News From Across North America

According to the Archdiocesan website, +Alexander is Bishop of the Diocese of Ottawa, Eastern Canada and Upstate New York.

#1 Mickey Hodges on 2009-10-02 18:46

Message to His Grace, Bishop ALEXANDER,

Please don't let them elect you a Bishop of the Holy Synod of Antioch. We need you here in America - you are a strong man who truly loves God, and we enjoyed the time spent talking to you in Palm Desert. MP is up to something, and you shouldn't trust him. Maybe this is how he will get rid of you, and push for someone to replace you who will be a "YES" man to him and join his inner circle. Your Diocese needs you to be there for them, to support, defend and protect them. We want you to stay in Canada as a Bishop of our Archdiocese. Please don't leave us.

#2 TGIF (Link) on 2009-10-02 23:00

Metropolitan Philip wants to be rid of Bishop Alexander for the sake of "Bishop" Gabriel. Unfortunately, word is the Holy Synod is leaning towards Bishop Joseph.

If either is chosen, given the new understanding of the the role and procedures of the Holy Synod, I wonder who would be proposed for consideration to be raised to fill the widowed diocese?

#3 Anonymouse on 2009-10-03 04:21

..........

So MP wants to sell Bishop ALEXANDER down the river? I thought he liked him - he is from his country. I suppose even when a Bishop challenges MP, you're no longer in the inner circle.

Bishop JOSEPH back to Damascus - well maybe that would be a good idea, since he likes to live his life the "old country" way. He also chooses which people are his friends and which ones can do what they want to do.

Either way, we will need more Bishops here in America, so maybe we better start hunting around. We only have a handful of Archmandrites, half of whom are ready to retire. But then who wants to be a Bishop right now with the unending mess in sight. I don't blame them - I wouldn't want the job either.

#4 Rosamaria (Link) on 2009-10-03 08:44

There was a Seminary Fund whose revenue used to be distributed among our seminaries, but does anyone recall whether the Fund's money was ever given to a single recipient -- especially one who would be 'jumping jurisdictions' just to become a bishop?

What is this "theological fund" which will provide "a partial scholarship" to "the former abbot of Platina", formerly of HOOM/CSB/Vasilopulis? What about such scholarships to married students, some of whom even have children?

Has the educational requirement to become a bishop now been lowered to just one year?

Doesn't Alaska deserve a man of more stable background, a man who isn't under a cloud? A man "whose teachers we all know" and hold in high regard? And who has a theological education that justifies him taking the Alaska's episcopal chair? A man who is not simply manipulating the Church to get something he wants? (i.e., obtaining ordination in St. Petersburg, Russia, even though he was never to be appointed there)

Is this an example of the new leadership so many thought +Jonah would bring to the Church?

Has the revitalization of theological education in the US initiated by Frs.Schmemann and Meyendorff been buried with them?

Nina Tkachuk Dimas

#5 Nina Tkachuk Dimas on 2009-10-03 09:48

+ Joseph back to the "old country" is a good move. As far as more bishops, time for + Philip to put actions behind his past words and put forth married candidates for the episcopacy. The Pat. of Antioch (Damascus) would show great courage in consecrating married clerics and returning to the ancient Tradition of the Orthodox Church!

#6 Anonymous on 2009-10-03 10:50

Archimandrite Gerasim for Alaska? HELLO! What do the clergy and people of Alaska think about this? Why is the OCA scraping the bottom of the barrel for bishops? This is what the OCA did to get + Tikhon (retired/disaster); + Nicolai (retired/defrocked/disaster); Gula (disaster) and others.
WHY?????
Episcopal candidates DO NOT always have to come from celibates who couldn't find a wife.

#7 Anonymous on 2009-10-03 11:19

Or could it be that Bishop Joseph is being groomed to be the next patriarch? How about some comments on that idea?
Thanks.

#8 pelagiaeast on 2009-10-03 11:33

Not that I disagree with anonymous's concerns, but in the interests of accuracy, I haven't heard that bishop Nikolai was defrocked.

#9 barbara on 2009-10-03 13:02

Down with married bishops. Have a heart! How could you do that to any khouriye and their kids!

#10 Antionymous on 2009-10-03 13:51

FYI, all the monks at SVS are beneficiaries of this scholarship...

