Comments Posted By Amos
Displaying 1 To 30 Of 342 Comments
How Did We Get Here? Part I: Syosset and the Dearth of Vision
Tanya Hicks,
I am sorry but you are mistaken on several counts.
1. Fr Jillions self-processed that he is very interested in the rights of religious minorities (including gays). This was part of his biography as a faculty member of the Sheptytsky Institute of Eastern Christian Studies, a Uniate Seminary.
2. Mark Stokoe was indeed a very close Syosset aparatchik as the OCA Youth Director and a member of the OCA Metropolitan Council. He is in close contact with Fr. Jillions.
3. As for your rather caviler pronouncements about RSK, you reveal your Syosset bias by judging a man as guilty before he is tried. Guilty until proven innocent is a typical OCA ploy. They should hire you, unless you already work there because you fit the bill for the type of person they love to hire!
So, I think we shall put you in the category of Kool-Aid drinker and FOSWBB. Friend of Syosset with Big Blinders!
» Posted By Amos On April 22, 2013 @ 1:10 pm
And don’t forget, Mark Stokoe was working in the San Francisco chancery office of the DOW when Bishop Basil met his demise. Funny how this man is aways around when bishop disappear!
» Posted By Amos On April 22, 2013 @ 11:04 am
Your Grace,
You once again present the unvarnished truth about the Kondratick affair. Anyone hitting the thumbs down button must be irritated by the facts and truth as you present them. You were there, you saw what went on. The fact that many of the same players who used the demise of Kondratick to make their church careers are now in power only shows how deeply flawed the OCA now is as they build their jurisdictional careers upon the bones of those they eliminated. God is not blessing their efforts no matter how they try and create the news and reassure people that the OCA is now all good and moving forward.
It must be a particularly difficult spiritual trial to live within such a make-believe bubble.
» Posted By Amos On January 19, 2013 @ 9:18 am
just saying….says:
“doesn’t seem like there’s a problem”
Really? The OCA is forced to reduce the price of the banquet tickets from $100 to $75 and doing a mass calling to all parishes “encouraging them” not to embarrass the Church and to buy a table!
A call to the Omni Hotel confirms that the OCA downsized the entire event from a 500 person banquet room to a 150 size room.
And you will be able to resist this added bonus of a Fr. John Perich antiques road show of supposed vestments of St. Tikhon. That will really boost ticket sales.
As for +Justinian showing up, short of the MP being represented by a priest or deacon, it is the least diplomatic lift for the MP.
The OCA should be glad no one is coming from Russia, like Hilarion, because if he decided to come, you can bet it was at the direction of Pat. Kirill and he would coming to deliver a direct message about +Jonah to the OCA synod.
» Posted By Amos On January 11, 2013 @ 9:03 am
JamesP,
I think the time is drawing near for the MP to make a move. Consider that Moscow is only sending Ab. Justinian to +Tikhon’s “Enthronment.” Consider that ROCOR is sending Bishop George of MAYFIELD. Mayfield was the ground zero of the OCA trying to take ROCOR to court over the calendar issue. Mayfield won, the OCA lost. Sending the Bishop of Mayfield is quite a signal. Kudos to ROCOR. In other words, this is the lowest level of representation the MP and ROCOR can send (not that either bishop is low, in fact both are fine men.) When +Herman was elected Metopolitan, then Metropolitan Kirill, now Pat. Kirill attended the OCA Sobor in Orlando. Moscow sent Metropolitan Philaret of Minsk, an equal bishop of rank for +Herman’s installation.
Consider that Syosset is pleading with parishes to buy a table for the +Tikhon event and getting not too many takers. This is after Syosset had to ask the Omni Hotel to give them a room that will fit 150 people and not the banquet room that they originally booked for 500.
Consider that when +Herman was “enthroned” EVERY Orthodox Church was represented with most Churches sending bishops. We will have to wait and see who comes for +Tikhon’s. You can be sure the EP won’t be there, but they were represented for +Herman’s. Consider that a banquet room for 500 was totally sold out for +Herman’s banquet.
This is the reality of the new OCA.
As long as the OCA continues to dangle +Jonah, the longer it will suffer and lose whatever credibility it has left. You listened to the voices of Hopko, Kishkovsky, Jillions, Tosi, Garklavs, Benjamin and Nathaniel. Now you have to deal with the consequences, one of which is the lack of excitement about the new OCA Metropolitan.
