Comments Posted By Nikos

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Scandal in Chicago: the Initial Story is No Longer “Operative”

StephenD,

Fr Valencia is suing the priest who is the moderator of the Orthodox Forum, a forum that routinely slanders people, a forum full of hate and venom. Why didn’t Bp. Benjamin tell his priest, Fr. Michael Regan to “cool it” and reduce the level of hate speech on the OF?

What a sad state of affairs that a priest feels he has no other alternative then to seek relief in the courts? To me it is another indication of how off the rails the OCA has gone and not so much a reflection on a priest suing a priest. It should have never gotten to that.

» Posted By Nikos On September 6, 2012 @ 6:16 pm

And Now for a Word from One of the “DC Nuns”

Issac,

You need to understand that retired Bp. Tikhon of the West has been branded a “nut”, “crazy”, you name it by the forces that has turned the ship of the OCA state in its current direction. Character assassination is the preferred way to deal with people who have tried to speak truth to power. +Jonah is just the latest in a long list of “undesirables” who make the power-brokers uncomfortable. It is just the way the OCA does it. If you just accept it, all will be fine and the OCA will be fine.

» Posted By Nikos On September 15, 2012 @ 11:53 am

JamesP,

Bp. Nikolai offered to hand it over to the OCA synod but they did not bother to take him up on the offer. But please note that when Met. Jonah began to look into the antics of +Benjamin, that investigation was shut down by +Benjamin, +Nathaniel, et. al.

So, again, we are faced with another example of episcopal leadership and how the OCA has been led by the nose by Stokoe, Garklavs, Tosi and now Jillions. They brand their foes as crazy while they look the other way when one of their own does things much worse.

And, to be clear, every time His Grace +Tikhon, retired of the West writes he does so as another branded as crazy. Nice church the OCA. Stalin would be proud.

» Posted By Nikos On September 14, 2012 @ 2:51 pm

Stanky,

The Monk James (cute and disrespectful to call him a snitch, that says more about you) but apparently you act more like Mitt and just can’t wait to jump on something and make a name for yourself. The Monk James is mistaken, its that simple and he should apologize.

However, you, continue to sink like the proverbial stone with your outsider comments. You who are not a member of the OCA, or if you are you decline repeated questions if you are, have become tedious. You who question the Monk James as quickly as anyone, yet on this occasion, you enjoy taking his word as gospel so that you can run with it for your own nefarious ends.

Get a grip Stanky. You are now on this site for comic relief, bless your heart!

» Posted By Nikos On September 14, 2012 @ 2:43 pm

The accusation by Bp. Nikolai, who is in possession of the hard drive in question does NOT contain child pornography. It contains hundreds of hours of homosexual pornography and other porn but not child pornography. If it did, he would have handed it over to authorities long ago.

The point is that Bp. Benjamin clearly presents an addictive personality and not surprisingly projected his own demons onto Metropolitan Jonah. Addictions to booze, food and porn. Plus he is just a mean and angry person with a vindictive streak that keeps his diocesan clergy in line. Hey, isn’t that what everyone said about +Nikolai?

» Posted By Nikos On September 14, 2012 @ 10:10 am

Peter A.

You are correct. His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios indeed stood up to make sure Met. Jonah and the bishops of the OCA were included in the ACOB but in response to his gracious action Ap. Nathaniel called Bp Basil of Wicita to make sure that +Jonah was not invited to the Chicago meeting of ACOB this week. It seems that the OCA still is very afraid of +Jonah as he can easily expose their underhanded methods. One can conclude that they know they are a slippery slope because of their actions.

And from these men we are supposed to select the next Metropolitan?

» Posted By Nikos On September 13, 2012 @ 3:27 pm

I do not believe that +Jonah ever made even an informal appeal to the EP, nor to Moscow. But consider that the OCA bishops have done their best to cut him off by branding him a crazy man. Kishkovsky and the Synod knew what they were doing to poison the Jonah well. They have had a lot of experience.

» Posted By Nikos On September 13, 2012 @ 11:20 am

George,

Phil has never met +Nikolai. He hasn’t met any of the leaders in the OCA. He is a cyber troll who sits behind his computer screen and gets his rocks off by writing ridiculous posts.

But keep writing Phil because the more you write the more you make the case for the people you ridicule.

» Posted By Nikos On September 13, 2012 @ 11:17 am

Disgusted With It,

The fact that the OCA is a canonical Church means that one of her bishops or clergy do have the right of appeal to Constantinople. Whether it recognizes the autocephaly of the OCA is not a barrier to such an appeal. It would be easier to appeal to Constantinople than Moscow because Moscow recognizes the status of the OCA and thus might be reluctant to appearing to interfere in the internal matters of a Sister Church. Thus the right of appeal does exist to the First Among Equals that being Constantinople.