(Editor's note: That would be incorrect, at least as how it was presented to the MC. We were told that while SVS does grant an academic scholarship to monastics, the cost of room and board would have to be covered by the OCA through this scholarship fund.)

#11 Seminarian on 2009-10-03 13:52

I still want to know what the OCA SOBs plan to do about the sex abuse allegations from twenty-six years ago. You know, those allegations that resurfaced one year ago now. Is there an investigation? Why hasn't the cleric been temporarily suspended pending the outcome?
Has the OCA gone to the authorities? These allegations include criminal behavior.
We are not hearing the full report from SOBs. They are keeping lots of very ugly secrets because they know that people will not be happy when they hear about it.
The OCA has not turned the corner on it's past.
Talk is cheap. PR is working hard. They continue to circle the wagons.
They are not following their own guide-lines.

(editor's note: The present guidelines are clearly insufficient, as per the settlement in the Sidebottom case, witnesses. New guidelines are being written. That is not PR, that is fact.

In the instance you relate the Metropolitan sent Pokrov.org a letter stating that the matter is being investigated according to the current guidelines. I suggest, therefore, if you feel that is not the case, you contact the Office of the Metropolitan for an update and clarification. As for the authorities I have no way of knowing who has, or has not been contacted. According to the Best Practices they must be. This applies to everyone as well. If anybody has valid reason(s) to suspect abuse, report it. )

#12 Cappy Larson (Link) on 2009-10-03 15:13

To be fair, it doesn't seem as though Fr. Gerasim became a monk just "because he couldn't find a wife". There are some very real concerns about Fr Gerasim, and Nina Dimas outlines the more troubling among them in her message above, but this one isn't one of them. To start going down this trail can only take the focus off the REAL issues, and that would be in no one's interest. Let's start asking for answers to Nina's questions, instead.

#13 Anonymous on 2009-10-03 16:00

For very selfish reasons I hope that Bishop Joseph stays in Los Angeles. He has been a very good bishop here. There is stability, consistency and growth. He is well-liked by his clergy and faithful. In this world where we have such a hard time even being civil to one another he has done an exceptional job, why mess it up?

Unfortunately I haven't heard much about Bishop Alexander but I have heard is all good. Again, why upset something that seems to be working?

On a totally different subject, is it just me or is the OCA website pretty worthless. Even today, the front picture is a rehashed picture of St. Vlads. How about a picture or two from the consecration, or is this too much to ask? I know that Fr. Andrew Jarmus is part-time now but it seems like there is nothing going on. There were only two photo reports in the month of September and not one picture is posted of the consecration. I don't mean to be unkind but this has been going on for quite some time now. I never thought I'd say this but the information on the antiochian.org web site is now much better than the oca.org site.

#14 Anon. Antiochian on 2009-10-03 16:22

"Has the revitalization of theological education in the US initiated by Frs.Schmemann and Meyendorff been buried with them?"

Nina:
"If we don't learn from history, we are 'doomed' to repeat it!"
+Tikhon(retired of the West) - no real Orthodox Theological education; +Nicolai(retired from Alaska) - Sunday School type Orthodox Theological Education; same with Gula; others and now a HOOM/Platina?
Scraping the bottom of the barrel!

#15 Anonymous on 2009-10-03 16:45

You wanted comments - now you get them. Bishop JOSEPH is a good person and can be very kind and loving when he chooses to be. The problem is he is not proactive, not as much as he should be in order to deal with the issues that come up, and we all know he's had his share of them since he came to his chancery in 1995 - 14 years ago - starting year 15. If he became Patriarch, he would have bigger issues to deal with and much more responsibility, which would require him to act more and be less silent. He tends to sweep things under the rug and pretend they don't exist and will go away. That's okay for someone living on a deserted island with no people around to deal with, but it doesn't work in America, and it ultimately won't work in Damascus. That's my honest opinion. He would have to change his whole approach to the church and to problem solving, and I'm not sure if he wants to do that.

#16 Peace and Joy in Church Sunday (Link) on 2009-10-03 19:59

A bishop should not be shoved down the throat of any diocese, especially Alaska, which has suffered so much in recent years.

Will Alaska even be given a chance to propose a candidate of its own?

