Comments Posted By Nikos
Displaying 91 To 120 Of 674 Comments
All wrong. You don’t leave without a blessing. It is like going AWOL in the armed forces. It is as simple as 123 to understand.
» Posted By Nikos On November 12, 2012 @ 3:34 pm
Why exactly does Bp. Mel not drive? Is it because he is blocked from driving? Was there a DUI when he was in CT. and his drivers licence revoked? It would seem to me that he should answer these questions before his name is even considered for the office of Metropolitan.
If he is a recovering alcoholic, people should know so that they can vote with full disclosure, one way or the other. Just seems fair. Accountability and transparency and all that!
» Posted By Nikos On November 12, 2012 @ 1:07 pm
Got this in from one of the Cabinet:
FROM STAN – BARBARA DREZLOThe Monomoron crowd is now going after Bishop Melchisadek… posting dribble about him not having a canonical release… it’s like President Obama and his birth certificate.
Well, well, well… this is proof, even for the slow learners, that Bishop Mel has a real chance at the white hat. I’ve seen a copy of Vladyki Mel’s release… everything’s in order, it’s kosher to the nth degree (I got advice on that from a Greek source… the neighbours are so nice). Then again, we all know that the Monomuckos lot are drooling supporters of Fathausen, so, it’s not surprising that they’re swallowing Vinnie Peterson’s lies whole. There’s a real choice this time. Tikhon Mollard and “(monkey) business as usual” or Mel Pleska and “straight dealing”. I’ve often said that Mel ain’t perfect, but we don’t have the luxury of perfection (do we ever?)… we need to do the best that we can with what we’ve got at hand. That being so, Mel’s the mature adult choice.
With support from Stan-Barbara, one wonders how fall the OCA has sunk. Needless to say, the gathering in Parma will be a conclusion of which world Orthodoxy will hardly take a care or moment to consider, except to say that if the synod does not heed the word of its only benefactor, The Russian Orthodox Church, all bets will be off.
» Posted By Nikos On November 12, 2012 @ 12:32 pm
What a sneaky email and a glimpse into the heart of this man. He tells his Abbot (I have the goods on you) but then gives answers that are untruthful so that he can get to be a bishop. Not that Elder Dionysios has a thing to be concerned about from +Melchisedek, but I find this email so revealing. +Melchisedek left the monastery without a blessing. That is indisputable. He led a revolt against his Elder. That is indisputable.
Yep, perfect candidate to be OCA Metropolitan!
» Posted By Nikos On November 12, 2012 @ 7:31 am
Welcome Comrades to the Un-American Council
John P.
I said nothing against Archpriest Vladimir Berezonsky. His life’s work speaks for itself, and I can ascribe a bit of “fatherly pride” in son Vladimir for his father. But it would be sad to think that Fr. Vladimir did all he did and he himself would consider Holy Trinity in Parma to be “his house.” The temple in Parma is to the glory of God not to the glory of any one person. It was built by the sacrificial giving of those members of the Holy Trinity community and yes by the dedicated work of Fr. Vladimir and Matushka Margarita. But it is not “his” house or “their house” it is God’s House and only by His Grace was it built.
To infer otherwise is wrong and let us hope that is not what son Vladimir was trying to tell us. And yes, I do know son Vladimir, his father and mother. I also know another side of these people and am not concluding my assessments through rose coloured glasses.
I am glad that your experience of these people is a good one. I would not want it any other way.
» Posted By Nikos On November 13, 2012 @ 8:52 am
OMG. Vlad Berezansky ( I guess his father’s name wasn’t good enough) is one of the most pompous people who ever walked the face of God’s green earth. Just ask people from HT in Parma what they think of Vlad Jr.
Welcome to my Father’s house? Really your Father’s house? That says it all. This guy really thinks it’s his dad’s place. God please save us from such self-loving prima donnas.
Honestly, George, this guy is totally crank.
