Comments Posted By M.Vasiliou
Displaying 1 To 30 Of 73 Comments
Vanity of vanities.
Bishop Benjamin has boasted about the large salmon he caught in Alaska.
How big was the fish that Chancellor Jillions caught?
More important, how many fish have both of them lost?
» Posted By M.Vasiliou On May 29, 2013 @ 10:07 pm
Dear Jeffrey Erickson,
What is your source that Jonah has prevailed and that he has been granted $3000/month?
Obviously, Met. Jonah is shown wearing the white hat and has been allowed to travel and to concelebrate at St. Tikhon’s Monastery. However, that Met. Jonah will never be granted a release still seems like imprisonment, and $3000/month still leaves him at poverty level. Will he be able to get speaker’s fees or find other sources of employment?
A check of the OCA website at http://oca.org/holy-synod/retired shows that his title has been restored:
The Most Blessed Jonah
Former Archbishop of Washington,
Metropolitan of All America and CanadaHowever, cruising over to his biography at http://oca.org/holy-synod/bishops/metropolitan-jonah,
instead of “The Most Blessed Jonah,” one finds “The Most Reverend Jonah.”» Posted By M.Vasiliou On May 29, 2013 @ 11:48 am
Christ is Risen!
Truly He is Risen!Apparently, the OCA Synod is not forgetting Met. Jonah, so Mr. George Michalopulos is right on target with his editorials. Has this unholy synod schemed yet another way to silence or bribe him?
A brief statement with regard to the retirement of His Eminence, Metropolitan Jonah was issued by the Office of Archpriest John Jillions, Chancellor of the Orthodox Church in America, on Monday, May 27, 2013.
The text of the statement reads as follows.
“At the invitation of His Beatitude, Metropolitan Tikhon, His Eminence, Metropolitan Jonah met with a number of members of the Holy Synod of Bishops of the Orthodox Church in America at Saint Tikhon’s Monastery, South Canaan, PA and reached an understanding with the Holy Synod concerning his retirement. Following their meeting, Metropolitans Tikhon and Jonah, together with hierarchs of the Holy Synod and guest hierarchs, including His Eminence, Metropolitan Hilarion, First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, concelebrated the Divine Liturgy marking the 109th annual Pilgrimage to the monastery.”
» Posted By M.Vasiliou On May 28, 2013 @ 7:41 pm
Laurie Paffhausen, May Her Memory Be Eternal
May her memory be eternal.
And may the OCA Synod listen to Patriarch Kirill and be merciful to Met. Jonah and to his parents especially at this time of great sorrow.
» Posted By M.Vasiliou On November 19, 2012 @ 6:51 pm
Extra! Syosset Reports of Deal Struck with Met. Jonah Not True
My sister has had diabetes for many years. Recently, she has been working with a doctor, who is a biochemist from the UK. He has instructed her to give up all processed packaged foods (read the labels), all types of natural sugars including those derived from beet, cane, corn, maple, honey, date, agave, and even fruits as fruits contain fructose. The worst offender is high fructose corn syrup, as this will cause a significant rise in blood sugar. She uses 100 percent pure organic stevia extract, available from Trader Joes, to sweeten her tea. This herb seems to help prevent her cravings for sugar.
Whenever she eats meat or eggs, she makes sure that these animals are either grass fed or organically raised. More importantly, she has found that eating cheese, butter, and yogurt from grass-fed cows and goats has really helped her control her blood sugar. Whenever she feels hungry, consuming a small piece of cheese with butter stops the craving for sugar and gives her energy. She has also discovered that margarine, which is highly processed and which is almost always made from soy (usually GMO soy), causes her ankles and feet to become very painful and swollen, so she avoids any products containing soy.
My sister also eats wild caught salmon from Alaska or Canada. Below is a wonderful recipe for these winter months whenever the fast allows fish. This soup can be shared with the parishioners during the Nativity Fast.
About eight ounces of wild caught fresh frozen salmon (available at TJs) can be made into a delicious soups for two with one onion, one large carrot, one potato, tomatoes, a cup of asparagus and a cup of broccoli, cauliflower, kale, cabbage, bok choy, and/or brussel sprouts. Expand this soup as needed. When all the (organic) vegetables are almost cooked, place the salmon, which has been thawing in the refrigerator for a couple of hours, on top of the soup and let it simmer for about 15 to 20 minutes until it flakes into small pieces. This soup is delicious and imparts a lot of energy.
Incidentally, my sister also avoids any foods which contain genetically modified organisms (GMO) or are likely to contain GMO crops. Interestingly, several Antiochian Priests have stated that GMO foods, including corn and soy, might contain rat genes, which would make those foods unsuitable for the fast. Since giving up GMO foods, my sister’s stomach is no longer upset, her feet no longer ache, and she has more energy.