Nina

#17 Nina Tkachuk Dimas on 2009-10-03 21:37

Can we really nominate married clergy for Bishops? Will something in the canons have to be changed first? I'm not so sure this is a good idea, because they are always travelling and on the road. That's okay for a single person, but for someone with a wife and children, they would never see them. The family unit would suffer. I also know that it's hard to get our young men to commit to a life of celibacy. They are mostly getting married, and many of our convert priests came from religions where they could not be clergy and be married, so they came to us. Look at your own Diocesan Bishop's schedule on your website - each Diocese - and see how many weekends they are gone, plus other meetings and last minute issues that come up. Maybe it is wise to have unmarried Bishops. The church does not want to be responsible for the breakup of a clergy family, and then if that happened, that Bishop would have to take a leave of absence, just like a divorced priest, and then if he wants to remarry down the road, we lose him - well, depending on WHO he is of course. Let's not forget the favorites of MP. If we do put forth married Bishops, the rules would have to be consistent for all of them - not just for some. This inconsistency is getting us deeper and deeper into the mud, and I hate to see our church being dragged thru mud. We would also have to pay a much larger salary and other expenses for married Bishops, so that they can raise and educate their families, which is getting more and more costly as time goes on. These are points to consider if we want to make this change, and let's not rush into anything. It is better to get a committee together, evaluate all of the issues and seek the guidance of others with discernment before we make a decision. This is a big step which requires great planning. Let's not make the same mistakes over and over again in haste.

#18 Fall is Here (Link) on 2009-10-04 08:46

All I know is, that of the 3 monks I know at SVS, the 3 have scholarships.

#19 seminarian on 2009-10-04 12:16

Geesh...where to start?
In recent conversations with clergy (about this Alaska development) most of whom I respect, I had to come to the conclusion that the "rubric of obedience" that is often a part of Orthodox (T)(t)radition, can very often lead to very unfortuante circumstances. To say that "blinders" are an obvious outcome would be a huge understatement. This seems to affect a fairly large percentage of the laity as well, and is, quite frankly, exhausting on every level. I had totally forgotten about the Monks Lagoon eviction event. I did not know (until yesterday) the person who is being put forward as the next Bishop of Alaska was the foreman of that project, very unfortunate. I can promise you that it will not sit well with those amongst the Alaska Native Orthodox population that get sick and tired of people coming up here and acting like human viruses. Let's hope we are not being set up again to be someone's mark, and let's hope that so many of our Native people don't fall for it the way we have so many times before...Do yourselves a favor, pick up a copy of "Spirits Rebellious" by Kahlil Gibran, and read the short story "Khalil the Heretic", and think about Khaili's actions, and reflect on his courage to no longer tolerate being a sucker. Then ask yourself who the real heretics in the story were.

In the Spirit of Khalil the "Heretic"

#20 Moses on 2009-10-04 13:53

There should be no problem with a good candidate being presented to the diocese...they should be free to reject him or even put up someone they would rather have. But it seems to me the pickings are slim (My native friends tell me they have no good candidates from among them at this point in time), thus an experienced abbot doesn't seem like a bad choice, and the Metropolitan is right to show leadership in picking someone he knows personally and trusts....

I'll wait to see what the disocese has to say.

#21 antionymous on 2009-10-04 14:38

Matushka Gvosdev (of blessed memory) wrote to Jonah, I believe several times. Though she was a well respected, published, and professional authority on clergy abuse issues, with a doctorate (and not from Swaiko U.) all her letters were left unanswered.
A priest's wife.
A well know authority on the subject.
Highly educated.
Published.
Wrote many letters all unanswered.

..........

#22 no name on 2009-10-04 15:40

A scholarship doesn't mean everything is fully paid. It might only cover certain expenses, and the rest you have to find donors or take out a student loan. People have been deceived by this concept for a long time. There are still a multitude of expenses incurred over the 3 years at seminary, and that's just for single students. Imagine how difficult it is for a married seminarian with children. If the children are very young, his wife cannot go out and work, and then they end up seeking loans to cover what the "scholarships" don't cover, not to mention trips home to see their families, especially across the country. Not all students get scholarships every year - this is another misconception from Englewood. The saddest part is to hear from a new seminary graduate, preparing for ordination, married with kids, assigned to a parish that is unable to pay a full salary, relate to you that he has to find a job quickly because he has incurred so much debt during his seminary time. Instead of sending our money overseas to keep Damascus happy, let's help these new clergymen financially until they get settled with work and are in a better position to care for their family's basic needs. This is a crime when this doesn't happen. The Monks should be fully covered, as they are not out in the world working, but the costs of their seminary education still exist. Anyone out there who thinks seminarians are not poor, think again. They need your donations.

