Timeline and Documents

How we would enjoy hearing what our very "partial" Chancellors (archdiocese lawyers) would say to the great "expose" by the Orth Atty Assoc. Byzantine intriques, misunderstanding of legal words, etc. only PROVE again that an independent Church Orthodox of the USA & CANADA is the only route. Five clergy and laity of THREE jurisdictions told me this week thyat we needa Boston Tea Party! What is the fear, truthfully spoken? The fear that ANY jurisdiction seperating itself from it's "Mother" would only end up with rival parishes in many cities. Wo9uld there always bbe some Mother Church aspirants would would love to create new parishes LOYAL to their Mother Churches? Let'sw join the OCA and get over with it, otherwise 50 yrs more of wallowing in the mire of our illegal jurisdictional mess. St Raphael of Brooklyn pray for us!

#1 Anonymous Archpriest Mid West "Region" (not Diocese) on 2009-04-07 10:32

What is interesting about all this mess with the Antiochians is that + Philip's position only hurts all of the Orthodox in North America. He can't REALLY blame this on the patriarch and say he had nothing to do with it - how stupid does he think American's are? Wasn't the patriarch in the US for a visit in Nov. 2008? Didn't he and + Philip discuss church matters?
What's really interesting about all of this is that + Antony Bashir, who I knew, would have joined the OCA years ago. He would have been the FIRST to support a united Orthodox Church in North America and ACT ON IT. What + Philip offers is Byzantine politics speaking out of both sides of his mouth!

#2 Anonymous on 2009-04-07 10:47

MP in many ways is like Herod the Great at the tme of Christ who slaughtered the Holy Innocents. Herod lusted for power yet was so insecure he had is own sons put to death. Even on his death bed he had one of his sons executed as he was afraid his son would usurp his power and his kingdom. In biblical times it became common to say, "*It is better to be one of Herod's dogs than one of his sons*." Sadly we might also say it is better to be MP lackies than one of his Bishops.

Envy, jealousy and rivalry are what caused Peter & Paul to be betrayed by fellow Christians to the Roman authorities. ENOUGH! The Archbishop is not the Bridegroom! CHRIST IS THE ONLY BRIDEGROOM OF THE CHURCH.

Thank God, we have people like the Orthodox Lawers, who care enough about the Church to restrain this passion. May the Lord be with them as they seek to restore order and normalize our Church in the bond of peace and Christian Unity based on Truth and Love.

MP this is the time of Christian REPENTANCE. Be the example you are calle to be. Come clean and be healed.

#3 anonymous AOCA priest on 2009-04-07 11:13

To compare Metropolitan Philip to Herod the Great is an outrage! Metropolitan Philip may have many faults, as we all do, but to make this comparison is off the chart.

Metropolitan Philip has done many good things to promote the Orthodox Christian Faith in North America. Although I am troubled my some of Sayenda Philip's actions, I believe that all Orthodox Christians should appreciate his work to bring the Ancient Faith to so many who hunger for the Truth.

As a brother in the Faith called into Holy Orders, you should be ashamed of yourself for making such statements. I hope that you will reconsider your remarks, and repent in this Holy time of the year. Lord have mercy on us all!

#3.1 Marc Trolinger on 2009-04-07 14:55

The comparison was figurative as one who threw six bishops under the bus as he can have no equal or threat to his power. Why would a manwho had heart surgery 35+ years and been resusitated twice be so consumed with holding onto power? Why is he threatened? I think a psychologist would agree he is dealing or perhaps better said, not dealing with his mortality. He is tightening his grip on this world as he may feel grossly unpreared for the next! As one reads the Holy Scripture we should identify each character and ask who we are most like? Yes it is a Holy Time, but all time is Holy. We should refrain from LUST of POWER as part of our preparation.

#3.1.1 anonymous on 2009-04-07 20:43

The Metropolitan was never "resuscitated" twice. I assure. He had heart pains twice and played it to the hilt. Unlike other Prelates he serves and visits when profitable for him. Late AM rising with breakfast and a few phone calls to admirers. Then lunch and off for the PM with his arabic newspapers (air expressed to him daily) to his upstairs suite. This on authority of more than three seminarians who helped out at the Englewood manse. Get the facts?

#3.1.2 AnonymousLayman on 2009-04-09 12:44

Mark,

I just discovered the "*Time Line*" gets regular updates as more documents are recovered / discovered and / or added. Perhaps this could be highlighted somehow?

