servant of God, Eugene L. Magerovsky, a Panihida will be served on Thursday 26th of February (new calendar date), 2009 at 1PM in the St. Sergius of Radonezh Church at the Tolstoy Foundation Center, 104 Lake Road, Valley Cottage, New York. After the panihida, there will be a memorial meal at the main house of the Tolstoy Foundation Center.
This notification is on behalf of: The family, the friends, and by The Association of Russian American Scholars in the U.S.A., and by The Russian Expert Commision Abroad, and by The Administrative Council of the North American District of The Russian Orthodox Church Abroad (ROCA).
MEMORY ETERNAL! VECHNAYA PAMYAT! to our dear departed fellow church worker, and brother in Christ, the truly noble and heroic Servant of God, Dr. Eugene L. Magerovsky. May you dear brother Eugene, indeed, REST WITH THE SAINTS! Amen.
Feb 14, 2009
Why Did We Fall For It?
What can the present spiritual state of the clergy and laity of ROCOR (L) be compared to?
... It can be compared to being caught in a snake’s mouth; as a snake does not swallow its victim at once, but does so gradually. At first, it waits out its prey, allowing the prey to become accustomed to it being “harmlessly” near by, then it hypnotizes its prey, breaking down the prey’s defenses. Finally, it suffocates the prey and begins to consume it, piece by piece. This analogy to nature may seem curious, but this is exactly the spiritual state all of ROCOR(L) finds itself in, as if under deep hypnosis and “willingly” being swallowed by the “red dragon” and its “temptress church” the Soviet Patriarchy ...
Abp. Tihkon noted this in 2006. I still wonder, why did we (most of us) fall for it? And our teachers and leaders suddenly became strangers to what they knew and taught before? Did Jezebel put a spell on the city? Why was I spared? Or am I next?"-jh
Read More *Click Here*
... It can be compared to being caught in a snake’s mouth; as a snake does not swallow its victim at once, but does so gradually. At first, it waits out its prey, allowing the prey to become accustomed to it being “harmlessly” near by, then it hypnotizes its prey, breaking down the prey’s defenses. Finally, it suffocates the prey and begins to consume it, piece by piece. This analogy to nature may seem curious, but this is exactly the spiritual state all of ROCOR(L) finds itself in, as if under deep hypnosis and “willingly” being swallowed by the “red dragon” and its “temptress church” the Soviet Patriarchy ...
Abp. Tihkon noted this in 2006. I still wonder, why did we (most of us) fall for it? And our teachers and leaders suddenly became strangers to what they knew and taught before? Did Jezebel put a spell on the city? Why was I spared? Or am I next?"-jh
Read More *Click Here*
Feb 13, 2009
"You Must Not Exist"
Excerpt from an article in Orthodox Life (Jordanville 1994):
... Why does the Moscow Patriarchate yearn for union with us?
1) As long as our Church exists the Moscow Patriarchate will not rest. Even if only one parish of our Church openly existed in Russia, it would give the Moscow Patriarchate no peace. In the province of Novgorod one parish came under the omophorion of our Church. A Dean of the Moscow Patriarchate sought to evict our community out of the church building. Our priest and parishioners began to offer alternatives regarding usage of the church. They spoke of freedom of conscience, of the possibility of coexisting communities and finally of a court process to resolve the property dispute. There was only one answer: "You must not exist."
Same article in another place says:
... But the new politics of the Moscow Patriarchate really stem from the fact that it has no firm principles. The key question for them is one of power. It is not important to them whether a priest is involved in shady business dealings or purely church activities; whether he is ... or ... The main thing is to commemorate Patriarch Alexis. ... one condition: commemorate Patriarch Alexis. This is a form of Papism.
Same article in another place says:
...The Moscow Patriarchate is closely tied with some apostate churches and also heterodox confessions. The latter pay little attention to us now, but if we become a part of the Moscow Patriarchate the Patriarchate will be pressured to force us to be silent - we will lose the ability to be the free voice of Orthodoxy. We will also lose our spiritual succession and unity with part of the Heavenly Church - the assembly of New Martyrs of Russia who rejected Metropolitan Sergius and his successors. In the Moscow Patriarchate we will simply "dissolve."
Read More *Click Here*
... Why does the Moscow Patriarchate yearn for union with us?
1) As long as our Church exists the Moscow Patriarchate will not rest. Even if only one parish of our Church openly existed in Russia, it would give the Moscow Patriarchate no peace. In the province of Novgorod one parish came under the omophorion of our Church. A Dean of the Moscow Patriarchate sought to evict our community out of the church building. Our priest and parishioners began to offer alternatives regarding usage of the church. They spoke of freedom of conscience, of the possibility of coexisting communities and finally of a court process to resolve the property dispute. There was only one answer: "You must not exist."
Same article in another place says:
... But the new politics of the Moscow Patriarchate really stem from the fact that it has no firm principles. The key question for them is one of power. It is not important to them whether a priest is involved in shady business dealings or purely church activities; whether he is ... or ... The main thing is to commemorate Patriarch Alexis. ... one condition: commemorate Patriarch Alexis. This is a form of Papism.
Same article in another place says:
...The Moscow Patriarchate is closely tied with some apostate churches and also heterodox confessions. The latter pay little attention to us now, but if we become a part of the Moscow Patriarchate the Patriarchate will be pressured to force us to be silent - we will lose the ability to be the free voice of Orthodoxy. We will also lose our spiritual succession and unity with part of the Heavenly Church - the assembly of New Martyrs of Russia who rejected Metropolitan Sergius and his successors. In the Moscow Patriarchate we will simply "dissolve."
Read More *Click Here*
Dr. Vladimir Moss Open Letter
This letter is to one "non-commemorating" ROCOR(MP) priest. "Non-commemorating" means that this priest was not yet commemorating Patriarch Alexi II at the Liturgies. All of us can benefit from this letter that helps to clear up some persistent confusion about the situation and where the MP has been grossly misrepresented.
OPEN LETTER TO PROTOPRESBYTER VALERY LUKIANOV
June 2008
Dear Fr. Valery,
Forgive me, who know you only by reputation (they say you are a fine pastor with the most magnificent church in the Church Abroad), for writing to you “out of the blue” like this. I was sent a copy of your letter to Metropolitan Ilarion, and immediately felt that someone had to reply to it – and publicly. For it contains a misunderstanding which, if allowed to go uncorrected, could lead many onto the wrong path.
To read more *Click Here*.