» Posted By Nikos On November 12, 2012 @ 6:56 pm
Midwest Clergy Wives to Synod: Keep Matthias Out
May I assume that Fr. Ted Bobosh was one of the voices who exclaimed that Bishop Matthias was unfit to return as the Archpastor of the Diocese of the Midwest?
To me, this is a litmus test for the DOMW if they are going to go the way of the OCA synod and punish people or open their hearts to forgive and permit their bishop to prove to them that he is more than the content of those stupid email as his own son said or the naysayers who wish him to be crucified.
A very interesting test for that diocese. May God’s will be done.
» Posted By Nikos On November 16, 2012 @ 4:25 pm
“Chopped liver” is about right. It is astounding to me that all members of the OCA Episcopate were not even invited to the Parma gathering. To me this was not only a slap in the face of +Jonah but to every OCA bishop not on the synod.
And so, those who will go to Parma will be part of a closed gathering, more easily controllable with the outcome a mere formality. What a waste of time and money. But, this is the new OCA!
» Posted By Nikos On November 12, 2012 @ 12:39 pm
Hopko’s letter is not worth much more than the paper it was written on given that he continues to be selective in his application of what he so boldly asserts in the 2011 statement.
Where is Hopko’s outrage against +Benjamin? Where is his outrage against +Nathaniel? Where is his outrage archdeacon Burke and Bishop Mark? Where is his outrage against +Mark (Maymon) or Denis Bradley or John Perich or a list of other clergy that could be posted?
The fact is, Hopko turns a blind eye to all of this. He focused all his judgement at +Jonah. His words are correct but his ability to actually stand up as a prophetic voice is muted by his capitulation to the Syosset powers in charge. I doubt that he will ever stand up to anyone he considers a friend. Rather he will punish those he considers not in line with his thinking.
Personally, Fr Hopko lost credibility with me a couple of years ago when he blessed the life of Mark Stokoe. That was enough for me.
» Posted By Nikos On November 11, 2012 @ 11:40 am
Dr Joel Kalvesmaki: Essays Concerning the Orthodox Church in America
OCA Synod Issues Statement on Negotiations
SYOSSET, NY [OCA]Motivated solely by a prayerful desire to achieve an appropriate resolution of matters of care and mutual concern both to the Orthodox Church in America and to His Eminence, Metropolitan Jonah, the Church and His Eminence continue at this moment in ongoing discussions that are intended to achieve a mutual agreement and understanding that will be a Christian resolution acceptable to both.
Metropolitan Jonah and his legal representative, together with the appointed representatives of the Church, have mutually agreed to maintain these discussions in confidence until a point in time when they can be made public to the satisfaction of the Orthodox Church in America and His Eminence, Jonah.
This press release was for the benefit of:
1. The Russian Orthodox Church which has not moved in its stance that the OCA must treat His Beatitude, Metropolitan Jonah with respect, and,
2. To try and quell any voices of outrage who are sick of how the OCA leadership has handled this whole situation.
I believe a deal has been struck with +Jonah and the OCA and will be announced either right before the Parma gathering or will be announced at Parma.
The OCA leadership wants the +Jonah situation tied off before Parma so they can declare peace and bask in the glow of their, as they say “prayerful desire to achieve an appropriate resolution of matters of care and mutual concern both to the Orthodox Church in America and to His Eminence, (sic) Metropolitan Jonah…”
However if they think this 11th hour settlement will wipe from the memory of the OCA their terrible and brutal attempts to punish His Beatitude, they are mistaken. They will have to live with this for decades to come and they will continue to pay the price for their sub-Christian behavior. Also, there is nothing stopping anyone from still voting for +Jonah at Parma or to cast a No Confidence vote in the OCA leadership.
All that will come out of Parma is another person wearing the White Hat in a jurisdiction going the way of the dinosaurs. I can’t wait to see how the party apparachiks in Syosset spin their settlement announcement. Stay tuned.
» Posted By Nikos On November 10, 2012 @ 9:25 am
The response of the OCA leadership to Joel is one of the reasons why the DC Cathedral is emptying out as well as people leaving across the country. Joel K. is not the problem in the OCA, he and his family are exactly the type of people the OCA needs but have been shown the door.
