Things continue to spin out of control in the international Orthodox sphere, or so it would seem, as far as the Ecumenical Patriarch is concerned. In fact, I sense some desperation on his part.
Permit me to explain.
Patriarch Bartholomew made Metropolitan Onuphriy of Kiev an extremely ungracious offer; an olive branch as it were, in order to get the latter to accept the uncanonical situation in Ukraine. While his actual words were not as inflammatory as the title of this post indicates, it was the essence of the message conveyed to Onuphriy as you can read for yourself: https://orthochristian.com/152686.html).
To say this is scandalous would be an understatement. That said, you don’t have to be a meteorologist to see which way the wind is blowing and it ain’t blowing Bartholomew’s way.
Why? Well, look around you. Patriarch Bartholomew was supposed to deliver an “autocephalous” church to the Kiev regime but nothing of the sort happened.
First, his expectation was that every Ukrainian bishop would immediately kowtow to the new order and unite under Sergei Dumenko, the unordained “hierarch,” who Bartholomew placed on the Kievan throne. That didn’t happen.
Second, the newly created “autocephalous” church was supposed to break all ties with Russia. That didn’t happen. (In fact, several Ukrainian dioceses have asked to be incorporated directly into the Moscow patriarchate.)
And third, Bartholomew thought he could mollify the scandalous “Patriarch” Philaret Denisenko by giving him the ridiculous title, “Patriarch-Emeritus of Kiev.” That didn’t happen either: Philaret headed directly to the courts, both the Ukrainian courts as well as the court of public opinion.
Of course, the Russians were supposed to take all this lying down. Bartholomew actually said they’d “get over it,” because they’re Slavs and eventually, they always do (except when they don’t).
Well, that didn’t happen either.
So now we’re seeing an effort to diminish Onuphriy’s moral stature, with Bartholomew making Onuphriy an offer he may not be able to refuse.
One can hope Bartholomew didn’t want to have to do this; that he has the decency to realize that how startling and unchristian this offer to Onuphriy is. But I suspect his own back is against the wall as well. That is to say, his handlers in the State Department are giving him one last chance to “make good” on the Ukrainian church question.
Regardless, if there is any doubt as to the collusion between the Ecumenical Patriarchate and the State Department, this should settle it once and for all.
And bow away from him, and you’re asking for trouble.
Nice – too funny !!! And sadly probably accurate for much of the modern Istanbul-associated ecclesiastical leadership.
I’ll include my comments to “More Provocations from Istanbul?” and “Is the GOA the New Stasi?” here. These other posts and YouTube videos are also applicable to the topic here.
Patriarch Bartholomew has been a wrecking ball to international Orthodoxy. I am pleased to learn the Turks may impede him in some way. I have been to the Great Lavra and to Pochaiv. These actions of the current regime are unholy. They will lose on the battlefield, so they do what damage they can. “Their time is short.”
It should come as no surprise such things occur in the American churches. Members of the GOA and of the OCA have no excuse to remain with them. This includes the OCMC: with the exception of a few parishes in Alaska, it is now solely an agent of the GOA. Be aware of this.
State organs in the US are certainly monitoring, and perhaps infiltrating, non-GOA parishes within the US. It’s the way the State functions. Don’t be terribly surprised. There are rumors and concerns that former AEOM/EOC parishes (largely Antiochian) in the western US are becoming Christian Nationalist. This would certainly draw the eye of TPTB, especially of the current administration.
Not a big fan of Dyer, Fr Jeremiah, or HG Bp Irenei, or Orthodox clergy generally. Can’t get beyond the taint of sanctimony and rigorism in their words and deeds. Many such men seem to write with a desire towards achieving great reputations. All such men see themselves as being ‘spiritual fathers’, but the chances of that are infinitesimally low. I am reminded of St Chrysostom’s exhortation that “priests should be the gentlest and humblest of men”. Are they? Any clergyman that cannot meet me on the ground of the reality of ‘two men with serious flaws having a talk’ can be ignored without injury.
By all means, pray for peace. Yet also remember that old Colonial maxim, “Trust in God but keep your powder dry.” This is clearly accelerating into a time of tremendous upheaval. Look to the writings and sayings of the Saints alone. Parse their words. Seek understanding in the Holy Scriptures and the words of Christ. Prepare yourselves for the lawlessness that’s coming. Do your best not to forsake the assembly, but do no be guided by martinet converts, bishops with private lives and allegiances, or Internet influencers of whatever stripe.
The West will lose, and we may thank God for it. Come out from among her if you can. Remember God’s mercy is with you at all times; in war, in collapse, even in death. Find the peace of God and stay within it.
Watching the video, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VhC02N0vjDQ , even with the auto-generated English captions, should make it very clear to anyone who takes their Orthodox faith seriously and even many who do not.
Ukrainian Orthodox clergy, monastics, and laypeople are being told: “pledge allegiance and obey a man in Turkey that the United States has determined should be the worldwide “Orthodox Pope” or you will be deemed an enemy of the state and treated as such.”
Makes it crystal clear what is going on inside of Ukraine, at least on the religious front, which is the canary in the mineshaft for larger, darker, more evil purposes.
I only get Russian subtitles.
Is there another link?
On any YT video, click on TOOLS (the Gear Cog symbol next to CC in box), then
click on Sub-Titles , then
click on English [or whatever language] (auto-generated), then
click on Auto-generate
and scroll down to whatever language.
Thank you very much.
A moving plea…
I’m only getting the options of “off” or “Russian (auto-generated)”.
I only bow to Christ. What’s going on is nonsense.stupidity, evil. There is only one priest: Jesus Christ.
Here’s an excellent talk that Jay Dyer did with Fr. John Whiteford on Geopolitics in Orthodoxy and the current situation with the EP.
It is excellent, indeed!
George,
. . . Firstly, there is no proof that His All-Holiness said this. It’s based on hearsay from Metropolitan Pavel. Secondly, His All-Holiness never once recognized Metropolitan Filaret as a “Patriarch” or “Patriarch-Emeritus,” in fact he has always declared that Kyiv has never had a Patriarch. Thirdly, the fact that several Russian dioceses in Ukraine requested to be fully incorporated into the Moscow Patriarchate does not reflect anything about the Orthodox Church of Ukraine. (Editor Note: Deleted comments.)
Look at, the Moscow Patriarchal autocephaly really was bogus. Figes and Plohy clearly show Moscow used trickery and coersion on not one, but THREE patriarchs. Paul Manolis, despite his intent to do the opposite, documents countless arrogances from the slavarab clergy against the Greeks a century ago. Plohy makes it very clear that Ottomans and Russians colluded to overthrow the Council of Ferrara-Florence so the slavomongols could dominate the Dardanelles. (Editor: No “you” messages, please. Want your comments on the issue. Not opinions on our commentators.)