» Posted By Nikos On September 12, 2012 @ 1:42 pm

TN,

Point taken but using that same admonition, how do we explain that Ab. Tikhon allowed over $800K in restricted funds to be used for other purposes at STOTS? Should Ab. Tikhon now be deposed? That is one of the main reasons why STOTS board wanted Bp. Michael to be the temporary rector so that he would whip up the masses to backfill those misdirected funds. Its kinda a dilema isn’t it. But I accept your rebuttal but it still seems petty to me. I mean, Dundaff with so few people? What’s the harm?

» Posted By Nikos On September 11, 2012 @ 9:13 pm

FILE THIS ONE UNDER JUST PLAIN PETTY

His Beatitude, Metropolitan Herman asked Ab. Tikhon of Eastern PA if he could serve at the tiny rural parish of St. John the Baptist Church. Dundaff, Pennsylvania. His Beatitude received his reply yesterday. “NO.”

What is wrong with these OCA bishops? Not an ounce of charity in them. But at least they are one thing, consistent in their hard-heartiness.

Metropolitan Jonah – banned from serving in ANY OCA parish except St. Mark’s in Bethesda.
Metropolitan Herman – banned from serving in ANY OCA parish except Holy Resurrection Cathedral in WB.
Metropolitan Theodosius – banned from serving in ANY OCA parish except St. John’s in Canonsburg, PA.
Bishop Nikolai – banned from serving in ANY OCA parish in the Diocese of the West and in the OCA.

Is this the example we are suppose to follow in Christ’s Church?
Is this the example of love and forgiveness we are called to follow?

Yet we are expected to gather and elect one of these men as the next First Hierarch of the OCA?

Don’t be surprised if they ban Metropolitan Jonah from attending the Parma Council.

Lord, have mercy.

» Posted By Nikos On September 11, 2012 @ 12:54 pm

Danny, Danny, Danny,

I will try harder next time, but I doubt that you will ever get it. BTW, when are you going to finish your iconostasis in Dayton?

» Posted By Nikos On September 11, 2012 @ 6:56 am

Exactly what planet is Fr Bobosh living on? He thinks that the rape allegations didn’t play a significant factor in Jonah’s removal. It this guy stupid or does he think we are.

Maybe Bobosh needs to have his memory refreshed. Here is the OCA synod statement on +Jonah’s removal, aka, the STINKBOMB! http://oca.org/PDF/NEWS/2012/2012-0716-holy-synod-statement.pdf

Honestly, enough of Fr. Ted’s creative view not only of history but of theology too. He is the poster boy for why the OCA is sinking fast by the bow. I really don’t need to be lectured by a man who’s wife sued him for divorce nor a man who permits active homosexuals to be leaders in his parish, the diocese and the national church. It all starts in the parish and Bobosh’s agenda meant that we all suffered.

» Posted By Nikos On September 10, 2012 @ 11:18 am

Here We Go Again?

George,

I think a major TROLL ALERT APB should be sent out on phil r up. His posting are about as useful as someone scribbling on a bathroom stall. Time for this one to go away, IMHO.

» Posted By Nikos On September 9, 2012 @ 3:11 pm

anonymus per Scorilo,

IF you are truly interested in the truth about Nathaniel then talk to Bp. Irienu about him bringing charges against Nathaniel on moral grounds. Of course you would have to be someone who is not a shill for Nathaniel. Those who know in the Episcopate also know that I am speaking the truth.

You also overplay your hand by invoking the Phanar in an attempt to raise the stock of Nathaniel. Constantinople could care less who or if there is a next Metropolitan of the OCA. The last time I checked the Phanar does not set their clock to the life of the OCA.

» Posted By Nikos On September 4, 2012 @ 6:27 am

Earth calling Harry? Earth calling Harry? Over.

» Posted By Nikos On September 3, 2012 @ 1:09 pm

Mr. Calvert,

If the OCA has the ability to fix its situation, my only question is why are they not fixing their situation? Why are things only getting worse? You used the word “clowns” talking about the GOA, I ask you, who sitting on the dais of the OCA can lead the OCA? Which one of them does not have blood on their hands in the takedown of +Jonah? Which one of them did not sign on to the “crazy Jonah” card as the knife in his back?

You used the GOA as a comparison, how about the bishops of ROCOR as comparison? How do the clowns of the OCA stack up against them?