This brings up a good point. Today in church they passed second trays, requested by Engelwood, to help pay for seminary students. We don't know if each parish will send in all that money to Englewood, and from there, only God knows if all that money, every penny of it, will go to the different seminaries. So it's better to send it directly to the seminary dean with a note stating this is your donation for Seminary Month (October) and to please use it to help cover the costs of the students. This way you know your money gets to where it needs to be - every penny of it - not just what people choose to turn over to the fund.

#23 Enjoy the rest of the weekend (Link) on 2009-10-04 19:02

Re: "Has the revitalization of theological education in the US
initiated by Frs.Schmemann and Meyendorff been buried with them?"

Not at all. What you see is what you get, in other words, what we've got now in the OCA is what they have begotten.

(editor's note: You are right: A Church willing to face its mistakes, and roll up its sleeves to fix them according to the best of the Orthodox tradition. A Church that could go through terrible injury, and never give up hope. A Church that looks to a future in an uncertain world with confidence that what it has learned it will pass on to those coming behind it. And for the record, I would point out that all of those who have done the most damage in the past decade, RSK, +Tikhon, +Nikolai, +Gula, +Herman, +Peter, were not students of Schmemann or Meyendorff and in many cases opposed them. The exception was +Theodosius, who eventually turned on Fr. Alexander, and forced him out of the administration of the OCA. With, it must be pointed out, horrible results.... So, try again, friend. Lay the blame for the last two decades were it belongs - and it is not at the feet of Frs. Schmemann and Meyendorff.)

#24 Anonymous on 2009-10-04 19:05

I've picked up the lives of St. Herman of Alaska and St. Innocent of Moscow, Enlightener of America and wonder why the Russian Orthodox Diocese of Alaska won't just go back to be the Russian Orthodox Diocese of Alaska under the Moscow Patriarchate? Have there been any appeals to Moscow?

(Editor's note: Because they are, and want to be, part of the OCA and the USA - which are aimed at the future, friend, not living in the past. ) We can honor the past, celebrate it, and let it inform our actions - but living in it leads to death, and prevents us from witnessing to those to whom God has given us the opportunity to do so. But perhaps it would be best for Alaskans to answer this. Oh, that's right, they did when they spoke so eloquently during the +Nikolai affair. I suggest you go back and read what they wrote. They didn't want to be Russians - they wanted their Alaskan traditions back.)

#25 Anonymous on 2009-10-04 19:29

Reading about the archpastorial mess in the Antiochian Archdiocese makes me glad to not be a member of such a dis-functional situation and sad at the same time.

The reason I am even bothering to write concerns friends of mine who at one time were priests and deacons of the Antiochian church in Ben Lomond, California - St Peter and Paul. Because of the terrible situation that developed there, an early step of questioning and ultimately, disobedience against +MP and his underlings, many priests and deacons were essentially disrobed. I am not concerned about the right and wrong of the events that occurred, but the promises that were made to these men about the point at which they would be allowed to resume their ministries. The disrobing was to be for a specific amount of time, a time that is far, far, past, and yet, the censorship has not been lifted. The stated term appears to have been forgotten or was/is an outright lie. +MP needs to live up to his word, but I would venture to say that there is some 'reason' for not clearing up the tragic situation.

#26 Glad to not be Antiochian on 2009-10-04 22:01

I am puzzled by your hostility to Bishop Joseph. I have met and served with him several times (as recently as this past Saturday, Oct. 3); and each time I have come away deeply impressed by his profound personal piety and his loving, self-giving pastoral care. Rarely have I met anyone, bishop or presbyter, so intently prayerful during Matins and so intensely focused in serving the Divine Liturgy. (I just wish I could be that focused!!!) Given his going into a monastery at a very early age, he has the strength of a fully-formed and (to all outward appearances, anyway) well-formed monastic; and he is more than approachable. I assume that because he is a human being still in the process of being saved, he has sins and faults against which he must continually struggle, just like the rest of us; so I doubt that he's perfect and sinless. But still...he seems to be a very good and pious bishop.

