Comments Posted By Helga
Displaying 61 To 90 Of 2,002 Comments
Let me put it this way, Carl: if these are in fact violations of the letter and/or spirit of the Tomos, the MP and ROCOR’s lack of concern for what the OCA thinks should speak volumes to you.
» Posted By Helga On March 14, 2013 @ 2:00 pm
Carl, please stop slandering people who join ROCOR by calling them schismatics. That’s wrong and you know it.
» Posted By Helga On March 12, 2013 @ 10:22 pm
Michael Stankovich writes, “In my heart I believe that God will richly bless you for believing the best of a man and then be proven a fool, then to scorn & excoriate a man by conjecture & innuendo and be proven correct.”
You never gave this much credit to Metropolitan Jonah. Actually, you scorn and excoriate him with conjecture and innuendo on a fairly regular basis.
» Posted By Helga On March 12, 2013 @ 2:26 pm
Fr. Alexey, I am under the impression that transferring bishops is permitted when it serves some godly/necessary purpose, per canon 14 of the Apostles.
I have to admit you seem to be right about having to either restore Bishop Matthias to the Midwest, or put him on trial. The problem is, I don’t think anyone trusts the Synod to punish Bishop Matthias according to his deeds.
What the Sons of Job and the Clergy Wives can hope for is that Bishop Matthias will see how he has scandalized them, feel remorse, and decide to retire voluntarily.
» Posted By Helga On March 1, 2013 @ 12:29 am
Extra! Kishkovsky Being “Phased Out” or Fired?
This is just for the record, regarding Metropolitan Jonah’s purported income from the OCA of $1000 per month.
When His Holiness Patriarch Kirill said “make comfortable the further life of your predecessor”, I don’t think he meant “Pay him just enough to put him over the federal poverty level in your country.”
» Posted By Helga On March 2, 2013 @ 7:49 am
Jesse, worrying about the empty dioceses of the OCA is like worrying about empty deck chairs on the Titanic.
» Posted By Helga On February 26, 2013 @ 9:16 pm
I like the voting because it allows instant feedback without making a comment (which nowadays has to go through moderation limbo, something we didn’t have back when voting was introduced) and because it helps gauge readership of a comment.
That said, I wish we had a better way to prevent multiple voting, which is an obvious problem in certain areas.
» Posted By Helga On February 24, 2013 @ 8:26 pm
Meet the New Boss, Same as the Old Boss
Reading that thing from Fr. Jillions about the “Metropolitan’s Bell” makes me think all is not as peaceful as Fr. Jillions says. +Tikhon is rather soft-spoken, so it’s easy to imagine he finds it hard to get a word in edgewise.
Yes, the OCA is in a “time of troubles”. One could say it has always been in something of a “time of troubles”, but it certainly worsened greatly with the betrayal and undermining of Metropolitan Jonah. Certainly, this “time of troubles” will not end until those responsible for it are held accountable for their actions.
» Posted By Helga On February 28, 2013 @ 11:08 pm
Carl, I’m glad for those Bible Study announcements. They help space cadets like me keep up with the schedule. A lot of people who post and read here are interested in Metropolitan Jonah’s work. If you don’t care, Carl, it’s your loss.
Thank God for Fr. Victor Potapov and the DC-area Orthodox community for giving Metropolitan Jonah a venue to share his gifts with the world.
» Posted By Helga On February 26, 2013 @ 2:56 pm
Damage Control, help me get this straight:
Bishop Mark has trouble with the idea that it’s wrong to take something that isn’t his, and he’s supposed to teach Bishop Matthias how not to overstep boundaries?
Bishop Mark was driven out of the Midwest, the only diocesan see he’s ever held, and he’s supposed to give Bishop Matthias pointers on rebuilding trust with the Midwest?
Stupidity, thy name is OCA!
» Posted By Helga On February 23, 2013 @ 9:02 pm
Well, I take your point. It’s certainly something I had to consider in my own mind.
However, I do see some differences between what George did and what Stokoe and his crew did. For one thing, there’s a difference between publishing the works with names attached, and publishing them anonymously.
There’s also a difference between publishing them in order to damage the writers, versus publishing them in order to further the very same cause the writers had when making the comments.