With all due respect, the OCA can’t fix its problems. The leadership of the OCA is the problem and short of them all retiring, the institutional corruption is too deep, starting with Ab. Nathaniel, the current locum tenens of the OCA.

» Posted By Nikos On September 3, 2012 @ 1:06 pm

A “No Confidence” vote instead of voting for any OCA synod member might be a way to get the point across that the current synod does not deserve to be considered for the vacant see of Washington. Why should any of them be “rewarded” with wearing the white hat? They do not.

Vote “No Confidence.” It is the right of any delegate to do so. Then let the synod members and the OCA clergy and faithful search for candidates from around the world. The Carpatho-Russian Diocese went outside her ranks to elect her new bishop.

Vote “NO CONFIDENCE.”

» Posted By Nikos On September 2, 2012 @ 1:23 pm

I meant to say, looks like St. Luke’s will be getting another OCA bishop as a patient. Someone hear asked who is next? Ab. Nathaniel. His lavender life is about to be finally exposed and he should be sent packing asap. They who were “without sin” cast judgement on Jonah? Hypocrites, all of them.

God WILL NOT be mocked.

» Posted By Nikos On August 31, 2012 @ 7:29 pm

Well Mr. Fall,

Much ado…..? So much for mark Stokoe’s vetting of +Matthais and the vaulted Midwest episcopal search committe! looks like St. Luke’s.

It is time for Bp. Ireniu to once again bring formal charges against Ap. Nathaniel

» Posted By Nikos On August 31, 2012 @ 11:21 am

If what Rod has shared is true about +Matthias it may be time for the OCA to think about going on a “leave of absence” and seek protection under Moscow or Constantinople. With each passing day with every new revelation, and there will be more, the ability of the OCA to even be considered legitimate is slipping away.

I can’t imagine electing another Metropolitan will do anything but be a momentary distraction and a feeble last-ditch attempt to stave off the inevitable demise of the OCA.

Is it time for parishes to start looking at how they can transition to other jurisdictions or for dioceses to leave en mass? Faithful are leaving, that’s for sure.

» Posted By Nikos On August 30, 2012 @ 11:01 pm

Just Guessing,

Part of the apparent confusion and the rush for Tosi and Jillions (now in Chicago as part of the “response team”) is that the working assumption now appears to be that if an incident takes places the de-facto step is for the bishop to turn it over to them.

We are also dealing a situation in which there are multiple stories flying around: the bishop not dealing with a supposed misconduct case of one of his clergy. On this point, the bishop would have full authority and if he feels that the incident does not rise to the level of the OCA “response team” to be contacted then he is within his rights not to do so. Was the bishop overruled by Syosset?

Another could be that the incident involves the bishop himself. Again, he has the right to deal with it himself, however in the hyper-sensitive OCA, one could imagine that Syosset injected itself or scared the bishop into doing so handing over his authority.

The stories out there now are legion and there is confusion within the Midwest Diocese as to what actually took place. Folks at the FOCA convention now meeting are speculating “did this incident take place when the bishop was at the diocesan youth camp?” “Does it involve a minor?” Without someone firmly at the wheel of the OCA it is no wonder that people are speculating on the issue and in the end the bishop’s reputation takes a hit and the OCA again looks like a jurisdiction out of control. Both are simply unacceptable given the current fragile condition of the OCA and it being on the verge of another AAC.

It looks again as if those who are suppose to be at the wheel are again mucking things up and are demonstrating again their inept and klutzy ability. The next Metropolitan should clean house and bring in his own team. I have no confidence in officers of the OCA.

Let’s not be fooled, there have always been “incidents” in the OCA involving clergy gone astray but in the “bad old days” of the previous administration (Kondratick) these matters were handled to protect the victim and sanction clergy, except when their bishop refused to cooperate and allowed compromised clergy to continue in the pulpit, some of whom are still standing before the Altar of the Lord shielded by their compromised bishops.

What we now have with all these policies and procedures is I am afraid more to do with settling scores, going on witch hunts and the abrogation of bishops to lawyers. To be a true bishop in the OCA these days means that you can’t really lead your diocese and if that is the case then the OCA should simply tear off the facade of it being an autocephlous church and return to the status of a Metropolia with Syosset in total control and its bishops acting as auxiliaries because that is the direction it is headed towards.

I don’t think things will get better until a real chancellor with real experience working with his staff to promote the good order of the Church, working for the Metropolitan and the synod and not beholden to a Metropolitan Council, lawyers, response teams, crisis management teams put back into their proper statutory place or eliminated. Yes, we need to be vigilant and call people to account, but the OCA is shrinking and all we seem to get are more layers of apparatchiks and more confusion.