Well, whoever overthrew the Council of Ferrara-Florence deserves kudos.
In 1436, the Ecumenical Patriarch had already chosen the Greek bishop Isidore and appointed the latter as the new Metropolitan of Kiev and All Rus’. Isidore came to Moscow in 1437 and made a good impression there with his diplomatic skills and knowledge of the Slavonic language. However, only 5 months later, in September 1437, he left Moscow to participate to the Council of Florence.
The Church of Constantinople officially accepted the union with the Catholic Church in July 1439 at the council of Florence and was therefore at that time in full communion with the pope. Isidore of Kiev had also accepted the union in the name of the whole Metropolis of Kiev, which included Moscow. Abraham of Suzdal and others who had come from Moscow with Isidore refused to accept the union and later, as the bishops and the nobility did not accept the union with the Catholic Church Isidor was deposed by bishops of the Metropolis of Kiev and sent to prison
Isidore had an astonishing career,
in which he had a huge number of roles;
most of which turned out to be unfruitful.
See: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isidore_of_Kiev
St Markos Eugenikos was neither a Slav nor an Ottoman.
He, EP starts talking like a real mob boss as he is pushed by his NATO bosses to come out with the full agenda he was working on during the last decade. He even accused Patriarch Kirill for abduction of the Ukrainian kids. But one can except only worse from Phanar in the near future.
You’re probably on to something.
The more desperate Barts handlers get (i.e. State Dep, etc) the more they are going to pressure him. Hence Lithuania.
They know the gig is almost up so they’re firing on all cylinders and opening up several different fronts to try everything they can.
I would not at all be surprised to see Bart snake his way into Moldova or Abkhazia or anywhere else that he can cause ecclesiastical problems.
But, Barts days are indeed numbered.
If I were the UOC I would be extremely cautious of this.
Bartholomew admitted he shared in the mistakes in Ukraine. This has since been changed to, ” . . . Russia’s powerful Orthodox Church shared responsibility for the conflict in Ukraine but that he stood ready to help in Russia’s postwar “spiritual regeneration”. https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/ecumenical-patriarch-russian-church-shares-blame-crimes-ukraine-2023-03-22/
This is what happens when a problem is unresolved. It gets worse and worse. If Bartholomew is being leveraged by the State Department, again, his bother bishops need to resolve the situation before he does even more damage, were that possible.
The words coming out of his mouth, as well as his actions, are positively reckless at this point. First he takes over a region belonging to another bishop, and now he’s trying to woo a metropolitan/patriarch (who knows his title at this point) whose very life is in danger because of him. He legitimized a schismatic church with Nazis in it, undermining Onufriy by giving his title to a schismatic who has, of course, failed to be accepted by the canonical Church.
And now he wants Onufriy to bow to him? The guy who pulled the rug out from under him? As he is bringing in yet another schismatic church?!!!
How much is the Orthodox Church expected to bear? Why aren’t the bishops bringing him to a canonical court?
“…his bother bishops need to resolve the situation
before he does even more damage, were that possible.”
If they can be bothered…
Totally agree. I recommend everybody watch the Jay Dyer video referenced above. If anything it lays it all out as well as Gailina does.
Worse, Bartholomew knows he did wrong.
What do they got on him?
What is being discussed here is not the UOC joining the OCU, but rather a unification between the two. That was the original intention, invitation, and plan of the EP back in 2018. Though in order for this to happen now, perhaps some bishops would have to agree to retirement in both groups. That could be a sticky topic.
At any rate, the UOC has far more bishops and clerics than the OCU, so such a unification would likely mean that Metropolitan Onuphry would still remain Primate, perhaps even with a given title of Patriarch, but of a united and autocephalous Ukrainian Orthodox Church.
With the exception of Russia, such a unification would likely be welcomed almost universally. The alternative would be horrible. It would be a great tragedy if monks were evicted from the Kiev Caves Lavra. I don’t believe that any Christian wants to see that happen.
RE: “What is being discussed here is not the UOC joining the OCU, but rather a unification between the two. That was the original intention, invitation, and plan of the EP back in 2018.”
No, it wasn’t. If this is true, why was Epiphany given the title of Metropolitan of Kyiv and All Ukraine when Bartholomew had previously recognized Onufriy as the Metropolitan of Kyiv and All Ukraine?
And why does Epiphany now have the title the primate of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine if Bartholomew “always planned” for Onufriy to be the Primate? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epiphanius_I_of_Ukraine
Bartholomew is playing games. Back in 2018, he told Philaret he would be the patriarch!!! He took Philaret’s church so Bartholomew could give it to the Nazi/nationalists, promising Philaret the title. After he got Philaret’s church, he took the title it away from him and gave him the title of the “honorary patriarch.” Bartholomew called it a “nickname” of sorts. Needless to say, Philaret felt hoodwinked.
“Volodymyr Burega, Professor and Vice-Rector of the Kyiv Theological Academy, explains this mess this way: “in December [2018], no one wanted to aggravate relationships with Patriarch Philaret, since holding the council and receiving the Tomos were at stake. That is why the council, which took place on December 15, did not clarify the new status of Patriarch Filaret. But after the unification council of the OCU, they stated that Filaret was henceforth “honorary patriarch”, but what this phrase meant was difficult to understand. Indeed, such status is not stipulated in the Charter of the OCU, adopted on December 15.”[24]
On 16 December 2018, during a divine liturgy in which he [Philaret] came wearing the headgear of a patriarch,[25][26] during his homily, Filaret [Philaret: the name is spelled two ways] declared he was still patriarch: “The Patriarch remains for life and, together with the Primate, governs the Ukrainian Orthodox Church”.[27] After the mass, he was acclaimed by the hierarchs of the church as “great vladyka and father Filaret, the holiest patriarch of Kyiv and all Ukraine-Rus and sacred archimandrite of the Holy Dormition Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra.” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conflict_between_Filaret_and_Epiphanius
Bartholomew created a mess! Don’t tell me it was always his intent to unify the UOC and the OCU, as the UOC was never his.
The UOC was part of the Russian Church.
The OCU, the schismatic church, is Bartholomew’s. The greater part of the canonical Church (like 80%+) doesn’t even recognize it.
The UOC always had far more clerics which made what Bartholomew did that much more bizarre. Why was he legitimatizing a schismatic church when the UOC had been the legitimate canonical Church in Ukraine for 300 years and owned most of the property and assets? Of course, Bartholomew and the OCU immediately started beating up on the parishes [literally punching little old men and women], stealing the property of their parishes. They are bonified Nazis. They have Nazi symbols and everything.
