Repent, and Stop This Insanity

MANY THOUSANDS WILL DIE - The Coming Schism in Orthodoxy

By Metropolitan Jonah
October 12, 2018

Once again, the United States and its policies are creating chaos, setting up the murder of innocent people, and disrupting an ancient institution. Only this time, it is direct interference in the affairs not just of a nation state, Ukraine, but of a religious institution, the Orthodox Church. And the effect of this is not just on a local, but worldwide level.

The granting of autocephaly to the schismatic Ukrainian body, the so-called Kiev Patriarchate, is not primarily an ecclesiastical issue, but a political one. Ecclesiastically, the US policy is interfering on a number of different levels. It is not, of course, interfering for the sake of human rights, freedom of religion, of religious institutions governing their own lives without government interference, or the fundamental American principle of the separation of church and state. It is rather operating contrary to these fundamental American principles, and trying to force the faithful people of Ukraine into a unified state church, supporting an unpopular government installed, supported and maintained by the United States, and essentially appointing the clergy and hierarchy, particularly the patriarch, for that body. Undoubtedly it will support the Ukrainian government in its efforts to nationalize the 12,000 churches belonging to the legitimate canonical Ukrainian Church and i ts faithful people, confiscating the buildings and property, including the ancient sacred monasteries and national landmarks.

The Ukrainian people, faithful Orthodox Christians, will fight against the confiscation of their churches, just as they fought the Soviet confiscation of their churches by the Communists in the 1920s. And now as then, they will give their lives for the protection of their holy places from defilement by false brethren. Just as they heroically fought the Nazis in the Second World War, and then the Communists again after the Nazis were expelled, they will reject the false patriarch Denisenko and fight against a government that they know cares nothing for them and their interests, their liberty, and religious freedom, just as they rejected the Living Church Renovationists in the 1920’s.

Thousands will die, protesting against American policy translated into violent action by the Ukrainian government. This is a grave sin, for the Ukrainian leadership and their American masters.

Moreover, not content to manipulate the ecclesiastical and political mafiosi of Ukraine, a failing state grasping for power and lacking legitimacy from its people, the State Department, and other agencies have injected themselves into the Patriarchate of Constantinople. They have manipulated the elderly Ecumenical Patriarch, either directly or through their proxies, through his greatest weakness: the precarious position of the Patriarchate within Turkey, politically and financially. They would expand his jurisdiction and have ensured his financial stability with bribes of millions of dollars. They are using and abusing an old man who is trying with all his might to preserve an ancient institution. They have compromised him, and the institution of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, and are thereby disrupting not only Ukraine and its precarious peace, but fostering a schism that will rend the Orthodox world, a community larger than the United States. This is a bitter and cynical
move, and profoundly evil.

Their justification is that they want to curtail the influence of Russia. The neoconservatives and others who control so much US policy are possessed by a paranoid Russophobia, left over from the first Cold War, and a new hatred of the Christian values espoused by the resurgent Russia. Despite Russia’s overtures for greater cooperation and détente, and President Trump’s apparent willingness to make friends with Russia, we remain hostage to the fears of State Department and Pentagon bureaucrats. Should we not to mention that Russia has a GDP less than that of Texas, and a military budget of less than one-tenth that of the US. So the United States tries to hit the Russians in the place they care about the most: their Faith, their Church, their Christianity.

The canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church, under Metropolitan Onuphry, is a maximally autonomous church attached to the Russian Orthodox Church. It is the Mother diocese of the Russian Church, and there is a thousand year connection between the Kievan Metropolitanate and the rest of the Russian Church. For years, the Kievan Metropolitanate has been autonomous, which means that their main connection with Moscow is that they commemorate (pray for) the Patriarch of Moscow at services. Otherwise, they govern their own life. The Russian Patriarch has far less authority over the Church in Ukraine than the Pope does over the Roman Catholics in America. (There is a close parallel to old deep-seated American anti-Catholic attitudes and fears of the Moscow Patriarchate.) Yet there are close personal ties, and huge numbers of Ukrainians serve in parishes and dioceses throughout Russia. The ties are organic, and the canonical Ukrainian Church has no desire, and has not asked, for autocephaly.

And so the United States State Department and agencies support a disgraced and legitimately defrocked charlatan who is all dressed up, and who is himself manipulating the pathetic Poroshenko, for his own ambition. They have blackmailed the elderly Ecumenical Patriarch, in regards to the disappearance of funds from the American Archdiocese, and then bribed him. To justify himself he asserted an interpretation of his own jurisdiction that is rejected by the rest of the Orthodox Churches.

The other thirteen Orthodox Churches, with one or two exceptions that have remained silent, condemn this move by the Ecumenical Patriarchate. They do not accept the assertion of virtually universal jurisdiction by the Patriarch of Constantinople, nor the authority to act unilaterally, especially on matters that require the consensus of all the Churches, such as the granting of autocephaly. While the Patriarchs cannot control what happens politically in Ukraine, what is more likely is that they will meet and try to remove Patriarch Bartholomew for having acted contrary to the universal canons. The greatest hope is that the Ecumenical Patriarchate will repent and stop this madness. It may be too late.

In the meantime, if they go through with the autocephaly, babushki—grandmothers—will be dying in Ukraine trying to defend their beloved churches from the new Ukraino-Nazis.

The Patriarchate of Constantinople will have relegated itself to schism from the rest of the Orthodox world; it might as well then join the Vatican. In any event, it will lose any claim to the primacy, save historical memory, and thus any influence.

Sooner than later in Ukraine, Poroshenko will be voted out, and Denisenko, 90+ years old, will die. Then the schism will fall apart, regardless of its status. Ukraine will continue to collapse, autocephalous church or no, into political, social, economic and ecclesiastical chaos. No one, not the US and not Russia, is willing or able to step in and save it. It will finally have to emerge from the ashes. So it will join Iraq, Libya, Syria and other places destroyed by US intervention.

Orthodoxy, however, will survive – preferably with the Ecumenical Patriarchate intact, but even without it. The other churches have already rallied around the Patriarch of Moscow as standing for and maintaining canonical order; and around Metropolitan Onuphry of Kiev as a victim of profound injustice, revealing Christ suffering in the midst of persecution. So thanks to US policy, Moscow emerges strongly as the moral leader of the Orthodox world. Poetic justice.

But you, State Department, will have the blood of the little Ukrainian grandmothers and old men on your hands and your heads. And you will have to answer for your decisions and actions before God. Or do you even care?

Monomakhos

Metropolitan Jonah is a bishop within the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, the former Primate of the Orthodox Church in America, and a native-born American.

Comments

  1. Amen

    • Russia never cared about Greek culture, language or religion. Even in Paul Malolis book, a hundred years ago they were snide to us. The RUssians only cared about access to the straits, that is why they sabotaged the Council of Florence. The Slavs grabbed for Macedonia in 860, 1014, 1342, 1878, 1885, 1913, and 1947.

      • Johann Sebastian says

        “sabotaged the Council of Florence.”

        Are you indirectly saying that the Greeks never really cared about Orthodoxy?

        • Mark E. Fisus says

          Right? St. Mark of Ephesus, the bishop who single-handedly thwarted Florence and saved Orthodoxy, is Greek.

          Besides, the Byzantine emperor’s objective at Florence wasn’t to defend against the Slavs, but the Turks. Zane Carides needs to chill.

      • “never cared about Greek culture, language or religion.”

        Orthodoxy is not Greek, and does not have a nationality. If any, it is Jewish, because it came from the Jews to the Greeks and all others.

  2. Billy Jack Sunday says

    He said it all, didn’t he

    This man is a true American pastor

    I wish my pastor thought like him

    But no, he’s been using Brand X

  3. Joseph Lipper says

    I am reminded of Susan Powter’s best selling diet book, “Stop the Insanity”, and perhaps an enlightened title for a sequel would be “Repent, and Stop This Insanity”.

    If indeed Moscow is the “Mother Church” of Ukraine, then the granting of Ukrainian autocephaly is a weight loss program that Moscow should have taken up years ago. The fact that Moscow is both incapable and unwilling to do this seems to indicate that Moscow is not really the Mother Church, but rather more of a controlling and overweight daughter. Moscow, repent and stop this insanity!

    Had Moscow even just considered the possibility of recognizing an autocephalous Ukrainian Church in 1991 when it was requested, instead of outright rejecting the idea, then this mess would never have happened.

    • You are speaking foolishly. The Kieven schismatics merely had to repent and be accepted back into the canonical Church in Ukraine. But in their pride, they took the back door, and dragged Constantinople into their schism.

      • It is a little for an egomaniac self-appointed patriarch to repent. Plus, it would be difficult (according to reports) to undo history and remove a wife and three children from the family.

    • An observation says

      Mr. Lipper,

      For weeks on this website, you’ve been sounding like a PR firm or a lawyer hired by Denisenko or Poroshenko to unscrupulously support them. Not clear why.

      At some point, even OJ’s lawyers had to realize that he was guilty.

      • Joseph Lipper says

        I think it’s a poor observation. I’ve consistently pointed out that Poroshenko’s proclaimed motive for autocephaly “for reasons of national security” is likely a pretext for civil war and therefore not a good argument. Poroshenko also wants Ukraine to join the EU and NATO, which I believe are both horrible ideas. He’s obviously a politician and opportunist. An Ukrainian autocephaly would not really be about Poroshenko, although that’s probably exactly what he’d want us to believe.

        An Ukrainian autocephaly would not really be about the newly restored Patriarch Filaret either. Patriarch Filaret presumably was restored because the EP believes his deposition was solely for political reasons. Whether or not it’s true, it’s evident that his deposition was at least to some extent politically motivated. He went to Moscow asking for Ukrainian autocephaly as per the unanimous request of the Ukrainian Church in 1991, and it was rejected. The Moscow Patriarchate wanted to reassign him to a different diocese instead, but he refused, so they found a way to depose him. Patriarch Filaret has endured for 26 years in schism, refusing to give up on an autocephalous Ukrainian Church. He’s certainly a stubborn man. But this is not really about his stubborn “feat” of endurance. This is about whether or not it’s rightful that Ukraine be an autocephalous church.

        The Moscow Patriarchate has pointed out that the canonical Church in Ukraine doesn’t want autocephaly anymore. Although this may be true, a big reason for that is because most of the people who want autocephaly have already left the canonical Moscow Patriarchate for the UOC-KP. The Moscow Patriarchate may have more church buildings in Ukraine, but the UOC-KP evidently has more people. Membership of the UOC-MP is declining, while membership of the UOC-KP is increasing. Moscow’s “solution” is telling the people in the UOC-KP they need to repent, but Moscow needs to repent also. This has been a stalemate situation for 26 years, and since the annexation of Crimea, this situation has only gotten worse for Ukrainians.

        • George Michalopulos says

          This may all be true (or not) but if it is, and if the situation is as dire as you say, then how can the EP ignore the situation in the us? Since he’s assumed the patriarchal throne, things have gotten immeasurably worse here by all valid metrics. Why doesn’t he recognize the OCA and encourage his three jurisdictions to join it?

          Contrast his acquisitive attitude re North America with that of his predecessor, who was abjectly horrified by the divisions here in America.

          • Joseph Lipper says

            George, all I can really say is that Ukraine is probably more deserving of autocephaly than the U.S.A. right now.

            • George Michalopulos says

              Why is that? I ask this in all sincerity.

              • Joseph Lipper says

                George, now would be a great time for the EP to grant Orthodox Christians autocephaly in America. The EP could offer it as a way to overcome the imposed schism we have of ROCOR and the Moscow Patriarchate not being allowed to commune with the Greek Archdiocese.

                If the EP granted autocephaly to an American church, it probably wouldn’t be the OCA though. It would probably be a predominately Greek church in America that the OCA would have to join to.

                That would be fine with me, and I’ve heard the OCA would be fine with it also, but I’m not sure who else would accept that. I’m not sure most Orthodox bishops in America even really want that badly enough. This last SCOBA meeting didn’t even have enough bishops present to meet a quorum.

                • Billy Jack Sunday says

                  Joseph Lipper

                  You said:

                  “now would be a great time for the EP to grant Orthodox Christians autocephaly in America. The EP could offer it as a way to overcome the imposed schism we have of ROCOR and the Moscow Patriarchate not being allowed to commune with the Greek Archdiocese.”

                  You imagine we can somehow benefit from the destruction of the canonical Ukranian Church? Disturbing

                  Putting that aside

                  The EP, after going into schism, then decides to declare autocephaly on behalf of the American Church?

                  Isn’t it ironic, don’t you think?

                  IT’S LIKE RAAAIIIN ON YOUR WEDDING DAY

                  • Joseph Lipper says

                    Billy, my point is that many Orthodox bishops in America aren’t showing an united front in favor of autocephaly right now, maybe with the exception of the OCA.

                    Apparently many can’t even be bothered to show up for a SCOBA meeting.

                    And you would not be in favor of the EP granting American autocephaly?

                    • Billy Jack Sunday says

                      Joseph Lipper

                      “And you would not be in favor of the EP granting American autocephaly?”

                      If the EP is in schism with canonical Orthodoxy, what “autocephaly” could possibly be proclaimed?

                      An “autocephalous” church in schism?

                      It doesn’t work that way

                    • Billy Jack Sunday says

                      Joseph Lipper

                      In other words, by acting in a unilateral non-canonical way in the Ukraine, the EP has basically goofed his own leadership

                      By entering communion with schismatics, his leadership is disqualified from being able to declare autocephaly

                      His actions were even counterproductive to his own “throne.”

                    • Joseph Lipper says

                      Billy, it’s a one-sided schism. Moscow has entered into schism with the Ecumenical Patriarch, but the EP still commemorates Moscow. Please correct me if wrong, but I don’t believe anybody else has entered schism over this.

                    • Billy Jack Sunday says

                      Joseph Lipper

                      “it’s a one-sided schism. Moscow has entered into schism with the Ecumenical Patriarch”

                      No

                      The EP is in schism with canonical Orthodoxy by entering into communion with the schismatics of the Ukraine

                      The EP needs to cease his intention of issuinga Tomos of autocephaly, initiate a full reverse from all actions related this far

                      Think of it this way

                      You cannot break the Church canonically to create another local Church – especially off of the false pretense and claims of what is pretty much universal authority – the same fallacy of old Rome

                      No, the EP is not doing the Ukraine any favors

                      Any declared autocephaly from the EP under these conditions will only be a false autocephaly- an illusion

                      Look, I’m all for Ukrainian autocephaly

                      I have no problems with the Ukrainian Church slipping away from Russian control

                      But not under these circumstances

                      You cannot create a local Church by splitting the entire Church

                      I don’t support the Russians, but I do side with their Church on this matter

                      Its actually pro Ukrainian to do so, and not on the least anti American or anti EP to do so

                      I care enough about the EP that I dont want it to fall

                      But in the words of Mick Jagger

                      You can’t always get what you want

                      Tell that to the Ukrainians, too

    • I agree with you re daughter that will not leave home ( Moscow) but in fairness to keep analysis going, maybe cos cannot earn her living, honestly yet!!!.
      Sad truth is that due to history of the years of persecution and opening en Mass of churches in occupation under germans, Russian church in 1991 had most of it’s then 7K odd parishes in Ukraine plus it’s monasteries. Of course today this is changing, but will take some yrs before rights itself. So in reality all that needed is some Christian love ( all I say!!?) and patience of say a generation until Russian church is ready to have a sister church’s autocephaly given.. Something I fully support but not this current shamed.

  4. Thank you Metropolitan Jonah for summarizing and clarifying these tragic events.
    Satan is working overtime to attack Christ’s Church.

    Panaghia intercede for us!

  5. Beryl Wells Hamilton says

    1) Does Metropolitan Jonah speak from any authority other than his own? If not, why does he use a photo of himself as a vested bishop, under God’s authority and acting and speaking as God’s servant? Why not simply post as “James Paffhausen” if he is simply stating his own opinions, or “truth” as he sees it?
    2) Is Metropolitan Jonah prophesying or guessing? If prophesying, why did he not say, “This is the word of the Lord”?
    3) Does Metropolitan Jonah want Russia to be the Mother Church?
    4) Putin and Poroshenko “regularly conduct secret phone conversations.” Putin on a recent conversation with Poroshenko: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W7ehRWVOn_E
    5) How does Metropolitan Jonah know that “They have blackmailed the elderly Ecumenical Patriarch, in regards to the disappearance of funds from the American Archdiocese, and then bribed him. To justify himself he asserted an interpretation of his own jurisdiction that is rejected by the rest of the Orthodox Churches.” Does he have evidence? If so, why doesn’t he present the evidence. These are serious allegations.
    6) How does Metropolitan Jonah know that Patriarch Filaret is “a disgraced and legitimately defrocked charlatan who is all dressed up, and who is himself manipulating the pathetic Poroshenko, for his own ambition”? How many people belong to the UOC-KP?
    7) Why does Metropolitan Jonah equate Christ’s sufferings with the sufferings of Metropolitan Onophry? He wrote:”…Metropolitan Onuphry of Kiev as a victim of profound injustice, revealing Christ suffering in the midst of persecution.”
    8) I include this statement, made in 2008, by Metropolitan Onuphry. (Article cut-and-pasted from Interfax-Religion):
    “Ukrainian Orthodox Hierarch considers holodomor a God’s punishment for apostasy

    Moscow, November 24, Interfax – Holodomor was a punishment of God for people’s rebellion against God, a permanent member of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church Synod Metropolitan Onufry of Chernovtsy and Bukovina believes.

    “Holodomor was a correction from God, suppression of our pride that rebelled against ourselves, against human existence. There’s a Ukrainian expression, it’s a bit vulgar, katuzi po zasluzi (an executioner gets what he deserves – IF). Thus, we got what we deserved,” Metropolitan Onufry of Chernovtsy and Bukovina has told an Interfax-Religion correspondent on Monday.

    According to the hierarch, “there are certain forces that use holodomor to divide Russia and Ukraine saying that Russians oppressed Ukrainians.” “While I believe that holodomor killed more people in Russia than in Ukraine,” the Metropolitan said.

    Metropolitan Onufry urged believers not to make a political action of commemorating holodomor victims, but rather to pay attention to its spiritual causes.”

    http://www.interfax-religion.com/?act=news&div=5403

    • Estonian Slovak says

      Wow, now it”s James Paffhausen. No Synod of Bishops ever deprived Metropolitan Jonah of the episcopal rank. Yet a Synod of Bishops, rightly or wrongly, deprived Mr. Rodion Kondratick of the priesthood. Deal with it.

      • Beryl Wells Hamilton says

        Is he a Metropolitan? Does he retain his title if he is now a bishop with ROCOR? Waiting for correction. Father Kondratick’s railroading was an illegal assassination.

        • George Michalopulos says

          Beryl, that’s ungracious. Metropolitan Jonah was never stripped of his episcopal dignity, unlike Michael Denysenko.

          Regardless” His Eminence’s words stand on their own.

          • Beryl Wells Hamilton says

            George, I didn’t mean to be ungracious to Metropolitan Jonah. I asked, is all. He’s not Metropolitan of the OCA now, but it would be ungracious not to give him his title, “Metropolitan,” which he was. Other than that, I am not so sure His Eminence’s words stand on their own. Something about letting him that thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.

            Interesting article linked to below by Taras Kuzio. The author provide links to statistics, which are not in English but may be true; in which case, we might be wise to wonder.

            Excerpts:
            “The Ukrainian parliament, where Poroshenko’s faction is the largest, has issued appeals in support of autocephaly; the latest in April was supported by a record high number of 268 deputies out of 334 present. ”

            “First, most ROC parishes lie in Ukrainian-speaking central and western “orange” Ukraine and therefore Moscow’s assumption that ROC’s believers are Russian speaker is completely wrong. 89 per cent in western Ukraine but only 40 per cent in eastern said religion impacted upon their life. Religious is less important for eastern Ukrainians, there are fewer parishes of any Church, parents do not bring their children up religiously and more athiests. 67 per centof all Ukrainians say they are Orthodox believers with the highest in central Ukraine (79 per cent) and western Ukraine (46 per cent). Anybody who has visited the Donbas will notice there are far fewer Orthodox Churches than in “orange” Ukraine.
            Therefore, there will not be a “civil war” over religion as the majority of believers in the ROC live in “orange” Ukraine and they will peacefully join Ukraine’s new autocephalous Church.”

            “Support for the UOC-KP has grown from 15 to 29 per cent and that for the ROC has declined from 24 to 13 per cent. 43 per cent trust Patriarch Filaret of the UOC-KP (20 per cent do not) while only 15 per cent trust Patriarch Kirill, head of head of the ROC (45 per cent do not).”

            “First, only 9 per cent of Ukrainians want to maintain a link to the Moscow Patriarch. Russia’s defence of “Russian speaking Orthodox” is therefore again an example – as in 2014 – of being unable to understand internal dynamics in Ukraine. Russian leaders are unable to grasp how if their military aggression has turned Ukrainians away from the Russian World and Eurasian integration why would it not at the same time turn them away from belonging to the Moscow Patriarchate? Second, Russia’s military aggression has transformed Ukrainians who previously would have strongly opposed autocephaly into neutral by-standers. ”

            “Only one per cent of young Ukrainians support the Russian model of development with 69-71 per cent opposed to its introduction throughout Ukraine, including 56 per cent of Russian speakers. ”

            http://neweasterneurope.eu/2018/10/15/poroshenko-achieved-second-independence-russia/?fbclid=IwAR3ZGIwr4GeWb4uAghztQCxZruJVssrdykjUh62Y4oy3Gb7T3prTV-uOiFM

  6. Nothing is more range than half truth coming from from a person of authority- and this email is infested with half truths.

  7. John Sakelaris says

    Things could indeed become deadly in Ukraine for the reasons that Metropolitan Jonah enumerated. This was a worthwhile warning.

    There is also the danger that relations between the US and Russia can also turn very violent, maybe under Trump, and even more likely under a future president, as our media and so many politicians of both parties are sadly pushing for a second Cold War with Russia, a Cold War that could turn very hot.