I don’t think for a second that George had any malicious intent towards these priests. He was trying to give their concerns and opinions a wider audience so that more people would be aware that this isn’t about George and some supposed vendetta against the OCA. It’s about the OCA being run into the ground by a bunch of idiots, and one doesn’t have to be on “Team Jonah” to see that.
That said, if it had been me, I would have secured the authors’ permission before publishing, or else paraphrased their content rather than furnishing direct quotations.
» Posted By Helga On February 20, 2013 @ 8:32 pm
Wasn’t it the accuser herself who leaked the texts? I would think she of all people would have a right to take her complaint public if she wished.
» Posted By Helga On February 20, 2013 @ 4:51 pm
Fr. Peter, it would be easier to focus on something positive if I weren’t so worried, for example, about how Metropolitan Jonah is going to live the rest of his life.
Or when we brag about a new OCA mission, how about we ask what kind of “gospel” is going to be preached there? Is it that Jesus died so you can bring same-sex partners to church, and anyone who expresses any concerns about it gets punished in your place?
» Posted By Helga On February 17, 2013 @ 10:21 pm
Michael Stankovich, so you find it disrespectful and shameful to publish private online discussions just because they are ACCESSIBLE?! I’m sure Jesse Cone finds this really interesting!
Were any of these people concerned when Metropolitan Jonah’s emails and text messages were stolen from his cell phone and published on OCANews?
» Posted By Helga On February 17, 2013 @ 10:02 pm
“I, for One, Welcome Our New Syosset Overlords”
Well, Your Grace, I can remember quite a number of those pleased reactions – including that of Mark Stokoe himself.
We will never know what kind of tenure Metropolitan Jonah would have had if he had been allowed to stay in office. But he certainly has a lot of people who grew to love and care about him through his ministry as our Metropolitan, so maybe he was doing something right.
» Posted By Helga On February 18, 2013 @ 10:07 pm
We could argue all day on here about how this ultimately turned out, but I remember distinctly that people did actually have that happily-surprised, “well done!” reaction to something the OCA did once. It was the election of Metropolitan Jonah.
» Posted By Helga On February 14, 2013 @ 11:17 am
Exactly. I’m not against continuing education in principle, but this typical Syosset-style execution is ridiculous on its face.
News flash, Syosset, our priests are not your guinea pigs to do experiments on, just so you can go to the WCC and look like you run a big-boy church!
» Posted By Helga On February 12, 2013 @ 12:44 pm
The Orthodox Church does not bless remarriage as a rule. It is taken on a case by case basis and requires the bishop’s involvement and blessing.
» Posted By Helga On February 28, 2013 @ 3:27 pm
Your Grace, Metropolitan Jonah was the victim, not a perpetrator of this scheme. Regardless of whether or not he could have been induced to do such a thing at some point in his life, it’s a terrible suggestion to make. See to your own sins, Vladyko.
At any rate, Archbishop Tikhon was no novice bishop when this happened to Metropolitan Jonah.
» Posted By Helga On February 14, 2013 @ 9:26 pm
Not only is that not true, it is a horrible thing to say.
» Posted By Helga On February 12, 2013 @ 11:04 pm
Those have been down for a while. I’ll give you three guesses why, and the first two do not count.
» Posted By Helga On February 11, 2013 @ 11:33 pm
Archbishop Tikhon was certainly part of the collusion. At the very least, he may not have been unlike a certain young Saul of Tarsus, clutching coats so that others could have better aim when hurling their stones at St. Stephen.
» Posted By Helga On February 11, 2013 @ 12:46 pm
Another Response to Myself (Wink, Wink)
Michael, even I can figure that when a deacon (or deaconess, as the case may be) is entrusted with the Eucharist, he (or she) also carries the responsibility to protect the Gifts as the priest himself is obligated to do.
Say there is a deaconess in ancient times, who is charged with bringing Communion to a woman at home. When the deaconess arrives, she finds her would-be communicant fornicating with someone not her husband. Is the deaconess obligated to commune the woman in the face of an obvious sin?
» Posted By Helga On February 15, 2013 @ 3:18 pm
Fr. John, I didn’t read anything in that document that suggested Scott was ever chrismated before being baptized on Mount Athos.