Potemkin Parma, it means nothing until the OCA leadership and those who have driven this jurisdiction into the ditch repent and resign.
Excellent work Joel. I hope every delegate reads your words and prayerfully considers responding in Parma by speaking truth to power.
» Posted By Nikos On November 10, 2012 @ 7:06 am
Helga,
Those in charge of the OCA now believe that they are right, the OCA is THE model for all Orthodox to follow, that they are in an advanced stage of development which include a more “democratic” approach to church governance in which, for example the synod and the mc are co-equal leaders.
I could go on, but you get the idea. Christ is for the OCA because Jillions says so. The quicker we get with the program the better. Right?
» Posted By Nikos On November 24, 2012 @ 8:56 am
Um,
You are so right. I confess to my father confessor every time I look at that website. Thanks for reminding me. By the way did you see that Mark Stokoe, with the blessing of the OCA Chancellor Jillions, now says that the OCA Time of Troubles are over? Maybe I need to stop reading the OCA website for the same reasons as not looking at VOR. Check it out.
» Posted By Nikos On November 21, 2012 @ 2:05 pm
Comments Off Drezlo throws out a bone as her brand of compassion which does nothing to offset her evil brand of hatred. She fools no one but herself. People look at his/her website for the same reasons they slow down to see a car wreck.
Living in a dreamworld populated by Mother Soviet Russia and Cossacks harkening back to a make beleive yesteryear while hating anyone who doesn’t accept what he did to himself must be a miserable life and the crude stuff he spews is ample proof of it.
And yes, she bears a sin in how ugly she treated + Jonah.
» Posted By Nikos On November 20, 2012 @ 3:52 pm
He was suspended, then the OCA did their investigation. His suspension was lifted without a blessing to serve. That was later changed to allow him to serve only in Miami by the then locum tenens. Nevertheless, the locum tenens of the DOS is fully aware of the issues and the scandal and he has publicly stated he will do nothing. Many bad decisions which do not change any of the facts of the case.
» Posted By Nikos On November 17, 2012 @ 8:30 am
Seraphim98.
Interesting insight. The use of the word “plentitude” is common when the Patriarch of Constantinople speaks. But then again, maybe His All-Holiness, Patriarch Kirill didn’t check with Fr. Hopko to see if the Holy Spirit was present in Parma. Apparently, according to Hopko he was not there in Pittsburgh when +Jonah was elected. It is all so confusing isn’t it.
One thing is for sure, the “plentitude” felt the Holy Spirit in Pittsburgh (sans Hopko) but the feeling in Parma was more like, “whatever.”
I am sure that the press from DC this coming weekend as Met. Tikhon makes his first visit to his primatial cathedral will be reported to us with dutiful exactitude that it was a glorious welcome. The fact that 50% of the DC membership has left will not be mentioned. Those present will constitute the plentitude.
And the beat goes on.
» Posted By Nikos On November 16, 2012 @ 7:27 pm
Your Grace,
The key paragraph is the second one in which Moscow gives her congratulations tied to a very important condition:
I hope that through the efforts of Your Beatitude the American Church will restore fullfledged
relations with other Local Orthodox Churches, restore peace and harmony within herself and make comfortable the further life of your predecessor at the Metropolitan See of Washington.If it is true that Moscow has sent these same feelings to the OCA through back channels on at least three occasions in recent weeks, it would appear that this letter going public puts the OCA on the defensive and Moscow is expecting +Jonah to be treated with respect and released by the OCA to ROCOR. Anything less puts the OCA in a tough spot with the only Church that is currently willing to support the real life of the OCA in the world-wide Orthodox front.
Note to OCA synod – release +Jonah to ROCOR and treat him with respect as he rebuilds his life after your serious mistreatment of him. Honestly, will you finally do the right thing or will you still try and humiliate him by making him subservient to +Benjamin?
Move on and get your own house in order. That is what Moscow is telling you and she is your Mother Church. Listen to your Mother.