    A question worth asking on here now is, what do we American Orthodox do if the worst occurs, if, despite our voices of caution, we see in a future year that there are thousands dead, not only in fighting over Ukraine’s church status, but also in fighting between the US and Russia. Our own loyalty as Americans could then be suspect.

    In many ways the situation of American Orthodox Christians in such a calamity could be partially analogous to the experience of Japanese Americans during World War II. Now I am not saying that we would experience mass internment like many Japanese Americans did, but we would certainly be subject to suspicion. With that in mind, consider one important conclusion that our historians give us about Japanese Americans during those years: Despite mistreatment and suspicion, the Japanese Americans remained loyal.

    And continued loyalty to the US government, even if it ignores our warnings and blunders toward an abyss, is what we American Orthodox can and should have as an important part of our guiding policy. To do otherwise would doom any chances of having many additional converts to the Orthodox Church in the US.

    I wonder if I will get some flack for posting this here.

    • George Michalopulos says

      You should not, John. Like me, you have two sons. I imagine that neither one of us would want to see any of them sacrificed on the altar of democracy.

      In short, you have nothing to apologize for. Unlike the moralistic warmongers who hate Russia because reasons.

  8. I have just read that Russian has broken all ties with Constantinople. It is time for the hierarchs to take a stand and side with the truth. The EP must be isolated in their own schism. All the Churches of the world must stand with the Russian Orthodox Church. It is time to grow a backbone……no more lukewarm statements.

    • Most of the Orthodox world is in agreement with the Russian Patriarchate regarding the Ukraine. The problem boils down to a personal decision for many of us regarding taking communion at a canonical church or at a schismatic/heretical entity.

      • Yes. This grieves me deeply.
        If OCA stays in communion with the GOAA then OCA would be in support of schismatics, right. OCA parishioners would have to find a canonical Church. Ditto for Antiochians (although I believe Patriarch John will cease communion with EP). This is gonna get real chaotic……real fast.

      • Joseph Lipper says

        Most Orthodox bishops may disagree with Patriarch Bartholomew, but that doesn’t mean they have or will break communion with him. As far as I know, only Moscow is breaking communion.

        Metropolitan Jonah wrote that the EP might as well join with the Roman Catholics, but ironically it is Moscow that has now joined with the Roman Catholics. Moscow and Rome have now both ceased to commemorate the Ecumenical Patriarchate. As Pope Francis said, “Ecumenism is accomplished by walking”, and now Moscow and Rome walk together.

        • Johann Sebastian says

          Great!

          Maybe the Uniates will leave Rome and join this newfangled United (States) Ukrainian “Orthodox” Church.

          Then when Ukraine collapses, they’ll all repent and come back to Moscow.

          Grand idea.

          • George Michalopulos says

            I have no beef with the Ukrainian people. However their illegitimate govt is a horse of a different color. Now their going after their Hungarian minority, trying to”ukrainianize” them. This is pissing off Hungary.

            • Johann Sebastian says

              I’m a Rusyn. Ukrainians will say that makes me a Ukie.

              Call my grandmother a Ukie and she would have gone into convulsions. Call her a Rusyn and she’d say, “that’s right, we’re Russians.”

        • Wrong again Joe. Others breaking communion with the schismatic EP…..lest they also choose to be schismatic.

          I appreciate that you are attempting to be an apologist for Bartholomew, but your twisting of the facts are not convincing. Bartholomew has been on a campaign of ecumenism for years, and he has become very close with the heretic Francis. My best guess?………..you will see Bartholomew looking for another “Council of Florence” so that he can unite with the Roman schismatics.

          • George Michalopulos says

            Excellent point. If I may, who exactly is the “Patriarch” of Ukraine at this point?
            As I understand it Denysenko is now merely the “former metropolitan of Kiev.”

            This is insane.

            • Johann Sebastian says

              Does he still wear his Russian koukoulion?

            • It may be that everyone is missing the forest for the trees. As of this moment, despite the fact that “autocephaly” is supposed to be ever so shortly forthcoming, all that has happened is that Pat. Bartholomew has taken as much of the schismatics in Ukraine under his wing as he possibly can and declared them canonical and back in communion.

              As a practical matter, this creates a new eparchy or metropolia there under Constantinople unless and until Bartholomew signs a tomos.

              Did Bartholomew just screw everybody involved?

              He may have just greatly expanded the number of laity and parishioners under his omophorion (by about 6000 parishes, as opposed to 12000 for the UOC(MP)). If that is enough to satisfy his dhimmi masters in the State Department, then that is all he needs to do. He can “work” toward uniting the two main schismatic groups into a single functioning hierarchy before actually delivering a tomos. That task could outlast his tenure in the Phanar.

              In the meantime, everybody pays up the food chain.

            • George,

              Remember what I said about the rhetoric?

              http://byztex.blogspot.com/2018/10/met-hilarion-gives-frank-interview-on.html

              Met. Hilarion of Volokolamsk is now stating that this is the end of Constantinople’s status as first among equals:

              ‘We have now come to face a new church reality: we no longer have a single coordinating center in the Orthodox Church, and we should very clearly realize that the Patriarchate of Constantinople has self-destructed as such”

              ” . . . having invaded the canonical boundaries of another Local Church, by legitimatizing a schism it has lost the right to be called the coordinating center for the Orthodox Church’, the hierarch said.

              Such men choose their words carefully. He stated this little gem three times in the same interview. They are resigned to the Phanar’s decision and have moved on to counter any damage inflicted:

              “Patriarch Bartholomew has been often called ‘the spiritual leader of the 300 million-strong Orthodox population of the planet’, but from these 300 million at least a half should be subtracted; for he is not the spiritual leader for either the Russian Orthodox Church or the Local Orthodox Churches, which I think will not support his predatory actions. Precisely for this reason I say that he has now lost the right to be called the coordinating center for the Orthodox Church.”

              Met. Hilarion has several times spoken this way, as if he has already coordinated with the other local churches to reach a consensus of action. This is actually counter-intuitive in Orthodoxy as most of you cradle Orthodox know. The tendency is for local churches to stay out of the fray when the fur starts to fly between two of them. Met. Hilarion is speaking, for some reason, as if he expects differently.

            • Joseph Lipper says

              Patriarch Filaret explains procedure for selecting head of new local church in Ukraine

              “The new leader will be selected at the Unifying Council. Filaret says it will be a new head of the UOC who will be receiving the tomos – the decree of the Ecumenical Patriarch on granting autocephaly to the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. “The head of the Ukrainian [Orthodox] Church will be elected at an Unifying Council, which will include 41 bishops of the Kyiv Patriarchate, 12 bishops of the Autocephalous Church, and 10 bishops of the Moscow Patriarchate,” Filaret told Ukrainian TV Channel 5 on September 30.”

              https://www.unian.info/society/10280925-patriarch-filaret-explains-procedure-for-selecting-head-of-new-local-church-in-ukraine.html

  9. Daniel DeLorenzo says

    With the US Attorneys office investigating the misappropriation of funds for rebuilding the GOC at ground Zero, one can imagine that the US government could exert a little persuasion on the EP to support their side. If there is any doubt that the US supports the Kyiv Patriarchy, one need only look to who Phillaret Denysenko came to speak to when he visited the US to gather support. He spoke at the Atlantic Council. This completely concurs with Met. Jonah’s summary!
    You also have the Uniates who want this to happen, so they can claim Church Buildings. With President Poroshenko. (Nee Waltzman) regularly taking communion in Uniate Church, might he want to give the Pochayiv Lavra to the Uniates? They did control it for over 100 years, and the majority of the Ukrainians in the diaspora are Greco-catholic Uniates. In fact, I wouldn’t be surprised if within a few years, the whole lot of them went under the Bishop of Rome!

    • George Michalopulos says

      It’s rather intriguing to me that the Ukrainian oligarchs who are funding these neonazi groups are themselves of Jewish ethnicity and possess dual Israeli-Ukrainian citizenship.

      • Dan DeLorenzo says

        In fact my brother in law sent me some statistical information which broke down the various ethnic groups by percentage of ocerall population, as compared to percentage of representation in the Rada. Jews make up less than 2% of overall population and 43% of the Rada and 67% of the Cabinet Minestery positions. The former leader of Pravi Sektor, Yarosh, became a Member of the Rada, is himself a Jew, and is a protoge of Jewish Oligarch Kolomoisky. Kolomoisky essentially funds his own army! Looking back to the infamous “F-the EU” quote by Victoria Newland, (Nudelmen) wife of Neo-Con David Kagan, in that conversation which the Rissians recorder, she is overheard discussing with former US Ambassador Pyatt, who they will pick to tun the country, we can get a better understanding of who is running things there. Is this the revenge of the Kazahrians against the Rus?

        • George Michalopulos says

          Ironic, isn’t it? Pravy Sektor makes the alt.right in America look downright philo-Semitic. And to think that it has Jews in its upper ranks makes one wonder, doesn’t it?

  10. Gail Sheppard says

    Beryl:

    1) Metropolitan Jonah is speaking as a bishop.

    2) Metropolitan Jonah is not prophesizing or guessing. He is explaining the situation from his unique vantage point as a bishop within ROCOR.

    3) As Metropolitan Jonah stated, no one wants the Patriarchate of Constantinople to relegate itself into schism.

    4) ???

    5) Sometimes there is evidence for something we don’t directly see based on how everything around it behaves. Case in point: Dark matter is inferred from its gravitational pull. By the same token, we can infer the State Department is bullying the EP based on the EP’s actions and whom they benefit.

    6) Filaret has manipulated Poroshenko into believing he is a patriarch when he remains a deposed bishop!

    7) Like Christ, Metropolitan Onuphry of Kiev is a victim of profound injustice.

    8) ???

    Hope this helps.

    • Good summation, Gail.

    • Bishop Tikhon (Fitzgerald) says

      (2):There is no such word as “prophesize.” One may prophesy (prah-feh-sigh), creating a prophecy (prah-feh-see).. Is it “Antioch-speak” or the like?
      (3) How in @#$!&(+$ does one “relegate” oneself into anything?
      (6) Where is any evidence that Poroshenko “BELIEVES” Filaret is a patriarch?

      • Gail Sheppard says

        I apologize, Your Grace. As we’ve discussed, prophesize is a legitimate word, although I know you don’t think I should use it in this context. It’s not an Antiochian thing. I had an injury and pain is not my friend. Otherwise, I would have used the spelling you prefer. https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/prophesize

        Relegate means “consign or dismiss to an inferior rank or position.” It is indeed possible for the Ecumenical Patriarchate to consign itself to an inferior position through the marginalization and disenfranchisement that comes from doing that which is frowned upon by the larger community.

        It’s difficult to know what one believes even when evidence exists. It really doesn’t matter what Poroshenko believes, though. The EP may change who/what Filaret SAYS he is in short order.

        • Bishop Tikhon (Fitzgerald) says

          I see that, for the first time, in 2018 Merriam Webster has admitted the word “prophesize” into its lexicography. I guess it’s a journalist’s substitute for prophesy?
          What are we to call the inferior position to which the Ecumenical Patriarchate relegated itself?
          You wrote “It’s difficult to know what one believes even when evidence exists.” This may be true in some cases, but what and where is ANY evidence that Poroshenko “BELIEVES” Filaret is a patriarch. as you affirmed? [“6) Filaret has manipulated Poroshenko into believing he is a patriarch when he remains a deposed bishop!”]

          • Gail Sheppard says

            Actually, Your Grace, the word was in the dictionary way back when you and I were posting on the Indiana List, as we had the same conversation there. My spell check has a propensity to change my words and for whatever reason, it likes this word. I just didn’t catch it this time.

            What are we to call the “inferior position to which the Ecumenical Patriarchate relegated itself?” Oh, I don’t know. Maybe the “other” Patriarchate of Ukraine.

            I’d have to go look for evidence of what Poroshenko believes which frankly is not a good use of my time. I’m ready to concede the point. What I DO know is he is an opportunist and is leveraging the Church for his own political gain. I doubt you’d disagree.

        • Beryl Wells Hamilton says

          Like this? “A wonderful and horrible thing is committed in the land; the prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means; and my people love to have it so. (Jeremiah 5:30-31.)

          Analysts prophesy a good year for pork sales.” Clanging cymbals.

      • Who to blame says

        Not true. Both the Merriam-Webster and English Oxford dictionaries would disagree with you.

        https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/prophesize
        https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/prophesize

        • Bishop Tikhon (Fitzgerald) says

          “Who to blame!” What connection, if any, exists between the OED and “oxforddictionaries.com?”

  11. Gregg Gerasimon says

    Bravo Metropolitan Jonah! I was especially touched by the charity and love that he showed to Patriarch Bartholomew in this piece, characterizing him (possibly correctly?) as someone who has been deeply led astray by evil forces and probably by some in his own jurisdiction and synod who are searching for money and power.

    Begin an American himself, Metropolitan Jonah is one of the best at being able to express the Orthodox faith to an American audience. He knows American culture through and through, and obviously he knows Orthodox Christianity through and through. A true servant of Christ!

    The Poroshenko/Denisenko/US State Dept/Patr of C’ple disaster in Ukraine is directly tied to some of the Ukrainian nationalist history that has deeply neo-Nazi and anti-Semitic roots. Those who think that they are simply supporting “Ukrainian religious freedom” and see Denisenko as some religious “freedom fighter” need to know that they are, in reality, directly supporting neo-Nazis and anti-Semites.

    For those who are interested, several years worth of Metropolitan Jonah’s talks from his Tuesday evening classes on Orthodox Christianity at St John the Baptist Cathedral in Washington, D.C., are available on the Holy Archangels Orthodox Foundation website.

    Some may remember that the Holy Archangels Foundation was the foundation that had previously been established to support the ever-memorable Bishop Basil (Rodzianko), who, through radio, served as a spiritual father to millions in atheistic/communist Russia. Bishop Basil helped to foster the Church’s resurgence in Russia during the final decades of communism and during the immediate post-Communist period. A wonderful chapter on Bishop Basil and his effect on the Church is part of the popular book “Everyday Saints” by (now Metropolitan) Tikhon (Shevkunov).

    And as detailed in the first chapter of one of the books about Bishop Basil’s life (“Rodzianko: An Orthodox Journey from Revolution to Millennium, 1917-1988; by Larry Witham; published 1991), Bishop Basil lost his episcopate in 1984 (he had been the OCA Bishop of San Francisco) because he was forced to choose between continuing his radio broadcasts to the Soviet Union vs continuing to serve as a bishop. For reasons that are not clear to me, the OCA synod at the time would not support Bishop Basil in continuing his radio broadcasts.

    The Holy Archangels Orthodox Foundation now supports Metropolitan Jonah in his unique and very important position: bringing and explaining the ancient Christian faith to Americans and Westerners who want to hear. Anyone who is interested may financially support the Holy Archangels Orthodox Foundation as well (stewardship information is on their website).

    I fully agree with Metropolitan Jonah. Our Church will certainly survive, but it will likely be very bloody and messy in between. There are too many frightening similarities between Poroshenko’s/Denisenko’s sham church and Alexandr Vvedensky’s “Living Church.”

    To posit an answer to Metropolitan Jonah’s final question, “does the State Dept even care?”, tragically my impression is that no, they don’t care.

    • Estonian Slovak says

      The “original” Ukrainian breakaway church was in fact a Ukrainian variation on the Living Church theme. Married bishops, twice-married priests,etc. It’s first “Metropolitan” Vasyl Lipkiwsky, was not only married, but his “consecration” consisted of nineteen or so priests kneeling and holding their hands on him. No bishop at all participated.
      Unfortunately, Ukrainian Nationalism in Eastern Ukrainian was quite left wing at the time. It wasn’t until after defeat of the Whites that the Soviets turned on Ukrainian Nationalism. If the Whites and Ukrainians had both been a little more flexible, the Red horror might have been defeated.

    • Bishop Tikhon (Fitzgerald) says

      Gregg Gerasimon repeated the following false information: “Bishop Basil lost his episcopate in 1984 (he had been the OCA Bishop of San Francisco) because he was forced to choose between continuing his radio broadcasts to the Soviet Union vs continuing to serve as a bishop. ” Ever-memorable Bishop Basil was removed as Bishop of San Francisco because of numerous complaints by clergy and Faithful of the Diocese of the West some involving his bizarre behavior. You may inquire of any of the clergy who were district deans or chancellor during his incumbency. One example was an “Ukaz”(he called them that) directing the location of a dog house in Bryte, California. When disorders arose in Bryte, Bishop Basil reported to us on the diocesan council that disorder in the Bryte parish had reached a stage where “they” had “knocked Matushka to the ground” Then he added, “But she had it coming. What a mouth she has!” Later, due to disorder in that parish, he called a parish meeting and directed that every member had to go to Confession and Communion. On the following Satcurday or Sunday Divine Liturgy was served after everyone had made Confession and all communed. NEXT: he performed an exorcism of them all: after receiving the Holy Mysteries and before eating anything, they all were exorcized, breathing and SPITTING on the devil! (Many devout Greek Orthodox will not even kiss a holy icon after communing, yet this Hierarch made them SPIT!) This is the first time I’ve read the tale about being forbidden to broadcast.What a whopper! Eternal memory to the servant of God, Basil, an hieracch!

      • Gregg Gerasimon says

        Your Grace,

        I was describing how the end of Bishop Basil’s episcopacy is detailed in the first chapter of the book mentioned above (“Rodzianko: An Orthodox Journey from Revolution to Millennium, 1917-1988″ by Larry Witham; published 1991).

        If there were other circumstances as well, then so be it, but the author of this biography of Bishop Basil puts forth that the Bishop was forced to choose between keeping his episcopacy vs continuing to do his radio broadcasts to the USSR.

        For anyone interested in Bishop Basil, I highly recommend this book — it is fascinating, as was his life.

        I visited his grave at Rock Creek cemetery in D.C. when I was there a few weeks ago. Memory eternal, indeed!

  12. Jim Jatras says

    Note that Metropolitan Jonah has already been attacked ad hominem by pro-LGBTQILSMFT site “Orthodoxy in Dialogue” https://orthodoxyindialogue.com/2018/10/15/a-response-to-metropolitan-paffhausen-re-ukraine-by-giacomo-sanfilippo-with-taras-kuzio/#more-11482 by a “same-sex love” advocate https://tspace.library.utoronto.ca/handle/1807/75512 (and self-described “grandson of an Orthodox priest and Ukrainian patriot born in 1887 in Rohatyn, in Ukraine’s present-day Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast”) in cooperation with a Uniate former “Head of Mission of the NATO Information and Documentation Centre” in Kiev.

    As I have noted elsewhere https://www.rt.com/op-ed/440230-orthodox-church-ukraine-poroshenko/ , the deepening schism displays a bizarre confluence between complex, historic ethnic disputes (on the details and merits of which there can be disagreements) and the hostile political agendas of western governments pushing an anti-Russian geopolitical vendetta and an anti-Christian moral agenda.

    • George Michalopulos says

      Thanks for pointing that out Jim. Curious, isn’t it? The doyenne of American LGBT orthodoxy, Inga Leonova, who has been a stalwart critic of American rightists such as Matthew Heimbach, is strangely silent when it comes to the rabidly neonazi Ukrainian militias who are pushing for autocephaly and are violently anti-homosexual.

      Is it possible that given the globalist/secularist mindset of Cpole, she and the Fordham faction have decided that discretion is the better part of valor?

      Just sayin’.

  13. Beryl Wells Hamilton says

    The ROCOR (website link below) has made clearheaded, calm and concise statements that make sense even to me. Why does a leader in the Orthodox Church come to Monomakhos and throw fire on a hairy situation that is being discussed by Orthodox world leaders behind the scenes? Metropolitan Jonah’s statement, posted on a blog and NOT on the ROCOR website, is emotional and (I think) unnecessary. http://www.synod.com/synod/indexeng.htm

    • Gail Sheppard says

      Beryl,

      Metropolitan Jonah’s piece is being posted all over the Internet because his words resonate with so many. It wasn’t just posted here and I doubt Metropolitan Jonah came directly to George. One of George’s sources probably gave it to him.

      • Bishop Tikhon (Fitzgerald) says

        Gail. What do you mean by posted “all over the internet? And why does Metropolitan Jonah, who was never given a diocese by ROCOR, rush to advertise himself, rather than wait for a conciliar announcement from ROCOR’s Holy Synod or ROCOR’s First Hierarch? Is not this individualist rather than conciliar utterance the sort of thing that woke up the OCA hierarchy? Surely, Monomachist posters prefer the rightness and practicality of conciliarity. rather than a Bartholomew-like exercise in the Unilateral? Does he really feel he’s owed the right to issue such an “Urbi et orbi” judgment?

        • And there we have it, folks… The little green monster called Envy.

          • M. Stankovich says

            It seems to me that after 25 years of faithful service in the Vineyard of the Master – “White hair is a crown of glory, if it be found in the way of righteousness.” (Prov. 16:31) – Vladyka Tikhon has earned the right to question both the motivation and credibility of one whom the Lord Himself questions: “No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.” (Lk. 9:62) What, in your estimation, would motivate a man to envy mediocrity?

            • Billy Jack Sunday says

              M. Stankovich

              He therefore gets a matching white crash helmet

              Maybe you two can trade helmet stickers back and forth for fun

              Nice spiritual justification for a needless ad hominem attack

            • Archpriest Alexander F. C. Webster says

              Before the situation on this blog becomes intolerable, I suggest it’s time for Beryl (whoever she is), Dr. S. (referring to Metropolitan Jonah as a “mediocrity”), and the retired OCA bishop in California to resist the temptation to hurl ad hominem insults against Metropolitan Jonah.

              The former OCA primate is serving humbly and marvelously as rector of a small but vibrant, growing parish in Virginia. I should know: I was deeply moved and honored when Metropolitan Jonah replaced me in Stafford, enabling me to relocate for awhile to Holy Trinity Seminary in upstate New York.

              The global ecclesial stakes are now too high for us Orthodox in North America to engage in such petty squabbles and backbiting, which only embarrasses publicly the perpetrators themselves.