Cut your losses OCA. Let +Jonah go.
» Posted By Amos On January 10, 2013 @ 12:08 pm
Things must be pretty bad in Syosset. Lefty Kishkovsky and Fr. John Jillions spent most of yesterday visiting the Greeks, Antiochians and ROCOR trying to drum up, or convince them to attend +Tikhon’s enthronement in DC. I don’t think the Ukrainians had to make the same visits to make sure people show up for Archbishop Anthony’s enthronement.
» Posted By Amos On January 8, 2013 @ 12:34 pm
Closing down the mental institutions in CA. under Reagan was an economic decision, bottom line dollars and cents. He also gutted the University of California system and in general education in CA. with his cost cutting measures. Proposition 13 that limited the increase on property taxes had a disastrous impact on education in CA, the effects of which the state is still feeling.
The USA has been eclipsed by scores of countries n educational performance, especially in math and science and our mental health record is not much better. When we cut education, the investment we make in our future generations and when we dispose of the most vulnerable by making access to mental health harder than buying a gun, as one example, there are consequences.
And now, in these tough economic times, education and mental health continue to be easy targets in our quest for quick economic solutions ignoring the long term cost that short sited decision eventually produce. Sadly, we will see more of this as politicians look to some of the low hanging fruit programs so they can boast they “solved” our money issues.
Like the old Fram oil filter TV ad says “Pay me now or pay me later.”
» Posted By Amos On December 20, 2012 @ 8:55 am
More from Russia, Not with Love
Constantinople and Moscow need each other. I would suggest that both Patriarchs meet officially and unofficially more often. These two Patriarchates control the direction of the entire Orthodox Church. When they both agreed to the basic outline of Chambessy, the rest of the Orthodox Churches agreed.
Constantinople has been very patient and deferential to Moscow over the OCA mess. Constantinople has been consistent in their approach since 1970 that the OCA is part of the Russian Church and that it needs to return to the Russian Church so that its parishes can be properly recognized. This also is a step toward a possible uniting of all Orthodox Churches here in the USA. Moscow has held firm in its disappointment in the OCA over the +Jonah situation. The instability of the OCA has brought the EP and MP closer together since both see the OCA as an obstacle to unity.
Will unity ever take place? Only God knows, but these two Patriarchates need one another to solve this any many other Orthodox issues around the world. It is time to not pit one vs. the other but look for every possible common ground so that they can work together and learn from each other.
» Posted By Amos On January 2, 2013 @ 7:38 am
LMAO,
Dear Babs,
Nice try at trying to save face, but this attempt to undo what you posted is weak. As the “Rev” would say, “we gotcha!”
And what about your constant rant about JP and Gleb Podmoshensky and your insinuations that somehow their was “more” to their relationship? LIE.
And your constant insistence that Dreher and Freddie also knew and are followers of Gleb? LIE.
Your same “correspondents” told you he saw Dreher with Gleb? Was this one of the same grapevine folks who told you about Mayfield or JP’s invitation” Maybe you should listen less to Sasha Cossack and Nick Corn because that crap you are peddling are more lies you have based your silly blog on.
And if you are really interested in what is out there IN THE GRAPEVINE, turn on your comments. Then you can really hear what is out there, not just the hooey you post in the bubble of your make believe world.
» Posted By Amos On December 29, 2012 @ 8:29 am
Where does that Wacko Stan of Voices of Russia get such bad intel…………. and then he/she posts it.
Here’s one whisper heard through the grapevine:
ROCOR hasn’t invited JP at all. He’s been pleading with them to take him as a retired and silent bishop, essentially, a monk in fancy dress. ROCOR is taking advice from Moscow about it. As for finance, JP will be getting a 50,000 USD (1.52 million Roubles. 38,000 Euros. 31,000 UK Pounds) a year pension from the OCA. Therefore, it’s costless for ROCOR.
Here’s another:
The question that we should asked is whether he’ll still get that huge settlement from the OCA. He says that he needs it to help his support his family, even though when he became a monk, he was no longer part of the “world”… they really don’t know what to do with him. JP’s lawyer is an Episcopalian friend of his (he might be a cleric).
Here’s an interesting titbit:
Did you know that JP’s been serving in Mayfield a lot… this novelty will wear off.