No, a unification would NOT be welcomed universally because even Bartholomew is no longer welcomed universally. Every local Church has abandoned him for what he did and continues to do in Ukraine. Since Russia represents 75% of the Church, no one is going to support Bartholomew. He’s now trying to leverage a union with Onufriy because he has created an intolerable situation for him. Metropolitan Onufriy, his Synod, his parishes, and his monks have been threatened within an inch of their lives by Bartholomew’s schismatic church. Their monks are being starved out of their cells. I don’t know how much longer they can hold on.
When you say, “It would be a great tragedy if the monks were evicted from the Kiev Caves Larva,” is this a threat, Jospeh? What are you saying here? That if Onufriy doesn’t capitulate and agree to this “unification” under Bartholomew, he’s going to have them evicted from their home???
Bartholomew is a thug.
Gail, all the bishops of Ukraine received formal letters of invitation from the EP to attend and be part of the unification council in 2018, Metropolitan Onuphry included.
Patriarch Bartholomew is not threatening anyone. The threat of eviction is coming from the Ukrainian government, the legal owners of the Lavra. They have ascertained the UOC still remains a structure of the Moscow Patriarchate, and they don’t want any such association with state land.
As you point out, hooligans have terrorized UOC parishes. A Ukrainian government investigation found these hooligans are usually locals who are not even Christian, but who vent their anger and rage on UOC parishes. It’s because of the war and the perceived association of the UOC with Moscow. So if the state doesn’t evict the UOC from the Lavra, then perhaps hooligans will try. For national security reasons, the Ukrainian government is trying to put an end to all this. So the Ukrainian government has requested the eviction of anyone associated with the UOC from the Lavra.
Patriarch Bartholomew is offering a lifeline to the monks. They don’t have to remain part of the UOC, and they don’t have to be evicted either.
RE: “What is being discussed here is not the UOC joining the OCU, but rather a unification between the two. That was the original intention, invitation, and plan of the EP back in 2018.”
So based on what you are saying, it was always Bartholomew’s intention to take the entire region away from the Russian Church. This was the plan from the beginning. His “invitation” served as an announcement. They could do it the easy way and accept his invitation or he could sic his dogs on them, forcing them out of the canonical Church, which he, himself, recognized, assaulting them, pillaging their parishes, and driving them out of their country.
Sounds like a “Sophie’s Choice” invitation.
You know, Joseph. I would agree with you. It was always the plan which interestingly lines up with the plans of the State Department.
I’ll tell you what’s going to happen here: Russia will extend their own invitation. I imagine they will “invite” the thugs to back off of their monks.
Nor should we forget that the State Dept is a locus of anti-Christian evil in the world today. Probably the primary locus of evil.
Patriarch Bartholomew is offering a lifeline to the monks. They don’t have to remain part of the UOC, and they don’t have to be evicted either.
This is an interesting proposal.
Problem with that, once they leave UOC it is like denouncing our Lord. They are better to enroll in Zelensky’s party or a bowling club.
Even if they don’t like Russians and for some reason fight for NATO, Ukrainians are not that dumb and know that much, that they are only saved if they stay in canonic and apostolic UOC. There is no salvation within schismatic groups.
“Patriarch Bartholomew is offering a lifeline to the monks. They don’t have to remain part of the UOC, and they don’t have to be evicted either.”
Man, Joseph, this is such a cold, heartless approach to the whole situation. It’s a classic power-hungry deal offered by a mafia boss.
When Mao outlawed the Roman Catholic Church in China but offered Chinese Catholics the Communist “Catholic Patriotic Association” that had no recognition by the Pope of Rome and was a ridiculous, ersatz version of the real Catholic Church, Chinese Catholics resoundingly rejected it, and rightfully so.
Just as Ukrainian Orthodox resoundingly reject the ersatz “church” which is “offered” jointly by the Church of Istanbul and by the UkroNazis in their pathetic attempts at gaining earthly power — attempts which will fail and are failing. Do not doubt, they will fail and crash hard. They are causing so much suffering in their disastrously ill-fated, power-hungry journey.
May God give the faithful Orthodox Christians of Ukraine strength to reject this ersatz “church.” May God bless them, and I pray for them.
FTS, the “lifeline” is not to join the OCU, but to join Constantinople’s stavropegion as a temporary solution. It would be a temporary, solution, because the greater goal would be a unified Ukrainian Orthodox Church.
Sure, Joseph, they can join the patriarch of the schismatics as a “temporary” solution.
Can’t tell if Joseph is the most persistent troll ever, if he’s on the payroll of the CIA or of the Istanbul hierarchy, or if he actually believes his own B.S.
Regardless, it’s clear to me that it’s simply impossible for me to have a thoughtful conversation with him about this subject. Endless talking right past each other is not enjoyable, nor is it productive.
End of the line on this pseudo-discussion for me here; we must agree to disagree, Sir.
Probably all of the above.
I’m still convinced that Joseph Lipper is the nom de plum of Bartholomew himself
I’ve wondered the exact same thing.
“Come to the Dark Side of the Grace, Onuphry… I am your Father!”
Darth Fanar, in The Anglo-Zionist Empire Strikes Back
“…they can join the patriarch of the schismatics”.
The Pope…?
Him, too. It’s only a matter of time. Over 5 short years, Bartholomew is 2 for 2.
Joseph Lipper: “…the greater goal would be
a unified Ukrainian Orthodox Church.”
There already is a unified Ukrainian Orthodox Church.
Metropolitan Onuphry is its presiding bishop.
I’m sure he would welcome catechumens.
Yeah, right. “…offering a lifeline.”
Here’s what I am going to do: I’ll put other people up to torpedo your ship for me and then I’ll say, “grab this.”
The shallow intellectual contortions of Arhondonis’ cognitively dissonant sycophants are pathetic.
They certainly must be apprentices of the current White House Press Secretary.
I would have thought the Devil (Ahrondonis) had better advocates on retainer.
I guess not.
Do they really expect us to believe that the same group who has been stealing temples, beating priests and harassing/beating up old women is going to somehow miraculously stop once this “merger” happens?
That’s like a company merging/acquiring another company and telling all of the employees their jobs are safe, only to let all of them go. There is no reason to believe these charlatans wouldn’t do the same.
The thing that really hurts is KNOWING they realize what’s going to happen because it is what has consistently happened since Bartholomew went in there in 2018.
Bartholomew is like an abusive parent.
Yup. I really hope Met. Onuphry and the UOC are able to see that (I’m sure they are). “Join me and I’ll stop the abuse.”
I’m sure they are but if they do accept they’re making a deal with the devil.
I would actually say that he *is* an abusive parent. An alleged Father in Christ who demands narcissistic worship from his children. That’s the sine qua non classic definition of narcissistic parental abuse.
That’s why any Orthodox Christian with a shred of self-awareness and self-value must flee him at all costs, even if it’s emotionally painful to do so. The Akathist to the Theotokos Inexhaustible Cup helps tremendously, as She is the defender of those who suffer parental abuse from parents who are unable to get their sh** together.