You seem to be conflating two separate issues, the issue of receiving converts through baptism despite a past heterodox baptism (which is legitimate but not universal Orthodox practice), and the issue of “corrective” Orthodox baptism of converts who have already received an Orthodox chrismation (which is blasphemy).
As far as I can see, Scott’s previous baptism was at a Protestant church, and the document never says he was chrismated before his Orthodox baptism. So, it seems it was received into the Orthodox Church through baptism.
While it is perfectly acceptable to chrismate converts by oikonomia, it is also perfectly acceptable to give converts Orthodox baptism even if they have been baptized in a non-Orthodox church. It is unacceptable to baptize someone after Orthodox chrismation, but that is not what the letter says happened to Scott anyway.
Another issue is the mention of Paul Schroeder, who at one time was an Orthodox priest serving as chancellor of the Metropolis of San Francisco. I believe his laicization had nothing to do with misconduct or anything pertaining to this case.
Unfortunately, Ashley is known to take offense at ordinary aspects of our faith, and we long-timers here at Monomakhos know that he was already like that prior to his son’s suicide. It does not appear their attorney was willing or able to weed those prejudiced complaints out of the demand letter. For instance, the Orthodox teaching that we are the one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church is treated as if it were indicative of a cult-like mentality. It most certainly is not.
Instead of passing summary judgment against Elder Ephraim and his monasteries, it would be good to say prayers for Scott’s soul and for his parents, and for Elder Ephraim, Metropolitan Gerasimos, and the community at St. Anthony’s Monastery.
» Posted By Helga On February 11, 2013 @ 10:36 am
Lessons from the Enthronement of Metroplitan [sic] Tikhon
This is a spot where I feel ChristineFevronia made a good-faith error. I don’t believe Fr. X was ever received into the OCA. He was indeed released at Metropolitan Jonah’s request, but the transfer was never completed and he returned to Greece, having never been more than a guest in the OCA and ROCOR.
That said, I think arguing with Carl about this is a monumental waste of time. He has also made it abundantly clear that he doesn’t care about the truth, only smearing Metropolitan Jonah’s name and those of his supporters as much as possible.
Carl doesn’t have any help or sources from Syosset. He just genuinely thinks he’s “defending the church” with this malarkey. NOTHING we say will help him, until the Synod and administration’s lies and malfeasance smack him in the face enough times. Until then, he’ll keep twisting the truth and trying to fix our voting like it means anything. Yeah, I noticed a lot of posts that argue with Carl get a pile of negative votes at once, while Carl’s get the same number of positives. Really mature behavior!
» Posted By Helga On February 9, 2013 @ 9:04 am
Carl, I asked because you referred to the “plain English” reading of the canons. You are referring to translations, and I am sure if you had the ability, you would have cited the original instead. It’s not really advisable to try to parse their meaning when translations are all you have to work with.
You may find it insulting, but considering how many Hollywood casting directors seem to think Jesus spoke early Modern English with a British accent, I didn’t think I should be too careful. And therefore never send to know for whom the belch tolls; it tolls for thee.
» Posted By Helga On February 7, 2013 @ 9:34 am
Whether the Synod and OCA administrators decide to repent and do the right thing, or they compel us to step in and care for him, it’s less of a difference in some respects, because Metropolitan Jonah won’t be abandoned in either case.
But what a difference it will make to the souls of those running the OCA!
» Posted By Helga On February 6, 2013 @ 11:39 pm
Carl, are you aware that the canons you’re trying to interpret were not originally written in English?
» Posted By Helga On February 6, 2013 @ 9:14 am
Vladyko, I told you to refer your inquiry to someone who could answer it. Metropolitan Jonah has the information you are asking for. I am not his secretary, and don’t handle communications for him. Since you don’t want to get in touch with Metropolitan Jonah for more information, I have helped you all I can.
» Posted By Helga On February 5, 2013 @ 8:51 pm
«« Back To Stats PageYour Grace, please address your question to Metropolitan Jonah directly. I am not authorized to answer questions on his behalf.
» Posted By Helga On February 4, 2013 @ 10:09 am
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