              • Thank you Father Alexander for moderating voice. You are absolutely right in what you say; now is time for prayer for our church.

          • Bishop Tikhon (Fitzgerald) says

            “Nate,” do I know you? Why would I OR ANYBODY feel envy relative to the refugee Metropolitan Jonah? At 85 years plus, I am only thankful for God’s mercy on me. I can’t imagine ANYONE, let alone me, as envious of the man! What an idea!!! I have so much to thank the Lord God for and have never come close to suffering the indignities that guy has suffered.

        • Gail Sheppard says

          Not sure what you find unclear, Your Grace. This piece appeared in multiple places. I saw it on the Russian site Fort-Russ. I also asked George where he got it. It was not given to him by Metropolitan Jonah.

          Metropolitan Jonah is not a diocesan bishop so I’m not sure why he would be given a diocese. That would make about as much sense as giving a diocese to a retired bishop. God willing, he will not be an auxiliary bishop for much longer.

          Why would you characterize this as an advertisement of himself? Specifically, what did he say about himself?

          For all we know, ROCOR ASKED Metropolitan Jonah to comment yesterday, as that’s when they came out with their own communiqué. https://www.synod.com/synod/eng2018/20181015_enmoscowstatementukraine.html

          • Bishop Tikhon (Fitzgerald) says

            Gail wrote, “Not sure what you find unclear, Your Grace.” I found nothing unclear, Gail! I found your very clear statement: “Metropolitan Jonah’s piece is being posted all over the Internet,” to be doubtful and probably untrue. I therefore asked you what you meant by “all over the net,” in case you wanted to correct it; however, you chose to identify one site and then to imply that George Michalopoulos could not have seen it any place but on the net (that would be two places). I thought you might have owned up to hyperbole, but no…. Next, although Grecian metropolitans are obviously content with having dioceses, the refugee Metropolitan Jonah, is a hierarch in the Russian Church, therefore he could only be given positions appropriate to that rank, such as, oh, chairman of external affairs or the like . Did Metropolitan Jonah not send his own portrait along with his letter? Finally, it was the Holy Synod of the Moscow Patriarchate, not the Holy Synod of ROCOR, that “came out with their own communique.” I CLEARLY wrote: ” rather than wait for a conciliar announcement from ROCOR’s Holy Synod or ROCOR’s First Hierarch,” not referring to the Moscow Holy Synod’s communique which you now cite.

            • George Michalopulos says

              Your Grace, Gail’s critique is an honest one. Met Jonah is uniquely qualified to speak on this issue. I’m sure he did so with the blessing of the synod.

              Compare if you will his sober assessment with the turgid and incoherent statement of Met Evangelos of New Jersey.

        • Bishop Tikhon, you’ve spent decades on websites such as this, issuing thousands of comments as “Bishop” of the OCA on everything from politics to internal church scandals. Have you received permission or are “authorized” for each comment by the acting Synod? Even after swearing silence many a time, you’ve returned to post your comments, pressured to do so from God-only-knows-what sort of internal prompting–or was it at the request of your superiors on the Synod?

          Instead of attacking a fellow priest, who is on the same side of Christ as you are, (and who retained his title of Metropolitan when he retired from the OCA and then was subsequently received into ROCOR) I am wondering if you’d share with us your thoughts on what is going to happen with the OCA in terms of who they will side with: the EP or the MP in this matter. Neither have shown much regard for the OCA in the past. That actually is one of the most pressing issues at hand, not the photo George posted or other such pettiness.

    • Beryl and some of the others actually have a point here (and the temperature in hell did just take a dive). I was always ambiguous regarding Met. Jonah. Frankly, I always thought he was over the top, too very American, and not exactly a consensus builder but rather a bomb thrower of sorts.

      Now, I favored any number of his actions as metropolitan of the OCA, all of the above notwithstanding. His present article does tend to accelerate things a bit too emotionally, like he needs to take a pill, so to speak.

      Forget the Greeks for a moment. Forget even the main bodies of schismatics in the Ukraine. The one man who will or will not be guilty of any bloodshed which results is Petro Poroshenko. And he is the one who commenced this entire process, asking the Phanar to grant autocephaly in the first place.

      He has already led the government to seize at least 50 MP churches in his country. With the spiritual support of the CP, he may seize large numbers of parishes and major holy sites, regardless of having promised that no one will be forced to attend one church or the other. It is a question of which clergy operate the churches, not attendance.

      However, Met. Jonah apparently does not really understand what is at hand. It is not in the character of Russo-Ukrainians or Russians to just stand by as churches are snatched and people are violently displaced. Violence is very likely. But, truthfully, it has been coming for years. It is a product of some Ukrainians denying their eastern heritage in favor of the latest shiny baubles from the West. The rhetoric coming from Kiev for several years has been such that it is remarkable that they are not at war with Russia already (and in the east of the country, they already are).

      This may very well do the trick and handle the whole question of Ukrainian independence in one fell swoop. It’s like the mobsters say, every so often there has to be a war. Clears out all the bad blood between the families.

      Really, it is more useful to look at the politics involved as being the interplay of rival warlords rather than anything else. You can look at it as good v. bad but mostly we’re talking power.

      Given his track record, my money is on Putin. He’s too smart, agile and ruthless for the rest of them.

    • Beryl, you sound completely ignorant of the situation in Ukraine. How much blood has already been shed in Ukraine since the Euromadian coup? How many Churches has Pravy Sektor seized for the schismatics now under the EP? If you don’t know the answers to these questions, you’re out of your element.

  14. George Osborne says

    Well, folks here is the backstory: Today you have witnessed the death-knell of any attempt at autocephaly for the American Church for the next 50-100 years.

    • Billy Jack Sunday says

      Hi George Osborne

      “Well, folks here is the backstory: Today you have witnessed the death-knell of any attempt at autocephaly for the American Church for the next 50-100 years.”

      Would you elaborate, please?

      I’d like to hear how you see these events related thanks

    • George, very astute comment! I too wonder at what this power-play means for the autocephaly of the American church. Long-term, I think that these events will have much bearing on whether or not we will ever have a unified church in the USA. My wife convinced me that our family should move to ROCOR a few years ago, and it was a good move for many, many reasons. However, we still are friends and have a close relationship with our former OCA parish, and they are concerned about the Moscow-Constantinople split. I don’t see a lot of leadership on this coming from the OCA, or the Antiochian Church for that matter, but I know they are waiting patiently to see how it will all shake down. Does the Serbian Church side with the MP?Does the Greek church in America side with the EP? What about the Antiochian Church? Will we lose communion with each other over this? God forbid. But it really is going to be interesting to see what happens. I would appreciate it if you would elaborate a bit more on your reasoning, George.

      • Alitheia1875 says

        The “Greek Church” in the US is part of the EP. Of course they will side with the EP. What else can/would the GOA do? Don’t expect the Archons to support anyone or anything opposing the EP.

  15. Can’t say I’m surprised or sad at the excommunication. Bout time. Now, instead of lamenting like Met. Jonah, it is time to move forward. First order of business, forget about the Greek churches, other than the Old Calendarists. Second, have Russian forces ready to enter Eastern Ukraine in the event church seizures commence. Third, it has taken almost 100 years to get rid of the Greek quasi-Uniates, Russia should quietly lobby for other churches to follow suit and join in excommunicating them.

    • GOA Priest says

      What on earth does a foolish statement like that add to any discussion of the current issue? Last I checked, the “Greek Churches” are filled with human souls. Are they merely refuse to you? If so, please send a memo to the Triune God, who previously claimed to wish all men be saved. Please do let the Almighty God know that you’ve decided they are a waste of his time.

      • GOA priest,

        No thanks. I served my time in a GOA parish. Not being Greek, I would not presume to tell them anything.

        None are a waste of time. But time has been wasting to draw a line for bad little boys to respect.

    • Misha, which Old Calendar sect do you suggest? There are several groups with each claiming to be the only true Orthodox Church. Do you suggest the sodomite group in Brookline or how about group that joined that GOA.

      There are those who look to Athos as the oricle of Delphi, well I have a group of friends who visited Athos and were sexually approached by monks. I assume there is holiness on Athos but also fallen humanity.

  16. Why is Mount Athos so quiet?

    • Fr. George Washburn says

      Mikhail asks a valid question to which several answers may be given. 1) The Internet world in which so many here tend to “live, move and have their being” is not the world they inhabit, and its rules of instantaneous, anonymous and emotionally charged reactions are far from the norms of silence, focus, love and non-reactivity by which the monks live. 2) They generally do not think it is their job to make public pronouncements about hostile confrontations in church politics. 3). They believe that prayer is a better use of their time. 4) To the extent that they *might* collectively *consider* chiming in, it wouldn’t be until there is careful,consideration and consensus-building at the Protaton. As I understand operations there, the monasteries chosen representatives focus available energies on the issues that directly concern the entire Athonite community, not necessarily an easy task since their most basic orientation is toward the life and worship of the highly individual communities from which they come. And I believe not all monasteries are represented on the council either, at least for normal purposes. 5) They believe the problems faced by the EP and MP are too nuanced, and *both* sides too compromised by secular politics, money, love for power, fear of loss , etc., to be able to stake out the kind of simplistic black and white position Americans love (this side is right and that side is wrong because ______) in a group proclamation. 6) They have ideas that they believe are best expressed privately to such of the participants as *might* have an ear open. 7) all of the above.

      • Thank you Father. I agree with much of what you say.
        However, this has been brewing for a long time. The Athonite monks were not pleased with what happened at the robber council. And now, Bartholomew has thrown them into schism against the Russian Church. The Athonite monks have ceased commemoration of the EP in the past….and they have written encyclicals to address other situations. As a great spiritual light unto which many people look for guidance, I think it might be edifying to hear a few words from the Holy Mountain.

        In God’s time

      • The Athonite monasteries were VERY quick to react and chime in when the question of renaming FYROM came up. A purely political issue!

        Biggest schism in the Church’s living memory? Silence.

        • The wisest spiritually discern the time and season for silence and for speech.

          May we all do our part with discernment.

        • Don’t be surprised. Athonite should not be equated with infallibility. Sometimes they are correct, sometimes not. They can be petty, stupid, and shortsighted just like the rest of us.

          Is it a surprise that the majority Greek speaking population of Athos is motivated by some issues related to the Hellenic Republic?

          • Who has equated them with infallibility?

            • Billy Jack Sunday says

              Mikail

              I took that GOA Priest was speaking figuratively there – and was a good point

              • Billy Jack Sunday says

                Mikail

                That being said, I’ve wondered why we haven’t heard anything from the monks from Mount Athos

                I always wonder their perspective too

                I’m also a bit perplexed about hearing how some of them have been in the U.S. and even been meeting/dining with Archons recently?

                I’m not sure, though as I haven’t really followed that report much

              • GOA Priest says

                An example of Athonite stupidity…

                Read the book Beauty from Ashes, and acquaint your self with Met. Meletios of blessed memory.

                One of his programs was translating Liturgical services into modern Greek. He said, “My people are not being fed…” in reference to the linguistically unintelligible services. The Athonites blew a gasket and wrote scathing letters to him decrying his effort to spiritually care for the people in his Metropolis, based on their foolish views about Greek language, which they have mixed up with encroaching secularism and Orthodox identity and the Hellenic Rebuplic. Nonsense!

                Met. Meletios posted these letters to his Metropolis website, together with his responses, for the world to see.

                In any case, the Metropolitan has passed over into eternal rest, the letters and service translations have all been removed. Feeding the people, it seems isn’t on the menu.

                The monks were and are wrong to involve themselves in such things. That’s one example.

                • Well…….their Patriarch just became a schismatic. I would hope they involve themselves in that matter.

                • Billy Jack Sunday says

                  GOA Priest

                  Thanks for your post

                  Please keep posting because I’m in the GOA and so far I feel like I can listen to what you got to say in that I believe that you do care

  17. Bishop Tikhon (Fitzgerald) says

    Mr Michalopoulos identified Metropolitan Jonah thus : “…and a native born” American. Is that a plus in the Orthodox Church? Have any “native-born” Americans been canonized? By the way, what is Metropolitan Jonah metropolitan OF?

    • Matthew Panchisin says

      Dear Bishop Tikhon,

      I have read Metropolitan Jonahs’ concerned comments and it seems clear to me that he loves the Lord God and the Orthodox Church very much, so that must account for much.

      God grant all of the Orthodox bishops and faithful many years of health and love in Christ.

      In Christ,

      Matthew Panchisin

    • Gail Sheppard says

      Metropolitan Jonah is an auxiliary bishop in ROCOR. . . for now. Perhaps they have something bigger in mind. We’re not going to stop calling him Metropolitan.

    • Archimandrite Philip (Speranza) says

      You Grace,

      Master, bless!

      I would most respectfully remind Your Grace that both St. Peter the Aleut and St. Iakov Netsvetov were native-born North Americans.

      Begging Your Grace’s blessing,
      Archimandrite Philip (Speranza)

      • Joseph Lipper says

        Saint Peter the Aleut and Saint Jacob Netsvetov were both born in Alaska when it was still a Russian colony. They were true native born Americans, but perhaps not “native born” Americans as in common usage.

        It’s funny that people in the U.S. will never call native Mexicans, Brazilians, or Canadians as “native born Americans”. I guess that’s why the Metropolitan of the OCA is still referred to as the “Metropolitan of All America and Canada”.

        • Bishop Tikhon (Fitzgerald) says

          Yes, Joseph Lipper, both St Peter the Aleut and St Jakob Netsvetov were Russian subjects, natives of Russian America, but never lived in the U.S.A.

        • Antiochene Son says

          It’s funny that people in the U.S. will never call native Mexicans, Brazilians, or Canadians as “native born Americans”.

          The demonym of the United States of America is “American,” so Americans take “American” to mean the United States of America. It’s just a difference in usage. Some countries teach that there are 4, 5, 6, or 7 continents.

          • Citizens of the USA think of ourselves as Ameicans. However others say, We are from North America, Latin America, and South America and think of ourselves as Americans. Some from these places lump Canadians and US citizens and call them all Americans.

            Perspectives I have encountered while traveling.

      • As are St. Sebastian of Jackson and St. Barnabas of Indiana, glorified by the Serbian Church.

    • Fr. George Washburn says

      Surely Metropolitan of no less a territory than retired bishops are bishops of. Or perhaps exactly the same “territory” as Anonymous frequent posters seek to rule: the entire world of English-speaking Internet! Speaking of hegemony over barbarian lands….

      • Billy Jack Sunday says

        Hi Father Washburn

        “Surely Metropolitan of no less a territory than retired bishops are bishops of. Or perhaps exactly the same “territory” as Anonymous frequent posters seek to rule: of English-speaking Internet! Speaking of hegemony over barbarian lands….”

        “Anonymous frequent posters”

        Is that me you are talking about?

    • Beryl Wells Hamilton says

      “Have any ‘native-born’ Americans been canonized?”

      Saint Peter the Aleut?

  18. Jim Jatras says

    @John Sakelaris

    Re: “In many ways the situation of American Orthodox Christians in such a calamity could be partially analogous to the experience of Japanese Americans during World War II. Now I am not saying that we would experience mass internment like many Japanese Americans did, but we would certainly be subject to suspicion. With that in mind, consider one important conclusion that our historians give us about Japanese Americans during those years: Despite mistreatment and suspicion, the Japanese Americans remained loyal. And continued loyalty to the US government, even if it ignores our warnings and blunders toward an abyss, is what we American Orthodox can and should have as an important part of our guiding policy. To do otherwise would doom any chances of having many additional converts to the Orthodox Church in the US. I wonder if I will get some flack for posting this here.”

    Your warning is well taken. Not just on the issue of converts, but as a matter of conscience, we would have to wholeheartedly and unreservedly support the US, even if the cause were unjust. Consider the example of St. Nicholas (Kasatkin) the enlightener of Japan. When the Russo-Japanese war broke out his Japanese flock was in a great quandary. He told them that as a Russian he was loyal to his country and Emperor. Likewise, they should do their duty with sincerity of heart, loyally to serve their country and Emperor and work and pray for a Japanese victory.

    May God grant that such a day never comes. But we have many lunatics and scoundrels in charge. (By which I don’t mean Trump. Quite the contrary, preventing rapprochement with Moscow is a major element of the phony “Russiagate” campaign to bring him down. Indeed, I believe the State Department’s meddling in the Ukraine church crisis is part of that campaign.)

    • John Sakelaris says

      To Jim Jatras: Thank you, I appreciate your response.

      • Johann Sebastian says

        A war against Russia or an Orthodox country is one thing. The Church might end up becoming an unintended casualty of such a war and the example given makes sense in that context.

        A war against the Church–one where the Church is explicitly targeted–is quite another. Loyalty to civil authorities under those circumstances gives us things like Uniatism and Sergianism. If we feel it so necessary to be “good Americans” under such circumstances, perhaps we shouldn’t be so quick to condemn Uniates, Soviet collaborators, and Ukrainian nationalists.

        • John Sakelaris says

          To Johann Sebastian:

          Are you a resident of the US and, if so, what are YOUR suggestions for what we do if there is a major war between the US and Russia?

          • Johann Sebastian says

            I’m a native-born US citizen.

            My suggestion depends on how this hypothetical war is waged. If the Church becomes a target, I can no longer in good conscience defend or consider myself an American. So many in this country denounce it for the most trivial of matters, for the slightest of imaginary slights, in order to assert “rights” that are at best questionable and at worst deleterious to human dignity and decency.

            I am Orthodox before I am an American. We “take a knee” and prostrate ourselves before Christ in defense of His Church. Православіе или смерть.

            If your situation doesn’t allow you to take that road should a conflict break out, I understand. Martyrdom isn’t for everyone. But then we have to think back to the circumstances surrounding those who accepted Unia in the 15th and 16th centuries or those who collaborated with the Soviets in the last century. Did they really want to go down that road? Or were they just trying to survive by making what they thought was a justifiable (and temporary) compromise? Are such compromises even allowable in Orthodoxy?

            • John Sakelaris says

              We can see an example from the Muslims in the US. Since 2001 they have suffered some suspicion and harassment here, and even scattered incidents of violence, but they do maintain themselves and their mosques–by declaring that they are good Americans and working carefully with the media to promote that view. So with that, do have a model that can be imitated if things get truly horrible between the US and Russia.

            • Johann Sebastian,
              Orthodoxy, Jesus Christ, and Theotokos, have no nationality, nor government. You will support nothing but the devil, when you believe and kill in the name of our Lord and Saviour’s honor. Not many true martyrs or saints speak of their martyrdom or sainthood before it happens. Slow down cowboy, and pray for a peaceful death, without shame nor suffering.

              You won’t be the first, nor the last rushing to protect, kill, and die for Putin, or whichever clever devil follows him. But! Let’s be clear. You are not dying for God’s Kingdom. Christ needs neither man’s grandiose buildings, nor man’s bombs or bullets.

              Where was Christ’s army when Lenin and Stalin were burning it all down, and murdering man for the ‘sake’ of man?

              I will tell you where!

              Jesus Christ was in the rotating meek homes of Orthodox Christian believers holding secret liturgies, teaching biblical lessons to children, and most importantly receiving the body and blood of Christ, in fear of True Martyrdom! That is a true soldier of Christ.

        • THANK YOU, I was going to say the same thing to the above commentators….
          and whenever there is war, we should pray for peace….

  19. Mark E. Fisus says

    They do not accept the assertion of virtually universal jurisdiction by the Patriarch of Constantinople, nor the authority to act unilaterally, especially on matters that require the consensus of all the Churches, such as the granting of autocephaly.

    So a former metropolitan of the OCA would not believe the OCA’s autocephaly, since that does not have “consensus of all the Churches.”

    • Antiochene Son says

      I think the OCA has been fairly open that the OCA’s own autocephaly is negotiable in the greater good of bringing about a unified, autocephalous American Church. If they had to give it up to join together with everyone else, they would do it.

  20. Beryl Wells Hamilton says

    “The President recalled that almost simultaneously with the meeting of the Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church, on October 14, more than 30,000 Ukrainians took part in a grateful prayer on St. Sophia’s Square for the fact that the Lord provided autocephaly with the hands of His All-Holiness.”
    https://www.president.gov.ua/en/news/reakciya-rosijskoyi-duhovnoyi-i-svitskoyi-vladi-svidchit-sho-50494

    https://www.president.gov.ua/en/news/ce-bezposerednye-vtruchannya-u-vnutrishni-spravi-i-elem

  21. Beryl Wells Hamilton says

    In all this “truth” there lies this “truth”:
    “They would expand his jurisdiction and have ensured his financial stability with bribes of millions of dollars.”
    Here’s the logic: The EP is being bribed with millions by the State Department, whilst simultaneously being investigated for stealing millions from the GOA, according to State Department Representative Mike Pompeo. At the same time, Metropolitan Jonah, ruling hierarch, gets his information from Arch Enemy Mike Pompeo of the State Department via Globalust news sources. Meanwhile, clapping and shouting praises to God, 30,000 Ukrainians celebrate in front of Saint Sophia Cathedral in Kiev…

    • Beryl Wells Hamilton says

      Correction. Change to: “..whilst simultaneously being blackmailed by said State Department (?) for stealing millions from the GOA…”

  22. This bishop has all in one essay proven what I have been screaming from the rooftops all along. Church and government do not mix. Make no difference what type of government. Governments have no business directing our religion, yet they have. This must end.

    We know we are from God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.(1 John 5:19)

    Whom do we belong to? God or Man?

    But Peter and the apostles answered,”We must obey God rather than men.”(Acts 5:29)

    So who and what are we fighting for?

    Jesus answered,”My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world.”(John 18:36)

    So now the former Primate of the OCA, and now bishop without a flock in Russia, is sounding the war call to all grannies against the evil Ukraino-Nazis of all terms. Nazis! This is what a former Primate is calling those Ukrainians who want nothing to do with Russia or her puppet Orthodox leaders. Nazis! How leftist Americano of him! I guess he plans on the grannies throwing their dentures at the evil Nazis to “save” their churches.