By the way, no shocker…. this phenomenon of parental abuse Patr B style is rampant in our culture. Probably why so many have convinced themselves that his behavior is ok – they’ve been brainwashed into thinking it’s normal.
“unification would likely be welcomed almost universally. The alternative would be horrible. It would be a great tragedy if monks were evicted from the Kiev Caves Lavra.”
What? Are suggesting that if Ukrainian Orthodox Church refuses to unite with …, the monks will be evicted? Is it a repetition of Living Church debacle in 1920s/1930s?
Joseph Lipper: “What is being discussed here is not the UOC
joining the OCU, but rather a unification between the two.”
Acid + Alkali = Neutralisation
Church + non-Church = ?
The EP and Papa Frank are hatching a deal to change the date of Pascha.
https://zenit.org/2022/11/16/patriarch-of-constantinople-conversations-are-underway-for-catholics-and-orthodox-to-celebrate-easter-on-the-same-date/
This would, of course, have effect only among the churches in his jurisdiction. If he celebrates Pascha with Catholics but not with his supposedly fellow Orthodox, it would rend what Orthodox unity there remains.
He says he speaks for all of us and he believes it. Unfortunately, so does the world. Our bishops need to do something about this.
Perhaps they could be convinced that the discussion could be deferred to the 2000th anniversary of Nicaea, in 2325, because 2000 is a nice multiple of 1000.
What’s that song of the Beach Boys? “Wouldn’t It Be Nice”
And here’s a Serbian bishop agreeing: https://orthochristian.com/152726.html
And here’s a bishop from an Antiochian diocese in Germany:
https://orthochristian.com/152724.html
And finally, here’s His Holiness, Ilya II of Georgia insisting that something be done to save the Kiev Caves Lavra:
https://orthochristian.com/152717.html
The monastic community of the OCA’s Romanian archdiocese chimes in as well:
https://orthochristian.com/152675.html
Patriarch John of Antioch expresses support for Met. Onuphry as well: “With great pain of heart, we observe from afar the persecution that you and your holy Church are enduring for the sake of Christ.”
https://orthodoxtimes.com/message-of-the-patriarch-of-antioch-to-metropolitan-onufriy-on-lavra-your-church-is-under-persecution/
The irony that this is on the Orthodox Times, a huge proponent of the EP & Epiphony
Letter from Patriarch John X of Antioch to His Beatitude Onuphrius, Metropolitan of Kyiv (from the Antioch Patriarchate’s Facebook page):
Damascus, 27 March 2023.
My hot take:
The only reason the dates of Pascha differ is because the Fathers of Nicaea fixed the spring equinox on March 21st, rather than the actual astronomical equinox.
Because the Julian Calendar is inaccurate and loses a day every 100-200 years relative to the seasons, the accumulated difference can now cause Pascha to occur up to 1 full lunar cycle late.
I believe that the Fathers of Nicaea intended for Pascha to occur in proximity to the Spring Equinox, since the date is defined in terms of the Spring Equinox. The problem was in nominally defining March 21 as the spring equinox, rather than the day in which the sun was directly over the equator. Using this shorthand with a drifting calendar has resulted in the date of Pascha also drifting.
If the Julian Calendar remains in use, the date of Pascha will continue to drift and in a number of centuries Pascha will occur in the summer, far away from its intended season.
I don’t believe this drift was intended by the Fathers, and they only used the March 21st shorthand because it made sense at the time, and not having atomic clocks, they couldn’t have known the difference. But if they had, I believe they would have required astronomical observation as part of the calculation.
As it is, the Revised Julian Calendar is actually orders of magnitude more accurate than even the Gregorian Calendar. But the continued use of the Julian Paschalion with the March 21st date is the issue.
I don’t give a rat’s ass about celebrating on the same day as everyone else, but I do care about accuracy and the correct maintenance of the calendar. You may have zeal for the Fathers’ shortcut of using March 21st regardless of all else, but I have zeal for their clear intention of referring Pascha to the actual spring equinox.
The Revised Julian Calendar as it is used today is an abomination for deleting the Apostles’ Fast and Kyriopascha. But everyone going back to the Julian Calendar is not the answer either, as I have said it drifts relative to the seasons. Eventually Christmas will be in the spring if it keeps up.
“Come, let us reason together.” While Black Bart may intend it for ill, that doesn’t mean there aren’t good reasons to do it. Celebrating Pascha on the same day as the Latins every year does not equal concelebration. Those who want to concelebrate will do it without pretext, and those who will not, will not under any circumstances.
The liturgical spring equinox should be defined as the day in which the sun is precisely overhead at local solar noon at 0°N 35°13′47″E (on the equator at the meridian of the dome of the Church of the Holy Sepulcher).
That said, I know that especially in the current climate of the Church there is exactly zero chance the calendar will be fixed.
Great argument!
I kinda hope that the Lord will be back before that happens😇
As do I, but it has been over 500 years since the errors of the Julian Calendar have been noticed, and it continues to drift. While this is the least of the Church’s problems, it is sad that we can’t deal with even such minor problems, not to mention huge problems. It is a lack of faith in the Holy Spirit and a lack of personal holiness on the part of our hierarchs, and probably all of us. As old Israel experienced, we get the kind of leaders we deserve. Imagine if the Church was governed and populated by the likes of us in the age of the Councils—everything would have fallen apart. God help us.
…and let’s have the New Year at the Summer Solstice,
or perhaps (even better) at the Autumnal Equinox.
After all, as noted in Genesis 1:5 [KJV]:
…the evening and the morning were the first day.
All Orthodox should celebrate Pascha on the same day, regardless of method of computation.
Bartholomew should not unilaterally pick another day. I’m certain he did not have the blessing of the other autocephalous Churches to negotiate a new date with the pope of Rome.
Arhondonis already dictates to putatively Orthodox operations that celebrate Pascha like the Latins, namely the Finns and the Estonians.
His Intergalacticness unilaterally does all sorts of stuff unencumbered by Scripture, Tradition, Orthodoxy, history, theology, canons, ecclesiology, intelligence, common sense, humility, or plain old telling the truth. Why would this be any different?
As time goes on, my drunk sailor-worthy vocabulary of profanity is insufficient to describe how fetid, putrid, corrupt, and evil this minion of Lucifer is.
It is Great Lent and all this nitwit of the Istanbul ghetto does is inspire more disdain and contempt in my already hardened heart.
I’m gonna have to step away.
I will let you think about it but I am going to throw this out there because I don’t think you know what you are talking about.
The Julian Calendar is more accurate than the Gregorian and if you knew anything about calendars you would know why.
