Comments Posted By ivanov
Displaying 0 To 0 Of 0 Comments
Extra! Syosset Reports of Deal Struck with Met. Jonah Not True
Never you mind, Father. Thank you for your response.
Forgive me.
Ivanov
» Posted By ivanov On November 14, 2012 @ 5:13 pm
With all due respect Fr. Patrick, as a Roman catholic for nearly 25 years, and now Orthodox in distinct contrast to that, I’m unable to tell if you were attempting humor or just being trite with your ‘latin’ exclamation…
Forgive me,
Ivanov
» Posted By ivanov On November 13, 2012 @ 9:47 pm
Anxiously awaiting a calm, truthful narrative about what this means. PLEASE.
Ivanov the Irrelevant
» Posted By ivanov On November 13, 2012 @ 4:47 pm
Ilya Z…
Why is “Archbishop Lazar Puhalo, deposed deacon of the ROCOR, still teaching publicly after having been “accepted” by the OCA, who allegedly imposed a suspension on his teaching publicly in concert with the requirement of retirement?Thanks for your help…
Ivanov
» Posted By Ivanov On November 12, 2012 @ 7:13 pm
T. Paine…
Do you associate yourself with THE Thomas Paine’s book, Age of Reason? Just curious….Ivanov
» Posted By Ivanov On November 12, 2012 @ 7:00 pm
Is Monk James saying that after thinking through the possible candidates, the only hope for the OCA is an active alcoholic with a doubt-begetting past not unlike that of “Archbishop” Lazar Puhalo? Is this really what is being said, or did I misunderstand? I am an OCA catechuman… I and my wife have a stake in this too, wouldn’t you say? A compassionate reply would be most helpful and appreciated.
Lord, have mercy!
Ivanov
» Posted By Ivanov On November 12, 2012 @ 5:35 pm
Welcome Comrades to the Un-American Council
I’m a Russophile, Tom Paine. I love the Russian people. I pray for the soul of A. Solzhenitsyn, a brave and ‘prophetic’ man. I’ll work on loving you too :>) God is “no respecter of men” (Book of Acts).. we are striving for His likeness to be restored in us, aren’t we?
Forgive me…
Ivanov
» Posted By ivanov On November 13, 2012 @ 2:37 pm
I recently posted re: the difficulties in the OCA. In thinking back, and looking forward, I feel that my remarks were spoken out of anger, a sanctimonious spirit, a failure of humility and prayerfulness. I cannot take back what was said, but do now ask forgiveness of any and all I may have offended or encouraged in a path that is reactionary and contrary to the Gospel. I pray God’s forgiveness preeminently and as well, and that we might have the grace to find blessedness in peacemaking and prayer to Almighty God for intervention, healing, discipline and His Peace and governance to reign through worthy and repentant under-shepherds in the OCA… mindful of my own wretchedness and vainglory.
Forgive me.
Ivanov
» Posted By Ivanov On October 23, 2012 @ 2:11 pm
Text Messages Reveal Extent of Bp. Matthias’ Misbehavior
I simply don’t have time to read through all the comments, but have read through enough. I began my inquiry into Orthodoxy 9 months ago. I am now a catechumen in an OCA parish, only because there is not a Russian Orthodox (ROCOR or MP) parish here. I wonder if the CA “couple” above (w/ the physically transgendered male) had the Catechumen service rendered prior to their chrismations, with the blowings and exorcisms and public renunciations, etc… the traditional catechumen service? I ask since all 3 jurisdictions where I live told me I would be received by chrismation, thus refusing my plea of conscience for Orthodox Baptism, a plea I believe is based on Orthodox Church teaching re: Akrivia and Ekonomia (forgive any misspells), Canon 7 of the 2nd Ecumenical Council, the greater context of St. Basil’s writings on the subject (not just Canon 1), and other teaching/writings, and my past. I also learned just recently of the catechuman service I mentioned above from a priest (not OCA)… a service that was never mentioned to me by any of the 3 jurisdictions here. And, all 3 of the 3 jurisdictions’ priests here are all converts received by chrismation… so they might have a hard time agreeing with my resolve in the matter, which I am told by a priest (not OCA, Greek or Antiochian) and others, is a good and proper plea on my part. I say this because of the comment above by “Jmical” in their 10/11 3pm reply on this string re: “an overly-flexible interpretation of “economy”. So, what am I to think, when I am denied baptism and left in the dark about a catechuman service where many graces and exorcisms and the appointment of an angel guardian, etc. are given, which service goes unmentioned and apparently unavailable. This all seems too casual, presumptive and convenient… much like the Western culture that breeds these attitudes like overfed bacteria.
