What can I say about your bold assertion that Jonah was “brainwashed” while in Russia? Well, I’m gonna at least thank you for putting your finger on something at least. At this point, I’ll gladly accept a conspiracy theory. If this was the case, or if it was widely believed to be the case, then why didn’t the Synod convene a spiritual court and try him as a foreign agent? Why didn’t they get a real psychiatric evaluation rather than insist on a bogus institution like SLI?

Lemme ask this though: if you think that Jonah was “clearly…brain-washed” while in Russia, are we allowed to assume that many of our American Orthodox priests and bishops who have completely bought into the secularist mindset have been “brainwashed” by the CIA? I’m thinking of Left/Liberals who laud Obama and who are strangely silent when it comes to gay marriage, abortion-on-demand, etc. (Just so you know, even though I don’t agree with these hierarchs, I do believe that they came by their political beliefs honestly.)

Getting back to reality, Jonah “re-imagining autocephaly” may have been tactically unwise but it was not without precedent in the OCA. Metropolitan Theodosius Lazor said the same thing almost 20 years ago and it’s known that Fr Leonid Kishkovsky has long recommended that the OCA surrender its autocephaly to Constantinople.

George,
My current spiritual father,Fr.Stavros,is a Greek American,who began his priestly service in the OCA.After the OCA forced the new-style on his predominantly Russian parish,he and the parish left for ROCOR.He later served in the Greek Archdiocese,including a Byelorussian parish under Constantinople.He noe is back in ROCOR.My late spiritual father,Hieromonk Kallistos,began his service as a married priest in the Serbian Orthodox Church.His Serbian wife was a casualty of parish life;she left him;after being recieved into ROCOR,he took the monastic tonsure.I recall some horror stories about some Greek parishes.
I will say that my own bishop,Bishop Peter,does seem to be very supportive of his priests.His Grace has revitalised the ROCOR Chicago-Midwest Diocese.Every inch a Russian,Bishop Peter has fostered English speaking missions from the tip of Northern Michigan to Texas.I would say Bishop Peter is a “hands-on” bishop.

…Because “foreign bishops have no authority outside their own territory” (Orthodox Canon Law) “Local churches are under the authority of local bishops” (Orthodox Canon Law) Without any supervision from foreign bishops. The OCA’s autocephaly is what SCOBA prescribed in 1961 and if + Iakovos and + Philip would not have reneged their promise, today we would be a united Orthodox Church in America. + Jonah’s “OWN” idea (also pushed by nuts like BT) to go back under Moscow is non-canonical. + Jonah thought this was the best way to unite ROCOR and the OCA, but clearly, he was brain-washed. I seriously believe + Jonah was psychlogically brain-washed while in Russia. This is why people wanted psych tests. Moscow working hand-in-hand with the KGB (FSB) and the ROC is trying to re-claim all of it’s claims prior to 1917. Using the Church is their prime tactic. Being under ANY foreign bishop is a National Security risk, esp. Russia.

Dr.Stankovich,

Thank you for the recommedations.I know Charlie LeDuff from Fox 2 News here;I did check out the book at Barnes and Noble last Sunday.I haven’t had a chance to check out the other book.Is there by chance some mention of Ravanica or the Serbian Orthodox Church in general in it?
If your father was in Dachau,there’s a good chance he encountered St.Nicholai of Zica there.My late wife used to recall him from his days as Rector of St.Tikhon’s,where he reposed in 1956,my wife was ten at the time.
My late wife’s father,Andrew,was baptised by St.Alexis Toth in Wilkes-Barre in 1904.What I didn’t realise at the time was that my wife reposed in the very day when St.Alexis is celebrated,May 7th!
I myself was born in Irvington,NY,but grew up in Vermont from age four.My mother was of Scottish descent,Dad came here at the outbreak of the Russian Revolution.

Met. Jonah saw these moves as entirely positive, totally obvious and necessary to move forward and rebuild the vitality and witness of the OCA. What he did not understand at all ever was/is the entrenched power brokers who did not want to give up their power. He expected everybody to be on board but lacked the support, the political savvy and the willingness to play hard-ball when his vision was not immediately aaccepted. He got *****-slapped right out of the box and never recovered his equilibrium.

No body wanted to give up their power and even if these factions don’t particularly get along with each other, the enemy of my enemy is my friend. As true in all such fights, the target is scape-goated, which seems to be the pattern of the OCA, IMO. When things go wrong, find someone to pin it on and drive them out.

How many times has it happened now? I have lost count and keep hearing of others when I try to catch up. It’s at least 5 or 6. It’s still going on. Whether it is Bishop Benjamin the entire Synod, or other specific bishops, the attitude is still around even though the carriers of the disease seem to have changed.

It will eventually destroy whatever good the OCA could have offered if it hasn’t already.

That attitude is a disease that is quite difficult to erradicate, like a virus it grows in seemingly healthy cells, reproducing until it kills the host. It feeds on the idea that the hierachy in the Church is one of power, influence and accomplishment rather than humilty, repentance and forgiveness which give genuine authority. Unfortunately, power and authority are easily confused by we fallen and sinful people.