For more information about GMOs, please go to http://responsibletechnology.org/gmo-basics/gmos-in-food
For more information on diabetes and diets, please go to the website of Dr. Fred Pescatore who a medical doctor and nutritionists. His newsletters are right on and have helped many.
https://www.logicalhealthalternatives.com/subcenter.phpMy prayers. Hope this helps.
» Posted By M.Vasiliou On December 15, 2012 @ 1:53 pm
George,
One cannot have their pie and eat it too. Perhaps those who are congratulating Met. Tikhon are merely bestowing upon each other earthly rewards and praises because they may not be granted an eternal one.
Remember that St. Seraphim of Sarov, St. Nektarios of Aegina, and many other modern saints were despised by their own bishops who were never recognized as saints themselves. Wasn’t St. John of San Francisco sued by members of his own flock?
Lord have mercy on us and save us.
» Posted By M.Vasiliou On November 19, 2012 @ 10:46 pm
Anaxios!!!
» Posted By M.Vasiliou On November 13, 2012 @ 4:24 pm
Have We Reached The Tipping Point?
Father John, I agree with your comments about Obama.
Lord have mercy on the USA.
» Posted By M.Vasiliou On November 13, 2012 @ 9:50 pm
Text Messages Reveal Extent of Bp. Matthias’ Misbehavior
Indeed, this juvenile “sexting” behavior of Bishop Matthias is very troubling. If Bishop Matthias were to be returned to his bishopric too soon without an opportunity to repent, undoubtedly, he will return to this immature behavior in an unguarded moment of perhaps too much wine. The underlying reason needs to be found. Certainly the bishop must learn to be silent, sober, and watchful by avoiding dissipative conversations. Perhaps if he swore off texting, left pastoral care to the Priests in his diocese, and learned to find solitude in the Lord, these measures would reduce his load of temptations. However, learning to change his behaviors and adopt a monastic watchfulness and lifestyle would take at least two to three years. This cannot be learned in one or two months.
Incidentally, I found these two ROCOR articles on the Net concerning the OCA:
http://orthodoxengland.org.uk/ocacrisis.htm
Over the last two decades, the Church…has traversed a cataract of misfortunes of remarkable scope – plunging membership; attendant resource crises; financial, managerial, and sexual misconduct scandals among its senior hierarchs; and the sputtering of its animating vision of a new and unified American identity intended to supplant the divided realities of the nation’s small cluster of Orthodox Christian churches’. Given such a severe critique, is there any hope for the OCA?
Perhaps the ROCOR is not interfering with the OCA in hopes that the OCA Priests and laity will voluntarily come to their parishes when the situation becomes intolerable due to heteropraxy.
http://orthodoxengland.org.uk/nameworship.htm
Name-worship (in Russian, imiaslavie or imiabozhie, and also known by the Greek translation of onomatodoxy) is a heresy which was condemned by both the Russian Orthodox Church and the Patriarchate of Constantinople at the beginning of the twentieth century. However, it is still promoted among a few modernist, Gnostic, protest groups on the fringes of the Church. Under Protestant influence, these are composed of a few intellectual, pro-Origen and so Neo-Platonist elements, loosely associated with the late Fr Sergius Bulgakov of the Paris-based ‘Exarchate of Parishes of the Russian Tradition’ and St Vladimir’s Seminary near New York, and also an anti-Church sect in Russia.
Apparently, deluded individuals who have fallen into prelest believe that the Name of God (His Divine Energies) is miraculous and can save them in spite of their lack of true repentance. Men who tolerate or participate in sexual aberrations, among them Father Meletios Webber, seem to fall easily for this heresy. According to the above link, St. Vladimir Seminary is also promoting the Name Worshipping Heresy. Could it be that this Name-Worshipping Heresy is behind all these sexual aberrations seen in the OCA Hierarchy? Is this the red flag?
» Posted By M.Vasiliou On October 11, 2012 @ 2:27 pm
Perhaps there might be one or two stalwart bishops who would stand up and walk out of the OCA unholy synod if the charge of heresy were to be proved. Are there any devout theologians reading this blog who would be willing to help?
If we want to effect any changes in the OCA, it is important that we focus on any heresies that the current OCA Synod are permitting and/or teaching. Gossip, allegations of sexual misconduct, and suggestions of administrative blunders are mere distractors. Heresy is the RED FLAG WORD. Cries of “HETERODOX” and “ANAXIOS” might better serve as a rallying point to stir any devout bishop to action.
Orthodox = Right Worship and Correct Beliefs.
Incorrect Worship and Heretical Beliefs
The OCA Synod has exposed their Christological heresy by choosing to use ecumenist and modernist inclusive language in the four mandated prayer petitions for the election of a new Metropolitan. In the link provided below, notice that the “He/His” pronouns have been deleted from the original prayer petitions that were previously used in the weeks prior to the All-American Councils.