OPEN LETTER TO PROTOPRESBYTER VALERY LUKIANOV
June 2008
Dear Fr. Valery,
Forgive me, who know you only by reputation (they say you are a fine pastor with the most magnificent church in the Church Abroad), for writing to you “out of the blue” like this. I was sent a copy of your letter to Metropolitan Ilarion, and immediately felt that someone had to reply to it – and publicly. For it contains a misunderstanding which, if allowed to go uncorrected, could lead many onto the wrong path.
To read more *Click Here*.
Feb 11, 2009
Battle For The Soul Of Orthodoxy In Britain
A ROCOR Refugee sends this link...
Sent: Wednesday, February 11, 2009 1:56 PM
Subject: The Battle over Britain's Orthodox Church - Home News, UK - The Independent
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/the-battle-over-britains-orthodox-church-1606233.html
*CLICK HERE*
or
http://rocorrefugeesreadmore.blogspot.com/2009/03/battle-over-britains-orthodox-church.html *HERE*
Sent: Wednesday, February 11, 2009 1:56 PM
Subject: The Battle over Britain's Orthodox Church - Home News, UK - The Independent
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/the-battle-over-britains-orthodox-church-1606233.html
*CLICK HERE*
or
http://rocorrefugeesreadmore.blogspot.com/2009/03/battle-over-britains-orthodox-church.html *HERE*
Feb 10, 2009
The Price Of Sanctity
While in China St. John commemorated the MP patriarch during an uncertain time when he temporarily lost contact with his own synod. The unionites like to use that as part of their excuse for commemorating the MP patriarch today. But with the benefit of restoring some information the unionite party-line has conveniently omitted, it becomes more clear what actually happened and what St. John was actually doing during that time and why. The following is excerpted from:
The Price of Sanctity
Memories of Archbishop John Maximovitch
By Abbot Herman
... Archbishop John, according to Mrs. Shakhmatova, was not a narrow ecclesiastical fanatic. He did not believe in jurisdictions. When he arrived in Shanghai, there were many Orthodox ecclesiastical denominations. He united them all, served everywhere, became available to all, loved all, and eventually saved many. During the Second World War, when pro-Soviet ideas were in fashion and all the Russian bishops in the Far East accepted the Moscow Patriarchate, Archbishop John, as true son of the Orthodox Church, also commemorated the Patriarch of Moscow, Alexis I, but he did not cease commemorating the Russian Synod to whom he gave vows as a bishop. The Moscow Patriarchate representative, Archbishop Victor, demanded that all the bishops in the Far East cease to commemorate Metropolitan Anastassy, head of the Russian Church Abroad, and in this way insisted on the jurisdictional power of the Patriarchate. All the Russian Church Abroad hierarchs in the Far East capitulated to this demand except for Archbishop John, who said that he would do so only when someone proved to him that it was right for one to abandon vows. In commemorating the heads of both Churches, he showed that he accepted all jurisdictions and would not sow dissension on legalistic grounds. For refusing to cease commemorating Metropolitan Anastassy, he was locked out of his own Cathedral in Shanghai, but he nevertheless served Liturgy on a table in front of the locked Cathedral doors, continuing to pray for the heads of both Churches. ...
Full Article *Click Here*
The Price of Sanctity
Memories of Archbishop John Maximovitch
By Abbot Herman
... Archbishop John, according to Mrs. Shakhmatova, was not a narrow ecclesiastical fanatic. He did not believe in jurisdictions. When he arrived in Shanghai, there were many Orthodox ecclesiastical denominations. He united them all, served everywhere, became available to all, loved all, and eventually saved many. During the Second World War, when pro-Soviet ideas were in fashion and all the Russian bishops in the Far East accepted the Moscow Patriarchate, Archbishop John, as true son of the Orthodox Church, also commemorated the Patriarch of Moscow, Alexis I, but he did not cease commemorating the Russian Synod to whom he gave vows as a bishop. The Moscow Patriarchate representative, Archbishop Victor, demanded that all the bishops in the Far East cease to commemorate Metropolitan Anastassy, head of the Russian Church Abroad, and in this way insisted on the jurisdictional power of the Patriarchate. All the Russian Church Abroad hierarchs in the Far East capitulated to this demand except for Archbishop John, who said that he would do so only when someone proved to him that it was right for one to abandon vows. In commemorating the heads of both Churches, he showed that he accepted all jurisdictions and would not sow dissension on legalistic grounds. For refusing to cease commemorating Metropolitan Anastassy, he was locked out of his own Cathedral in Shanghai, but he nevertheless served Liturgy on a table in front of the locked Cathedral doors, continuing to pray for the heads of both Churches. ...
Full Article *Click Here*
A Letter To Us From A Catacomb Bishop (1948)
Excerpts:
Where is the true Church?
. . . The Church is visible only to those who believe and reverently honor all her precepts. Then, too, one must remember the history of the Church.
. . . The third - and more modern - form of attack on the Church is especially important for us to be aware of. Here the enemy, having destroyed the lawful and canonical hierarchy, plants his own false hierarchy to govern the Church, and creates a clergy which is only externally churchly, being wholly obedient to his evil designs. Operating in this way, the enemy fashions the most cunning forgery of the truth; he makes every effort to govern the Church himself, and laughs fiendishly at those souls he deceives.
This method is a current favorite of the enemy.
. . . This letter had but one aim: to point out to you the unrelenting warfare of the devil and his servants against Christ's holy Church, and to say that whoever is attentive to this warfare will always know where to find the true Church. But to know is not enough. We have lost the feeling of "churchliness" because we don't come to the defense of our Mother, the Church; we don't stand up against the enemies of the Church with firm faith and unequivocal love.
Read More *Click Here*
(emphasis mine -jh)
Where is the true Church?
. . . The Church is visible only to those who believe and reverently honor all her precepts. Then, too, one must remember the history of the Church.
. . . The third - and more modern - form of attack on the Church is especially important for us to be aware of. Here the enemy, having destroyed the lawful and canonical hierarchy, plants his own false hierarchy to govern the Church, and creates a clergy which is only externally churchly, being wholly obedient to his evil designs. Operating in this way, the enemy fashions the most cunning forgery of the truth; he makes every effort to govern the Church himself, and laughs fiendishly at those souls he deceives.
This method is a current favorite of the enemy.
. . . This letter had but one aim: to point out to you the unrelenting warfare of the devil and his servants against Christ's holy Church, and to say that whoever is attentive to this warfare will always know where to find the true Church. But to know is not enough. We have lost the feeling of "churchliness" because we don't come to the defense of our Mother, the Church; we don't stand up against the enemies of the Church with firm faith and unequivocal love.