That’s what out there… and the official sites are still silent. Lyonyo, Jillions, Potapov, and Lebedeff truly do have that much contempt for you. This is what people are telling me… it’s just as important to know what people are talking about as much as knowing what’s actually going on. Sometimes… the two coincide… sometimes… they don’t. Time will tell us, no?
Here is the truth, which Babs would know if he/she got out once-in-a-while…………..
+Jonah hasn’t been in Mayfied since Memorial Day
+Jonah has a letter of invitation from ROCOR via Moscow (but his loving brothers won’t release him)
+Jonah isn’t getting a plug nickel from the OCA let alone $50k a year.
+Jonah’s lawyer is Episcopalian, and he is a cleric (Babs got that one sorta right).Hey, Babs, did you ever consider that the “official sites” as you call them didn’t print any of your bad intel BECAUSE IT ISN’T TRUE???????????
Poor Babs, she’s being played for a fool but do keep feeding him/her bad intel. It makes for comedy relief.
» Posted By Amos On December 28, 2012 @ 8:02 pm
Extra! Syosset Reports of Deal Struck with Met. Jonah Not True
Father Kondratick and I were as close as brothers, and when I asked him after all of this had taken place if he was sorry for what he did, his response was “Every day of my life.” Brothers, let this all end with repentance!
You call Bishop Tikhon “an old fool” and you give us your pious “brothers, let us repent?” You were “as close as brothers” to Father Kondratick”? Yet you played Cain to his Abel.” How dare you try and justify your actions. Don’t you ever get tired of it?
All your “accomplishments” as a deacon, serving with various heads of Churches was made possible because Father Kondratick rescued you when you were being shown the door at SVS. He saved you and your wife and gave you a place to serve. And, in return, you became a Brutus. Shall we speak of how you held a black sword over the head of Metropolitan Theodosius?
You may wish to rewrite your own biography as you now seem to think you are being called to the priesthood, and now your name being sowed as a bishop in the future, but there are still many of us “old fools” who know you.
Do you regret, “every day” what you have reaped upon the OCA?
“You old fool.” Those three words tell us all we need to know about you.
Repentance is what is needed in the OCA today. However it appears that your spirit of self- justification and obsession to always be right clothed in an angry spirit are now an institutional part of your OCA. Thanks for that gift.
You owe His Grace, Bishop Tikhon an apology.
» Posted By Amos On December 12, 2012 @ 8:33 am
Nick,
There was no assessment for the Parma Council. Are you mixing that amount with the Seattle Council?
» Posted By Amos On November 15, 2012 @ 7:52 am
Based on the results of reports at the WPA Diocesan Assembly held this past Saturday in Pittsburgh, it appears that the membership loss in the diocese is precipitous. I have no idea what clergy morale is in WPA but maybe clergy in that diocese might wish to contribute. The decline in the WPA is ongoing and the diocese will now employ a layperson to help stem the tide. The diocese is very slow to close dying parishes and plant new missions in areas of growth. That is a hard decision by a bishop, but it takes courage to redeploy your assets and make bold decisions. Is His Grace Bishop Melchizedek that bold leader? It seems that unless a diocese in decline does not have an aggressive mission planting program it is faced with doing the same thing and hoping for a different outcome. If His Grace Bishop Melchizedek is elected Metropolitan life in the WPA will be another bishop’s concern.
» Posted By Amos On November 12, 2012 @ 1:21 pm
Have We Reached The Tipping Point?
Like the Italians looked down on the Irish and the Irish looked down on the Hispanics. “Normal” generational “we were here before you were” thinking.
» Posted By Amos On November 10, 2012 @ 9:13 am
Oh. Sorry. I missed something. I thought this was a video entitled
“It Came From Parma.”
Never mind.
» Posted By Amos On November 6, 2012 @ 8:39 pm
A church-wide appeal to pay for Alaskan and Mexican clergy to come to Parma will be next! Oh, wait, they already did that one.
» Posted By Amos On October 25, 2012 @ 8:07 am
Sons of Job: More Details of the Impending Lawsuit at St. Tikhon’s Seminary
If his cupability was simply his locking arms with +Benjamin vs. +Jonah, that would be the least of his mistakes. Read the Fetea article. That is just the tip of the iceberg.
He is less than 1/2 in when it comes to supporting the OCA financially, but he is 150% in as a member of the Holy Synod. He is a full member with a vote regardless of the topic.
