Comments Posted By V.Rev.Andrei Alexiev
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As a ROCOR priest,I take great exception to what appears to be a reference to Metropolitan Hilarion of ROCOR.Who has made any accusations towards him?
» Posted By V.Rev.Andrei Alexiev On March 1, 2013 @ 6:07 pm
Bishop,my fat clumsy fingers gave your post a thumbs down when I meant the opposite.
» Posted By V.Rev.Andrei Alexiev On February 19, 2013 @ 7:29 am
Slight correction,George.”Bohunk” properly refers to Czechs,the “bo” part coming frpm the word “Bohemian”.The word you want is “Hunky”,which refers not only to Hungarians(Magyars),but also to those from their former empire,Slovaks,Carpathrusyns and others.
» Posted By V.Rev.Andrei Alexiev On February 12, 2013 @ 6:57 am
Another Response to Myself (Wink, Wink)
But seriously,once gay marriage becomes law of the land,how can we then prevent the Moslem,who is allowed by his faith to have up to four wives at one time,from practicing polygamy?Then the Mormon offshoots who also practice this,could become legitimate.
» Posted By V.Rev.Andrei Alexiev On February 2, 2013 @ 7:24 am
What Are the Qualifications for a Bishop?
I already recalled on this forum the OCA Romanian Archbishop who was advanced from layman to bishop in three days.ROCOR Archbishop Gabriel was nominated in 1996 while still the layman George Chemodakov.I’m not sure the length of time between his monastic tonsure and consecration,but it may have been a month or less.Both hierachs did have theological training.
» Posted By V.Rev.Andrei Alexiev On March 14, 2013 @ 8:41 pm
+Jonah’s Release Requested More Than a Month Ago
Your Grace,
Master,Bless!Talk about a small world.I had a parishoner in Cleveland who was a classmate of the future Bishop Vsevolod in Prague during WW II.
Also,my choirmaster in Cleveland was a cousin of Fr.Alexander Novitsky of the Ukrainian church here in Detroit.Fr.Novitsky later was made a bishop of the UOC(Theodorovich-Mstyslav).» Posted By V.Rev.Andrei Alexiev On February 2, 2013 @ 7:39 am
I agree with much of what you write aboved,but it is a matter of protocol for ANY bishop,retired or not,to seek permission from the local bishop before doing anything in the latter’s diocese.
From the life of St.Tikhon of Zadonsk,I recall that in the Russian tradition,a bishop who retires to a monastery still retains some privelages of his rank.
As I recall,St.Tikhon and,I think,Metropolitan Anthony Khrapovitsky as well;spoke approvingly of the Greek practice,where a retired bishop reverts to being a simple monk.at a monastery.» Posted By V.Rev.Andrei Alexiev On January 21, 2013 @ 7:43 am
I gave you a negative vote by mistake.Please count this as a positive vote.
» Posted By V.Rev.Andrei Alexiev On January 5, 2013 @ 8:42 pm
The Apostolic Mission of Bishops: A Short Reflection
If we wish to be gender inclusive,perhaps we could adopt Hungarian or its distant cousin,Finnish?Not only,does neither language have a masculine or feminine gender,but there is one pronoun for “he”,”she,”or “it”; o” in Hungarian,”han”,in Finnish.The same holds true for all the Uralic languages.I admit to having dabbled in the above two languages,but sad to say,not very successfully,same with the New Testament Greek I studied at st.Tikhon’s or the Modern Greek I studied in Houston.