    PS-I really grow tired of people using and excusing their nation of evil by blaming exterior forces for the evils of their nation. Russians are Russian, no matter if influenced by British bankers, Bolsheviks, Communist, Fascists, or The Great Satan “America” as now the Primate takes the lead from Iran. The Russians alive during the Soviet Union period are the same Russians alive today. They are responsible for evils deeds then and now.

    Take a look at the five pictures above, when you look at them do you think Holy men. I don’t, and that includes the Turkish citizen. I see politicians.

    • Billy Jack Sunday says

      Dino

      Doesn’t it look like a giant roll of toilet paper?

    • Billy Jack Sunday says

      Dino

      “Take a look at the five pictures above, when you look at them do you think Holy men. I don’t, and that includes the Turkish citizen. I see politicians.”

      That’s not what I think

      When I see the above pictures together, I think: “Man, NWA got old!”

      • Gangster rappers for sure. NWA had the East coast/West coast rap war. Now we have West Euro/East Euro war brewing. EP is just a punk in their eyes. The real bad boys are the Original Gangsters, former KGB operatives who even had their own KGB codenames:

        Patriarch Aleski II was codename: ‘DROZDOV’

        Patriarch Kirill, formally Metropolitan Kirill of Smolensk, codename: ‘MIKHAYLOV’

        Patriarch Filaret, formally Metropolitan Filaret of Minsk, codename: ‘OSTROVSKY’

        Metropolitan Kliment of Kaluga, codename: ‘TOPAZ’

        All funny if not true.

        Now meet the REAL BOSS, some call ‘Antichrist’.
        Four weeks after Putin’s re-election:

        The three men clumsily and and clownishly crossed themselves, Medvedev makes his crosses by touching his hands to his forehead and then his genitals. It was risible. Medvedev followed Putin in shaking the patriarch’s hand, as if he were one of his comrades…The Patriarch addresses Putin as ‘Your Most High Excellency’, which made even those not directly involved wince…

        The television commentator, who was believer, and theologically knowledgeable, explained to viewers, that in the Orthodox tradition, the doors of the church should be shut before midnight because they symbolize the entrance to the cave where Christ’s body was placed. After midnight the Orthodox faithful taking part in the procession await the opening of the doors. The patriarch stands on the steps at their head and is the first to enter the empty temple where the Resurrection of Christ has already occurred.

        When the patriarch had recited the prayer at the doors of the temple, they were thrown open to reveal PUTIN…

        You didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. An evening of comic entertainment on Holy Night. What is there to like about this individual? He profanes everything he touches.-(Journalist, Anna Politkovskaya and Putin critic- systematically assassinated)

        Yes Billy, we don’t know whether to laugh or cry, do we brother?

        • Bishop Tikhon (Fitzgerald) says

          “Dino!” You refer to “code names.” The FBI, the OSI, the CID and other American investigative agencies ROUTINELY assign nicknames to sources they interview or who are reported in their investigations: personnel and other investigations. These nicknames are not pseudonyms indicating ANY association with the investigating agency. As Deputy Chief, Personnel Security Group, HQS USAF in the Pentagon, room 5D466. for four years, I read hundreds of such BIs by the FBi, CSC, OSI, etc. If I were interviewed by the FBI about what I know about a “Dino” writing on Monomakhos, they might refer to you as “PT1,” or “Ortho 6”, or “Dinosaur.”

          • Bishop Tikhon Fitzgerald,

            I will honor your word, Your Grace. Tell me you know these bishops under the Soviet Union were not informants or collaborators for the KGB, and I will believe you.

            • M. Stankovich says

              Of course they were collaborators, though not necessarily informers. You might search out Patriarch Alexii II’s public explanation/apology/statement of repentance several years after he became Patriarch. He very openly describes that the decisions to collaborate were the only alternative to avoid acts of further persecution or desruction; moral decisions in extraordinary circumstances where the ends appeared to justify the means. It is well worth the search.

            • Billy Jack Sunday says

              Dino?

              Metropolitan Jonah calling out the State Department for interfering through the Orthodox Church was not only the right thing for him to do – it was very American of him to do so

              Wrong is wrong. Metropolitan Jonah called it as it is.

              It is wrong for you to call him out as being, “Leftist Americano.” Theres nothing leftist about it.

              For instance, disagreeing with our invasion of Iraq after the WMD fraud, or the handling of Bengazi is quite reasonable

              To question the actions of the State is our duty as Americans

              That doesn’t mean we oppose our State overall

              I’m proud to be an American and I love our country

              However, I won’t agree with or excuse any/all actions of our country if wrong

              The best Americans dont turn a blind eye to the fact that we have and on occasion continue to do wrong in the name of our democratic republic

              That being said, I dont like or trust the Russian government either.

              I’m GOA. The Archdiocese stated they support the EP’s action in the Ukraine

              Nuts

              The Russian Church, however, aren’t the ones acting uncanonical

              I have 0 interest in learning Church Slavonic

              And I totally agree with you that church and government should not mix

              BTW – Mount Athos asked Hitler to protect them during WWII

              Nobody accuses them of being Nazi collaborators today but it’s true

              If I remember the story right, they figured the Allies would be good to them either way, but wanted to flatter Hitler to stay on his good side to buy them time

              Crazy

              • Billy,
                Please don’t go there with Mount Athos, during the war, of which little they knew of Hitler, other than he was the new ruler of Greece. Apples and oranges my friend. World War 2 is probably the only thing Greeks can be proud of in the modern age, Clergy included.

                Not to mention many Jews were saved by our bishops, with false baptismal certificates, under fear of execution, and maybe saved Russia as well by the delayed invasion into Russia that Greece caused the Nazis, and into a harsh winter. One of few nations actually standing up to Italy and Germany, and actually fighting. Defeating Italy was the first battle victory of WW2.

                Hence we will not say that Greeks fight like heroes, but heroes fight like Greeks.(Winston Churchill)

            • George Michalopulos says

              Dino, there is no doubt in my mind that the heresy of Sergianism is one that needs to be repented of and quickly. I myself am rather of the opinion of St Augustine, who when confronted with the Donatist’s invective against the Traditores (or those who buckled during the persecution of Diocletian) was more charitable.

              I talk a big game, however I have never had a gun put to my head (or worse, my children’s heads) and been asked “Christ or your life?” Instead, let us look at the beam in our own American episcopate’s eyes. How many of them, living a life without want, traveling first class hither and yon, staying at the Ritz-Carlton and being feted like Byzantine monarchs, have ever had to make this confession? And yet, how many have trampled on the Faith, some of them openly confessing instead that the Orthodox Church needs to “revisit” marriage? How many have supported baby-killing politicians?

              Satan made a strategic error in 1918, thinking that by putting Christians up against a wall and shooting them he could destroy the Church. How wrong he was. Instead, he should have plied the bishops and priests with fine dining and honors. It’s working wonders here in America.

              Think of it: Protestantism is moribund and Catholicism is viewed as a homosexual cult. Ever since the EP pulled the rug out from the American bishops at Ligonier, Orthodoxy has slowly (but most assuredly) attrited to oblivion, or dang near close to it.

              • Yes George, a big apologist for sure as well. There actions might be excused with barrel to their head, but regardless millions were killed, that they might save themselves from martyrdom.

                It is your right, and you have good points. Billy sees all black and white, and has good points as well. The EP right or wrong had every right to do what he did as EP. Timing and methods were not planned well, but what do I know. I am not privy to the works behind closed doors. With the exception of the Russians living in Ukraine, it is safe to say that Ukrainians don’t care nor trust Russians. So I sympathize with them, in a personal way. They want complete independence from Russia. In that neck of the woods, the spiritual is not far from political.

                As many of you know my father side lived in Georgia, Soviet Union. All where suspicious of clergy, because of collaborators and informants within clergy with their Communist masters. My grandfather spent many years in a Gulag because of informants, and silly/false allegations. My mothers side were from Smyrna and were also suspicious of clergy because of collaborators and informants with Islamic politicians. We all know how the Smyrna story ends. Corruption and fear of government is bad, but corruption and fear of ones church is intolerable. Ukrainians do not trust Russians, that is as black and white as I can be Billy. As such they will not trust their church under Russian political control, via MP, and for good reason. PUTIN! The barrel is still at their heads, just a bit more respectfully, than with the Soviets.

                George and Billy you can go on and on with details and points how wrong the EP’s move was, but that really is the bottom line, and my angle on it all. Pray that hearts and minds of Christ will prevail.

                • Billy Jack Sunday says

                  Dino?

                  Saying that what the EP did was wrong does not make one favor Russia

                  Greece/Greeks may have fought against the Nazi’s, but Athos kissed up to them

                  It’s just how they play it

                  I’m quite sure they were aware of Hitler’s reputation

                  • Yes Billy I know Geeeks invented the internet and Facebook, but Hitler’s reputation was still not widely known by 1940.

                    • Billy Jack Sunday says

                      Dino?

                      Perhaps its speculation either way

                      However, on this overall issue, I recommend that you subtract the actual players

                      Russia
                      The Ukraine
                      USA
                      Greeks

                      But keep the EP

                      Does he have the authority to do what he is doing – especially in the manner of how he is doing it?

                      No one does

                      The EP is essentially claiming universal jurisdiction

                      His Robbers Council of Crete opened the door for ultimate heresy to enter matched with his “first without equals” master key access to interfere with and tamper or even corrupt local Churches

                      Theres a reason no one is allowed that type of power. Our Church forbids it

                      It’s time for everybody to wake up

                      We dont have to worry about our particular Church joining the Roman Catholic Church

                      It is doing a good job of becoming it on its own

                    • Billy
                      I truly am not taking sides. God has a strange way of working things out. Trust the process and pray.

                      The Antichrist will fool most, so be wary of Holy Russia. Putin is not to be trusted.

                      Here is an example how God work his magic..

                      Imagine if Hitler and Stalin kept their alliance. All of Eorope would have gone to the Nazis including England. The entire world would be complete different than today. The Nazis might even have beaten us inthe nuclear race. And a stalemate and truce might have come about with America dealing with Japan and Russia trying to keep its defense up to par with Germany. And even nuclear exchanges between us and Russia and or Germany. A complete apocalypse!

                      Instead Hitler got greedy and he was doomed as soon as he invaded Russia, completely changing the war to two fronts and more enemies than Germany could handle.

                      This power play by Ep now might turn out much different than we ever imagined, and for reasons only God knows. Alliances might switch again making old foes even stronger partners in the future.

              • Beryl Wells Hamilton says

                “Orthodoxy has slowly (but most assuredly) attrited to oblivion, or dang near close to it.”

                Alas. Poor God.

              • Monk James Silver says

                George Michalopulos (October 18, 2018 at 10:46 am) says:

                Dino, there is no doubt in my mind that the heresy of Sergianism is one that needs to be repented of and quickly.
                SNIP

                I’d like to hear a clear definition of ‘sergianism’.

                The definition which has the most currency suggests that it consists of the mistaken notion that the sovyet communist state would/could save the Russian Orthodox church, but even Patriarch Sergius Stragorodskiy didn’t believe that.

                Truth be told, I’m not sure that there ever was such a thing as ‘the heresy of sergianism’ — merely an anti-sovyet attitude which wrongly implicated the Russian patriarchate.

  23. Bishop Tikhon (Fitzgerald) says

    Dino? ! You wrote, ” the former Primate of the OCA, and now bishop without a flock in Russia.” Last I heard, Metropolitan Jonah was being maintained in D.C by Mrs. Marilyn Swazee (sp?) who formerly maintained ever-memorable Bishop Basil (Rodzianko), and sheltered, like Bishop Basil,by Fr Victor Potapov of the St John the Baptist parish there. It is true that the Church of Russia should long ago have granted autocephaly to the autonomous Ukrainian Church under the HUMBLE Metropolitan Onuphry, but Herr Putin, who controls the Patriarch of Moscow absolutely, ,would not countenance it. It is also true that President Poroshenko of Ukraine, like the Grecian Patriarch Bartholomew (the one who maintains his own effigy on Halki), appreciates all donations, especially those of our State Department!

    • Bishop Tikhon Fitzgerald,
      I stand corrected, sorry for my lazy assumption. As always I am “all ears” . whenever you share with us.

  24. Gail Sheppard says

    Your Grace, when someone asks you, “What do you mean?” it is because they are “unclear” about something you’ve said. I explained what I said. I have seen this piece on another website AND I confirmed with George that the piece came from someone other than Metropolitan Jonah. THAT is not doubtful or untrue. I just Googled the first sentence of what Metropolitan Jonah wrote and in addition to the two sources we previously identified, there are six other sites that have it.

    I did not imply anything about George. Geroge TOLD me he did not receive this piece from Metropolitan Jonah.

    The portrait came from the Monomakhos gallery, something I also know for a fact.

    You again mention this “announcement” that has not been forthcoming from ROCOR. I sent a link from the Official website of the Synod of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia. Since this does not satisfy you, please provide the link to the site where you expect to see a communique and don’t. That’s easier than me trying to guess what you want.

    • Beryl Wells Hamilton says

      To make things easier, ROCOR posted a letter (to which Gail linked) from the ROC on its website. ROCOR has not yet posted a “conciliar announcement”. Metropolitan Jonah DID post his own, independent, non-conciliar announcement.

    • “God grant us “all” true clarity making praffully correct biblical / soulful choices amongst these highly charged emotional confusions from the know source satan…
      We receive our answers and we stand with Christ words amen!”

  25. Patriarch Irinej of Serbia:
    “Temptation has befallen Patriarch Bartholomew”
    http://orthochristian.com/116569.html article plus video

  26. It appears that there is a way out of this. A full 8th Ecumenical Council worldwide should be called to meet in a neutral city immediately. All members will then cast a vote by which the MP and EP agree to fully abide by the final decision without argument. An Ecumenical Council of all Orthodox bishops is the highest authority of the Church. After casting the deciding vote the Ecumenical Council could also clearly define the roles of the EP as well as the MP and all other Patriarchates to avoid future conflicts. This way we can get back to saving souls and fighting Satan instead of each other. I’m sure all parties agree that in a schism everyone loses…..everyone.

    • Jim Jatras says

      8th Ecumenical Council? Yes, just as soon as the Emperor summons it.

      Oh wait ….

      Seriously though, Ecumenical Councils were called to address heresies attacking fundamental Trinitarian and Christological dogmata. This isn’t that.

      • Michael Bauman says

        Jim, there is a ecclesiological confusion at best. All ecclesiology is rooted in Christology. All eccelsiology has soteriological ramifications. It has been troubling the Church for over a hundred years.

        So seems like as good a reason as any to have a good old fashion hootenanny in Tone 2

        • Michael,

          I was reflecting last evening, there is a certain heterodox aspect to all of this, but you have to look to see it. From whence is Pat. Bartholomew asserting the right to do what he is doing? He seems to suggest it’s canon law regarding appeals to the Church of Constantinople. But no canons authorize him to do what he is doing. Bear in mind, he is not intervening to settle a dispute between two local churches or even between two bishops in good standing (which would be settled by the local synod in any case). He is intervening in the canonical territory of another local church, against its wishes, on behalf of excommunicated and anathematized schismatics, purporting to reinstate them a grant them autocephaly. He himself has repeatedly recognized that a) the territory is Russian, b) the persons in question were rightfully excommunicated, anathematized and deposed.

          So again, where does Pat. Barthoolomew’s authority for this travesty originate? I suggest it is in the Phanariot attitude toward the office of the CP as expressed in Met. Elpidophoros’ essay, “First Without Equals”. The Phanar is, in doing this foolish thing in Ukraine, asserting that its patriarch has a separate chrism, above and beyond that of bishop, which entitles him to interfere in the affairs of other local churches, much like the Roman pontiff:

          “In the long history of the Church, the presiding hierarch of the universal Church was the bishop of Rome. After Eucharistic communion with Rome was broken, canonically the presiding hierarch of the Orthodox Church is the archbishop of Constantinople. In the case of the archbishop of Constantinople, we observe the unique concomitance of all three levels of primacy, namely the local (as Archbishop of Constantinople-New Rome), the regional (as Patriarch), and the universal or worldwide (as Ecumenical Patriarch). This threefold primacy translates into specific privileges, such as the right of appeal and the right to grant or remove autocephaly (examples of the latter are the Archdioceses-Patriarchates of Ochrid, Pec and Turnavo, etc.), a privilege that the Ecumenical Patriarch exercised even in cases of some modern Patriarchates, not yet validated by decisions of the Ecumenical Councils, the first of which is that of Moscow.

          The primacy of the archbishop of Constantinople has nothing to do with the diptychs, which, as we have already said, merely express this hierarchical ranking (which, again in contradictory terms the text of the Moscow Patriarchate concedes implicitly but denies explicitly). If we are going to talk about the source of a primacy, then the source of such primacy is the very person of the Archbishop of Constantinople, who precisely as bishop is one ‘among equals,’ but as Archbishop of Constantinople, and thus as Ecumenical Patriarch is the first without equals (primus sine paribus).” – https://www.patriarchate.org/-/primus-sine-paribus-hapantesis-eis-to-peri-proteiou-keimenon-tou-patriarcheiou-moschas-tou-sebasmiotatou-metropolitou-prouses-k-elpidophorou

          Or, to put it much more explicitly, “The Church has a pope. When the break with Rome occurred, the papacy fell to the ‘Ecumenical Patriarchate’ which due to its universal primacy has a special charism much like a bishop of bishops, enabling extensive unilateral action.”

          This, of course, is simply another version of the Roman heresy dressed up to fit the perceived needs of the Greek omogenia.

          What is tragic is that the Greeks choose to see the Russians as adversaries rather than allies. But given the Uniat trajectory of Phanariot ecclesiology, I suppose this is inevitable.

          • Beryl Wells Hamilton says

            Misha, I hesitate to post this article here, under yours, lest the depths of hell get even cooler, but maybe this will warm them up a bit for you. On the other hand, don’t read it. It’s from Fordham.

            “All these indications point to the possibility of avoiding a great schism, precisely due to Moscow’s rush for the nuclear option in a way that turns Orthodoxy’s wider, long-term rupture less realistic; a full cessation of communion entails a price that most autocephalous churches would not be eager to pay (including, indicatively, the entrance of pilgrims to Mount Athos along with other Orthodox believers). Deeply tragic as this might be, a situation in which Moscow is not in communion with Constantinople for a span of time while everybody else is in communion with everybody else, and Ukraine’s autocephaly and primate is not recognized by certain churches for a span of time (in the same way that the OCA’s autocephaly is currently not recognized by others), is very far from Moscow’s promises and threats that a “schism greater than 1054” is imminent. May God aid us to sin less than our intentions seem to be dictating.”

            https://publicorthodoxy.org/2018/10/15/can-moscow-engender-schism/#more-4748

          • Billy Jack Sunday says

            Misha

            “where does Pat. Barthoolomew’s authority for this travesty originate? I suggest it is in the Phanariot attitude toward the office of the CP as expressed in Met. Elpidophoros’ essay, “First Without Equals”.

            You have identified the primary issue

            This is first and foremost the greatest issue and heresy

            After it comes
            The Mother Church

            And such issues as
            Invading the canonical territory of the Ukrainian Church
            The Crete Robbers Council

            And so on

            This is why I feel this schism most likely will result in the acknowledgment of Constantinople falling away

            Because of neo papism

            He thinks he can do all this because hes The Pope

            That is not Orthodox but heresy

            This is why I can’t back the EP on any of it

  27. Bishop Tikhon (Fitzgerald) says

    May the Lord bless you, Very Reverend Father Philip!
    By “natural born American” i meant a human being born in the United States of America. I believe that both Saint Peter the Aleut, and Saint Iakov Netsvetov were Russian subjects living in Russian North America. Am I wrong in this?
    For more about St Peter the Aleut, you may wish to confer with Mother Victoria (Shnurer). Saint Iakov was discovered in a library book by Archpriest Michael Oleksa, a convert from Lutheranism like me, and he, in turned revealed him to the local Faithful. LEARNING of this holy man of the past, the local Alaskans began to venerate him….but no one knew where he had been buried. Have they ever located his grave to your knowledge??

    • Once again, St. Sebastian of Jackson and St. Barnabas of Indiana. Sebastian was born in California and Barnabas in Gary, Indiana.

      • Bishop Tikhon (Fitzgerald) says

        “AJ” thank you! I had believed that St Sebastian (Dabovich) was born in Serbia, while I’ve never ever heard of St Barnabas of Indiana—when was he canonized and by whom? Tell us more!

      • Billy Jack Sunday says

        AJ

        There is also St. Paul of Minnesota

    • Jackson Downs says

      Father Michael Oleksa believes he rests on the site of the old (now gone) second Church in Sitka, adjacent to the Native village and across from the old cemetery. There are markings of a special tomb that was once dug near one of the corners of the Church’s foundation, and we are almost sure that Fr. Yakov reposed in Sitka.

  28. Bishop Tikhon (Fitzgerald) says

    We have established that Saints Sebastian of Jackson California and Barnabas of Indiana were native-born Americans. Is that a plus for them? I ask again because George Michalopoulos provided us the information that Metropolitan Jonah is a native-born American as if that were important or a virtue of some kind.

    • Michael Bauman says

      Your Grace, being native born is not a virtue perhaps but it is important because even though we are all human the time and place of our birth and the culture we are raised in does make a difference. Thus the fact that Fr. Seraphim Rose of blessed memory shared the cultural mind of the United States makes him distinct from those who did not just as Mat. Olga Michael is distinct. She was born in the state of Alaska as a US citizen and native American.

      St. Barnabas reverses the trend of Slavic saints coming here to serve.

      As St. John of San Fransisco pointed out, local saints are important to the strength and maturity of the local Church. If all our saints are Greek or Russian or Arab how are we a local church?

      I will add another candidate to consider, His Grace Dimitri of thrice blessed memory.

      Whether these three and others are ever officially recognized does not stop to s from calling upon them for strength and intercession. In fact, it would behoove us to do so.

      My wife and I have a proto-icon of Mat. Olga near our prayer table and call upon her daily to intercede for our loved ones.