» Posted By Nikos On November 16, 2012 @ 4:00 pm
Mr. Paine,
It would seem that married bishops in the Anglican/Episcopal Church has not stemmed the tide of that Confession going head long into heresy for many decades now. Such an argument is sometimes used to swell the ranks of RC clergy, that they should be married to offset the need for RC priests. However the question comes down to whether such an action by the Orthodox Church is for the right reason, that is, because it is a legitimate and canonical action and not out of expediency because the OCA, as an example, is so weak at the present time with qualified candidates for the office of bishop.
As to your sideways answer to the reality of homosexuals within the ranks of clergy in the OCA, I can only point you once again to the fact that there is a homosexual deacon serving in the OCA Miami Cathedral, a man who married another man in California and then divorced him and returned to his long-time companion, a retired bishop in the OCA. The OCA did a thorough investigation into the matter and concluded without equivocation that the deacon in question should be deposed. Why he has not is still an open question but it is clear from statements by the current locum tenens of that diocese that he would not move on the case; saying that such discipline should be undertaken when the diocese has a ruling bishop. Nevertheless, that same locum tenens suspended a priest of that diocese when it was learned that he is engaging in an extra-marital affair and has left his wife and is living with his lover. So, as you can see there appears to be a double-standard which, of course, causes confusion which needlessly leads to suspicion and question as to why such a double-standard exists.
The OCA has turned a blind eye to such same-sex relationships amongst its clergy for decades and it appears that the current administration is not acting on these cases but rather are going into files of closed and settled cases in an effort to do what? If they don’t act on the most obvious cases one wonders what is the criteria in their efforts to revisit these sexual misconduct cases?
Thus because the spirit of accountability and transparency being two hallmarks of the new OCA, it is fair to ask these and other questions. Of course one must be sure, as in the case of the above deacon, that we not toss wild allegations at people, but rather question based on the facts, not speculation, that the Church has already concluded. Why the delay? Why the ignoring of clear cut cases?
Why is the OCA appealing a decision of a diocesan court which found a charged cleric with sexual misconduct innocent of the charges? The diocese threw the case out and was quite upset that the OCA would bring such a weak and flimsy case in the first place and then when the court found the cleric innocent that the OCA Chancellor would appeal the decision to the synod.
These are just questions which should be answered and until they are the flock of the OCA will still live under a cloud of why its Church acts the way it does.
» Posted By Nikos On November 16, 2012 @ 10:17 am
Just another indication of how off-track the OCA train is. This SMPAC group is not just looking at active cases but are digging through settled and closed previous cases. Cases that have been signed off by all involved, including the diocesan bishop. Re-opening those cases is just stupid if they were settled. What right does this group have to look into cases that as part of their settlement were non-disclosure agreements?
Talk about just stupid, these one is near the top of the list. Lawsuits galore on the horizon if they go this route.
» Posted By Nikos On November 10, 2012 @ 11:09 am
Photius,
FYI. the DC nuns are all American citizens. Their “rejection” as you put it was part of the synod’s rejection of +Jonah. Their STINKBOMB statement and others that Joel K. has shot so many holes in as to render it nothing more than their transparent attempt to get rid of their Metropolitan is now in the light of day for all to read and judge.
I am not going to defend the DC nuns, their misguided support for that wayward priest monk Symeon was wrong but you appear to be mixing apples with oranges. And, btw, the Georgian Orthodox Church and her leader Pat. Ilia are no fools. The Georgian Church has had communities here prior to the DC nuns and their monastery. However it does proves the point again, the OCA’s territorial claims here are impotent.
Just my 2 cents.
» Posted By Nikos On November 8, 2012 @ 12:53 pm
According to the gospel of Ted Bobosh, NO SECOND CHANCE for Bp. Matthias. Good thing there were people in the Church back in the day when Ted Bobosh was sued for divorce by his wife. Breaking the bonds of the Sacrament of Marriage. Fr. Ted got his second chance and has disgraced his second chance time and again by his arrogance in judging others.
Fr. Ted Bobosh, best you zip it and limit your prose to your own people. Even having your own blog assumes that you think you have something that others should read.