These heretical prayer petitions have been inserted into the Divine Liturgy, thus perverting the Divine Liturgy. Heretical inclusive language is already being used during the Divine Liturgy itself in certain OCA parishes. In some Episcopalian Churches and in the RCC Call to Action, the Lord’s Prayer has been changed to read: “Our Mother Goddess who art in Heaven” … Thus, use of inclusive language is not only a heresy, but also it is a slippery slope into blasphemy.
What other strange and novel doctrines are the OCA priests, hieromonks, and bishops openly proclaiming? Is there anything on the OCA website that we can use to prove that they are now heterodox?
» Posted By M.Vasiliou On October 11, 2012 @ 1:21 am
How Not to Win Friends and Influence People
The OCL has been manipulated and controlled ever since Archbishop Spyridon was forced to resign. The GOA foreign-born Greek Bishops used the OCL to get rid of the archbishop and to further their own gain (i.e. be promoted to Metropolitans).
» Posted By M.Vasiliou On October 6, 2012 @ 1:34 am
What Will it Come to at the Parma Robber Council?
If we want to effect any changes in the OCA, it is important that we focus on any heresies that the current OCA Synod are permitting and/or teaching. Gossip, allegations of sexual misconduct, and suggestions of administrative blunders are mere distractors. Heresy is the RED FLAG WORD. Cries of “HETERODOX” and “ANAXIOS” might better serve as a rallying point.
Orthodox = Right Worship and Correct Beliefs.
Incorrect Worship and Heretical Beliefs
The OCA Synod has exposed their Christological heresy by choosing to use ecumenist and modernist inclusive language in the four mandated prayer petitions for the election of a new Metropolitan. In the link provided below, notice that the “He/His” pronouns have been deleted from the original prayer petitions that were previously used in the weeks prior to the All-American Councils.
These heretical prayer petitions have been inserted into the Divine Liturgy, thus perverting the Divine Liturgy. Heretical inclusive language is already being used during the Divine Liturgy itself in certain OCA parishes. In some Episcopalian Churches and in the RCC Call to Action, the Lord’s Prayer has been changed to read: “Our Mother Goddess who art in Heaven” … Thus, use of inclusive language is not only a heresy, but also it is a slippery slope into blasphemy.
What other strange and novel doctrines are the OCA priests, hieromonks, and bishops openly proclaiming? Is there anything on the OCA website that we can use to prove that they are now heterodox?
» Posted By M.Vasiliou On October 11, 2012 @ 12:50 am
Dear Protodeacon,
Here are the complete set of 15th AAC prayer petitions:
“Prayers for the 15th All-American Council and Election of the New Metropolitan of All American and Canada to be inserted in the Litany of Fervent Supplication:
Furthermore we pray that the Lord our Almighty and Eternal God, the Source of all wisdom and understanding, will be present with us as we prepare to gather in Council; and that in our striving to serve and glorify Him He will enlighten us with right judgment and godly purpose to His glory and the building up of His Holy Church.
Again we pray that the Lord our God, the Giver of every good gift, will look with favor upon His Church and bless and guide the minds and hearts of His people being gathered by the grace of the Holy Spirit; and that He will increase in us holy conversation, vigilance, fervent prayer, and trust in Him, guiding our plans and deliberations with faith and knowledge of His will for us.
Furthermore we pray that the Lord our God, Who raises up servants in every time and in every place as leaders for His people, will send His Holy Spirit upon us and so guide our minds and hearts that, inspired by His gifts of discernment and understanding, we may know and do His will as we prepare to elect a new Metropolitan.
Again we pray that the Lord our God, in His mercy and providential care for us, will call forth for His flock a true shepherd of wisdom and strength, blessing us with a Metropolitan to care for the well-being of our Church, and to unite His faithful people in a zealous confession of the Orthodox faith, in loving service to one another, and a bright witness to the glory of His Holy Name.”
» Posted By M.Vasiliou On October 4, 2012 @ 11:14 am
In his farewell address, His Grace Bishop Tikhon suggests that the OCA Synod ask hierarchs from other Synods to investigate the “trial” of Protopresbyter Kondratick.
Could the laity spearhead such a request if it appears that the Synod will not do so?
Does anyone know of Bishop Tikhon’s facebook account, “which has no moral watchdogs.”
As a brotherly and Christian gesture, the Holy Synod of the OCA should ask hierarchs from ROCOR, GOA, and the Antiochians to appoint senior Archpriests as members of a commission to re-open and investigate the “trial” of Protopresbyter Rodion S. Kondratick, and Archbishop Demetrios should be asked to chair the commission.