» Posted By Amos On October 22, 2012 @ 4:11 pm
Harry, your desire to rid the church of clerics who have deposed themselves by their immoral actions is a fight worth fighting.
The fact that +Nathaniel has lived a compromised life and now seeks to punish those who speak out is testimony enough that he too does not deserve to stand in judgement of anyone. The Prokrov story you highlight is just one of many this man has tried to suppress.
When his own auxiliary bishop tried to bring the immoral life of +Nathaniel to the Church, he was told to shut up or face deportation. The clergy in the ROEA know the score and they are sick of it. There are two bishops in the OCA episcopate that have no skeletons in their closets and the Auxiliary bishop in the REOA is one of them. He is a good and honorable man and did not deserve to be treated the way he was.
+Nathaniel, you may be the locum tenens of the OCA by virtue of your seniority but your past is another black mark on Orthodoxy here in America. How you can stand up in Parma and dare to press the case that the OCA is better off with another Metropolitan after running +Jonah off only shows how deeply corrupt and broken the jurisdiction that has given you cover for lo these many years is doomed if it does not wake up and beg God’s forgiveness.
» Posted By Amos On October 22, 2012 @ 11:53 am
Knows the Score,
You indeed know the score. If the walls of STOS could only speak they would tell tales of that archbishop. How he loved his shaving cream.
Some day the walls will speak for accountability and transparency is the goal.
» Posted By Amos On October 22, 2012 @ 11:37 am
The Narrative Continues to Fail
Christine,
The quorum will be reached based on how many clergy and lay delegates finally register. Let’s say that is 300 total including all of the subcategories listed above. At least 151 would need to be present at a plenary session for a quorum to be declared.
» Posted By Amos On October 18, 2012 @ 1:39 pm
Ivan,
I agree with you that Archbishop Nikon has been a stand up guy in his NE Diocese and for the Albanian Diocese. Because of that I wonder why he refuses to take the proper action to codify (by action of the Holy Synod) the self-deposition of Archdeacon Gregory (Burke) by his actions in marrying another man. This is a no-brainer and +Nikon’s excuse that it should be done by the next DOS bishop is not much of an answer. Archbishop Nikon has assigned clergy, transferred clergy and suspended clergy (Fr David Morretti) while being the DOS Locum Tenens. Why is he passing the buck on this one?
Such inaction is a black mark on his record. He should man up, put personal feelings aside and end this scandal in the DOS. That is his role and responsibility as a bishop.
» Posted By Amos On October 18, 2012 @ 10:19 am
Text Messages Reveal Extent of Bp. Matthias’ Misbehavior
George,
I don’t know if the situation between Bp. Matthias and his flock can be repaired, but not giving him any chance seems to cut off that avenue and I think that is wrong.
» Posted By Amos On October 17, 2012 @ 6:34 pm
The apparent behavior of Bishop Matthias was not prudent. It was beneath the dignity of the high office he was called to by God. He sinned. He fell short and he missed the mark.
But now what? It seems to me that he has been put in a box, like one of those sweat boxes in the movie the Bridge over the River Kwai. He has been isolated from his flock. I find it very sad and unhealthy that he has not been able (prohibited?) by the Holy Synod from having the chance to face his flock and beg their forgiveness, to say he is sorry and to ask them for another chance. Now Syosset is sticking in Bishop Mark (Maymon) to serve for Bishop Matthias.
He crossed emotional borders, mostly his own and he has been burnt by the public exposure. It seems that in the OCA if you mess up or more to the point, if you find yourself on the outside looking in, you are screwed.
I think that Bishop Matthias should be given the opportunity to face his clergy and faithful and see if there is a path forward for them as a diocese. Syosset has stuck their nose in the Matthias affair enough. Time to give healing a chance.
» Posted By Amos On October 17, 2012 @ 5:13 pm
justagoodoleboy,
Sorry, Job was not holy in the sense that you ask him to pray for us. Job was a very flawed human who would not survive the scrutiny of today’s Church world.
May his memory be eternal to God.
» Posted By Amos On October 11, 2012 @ 2:58 pm
Gotta Give Credit Where Credit is Due
Poor Poor Stankovich,
I read and totally understand what you wrote and what your proffer. But, what a wonder, you know my heart; did you also see me under the fig tree too?