Yep. Second chances for those part of the inner circle. Same ol same ol OCA.
» Posted By Nikos On November 8, 2012 @ 9:15 am
Carl K. has been consistent in his unwavering acceptance of the “Hopko line” about +Jonah. I am not as concerned about their approach with +Matthias except that all this talk about “second chances” hinges on whether you are perceived on the approved list of “friends of the SOB” or not. If you are on their “enemies list” you are out. No second chances, no forgiveness, no compassion. It is this double-standard that is further driving the OCA into obscurity of their own dysfunctional making.
The real test ahead is when OCA parishes and clergy start petitioning to leave the OCA. I don’t think Russia is going to help the OCA get out of their mess. +Hilarion of the MP met publicly with ROCOR, the GOA and the Antiochians while he was here. He did not meet publicly with the OCA. Rather he delivered a strong message from Pat. Kirill that +Jonah must be treated with respect. It appears that the OCA continues to ignore this strong message. That move will further isolate the OCA. But, the OCA will now have to deal with the consequences of their actions and they will have no one to blame but themselves for how the rest of the Orthodox jurisdictions treat the OCA going forward.
Parma is a not event. The next OCA Metropolitan will be a figurehead. The power has shifted to the MC and the synod. Some think this is good, but when you look at who is in positions of leadership on the MC and synod, it does little to make me feel confident and I don’t think I am alone in this conclusion.
» Posted By Nikos On November 7, 2012 @ 10:22 am
In reading the analysis of the OCA synod against Met. Jonah by Joel Kalvesmaki especially the second essay, again the outrageous role of Dr. Eike in these sloppy OCA investigations and reports show me that they were working from a premise of finding evidence to get rid of Jonah – that there was a poisoned atmosphere already present fueled by the almost constant drumbeat of Fr. Hopko and Fr. Kishkovsky that +Jonah was “gravely troubled.”
These folks now have their hooks deeply in the OCA administration. The MC has now named both Hopko and Kishkovsky as permanent advisors to the MC (page 18) . A reading of the Minutes of the recent MC meeting just leave me cold. This group lives inside a bubble and give the indication that all is well and will get better as long as they have the right procedures.
Look, I may be missing something but as we get ready for Parma I get the sick feeling that the OCA will ignore the storm clouds and just go along without regard for the damage its leadership has inflicted and the direction of this jurisdiction. The OCA is going it alone and to hell what others think, even those inside the OCA.
» Posted By Nikos On November 7, 2012 @ 9:55 am
If Dr. Eike is who the OCA is relying on for “professional” advice, Lord, have mercy, Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. This women was in the midst of the DC Nuns “investigation” and she didn’t interview all the people involved. She proved by her actions that the fix was in to get +Jonah. Just another sign of the sorrowful demise of the OCA. Very tragic.
» Posted By Nikos On November 6, 2012 @ 9:04 am
What is happening at St Nicholas Cathedral is analogous to circling the wagons. Looks like its double-down and hope that enough people will not leave the Cathedral so they can keep the doors open. I wonder how many would return if the Cathedral left the OCA and joined ROCOR? One thing is for sure, there would be no Perich, Bradley or Kokhno. Sounds good to me!
» Posted By Nikos On November 2, 2012 @ 9:52 pm
Guest Editorial: Dysfunction in the OCA
Christine,
The OCA case vs. the Kondraticks was fueled by hate and a desire for vengeance. Between the Proskure Rose “report” (never in writing, only an oral report because PR didn’t want to get sued) and the attorney fees spent to fight the Kondraticks and the payout, the wise and vaulted leaders of the OCA spent nearly $1 million in their failed attempt to renege on a legal and binding contract between the OCA and the Kondraticks for spending their own money (Kondraticks) to upgrade the home they lived in but belonged to the OCA. The added value put into the home by RSK was value the OCA benefitted from when the eventually sold the property. It was a simple business deal but the OCA wanted to punish the Kondraticks. The bottom-line, we all paid for the stupid moves of the MC at that time.