      As we begin to recognize the holy from our midst, our local Church will be strengthened.

      • Bishop Tikhon (Fitzgerald) says

        Michael Bauman–Why point out that Metropolitan Jonah is “a native-born American? What’s the point? Does it mean that the religious formation he and ever-memorable Archbishop Dmitri received as native born American Christians before becoming Orthodox is important then? Immigrants LACK that? I believe ALL the “American” Saints in the OCA calendar were formed in the Russian Church, with the exception of St Sebastian.

        • Michael Bauman says

          Your Grace, in and of itself, it means nothing. I am an immigrant to the Church. We all are. Yet to make a land holy requires people of that land to become Holy.

  29. Beautiful homily by the then-Metropolitan Filaret of Kiev: http://orthochristian.com/116596.html

    He should listen to his own advice.

    • Sounds as if he was in sync previously then was deluded by the evil one. May he find the way back! Reading Fr George Calciu on his nightly “God forgive me” for his “weakness” under severe torture helps me know and pray for the restoration/repentance/return of everyone deluded or tortured by the evil one, esp. me. May God draw all to Him for repentance and reunion moment to moment.

  30. Linda Albert says

    I am a nobody in a small OCA parish in Montana. I read my daily prayers, attend services, confess and receive communion regularly. I am thoroughly fed up with the antics of the world wide Orthodox hierarchy, acting like bull elk during rutting season: bellowing, snorting and engaging in shoving matches. But really, I’m beginning to wonder: what does it have to do with me? Or any of us who don’t live in Ukraine? Should it? Other than adding a petition in the daily commemorations specifically for the situation, should I be letting myself become agitated or despondent over it. I am reminded of Sherlock Holmes’ reaction to being informed by the good Dr. Watson that the Earth revolved about the sun instead of the other way round.
    What the deuce is it to me?” he interrupted impatiently; “you say that we go round the sun. If we went round the moon it would not make a pennyworth of difference to me or to my work.”
    What the EP and the MP do or not do maybe should not make a pennyworth of difference to what I do.
    Linda Albert

    • Mom of Toddler says

      While you have some good points, it could be necessary at some point in the future to make sure that we ourselves are in a canonical parish. Hopefully that will not be the case. Its good to be a bit informed. This site can get overboard in the comments for sure. I generally don’t read it unless the articles are directly about the Church for that reason. I feel if there are some high ranking members of the church, allowing some not good behavior to go on in the church, that concerns us. I agree that we should not be over-concerned, but it comes down to following the truth. I have heard some say before about these issues, “these sort of things don’t really concern the local parish” and I get that to some extent. Buts its also a bit nihilistic because what makes us Orthodox is that we are all part of one big Church and all connected. So what happens over there is part of our Church body and we want it to be healthy. If the larger church doesn’t matter, and all that matters is how I feel at my own little “parish”, I’d be very tempted to join a local mega church and have a lot more friends for myself and my kids. But, I don’t, because I know I’m part of the larger Orthodox church with parishes around the world.

    • M. Stankovich says

      I am with Linda, and recall the words of the Lord Himself rewarding those who refuse to engage themselves in what amounts to a feast of tragedy and an unending gluttony for “more details,” the more scurrilous the better: “His lord said to him, Well done, you good and faithful servant: you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things: enter you into the joy of your lord.” (Matt. 25:21) At a certain point, when you finally imagine there is nothing more to say, someone else – who should know better, but can’t miss the opportunity – ventures forth with their “take” on the matter, which is nothing more than another partisan, “Pardon me, but who cares: moment of the trashing of Orthodoxy before the whole world.

      I asked this same question more than a week ago: how will this flexion of the egos of morbidly obese monks decked out in the finery of their respective offices have on San Diego, CA, “Americas Finest City?” It will not. We are not “part of a larger Orthodox church” within this city, let alone the world. There are ethnic parishes that, on the whole, conduct themselves as independent bodies – with the rare moments when a bishop comes to town. The Patriarch of Moscow excommunicate the Ecumenical Patriarch. And… Who cares? On a practical, day-to-day level of existence, who cares? The internet cares, with a cast of anonymous creeps and thugs, reveling in the language of “heresy” and “schism,” and smug self-righteousness. The accounts of the Holy Fathers of the Councils is one one of great sadness and tears over those lost to the sins that separated them. There is only gloating here in Mudville.

      Some will say, “This is the stupid way of addressing this problem; it will not go away by turning your back.” My response to this argument is that was nothing learned from the months-long battle over “homosexuality” on this site, day after day, after day, until it burned out. What did the very “active responses” accomplish? Nothing. Not a damn thing, and there wasn’t a single sustaining proposal to address the issue. wow. My projection: this topic is bound for the same flaming endpoint. Talk, talk, talk. I’m betting on at least 500 website posts of needless, clueless information before it’s over. So, I say better to ignore it all and be faithful over little things.

  31. Why does it matter to the local parish?

    Because when one part of the body suffers the whole body suffers. This situation will hinder local parishes ability to share the faith. When outsiders look at us do they see the love of Christ? Do they see what we are called to be?

    I watched a great encouraging video today on how we are to live our lives as Christians . It was a staff training video from saddleback church… https://saddleback.com/watch/staff-training/daily-job-description?autoplay=true

    It’s worth a watch if you need some encouragement.

  32. Constantinos says

    I don’t know much about ancient canons, but I know foolishness when I see it. How can a little man from Turkey intervene in a situation involving the super nuclear power Russia?That’s a fool’s mission. While I’m at it, why does a little man from Turkey have any power in the US? Turkey is a part of NATO, therefore they are under the US nuclear umbrella. The EP should have absolutely no authority over any Orthodox Church here in America or anywhere else in the world outside of Turkey. This isn’t Byzantium.
    I’m also repulsed by the obscenely lavish lifestyle of Patriarch Kirill. He owns a $30,000 Breguet watch, a $15,000,000 yacht, drives around in a bullet proof Mercedes Benz limousine, and lives like a king. What does he have to do with our humble Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
    Is the EP flying coach or first class on all these trips? Is there no humility among the Orthodox clergy. Church etiquette says you have to kiss a priest’s right hand, call a Bishop Your Grace, call the EP “his all holiness,”etc. It is positively sickening. Were these lofty titles given to any of the Apostles? No. Didn’t our Lord wash the feet of the twelve disciples? Didn’t He have no place to lay his head?
    All these Orthodox clergy and hierarchs would do well to follow the holy example of Dom Helder Camara. He turned the Bishop’s headquarters into a social services center, kept two apartments for the business of the diocese, and sold the Bishops Cadillac. He wore a humble cassock with a wooden cross, walked and hitch hiked anywhere he needed to go,. He lived and worked every day amoungst the poor. The Orthodox clergy and hierarchs should go and do likewise, then they would have treasure in heaven Patriarch Kirill probably goes to the salon to have his nails done. The whole thing makes me sick.

    • Greatly Saddened says

      Is this the “Church” our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ intended us to be like here on this earth? Somehow, I highly tend to doubt it!

    • Constantinos for President!

      • Constantinos says

        Thank you Jim, I appreciate it. I would like to nominate Gail Sheppard for president, and George M. for her vice president.

  33. Michael Bauman says

    St Luke of Simferopol, pray for us and for your people!

  34. Ukrainian autocephalists and those politicians from the Administration have indeed no esteem to Ecumenical Patriarch. They’re just framing His Holiness. For example, they did it by spreading a so-called transcript of the recent talks between Patriarchs of Constantinople and Moscow in Istanbul.
    But in all this mess things are judged not by moral values but by political ones. Virtually no one in Ukraine cares about the supposed leakage of confidential negotiations at the Phanar. Isn’t it a much too heavy and unrealistic allegation against the Ecumenical Patriarchate itself? It is so obvious but completely ignored that breaking the confidence is unethical and virtually impossible for any sane public person. The only sober voice I’ve heard was of Orthodox Christian expert from Russia Sergey Hudiev who has addressed the situation with simplicity and from an ethical point of view. His article was translated and published in English here: https://www.greekherald.com/newsr/9097.

  35. To me all this sounds like a mud wrestling match between “Marx” “Lenin” and “Stalin.”
    I have no one to root for. Bart would be “Marx” MP “Lenin” and Ukraine guy “Stalin.”
    So, “Marx” says “O.k., I recognize you “Stalin” and “Lenin” is non-plussed. The gist, however,
    as Met. Jonah more or less points out you have …. “meddling!!” …. this almost leading me ….
    Hillary (!) behind all this? “Revenge Meddling!!” ??

  36. Horrified beyond belief says

    George,

    Have you seen this video of Denisenko (“Patriarch Filaret”) receiving the blessing of a well-known sorcerer/magician in Ukraine?

    I remain horrified that anyone takes this man “Filaret” seriously. Literally sick to my stomach.

    I remain horrified at the lengths that alleged Orthodox Christians go to try to justify the Church of Constantinople’s actions.

    I remain horrified that my former jurisdiction — the Church of Constantinople — saw in Denisenko a man fit to call a church “hierarch.”

    It appears that the bulk of the Orthodox leadership in Constantinople is now of the same state as the Roman Catholic leadership who ignore the homosexual pederast scandal in the Latin churches. These Roman clerics no longer seem to know or to serve Christ, they merely do all they can to protect the Latin hierarchy, at the expense of boys and children who are sexually abused by the clergy.

    Similarly, is it now clear now that the allegedly “Orthodox” church leadership in Constantinople only serves itself, to protect and prolong its precarious existence at any cost, with or without Christ. Is there any room for Jesus in an organization where one of its “hierarchs” now in full communion with the Church of Constantinople is “blessed” by a sorcerer/magician?

    I am simply devastated. By the American government who keeps pushing this, by the Church of Constantinople who acts as the US government’s puppet, by those who go to all lengths to try to justify the Church of Constantinople’s terrible decision and terrible leadership.

    God gives us free will. Sadly, man can use that free will to make awful choices.

    All serious Orthodox Christians must run at full speed away from the Church of Constantinople.

    George, please publicize this video so all have a better glimpse of whom the Church of Constantinople wants to associate with.

    • Beryl Wells Hamilton says

      Sigh.

      http://avakyan.com.ua/english.html

      “Professor Yuri Leonidovich Volyanskiy, the Director of the Institute of Microbiology and Immunology named after Mechnikov of the Academy of Medical Sciences of Ukraine, Doctor of Medical Science:
      “Everything, any move which is done in the name of the people should be welcomed. I can tell as a patient that for more than 5 years I have been taking your medicine and in general I feel not bad, even taking into account the fact that I had undergone a difficult surgery on the brain.”
      V.V. Vasyuta, Doctor of Medical Science, professor, chief physician of the regional hospital in Mukachevo.
      “We are honored to welcome today an outstanding visitor. I’ll tell you who he is. He is the first man in the world, who combined the traditional and nontraditional medicine. He is the first man in the world, who was able to restore neurons – nerve cells. There are people to whom he helped, he will tell and show. I think that cooperating closely we will help people with God’s aid.”
      Academician Avakyan has managed to discover the ancient roots of medicine, and at numerous meetings with doctors in various parts of Ukraine has managed to convincingly prove that the herbal medicine and traditional medical treatment does not contradict, but complement each other.”

    • Johann Sebastian says

      Agreed completely, but further into the video, is that not (the canonical) Metropolitan Vladimir (Sabodan) with some sort of a committee giving this Avakyan a medal or award of some type?

      And then there’s some sort of Armenian prelate getting a “blessing” too. Not relevant to us but…

      • Beryl Wells Hamilton says

        See, here’s what baffles me. Are you for real, Johann Sebastian Bach? You say two opposite things out of one mouth.

        • Johann Sebastian says

          I’m just writing an observation. No contradictions.

          Not sure what to make of it, except that it’s there.

  37. TheFutureOfTheChurch says

    This event has stirred up a lot of emotion. One thing I see missing is a detached and rational analysis of what seems to be a key issue: does the Ecumenical Patriach have the authority to do what he has done? If he has the authority, then you might not like what he has done, but ultimately you would have to accept. If he does not the authority then it is another matter.

    1) Various people claim what the Ecumenical Patriarch has done is uncanonical. He obviously sees it otherwise. Which church canons has he violated? For that matter, does the Orthodox Church today abide by all of the canons?

    2) Does the Church of Constantinople have the right to undo what it did in 1686? This article leads you to believe it does.

    https://www.economist.com/erasmus/2018/10/19/a-christian-schism-prompts-historians-to-dig-deep-into-the-past

    3) Of the 14 autocephalous Orthodox Churches today how did they attain that status? From what I have found many of them declared autocephaly on their own (and in many cases this was only recognized many years later by others churches)? How does this relate to this current problem?

    I would be interested if anyone can provide answers to these questions (without clouding the topics with emotion).

    • “Does the Church of Constantinople have the right to undo what it did in 1686? This article leads you to believe it does.”

      The Economist tends to be unfriendly to the authentic Orthodoxy.

      Second, Constantinople does not have rights to rule the Church, that is organized on principles of conciliarity. Asserting such rights is a heresy.

      Third, the supposed “will of the Ukrainians” is primarily expressed by Uniates, nationalists, atheists and neopagans.

      • TheFutureOfTheChurch says

        These, to me, seem to be opinions. I am looking for real, historical, sources of information.

    • Johann Sebastian says

      I don’t believe “tyranny” referred to by the Patriarch of Jerusalem at that time was, as the article seems to imply, Russian dominion over Kiev.

      Remember that in the 17th Century, the western part of what is now Ukraine–Galicia, Volhynia, Transcarpathia, etc.–was under Polish/Lithuanian or Austrian control and forced into union with Rome. Until that time, Kiev was also under the Polish thumb. The hope was that the more western parts of Rus’ would eventually be freed from the Polish Catholic yoke and its Uniate charade. This is the tyranny being spoken of.

    • Billy Jack Sunday says

      TheFutureOfTheChurch

      For answers to some of those questions, please see the ROROR statement of Oct 19th that Greatly Saddened has posted a link to

    • «Δεν ανέχονται οι αδερφοί μας οι Σλάβοι το προβάδισμα που έχει το Οικουμενικό Πατριαρχείο και το Γένος μας, μέσα στην Ορθοδοξία». – https://orthodoxia.info/news/%CE%B2%CE%B1%CF%81%CE%B8%CE%BF%CE%BB%CE%BF%CE%BC%CE%B1%CE%B9%CE%BF%CF%83-%CE%BA%CE%B1%CE%BB%CE%BF%CF%80%CE%BB%CE%B7%CF%81%CF%89%CE%BC%CE%AD%CE%BD%CE%B1-%CE%AC%CF%81%CE%B8%CF%81%CE%B1-%CE%BA%CE%B1/?fbclid=IwAR0N5eDcBHkpSlpBzXi70_3ieFbvTBKTrfAygsLrGNLVgpP7BNtA8J5sAoM

      It is now in the realm of power. Our musings mean little at this point. Bartholomew will hold his ground, as will the MP. That portends permanent schism, regardless of what anyone else decides about the merits of the case.

      ”’Our Slav brothers do not tolerate the precedence of the Ecumenical Patriarchate and our genos within Orthodoxy … whether they like it or not, sooner or later our Russian brothers will follow the solution given by the Ecumenical Patriarchate as they have no other choice,’ Bartholomew said on Sunday.” – https://ahvalnews.com/istanbul-patriarchate/bartholomew-vows-not-step-back-ukraines-orthodox-church-independencehttp://www.ekathimerini.com/233907/article/ekathimerini/news/vartholomaios-vows-not-to-bow-under-russian-pressure

      “Genos” refers to tribe or race. The interview was an assertion of racial proprietorship of “Greek Orthodoxy”.

      As far as the ROC is concerned, Constantinople is no longer part of the Church. As the largest Orthodox church, by far, and not a particularly impoverished one, if it sticks to its excommunication of Constantinople, refuses to participate in any organization or assembly of which the Phanar is a member, and encourages other local churches to do the same using whatever leverage it possesses (including ecclesiastical largesse), my guess is that Constantinople will gradually fade out of importance as the rest of Orthodoxy distances itself from the Phanariotes.

  38. Michael Bauman says

    I keep hearing Patsy Cline each time I come here.

  39. Joseph Lipper says

    Pope Francis and Metropolitan Hilarion met together again at the Vatican today:

    ROME, October 19. /TASS/. Chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Department for External Church Relations, Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, had a private audience with Pope Francis on Friday. His Eminence Hilarion earlier told TASS that the meeting had been planned, while the Holy See Press Office circulated the list of the pontiff’s visitors, a representative of the Russian Orthodox Church was mentioned among them.

    The Vatican provided no details about the meeting. On Thursday, His Eminence Hilarion told TASS that he planned to discuss the situation involving the non-canonical churches in Ukraine and relations between the Russian Orthodox Church and the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople. “Yes, I am going to talk with the pope about that,” he said. “We do not expect the pope to intervene in this situation or try to sort it out. However, I will brief him on the decision made by our Holy Synod.”

    “I usually do not disclose the content of such conversations,” added Metropolitan Hilarion, who addressed the Synod of Bishops in the Catholic Church as a “representative of the fraternal church.” He also attended a concert held in Rome as part of the Russian Seasons festival, at which the Grand Choir Masters of Choral Singing performed his compositions.

    http://tass.com/society/1026890

    • Dear Joseph,
      with respect, I’d like to address your general standpoint:
      Your words and my words are just OPINIONS which are naturally biased.
      The same applies to the other friends here.
      They are respected.
      What is important is what the canons of the Church say.
      The most well known compilations of the canons is the Pedalion (Rudder),
      e.g. by Cummings Chicago, 1957.

      Search it for the word Ecumenical (Patriarch) and you will find
      Canon XXVIII (28) of the 4th Ecumenical Council (p.271).
      You will read there two very important points:
      1) The Ecumenical Patriarch is the Bishop in the city (the capital) where the Head of the country is (King, Emperor, President etc).
      2) The function of the Patriarch is to give ASSISTANCE to Bishops from other cities who come to see the Head of State to ask for some specific help.
      Full stop.

  40. Francis Frost says

    Dear George:

    Metropolitan Jonah has laid serious accusations against the United States government, including accusations that, if accurate, constitute serious crimes. His Beatitude’s statement clearly implicates Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo and President Trump in criminal violations of both U.S law and international law.

    Metropolitan Jonah states:

    Once again, the United States and its policies are creating chaos, setting up the murder of innocent people, and disrupting an ancient institution. Only this time, it is direct interference in the affairs not just of a nation state, Ukraine, but of a religious institution, the Orthodox Church. And the effect of this is not just on a local, but worldwide level.

    The granting of autocephaly to the schismatic Ukrainian body, the so-called Kiev Patriarchate, is not primarily an ecclesiastical issue, but a political one. Ecclesiastically, the US policy is interfering on a number of different levels.

    It is …. trying to force the faithful people of Ukraine into a unified state church, supporting an unpopular government installed, supported and maintained by the United States, and essentially appointing the clergy and hierarchy, particularly the patriarch, for that body. Undoubtedly it will support the Ukrainian government in its efforts to nationalize the 12,000 churches belonging to the legitimate canonical Ukrainian Church and its faithful people, confiscating the buildings and property, including the ancient sacred monasteries and national landmarks.

    Moreover, not content to manipulate the ecclesiastical and political mafiosi of Ukraine, a failing state grasping for power and lacking legitimacy from its people, the State Department, and other agencies have injected themselves into the Patriarchate of Constantinople. They have manipulated the elderly Ecumenical Patriarch, either directly or through their proxies, through his greatest weakness: the precarious position of the Patriarchate within Turkey, politically and financially. They would expand his jurisdiction and have ensured his financial stability with bribes of millions of dollars.

    Their justification is that they want to curtail the influence of Russia. The neoconservatives and others who control so much US policy are possessed by a paranoid Russophobia, left over from the first Cold War, and a new hatred of the Christian values espoused by the resurgent Russia.

    And so the United States State Department and agencies support a disgraced and legitimately defrocked charlatan who is all dressed up, and who is himself manipulating the pathetic Poroshenko, for his own ambition. They have blackmailed the elderly Ecumenical Patriarch, in regards to the disappearance of funds from the American Archdiocese, and then bribed him.

    But you, State Department, will have the blood of the little Ukrainian grandmothers and old men on your hands and your heads. And you will have to answer for your decisions and actions before God. Or do you even care?

    Now let’s look at those accusations. Clearly, his Beatitude has access to information that is hidden from the rest of us.

    Metropolitan Jonah has declared that that he knows the secret deliberations of the U. S. State department and Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo. He declares that he knows the aims of the U.S. State department and the means employed to achieve those goals. He declares that he knows the future plans to be carried out by the U. S State Department in Ukraine.

    Metropolitan Jonah declares that he has knowledge of the discussions between U. S government officials and the Ecumenical Patriarch. He declares that he has knowledge of bribes paid to the Ecumenical Patriarch, and of extortionate threats made against Patriarch Bartholomew.

    Given the extremely serious nature of his accusations, it seems only justified that his Beatitude tell us HOW he knows these things? Has he listened to the telephone conversations between the State Department and the EP? Has he intercepted private e-mails.? Perhaps, he has received a tranch of stolen e-mails via Wikileaks? Has he received documentation of the money transfers to Istanbul?

    It is crystal clear from Metropolitan Jonah’s statement that has knowledge that could only be gained via the interventions of a national intelligence agency. Given his clear antipathy to the United States government and its intelligence services, the only logical conclusion is that His Beatitude, Metropolitan Jonah has received this information from a FOREIGN intelligence service.

    There are only two possible conclusions that flow from his Beatitude’s declaration. Either he is an secret agent of a foreign government, or he is a fool spouting unsupported nonsense.

    So, your Beatitude, which is it?

    George, you spend endless time flogging unsupported accusations against the United States and the Ecumenical Patriarchate. Yet, not one of those accusations is supported by a documented fact.