Over a 25 year period I was subjected to the same among the hip, Vatican II, nothing sacred types who “engage the culture” with ‘ring already in nose’ and a longing to be led to a false acceptance by the world, all apologetic and gushing and rushing to understand the latest “scientific” dogmas… so they can accomodate and be respected. In such profound cowardice, there, as many know, was an abundance of sexual crimes, cover-ups, “renovation” and novelty and loss of faith and emptying of pews that resulted… and much more. (ecumenism comes to mind).This said, I rejoice in the great gift that God has given to a very tired (but intrepid by His Grace) married couple to come home to the Ancient and Orthodox Church. I opted to keep the body God gave me which I figured (just by the law of nature) wasn’t an “option” to begin with. And let me be quick to say that we must feel real sorrow and compassion for another who saw that as an option and acted on it, and pray for their conversion and healing and salvation. I know that “our” (can I say that yet) problems as Orthodox are not unique (which sure as hell doesn’t make them “OK”) in the context of a long history spanning 2000+ years, for the Church. Though deeply disappointed and initially disoriented by my “western” Orthodox experience early on, by the grace of ongoing conversion I am and will seek new birth and cleansing in the womb of Christ’s Authentic Church, and then pray and work for an Orthodox heart and mind and life for all my remaining days, Lord have mercy! IMHO, When rationalistic theology and cultural confusion obscure the path to the Kingdom of Heaven, ALL suffer…greatly. When Church leaders allow and promote that… then words fail and judgment looms.
We are relocating very soon to another town to find refuge. Enough is enough. St. Herman of Alaska pray for us.
Ivanov
Excuses are the shovels with which we dig our own graves. False tolerances are the groans we make in the process.
» Posted By Ivanov On October 16, 2012 @ 3:24 pm
To Kelly:
I too am a convert, and after visiting with the Antiochian and Greek parishes in my town, I decided a number of weeks ago that the OCA parish would be best (my wife is converting as well, and her feeling drawn to this OCA parish is what ultimately helped me make what I believe was the best decision for us with regard to entering the Church. That said, we both feel strongly about moving away from the town we’re in (we’ve logged 41 years here), as my original desire was to find a ROCOR parish in another city (there isn’t one here). We were Roman Catholics for the last 25 years, and Protestants before that, so we’re not at all unfamiliar with the ‘territory” (sexual misconduct and failure to correct and execute justice swiftly, and hierarchical politics) that the OCA faithful are now experiencing. But, imagine how we feel at this juncture after all we’ve already had to endure…!
I have been a serious inquirer for about 7+ months, have done quite a lot of reading and self-preparation, have talked or emailed back and forth with several Orthodox folks, have gone consistently to Liturgy through Great Lent and Pascha, have met with the Greek priest here for about 5 weeks of ‘catechumenate’ prep, and still am being told that I must be patient as I am given an indeterminate timeline regarding our entry to the Church. I have asked for baptism as a matter of conscience, and been told by each of the 3 priest of the 3 jurisdictions here that I will be received by Chrismation, or perhaps (by one priest) even confession/Holy Communion. It’s been a long, painful and arduous journey thus far, and Our Lord keeps me intrepid despite it all.
I was once told by one of the priests that I had “jumped around”, suggesting that “we” would leave my entry into the Church in a rather vague timeframe. . I simply wanted to visit each of the 3 different parishes here (while praying for my wife to join me) before deciding, hoping I was finding God’s will for us. If I were coming from a non-christian or non-liturgical tradition with no concept of veneration of the Mother of God, or Church polity, or communion of the Saints, or Sacred Tradition and Scripture as the complimentary streams of Divine Revelation in the Church, or confession and Holy Eucharist, I would certainly expect a somewhat lengthy catechesis… but… :>( Still, I must guard against a prideful feeling of entitlement as well.