A bit more background: the OCA said there was no written contract. When that written contract was produced by the Kondraticks the judge in the case said to the OCA, “you better settle because you don’t have a case.” It took many more months and more legal fees spent by the OCA before they realized their case was a loser.
Truth be told, the Kondraticks would have settled for $125K walking away from the deferred interest payments in the original contract, but no, the OCA wanted to teach the Kondraticks a lesson. Well, they were playing with our assessment money, not their own. This cost the OCA an amount of money that did not have to be spent showing an abysmal sense of their own bad stewardship. This was driven by then MC members, Stokoe, Nescott, Reeves, Skordinski, Solodow, and of course +Benjamin and +Nathaniel, +Job and Wheeler.
This is this same mean-spirited revengeful attitude that still afflicts the OCA in how they disposed of +Jonah. The OCA now has a lawyer, Wojick, on retainer for over $120K per year. In the bad old days of the “corrupt” Kondratick administration, the OCA never spent more than 1/10th of that in one year for legal fees and the OCA received much better and more professional advice than what they are getting now from a lawyer who credentials would never have gotten him hired by Vecchi and Russin law firm in DC which represented the OCA.
So the beat goes on. The OCA tries to dig itself out of the hole but appear to only dig itself into an even deeper one. I don’t think we are dealing with very bright individuals.
» Posted By Nikos On November 8, 2012 @ 12:29 pm
Matushka Carol is a sad figure who has carried a heavy cross since her former husband left her when he came out of the closet. Since then she has blamed Syosset for her tumultuous turn of life and lack of support directed toward her by the OCA. I am not sure what more the OCA could have done as an organization but I would suspect Matushka Carol could say more on that.
» Posted By Nikos On November 2, 2012 @ 9:47 pm
It’s interesting that even though the Vasile Susan case has never been settled, it has still cost the OCA lots of money. And who has paid for it? The OCA. Maybe that’s the main reason that Arb Nathanael hasn’t withdrawn the ROEA from the OCA. It’s not a bad gig, the Romanians give very little to Syssoet but their bishop has an equal vote.
» Posted By Nikos On November 1, 2012 @ 6:24 pm
Sons of Job: The Canons Prohibit the Bishops from Voting at Parma
Get a grip Pauline. Your anger is misplaced.
» Posted By Nikos On November 9, 2012 @ 8:21 am
«« Back To Stats PageYour Grace,
Metropolitan Jonah was not faced with a partial pay cut if he did not resign, he was told directly by Jillions that if he did not resign he would be not be paid ANYTHING. Full Stop. NOTHING.
What a despicable act. And now, he has to beg for some measure of charity, crumbs that fall from their table. They bullied him out of office and they are trying to squeeze him to take a token amount with no release or insisting on the same insane stance that if he wants a chance at anything he has to go to St. Luke’s.
Well let us see how the St. Luke option plays out with +Matthias. He will go to their preferred facility, he will undergo their preferred rehabilitation and he will be deemed unfit to serve. The drumbeat from the likes of the divorced priest Ted Bobosh is already plowing the ground in the Midwest Diocese to make sure he never returns.
And all the while they live in their own bubble of reality believing that everything is just fine. Jillions listens to those who tell him all is well. Nothing to see here. Just move along. Well the longer they believe their own press clippings it will only make the demise of the OCA that much more painful.
Nice work Eric Wheeler, Mark Stokoe, Ted Bobosh, Denis Bradley, Gregg Nescott, Alexander Garklavs, +Benjamin, +Nathaniel, +Melchizedek, +Mark, +Tikhon, and all those who will never be satisfied until all their enemies are crushed. This is the leadership of the new OCA. Yes, your actions have been noted. They have been noted and you have been found lacking. And all the while they give us empty words, pious platitudes urging us to obey them, without discussion.
Next stop Potemkin Parma. And the march to obscurity goes on. How stupid do they think we are? I guess pretty damn stupid that we will just march in lockstep and bless their unholy decisions.
» Posted By Nikos On November 8, 2012 @ 10:32 am
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