    While the Moscow Patriarch claims to be a victim of canonical lawlessness. The MP has, itself flagrantly violated those same canons for the past 25 years. Over the past decade, I have provided you with extensive written and video documents that demonstrate the illegal and immoral acts of the Russian government and the Patriarchate of Moscow

    Since the Republic on Georgia gained independence, the leaders of the Russian government have engaged in a violent campaign of military invasion with attendant acts of outright genocide and ethnic cleansing in the occupied territories. The Moscow Patriarchate has not only failed to condemn these criminal acts, the MP has capitalized on them and directly participated in them

    In South Ossetia, nearly 100,000 ethnic Georgians were expelled from their homes in 1991, while Russian “peacekeepers” armed and protected the Ossetian militias during the fighting.  In Abkhazia the Apsua (Abkhazian people) with the help of the Russian army and their allies in the “Union of the Mountain Peoples of the Caucasus”, a Muslim confederacy, all but exterminated the Georgian community in Abkhazia. Nearly 47,000 Georgian Orthodox Christians were killed, and nearly 250,000 were driven into exile.

    After the 1992-93 invasion of Abkhazia, the Russian Orthodox Church created a schismatic “Abkhaz Orthodox Eparchy” on the ruins of the legitimate Orthodox Diocese of Tskhumi and all Abkhazia. The “leader” of this schismatic church is the de-frocked Archimandrite Vissarion Apliaa. Despite the obvious schismatic, un-canonical nature of this so-called “Eparchy”; the Moscow Patriarchate has ordained and assigned clergy to this diocese, and has funded its work.

     In the “Orthodox Occupation” television documentary, the Russian Bishop Panteleimon of Karabadino-Adyghe is shown con-celebrating with the schismatic Vissarion Apliaa, and officially awarding him the Order of St Seraphim of Sarov on behalf of the Holy Synod of the Moscow Patriarchate. This demonstrates the direct involvement of the Moscow Patriarchate in the creation of the schismatic “Eparchy”
     
    Following the 2008 invasion of Georgia, this same Vissarion Apliaa led the forces that expelled the last legitimate Orthodox clergy from the newly occupied Gali and Kodori districts in eastern Abkhazia in April 2009.  Vissarion Apliaa was received into the ranks of the clergy by the Moscow Patriarchate without a canonical release; and Patriarch Kirill personally con-celebrated with this renegade monk in violation of the Sacred Canons of the Orthodox Church.

    During the genocidal campaign of 1992, Hieromonk Andrea Kurashvili and the Subdeacon Giorgi Adua ,who were restorers and guardians of the Shrine of the Repose of St John Chrysostom, were brutally tortured and martyred. You may read the their Life and Martyrdom on the Mystagogy web-site.

    In August 2008, the Russian bishops, Panteleimon of Kabardino-Adyghe and Feofan of Saratov accompanied the invasion forces and publicly “blessed” the weapons used to attack civilian populations. These “blessings” were televised first in Russia and then in Georgia. You may watch the video with your own eyes as it is included in the “Orthodox Occupation” video on You Tube. These infernal “blessings” are also included in Andrei Nekrasov’s documentary “Uroki Russkogo” (Russian Lessons), which debunks the Russian government’s propaganda campaign of justification for its invasion of Georgia. Mr. Nekrasov’s documentary is also available on You Tube in 12 segments, some with English sub-titles for those who do not understand the Russian language.

    On August 8, 2008, the missiles “blessed” by Bishop Feofan were used attack the ancient Ghvrtaeba Cathedral and the Shrine of the Protomartyr Razhden in Nikozi. On August 9th, the Russian military and their Ossetian allies looted, desecrated and burned this ancient House of God.

    The 2008 documentary “Orthodox Occupation” has been re-released and posted on You Tube at the following url:
     
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1FRMy143Nm0
     
    Portions of this documentary plus additional footage are now available with English voice over, titled “Orthodox Occupancy Part 1 and Part 2” at the following urls:
     
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8dWSx4scmP0
     
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kmw7jY3gzj4&feature=related
     
    A television documentary on the destruction of Ghvertaeba and the work of reconstruction carried out by Metropolitan Isaiah may be viewed at:

    http://pik.tv/en/war/film/1755

    The Moscow Patriarchate has uncanonically seized by violence two entire dioceses of the Georgian Orthodox Patriarchate.
    Apostolic Canon XXX. (XXXI.)
    If any bishop obtain possession of a church by the aid of the temporal powers, let him be deposed and excommunicated, and all who communicate with him. Canon XIV. Canon XXX. (XXXI.)

    The Moscow Patriarchate received into its ranks without a canonical release the renegade Archimandrite Vissarion Apliaa. Canon X. (XI.) Canon XI. (XII.) Canon XV. Canon XVI. Canon XXXI. (XXXII.) Canon XXXII. (XXXIII.) anon XXXIII. (XXXIV.)

    The Moscow Patriarchate established on the territory of the Georgian Orthodox church a schismatic “Abkhaz Eparchy”. The Moscow Patriarchate funded, and ordained clergy for this schismatic body. Canon XXXV. (XXXVI.)

    During the 2008 invasion of Georgia the Moscow Patriarchate sent two of its bishops into the territory of the Georgian Orthodox Patriarchate to literally bless the weapons used to massacre civilians; used to destroy 15 entire villages, and used even to bomb desecrate and burn the sacred altar of God in the Ghvrtaeba Cathedral in Nikozi,

    The canonical prescription for any one of these infractions is either deposition from the clergy or excommunication. If we wish to apply the strict interpretation of the canons, Patriarch Kirill and his entire synod of bishops deserve to be defrocked and or excommunicated. Who is “canonical” now”

    Despite the enormity of these crimes, His Holiness, Patriarch Ilya II and the Holy Synod of the Georgian Patriarchate have followed the apostolic example of long-suffering and conciliation. “When reviled, we bless; when persecuted, we endure; when slandered, we try to conciliate.”  I Corinthians 4:9.  

    The irony here is that while the Georgian bishops have exercised incredible long-suffering patience for decades, the perpetrators of these execrable horror are now invoking the very canons they themselves violated and demanding ecclesiastical justice! How very sad for all..

    One Russian bishop declared. “There is only one solution to the crisis in Ukraine – repentance” Of course he was right, if only he and his fellow Russians were capable of repenting themselves

    • George Michalopulos says

      As usual, Francis, your gracelessness towards His Eminence Metropolitan Jonah is exceeded only by your hatred of the Russian Orthodox Church.

      I suppose in Frostworld the only time a bishop should speak is on anodyne subjects like Arbor Day. Perish the thought that an American bishop should take the State Department to task for meddling in Orthodox Church affairs.

      Still, your naivete aid not without it’s charm.

  41. Constantinos says

    In my humble opinion, I believe that the EP’s first order of business should have been to grant autocephaly to the Greek Orthodox Church in North America. Why do we need a Turkish citizen involved in the affairs of American Orthodoxy? We need to keep all foreign influence out of Orthodoxy in this country. American Orthodox desperately needs one Church in the US under no foreign influence whatsoever. Canon 28 obviously does not apply in this day and age because Constantinople does not exist anymore. Should Constantinople exist? Yes, the Ottoman Turkish Muslims stole our Byzantium. If need be, the US should demand that Turkey return Instanbul to its rightful owners.
    The US is the most powerful nation in world history, and yet we have to endure all this foreign influence and meddling in our affairs. The most important thing is one united, canonical Orthodox Church in America with the sole, unabridged right to call a world wide Ecumenical Council whenever we choose. Which country has the most influence in the Catholic Church? The Us does. It should be the same for Orthodoxy.

  42. Yet there seem to be strong arguments on the other side (Ecumenical Patriarch) as well. Why does no one engage these? http://catholicherald.co.uk/issues/sep-28th-2018/the-orthodox-church-is-on-the-brink-of-new-great-schism/

    • Mom of Toddler says

      I didn’t see many arguments either way in that Catholic Herald article. It seemed like a somewhat biased overview of what is occurring from a Catholic perspective. The article made everything seem to be only a political, power struggle between the EP and MP, when there are also spiritual issues at play. For example, The MP was not the only church to not show up at the Crete Council, neither did the Georgian Church or the Church of Antioch. There were people from various Orthodox countries expressing concern about the council. The article made it seem as if it was just the MP. Also, I thought there was some extenuating circumstances resulting the OCA’s autocephaly having to do with the situation in Russia…I can’t recall the details. Not exactly the same….The MP was actually letting part of their church go in that situation. All that to say, what strong arguments in particular do you see in that article?

  43. Beryl Wells Hamilton says

    Pondering the insults and slander hurled against Patriarch Philaret, and especially Metropolitan Jonah’s statement that Patriarch Philaret is a “charlatan,”
    I found and read the following article. It makes me wonder how Patriarch Philaret can be lying when he makes the following statements, quoted below. These are historical facts, aren’t they?

    The UOC-KP Patriarch gave a brief historical overview highlighting the events that had preceded the bloodshed in Donbas: the refusal of the then state leaders to sign the Association Agreement, Maidan, the shooting of the protesters, the flight of Yanukovych, the occupation of Crimea, the insurgency of Russian militants in Donetsk and Luhansk regions.

    “In fact, the events in Donbas are the result of armed aggression against Ukraine. The leaders of the so-called People’s Republics, their mercenaries, weapons, funding, and information support – all of these come from Russia across the borders in the occupied areas. In other places of Ukraine, except the places where Russian mercenaries are present, there is no armed conflict or other forms of resistance, characteristic of civil and religious wars,” said Patriarch Filaret.

    https://risu.org.ua/en/index/all_news/orthodox/orthodox_world/57512/

    • Johann Sebastian says

      Filaret has been laicized by the canonical Orthodox Church. Even Constantinople agreed until the U.S. State Department got involved.

      He’s as much an Orthodox patriarch as this fellow: http://theocacnainc.tripod.com

      He’s got a nice koukoulion though. Probably should replace the cross with a propeller.

      • Billy Jack Sunday says

        Johann Sabastian

        “He’s got a nice koukoulion though. Probably should replace the cross with a propeller.”

        Hahahahahahaha

        I can totally see that

    • Monk James Silver says

      Beryl Wells Hamilton (October 21, 2018 at 11:25 am)says:

      Pondering the insults and slander hurled against Patriarch Philaret,
      SNIP

      There’s precious little good to be said about Michael Denisenko,

      His is a long history of faithlessness and personal immorality, and his citing examples of what he considers to be political persecution of ‘Ukraine’ by Russia — true or not — doesn’t undo his blasphemous past or ameliorate his destructive behavior in the present.

      It’s just so sad and shameful that Constantinople has bought into this morass of anti-church, altogether anti-Christian sewage instead of following the canons of the Orthodox Christian Church.

      BTW: All the people named ‘Beryl’ of whom I am aware have been rabbis….

      • Beryl Wells Hamilton says

        Monk James, you wrote, “what he considers to be political persecution of ‘Ukraine’ by Russia — true or not…”

        What do you mean? The statements are true. Political persecution of Ukraine by Russia is TRUE. In other words, Russia persecutes Ukrainians. Support Russia, you support persecution of Ukrainians. Hating “Michael Denisenko” and the EP doesn’t change the facts.

        The UOC-KP Patriarch gave a brief historical overview highlighting the events that had preceded the bloodshed in Donbas: the refusal of the then state leaders to sign the Association Agreement, Maidan, the shooting of the protesters, the flight of Yanukovych, the occupation of Crimea, the insurgency of Russian militants in Donetsk and Luhansk regions.

        “In fact, the events in Donbas are the result of armed aggression against Ukraine. The leaders of the so-called People’s Republics, their mercenaries, weapons, funding, and information support – all of these come from Russia across the borders in the occupied areas. In other places of Ukraine, except the places where Russian mercenaries are present, there is no armed conflict or other forms of resistance, characteristic of civil and religious wars,” said Patriarch Filaret.

        BTW, all the people named Beryl of whom I am aware are women! I am most def not a rabbi, but I wouldn’t mind being a rabbit.

        • Monk James Silver says

          What I MEAN is that nationalism in ‘Ukraine’, largely fueled by anti-Orthodox and anti-Russian sentiment driven primarily by uniat interests in the regions of Galitsia, Lvovshchina, and Ivano-Frankovsk provoked various Russian responses. I don’t see a single instance where Russia initiated persecution — political or otherwise — in their breakaway province of Kievan Malorus’.

          Michael Denisenko’s trampling on his monastic vows and his continuing to officiate while under suspension resulted in his deposition from the priesthood and the episcopate. He has continued in personal and ecclesial schism even until now to defy canonical good order, and is presently being supported by inauthentic moves on the part of Constantinople, which has no authority in that part of the world.

        • Beryl,

          No, the whole “history” you quote is a lie.

          What really happened is that elements in the United States staged a coup d’etat against the democratically elected Ukrainian president (Yanukovich). If you read the news from the time, you will see that he had already agreed to early elections. This was not good enough for the American orchestrators or funders of the Maidan “revolution” (Victoria Nuland, et al.) who had admittedly poured over 5 billion dollars into Ukraine to achieve regime change and a pro-Western, anti-Russian government.

          So, the Western forces, spearheaded by fascists, reneged on the deal and drove Yanukovich out of the country. They never constitutionally impeached him either so the current government of Ukraine is an illegal band of thugs at best.

          In the aftermath, the new Kiev regime began to introduce legislation banning the Russian language and mandating the Ukrainian language. They backed away from that, but not before they sufficiently terrorized the Eastern provinces into rebellion and autonomy (Novorossia, Donetsk and Lugansk Republics). Russia, of course, supported these resisters who were simply protecting their own culture and their economic ties to Russia (much of their economy revolves around supplying the Russian military).

          Then, the Crimea (96% ethnic Russian), which had been a gift from one soviet republic to another, decided in a referendum to separate from Ukraine and join the RF.

          That is TRUTH.

          And now, the American Deep State is making another offensive against Russia through the heresiarch Darth Varth. This is all politics. It is the ideology of Progressive Liberalism against the ideology of Eastern Authoritarianism. That does not leave American conservatives an easy choice. Many of them, the neo-cons, foolishly choose to support Progressive Liberalism (an ideology which attempts to eradicate them).

          Fortunately, I’m Orthodox, which means a monarchist at heart. Eastern Authoritarianism comes naturally to me.

          • The protesters on Maidan were shot from buildings occupied by the same protesters. The EU apparatchiks even admitted this in a phone call to each other. The exact same thing happened in Syria, which led to the current civil war there. Same three-letter agency was likely behind both of these.

            Why the partial blindness, Beryl? You supported Assad under your previous nom de plume. Anyone who is woke on that should know better re: Ukraine – or are you just choosing whichever side that fits your desired narrative?

          • Joseph Lipper says

            Who was it that orchestrated the assassination attempt on Ukraine’s third elected President, Viktor Yushchenko?

            It was Viktor Yushchenko that formally invited Patriarch Bartholomew to Ukraine in 2008. Yushchenko wanted an autocephalous Ukrainian church, and the EP’s visit in 2008 initiated the project for Ukrainian autocephaly. Patriarch Bartholomew even confronted Moscow’s Patriarch Alexey II about this matter when they concelebrated together in Kiev.

            It appears the Ecumenical Patriarch has shown great patience and deference to Moscow, in hopes that Moscow would solve this problem. However, we find that ten years later, Moscow has still not remedied the situation, and Russia’s annexation of Crimea has made things much worse. Ukrainians are leaving the Moscow Patriarchate churches in droves.

          • Beryl Wells Hamilton says

            Misha, thank you for your thoughtful, measured post. I had read about the scenario/narrative as you describe it above, and believed it for a long time, until recently, when I have begun to question it. In any case, the situation is today as it is. What do you see as a solution?

  44. Constantinos says

    George,
    I was reading an article about Jimmy Carter’s lifestyle, and I said to myself,” Gee, he’s really humble.” Since then, I have been examining the most important virtue of all which is humility. I have been astonished by my findings. If there is one virtue I crave, it is humility. In keeping with my effort to acquire humility, I think I should apologize to anyone I have criticized. It’s not my place to judge or criticize anyone- only to love them with Christ’s love.
    I would like to apologize to Dr. Stankovich, Dino, Estonian Slovak, Misha, and anyone else I have offended. Of course, I am eternally indebted to Gail for her forgiveness, and her saintly qualities which are helping me to hopefully become a better Christian. I will always be especially grateful to Gail. I hope to emulate her and all other humble God’s servants. Thank you George.

    • Gail Sheppard says

      Constantinos, thank you for having the charity to forgive me. Let’s make a pact that no matter what is to come, we will remain supportive of one another and undivided, If you came back to the Church, it would make my heart sing but either way, I will forever be your sister in Christ. This is my promise to you.

      • Constantinos says

        Hi Gail,
        You never did anything to me. I was thanking God that you forgave me.
        I can promise you that I will remain completely supportive of you, and love you as a dear sister in Christ. I’ve found that after being Orthodox , it is not possible to become a Catholic. After the old Pastor leaves this Sunday, I will be going back to my Orthodox Church. Thank you for your kindness.

        • Gail Sheppard says

          So glad to hear that, Constantinos. There was a time I decided I had had enough. My godmother said to me, “You can go to Church or not go to Church, Gail. That’s up to you, but you can never stop being Orthodox.” She was right. It’s weird. When I meet new people and they say, “Tell me a little about yourself.” The first thing that pops into my head is that I’m Orthodox.

        • Glory to God, Constantinos. I am not a frequent poster but your departure saddened me and your return fills me with joy.

  45. Pat. Bartholomew was caught on mike as referring to the prerogatives of his race/nation (the Greeks). If anyone had any doubts that this thing is lining up to be a permanent split, they should be quickly fading now:

    http://orthochristian.com/116750.html?fbclid=IwAR1JWiLVdwPR1_6QgxMIM8UWd9toMAv587wQ12rhTLNf4XqzkKCVryaPeTI

    Like I said, good riddance to these insufferably arrogant egomaniacs.

    • 4 groups, essentially says

      The 4 groups of people I’ve identified (merely my observations) who truly believe in and support the Church of Constantinople (against all the other autocephalous Orthodox churches) in this disastrous fiasco are:

      (1) Greeks who believe in Hellenic ethnic superiority (i.e., racist Greeks… yes they do exist)
      (2) Ukrainians who hate Russia, for whatever reason
      (3) Americans who hate Russia, for whatever reason
      (4) Those who call themselves Orthodox but who are (at heart) Roman Catholic in their belief and ecclesiology and don’t even know it (often these are Orthodox who were born into the faith and don’t know much at all about their own faith); many of these folks really do want an “Orthodox supreme pontiff” on earth and don’t realize that this belief is not consistent with Orthodox Christian history, faith, practice, or ecclesiology

      Patriarch Bartholomew apparently belongs to both groups 1 and 4.

      • Billy Jack Sunday says

        4 groups, essentially

        Good observation.

        I’ve been thinking that without the GOA/Archons, none of this would have likely been able to come about

        Wouldn’t that be something? If historians later discover that the GOA was the means and the force behind the worst schism in Orthodox history?

    • Indeed! All of the other Churches would be wise to declare him a schismatic….right now!

  46. AFR needs some cajones says

    Did folks see that Fr John Whiteford has a wonderful sermon posted on his website where he discusses the importance and relevance of this Ukrainian “autocephaly” issue. Well worth listening to.

    However, it looks like he cannot post this sermon to his Ancient Faith Radio page that has all of his other sermons, because AFR does not want to appear to be “taking sides” on this issue.

    I find AFR’s ambivalence to one of the foremost issues (if not the foremost issue) facing contemporary world Orthodox Christianity to be appalling. Anyway, AFR doesn’t have to “take sides.” It can post programs that address and talk about the issue, like any reputable news radio site would.

    Kevin Allen (of blessed memory) would have taken on this topic on his old AFR radio show. He probably would have interviewed a person from each side of the Ukrainian “autocephaly” issue to have both perspectives addressed.

    Why can’t someone from AFR take this issue on?

    If AFR continues to pretend that this Ukrainian “autocephaly” issue doesn’t exist, it totally just looks like they are trying to not offend wealthy benefactors who are afraid of having this issue discussed and more widely known. In other words, it would look like they’re afraid of offending some wealthy Greek-American or pro-EP benefactors.

  47. Constantinos says

    George,
    Speaking of insanity, another third world caravan full of illegal aliens has formed, and is headed to the US without invitation. This truly is an invasion from the third world. Talk about destroying the US!
    Obviously, there is going to be a US military response, and like all “heroes” these cowards have placed the women and children at the front to act as human shields. Don’t we Americans have the right to decide who we want to allow into our country?
    How insane is it to invade a sovereign nation waving Honduran and Guatemalan national flags while climbing over fences? The US is becoming a third world, alien nation, hellhole. I just don’t understand it. If a country has no economic opportunity, is full of dangerous gangs, why bring children into that situation. If you are living in a dangerous situation like that, why bring children into that nightmare. As far as I know, there is inalienable right to copulate. These illegal aliens should stop having sex. Let them practice self control. They have no choice because the US citizens will not stand for the takeover of our country.
    I expect all the bleeding heart liberals like Bishop Tikhon Fitzgerald, Dr. Stankovich, and other liberal snowflakes to be the first to volunteer to personally take at least one illegal alien family into their homes, and to feed and clothe them. It’s time for these liberal snowflakes like Bishop Tikhon Fitzgerald and Dr. Stankovich to either put up or shut up. I’m not telling the retired OCA bishop to shut up or anything; I’m just saying talk is cheap; let’s see him put his words into action instead of maligning and slandering Trump supporters as Nazis. His Grace could have set a good example by apologizing for his hateful speech, but since he seems to lack humility(who am I to judge), let him at least show real compassion to these illegal aliens by personally supporting one migrant family. Your Grace, it is your solemn duty to either apologize or to demonstrate your love by your actions. As they say, hypocrisy is the homage paid to virtue. Your Grace, I desperately want to acquire Christ like virtues, but sadly, you are no role model. And your age ain’t going to cut it as an excuse for bad behavior. For the fourth time, I’m asking you to apologize to all of us for your rancid comments.

  48. George C Michalopulos says

    Would someone please send Fr Whiteford’s talk to me?