People have been obsessed with Calendars for thousands of years, they didn’t suddenly wake up in the 16th century and decide they were doing all wrong for the past 7000 years. Furthermore the method that was promulgated by the pope was known since Bablyonian times, but it had a problem. It was too inaccurate. If you understand the Julian as a compromise then it will make a lot more sense but that is all the hints I will give.
Oh, good grief.
Can we please stop with the calendar idolatry once and for all?
Either a calendar is accurate or it is not. If not, fix the inaccuracies. It’s not that complicated.
In terms of accuracy the Gregorian is pretty bad. The position of the Earth relative to the sun on Jan 1st 2023 is not the same as where it was on Jan 1st 2022 and even further than it was on Jan 1st 1000 according to the Gregorian. That is why Astronomers find it useless.
“Either a calendar is accurate or it is not. If not, fix the inaccuracies. It’s not that complicated.”
Gregorian calendar is less “accurate”. It is better adjusted to the season change, but seasons are drifting because of axial precession of the Earth.
That is why astronomers prefer a version of the Julian calendar.
You cannot “fix” this “contradiction” and the purpose of church calendar is liturgical, not solving astronomical puzzles. Either way seasons are in opposite phases in northern and southern hemispheres.
The reason why the papacy made this change was not accuracy but to demonstrate its power to the Protestant world.
Who said anything about the Church having to “fix[ ] astronomical puzzles”?
Dan: “That is why Astronomers find it [Gregorian calendar] useless.”
Martin: “That is why astronomers PREFER A VERSION of the Julian calendar.” (Emphasis added.)”
So, there no “right” calendar astronomically? I’m not an astronomer, nor do I have any inclination to confirmation bias my way through Google searches on the topic, but I find that hard to believe.
The problem here and for a very long time is that the calendar issue has become an idol to many and the debate has created an unnecessary, and in my view exceedingly silly, division in praxis across the Orthodox world.
Here’s the thing, laws of physics work really well when trying to explain medium sized objects – things bigger than quarks or leptons and smaller than galaxies, On either side of them, human defined principles of matter, physics, time, and space stop being meaningful.
“So, there no “right” calendar astronomically? I’m not an astronomer, nor do I have any inclination to confirmation bias my way through Google searches on the topic, but I find that hard to believe. ”
In a way there cannot be any “astronomically right” calendar. Why? Because the cosmos does not accommodate our needs or artificial construct perfectly.
The most reasonable year from astronomy point of view is the time Earth needs to make a full circle around the Sun. “Unfortunately” the axis of Earth is wobbling and seasons slowly drift.
The Fathers clearly tied Pascha to the spring equinox. The calendar should be capable of keeping Pascha within the same range of dates relative to that seasonal event. It is not doing that, so it should be fixed.
How that happens I don’t much care. But the dates should not drift according to the seasons. Just because it will take millennia for errors to crop up to ridiculous proportions doesn’t mean it shouldn’t be fixed now. Only fools ignore problems until they become huge.
Yes, Schmemmann’s Historical Road clearly contradicts the bizarre Stephen Damick in this!
“The Fathers clearly tied Pascha to the spring equinox. ”
The spring equinox in the southern hemisphere is 6 months off. Do you propose a second separate calendar for it?
“Just because it will take millennia for errors to crop up to ridiculous proportions doesn’t mean it shouldn’t be fixed now. ”
It does not mean that we must to “fix” it now. Now is the time when the enemies of the Church want to cause scandal and divisions. This was the motive the New Calendar was introduced, in my opinion.
The Fathers were not ignorant of the calender drift. We clearly now see the fruits of the disease of new calendarism and it’s ties to politics. No! Pascha will not occur in summer in a few centuries, it will take a few millenia. We have plenty of time. The problem with new calendarists are the lies they’ve been force fed by their modernist bishops about what Nicea decreed. So much so some bishop canonist reject the Fathers who speak of this. A contemporary of Nicea St. Abrose of Milan explains it to 21st century Orthodox:
….When assembled at the Nicene Synod, in addition to their true and admirable decrees concerning the Faith, formed also for the above-mentioned celebration a plan for nineteen years with the aid of the most skilful calculators, and constituted a sort of cycle to serve as a pattern for subsequent years. This cycle they called the nineteen years’ cycle, their aim being that we should not waver in uncertain and ungrounded opinions on such a celebration…. that the sacrifice for the Lord’s Resurrection should be offered every where on the same night…. “(Ambrosios of Milan letter 23)
We can see from the above the Metonic cycle and even the later the calculation tables is what to use for subsequent paschas. No mention of actual observances of New moons, no fighting that the date falls later than usual (another gripe the early church had to deal with. St John Chrysostom deals with that one). One have you ever heard anyone mention the Metonic cycle as an intrinsic part of the calculation? Even a former OCA metropolitan tried to make the claim St.Ambrose made it up!
Yes, I did the calculation once. It will take over 6000 years for Pascha to fall in the summer, over 9000 for Nativity to migrate to the spring.
I dare say if the Lord has not returned by then, there will be no Christianity. But, of course, He will.
The bottom line is that the Church chose the Julian calendar around which to structure its time. That makes it the Church calendar unless and until an Ecumenical council decrees otherwise, assuming that even it would have such power.
It’s all nonsense, just another wedge of the devil.
” It will take over 6000 years for Pascha to fall in the summer, over 9000 for Nativity to migrate to the spring.”
It gets better, if we wait longer, Pascha and Nativity will be at the right seasons in the southern hemisphere! We should take into account the rights of people in Argentina and Australia (if they exist at that time), They have suffered enough 😉
The point is that the imperative to “correct” the Church calendar stems from a lack of faith in the timely return of the Savior.
By all means, on the other hand, convene an Ecumenical council and try to hammer out a new, more accurate calendar and typicon. But it sounds like a lot of trouble for no good reason. And anything less than an EC would just drive another wedge in Orthodoxy.
The answer is for all to return to the Church calendar which will do just fine until the Lord’s return.
I don’t like this kind of do-nothing fatalism.
If Melitios IV had “done nothing” we’d be in much better shape.
It’s good that these bishops/Patriarch are speaking about the Lavra, however, everyone seems to ignore the elephant in the room: Bartholomew
Exactly.
Yes, if they want to do something, they should at least be calling on Bartholomew by name to do something about it. Not just “express concern.”
To those who have expressed concern, Bartholomew no longer exists. They know he’s the one who did this! Why would they call on him to fix it?
As far as expressing concern,” it’s interesting to note that Bartholomew hasn’t expressed any. The whole Orthodox world is up in arms about it and yet the guy who says he speaks for the entire Orthodox world has nothing to say.
He cares NOTHING about healing anything in Ukraine. If he did, he would fix this.
This is why the idea of anyone following Bart into Unia, other than a few in his Patriarchate (and a couple of others) is laughable.