» Posted By V.Rev.Andrei Alexiev On December 5, 2012 @ 4:35 pm
Father John,
You are in my prayers.May I have you wifes name,so that I might mention her in my private prayers and at proscomedia.My late wife, Olga, was diabetic,I know it’s a terrible affliction.» Posted By V.Rev.Andrei Alexiev On November 17, 2012 @ 5:26 pm
Extra! Syosset Reports of Deal Struck with Met. Jonah Not True
George,
Since the two US Ukrainian bishops were involved in Bishop Gregorys installation,it was quite prudent of the EP not to invite any Russian bishops,MP OR ROCOR.The Ukrainian Nationalist press would have really done a number on those two bishops.Though most of Ukraine is Orthodox,a large segment of the diaspora is Uniate Catholic.Many Ukrainian Catholics support the so-called Patriarch Filaret of Kyiv,who is not recognised by World Orthodoxy.Of course,by being part of World Orthodoxy,these two bishops Metropolitan-elect Anthony and Bishop Daniel,would be in communion with Moscow,but they have to tread a bit lightly here in the diaspora.They have already lost some parishes to Filaret as it is.
The Patriarchate of Bulgaria is part of World Orthodoxy and Patriarch Bartholomew himself was at Patriarch Maxims funeral.However,I wonder how the Greek American press would react should a Bulgarian hierarch ever participate in the enthronement of a GOA hierarch.» Posted By V.Rev.Andrei Alexiev On December 5, 2012 @ 4:18 pm
Yes,George,but then the DOS would not be what it is today had Vladyka Dmitri become primate in 1977.Plus that toxic culture which has reigned for far too long might have destroyed him as well.
» Posted By V.Rev.Andrei Alexiev On November 15, 2012 @ 7:30 am
Fr.John,
My understanding is that a schemamonk MAY become a bishop.ROCORS Bishop George was tonsured a schemomonk,on Mt.Athos,I believe.Also the late Archbishop Anthony of ROCORS San Francisco diocese was made a schemamonk in Serbia.However,if a man who is already a bishop takes the Great Schema,then he retires from being a bishop
I think it a good idea that a bishop not drive for the reason you listed.Some years back,a priest I knew of was in an accident in which someone was killed.He did confess to his Spiritual Father,but NOT to his bishop,his cheif mistake.I don’t know the details,but he was allowed to continue serving.» Posted By V.Rev.Andrei Alexiev On November 17, 2012 @ 5:46 pm
Welcome Comrades to the Un-American Council
Your Grace:
Master,Bless! I thought the man looked rather like Enver Hoxha,the Stalinist dictator of Albania.At least,Hoxha was honest when he set out to destroy the church.» Posted By V.Rev.Andrei Alexiev On November 13, 2012 @ 7:38 am
Along these lines,Romanians living in France would change the ending of surnames “escu” into “esco”.I’m not that well up on my French as I ought to be,but I believe the former means something vulgar in French.The Finnish word for money “rahaa”,sounds,like something vulgar in Spanish
» Posted By V.Rev.Andrei Alexiev On October 26, 2012 @ 7:26 pm
I did serve a second liturgy at Holy Ghost Church in Sterling Heights,MI,during the 2 1/2 years that Assumption Russian Orthodox Cathedral had no church building.HOWEVER,I served on a separate table,with a seperate antimins,which was placed in front of the Altar,after the Rector of Holy Ghost finished HIS Liturgy at About 11:00 AM.So there were two seperate priests,two seperate antimins,and two seperate tables,which is correct as Fr.John stated.
On Pascha,Christmas,and of course,Hierarchal visits,we would do only the one liturgy concelebrated.
I’ve heard of some Ukrainian Orthodox churches in this country,where the priest would do two liturgies,but nowadays,with the Ukrainian Church having joined “mainstream” Orthodoxy vis-a-vis Constantinople,I’m not sure that continues.It might have been part of the Uniate heritage of western Ukraine;Uniate priests,like their Latin counterparts,may do mulitple liturgies.
On the other hand,nothing prevents a priest from doing Vespers and Matins more than once.I believe the custom of doing Paschal Matins and Liturgy beginning at 4 or 5 AM among some Serbs,Romanians,and Western Ukrainians originated from when a priest had to serve two or more villages.He might do Paschal Matins at Midnight in one place and then head out to the next village,finishing up with Paschal Matins followed by Liturgy at the last stop..» Posted By V.Rev.Andrei Alexiev On October 26, 2012 @ 11:53 am
Your Grace,
St.Clement is indeed the church on Ford Road,I’ve substituted there twice,the red light isn’t there at the present time.The OCA Macedonian Bulgarian St.Paul church is on Beech-Daly in Dearborn Heights,right between Sts.Peter & Paul Romanian OCA parish,and Our Saviour Polish National Catholic Church!» Posted By V.Rev.Andrei Alexiev On October 26, 2012 @ 11:35 am
Master,Bless!