So, this said, I am more resolved now than ever to take my wife and, beseeching God’ mercy, finding a safe haven in a ROCOR parish elsewhere… though, if it were within my power, I would move us overseas to learn and grow and work out my salvation in Christ among the native Russian faithful. I am finding it harder and harder to trust converts from the American protestant ethos as spiritual fathers.
And, yes, I have no illusions about the nature of the Church, i.e., the human frailty that is part of the Christian experience as we grow in love and the unity of the Faith. I am a sinner, and claiming to be a Christian makes me a hypocrite as well. And this, nonetheless, is what qualifies me as one whom Jesus The Savior came to save… I am one of the “base and the weak” that the Apostle speaks of… and I will enter that Ancient Church and find the healing and graces that speed saints-to-be on their way, if Our Lord will grant me and my dear wife such a mercy. Having known His great Love, I have no doubts in this regard.God bless and keep you, Kelly!
Ivanov
» Posted By Ivanov On August 29, 2012 @ 11:28 pm
The Lavender Mafia: Just a Conspiracy Theory?
«« Back To Stats PageCommenting on this quote from George M:
” If the bishops are more interested in stabbing their primate in the back rather than engaging the culture, then we are truly lost. We will have to rely on the Roman Catholic hierarchy and any other Christian denominations which choose to remain stalwart and unafraid.”George, can you elaborate a bit more on the “stalwart and unafraid” comment in connection with the RC hierarchy? I was a thoughtful, participative post-Vatican II RC for 1/4 of a century and can’t tell if your phraseology is tongue-and-cheek, or merely preposterous. Also, can you specify what is meant by your phrase “engaging the culture”? When I read, for example, about an Orthodox historian’s address to an Orthodox Seminary with the title having in it “… the 21st Century Church”, or see phrases dropped like “engaging the culture”, I have to wonder at one’s understanding of the clear scriptural delineation between the “world” (fallen culture, inspired and animated by the Evil One), and The Kingdom of God (The One, True and Present Culture). It is not a matter of “dialogue or compromise, but of “translation” (Colossians 1:13), is it not? Or put another way, failing to discern the impassable demarkation between the temporal and the eternal, The Church being Divine and therefore eternal in Her founding and Her being and therefore not subject to temporal category or definition… not subject to a misguided arrogation of the ability to be “a respecter of persons” (in this case, American culture), when Scripture clearly affirms in The Acts of the Apostles that God Himself is “not a respecter of persons”. The “culture” is “engaged” one sinner at a time, in much (I expect) the same way that the Great Schism is healed one RCC or protestant convert to Orthodoxy at a time, as in my case and countless others. And yet again, it is The Lord who adds unto HIS Church (Acts Chap. 2) Also, “some sow, some water, but it is God Who gives the increase”. (Paul’s letter to the Corinthians).
If one means by “engagement” the preaching of the Gospel and living out the Life of The Kingdom, then I understand your phrase. If one thinks that the Church, although organic and properly adaptive, is expected to be somehow different because another century has passed (as though She is a captive of the constant change and deterioration that some call “culture” or “life”), well then… I walk away in silence!
Though some might say, “what do these remarks have to do with this thread”… I think they are germane in the larger context of the genesis and self-understanding of the OCA now that it has some history behind it. I was recently told a little about the disagreement between the late Fr. Schmemann and the late A. Solzhenitsyn regarding the Russian Orthodox Church and its mission and praxis in America. Just from what little I learned of that dispute, I would solidly align myself with brother Solzhenitsyn.
I am by no means erudite or overly-schooled and always in need of correction. With that in mind, I appreciate any and all reponses and clarifications.
PS> Let me briefly say that as an inquirer into Orthodoxy, Lazar Puhalo was among the first of paths that I crossed, and I was being seduced with some success into his orbit by a well-intended Presbytera. I was given sufficient disturbance interiorly to leave that path quickly. BUT, even if only one person seeking The Church (such as myself) can be in that kind of immediate danger right out of the gate, shouldn’t that serve as a lesson to those within the OCA hierarchy whose responsibility it is to rein him in, to DO SO quickly?
Kind regards,
Ivanov
» Posted By Ivanov On July 19, 2012 @ 12:05 pm
Recent Comments