We Americans are really prone to confuse the two. We mistake the authority of the Church and the Patriarchs and even our own bishops and priests as intrusive and unneeded power over us. Sometimes it may be, but it does not have to be that way. We need to discern the difference.

What it it we pray during Lent? What particular sins do we implore God to deliver us from: Lust of power, sloth, idle talk and meddling isn’t it? What virtues do we entreat God to grant us as antidotes: chastity, humility, patience and love in the context of not judging our brothers isn’t it?

Guess what folks, if healing is to come to the OCA, all must repent, just as our own healing follows on our own repentance, a daring trust in God and participationin the sacraments of the Church as we attempt to live a sacramental life.

Hard to do. I fail at it all the time. It is harder to do in the midst of real malfesance, personal hurts and a history of judgementalism.

But think what has been endured and overcome by our fathers among the saints (known and unknown) over the centuries and at present in the Arabic lands, in Greece, Russia and Africa.

We can and should draw strength from that by recognizing and drawing on the Apostolic authority than the Patriarchs of Antioch, Russia and Constantinople (weakened though it is). Obedience does not mean subserviece to power, it means freedom in grace.

Until we in the Americas recognize the reality of hierarchical authority and are willing to be obedient to it, we cannot be self-heading. We will always cut off our own head in the name of a spurious ‘freedom’.

I did not use to feel that way. I was adamant about getting rid of the control of ‘foreign’ bishops so we could have OUR church. (silly isn’t it?) . The tempests and troubles over the last several years, plus some personal challenges have begun to teach me the necessity of obedience and a litte of what obedience actually is and how little I care for worldly freedom which is, at best, a shadow of a shadow.

Glory to God for all things. Rejoice in the Lord always. All things work toward good for those who love God. And not least: Psalm 118 (western numbering).

This is the day of resurrection!

Tell me you’re kidding me. Seriously. Tell me you were drinking Red Bull at 1:19 am watching the Conspiracy Channel.

Dude, these are not “informants.’ No one “sought me out.” Why “me” as opposed to anyone else? These are my friends since the 1980′s. Where do they get their information? They use this new technology called “email.” And, I don’t know if you’ve heard, but for a few dollars more, the internet is now “world wide.” Holy Cow! Even in French! There was one simple, singular issue alone: Vladyka’s home is for many a memorial to him & him alone. Not a photo opportunity likened to taking your children to be photographed with Santa at Macy’s; not Fan Appreciation Day at Yankee Stadium; not “put-your-head-in-the-cut-out-and-be-equal-to-Vladyka-Basil.”

Anyone who believes they “know” the story of the “retirement” of Vladyka Basil from the chapter in “Everyday Saints” is ignorant and silly. The unspecified “behaviour” mentioned in “Everyday Saints” and even discussed on this site and various similar sites is supposedly homosexuality, and it was supposedly run riot at Vladyka’s cathedral in San Francisco. In this gloriously apocryphal tale, Vladyka nobly and righteously takes an unassailable and unbending stand against the “sodomites.” The “Lavender Mafia” of Syosset assembles a much more influential force to unjustly convince those in power that Vladyka is “gravely impaired” and must be retired in a Sovietesque process forever referred to as “Rodziankoed.” The same process would be utilized to whack the immediately-former Metropolitan. Pardon me for yawning… Hopefully I may settle this, as I will now “piss on whatever is left.”

I had the “opportunity” – and Vladyka forgive me! – to read binder after binder of Vladyka Basil’s archived official and unofficial communication with clergy and others in his official capacity as Diocesan Bishop. Vladyka Tikon alluded to it once on this very site: it was lunacy. Chaotic, reactive, disorganized, lunacy. These were not issues of grave moral consequence, and in my estimation should have been delegated. Lunacy. I have no reasonable explanation. You don’t trust me? Ask the priests who were suddenly “uprooted” to accommodate a non-nonsensical “transfer” to solve a non-nonsensical “problem.” Or the parishes order to provide a dog house & pet accommodations…

And yet, this led to the greatest years of his life. And that memorial should have been protected from scandal, and it was not. Now, hopefully, the names of the Saints may be kept from these sad polemics.

If Fr. Herman has also repented and been restored that is a glorious thing. If he has not, then he should not be listened to. I would hope that his bishop has vetted him, but if it is Bp. Benjamin, you are right to be concerned, IMO.

Only forgiveness will free you from the millstone around your neck that Panngratious placed there. You may never know how that millstone helped lead you to salvation, but unless you forgive, it could lead you in the other direction.

Even though I was long gone from the HOOM when Panngratious was inflicted upon them and that their cooporate arrogance led them too, I know the pain he induced and the damage and the necessary humbling that was induced in the leaders too. I sincerely empathize with you on this, but please don’t allow it to continue to make you suffer. Give it up to God and allow Him to transform it for you.

Thank you.