Read More *Click Here*
(emphasis mine -jh)
Feb 9, 2009
Watch MP Reveal True Motives
Typical of MP tactics is when they can no longer hide their true motives, then they promote their motives as being good.
Example: When they could no longer hide that the MP is tied to the KGB, they then promoted the idea that this is good ("symphony"). And that the KGB is nothing more than the Russian version of the CIA.
As usual, the tactic worked, so now they use it again.
No longer can the MP hide the fact that they are annihilating ROCOR(MP) by absorbing it into MP. So now they are saying this is a good thing - good for ROCOR(MP) to come ALL the way home to mother with deeper repentance and shame for our misdeed of the Karlovtsy schism. Only those who would oppose unity would object to this glorious work of making the glorious reunion complete.
Already sprinkled throughout this blog are posts with evidences of the annihilation. But so far there are no posts showing that the propaganda plan is to make the annihilation appear to be a good thing. I do have evidences of this now, but nothing suitable for the blog, yet.
Keep your eye out for this.
-jh
Related Post *Click Here*
Example: When they could no longer hide that the MP is tied to the KGB, they then promoted the idea that this is good ("symphony"). And that the KGB is nothing more than the Russian version of the CIA.
As usual, the tactic worked, so now they use it again.
No longer can the MP hide the fact that they are annihilating ROCOR(MP) by absorbing it into MP. So now they are saying this is a good thing - good for ROCOR(MP) to come ALL the way home to mother with deeper repentance and shame for our misdeed of the Karlovtsy schism. Only those who would oppose unity would object to this glorious work of making the glorious reunion complete.
Already sprinkled throughout this blog are posts with evidences of the annihilation. But so far there are no posts showing that the propaganda plan is to make the annihilation appear to be a good thing. I do have evidences of this now, but nothing suitable for the blog, yet.
Keep your eye out for this.
-jh
Related Post *Click Here*
Feb 8, 2009
2003 News Archive: Tobacco Metropolitan
TAKEN FROM NFTU
http://news-nftu.blogspot.com/2009/01/from-news-archives-whats-patriarchs.html
Thursday, January 29, 2009
From the News Archives: What's the Patriarch's bottom line look like now?
Hat tip to Nik Stanosheck for putting this up on Orthodoxchristianity.net. We might never have found it. Translated from Russian.
Metropolitan Kirill assailed by old nemesis
THE DECORATED SELF-DEFENCE ARTIST
"Tobacco metropolitan" struggles for the throne.
by Sergei Bychkov
Moskovskii komsomolets, 8 May 2003
Despite His Holiness Patriarch Alexis II's being still healthy and full of energy, the struggle for the throne has entered a decisive phase. My friend, a person who is extremely knowledgeable in church life,--once complained that unfortunately there is no Orthodox betting pool. (Editor: We doubt he would have called it as close as NFTU, short of a call by 58 votes.) I was interested: "On whom would you place your bet?" To my amazement, although he had suffered a great deal from Master Gundiaev, he answered without hesitation: "On Metropolitan Kirill." And he spun out for me a number of weighty arguments.
Read More ...*Click Here*
http://news-nftu.blogspot.com/2009/01/from-news-archives-whats-patriarchs.html
Thursday, January 29, 2009
From the News Archives: What's the Patriarch's bottom line look like now?
Hat tip to Nik Stanosheck for putting this up on Orthodoxchristianity.net. We might never have found it. Translated from Russian.
Metropolitan Kirill assailed by old nemesis
THE DECORATED SELF-DEFENCE ARTIST
"Tobacco metropolitan" struggles for the throne.
by Sergei Bychkov
Moskovskii komsomolets, 8 May 2003
Despite His Holiness Patriarch Alexis II's being still healthy and full of energy, the struggle for the throne has entered a decisive phase. My friend, a person who is extremely knowledgeable in church life,--once complained that unfortunately there is no Orthodox betting pool. (Editor: We doubt he would have called it as close as NFTU, short of a call by 58 votes.) I was interested: "On whom would you place your bet?" To my amazement, although he had suffered a great deal from Master Gundiaev, he answered without hesitation: "On Metropolitan Kirill." And he spun out for me a number of weighty arguments.
Read More ...*Click Here*
Feb 6, 2009
Letter To A Certain Xenia
To: Xenia
From: Joanna
Subject: Happy Names Day!
St. Xenia of Rome
St. Xenia Fool for Christ of St. Petersburg
Holy Martyr Cadoc
(Bishop Nektary of Seattle 1983)
January 24/February 6
Dear Xenia,
I hope you are well and have time to do something special for your Names Day. Today I also like to remember Bishop Nektary who loved St. Xenia so much and made a special effort to have her canonized.
Well, you and I might be on opposite sides of the union fence, but we have a common enemy. There is an element that has made my acquaintance through the ROCOR Refugees Blog. They are what I'm calling "MP Loyalists," but that description does not narrow it down enough. Their salient characteristic is hatred for ROCOR. And they can not conceal the demonic nature of this hatred, even though some of them try to. They hate all of ROCOR. Both the ROCOR that is in the process of being annihilated by MP (ROCOR-Hilarion) and the ROCOR that got away (ROCOR-Agafangel).
It appears that most of these "MP Loyalists" are found in MP parishes already. But there are some that are in ROCOR-MP parishes and are thoroughly enjoying watching ROCOR-MP getting swallowed by the MP, absorbed into the MP. We, (ROCOR Refugees), suspect that at least some of them are paid mouthpieces for the MP partyline propaganda. And paid to harass anti-unionites and disrupt their gatherings and discussions (on the internet). I have saved samples of their "work" and at this point I could publish a book exposing their tactics they use (a lot of psychological manipulation techniques).
Because of them I have had to moderate comments on the ROCOR Refugees Blog. They know they are not welcomed there, but they do not seem to care. I believe they want me to make the blog be a "private" blog, so that no newcomers can stumble onto it.
Love, Joanna
From: Joanna
Subject: Happy Names Day!
St. Xenia of Rome
St. Xenia Fool for Christ of St. Petersburg
Holy Martyr Cadoc
(Bishop Nektary of Seattle 1983)
January 24/February 6
Dear Xenia,
I hope you are well and have time to do something special for your Names Day. Today I also like to remember Bishop Nektary who loved St. Xenia so much and made a special effort to have her canonized.