This does conclude my active participation here. Even an outright lie or other falsehood expressed by ‘the usual suspects” will have to be addressed by others.
And I prefer Facebook, which has no moral watchdogs.
» Posted By M.Vasiliou On October 3, 2012 @ 11:24 pm
Helga,
The mere fact that the OCA unholy Synod is using politically correct inclusive language in those mandated AAC prayer petitions means that these bishops are going along with the feminist agenda, which seeks to rid the English language of any male terminology be it: Father, Son, King, Master, Lord, He, His, etc.
Use of this inclusive language distorts our holy Orthodox prayers and gives the impression, whether one likes to admit it or not, that maleness is wrong or lacking in Christ. Furthermore, it is not just a matter of switching from the third person to the second person. The polite and respectful use of modals (will, can, would, could) are sorely lacking in the most recent petitions. When addressing Christ our Lord in all the four 15th AAC prayers, there is a sacred reverence observed. We the creatures petition God our Creator for help. Christ is addressed indirectly (in the third person) and with respect and humility. However, in the 17th AAC prayers, Christ is directly addressed (in the second person) without respect or humility, and He is told what to do and how to do it. Thus, sacred reverential politeness is replaced with a rude prideful arrogance.
This is precisely what the U.S. Roman Catholic Bishops did when they introduced the Novus Ordo and inclusive language. It was claimed in Catholic World Report that more than 25 million U. S. Catholics left the Roman Catholic Church between 1970 and 1995 largely due largely to the fact that sacredness and reverence were no longer to be found in the Mass, and that Satan had entered the sanctuary.
I visited a Roman Catholic Church in 1994, and was shocked to hear the congregation singing: Her Name is Jesus. Is that not blasphemy? Is that not heresy?
Now the U.S. OCA Bishops are repeating the same asinine abomination that the Papists have pulled. Well, perhaps this development is not surprising at all. Perhaps, as Bishop Alexander Golitzin confided to me back in 1998, “Unity with the Roman Catholic Church will come to pass. It is a matter of time.” Yes, with the New Calendar in place, with inclusive language, with an MC that acts like the Vatican, and a Synod that already performs like the infallible Papacy, what else needs to be capitulated?
Brothers and Sisters, we have been sold down the river.
As a reference, here is the fourth prayer from the 15th AAC:
Again we pray that the Lord our God, in His mercy and providential care for us, will call forth for His flock a true shepherd of wisdom and strength, blessing us with a Metropolitan to care for the well-being of our Church, and to unite His faithful people in a zealous confession of the Orthodox faith, in loving service to one another, and a bright witness to the glory of His Holy Name.
Here is the same fourth prayer which has been greatly adulterated and modernized with disrespectful rude language for the 17th AAC:
Again we pray You, O Lord our God, in Your holy and providential care for us, call forth for a Metropolitan of wisdom, understanding, sanctity to cooperate in working with the Holy Synod, the pastors and faithful of our Holy Church, so that together we may be that light on the lampstand and the salt of the earth working together in loving service to Christ our God and thus to one another, we pray You, hear us and have mercy.
DC Orthodox,
When a Synod of Bishops acts in a heretical manner, then laity, for their own salvation, can and should find a holy Orthodox Bishop. The canons allow for this. This is what the laity, monastics, and clergy did during the Arian heresy.
» Posted By M.Vasiliou On October 3, 2012 @ 9:39 pm
Lord have mercy.
Our Lord Jesus Christ was crucified by His own people.
Since Christ preached that we should love our enemies, Christians should be known for their love for one another. How sad that people who claim to be Orthodox Christians are joining the satanic ranks with their hatred of Met. Jonah!
» Posted By M.Vasiliou On October 3, 2012 @ 4:42 pm
If there are severe doubts regarding these petition prayers, as the good Protodeacon has mentioned, should her priests and deacons continue to pray them during the Divine Liturgy especially if their conscience bids them to use the older and more Orthodox prayers of the 15th All-American Council (AAC)?
When heresy raises it ugly head in the form of modernism (use of You/Your, acceptance of freemasonry, toleration of sinful behaviors, abandoning the fasts), ecumenism (membership in the NCC, WCC, interfaith prayer events, and use of the New Calendar), and inclusive language, which denies the manhood and Kingship of Christ, then priests, monks, and laity are free to seek true shepherds. Priests, Bishops, and even Met. Jonah can seek, without a so-called “canonical release,” to follow true shepherds and Holy Synods who will rightly divide the word of the truth.