Bart has been completely discredited among the majority of the Orthodox world, whether they publicly admit it or not.
I’m sure he thought this would go smoothly and he could walk to Franky in 2025 with a basket full of autocephalous Churches to present to him…that ship has sailed, hit an iceberg and is buried.
Maybe he now realizes that the majority of the Orthodox world is United against him, not with him.
If he actually cared, he wouldn’t have created this disaster in the first place.
His All Intergalacticness is too arrogant to even consider that anyone could possibly disagree with him.
After all, he’s His All Intergalacticness.
Because most normie Orthodox don’t even know about it.
The Antiochian holy synod called out Jerusalem for their games in Qatar when nobody in America knew or cared about it. The EP’s games in Ukraine on the other hand affect the entire world.
I’ll say even Orthodox who don’t usually pay attention at least know about the Church situation in Ukraine.
Bartholomew really screwed the pooch on this one since its very blatant for the rest of the world to see, whether or not you’re Orthodox. Even Tucker Carlson and other non-Orthodox people/outlets are reporting on the situation.
Bartholomew has drawn all the wrong type of attention to himself by going into Ukraine and now I’m sure there are people in the Church asking themselves why there is even a need for an Ecumenical Patriarch anymore.
Has any bishop severed ties with Bartholomew besides Russia and Ukraine? Has any bishop ceased commemorating him or publicly disavowed him? Or are they all cowards?
It’s a bit more complicated than that due to the collateral damage. I think it’s coming as soon as the GOA wakes up!
Did 3/4 of the Church fail to show up at Crete? Yes
Did 100% of the Local Churches, Alexandra (yes, them too), Antioch, and Jerusalem tell him not to go into Ukraine? Yes
Did the entire Church refuse to go to Epiphany’s enthronement? Yes
Did he cause a schism between Russia and himself? Yes
Does the Church still commune with Russia? Yes
Does the Church recognize that because he took in and commemorates with schismatics, he’s a schismatic? Yes
Do the majority of the monks on Mt. Athos refuse to have anything to do with Epiphany? Yes
Did the OCU refused to be ordained by the canonical Church? Yes
Did Bartholomew ignore the meeting the bishops had in Moscow in 2017? Yes
Has he told his brother bishops he has no intention of calling a council. Yes
Is it only the Churches that financially benefit from the EP that support him? Yes
Did they all fail to come to Epiphany’s ordination? Yes
Did they fail to show up to for the chrisim? Yes
This is the one that will be interesting this year. I can’t remember the situation last year but from what I remember no one came to the chrism making. I suspect this year will be the same, especially when/if they kick the monastics out of the Lavra.
This is one thing that the other patriarchs should speak about more. I know they have met with him, but, outside of the Churches of Greece, Alexandria & Cyprus I can’t think of any other patriarch who has concelebrated with him.
Oh he doesn’t mind calling a council…just as long as the decks are stacked in his favor as we saw with the attempt at a council with the ancient patriarchates. When there is an eventual council of the entire Church I’m convinced that Bartholomew & Co., will be anathematized.
Looks like the Bulgarian Orthodox Church didn’t get the “pro-schismatic” memo.
https://orthochristian.com/152729.html
Gail is right: the primates of the local Churches should have called Patriarch Bartholomew to task ten years ago (at least) for his ham-fisted, unilateral interventions in ecclesiastical territories not belonging to his patriarchate.
Why? Because now we’re closer to nuclear midnight.
George,
The bishops, by and large, are cowards. COVID taught us this and it is the only satisfactory explanation to their inaction regarding Darth Varth.
What it sounds like to me is Bartholomew trying to do a “clean-up operation,” realizing what a mess he made of things in the Ukraine.
Seriously, how can Onuphriy, a canonically ordained primate of an autonomous Orthodox Church, “make nice” with Dumenko, a man who had no valid ordination? That’s like saying the State Board of Medicine should grant a certificate to a witch doctor from Haiti who just emigrated to the U.S.
Not only that, the people in his faux “church” have persecuted the UOC beyond all imagination.
I really hate to say this but do you think that the monastics being wholesale kicked out of he Lavra is what it’s going to take the collective Orthodox world, and more specifically our patriarchs, to finally outright condemn Bartholomew?
This is not something that can be ignored and not only will it peel away the thin veneer of Zalensky, but, also whatever blinders they have left on in regards to Bartholomew.
Another great interview that Fr. John Whiteford has given, this time with David Patrick Harry on defending the Faith.
One thing that I have come to realize lately is that when it comes to the defending the Faith , different people are meant to do it in different ways:
– Some people are meant to stay in the GOA and fight from within. Some are meant to leave.
– Some people are meant to stay in America and defend the Faith, some people are meant to leave.
– Some people are meant to defend the Faith online, others in person.
The one thing we ALL have in common as Orthodox no matter what our situation might be is that we are all called to defend the Faith in whatever capacity we are able to, from those within and outside the Church. This is a gift given to the laity.
It’s probably a good idea to get in the habit of thinking of the Church as not including the Fanar, Greece, Alexandria, et al; i.e., all those recognizing the OCU. That will likely be the criterion. The largest Orthodox Church, the ROC, will no longer have anything to do with these schismatic entities and eventually grace will be withdrawn from them.
The new contours of the Church have already become apparent. It’s just a question of getting rid of anachronistic habits of thought.
There are many within the Church of Greece as well as Alexandria (especially Sub-Saharan Africa) who do not agree with what he Fanar has done. I think it is more likely that they will either cease to recognize the OCU, or, part of those Churches will chose to align more with the Churches of Russia, Serbia, Bulgaria, Antioch, etc. The majority of the Orthodox world does not agree with what has been done and many within the Churches of Greece, Cyprus & Alexandria know this. I don’t really see those Churches completely cleaving themselves off from the rest of Orthodoxy.
Petros,
Oh, I agree. There will be mass defections, especially in Greece. No doubt.
It would be very wise to finally regularize the Greek Old Calendarists, both in Greece and abroad, and have that as a a viable option.
Now that Bartholomew has gone into more Russian territory (Lithuania) I really have to wonder at what point Russia is going to create a Russian Exarchate in Turkey. The fact that they have not done it yet I think is miraculous.
To be clear I don’t want them to do this, just like I didn’t want them to do the African Exarchate.
What actually needs to be done, and what has long since already needed to be done, is for the patriarchs to come together and finally condemn Bartholomew outright. Since they failed to do this we are seeing the fruits of that, Bartholomew encroaching on more territory and the Church of Russia doing a tit-for-tat.