Well, you and I might be on opposite sides of the union fence, but we have a common enemy. There is an element that has made my acquaintance through the ROCOR Refugees Blog. They are what I'm calling "MP Loyalists," but that description does not narrow it down enough. Their salient characteristic is hatred for ROCOR. And they can not conceal the demonic nature of this hatred, even though some of them try to. They hate all of ROCOR. Both the ROCOR that is in the process of being annihilated by MP (ROCOR-Hilarion) and the ROCOR that got away (ROCOR-Agafangel).
It appears that most of these "MP Loyalists" are found in MP parishes already. But there are some that are in ROCOR-MP parishes and are thoroughly enjoying watching ROCOR-MP getting swallowed by the MP, absorbed into the MP. We, (ROCOR Refugees), suspect that at least some of them are paid mouthpieces for the MP partyline propaganda. And paid to harass anti-unionites and disrupt their gatherings and discussions (on the internet). I have saved samples of their "work" and at this point I could publish a book exposing their tactics they use (a lot of psychological manipulation techniques).
Because of them I have had to moderate comments on the ROCOR Refugees Blog. They know they are not welcomed there, but they do not seem to care. I believe they want me to make the blog be a "private" blog, so that no newcomers can stumble onto it.
Love, Joanna
Feb 4, 2009
The Penultimate Betrayal
An Essay by Eugenia Richard
2006
Starts with these words:
"With the publicizing of the documents on the joint work of the commissions of the Moscow Patriarchate and the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, finally the forces of the antichrist and new world order have shown their cards. . . ." (emphasis mine- jh)
Ends with these words:
". . . But why did we need this – to deprive ourselves of our freedom and purity? What was forcing us to make such drastic compromises in our faith? Are we living under a militant atheistic regime or are we deprived of food or work if we do not give in? Are we prisoners of repression or ruled by malicious threat? Let us seek a safe omophorion, for God can raise up for us from rocks, men from the seed of Abraham. Let us pray and AWAKE."
To read the middle part click here.
2006
Starts with these words:
"With the publicizing of the documents on the joint work of the commissions of the Moscow Patriarchate and the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, finally the forces of the antichrist and new world order have shown their cards. . . ." (emphasis mine- jh)
Ends with these words:
". . . But why did we need this – to deprive ourselves of our freedom and purity? What was forcing us to make such drastic compromises in our faith? Are we living under a militant atheistic regime or are we deprived of food or work if we do not give in? Are we prisoners of repression or ruled by malicious threat? Let us seek a safe omophorion, for God can raise up for us from rocks, men from the seed of Abraham. Let us pray and AWAKE."
To read the middle part click here.
Bishop Daniel 2006
While Bishop Daniel still had some strength he gave us his thoughts on the union prior to the 2006 Sobor. And also he made an address to ROCOR. Both papers are copied here. The first paper concludes with:
Everything which has been said can be summarized as follows:
Improvement of relations with the Moscow Patriarchate?
“Yes”, to the extent this is possible.
Unification with the Moscow Patriarchate?
Decisively “No”, since this would mean the “self-abolition” of the Church Abroad.
Bishop Daniel
† † †
Everything which has been said can be summarized as follows:
Improvement of relations with the Moscow Patriarchate?
“Yes”, to the extent this is possible.
Unification with the Moscow Patriarchate?
Decisively “No”, since this would mean the “self-abolition” of the Church Abroad.
Bishop Daniel
† † †
Feb 2, 2009
Saint Mark of Ephesus vs. Patriarch Kyrill
Is it not a consolation for us that the feast day of St. Mark of Ephesus comes to us just after the election of the MP's new pope? This article is from the SIR website:
To those who slander the resisters, but commune with ecumenists:
The “Sacred Legacy” of Saint Mark of Ephesus
An Anti-Heretical Struggle in Full Communion with Heretics?
It is very consoling and gratifying that anti-ecumenism is constantly being expanded and strengthened on many levels. Even our brothers in Christ, despite the fact that they are still within the domain of innovation, censure ecumenism very severely, characterizing it as “atrocious syncretism” and “worse than any other heresy,” in no way agreeing with the ecumenical statements and activities of their Shepherds. Paradoxically, however, although they have our Father among the Saints Mark Evgenikos, Archbishop of Ephesus, as a symbol, they propound the following slogan, “A struggle, but inside the walls!,” evidently regarding all those not in communion with the ecumenists —who are worse, in any case, than the Latin-minded unionists of the fifteenth century— as being supposedly “outside the walls.”
In our humble opinion, this attitude and these declarations are contradictory, and are certainly at variance with the “Sacred Legacy” of Saint Mark of Ephesus.
Let us explain in brief, basing ourselves exclusively on texts of (the) Atlas of Orthodoxy.
1. St. Mark maintained a consistent and unwavering position towards the Latinizers; he would not accept even the slightest expression of communion with them, “not even after death.”
• “I neither desire nor accept communion with him or his lackeys, in no way whatsoever, neither during my lifetime nor after my death.”
• “Just as, throughout my life, I was separated from them (viz. the Latinizers), so also at the time of my departure, and even after my death, I reject communion and union with them.”
• “And I adjure, I command, that none of them approach either at my funeral or at memorial services for me” and attempt “to concelebrate with our clergy.”
• “For it is necessary that they (viz. the Latinizers) be completely separated from us.”
2. St. Mark regarded communion with the Latin-minded unionists as “mixing what cannot be mixed”; now, how did he justify this unqualified stand?
• “[F]or I am absolutely convinced that the more I distance myself from him (viz. the Latin-minded Patriarch) and those like him, the closer I draw to God and all the faithful and Holy Fathers; and just as I separate myself from these people, even so am I united with the truth and the Holy Fathers and theologians of the Church; just so am I convinced that those who agree with them distance themselves from the truth and the blessed teachers of the Church.”
3. With Patristic authoritativeness St. Mark advised the other anti-unionists to do likewise:
• “I beseech Your Holiness, therefore, to recover your zeal for God,... and to exhort the Priests of God in every way to avoid communion with him (viz. the Latin-minded Metropolitan of Athens) and not to concelebrate with him or commemorate him at all, and not to consider this man a Hierarch, but a wolf and a hireling.”
• “Therefore, brethren, avoid communing with those with whom you are out of communion and commemorating those who should not be commemorated.”
• “We should flee from them (viz. the Latinizers) as one flees from a serpent, for they, and those who are certainly far worse than they, are sellers and traffickers of Christ.”
• “Flee from them, therefore, brethren, and from communion with them; for such men are pseudo Apostles, workers of deception, who transform themselves into Apostles of Christ."