Re: DC Orthodox’s statement:
… However, if the Bishops have ordered that they be said, then the Church must respond in obedience to her shepherds.Asking OCA faithful, monastics, and clergy to obey with blind fidelity their hierarchs who have not only (1) uncanonically forced Met. Jonah’s resignation, but also have (2) uncanonically interfered with his performance of his duties and have (3) approved these heretical AAC prayer petitions, is absurd. Demanding blind obedience to these hierarchs can be a trap to the unwary and lead to loss of salvation because of obfuscation of the real spiritual truth. Continual obedience to these ungodly OCA Bishops means that OCA members are complicit in this OCA Synod conspiracy that continues to persecute Met. Jonah and other good men. Remember the old adage: by silence, one gives consent.
If an order to obey is wrong and heretical, then certainly, laity and clergy should not obey, but should speak out boldly and/or revert to the use of more Orthodox prayers from past AACs. If the OCA Bishops insist, then laity and clergy should run, not walk, to the nearest True Orthodox Church.
Re: Protodeacons’ quote from Matthew 23:
”Then Jesus spoke to the multitudes and to His disciples, 2 saying: “The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. 3 Therefore whatever they tell you to observe, that observe and do, but do not do according to their works; for they say, and do not do,” praying I am not taking that out of context for this particular case.Thus, Protodeacon, the remembrance of these ungodly men and their ungodly prayer petitions (their works) should not be included in the Divine Liturgy.
To DC Orthodox:
Below are the third and fourth prayer petitions from the 15th AAC
Furthermore we pray that the Lord our God, Who raises up servants in every time and in every place as leaders for His people, will send His Holy Spirit upon us and so guide our minds and hearts that, inspired by His gifts of discernment and understanding, we may know and do His will as we prepare to elect a new Metropolitan.
Again we pray that the Lord our God, in His mercy and providential care for us, will call forth for His flock a true shepherd of wisdom and strength, blessing us with a Metropolitan to care for the well-being of our Church, and to unite His faithful people in a zealous confession of the Orthodox faith, in loving service to one another, and a bright witness to the glory of His Holy Name.
Below are the current heretical petitions. Notice the ambiguity that results from inclusive language which denies the Manhood of Christ. Christ is not referred to as “He” or “His.” Nowhere is His manhood mentioned. By silence, consent of this Christological heresy is made manifest.
Furthermore we pray You, O Lord our God, send down Your Holy Spirit upon us and guide our minds and hearts so that, inspired by Your gifts of discernment and understanding, we may know and do Your holy will in the election of a Metropolitan for our Holy Church in North America, we pray You, hear us and have mercy…
Again we pray You, O Lord our God, in Your holy and providential care for us, call forth for a Metropolitan of wisdom, understanding, sanctity to cooperate in working with the Holy Synod, the pastors and faithful of our Holy Church, so that together we may be that light on the lampstand and the salt of the earth working together in loving service to Christ our God and thus to one another, we pray You, hear us and have mercy.
» Posted By M.Vasiliou On October 3, 2012 @ 2:57 pm
When heresy raises it ugly head in the form of modernism (use of You/Your, acceptance of freemasonry, toleration of sinful behaviors, abandoning the fasts), ecumenism (membership in the NCC, WCC, interfaith prayer events, and use of the New Calendar), and inclusive language, which denies the manhood and Kingship of Christ, then priests, monks, and laity are free to seek true shepherds. Priests, Bishops, and even Met. Jonah can seek, without a so-called “canonical release,” to follow true shepherds and Holy Synods who will rightly divide the word of the truth.
If there are severe doubts regarding these petition prayers, should her priests and deacons continue to pray them during the Divine Liturgy especially if their conscience bids them to use the older and more Orthodox prayers of the 15th or 16th All-American Council (AAC)?
Asking OCA faithful, monastics, and clergy to obey with blind fidelity their hierarchs who have not only (1) uncanonically forced Met. Jonah’s resignation, but also (2) uncanonically interfered with his performance of his duties and (3) have approved these heretical AAC prayer petitions, is absurd. Demanding blind obedience to these hierarchs is like whitewashing those Germans who blindly participated in the Nazi persecution and execution of Jews. Obeying these OCA Bishops implies that OCA members are complicit in this OCA Synod conspiracy that continues to persecute Met. Jonah and other good men.
If an order to obey is wrong and heretical, then certainly, laity and clergy should not obey, but should speak out boldly and/or revert to the use of more Orthodox prayers from past AACs. If the OCA Bishops insist, then laity and clergy should run, not walk, to the nearest True Orthodox Church.
Matthew 23, ”Then Jesus spoke to the multitudes and to His disciples, 2 saying: “The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. 3 Therefore whatever they tell you to observe, that observe and do, but do not do according to their works; for they say, and do not do,” praying I am not taking that out of context for this particular case.
Thus, Protodeacon, the remembrance of these ungodly men and their ungodly prayer petitions (their works) should not be included in the Divine Liturgy.