As for the rumours about his going elsewhere, it is probably quite true that he'd had offers. But my sources tell me that he has refused "promotion," insisting that he is wedded to his current diocese. Patriarchal arm-twisting and/or a command under holy obedience to accept a different see may change that; but for the moment, he seems determined to stay right where he is.

So again, I just don't "get" your hostility.

Fr. Philip

#27 Igumen Philip (Speranza) on 2009-10-05 04:07

Look, married bishops DO work. The way they work is for their diocese to be "manageable." You don't have a married bishop responsible for all of the Western US, but all of Ohio, Kansas, Iowa or other state is possible.
Celibate/Monastics only became the norm do to expediency. Their progeny owned the bishops property; churches and land. Also, monasteries were where the libraries were (education). These laws have been changed and seminary libraries are the norm.
Besides all this, married bishops are more well-adjusted and able to understand and deal with today's family issues.
It really is time to go back to this model - more bishops responsible for smaller dioceses.

#28 Anonymous on 2009-10-05 06:46

The editor has a one track mind - no use trying to convince him otherwise. I have no idea why people continue to read and write on this site. In my mind, it is certainly a workshop of the devil.

#29 Anon. who else! on 2009-10-05 07:29

The Ben Lomond mess happened like this. Originally they were allowed to keep their Western Rite and operate as they were, coming into Orthodoxy under + Philip. All of a sudden, + Joseph wanted to end this and gave them a time line to change. David Anderson, a convert from the OCA with SVS educ, told them they could go to the OCA under + Tikhon (now retired). + Tikhon agreed to this back-door intrigue to get Ben Lomond. When +Philip learned of this, he went ballistic. + Philip threatened the OCA & + Tikhon - they stepped away. Those who opposed + Philip went to start their own new church under the Pat. of Jerusalem. + Philip responded by suspending or defrocking many of the clerics.

#30 Anonymous on 2009-10-05 07:50

Ms Tkachuk,

One could safely assume that if a worthy candidate from Alaska was self-evident, then that person's name would be proposed to the Holy Synod for them to interview and vet. I am not aware that a candidate for a vacant see must come from that diocese, although it might be advantageous if the diocese is unique. You could make the case for Alaska but what if that native candidate is of one native tribe, which might be seen as a slight to the other native peoples of different tribes? Alaska is certainly just as different and diverse in its own way as the lower 48 are diverse in its varied cultures.

Your hyperbole about "shoving down the throat" a candidate for Alaska does not line up with the facts of the history of Alaska. Yes, Gula and Nikolai did not work out for Alaska, but both were received with great enthusiasm when they were in their respective roles. + Archbishop Gregory had his most severe critics amongst the clergy in Alaska and he ruled with a measure of severity that would not play in dioceses of the lower 48. In fact, I would suggest that if he were the bishop of Alaska today that his tough style of leadership would come under scrutiny, but few would suggest that he did not love Christ, the Church, and the flock he was entrusted to care and protect.

A native bishop or a native Alaskan (white) for Alaska? If none are worthy or capable, then one from another part of the Church will be called. That is how it works Ms Tkachuk, not unlike your own NY/NJ diocese who had no worthy candidates to call to the episcopate.

#31 Anonymous on 2009-10-05 07:55

Hey, when did the Russian Orthodox Diocese of Alaska drop the "Russian " part of their identity?

Check out the logo change:

Old Logo:
http://www.sthermanchurch.org/images/2007banner03_1.jpg

New Logo: http://www.dioceseofalaska.org/

Someone did a sloppy job of erasing "Russian"!

Couldn't someone in the OCA just come up with a brand new logo? I guess it's always easier to just to destroy rather than to build.

#32 Anonymous on 2009-10-05 15:51

I think it is interesting that now, October 5th there are still no photos of Bishop Irenee's consecration posted on oca.org. On the third, the MP website, Patriarcha.ru had a press release and 1 photo, 12 hours later, oca.org had a press release. That day there were no photo's posted on any Canadian website either, maybe they are now I haven't checked today.