Your Grace forgot St.Nicholas in San Anselmo where my nephew,Fr.Stephan Meholick,is Rector.I know ROCOR made the late Vladyka Kiril a bishop,but who was Bishop Nicholas?The Romanian bishop with ties to ROCOR was Theophil Ionesco,whom Your Grace might remember from Detroit.
I believe that when Bishop Kiril was made bishop that the Bulgarian Patriarchate still followed the Old Calender.After they changed,he allowed some parishes to switch.One was St.Nicholas,here in Flint.
Both Bulgarian dioceses were originaly made up mostly of Macedonians.Now,both have convert or all-English parishes as well.Any Macedonians from the FYROM would be Old Calender,since both the legitimate Macedonian church(an autonomous church under the Serbian Patriarchate led by Archbishop Jovan) and the schismatic Macedonian church follow the old style.Those Macedonians from Greece or Bulgaria would of course follow the new.» Posted By V.Rev.Andrei Alexiev On October 25, 2012 @ 6:16 pm
I agree with both Antonia and Fr.John.I have no problem with women chanters.In my Serbian church,I had a woman doing both the chanting and the Epistle.She currently has health issues and my son now fulfills that role.I have mixed feelings about tonsuring all Altar servers,but my son was made a Reader before his 14th birthday.
I’m sure,Fr.John,your bishop has never tonsured a woman as Reader?» Posted By V.Rev.Andrei Alexiev On October 23, 2012 @ 3:38 pm
Guest Editorial: “Sons of Job” Call for New Leadership in the OCA
I don’t enjoy having to discuss these things here.I didn’t enjoy having to turn ANYONE away from the sacrements.But we are not Protestants,changing everything to accomodate peoples whim.
On the other hand,we are not Papists,either,and with all due respect to his rank,Metropolitan Philip is neither a pope nor a Tsar.The concept that “the bishop IS Canon Law” is Papist BS.As I’ve said elsewhere on this blog,if I wanted to be a Papist,I would join the existing Ukrainian Catholic Church.I could go directly to Rome through the Uniate Church,without having to go through Damascus,Constantinople,Moscow,OR Syosset.
It’s not just that I’m singling out Metropolitan Philip by pointing out that he’s not a Tsar.Even the real Tsars were not infallible.To give just one example,the Tsar-Martyr Nicholas of Russia gave permission to the composer Rachmaninoff to marry his own first cousin.I venerate Tsar-Martyr Nicholas as a Saint,but he was still wrong in this instance.» Posted By V.Rev.Andrei Alexiev On October 16, 2012 @ 7:46 pm
For once,I agree with you!
» Posted By V.Rev.Andrei Alexiev On October 16, 2012 @ 7:05 pm
Sorry,but my wife died and I can’t remarry.The rules are the rules are the rules are the rules.If I don’t follow them,I have no business trying to teach the faithful to obey the teachings of the church.
When my dad died not having recieved Confession and Communion,since he left Ukraine 60 years earlier,I didn’t bury him.He insisted on being cremated and I wasn’t about to make an exception just because he was my dad.Likewise,I couldn’t commune my one son at his mothers funeral because he was living with his girlfriend.And if my other son ever lived with a woman without marriage and then sought to be deacon or priest,I’d veto that ,too.
Please don’t tell me it’s economia to let a priest marry twice and remain at the altar.Economia is when you give Holy Communion to a person who can’t fast for health reasons.Economia is when I work a secular job because my parish can afford neither a full time salary nor health insurance.» Posted By V.Rev.Andrei Alexiev On October 15, 2012 @ 5:32 pm
Text Messages Reveal Extent of Bp. Matthias’ Misbehavior
I’ll give you one of mine,easy to remember, andreialexiev@yahoo.com.