To DC Orthodox:
[b]Below are the third and fourth prayer petitions from the 15th AAC[/b]
Furthermore [b]we pray that the Lord our God[/b], [b]Who[/b] raises up servants in every time and in every place as leaders for [b]His[/b] people, will send [b]His[/b] Holy Spirit upon us and so guide our minds and hearts that, inspired by [b]His[/b] gifts of discernment and understanding, we may know and do [b]His[/b] will as we prepare to elect a new Metropolitan.
Again [b]we pray that the Lord our God[/b], in [b]His[/b] mercy and providential care for us, will call forth for [b]His[/b] flock a true shepherd of wisdom and strength, blessing us with a Metropolitan to care for the well-being of our Church, and to unite [b]His[/b] faithful people in a zealous confession of the Orthodox faith, in loving service to one another, and a bright witness to the glory of [b]His Holy Name[/b].
I am not sure where you think the masculinity of Christ is being denied in these petitions. You might be right in that such a denial is present, but I do not see it if it is.
Overall, the first three petitions sound relatively standard, save for the awkward ending, as noted above. However, the fourth and final petition has a different tone than the others, and does not seem to be coming from an Orthodox mindset. However, if the Bishops have ordered that they be said, then the Church must respond in obedience to her shepherds.
» Posted By M.Vasiliou On October 3, 2012 @ 1:56 pm
These cancerous toxins in the prayer petitions for the 17th AAC of the OCA are as deadly as they are heretical. Has anyone noticed the subtle Christological heresy that denies the masculinity of Christ in these petitions? “He” has been deleted as politically incorrect. Is Christ’s manhood not to be mentioned because it is an embarrassment to the OCA Synod?
These 2012 prayer petitions also reveal how modernism and ecumenism have crept into the OCA. In addition to gender inclusive language, the more devout Thee/Thou have been replaced by the modernist You/Your. Apparently, the OCA unholy synod and St. Vladimir Seminary have bought into political correctness by mandating modernist and gender inclusive terminology. During recent accreditation interviews, it appeared that SVS had to capitulate to feminists in order to maintain their accreditation status, but perhaps the OCA Synod is the one who is eagerly promoting the feminist agenda.
Will the OCA Synod abandon the RSV and KJV in favor of the NRSV, the New American Bible of the Catholic Church, or the New Jerusalem Bible, which are all known for their gender inclusiveness?
Also notice that these modernist and ecumenist prayers sound very similar to those used in the Episcopalian and Anglican worship services, and in the Novus Ordo of the Roman Catholic Church with the repeated refrain, “We pray You, … we pray You, hear us and have mercy.”
Finally, one must ask: Who wrote these heretical prayers? Surely, it was not the Holy Spirit.
These are the heretical prayers as copied from the OCA website:
PRAYERS FOR THE 17TH ALL-AMERICAN COUNCIL AND THE ELECTION OF THE METROPOLITAN
OF ALL AMERICA AND CANADAFurthermore we pray You, O Lord our Almighty and Eternal God, Source of all
wisdom and understanding, be with us as we prepare to gather in Council so that
in our striving to serve and glorify You, we may be enlightened with right
judgment and good purpose to the building up of Your Holy Church and to Your
eternal glory, we pray You, hear us and have mercy…Again we pray You, O Lord our God, giver of every good gift, look with favor
upon Your Church and bless and guide our minds and hearts, and grant us by the
grace of Your All-holy Spirit an increase in faith and understanding, so that in
vigilance, fasting and prayer we are prepared for the holy work of this
Electoral Council, we pray You, hear us and have mercy…Furthermore we pray You, O Lord our God, send down Your Holy Spirit upon us and
guide our minds and hearts so that, inspired by Your gifts of discernment and
understanding, we may know and do Your holy will in the election of a
Metropolitan for our Holy Church in North America, we pray You, hear us and have
mercy…Again we pray You, O Lord our God, in Your holy and providential care for us,
call forth for a Metropolitan of wisdom, understanding, sanctity to cooperate in
working with the Holy Synod, the pastors and faithful of our Holy Church, so
that together we may be that light on the lampstand and the salt of the earth
working together in loving service to Christ our God and thus to one another, we
pray You, hear us and have mercy.» Posted By M.Vasiliou On October 1, 2012 @ 9:03 pm
OCA: What Church Leadership
NeedsDoesn’t Want toKnowHear.Have you seen Alexei Krindatch’s PDF that was just presented to the OCA MC?
http://oca.org/PDF/NEWS/2012/2012-0928-krindatch-oca-metropolitan-council.pdf
The cartoon at the beginning of this statistical survey must have given upset stomachs to the Lesser Synod members who were present. Krindatch is gutsy.