At present it may simply get buried. That would be a complete travesty as there may be many that would miss it entirely as they are not so computer savvy like myself. Thank you. Keep up the great work. This may take time and persistence, but lets keep the pressure up. Thank you and the lawyers of Association of Orthodox Christian Attorneys for their Christian dedication and service. Ma the Lord bless you and keep you.

#3.1.2.1 anonymous on 2009-04-21 19:58

Again, this is a third party observation and not much more.

If you ask me, there never was a self governing Antiochian church of America if it can now be taken away.

#4 Daniel E. Fall on 2009-04-07 22:03

That timeline is fantastic! It really shows how Metropolitan PHILIP has no authority to demote our Diocesan Bishops.

All of us should forward the timeline to everyone in the Church on our e-mail lists. People deserve to know the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.

#5 Jimmy the Greek on 2009-04-08 08:57

I agree. Since the AOCA clergy cannot forward to their email list without fear of reprisal, evey layman or non-Antiochian clergy from other jurisdictions should forward the TIME LINE to all their Antiochian friends who may be completely unaware. This would significantly move the cause forward. Also forward the TIME LINE to all AOCA clergy just to be sure the are aware. Let's start with the Detroit Clergy.

I think it is also time for the laity to insist upon an audit of the AOCA books. How do we know the money budgeted for one item is actually used for what it was budgeted for?

How was money for the Jerusalem Task Force actually distributed?

Where does "Food For the Hungry" money actually go?

How do we know that money from special trays actually is used for what it is designated for?

Are there not LAWS that stipulate money must be used for the purpose it was donated?

Why are so many of our seminarians NOT actually scholarshipped by the AOCA, when MP insist that all of our seminarians are scholarshipped by the Archdiocese?

Wouldn't that 2.8 million dollars have helped our retired clergy who labored for years with little hope of retiring with any dignity?

Couldn't $2.8 million dollars have built better facilities for our own seminaries or provided better salries for the seminary faculty?

Maybe our Diocesan Bishops could have had a deacon or secretary with some of that 2.8 million?

Englewood gets 650,000 budgeted. Where does it all go? The cook? The housekeeper? The Archdeacon? The secretaries?

The Diocesan Chanceries get from $25,000 - 40,000 a year to pay for travel and utilities. Do they have cooks? NO! Do they have Deacons? NO! Do they have secretaries? Oh yes, they get $15k for secretarial help. Executive secretaries will work for peanuts now!

Our missions programs could have used $2.8 million. How many missions could of had a full time priest or financial assistance with rent and utilities. Maybe even a down payment on a building?

Perhaps we could have funded a few Orthodox Christian Fellowship Chaplains for 2.8 million or built some OCF housing? Or even scholarshipped some of our own needy students.

Is there nothing to do with $2.8 million in North America? Perhaps we could have paid for an outside audit with part of the money or started a fund for retired metropolitans?

#5.1 anonymous on 2009-04-08 23:14

Does anyone have the email from Tarek Mitri that circulated in January of 2005? I noted it was missing from the document.

Also the newest Diocesan Bishops were elected by the Local Synod when they met in FL on Oct 29 2004. The Board of Trustees also met at that time.

It seems that at that meeting they asked that thenewly elcted bishops be consecrated as soon as possible. They also affirmed one of the Constitutions at that meeting. Which one?

Given the Patriarch's agreement to Consecrate them at the Metropolitan's and the Board of Trustees request would this not imply that the Patrairch accepted the Constitution they affirmed?

Approximately ten or more Metropolitans participated in the Consecrations, this would imply their acceptance as well. would it not?

#6 anonymous on 2009-04-09 05:33

All of the above is correct with a capital C ! The heart and soul of the Metroplitan Archp. is in Lebanon. He prefigures himself as a Leader Worldwide vis a vis the Israeli question, etc. Too bad we could'nt get him elected Patriarch last time around! My friend's Uncle in Tripoli said they did'nt want him.

Shame that the retired clergy subsist on $800. allowance plus Social Scty. Could Met. P. live on that? Answer, "They should have prepared themselves in their younger days". Too bad the many have no access to the Greek & OCA pension programs that would cost each Archdiocese "nothing", being subsidized by the local parish and clergy salary. About 5% each! Know of one to two clergy postphoning their retirement (in their 70's) as they cannot afford it. 2.8 Million bought our present "mess". Thank you Fr Antypas and the loyal emigrees. We're indebted ??!!

#6.1 Anonymous Council Member on 2009-04-09 12:57

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