4. St. Mark provided the following basis for these exhortations:
• “He who is Latin-minded will be judged with the Latins and will be reckoned an apostate from the Faith.”
• “They (viz. the Latinizers) have dishonored and corrupted the Church by making her mingle with those putrid members that have been cut off from her for many years and are subject to countless anathemas, and through communion with them they have besmirched the spotless Bride of Christ.”
5. Now, what stand did the anti-unionist zealots for piety maintain during that crucial period?
• “The majority of my brothers, taking confidence in my exile, are censuring the villains (viz. the Latinizers) and apostates from the right Faith and the decrees of the Fathers, and banishing them from everywhere as scoundrels, suffering neither to liturgize with them nor in any way to commemorate them as Christians.”
• “The fool of Monembasia (Latin-minded).... is neither commemorated by his monks nor in any way honored as a Christian.”
6. The result of this consistent Patristic resistance against the Latinizers was that the (pseudo-)unionist endeavor ran aground, in spite of the harsh persecutions and exiles of the anti-unionists.
• The Latinizers “in order to validate the innovation that they have brought about,” threaten that “they will soon initiate a persecution of those who fear the Lord, since the latter do not accept communion with them at all.”
• “But (in spite of the restrictions under the Latin-minded emperor) the word of God and the power of truth are not bound, but rather spread and prosper”; “be assured that the false union (viz. of Ferrara-Florence) will presently be destroyed by the Grace and power of God, and that the doctrine of the Latins, instead of being confirmed by the false synod, which was always their (viz. the Latinizers’) aim, has rather been overturned and refuted, and is everywhere denounced as blasphemous and impious, and those who ratified it do not dare even to open their mouths in support of it.”
7. St. Mark and the other anti-unionists broke off all communion with the Latin-minded unionists; thus, they proved themselves genuine continuators of the Holy Tradition of the Orthodox, far removed from the (pseudo-)dilemma, “inside or outside the walls.” They were obedient to St. Cyril of Alexandria, who advised the pious zealots of Constantinople who were struggling resolutely against the heretic Nestorios (prior to his decisive condemnation) as follows:
• “Preserve yourselves unblemished and untainted, neither communing with the aforementioned (viz. Nestorios), nor paying any attention to him as a teacher, if he remains a wolf instead of a shepherd”;
“We are in communion with the clergy and laity who are separated from or were deposed by him on account of the right Faith, not confirming his unjust election, but rather praising those who have suffered, and saying this to them: ‘If you suffer reproach in the Lord, you are blessed; for the Spirit of power and the Spirit of God rest in you.’”
They were obedient to canonical order and Synodal Tradition, which not only does not condemn those who “wall themselves off” even “before a synodal verdict” from heretical pastors, and not only does not consider them to be “outside the walls,” but declares them worthy “of the honor due to those of right belief,” because “they have separated not from a Bishop, but from a false bishop and false teacher; they have not created a schism against the Church, but have, rather, delivered the Church from schisms, insofar as they were able.”
8. In conclusion: we call on our anti-ecumenist brothers, who are still within the domain of innovation and have the sense that they are waging “a struggle, though inside the walls,” to reply to the following significant questions; if they respond to them, they will ascertain for themselves whether they are following the footsteps of St. Mark Evgenikos and whether they are truly preserving his anti-unionist “Sacred Legacy.”
• Do they believe that the ecumenists have “dishonored” and “corrupted” the Church by their inter-Christian and interfaith activities, and that they have “besmirched” the spotless Bride of Christ through their hobnobbing with heretics and those of other faiths?
• Have they recognized that the more they avoid communion with ecumenists “as villains and apostates from the right Faith and the decrees of the Fathers,” the more they draw near and are united with God, the Truth, and the Holy Fathers?
• Are they concerned to flee from communion with ecumenists “as one flees from a serpent,” even at the time of their deaths?
• Do they take care not to concelebrate with ecumenists, not to commemorate them, not to call them “in any way Christians,” and to banish them “from everywhere as scoundrels”?
• Do they regard the ecumenists as “sellers and traffickers of Christ” and “pseudo-Apostles,” and as “completely separated” from the Orthodox both “during their lifetime” and “after death”?
9. If, finally, our anti-ecumenist brothers within the domain of innovation skirt the problems raised by these questions and think that it is possible to conduct an anti-heretical struggle for Orthodoxy while at the same time being in full communion with the (pan-)heretical ecumenists, in our humble opinion, they have lost even a sense of the “walls” of the Church or of Truth. In this case, we would urge them, in a brotherly way, to delve afresh into the admonitions of St. Mark, and especially into the following concluding words:
• “For the struggle is no longer a matter of words, but of deeds”;
“those who love God must stand valiantly arrayed with their very deeds and must be prepared to suffer every peril for the sake of the true Faith and not to be defiled by communion with the impious.”
The SIR website includes the cites which are very interesting. The link is in the side bar "CHURCH-SIR" http://www.synodinresistance.org/index-en.html (News, 2/2/09).
† † †
Troparion of St Mark Ephesus tone 3
Holy Mark, in thee the Church has found a zealot by thy confession of the sacred Faith;/
for thou didst champion the Fathers' doctrine/ and cast down the pride of boastful darkness./
Pray to Christ our God for those who honour thee, that we may be granted the forgiveness of sins.
Kontakion of St Mark of Ephesus tone 3
As one clad in invincible armour,/
thou didst cast down the pride of the Western rebellion;/
thou didst become an instrument of, the Comforter/
and shine Forth as Orthodoxy's defender./
Therefore we cry to thee: Rejoice, O Mark, boast of the Orthodox.
To those who slander the resisters, but commune with ecumenists:
The “Sacred Legacy” of Saint Mark of Ephesus
An Anti-Heretical Struggle in Full Communion with Heretics?
It is very consoling and gratifying that anti-ecumenism is constantly being expanded and strengthened on many levels. Even our brothers in Christ, despite the fact that they are still within the domain of innovation, censure ecumenism very severely, characterizing it as “atrocious syncretism” and “worse than any other heresy,” in no way agreeing with the ecumenical statements and activities of their Shepherds. Paradoxically, however, although they have our Father among the Saints Mark Evgenikos, Archbishop of Ephesus, as a symbol, they propound the following slogan, “A struggle, but inside the walls!,” evidently regarding all those not in communion with the ecumenists —who are worse, in any case, than the Latin-minded unionists of the fifteenth century— as being supposedly “outside the walls.”