» Posted By V.Rev.Andrei Alexiev On October 13, 2012 @ 2:07 pm
Dear Fr.Ambrose;Christ is in our midst! Then you ARE the former Fr.Alexy,whom I met on at least two occasions during Diocesan conventions in the 80′s.It was the latter one,I believe, at which Fr.Kallistos(Pazalos) recieved his tonsure.Are you still in Ohio?I should like to visit you before God calls one or the other of us.
I’m sure you’ll agree with me that Fr.Seraphim would have much to say about the present situation.I regret never having met him because at the time I was brainwashed by those who would later become HOCNA.I ask your holy prayers.» Posted By V.Rev.Andrei Alexiev On October 12, 2012 @ 11:31 am
What Will it Come to at the Parma Robber Council?
A MONTENEGRIN Liturgy?Please.Also,I doubt that the Turks would ever have allowed a Turkish language Liturgy.Surely you know the so-called Turkish Orthodox Church has nothing to do with the legitmate Orthodox Church.
» Posted By V.Rev.Andrei Alexiev On October 17, 2012 @ 7:07 pm
Well,Mr.S.,nobody cut me a break when I was struggling with HETEROSEXUAL desires after the death of my wife more than six years ago.And you know what? I’m glad they didn’t.I’m glad that some fellow priests and some lay people were frank with me,even though at the time I didn’t want to hear it.I still struggle with the desire for a woman(as I write these lines,I can spot a number of attractive women here in the library),BUT at age 60,I don’t feel the urges I might have felt 20 or even 10 years ago.
I came to the conclusion that I will remain a priest,at least for as long as God allows me in my unworthyness.I agree that priests must show pastoral care in ministering to ALL people in their afflictions.At least the heterosexual Orthodox man or woman who is “shacking up” has the option to marry.Most of the issues I dealt with along these lines came from Orthodox men and women who wanted to marry non-Christians(usually Jews,but in one case,a Hindu) WITHOUT the conversion of the prospective spouse.
Oddly enough,one young Orthodox male who berated me for wanting to leave the priesthood to remarry(and rightly so) now APPEARS to be shacking up with a woman himself.Indeed,we all must beware of pointing the finger.» Posted By V.Rev.Andrei Alexiev On October 7, 2012 @ 3:35 pm
And you believe the OCA website because?
» Posted By V.Rev.Andrei Alexiev On October 6, 2012 @ 9:55 pm
But did the bishop really send those text messages?If J.Edgar Hoover could attempt to frame Martin Luther King 50 years ago,who is to say that Bishop Mathias couldn’t be framed with modern technology?
» Posted By V.Rev.Andrei Alexiev On October 5, 2012 @ 10:45 pm
Dear D.C.Attorney,
Isn’t sealing people in the church illegal? I know the Vatican seals in the College of Cardinals when electing a Pope,but the Vatican is a state unto itself and not subject to US law.
Likewise,we have a community here where the Rector orders the gates to the premises sealed five minutes after the Sunday Liturgy starts.No one may enter of leave the premises until after Liturgy ends.There is access to a bathroom outside the church proper,but what if there were a medical emergency?
Just wondering.» Posted By V.Rev.Andrei Alexiev On October 3, 2012 @ 7:42 pm
«« Back To Stats PageI’m sure in the former Soviet Union there were Red Army soldiers stationed in the polling places,”Of course,Ivan here wants to vote the straight Communist ticket”(not that there were candidates from any other party on the ballot).
I recall political cartoons concerning the post Civil War South where white Southerners would be at the polling places to see that blacks voted “right”,that is Democrat;also where Union Soldiers would see to it that blacks DIDN’T vote Democrat.» Posted By V.Rev.Andrei Alexiev On October 2, 2012 @ 5:47 pm
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