Agreed. But that’s why I think that you are already looking at two distinct confessions, only one of which is the Church. Bart’s expansion is an expansion of schism. However, the ROC’s expansion in Africa is a natural, canonical development IF you consider Alexandria to be schismatic due to its recognition of the OCU. No one accused the ROC of being schismatic so Bart’s expansions are by definition uncanonical. He maintains he is in communion with the local church against which he is “poaching”. The ROC has already broken communion with the Fanar and Alexandria. They are simply taking in a fatherless flock.
But you have to recognize the canonical picture to acknowledge that, which is why it is necessary to see that you are dealing with two different confessions at this point.
Wanted to add these as well Misha:
As long as there are still those within the Church of Greece speaking like this (and there are many) there is still hope.
Am I understanding you correctly about “schismatic entities?” Are you saying that the Phanar is schismatic and thus, not part of The Church? How is grace withdrawn and how do we know if it has been? I cannot see an actual, valid Ecumenical Council being convened to deal with these matters. Also, if Patriarch Bartholomew believes that The RCC is part of the Canonical Church, why doesn’t he just become a Roman Catholic Bishop? I’m sure there are alot of cushy vacant sees he could take charge of.
Canon XLV of the Holy Apostles
“Let any Bishop, or Presbyter, or deacon that merely joins in prayer with heretics be suspended, but if he had permitted them to perform any service as Clergymen, let him be deposed.”
Canon XXXIII of Laodicia
“One must not join in prayer with heretics or schismatics.”
http://orthodoxinfo.com/ecumenism/ecum_canons.aspx
Bartholomew knows the OCU is schismatic. He acknowledged it in 1992. They remain unrepentant. They have gone so far as to say they don’t want to be in the canonical Church because it ties them to the Russian Church.
Letter of His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew to His Holiness Patriarch Alexei II of Moscow and All Russia, August 26, 1992:
Your Beatitude and Holiness Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia, greatly beloved in Christ God and much-beloved brother and concelebrant of our mediocrity, Alexei, Your esteemed Beatitude, fraternally embracing you in the Lord, we sweetly greet you!
In response to the corresponding telegram and letter of Your greatly beloved and honorable Beatitude on the problem that has arisen in Your Holy Russian sister Church that led her Holy Synod, for reasons known to her, to the deposition of the until-recently leading member of her Synod, Metropolitan Philaret of Kiev, we desire to fraternally inform Your love, that our Holy Great Church of Christ, recognizing the fullness of the Russian Orthodox Church’s exclusive competence on this issue, synodally accepts the decisions regarding the one in question, not desiring to bring any trouble to Your Church. It is precisely in this spirit that we sent two brothers, His Eminence Metropolitan John of Pergamon and His Grace Bishop Vsevolod of Skopelos, after a visit to us by the one in question who has been deprived of his office, that we could be directly notified firsthand of what had occurred and avoid a misinterpretation in the given case. Consequently, we should note that we were grieved when we learned that there was not a full understanding of the purpose of their mission.
In this, embracing Your Beatitude with a holy kiss, we remain with unfailing brotherly love in the Lord for Your esteemed Beatitude, your beloved brother in Christ,
PATRIARCH BARHTOLOMEW OF CONSTANTINOPLE
August 26, 1992
Holy guacamole. Remind me never to mention the date of Pascha again. The narrow point I was making is that one bishop shouldn’t dictate to the rest what to do.
Patriarch od Serbia also condemned EP for recognizing schismatics and gave support for Metropolitan Onuphrius over Kiev Lavra eviction.
Is in Serbian I dont have time to translate but is good news.
https://spc.rs/saopstenje-za-javnost-povodom-drzavnog-terora-nad-ukrajinskom-pravoslavnom-crkvom/
It is good. We’ll let Google translate:
Press release regarding the state terror against the Ukrainian Orthodox Church
Published on 28/03/2023
Press release
regarding the state terror against the Ukrainian Orthodox Church
The Ukrainian Orthodox Church is, as is commonly known, the only canonical and legal Orthodox Church in Ukraine, and at the same time the largest religious organization in that country. It is recognized by all Orthodox Churches in the world, as well as by all non-Christian Churches and confessions, while the non-canonical, schismatic structure which, although it calls itself the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, does not even have the most basic attributes of ecclesiasticism, is recognized by only four Orthodox Churches, which by the number of its believers they make up a very small percentage in the Orthodox universe. Of course, even if the numerical disproportion were in favor of the non-canonical structure, that is, to the detriment of the canonical Church, it would not change anything on the ontological level: the Church is the Church, and an illegal parasynagogue can become a Church only through repentance and canonical procedure, never by the stroke of someone’s pen.
The Ukrainian Orthodox Church is not a “warring party” but a living and active Church of God in unity of faith and liturgical communion with the Russian Orthodox Church and Orthodox Churches in general. Wars, just and unjust, are fought by states, not churches. The very treatment of a Church as an enemy is of a monstrous character due to the fact that the members of the tragically conflicting parties, if they are believers, are believers of the same Church. The Church is always for peace, constantly prays for peace and does everything it can to replace enmity and hatred between people and nations with friendship and love. The Church does not divide people into “own” and “others”, “domestic” and “foreigners”; she tries to, in the name of God Who is Love, love everyone and pastorally care for the salvation of the souls and lives of all who need brotherly love and help.
The best example of such an attitude and behavior is given to us by the Ukrainian Orthodox Church – its first hierarch, His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphrius of Kiev and All Ukraine, its episcopate, clergy, monks and faithful people. For this reason, the Serbian Orthodox Church looks with deep concern, sadness and brotherly love at the “suffering of the saints” (Rev. 14, 12; sr. 1, 9) in Ukraine, and at the pressures, violence and persecutions that the current Ukrainian government is exerting against the canonical Church. and thus against the majority of its own citizens, given the fact that it is the largest religious community in the country. The persecutions culminated in recent days with the violent seizure of temples in favor of the pseudo-church schismatic structure, which has the status of a peculiar “state Church” and an informal inquisition. The upcoming peak of terror was also announced,Holy Russia (Святая Русь), baptismal font of Eastern Slavic Christianity and Orthodoxy in modern Ukraine, Russia and Belarus.
The Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra with its shrines is not only a symbol and center of Orthodox Ukraine and, more broadly, the “Russian world” (however one interprets that term), but also an inexhaustible source of life-giving spirituality for the entire Orthodoxy. Moreover, the spiritual and cultural treasure of the Lavra is an extremely important and visible element not only of Ukraine and all Russia, but also of the world.cultural heritage. In the light of these facts, the decision of the current state leadership of Ukraine to expel Metropolitan Onufry, the monastic brotherhood and the spiritual academy from the Lavra is nothing more than a synonym of terrifying state terror against the Church, as well as the grossest violation of its basic rights, religious freedom and freedom of conscience in general. The behavior of the Ukrainian state leadership testifies that its real – probably the ultimate – goal is to erase the historical memory and all traces of the original Orthodoxy in Ukraine in order to change the code and historical identity that the Church painstakingly built and preserved over the centuries, from the holy prince Vladimir until today .