Simply, I reject your conclusions, thus according to your superior intellect, that would make me as you say, a trailer park, painted up savage. Quite the elitist are you! Quite the scientist too.
It is such a pity that someone of your intellect is such a conflicted person? Good thing there was never a Mrs. Stankovich.
Now, go back to your little world and deal with your subjects in prison who have no choice but to listen to you.
» Posted By Amos On September 29, 2012 @ 12:52 pm
Michael,
We read your “science” before, we don’t need to be reminded of it again. Peddle your logismoi with Inga, Arida, Bobosh, Wheeler, Jillions, Vinogradov and more particularly with the gay bishops and clergy in the OCA. Oh, wait, you are not a member of the OCA. Peddle it in whatever jurisdiction you supposedly are a member.
» Posted By Amos On September 28, 2012 @ 5:10 pm
The “moral issues” that are somehow being allegedly ignored by the ACOB is a false argument. The Orthodox Church teaching on these issues are clear. Should the ACOB make a statement that it is against murder, idolatry, covetousness, etc.? A lack of attention in official statements does not mean they are ignoring them nor promoting an agenda other than that of the Gospel.
I understand and accept that the “moral issues” are front and center in the minds of some, but before the ACOB at this meeting is a most important challenge; how a united Orthodox Church here should be organized. As a Church here in North America there is no other single issue that is a stumbling block to our wider engagement with the culture. There appears to be little ambiguity on moral issues on Orthodox teaching in those lands where there is a single, organized local Church.
Can we better evangelize this nation if we are one united Church? I believe yes, thus that is the most important first charge of this assembly.
Will the ACOB be able to bring to fruition its charge to present to a Great and Holy Council a plan for how we would be a local Church? Only time will tell, but in the absence of anything better working towards this goal, I will give my prayerful support to the effort. The alternative is to get lost in the tall weeds of our own agendas which we believe (and not unjustly) should be the motivation of this group. Shall we allow the Holy Spirit to work and shall we give our prayers to this effort?
» Posted By Amos On September 18, 2012 @ 5:34 pm
Scandal in Chicago: the Initial Story is No Longer “Operative”
Phil r up,
Please get your facts straight. The Episcopal Assembly process here in North America and in other parts of the world where there are abnormal overlapping Orthodox jurisdictions in a region was approved as a process to deal with these anomalies not by Constantinople only but by all Orthodox Churches in the world. To say it is otherwise is simply wrong and disingenuous.
Already the ACOB process here has accomplished more than all the decades of SCOBA. Will this lead to one Orthodox Church in North America I don’t know but if you would recall the entire effort is for local regions with parallel jurisdictions to present their plan for unity to either a Great and Holy Council or at least to all the heads of Churches meeting in some gathering to accept the plans and then to decide what is best.
North America does not have a local Church, albeit the OCA would like us to believe they are that local Church but facts on the ground do not bolster their claim even if they “dis” the ACOB and claim that their AAC is the manifestation of a local Church.
So before you continue to sputter know this, the ACOB is the better way on the path to Orthodox jurisdictional unity here. If you can offer an alternative, please share it, but don’t pretend that the OCA is that better way. We are now living out the reality of what the better way of the OCA has become.
» Posted By Amos On September 11, 2012 @ 8:22 am
Fr Morris,
I think you missed my tongue in cheek reply to Just Guessing.
» Posted By Amos On September 7, 2012 @ 10:44 pm
«« Back To Stats PageJust Guessing,
Surely you jest, “Traditional governance of the Church”? The OCA is the governance of the Church in North America. Read what +Nathaniel said to the delegates of the upcoming special AAC. All Orthodox Churches are duty bound to disappear and join the OCA. Forget about the ACOB. It means nothing.
Our governance is to be everyone’s Orthodox governance. Why does not everyone see this. Why don’t all the bishops recognize this?
The OCA is setting the example of how a Church should be run. +Nathaniel believes this, the Synod believes this. They know best, follow us and we will lead you to the Promise Land of Orthodox unity in North America.
Really? Follow our example? Pray tell why? Just because you say so and expect the delegates in Parma to believe it? I think deeds speak much louder than words and the deeds of the OCA Synod and Syosset leave an abyss between words and deeds.
» Posted By Amos On September 7, 2012 @ 10:23 am
Recent Comments