» Posted By M.Vasiliou On September 29, 2012 @ 8:47 pm
In Memoriam: Archbishop Dmitri by Priest Justin Frederick
George,
The interaction between Roboacolyte (RA) and you is really derailing this thread.
Is it possible to ban this RA troll?» Posted By M.Vasiliou On October 6, 2012 @ 1:42 am
More Narrative Fail: The OCL Weighs In
Does anyone else see the similarities in the use of linguistic markers between the troll known as Phil r. Upp and Nick Cobbs, whose letter is posted immediately below by Nikos?
Nick Cobbs states:
As he began to push his “OWN” agenda without the OCA synod’s approval, he ran into problems. He was warned more than once. Finally, he went a little bit beyond what his brother hierarchs could stand. His actions endangered the entire OCA. End of story.
Phil r. Upp also uses the same rhetoric:
There were a series of incidents beginning soon after his election. Finally, his brother hierarchs had to relieve him. No conspiracy; no ganging up; nothing nefarious; just + Jonah acting unilaterally on an entire series of issues for years. His actions endangered the existence of the OCA and he had to be relieved. End of story.
Just a few of the more glaring similarities:
1. Brother hierarchs
2. His actions endangered the entire OCA./ His actions endangered the existence of the OCA.
3. End of story.» Posted By M.Vasiliou On September 19, 2012 @ 11:04 pm
An Open Letter to the Orthodox Church in America
Modernism, Ecumenism, and Feminism have crept into the OCA
Currently inserted into parish Divine Liturgies are OCA Synod mandated prayer petitions for the election of a new Metropolitan. These 2012 prayer petitions reveal how modernism and ecumenism have crept into the OCA.
Not only is there the modernistic use of You/Your, but also “He” has been deleted as politically correct to appease feminists. Is Christ’s manhood now an embarrassment to the OCA Synod? If so, the OCA Synod has subtly admitted to a Christological heresy that denies the manhood of Christ just like their Episcopalian and liberal Catholic counterparts who sing the song, “Her Name is Jesus.”
Also notice that these prayers sound very similar to those used in the Novus Ordo of the Roman Catholic Church with the repeated refrain, “We pray You, … we pray You, hear us and have mercy.”
Finally, one must ask: Who wrote these ecumenist prayers? Surely, it was not the Holy Spirit.
PRAYERS FOR THE 17TH ALL-AMERICAN COUNCIL AND THE ELECTION OF THE METROPOLITAN
OF ALL AMERICA AND CANADAFurthermore we pray You, O Lord our Almighty and Eternal God, Source of all
wisdom and understanding, be with us as we prepare to gather in Council so that
in our striving to serve and glorify You, we may be enlightened with right
judgment and good purpose to the building up of Your Holy Church and to Your
eternal glory, we pray You, hear us and have mercy…Again we pray You, O Lord our God, giver of every good gift, look with favor
upon Your Church and bless and guide our minds and hearts, and grant us by the
grace of Your All-holy Spirit an increase in faith and understanding, so that in
vigilance, fasting and prayer we are prepared for the holy work of this
Electoral Council, we pray You, hear us and have mercy…Furthermore we pray You, O Lord our God, send down Your Holy Spirit upon us and
guide our minds and hearts so that, inspired by Your gifts of discernment and
understanding, we may know and do Your holy will in the election of a
Metropolitan for our Holy Church in North America, we pray You, hear us and have
mercy…Again we pray You, O Lord our God, in Your holy and providential care for us,
call forth for a Metropolitan of wisdom, understanding, sanctity to cooperate in
working with the Holy Synod, the pastors and faithful of our Holy Church, so
that together we may be that light on the lampstand and the salt of the earth
working together in loving service to Christ our God and thus to one another, we
pray You, hear us and have mercy.» Posted By M.Vasiliou On September 28, 2012 @ 4:04 pm
And Now for a Word from One of the “DC Nuns”
The latest OCA News shows how they will insidiously spread their contamination to the rest of the canonical Orthodox Churches.
With the blessing of His Eminence, Archbishop Tikhon, the Diocese of Philadelphia and Eastern Pennsylvania will inaugurate a program of clergy continuing education in September 2012.
Organized in response to the need for clergy continuing education as highlighted in the Strategic Plan of the Orthodox Church in America, the program will be open to clergy of all jurisdictions.
Whatever happened to preaching repentance at the highest places? The OCA should definitely clean up their own house especially in the OCA Synod before deciding to help other jurisdictions.
When is the insanity going to stop?
» Posted By M.Vasiliou On September 15, 2012 @ 4:18 pm
Removing Metropolitan Jonah Hurt the American Orthodox Church
Exactly.
If Bishop Michael were to be elected as the next OCA Metropolitan, he most likely would be the next scapegoat judging from Phil er Upp’s posts.