In our humble opinion, this attitude and these declarations are contradictory, and are certainly at variance with the “Sacred Legacy” of Saint Mark of Ephesus.
Let us explain in brief, basing ourselves exclusively on texts of (the) Atlas of Orthodoxy.
1. St. Mark maintained a consistent and unwavering position towards the Latinizers; he would not accept even the slightest expression of communion with them, “not even after death.”
• “I neither desire nor accept communion with him or his lackeys, in no way whatsoever, neither during my lifetime nor after my death.”
• “Just as, throughout my life, I was separated from them (viz. the Latinizers), so also at the time of my departure, and even after my death, I reject communion and union with them.”
• “And I adjure, I command, that none of them approach either at my funeral or at memorial services for me” and attempt “to concelebrate with our clergy.”
• “For it is necessary that they (viz. the Latinizers) be completely separated from us.”
2. St. Mark regarded communion with the Latin-minded unionists as “mixing what cannot be mixed”; now, how did he justify this unqualified stand?
• “[F]or I am absolutely convinced that the more I distance myself from him (viz. the Latin-minded Patriarch) and those like him, the closer I draw to God and all the faithful and Holy Fathers; and just as I separate myself from these people, even so am I united with the truth and the Holy Fathers and theologians of the Church; just so am I convinced that those who agree with them distance themselves from the truth and the blessed teachers of the Church.”
3. With Patristic authoritativeness St. Mark advised the other anti-unionists to do likewise:
• “I beseech Your Holiness, therefore, to recover your zeal for God,... and to exhort the Priests of God in every way to avoid communion with him (viz. the Latin-minded Metropolitan of Athens) and not to concelebrate with him or commemorate him at all, and not to consider this man a Hierarch, but a wolf and a hireling.”
• “Therefore, brethren, avoid communing with those with whom you are out of communion and commemorating those who should not be commemorated.”
• “We should flee from them (viz. the Latinizers) as one flees from a serpent, for they, and those who are certainly far worse than they, are sellers and traffickers of Christ.”
• “Flee from them, therefore, brethren, and from communion with them; for such men are pseudo Apostles, workers of deception, who transform themselves into Apostles of Christ."
4. St. Mark provided the following basis for these exhortations:
• “He who is Latin-minded will be judged with the Latins and will be reckoned an apostate from the Faith.”
• “They (viz. the Latinizers) have dishonored and corrupted the Church by making her mingle with those putrid members that have been cut off from her for many years and are subject to countless anathemas, and through communion with them they have besmirched the spotless Bride of Christ.”
5. Now, what stand did the anti-unionist zealots for piety maintain during that crucial period?
• “The majority of my brothers, taking confidence in my exile, are censuring the villains (viz. the Latinizers) and apostates from the right Faith and the decrees of the Fathers, and banishing them from everywhere as scoundrels, suffering neither to liturgize with them nor in any way to commemorate them as Christians.”
• “The fool of Monembasia (Latin-minded).... is neither commemorated by his monks nor in any way honored as a Christian.”
6. The result of this consistent Patristic resistance against the Latinizers was that the (pseudo-)unionist endeavor ran aground, in spite of the harsh persecutions and exiles of the anti-unionists.
• The Latinizers “in order to validate the innovation that they have brought about,” threaten that “they will soon initiate a persecution of those who fear the Lord, since the latter do not accept communion with them at all.”
• “But (in spite of the restrictions under the Latin-minded emperor) the word of God and the power of truth are not bound, but rather spread and prosper”; “be assured that the false union (viz. of Ferrara-Florence) will presently be destroyed by the Grace and power of God, and that the doctrine of the Latins, instead of being confirmed by the false synod, which was always their (viz. the Latinizers’) aim, has rather been overturned and refuted, and is everywhere denounced as blasphemous and impious, and those who ratified it do not dare even to open their mouths in support of it.”
7. St. Mark and the other anti-unionists broke off all communion with the Latin-minded unionists; thus, they proved themselves genuine continuators of the Holy Tradition of the Orthodox, far removed from the (pseudo-)dilemma, “inside or outside the walls.” They were obedient to St. Cyril of Alexandria, who advised the pious zealots of Constantinople who were struggling resolutely against the heretic Nestorios (prior to his decisive condemnation) as follows:
• “Preserve yourselves unblemished and untainted, neither communing with the aforementioned (viz. Nestorios), nor paying any attention to him as a teacher, if he remains a wolf instead of a shepherd”;
“We are in communion with the clergy and laity who are separated from or were deposed by him on account of the right Faith, not confirming his unjust election, but rather praising those who have suffered, and saying this to them: ‘If you suffer reproach in the Lord, you are blessed; for the Spirit of power and the Spirit of God rest in you.’”
They were obedient to canonical order and Synodal Tradition, which not only does not condemn those who “wall themselves off” even “before a synodal verdict” from heretical pastors, and not only does not consider them to be “outside the walls,” but declares them worthy “of the honor due to those of right belief,” because “they have separated not from a Bishop, but from a false bishop and false teacher; they have not created a schism against the Church, but have, rather, delivered the Church from schisms, insofar as they were able.”
8. In conclusion: we call on our anti-ecumenist brothers, who are still within the domain of innovation and have the sense that they are waging “a struggle, though inside the walls,” to reply to the following significant questions; if they respond to them, they will ascertain for themselves whether they are following the footsteps of St. Mark Evgenikos and whether they are truly preserving his anti-unionist “Sacred Legacy.”
• Do they believe that the ecumenists have “dishonored” and “corrupted” the Church by their inter-Christian and interfaith activities, and that they have “besmirched” the spotless Bride of Christ through their hobnobbing with heretics and those of other faiths?
• Have they recognized that the more they avoid communion with ecumenists “as villains and apostates from the right Faith and the decrees of the Fathers,” the more they draw near and are united with God, the Truth, and the Holy Fathers?
• Are they concerned to flee from communion with ecumenists “as one flees from a serpent,” even at the time of their deaths?
• Do they take care not to concelebrate with ecumenists, not to commemorate them, not to call them “in any way Christians,” and to banish them “from everywhere as scoundrels”?
• Do they regard the ecumenists as “sellers and traffickers of Christ” and “pseudo-Apostles,” and as “completely separated” from the Orthodox both “during their lifetime” and “after death”?