  49. Beryl Wells Hamilton says

    Here’s some “insanity” for you.
    RELIGIOUS FREEDOM AT GUNPOINT: RUSSIAN TERROR IN THE OCCUPIED TERRITORIES OF EASTERN UKRAINE
    https://risu.org.ua/en/index/all_news/community/freedom_of_conscience/73196
    “Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew has met with Ukrainian children whose parents died in Donbas”
    https://risu.org.ua/en/index/all_news/orthodox/constantinople_patriarchy/73195

  50. Beryl Wells Hamilton says

    Sorry to post this in its entirety, but I thought it was important.

    “Metropolitan Emmanuel expresses his regret that the Moscow Patriarchate is fiercely opposing the process of granting autocephaly to the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, tries to weaken by way of threats and attacks the communion ties that unite all Autocephalous Orthodox Churches between themselves.

    Metropolitan responded to the call of the Russian Orthodox Church to convene the Pan-Orthodox Council to discuss the issue of Ukrainian autocephaly:

    “The Moscow Church uses its influence in order to exert pressure on other Orthodox Churches, calling them to convene the Pan-Orthodox assembly. It should be noted, however, that the Russian Church refused to take part in the Holy and Great Council of the Orthodox Church in June 2016 in Crete. It was about one of the most important Orthodox events in modern history. I regret the manifestation of such opportunism on the part of the Moscow Patriarchate, which seeks to use All-Orthodox meetings to place their own accents. In addition, it should be understood that the provision of autocephaly does not constitute a matter for the agenda at the Pan-Orthodox Council, this issue is solely within the competence of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, as the Mother Church, which grants independence to the Orthodox Ukrainian ecclesiastical body. This is a lesson in history. The Ecumenical Patriarchate is the source of autocephaly of all the local Orthodox Churches, with the exception of the ancient Patriarchs founded in the first millennium, and with the exception of the Cyprus Church.”

    Metropolitan Emmanuel stressed, “The Ukrainian Orthodox Church will be granted autocephaly in a very short time, probably in the coming weeks. The most important appeal to all the Orthodox in relation to this topic has no political or geopolitical implications, it is primarily spiritual.

    Autocephaly should put an end to the division of the Orthodox in Ukraine and not lead to new splits. Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew has a complete understanding of this topic and makes communication a theological foundation to the benefit of everyone. This move is prophetic because it is about the moment of truth that affects the whole Orthodoxy. In the case of attempts to overturn its path, one must answer, guided by experience and gospel warnings.”

    https://risu.org.ua/en/index/all_news/orthodox/constantinople_patriarchy/73177/

    • Alitheia1875 says

      Look for Metropolitan Emmanuel to become the next GOA Archbishop.

      • George Michalopulos says

        Might as well. He’ll be the one to turn out the lights.

        • Greatly Saddened says

          His Eminence Metropolitan Emmanuel of France, has been rumored to be the heir apparent for Archbishop of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America for quite sometime now.

  51. Thank you Met. Jonah! My fear is that the United States power is actually Bartholomew’s justification for his papacy. Just as Rome, the world dominant & pagan society, was the justification for primacy (which turned to papacy), so the U.S. as the world’s current dominant and pagan society appears to believe that they have chosen Istanbul for primacy (leading again to papacy). Of course Russia is dominant in terms of numbers of Orthodox, but historically the honor of primacy seems to have gravitated to the empire with the most worldly power regardless how pagan and depraved.

    Since Constantinople dictated the calendar schism almost 100 years ago (with direction from the US), it seems that other jurisdictions just keep on going along with them. Now EP perpetrates yet another schism, and Bartholomew has stated that he is well-prepared to just ride out everyone’s angst. In fact he feels righteous about it. Phanar’s representatives in Ukraine stated that Bartholomew is like our Lord, leaving the 99 to rescue the 1.

  52. Greatly Saddened says

    Please excuse me for posting this here as I wasn’t sure where to post.

    Below please find an article from today in The National Herald.

    Archons to Honor Fr. Alexander Karloutsos and Presbytera Xanthi
    By Theodore Kalmoukos 
    October 25, 2018

    https://www.thenationalherald.com/217789/archons-to-honor-fr-alexander-karloutsos-and-presbytera-xanthi/

  53. Greatly Saddened says

    Below please find an article from today on the Orthodox Christianity website.

    PATRIARCH BARTHOLOMEW’S 1997 ACCEPTANCE OF ANATHEMATIZATION OF PHILARET DENISENKO
    Constantinople, October 25, 2018

    http://orthochristian.com/116803.html

  54. Greatly Saddened says

    Below please find another article on the Orthodox Christianity website.

    UKRAINIAN DIOCESES EXPRESSING SUPPORT FOR CANONICAL CHURCH AND MET. ONUPHRY
    Kiev, October 25, 2018

    http://orthochristian.com/116802.html

  55. Greatly Saddened says

    Below please find an article from tomorrow on the Orthodox Christianity website.

    ROMANIAN HOLY SYNOD CALLS FOR MOSCOW AND CONSTANTINOPLE TO RESOLVE UKRAINIAN ISSUE TOGETHER, HIGHLIGHTS PAN-ORTHODOX COOPERATION
    Bucharest, October 26, 2018

    http://orthochristian.com/116809.html

  56. Greatly Saddened says

    Below please find another article from today on the Orthodox Christianity website.

    BULGARIAN HOLY SYNOD TO MEET ON UKRAINIAN ISSUE SOON
    Sofia, October 26, 2018

    http://orthochristian.com/116824.html

  57. Greatly Saddened says

    Below please find an article from today on the Basilica Romania website.

     » Press Releases » 
    The Holy Synod calls for Moscow and Constantinople to resolve Ukrainian issue together, highlights pan-orthodox cooperation
    Published by Gheorghe Anghel 26.10.2018

    http://basilica.ro/en/the-holy-synod-calls-for-moscow-and-constantinople-to-resolve-ukrainian-issue-together-highlights-pan-orthodox-cooperation/?fbclid=IwAR10hqboxpFmXUo_qusOG13x7U0iox36ziqGrNTgux4XLvBfDI_fUFQBUs0

  58. Gail Sheppard says

    Speaking of Assad (not really, but had to put this somewhere), the BBC put out a new 3 part series called A DANGEROUS DYNASTY: HOUSE OF ASSAD. Wonder if any of you have seen it. So far, it’s been pretty well received by the critics

    Reviews:

    It is, in other words, about as concise and compelling a guide to internal Syrian politics in the last 50 years as you could possibly hope for, and I watched the first episode in a state of disgust and fascination.
    October 10, 2018 | Full Review…
    Rachel Cooke
    New Statesman
    Top Critic

    * * *
    A Dangerous Dynasty gave us a peep at the soul of the dictator via archive interviews with Bashar and the doe-eyed Asma and contributions from a thoughtful selection of talking heads.
    October 10, 2018 | Rating: 4/5 | Full Review…
    Ed Power
    Daily Telegraph (UK)
    Top Critic

    * * *
    Honestly, the more you learned about that guy, the less there was to love.
    October 16, 2018 | Full Review…
    Euan Ferguson
    Observer (UK)

    * * *
    As a political primer, this was useful; as a story of how quickly a family, a country, a moral compass, can destabilise, it was chilling.
    October 15, 2018 | Full Review…
    Victoria Segal
    Sunday Times (UK)

    * * *
    Nick Green’s fascinating film… explores the dynamics of Syria’s ruling regime, with a particular focus on Bashar and his wife Asma.
    October 10, 2018 | Full Review…
    Alastair McKay
    London Evening Standard

    * * *
    A Dangerous Dynasty was unflinching. I flinched repeatedly.
    October 23, 2018 | Rating: 5/5 | Full Review…
    Tim Dowling
    Guardian
    Top Critic

    * * *
    This documentary could easily be one of those History Channel-style sketches… Here was the opposite approach, confronting the viewer with their crimes, but trying to understand too the political, social and personal factors acting on the Assad family.
    October 11, 2018 | Rating: 4/5 | Full Review…
    Sean O’Grady
    Independent (UK)
    Top Critic

    * * *
    In trying to fathom how bashful Bashar could become a scourge of the world order it is so far offering some dynamite “origins” material.
    October 10, 2018 | Rating: 5/5 | Full Review…
    James Jackson
    Times (UK)
    Top Critic

    https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/a_dangerous_dynasty_house_of_assad/s01/

    • Gail, BBC, the standard of truth, the most objective source on Yugoslavia and Iraq wars and liberation of Libya.

    • Assad has been a friend of Orthodox Christians and an enemy of fundamentalist Islam. That’s all I need to know, really. All authoritarians and monarchs are “dictators”. Some are quite good like a number of the “dictators” of the Eastern Roman Empire. The bottom line is that there were forces, mostly fundamentalist Muslims, hell bent on unseating Assad. What weapons he used to eradicate these forces and re-establish his rule are irrelevant to me. Those who make rules about what weapons we can and cannot use are armchair diplomats not in danger of being overthrown by savages.

      God bless Bashar al-Assad and thank God the Russians intervened and saved him from evil forces, including those supported by Washington (which has over the past thirty years or so become the “Focus of Evil in the Modern World”, succeeding Soviet Russia).

  59. Alois Bruner, the chief of nazi attrocities in the Balkans died as a houseguest of the Assads. Nesselrode sent Porphy Uspensky to de-Hellenize the Antiochians which led to Michel Aflaq founding the Nazi Ba’ath party which is why ras-Putin hid Saddam’s WMD in Syria!

  60. Greatly Saddened says

    Please excuse me for posting this here as I wasn’t sure where to post.

    Below please find an article from today in The National Herald. Also, note the comments below the article.

    Holy Cross-Brooklyn Philoptochos President Psaras Comments on Makris
    By Theodore Kalmoukos 
    October 28, 2018

    https://www.thenationalherald.com/217772/holy-cross-brooklyn-philoptochos-president-psaras-comments-on-makris/

  61. Greatly Saddened says

    Please excuse me for posting this here as I wasn’t sure where to post.

    Below please find an article from today in The National Herald.

    Eparchial Synod Meeting, Transfer of Bishops, Archdiocesan Council
    By Theodore Kalmoukos 
    October 28, 2018

    https://www.thenationalherald.com/217782/eparchial-synod-meeting-transfer-of-bishops-archdiocesan-council/

  62. Greatly Saddened says

    Below please find an article from today on the Orthodox Christianity website.

    ROCOR: PATRIARCH BARTHOLOMEW IS NOT FREE IN HIS ACTIONS; THERE ARE FORCES BEHIND HIM THAT ARE FAR FROM CHRIST’S CHURCH
    Archpriest Seraphim Gan
    10/28/2018

    http://orthochristian.com/116841.html

    • George Michalopulos says

      Of course. Met Jonah was correct. It’s now known that former VP Joe Biden was one of those men who were leaning on the EP.

      Why you ask? Because his son Hunter sits on the board of directors of one of the Ukrainian corporations that wants to drill in the eastern Ukrainian areas that are controlled by the separatists.

    • Joseph Lipper says

      I fully support Metropolitan Onuphrey and the canonical church in Ukraine. However, in all fairness, he has political forces behind him also. He does the bidding of Vladimir Putin through the Patriarch of Moscow.

  63. Fr John Chagnon says

    But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them.
    But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant:
    Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.

    • George Michalopulos says

      Indeed. Where does Jesus’s observation comport with all the Byzantine pageantry and princely titles?

      • Beryl Wells Hamilton says

        “Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odour of the ointment.”

      • Fr John Chagnon says

        Only humility will heal this.

    • Fr John Chagnon says

      Perhaps it would be good to redirect the energy seeking to debate this situation into deep and profound prayer for the entire Church? We know where the storm and the wind are. Where is the still small voice that matters?

      • Billy Jack Sunday says

        Fr John Chagnon

        Why not do both?

        • Fr John Chagnon says

          Prayer is a fountain of discernment.

        • Fr. George Washburn says

          I think Fr. John is more graciously making the same basic point I aimed at in the ‘wheat to chaff’ comment: when we pray privately (rather than *bray* anonymously and publicly) on these hot button religio-political messes, the ratio is liable to be a more nourishing balance for all concerned..

          And where it isn’t, and we pray foolishly but privately like the Pharisee in the temple who “prayed thus with himself,” at least God is not destabilized by our follies. The damage is limited to me or you, the one who imagines himself to be communicating with God when really just doing “mirror, mirror on the wall…” in a religious costume.

  64. Gail Sheppard says

    Filaret says the Ukrainian Orthodox Church will have to change its name to the Russian Orthodox Church in Ukraine. Can the attempt to confiscate property be far behind?

    More:
    http://tass.com/society/1028099

    • George Michalopulos says

      Gail, I imagine not. A question however: by what right does Filaret speak? What authority does he have? After all, he’s only had the anathema against him lifted and he’s only the “former Metropolitan of Kiev”.

      Am I correct? Can anybody please help straighten out this situation? Does Ukraine have an autocephalous church or not? And who is its patriarch?

      Just asking.

      • ” After all, he’s only had the anathema against him lifted and he’s only the “former Metropolitan of Kiev”.”

        Anathema is still binding. Neither President of Ukraine nor EP has power to “lift it”.

        • Beryl Wells Hamilton says

          Martin, any evidence to back up your claim?

          Anathema is excommunication because of violation of certain church canons. Mazepa did not do this. Similarly, Patriarch Filaret did not do anything that would violate Orthodox dogmas. In any of his decisions he did not infringe on the Orthodox doctrine. Thus, the anathema, which was imposed on him in 1997, is unfair. The statement about Mazepa is now one of the biggest issues for the Russian Orthodox Church. It shows Ukraine and the whole Orthodox world that the decisions taken by Moscow may not be supported by the Ecumenical Patriarchate, which is first in dignity,” said Andriy Yurash.

          https://risu.org.ua/en/index/all_news/community/religion_and_policy/72708/

          • “Martin, any evidence to back up your claim? Martin, any evidence to back up your claim?”

            There is plenty of evidence and it is obvious that your “Patriarch” Filaret is wrong. If you do not see it, too bad.

          • He formed his own pseudo-church!

      • Joseph Lipper says

        First there has to be a unifying council of all the Ukrainian bishops who want to be part of the autocephalous church, and from this council, a primate will be chosen who will receive the Tomos of Autocephaly. It sounds like the primate will either have the title of Metropolitan or Archbishop.

        It also sounds like Patriarch Filaret is a patriarch in name only. He doesn’t have the authority to call the unifying council. He’s currently under the Omophorion of the Ecumenical Patriarch. My guess is he will be retired.

        https://www.unian.info/politics/10313619-church-unification-council-s-convocation-depends-on-ecumenical-patriarch-patriarch-filaret.html

    • Joseph Lipper says

      Gail,

      the people of Crimea voted to leave Ukraine and join Russia. Those same people voted to hand over the Crimean peninsula property from Ukrainian ownership to Russian ownership.

      So then, why can’t people in Ukraine vote to leave the Moscow Patriarchate with their church properties and join an autocephalous Ukrainian Orthodox Church?

  65. Greatly Saddened says

    Below please find an article from today on the Orthodox Christianity website.

    MORE SKELETONS IN PHILARET’S CLOSET
    Vasily Anisimov
    10/29/2018

    http://orthochristian.com/116853.html

  66. Greatly Saddened says

    Below please find another article from today on the Orthodox Christianity website.

    MET. ONUPHRY: MAN’S MAIN TASK IS TO RULE NOT THE WORLD BUT HIS OWN HEART
    Belaya Tserkov, October 29, 2018

    http://orthochristian.com/116860.html

  67. Greatly Saddened says

    Below please find an article from Wednesday on The Conversation website.

    Orthodox Church: biggest split in a thousand years triggered over Ukraine
    October 24, 2018 3.52am EDT
    Alexander Titov, Queen’s University Belfast

    http://theconversation.com/orthodox-church-biggest-split-in-a-thousand-years-triggered-over-ukraine-105087

  68. Greatly Saddened says

    Below please find an article which has been posted on the OCL Facebook website.

    The Case for Constantinople
    Source: The Tablet
    by John Chryssavgis
    BY WEBMASTER ON OCTOBER 24, 2018
    GOVERNANCE & UNITY ESSAYS, 
    GOVERNANCE & UNITY NEWS

    http://ocl.org/the-case-for-constantinople/?fbclid=IwAR0M84aryh0nI_8D3rn3j1JjpdLmFru0FqcfjcF3Vd8F3OjXWJZ7EW4kMzE

    • Beryl Wells Hamilton says

      This article makes sense to me. I can’t figure out why people are so adamant in their opinions (which seems to be based on what they read, which often seems biased), without answering valid questions in a way that makes sense. These are questions that should be answered before people make judgments. Here’s one: “For instance, Moscow may question how Constantinople can restore millions of Ukrainians to communion – but how could Moscow have branded an entire generation of believers ‘schismatics’?”
      Excerpt:

      For instance, Moscow may question how Constantinople can restore millions of Ukrainians to communion – but how could Moscow have branded an entire generation of believers “schismatics”? Whenever a mainly Orthodox nation has become an independent state, it has, after a while, gained its own autocephalous Church with its own patriarch; ecclesiastical borders in the Orthodox world frequently follow political borders. But the sweeping reprisals emanating from Moscow suggest something deeper than just a dispute over territory. Yes, Russia stands to lose property; but Constantinople hardly stands to gain wealth or power.

      In the long run, by recognising the Orthodox Church of the Ukraine as autocephalous, the Orthodox Church will acquire a new member – by an eerily similar process as led to the recognition of several other self-governing national Churches, including those of Greece, Bulgaria and the Czech Lands and Slovakia. How can a national Church, whose patriarchate was only restored in the last century, complain that recognition of independent Churches in new countries “could directly jeopardise the unity of the Orthodox Church”?

      Orthodox unity is as impenetrable a mystery as it is inaccessible in actuality. Orthodox congratulate themselves for oneness in doctrine and sacrament. This has long provided a lucrative selling point to outsiders, while persisting as a romantic notion for insiders. Yet, if unity and canonicity are to be anything more than pieties, Orthodox Christians must admit their failure and hypocrisy. It is disingenuous to brandish “unity” as a defensive banner or an offensive weapon whenever a problem arises. And it is perilous to associate sacramental unity with territorial entitlement.

  69. Beryl Wells Hamilton says

    Read what Patriarch Philaret has to say in his own words.

    Patriarch Philaret: “The Tomos will provoke no violence and property will be owned by communities, as it is now.”
    03 СЕРПНЯ 2018

    “Regarding the church buildings, other church property, there is also a manipulation of facts, it is not true when the Moscow Patriarchate supporters say that “the Kyiv Patriarchate captures the churches of the Moscow Patriarchate.” This is not possible in principle!

    Why is not it possible? Because there are no ‘churches of the Kyiv Patriarchate’ or ‘churches of the Moscow Patriarchate’. Under Ukrainian laws, all church buildings and property belong to communities – either by right of ownership, or by right of use or rent. To communities – that is to parishes, monasteries, religious educational institutions. Not to the Church as such, but to specific communities, specific associations of believers. But now these communities, these associations, voluntarily affiliate to this or that Patriarchate, through subordination to a certain religious center.

    The Law on Freedom of Conscience stipulates in Article 8 that each community can freely choose its center of subordination and change it. Why is this stipulated? Because it is part of the general internationally established right to freedom of conscience, religion and belief. What does this right mean? It means that everyone has the freedom to profess any faith or conviction, to profess them personally and collectively, privately and publicly, and change them. That is, there are three aspects of this right, and the right to change one’s views is also part of the right to freedom of religion!…

    No one will go “to seize the Lavra”, as the MP intimidates! Moreover, over these four years we have reiterated that the calls to “go and seize the Lavra” are a provocation for the benefit of the Kremlin. When the Maidan participants went to the Lavra in February 2014, outraged against the support that the Lavra provided to the so-called ‘titushkas’ and Yanukovych, then our bishops and priests from the Kyiv Patriarchate persuaded people not to enter the Lavra. Why does the Moscow Patriarchate avoid mentioning it now? They have nothing to gain from it, it destroys the bloodthirsty image they create for the Kyiv Patriarchate in the world, in the face of the Local Churches. But this is true: we have in fact shown that we stand against violence and denounce violence towards the Lavra and condemn those who want to resort to violence purportedly for the benefit of the Ukrainian Church.”
    https://www.cerkva.info/patriarch/patriarch-philaret-the-tomos-will-provoke-no-violence-and-property-will-be-owned-by-communities-as-it-is-now

  70. Beryl Wells Hamilton says

    More words from Patriarch Philaret, taken directly from the Ukrainian Orthodox Church-KP web site. Dated October 26, 2018 (using Google Translate). Note his words concerning the naming of the Orthodox Churches in Ukraine.

    “Patriarch Filaret: Dear friends! We came to a time when the autocephalous Ukrainian Church was irreversible, because the Ecumenical Patriarch firmly stated that the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, the Ukrainian people, deserved to have an independent Church. Therefore, there is the decision of the Holy Synod to grant autocephaly to the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, but before granting the Tomos of autocephaly, the Ecumenical Patriarch, together with the Holy Synod, has restored justice. What They made the anathema that was imposed on me by the Moscow Patriarch and the Bishops’ Council in 1992. So this anathema is not valid, and since the anathema is not valid, all the ordinations that I made to the bishops and the ordination of the priests of the Kyivan Patriarchate are valid from the standpoint of the Ecumenical Patriarch – this is the first and very important step. The next step towards autocephaly is the convening of a Bishops’ Council, which will consist of three churches: the Kyiv Patriarchate – more than 40 bishops, the Autocephalous Church – 12 bishops and not known, but at least ten bishops of the Moscow Patriarchate say, here are these bishops, and this is more than 60, the Council will be convened and it will record the unification of all three churches in one Ukrainian Orthodox Church and in Ukraine there will be one Ukrainian Church. And those Orthodox believers who do not want to be in the Ukrainian Orthodox Church should be called the Russian Orthodox Church in Ukraine. This is the first thing to be decided at the Cathedral. The second question is the election of the Primate for this united new Ukrainian Orthodox Church and the third issue that will be considered at the Council is the adoption of the Statute for this Ukrainian Orthodox Church. The Statute is in the Kyivan Patriarchate, there is the statute of the Autocephalous Church, and there are statutes of the Moscow Patriarchate, but this will be a General Statute, a Ukrainian which will reflect the laws of Ukraine, and is consistent with Ukrainian laws on the one hand, and on the other hand, the essence Orthodox Church, that is its structure, its position, its possibilities.