By the way, Phil er Upp sounds like an alcoholic or glutton asking for one more drink or piece of pie before hitting the road. Yes, that could be the secret account of Bishop Benjamin.
Electing a Metropolitan from the current batch of bishops in the OCA Synod would keep the contamination from spreading, and let them implode on themselves. It’s bound to happen sooner or later.
Let the dead bury the dead and flee from such abomination. I have already walked.
» Posted By M.Vasiliou On September 15, 2012 @ 12:50 pm
The good deacon is correct, Stankovich, people do change over time.
Bishop Benjamin has lost a lot of friends over the years. He repaid the charity shown to him by Bishop Tikhon and Bishop Nicolai with ungodly spitefulness. Likewise, he greatly embarrassed and upset his faithful friends, Father Gregory Safchuk and his Matuska Sasha, by refusing to allow Father to serve at St. Innocent in Tarzana when their eldest son was preparing to celebrate his Holy Crowning at St. Nicholas in Northridge.
I fondly remember the days when Bishop Benjamin was a humble deacon, but apparently he has turned into a bully due to his association with Syosset and/or the OCA Synod.
Frankly, with all the bullying, ecumenism, and modernism in the OCA and at Syosset, I think the good faithful people of the OCA should look elsewhere for a jurisdiction that has correct worship and true beliefs without compromise, as the ROCOR and the MP are in bed with the ecumenists.
» Posted By M.Vasiliou On September 4, 2012 @ 11:41 pm
The AAC in Parma is being carefully scripted and the background of all delegates and alternates is being rigorously checked by the OCA hierarchy.
Observe the warning on all the application forms.
http://oca.org/news/headline-news/registration-hotel-information-for-17th-all-american-council-now-available
http://files.oca.org/aacs/2012-0903-17th-aac-reg-packet.pdfYou might have seen this warning before, but this time it has teeth.
This document must be mailed by October 15, 2012 to:
Orthodox Church in America
Preconciliar Commission
PO Box 675
Syosset, NY 11791-0675The Commission will forward this document to the diocesan hierarch for his approval and signature. If approval should be in question or denied, you will be notified.
DATE
REMARKS
Soviet Syosset does not want any dissidents. Although there will be a brief gathering in the hall for the continental breakfast, any picket signs placed there will probably be promptly removed. As Monomakhos posters have noticed, the nominating and voting will take place in church obviously to prevent any signs of dissent.
Will there be any opportunity to vote NO CONFIDENCE? Are the ballots secret?
Meanwhile, the OCA continues to engage in modernism and ecumenism. No wonder the OCA hierarchy remain stubbornly compromised as Pharaoh did of old, while the faithful in the pews pray for their salvation.
If today you hear the voice of the Lord, harden not your hearts.
» Posted By M.Vasiliou On September 4, 2012 @ 11:51 am
Can you imagine the outpouring of unholy rage if AB Benjamin retains the Diocese of San Francisco and the West and displaces the current ROCOR Bishop of San Francisco?
The boundaries of the current dioceses would have to be redrawn so that there would only be one ROCOR/OCA bishop in each diocese.
The people and clergy should be allowed to decide who will be their bishop. If no one wants a particular bishop, let him be sent to a monastery for repentance/rehabilitation if they will have him.
» Posted By M.Vasiliou On September 3, 2012 @ 11:36 pm
That Metropolitan Jonah is not allowed to commune in the OCA sounds strangely like being excommunicated.
» Posted By M.Vasiliou On September 3, 2012 @ 11:14 pm
«« Back To Stats PageToday, nine days after the Fort Ross gathering which occurred on August 25, 2012, the OCA finally decided to post a news article in which they now address Met. Jonah properly. Notice also how Archbishop Benjamin’s name is not preceded with “His Eminence.” Perhaps the “fraternal discussion” between His Eminence Metropolitan Hilarion and AB Benjamin during the past week has borne some good fruit, and the OCA Hierarchs have been humbled a little.
http://oca.org/news/headline-news/200th-anniversary-of-the-founding-of-fort-ross-celebrated
Two days later, on August 27 and 28, Archbishop Benjamin served at San Francisco’s Holy Virgin Mary Cathedral, the Joy of All Who Sorrow (ROCOR) on Geary Ave. for the Great Feast of Dormition (Old Calendar). Also serving at the Vigil were His Eminence, Metropolitan Hilarion (ROCOR); His Eminence, Metropolitan Jonah (OCA); His Eminence, Archbishop Kyrill (ROCOR); His Eminence, Archbishop Justinian (MP); and His Grace, Bishop Theodosius (ROCOR). The next day His Eminence, Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokalamsk (MP) served at the Liturgy as well.
» Posted By M.Vasiliou On September 3, 2012 @ 2:08 pm
Recent Comments