» Posted By Nikos On August 30, 2012 @ 11:03 am

The dearth of information coming from Syosset, those who have prided themselves on “transparency” and “accountability” seem to now feel that it is only important to be open and honest when it suits them, like when they ran Jonah out of town.

It is also clear that lawyers and low-level apparatchiks injecting themselves into the life of the dioceses are running the OCA. Sex Czars and lawyers are setting the direction for the OCA. And then you call Syosset and you get a bunch of mumbo jumbo from Tosi, who, frankly, is not the sharpest tool in the shed.

So here we go again and which bishop will be next? Nathaniel? Ask Bp. Ireniu. Golitzen? Ask those bishops now retired who put him on the “never to be consecrated a bishop list.” Benjamin? Well, we all know about him. Tikhon? What about that $800K in restricted funds you authorized to be used for other purposes? Dahulich? Do we have to go back to his seminary days? Maymon? Just remember his time in the South. Alejo? Don’t forget Job refused to attend his consecration. Retired Bp. Mark and his pal deacon? Yuk. Do these guys think that they can skate by and that people are not going to step forward and eventually expose them? Now Matthias? It seems like Nikon is the only bishop without dirt on him except he won’t do anything about Archdeacon Gregory Burke, Bp. Mark’s pal.

And what did Jonah do wrong? He didn’t follow procedures? Well if the fruit of following procedures is the bunch of bishops we now have, then good for you Jonah not following procedures. These guys stood in judgement of Jonah? Are you kidding me? And we are suppose to trust these guys?

» Posted By Nikos On August 29, 2012 @ 12:21 pm

Removing Metropolitan Jonah Hurt the American Orthodox Church

Poor OccidentalGuido, you still believe the Stokoe stories? You believe a OCA special investigative process? You think that the corrupt way Jonah was taken out just started with him? Really?

» Posted By Nikos On September 17, 2012 @ 7:17 am

Maybe that is why the synod took Jonah out, because he was too fat. They need to work that into their Policies and Procedures. If being overweight is a red flag for Orthodox bishops then a large number of them here and abroad would have to step down.

+Benjamin got his stomach stapled because of his weight issues, but alas, it looks like he has gained most of his weight back. That from a medical point of view could be more dangerous than someone who has had a weight issue their entire lives.

The “rubber chicken” circuit that bishops must endure when they travel and eat at church functions is the issue. Most of the OCA bishops are on the portly side and overweight. I guess it goes with the job.

Are you still at your seminary weight Stanky?

» Posted By Nikos On September 11, 2012 @ 10:07 am

They keep lying because it is a culture of deception that is so ingrained in the OCA that “black is white and white is black.”

The fact that Bp. Michael went around the FOCA Convention in Myrtle Beach and told people that “I had no idea that Met. Jonah was going to resign” is just another sad example of that culture. He knew full well what was going on. The bishops all agreed to call of his resignation. The message delivered by Jillions was, remember it……….”it was the unanimous will of the synod that +Jonah resign.” So is +Michael a part of the synod or not? He can’t have it both ways although he would like it as he maneuvers to wear the white hat.

All the OCA wants to do is sweep another of its stinky deeds under the rug and tell us to “move along there is nothing for you to see here.”

Does it really matter who the synod elects as Metropolitan? They can have him I sure don’t have to kiss his hand.

» Posted By Nikos On September 8, 2012 @ 2:58 pm

Your Grace,

You are correct. The hatchet job done on Bp. Nikolai by the same crew that took out Jonah makes less secure the ground under the OCA. The continued cruelty leveled against Bp. Nikolai by +Benjamin locking him out of any parish in the DOW has its marks all over the cruelty being shown to +Jonah. Anybody wonder where the bishops got the lockout idea?

This synod, these men who have acted so uncharitably toward their own does little to give me confidence that they care about any of us.

» Posted By Nikos On September 5, 2012 @ 7:19 am

Not sure why you are addressing me with your comment, Fr Yousef? did I say something about the Sobor registration forms?

» Posted By Nikos On September 4, 2012 @ 10:54 pm

Helga,

Considering that they will be lucky to have 500 total attendees, I am not sure they are going to disqualify too many delegates. If they do, I am sure we will hear about it and this site will report it. I can think of a few bishops who should be disqualified!!!

» Posted By Nikos On September 4, 2012 @ 5:11 pm

Mark from the DOS says:
September 4, 2012 at 1:22 pm
That is unmitigated cruelty. Shame on the Holy Synod, each and every one of them.

But vote for one of them? Really? I think not.

» Posted By Nikos On September 4, 2012 @ 2:08 pm