Feeling and knowing that the only existing Orthodox Church in Ukraine, led by Metropolitan Onufri of Kiev, bravely and calmly carries its cross and ascends with hope to Christ’s and its Golgotha, we are convinced that the Crucified and Risen Lord will – because of deep faith, forgiveness and love towards everyone, even towards the enemies of their own choice – to give strength to His Church to endure all the sufferings that it should and must endure. At the same time, we are raising our crying voice against the terrible injustice, against the state terror against the Church in Ukraine which is “crying to the sky”. We hope that churches and religious communities, as well as institutions and organizations that care about peace, justice and some kind of order in the world, will condemn the flagrant violation of religious rights and freedoms in Ukraine.
Praying fervently to the Lord for the end of the fratricidal war in Ukraine and for the establishment of blessed peace in it as soon as possible, we await with faith, hope and love the triumph of the Cross and the Resurrection of Christ over the forces of darkness, evil and death. We worship Your Cross, Christ, and we celebrate Your holy Resurrection.
Serbian Patriarch Porfirije,
president of the Holy Synod of Bishops
All I have to say is, Wow.
This is significant and is about as hard hitting of a letter as you will see from an Orthodox patriarch.
Thank God someone finally said it. If the patriarch knows this, then all patriarchs know this, which is why no one has recognized the OCU.
Patriarch Porfirije knows what’s up, especially after the EP tried to pull a fast one on him with the Macedonians.
Axios to Patriarch Porfirije +
AXIOS! to His Holiness Porfirije indeed!
Press Release
Regarding state terror against the Ukrainian Orthodox Church
The Ukrainian Orthodox Church is, as is commonly known, the only canonical and legal Orthodox Church in Ukraine, and at the same time the largest religious organization in that country. She is recognized by all Orthodox Churches around the world, as well as by all Christian Churches and confessions, while only four Orthodox Churches, which make up a very small percentage of the Orthodox universe in terms of their number of believers, recognize the non-canonical schismatic structure that calls itself the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, but lacks even the most basic attributes of being a church. Of course, even if the numerical disproportion were in favor of the non-canonical structure, that is, at the expense of the canonical Church, this would not change anything on the ontological level: the Church is the Church, and an illegal parasynagogue can become a Church only through repentance and canonical procedure, not by someone’s stroke of a pen.
The Ukrainian Orthodox Church is not a “warring party” but a living and active Church of God in unity of faith and liturgical communion with the Russian Orthodox Church and Orthodox Churches in general. Wars, just and unjust, are fought by states, not by Churches. The treatment of a Church as an enemy because its members belong to tragically conflicting sides is monstrous, as they are faithful members of the same Church. The Church always stands for peace, constantly praying for peace and doing everything she can for enmity and hatred between people and nations to make way for friendship and love. The Church does not divide people into “her own” and “alien”, “native” and “foreigners”; she strives, in the name of God Who is Love, to love everyone and pastorally care for the salvation of the souls and lives of all who need fraternal love and assistance.
The best example of such an attitude and behavior is given to us by the Ukrainian Orthodox Church – her First Hierarch, His Beatitude Metropolitan of Kyiv and All Ukraine Onuphry, her episcopate, clergy, monastics and faithful people. Therefore, the Serbian Orthodox Church, with deep concern, sadness and compassionate fraternal love, observes the “patient endurance of the saints” (Rev. 14:12; cf. 1:9) in Ukraine, and observes the pressures, violence and persecutions that the current Ukrainian government is carrying out against the canonical Church, and thus against the majority of its own citizens, given the fact that it is the largest religious community in the country. The persecutions culminated in recent days with the violent seizure of churches in favor of the pseudo-ecclesial schismatic structure, which has the status of a kind of “state Church” and an informal inquisition. The impending peak of terror has also been announced, a faithful reprisal of the Soviet persecution of the Church – the expulsion of two hundred and fifty monks and hundreds of professors and theology students from the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra, the centuries-old spiritual source and center of Holy Rus (Святая Русь), the baptismal font of East Slavic Christianity and Orthodoxy in modern Ukraine, Russia and Belarus.
The Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra, with its holy sites, is not only a symbol and center of Orthodox Ukraine and, more broadly, the “Russian world” (however one may interpret that term), but also an inexhaustible life-giving source of spirituality for the entire Orthodoxy. Moreover, the spiritual and cultural treasure of the Lavra is an extremely important and visible element not only of the Ukrainian and All-Russian, but also of the world cultural heritage. In light of these facts, the decision of the current state leadership of Ukraine to expel Metropolitan Onuphry, the monastic brotherhood and the Spiritual Academy from the Lavra is nothing but a synonym for horrifying state terror against the Church, as well as the grossest violation of her fundamental rights, religious freedom and freedom of conscience in general. The behavior of the Ukrainian state leadership testifies that its real – and probably ultimate – goal is to erase the historical memory and all traces of original Orthodoxy in Ukraine in order to change the code and historical identity that the Church has painstakingly built and preserved over the centuries, from Saint Prince Vladimir to the present day.
Feeling and knowing that the only existing Orthodox Church in Ukraine, led by Metropolitan of Kyiv Onuphry, bravely and humbly carries her cross and ascends to Christ’s and her own Golgotha with hope, we are confident that the Crucified and Risen Lord – because of deep faith, forgiveness and love for all, even enemies by their own choice – will give strength to His Church to endure all the sufferings that it needs and must endure. At the same time, we raise our crying voice against the terrible injustice, against the state terror over the Church in Ukraine that “cries out to heaven”. We hope that Churches and religious communities, as well as institutions and organizations that care about peace, justice and some kind of order in the world, will condemn the flagrant violation of religious rights and freedoms in Ukraine.
Praying fervently to the Lord for the end of the fratricidal war in Ukraine and for the establishment of blessed peace there as soon as possible, with faith, hope and love we await the triumph of the Cross and the Resurrection of Christ over the forces of darkness, evil and death. Before Your Cross we bow down in worship o Master, and Your Holy Resurrection we glorify!
Serbian Patriarch Porfirije,
President of the Holy Synod of Bishops
This is just plain horrible…Ashame
While recognizing the legitimate need of states to ensure their security, especially in times of war, we also decry restrictions on the religious freedom of any group in Ukraine
https://www.oca.org/news/headline-news/his-beatitude-metropolitan-tikhon-issues-statement-on-kiev-caves-lavra
Met. Tikhon speaking out as well.
Orthodox hierarchs from all over the world are ramping up their speaking out against the seizure of the Lavra, all while Bartholomew has egg on his face.
I wonder how much longer he will remain silent.