    When will this council be convened? The convocation of the Council depends on the Ecumenical Patriarch. Therefore, we hope that this council will be convened in the near future, but we can not call the date of the convocation of the Council because it depends on the Ecumenical Patriarch. When a single Ukrainian Orthodox Church will be formed, a significant part of the Orthodox will remain in the Russian Orthodox Church, but they will have the right to join the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. That is, they will have a free choice or choose the Ukrainian Church, or choose the Russian Church in Ukraine. No violence will be. With regard to temples, rooms, then the temples belong to the community, and if the community passes into the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, it passes with its temple. If, however, it remains in the Russian Orthodox Church, then it remains and the temple remains with them. “

  71. Greatly Saddened says

    Below please find yet another article from today on the Orthodox Christianity website.

    PLANS TO FORCIBLY CHANGE NAME OF UKRAINIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH LAY GROUNDWORK FOR STEALING CHURCHES—UOC SPEAKER
    Kiev, October 29, 2018

    http://orthochristian.com/116880.html

  72. Greatly Saddened says

    Below please find an article from today on the Orthodox Christianity website.

    METROPOLITAN ONUPHRY ON THE FATE OF CANONICAL ORTHODOXY IN UKRAINE
    Metropolitan Onuphry (Berezovsky)
    10/30/2018

    The information and education department of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church has published an interview given by His Beatitude Onufry, Metropolitan of Kiev and All Ukraine, to Pastor and Flock magazine.

    http://orthochristian.com/116855.html

    • Billy Jack Sunday says

      Greatly Saddened

      Metropolitan Onuphry said in that interview

      “With great power comes great responsibility.”

      Did Metropolitan Onuphry just quote Spiderman’s Stan Lee?

      Fascinating!

  73. Greatly Saddened says

    Below please find an article from yesterday on the Orthodox Christianity website.

    DIOCESES OF SUMY PROVINCE EXPRESS SUPPORT FOR UKRAINIAN CHURCH’S CANONICAL STATUS AND PRIMATE
    Sumy, Ukraine, October 29, 2018

    http://orthochristian.com/116864.html

  74. Greatly Saddened says

    Below please find an article from Friday on the Interfax Religion website.

    Home / Religion / News
    News
    26 October 2018, 17:19
    Ukrainian Orthodox Church Metropolitan Sofrony ready to participate in unification assembly, opposes election of Filaret as head of new church

    http://www.interfax-religion.com/?act=news&div=14628&fbclid=IwAR1dReu-kY0lpU0BALmuO2Dentnvkc8xcUF4C5yvRNELattrwd7GeOk43m8

  75. Greatly Saddened says

    Below please find an article from yesterday on the Tass website.

    St. Panteleimon Russian Monastery on Mount Athos not planning to close its Moscow mission
    Society & Culture
    October 29, 15:35

    http://tass.com/society/1028346?fbclid=IwAR0RWjw40aFYvmxMV67GsVF72gdg4-qJGjLwoeGXrxdNjwVi2XZBHO3i5K8

  76. Greatly Saddened says

    Below please find an article from Friday on the Orthodoxy Cognate Page website.

    The Ecumenical Patriarchate ‘Satisfied’ with the St. Andrew’s Church in Kiev?
    by Orthodoxy Cognate PAGE on October 26, 2018

    http://theorthodoxchurch.info/blog/news/the-ecumenical-patriarchate-satisfied-with-the-st-andrews-church-in-kiev/

  77. The Patriarch of Alexandria on point:

    http://orthochristian.com/116895.html

  78. Greatly Saddened says

    Please excuse me for posting this here as I wasn’t sure where to post.

    Below please find an article from today in The National Herald. Unfortunately, the article is locked and doesn’t appear in its entirety. I will continue to be on the lookout for the article in its entirely, and if found, I will post.

    They Should Stop Playing Games
    By Theodore Kalmoukos 
    October 30, 2018

    https://www.thenationalherald.com/218417/they-should-stop-playing-games/

  79. Greatly Saddened says

    Below please find another article from today on the Orthodox Christianity website.

    DOESN’T NEED CONSENT OF LOCAL CHURCHES TO REMOVE ANATHEMAS—CONSTANTINOPLE HIERARCH
    Constantinople, October 30, 2018

    http://orthochristian.com/116901.html

  80. Greatly Saddened says

    Below please find yet another article from today on the Orthodox Christianity website.

    “ALL THE FORCES OF HELL ARE AGAINST US, BUT WE ARE WITH GOD AND WE HAVE NOTHING TO FEAR”—ABBOT OF KIEV CAVES LAVRA

    He is sure the monks of the Lavra will remain faithful to God in the Ukrainian Church
    Moscow, October 30, 2018

    http://orthochristian.com/116906.html

  81. Greatly Saddened says

    Below please find an article from today on the Orthodox Christianity website.

    PRIMACY AND IDENTITY
    A Response to ‘First Without Equals’ and the Tragedy of Deficient Ecclesiology
    Bishop Irenei (Steenberg)
    10/31/2018

    http://orthochristian.com/116859.html

    • From Bishop Irenei’s above article:

      As shocking as the claims of these two authors are (and Metropolitan Elpidophoros’s statements that the Archbishop of Constantinople is, himself, the ‘source of primacy’ and ‘the first-hierarch without equals [primus sine paribus]’ are as close to ecclesiological heresy as I have ever seen in print), it is helpful to understand that they are but the ‘logical’ conclusions of the flawed dogmatic ecclesiology that undergirds them. When the dogma of the Trinity is misappropriated onto ministerial relationships, such that the ‘source’ of primacy, its arche, is understood to reside in the individuals who hold hierarchical offices, rather than being a thing participated in by those individuals, then and only then can the Trinitarian-relational questions raised by these authors have any traction at all — and unsurprisingly, it leads to disastrous results. That one primate can be ‘unequal in his primacy’ as himself the sole arche of all primatial relations, is as far from Orthodox ecclesiology and Trinitarian theology as it is possible to go.

      * * *

      And regarding the present controversy:

      http://www.interfax-religion.com/?act=news&div=14619 – statement of deputy head of the Moscow Patriarchate Department for External Church Relations, Archpriest Nikolay Balashov

      “‘The superiority’ of any clan or nation in Orthodoxy is yet another new doctrine utterly alien to Orthodox belief and, I would say, completely unacceptable to all churches, and especially to the multinational Russian Church, which unites believers from many nations, from dozens of various ethnic groups,” he said.

      He expressed bewilderment at the way such a statement could be combined with the decisions of the Synod of Constantinople of 1872, which condemned the heresy of ethnophyletism. “Or is only Slavic nationalism sinful, while the Greek variety is sacred and worthy of praise?” the priest said.

      He described Patriarch Bartholomew’s latest speech as “very unfortunate” and said that it shows “serious distortions of the teachings on the Church,” which, “indeed, will not be tolerated, not only by the Slavs, but also by other Christians around the world.”

      So even if some of us here don’t, the rest of the Church knows the score.

      • Billy Jack Sunday says

        Misha

        I’m surprised that the Orthodox world is not stunned and spinning with the “First without equals” proclamation

        The Orthdox Church has always held that Jesus Christ Himself is the head of the Church

        The rest together is the Body of Christ

        Yes, there is a degree of hierarchy, but it is conciliar and synodal

        Not Supreme Head, then supremacy then conciliar

        There is not a Head, and then another head, and then the Body

        I dont get why people are not engaged about this

        It seems that we, in the West here, are almost totally asleep when it comes to such matters

        The issues that are in play with this possible false Tomos of Autocephaly for the Ukraine is not just an attack on the canonical Church in the Ukraine and/or the ROC – but it an attack on the very heart of Orthodox ecclesiology

        The entire core of the Orthodox Church is under attack by such non-canonical actions – not just the local Russian/Ukrainian Churches

        • Gail Sheppard says

          They should (be scared).

          The end game has always been about joining the RC with the Orthodox Church and through this alliance, control the Christian world. Take a look at the Cheti document. The stumbling block is primacy. If the EP can overcome the obstacle by claiming primacy from within (people don’t realize the distinction between “first” and “without”), he is free to join us with the RC which, make no mistake, is now a globalist puppet. His words are being meticulously crafted and probably not by him; a trojan horse.

          Cheti Document (Not Long; Worth the Read)
          http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/pontifical_councils/chrstuni/ch_orthodox_docs/rc_pc_chrstuni_doc_20160921_sinodality-primacy_en.html

          The RC is not like the church we remember growing up. They recently opened up their synod to all (with the exclusion of women which they claim is coming) and the result has been dramatic. This is what happens when you become too inclusive: https://www.patheos.com/blogs/deaconsbench/2018/10/footloose-bishops-and-young-people-dance-at-synod/

          Interestingly, I’m not sure the pope is as “on-board” with the globalist agenda as he was in the beginning. He has recently said that he is not too long in this world and is surprised he got this far. I guess when you get THAT close to seeing what’s really going on, you kind of lose your stomach for it, which would make him expendable. – People have told me they think the EP looks scared in recent photos. I’ll bet he is.

          Getting a foothold in Ukraine, through a strong national church, would put Russia on notice. Those of you who can’t see this for what it is, i.e. a way for NATO and the EU to leverage the Church to strengthen their influence, are not seeing the bigger picture.

  82. Greatly Saddened says

    Below please find another article from today on the Orthodox Christianity website.

    PATRONS OF UKRAINIAN PROJECT DEMANDING QUICK ACTION FROM CONSTANTINOPLE—MET. HILARION
    Moscow, October 31, 2018

    http://orthochristian.com/116931.html

  83. Greatly Saddened says

    Below please find an article from today on the Orthodox Christianity website.

    FALSE PATRIARCH PHILARET BLESSES A NATIONALIST MURAL WITH NAZI SYMBOLISM
    Matfey Shaheen
    11/1/2018

    http://orthochristian.com/116903.html

  84. Greatly Saddened says

    Please excuse me for posting this here as I wasn’t sure where to post.

    Below please find an article from today in The National Herald. Unfortunately, the article is locked and doesn’t appear in its entirety. I will continue to be on the lookout for the article in its entirely, and if found, I will post.

    Demetrios, Metropulos Fire HCHC Trustees who Raised Questions
    By Theodore Kalmoukos 
    November 2, 2018

    https://www.thenationalherald.com/218589/demetrios-metropulos-fire-hchc-trustees-who-raised-questions/

  85. Greatly Saddened says

    Below please find an article from today on the Orthodox Christianity website.

    UKRAINE IS THE CANONICAL TERRITORY OF THE RUSSIAN CHURCH
    Fr. Theodore Zisis
    11/2/2018

    http://orthochristian.com/116938.html

  86. Greatly Saddened says

    Below please find another article from today on the Orthodox Christianity website.

    ANOTHER 6 DIOCESES SUPPORT CANONICAL STATUS OF UKRAINIAN CHURCH AND MET. ONUPHRY
    Kiev, November 2, 2018

    http://orthochristian.com/116989.html

  87. Greatly Saddened says

    Below please find an article from yesterday on the Orthodox Christianity website.

    PARISH IN ITALY MOVES FROM CONSTANTINOPLE TO ROCOR
    Florence, November 1, 2018

    http://orthochristian.com/116958.html?fbclid=IwAR3yeK3LGyUfmk92ZdDsDK7g2XeLU-TqlWN5mLPEXIGT6wxxGOEoCbwuuJk

  88. Greatly Saddened says

    Below please find an article from Romfea which was posted yesterday on the OCL Facebook website.

    METROPOLITAN NIKOLAOS OF MESOGAIA: DIVIDED AUTOCEPHALOUS OR UNITED BROTHERS?
    Source: ROMFEA

    BY WEBMASTER ON NOVEMBER 1, 2018
    GOVERNANCE & UNITY ESSAYS, 
    GOVERNANCE & UNITY NEWS

    http://ocl.org/metropolitan-nikolaos-of-mesogaia-divided-autocephalous-or-united-brothers/?fbclid=IwAR3Q_nTwdjSKpjh3PvCe-DmNJ191AE35h5dQe1PJDkXI44ClvSqI5kLtFG0

    • Dear Greatly Saddened,

      Thank you very much for posting links to valuable sources for those willing to read, heed, and apply.

      Another resource you may find valuable: the articles posted on http://www.orthodoxsynaxis.org.

      I am greatly saddened by those in Orthodoxy itself and on this blog who are blinded by pride and/or ignorance and/or the materialism and individualism of our culture and its soul-damaging influences. Thank you for fighting the good fight with information which may speak to people’s hearts, minds, and souls, God willing.

      Your prayers please today Friday, November 2, for Vladika Dmtri Royster on the day of his birth and on Tuesday, November 6 for the anniverssary of his ordination to the priesthood. Memory eternal to our beloved shepherd!

      Signing off and prayers for thee and all in Christ,
      Nicole

      • Greatly Saddened says

        Dear Nicole,

        Thank you so much for your kind words. I am ever so humbled.

        In addition, thank you for the additional resource you suggested. I have already made reference to it in a most recent post. God bless you and you family.

  89. Greatly Saddened says

    Below please find yet another article from today on the Orthodox Christianity website.

    NOT ONLY CAN WE GIVE, BUT WE CAN ALSO TAKE AWAY AUTOCEPHALY—ABP. JOB (GETCHA)

    “When the majority of votes in the Verkhovna Rada appealed to the Ecumenical Patriarchate, it means that the majority of Ukrainian people appealed to the Ecumenical Patriarchate with a request to grant autocephaly.”
    Chambésy, Switzerland, November 2, 2018

    http://orthochristian.com/117003.html

  90. Greatly Saddened says

    Below please find an article from today on the Orthodox Synaxis website.

    November 2, 2018
    The Ecumenical Patriarchate’s Statements on Primacy over Time

    https://orthodoxsynaxis.org/2018/11/02/the-ecumenical-patriarchates-statements-on-primacy-over-time/

  91. Greatly Saddened says

    Below please find an article from today on the Orthodox Christianity website.

    A CLOSER LOOK AT THE ECUMENICAL PATRIARCH’S ECCLESIOLOGY AND ITS STATEMENTS ABOUT ITSELF
    Anna Stickles
    11/3/2018

    For a survey of the claims made by the Ecumenical Patriarchate, see “First without Equals”, On the Power of the Great Church: Address by Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, 26 October 2018, and The Ecclesiology of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in 2018: Speech by Patriarch Bartholomew.

    http://orthochristian.com/116986.html

  92. Greatly Saddened says

    Below please find an article from Thursday on the Reuters website.

    WORLD NEWS
    NOVEMBER 1, 2018 / 3:37 AM / 2 DAYS AGO
    Traitors or Russian agents? Clergy caught in Ukraine church row
    Matthias Williams, Pavel Polityuk

    https://www.reuters.com/article/us-ukraine-church-idUSKCN1N640J?fbclid=IwAR0-i7YOb326tP-33NBLViCjMlR39ZsK7jBWXGu3n-6pRzn3IaNsRWV7Ng0

  93. Greatly Saddened says

    Below please find an article from Thursday on the Orthodoxie website.

    News Europe Headlines
    On the situation of the Russian Orthodox Church of the Nativity of Christ and Saint Nicholas in Florence
    By Emma Cazabonne
    1 November 2018

    https://orthodoxie.com/en/on-the-situation-of-the-russian-orthodox-church-of-the-nativity-of-christ-and-saint-nicholas-in-florence/

  94. Greatly Saddened says

    Below please find an article from Wednesday on the Orthodox Synaxis website.

    October 31, 2018
    Can Orthodoxy exist without the Ecumenical Patriarchate?
    BY PETRUS ANTIOCHENUS

    https://orthodoxsynaxis.org/2018/10/31/can-orthodoxy-exist-without-ecumenical-patriarchate/

  95. Greatly Saddened says

    Below please find an article from Wednesday on the Orthodoxy Cognate Page website.

    How Constantinople ‘Changed’ the Orthodox Christian World
    by ORTHODOXY COGNATE
    Miodrag Lazarevic – Op Ed – 31/10/18

    http://theorthodoxchurch.info/blog/news/how-constantinople-changed-the-orthodox-christian-world/

  96. Greatly Saddened says

    Below please find an article from today on the Orthodox Christianity website.

    “THE MOSCOW PATRIARCHATE NO LONGER EXISTS IN UKRAINE TODAY”—ABP. JOB (GETCHA)
    Chambésy, Switzerland, November 3, 2018

    http://orthochristian.com/117009.html

  97. Greatly Saddened says

    Below please find a “Letter to the Editor” from today in The National Herald, by Theodore G. Karakostas of Boston, MA.

    Letter to the Editor: Russian Church Wronged Concerning Ukraine
    November 4, 2018

    https://www.thenationalherald.com/218745/letter-to-the-editor-russian-church-wronged-concerning-ukraine/

  98. Greatly Saddened says

    Below please find an article from today on the Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty website.

    RUSSIA

    For One Moscow Parish, Orthodox Schism May Spell End Of Unique Status
    November 05, 2018 18:48 GMT
    Matthew Luxmoore

    https://www.rferl.org/a/for-one-moscow-parish-orthodox-schism-may-spell-end-of-unique-status/29584057.html

  99. Greatly Saddened says

    Please excuse me for posting this here as I wasn’t sure where to post.

    Below please find an article from today on the Greek City Times website.

    HOME PAGE GREEK NEWS
    GREEK NEWS
    PM Tsipras plans to abolish everything relating to Jesus Christ from Greek Constitution

    https://greekcitytimes.com/2018/11/05/pm-tsipras-plans-to-abolish-everything-relating-to-jesus-christ-from-greek-constitution/

  100. Greatly Saddened says

    Once again, please excuse me for posting this here as I wasn’t sure where to post.

    Below please find an article from today on the Ekathimerini website.

    NEWS 05.11.2018 : 18:16
    Greek Archbishop asks for clarifications on state’s ‘religious neutrality’

    http://www.ekathimerini.com/234364/article/ekathimerini/news/greek-archbishop-asks-for-clarifications-on-states-religious-neutrality

  101. Michael Bauman says

    I have voted since 1976. Sometimes I voted for democrats, sometimes not. I have frequently thought that there was a little difference between the two.

    Over the past two years however I seen that as corrupt as many Republicans are, the Democrat party is now full of insane, violent, pathological liars with no respect for God or man. A vote for them, any of them, is an endorsement for that violence

    • Michael Bauman says

      Actually 1966. I am older than I like to think

      • Tim R. Mortiss says

        You must be, Michael. I’m high school class of 1966, but back then we didn’t get to vote until 21, which would have been in 1969 in my case. Makes me 70.
        Here’s a chance to say that I had the blessed opportunity to pray for Merry and for your nephew and his family at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre and the Monastery of the Ascension in Jerusalem last month. I hope things are going well.

  102. Greatly Saddened says

    Below please find an article from today on the Orthodox Christianity website.

    BULGARIAN SYNOD HAS BEGUN TO EXAMINE CONSTANTINOPLE’S DECISIONS IN UKRAINE

    An official representative said that no concrete decision should be expected in the near future.
    Oreshak, Bulgaria, November 6, 2018

    http://orthochristian.com/117038.html

  103. Greatly Saddened says

    Please excuse me for posting this here as I wasn’t sure where to post.

    Below please find an article from today in The National Herald.

    PM Tsipras, Archbishop Ieronymos Reach “Historic Agreement” on Church Assets
    By ANA – November 6, 2018

    https://www.thenationalherald.com/219094/pm-tsipras-archbishop-ieronymos-reach-agreement-on-management-of-church-assets/

  104. Greatly Saddened says

    Once again, please excuse me for posting this here as I wasn’t sure where to post.

    Below please find another article from today in The National Herald. Unfortunately, the article is locked and doesn’t appear in its entirety. I will continue to be on the lookout for the article in its entirely, and if found, I will post.

    Analysis: The Drama of Hellenic College-Holy Cross School of Theology
    By Theodore Kalmoukos 
    November 6, 2018

    https://www.thenationalherald.com/219060/the-drama-of-hellenic-college-holy-cross-school-of-theology/

  105. Greatly Saddened says

    Below please find an article from today on the Orthodox Christianity website.

    SERBIAN CHURCH CONFUSED ABOUT WHY CONSTANTINOPLE GIVES SO MUCH ATTENTION TO UKRAINIAN STATE AND SCHISMATICS BUT IGNORES CANONICAL CHURCH
    Bačka, Serbia, November 6, 2018

    http://orthochristian.com/117045.html

  106. Greatly Saddened says

    Below please find a news release from today on the Orthodox Church in America website.

    Home / Work of the Church / News / Headline News /
    November 6, 2018
    Metropolitan Tikhon sends greetings to Metropolitan Onufry of Kyiv and All Ukraine
    SYOSSET, NY [OCA]

    https://oca.org/news/headline-news/metropolitan-tikhon-sends-greetings-to-metropolitan-onufry-of-kyiv-and-all

  107. Greatly Saddened says

    Below please find an article from today on the Orthodox Christianity website.

    “I NEVER HAD THE SLIGHTEST DESIRE TO LEAVE MY DIOCESE”
    A Conversation with Fr. Mark Tyson on His Decision to Leave the Ecumenical Patriarchate
    Jesse Dominick
    spoke with Fr. Mark Tyson
    11/7/2018

    http://orthochristian.com/117047.html

  108. Greatly Saddened says

    Below please find an article from today on the Orthodox Christianity website.

    ALEXANDRIAN DIOCESE EXPRESSES SUPPORT FOR CANONICAL UKRAINIAN CHURCH AND METROPOLITAN ONUPHRY
    Alexandria, Ukraine, November 8, 2018

    http://orthochristian.com/117079.html