9. If, finally, our anti-ecumenist brothers within the domain of innovation skirt the problems raised by these questions and think that it is possible to conduct an anti-heretical struggle for Orthodoxy while at the same time being in full communion with the (pan-)heretical ecumenists, in our humble opinion, they have lost even a sense of the “walls” of the Church or of Truth. In this case, we would urge them, in a brotherly way, to delve afresh into the admonitions of St. Mark, and especially into the following concluding words:
• “For the struggle is no longer a matter of words, but of deeds”;
“those who love God must stand valiantly arrayed with their very deeds and must be prepared to suffer every peril for the sake of the true Faith and not to be defiled by communion with the impious.”
The SIR website includes the cites which are very interesting. The link is in the side bar "CHURCH-SIR" http://www.synodinresistance.org/index-en.html (News, 2/2/09).
† † †
Troparion of St Mark Ephesus tone 3
Holy Mark, in thee the Church has found a zealot by thy confession of the sacred Faith;/
for thou didst champion the Fathers' doctrine/ and cast down the pride of boastful darkness./
Pray to Christ our God for those who honour thee, that we may be granted the forgiveness of sins.
Kontakion of St Mark of Ephesus tone 3
As one clad in invincible armour,/
thou didst cast down the pride of the Western rebellion;/
thou didst become an instrument of, the Comforter/
and shine Forth as Orthodoxy's defender./
Therefore we cry to thee: Rejoice, O Mark, boast of the Orthodox.
Feb 1, 2009
Moscow's Embrace
Moscow’s Embrace
Vadim Yarmolinets
“CIVITAS”
January 29, 2009
Having left the former Soviet Union 20 years ago, I told myself that door is closed and that old life has no bearing on me anymore. In the USA, I found my own Russia with its language, cultural milieu, and my church – ROCA. The collapse of the USSR, the new regime, the new freedoms, the new censorship of Putin, was nothing more than distant noise. That is until that historic moment when Putin arrived in New York and met with the ROCA episcopate and their First Hierarch, Metropolitan Laurus (Skurla). The process of union, which was started, financed, and controlled by the Moscow Patriarchate (MP) and its patrons in the Kremlin, led to a painful split within the ROCA; dividing parishes, priests’ families, and damaging ordinary relations between people who had taken communion from the same chalice for decades. Suddenly, the political frenzies of the far-off homeland intruded into my life in America.
The MP administration cares little for the wounds it inflicted on the ROCA. Its main task was to organize yet another grand event and put a check on the to-do list of the government and its new party, of which they were now a part. The Russian regime could not find itself a better ideological partner. The promise of the communists to create heaven on earth proved unattainable, so the promise of heaven once a person has ended his life on earth provides an ideal type of contract to ensure obedience without a person having to agree to various obligations.
The main defense of those who supported union and followed the now-deceased Metropolitan Laurus was that after all Russia was a free country and the persecution of the Church had ended. In some regards, that is true. There is no persecution of the ROC MP, because the new rulers of Russia have made it a participant of its business ventures and its partner. Gazeta.ru stated, “In the elections of the patriarch, as in all elections in today’s Russia, the candidate whom the Kremlin supported, won.”
This raises a question, if the election of the new patriarch – Kirill – was preordained, and the second and third candidates were called onstage just to demonstrate the democratic nature of the Council, then why suppress the opposition? The affair with “Portal-Credo.ru” is very telling. The new regime showed that it is a worthy heir of the old regime. In fact, it is the old regime – the terrifying Cerberus with the nasty habits of a junkyard dog. “Portal-Credo.ru” was never one of the more popular religious websites in Russia, and considering how few people have access to the Internet, its influence on their opinions was negligible. Nevertheless, they blocked it, without even any official explanation of this action. And what about the laws protecting the mass media? And what about the decisions of the courts? Don’t ask. One day “Portal-Credo.ru” is there, the next day it is gone. As they say in the Ukraine, “You were there and suddenly you are not.” (“Des tut buv i raptom znyk.”)
The MP knew about the elimination of “Portal-Credo.ru”, and as the Portal Editor, Alexander Soldatov, asserts, took part in the decision to block it. This cooperation between the church and a government which declares itself to be based on rights, while it engages in criminal methods, is a far better illustration of this partnership than the descriptions given by the correspondents of “Portal-Credo.ru”, who tried to stay within the norms of journalistic objectivity. The silence of the Russian press in this matter (with the exception of only Grani.ru and Civitas.ru on the Internet and “CIVITAS – a Russian society bulletin”) only underlines that the press is a friend and enabler of the regime, just like the MP. We’ve arrived, please disembark, “Soviet Union” station.
Oh how I wish this affair would be a lesson for the bishops of ROCOR(MP). That they would understand finally that they, having grown up in the warm and naïve confines abroad, have been twisted around a little finger like some country bumpkins. That they have not united with the Mother Church, but with the Putin-Medvedev government apparatus and have become a part of it and will carry out its orders, while disguising it as caring for their flock. And what difference does it make, who was elected patriarch, when the actual head of the ROC MP walks around today in a suit and tie and not in the vestments of a patriarch?
Vadim Yarmolinets
“CIVITAS”
January 29, 2009
Having left the former Soviet Union 20 years ago, I told myself that door is closed and that old life has no bearing on me anymore. In the USA, I found my own Russia with its language, cultural milieu, and my church – ROCA. The collapse of the USSR, the new regime, the new freedoms, the new censorship of Putin, was nothing more than distant noise. That is until that historic moment when Putin arrived in New York and met with the ROCA episcopate and their First Hierarch, Metropolitan Laurus (Skurla). The process of union, which was started, financed, and controlled by the Moscow Patriarchate (MP) and its patrons in the Kremlin, led to a painful split within the ROCA; dividing parishes, priests’ families, and damaging ordinary relations between people who had taken communion from the same chalice for decades. Suddenly, the political frenzies of the far-off homeland intruded into my life in America.
The MP administration cares little for the wounds it inflicted on the ROCA. Its main task was to organize yet another grand event and put a check on the to-do list of the government and its new party, of which they were now a part. The Russian regime could not find itself a better ideological partner. The promise of the communists to create heaven on earth proved unattainable, so the promise of heaven once a person has ended his life on earth provides an ideal type of contract to ensure obedience without a person having to agree to various obligations.
The main defense of those who supported union and followed the now-deceased Metropolitan Laurus was that after all Russia was a free country and the persecution of the Church had ended. In some regards, that is true. There is no persecution of the ROC MP, because the new rulers of Russia have made it a participant of its business ventures and its partner. Gazeta.ru stated, “In the elections of the patriarch, as in all elections in today’s Russia, the candidate whom the Kremlin supported, won.”
This raises a question, if the election of the new patriarch – Kirill – was preordained, and the second and third candidates were called onstage just to demonstrate the democratic nature of the Council, then why suppress the opposition? The affair with “Portal-Credo.ru” is very telling. The new regime showed that it is a worthy heir of the old regime. In fact, it is the old regime – the terrifying Cerberus with the nasty habits of a junkyard dog. “Portal-Credo.ru” was never one of the more popular religious websites in Russia, and considering how few people have access to the Internet, its influence on their opinions was negligible. Nevertheless, they blocked it, without even any official explanation of this action. And what about the laws protecting the mass media? And what about the decisions of the courts? Don’t ask. One day “Portal-Credo.ru” is there, the next day it is gone. As they say in the Ukraine, “You were there and suddenly you are not.” (“Des tut buv i raptom znyk.”)
The MP knew about the elimination of “Portal-Credo.ru”, and as the Portal Editor, Alexander Soldatov, asserts, took part in the decision to block it. This cooperation between the church and a government which declares itself to be based on rights, while it engages in criminal methods, is a far better illustration of this partnership than the descriptions given by the correspondents of “Portal-Credo.ru”, who tried to stay within the norms of journalistic objectivity. The silence of the Russian press in this matter (with the exception of only Grani.ru and Civitas.ru on the Internet and “CIVITAS – a Russian society bulletin”) only underlines that the press is a friend and enabler of the regime, just like the MP. We’ve arrived, please disembark, “Soviet Union” station.
Oh how I wish this affair would be a lesson for the bishops of ROCOR(MP). That they would understand finally that they, having grown up in the warm and naïve confines abroad, have been twisted around a little finger like some country bumpkins. That they have not united with the Mother Church, but with the Putin-Medvedev government apparatus and have become a part of it and will carry out its orders, while disguising it as caring for their flock. And what difference does it make, who was elected patriarch, when the actual head of the ROC MP walks around today in a suit and tie and not in the vestments of a patriarch?
Catholic Secret Agents In Orthodox Church
Excerpt taken from ECUMENISM-PATH TO PERDITION:
. . . One cannot help recalling the sinister figure of the late Metropolitan Nikodim (Rotov) of Leningrad who in his time has consecrated half of the bishops of the Moscow Patriarchate, Patriarch Alexius II among them, and who has thus left worthy successors who continue promoting his cause after his death.
Many people still remember that in the mid-70ies the faithful would drive him out of the Moscow churches shouting: "Be gone, you heretic, you Catholic!" [354]. Rumors, which circulated in Metropolitan Nikodim's lifetime about him being a secret Catholic, have recently been confirmed. This malicious ecumenist and enemy of Orthodoxy, who had celebrated liturgy in St. Peter's Basilica in Rome and offered Communion to Catholics, met his death in the arms of Pope John Paul I at the age of 49 (Sept. 5, 1978).
As reported in the Catholic press [355], Metropolitan Nikodim was a secret Catholic bishop whom Pope Paul VI had appointed to secretly look after the entire Catholic-Uniate jurisdiction of the former USSR [356]. This double agent of the KGB and the Vatican did a great deal for the propagation of papism among the Orthodox. His efforts bore fruit which are evident even today, nearly two decades after his death. He promoted not only Patriarch Alexius II, but also other most influential bishops of the MP, such as a fierce ecumenist Metropolitan Kirill (Gundyaev), a former cell-attendant of Nikodim and the present Chairman of the Department of Foreign Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate, who does not hide his pro-Catholic sympathies and tendencies; Archbishop Michael (Mudyugin); Archbishop Chrysostom (Martishkin), also a former cell-attendant and pupil of Nikodim (as he always calls himself) [357], who tirelessly propagates papism and inter-communion amongst the Orthodox in Lithuania; numerous clergy ordained and singled out by Nikodim, whole generations of his pupils and followers continue the work begun by him, misrepresenting the righteous ways of the Lord. Consequently, one may assume that the words of John Paul II spoken at the end of 1992 with reference to the Roman Curia having two cardinals amongst the bishops in Russia are not only factual but much too modest! . . .
To read whole chapter, "Church In Distress," click here: http://ecumenizm.tripod.com/ECUMENIZM/id25.html
This link is in the left side bar: STUDY-Ecumenism (also in the BOOKS link list in the sidebar)
. . . One cannot help recalling the sinister figure of the late Metropolitan Nikodim (Rotov) of Leningrad who in his time has consecrated half of the bishops of the Moscow Patriarchate, Patriarch Alexius II among them, and who has thus left worthy successors who continue promoting his cause after his death.
Many people still remember that in the mid-70ies the faithful would drive him out of the Moscow churches shouting: "Be gone, you heretic, you Catholic!" [354]. Rumors, which circulated in Metropolitan Nikodim's lifetime about him being a secret Catholic, have recently been confirmed. This malicious ecumenist and enemy of Orthodoxy, who had celebrated liturgy in St. Peter's Basilica in Rome and offered Communion to Catholics, met his death in the arms of Pope John Paul I at the age of 49 (Sept. 5, 1978).
As reported in the Catholic press [355], Metropolitan Nikodim was a secret Catholic bishop whom Pope Paul VI had appointed to secretly look after the entire Catholic-Uniate jurisdiction of the former USSR [356]. This double agent of the KGB and the Vatican did a great deal for the propagation of papism among the Orthodox. His efforts bore fruit which are evident even today, nearly two decades after his death. He promoted not only Patriarch Alexius II, but also other most influential bishops of the MP, such as a fierce ecumenist Metropolitan Kirill (Gundyaev), a former cell-attendant of Nikodim and the present Chairman of the Department of Foreign Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate, who does not hide his pro-Catholic sympathies and tendencies; Archbishop Michael (Mudyugin); Archbishop Chrysostom (Martishkin), also a former cell-attendant and pupil of Nikodim (as he always calls himself) [357], who tirelessly propagates papism and inter-communion amongst the Orthodox in Lithuania; numerous clergy ordained and singled out by Nikodim, whole generations of his pupils and followers continue the work begun by him, misrepresenting the righteous ways of the Lord. Consequently, one may assume that the words of John Paul II spoken at the end of 1992 with reference to the Roman Curia having two cardinals amongst the bishops in Russia are not only factual but much too modest! . . .
To read whole chapter, "Church In Distress," click here: http://ecumenizm.tripod.com/ECUMENIZM/id25.html
This link is in the left side bar: STUDY-Ecumenism (also in the BOOKS link list in the sidebar)
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