Odd.

I don't mean to imply anything by it, other than Syosset can't seem to get the simplest housekeeping, run of the mill, rote, tasks done.

Your OCA highway dollars at work!

#33 no name on 2009-10-05 18:02

Ben Lomond was not western rite. They were, in general, close to the OCA liturgy. I attended DL there several times including the feast day for the parish when +Bishop Joseph first arrived in this country. Shortly thereafter, the blowup occurred.

Fr David Anderson was recruited out of St Vladimir's to help the new folks become Orthodox. He was uniate and became OCA and was on loan from the OCA per +MPs request.

From what I heard, the intrigue with +Tikhon is correct. A bad move on the part of the OCA at the diocesan level.

There may have some Western aspects to the DL that I am not aware of, I was only there a few times before the uproar.

But, my contention doesn't concern the reasons for the catastrophe, my concern is about the promise that +MP made to the rebels, that at the end of a certain period of time the 'suspending or defrocking' would end. That period time is long past. Another group returned to the Antiochian church in Ben Lomond, repented, accepted their 'punishment' and are still waiting for +MP to fulfill his side of the agreement.

As I said earlier, +MP doesn't appear to be a man of his word, in other words he cannot be trusted. Many in the Antiochian archdiocese are finding that out right now and I am sure glad to not be Antiochian.

#34 Glad to not be Antiochian on 2009-10-05 18:06

The problems with the HOOM-ites go much deeper than mere financial misconduct; these "monks" are members of a gnostic cult with their myths of Toll-houses and enforcement of "detailed" Confessions, etc...can you imagine the lovely Alaskan people AGAIN being subjected to spiritual torture?? Not just embryonic personalities frozen in some sort of mid-adolescence - like those who are "retired former bishops" - but now, we suffer the "fruits" of one of those "retired bishops" who had no business bringing this cult into Orthodoxy. Will this never end? Does any hierarch at this stage, know the difference between Orthodox Christianity and the dark "sayings" of gnostic "secrets" exposed by our great saints (i.e. St. Irenaios of Lyon, St.Isaac of Syria)? The Alaskan Orthodox need to shout a resounding NO to this kind of potential hierarch... like the Greek Orthodox did not too long ago!

#35 anonymust on 2009-10-05 20:54

I am wondering if there was any update from the HS/MC on the former bishop of Alaska, Nikolai? The last ecclesiastical action I had seen was that the Synod had ordered him to stand for canonical adjudication for his actions. I also saw that the Synod or the Metropolitan were going to write to the Church of Serbia asking for their cooperation in this matter. I think I recall that +Nickolai had filed a civil lawsuit against the Church, but my interest is what actions may have occurred re. the planned actions of the Synod in regard to him.

#36 Bruce Wm. Trakas on 2009-10-05 22:27

WHERE is this that you are saying they work? You speak so confidently as if you are not speculating but have seen it first hand.

#37 antionymous on 2009-10-06 03:13

"The exception was +Theodosius, who eventually turned on Fr. Alexander, and forced him out of the administration of the OCA. With, it must be pointed out, horrible results...."

Mr. Editor:
Let me shed some light on this. In 1970, Schmemann backed +Theodosius for Met. against +Dimitri. +Dimitri received the popular vote for Met, but the bishops with Schmemann's prodding elected +Theodosius. This was probably the better choice, but +Dimitri vowed to get back at Schmemann. +Dimitri set up the "anti-Syosset" in Dallas and built the Southern OCA Diocese in "his own image & likeness." +Dimitri also worked behind the scenes with other synod bishops to oust Schmemann from their meetings and any influence - a sad day for the OCA. +Theodosius did not orchestrate this, but went along with the other bishops being weak and unwilling to step up. Soon thereafter, +Herman pushed RSK into Syosset to control all top church functions!

#38 Anonymous on 2009-10-06 08:17

Regarding +Nicolai; the Synod hasn't acted yet. +Nicolai is in "limbo" and he can't serve in the US. I guess they are hoping for him to drop his frivolous law suit and repent, but that's probably unlikely. As "personae non grata" placed in limbo, it's a place no one wants to be - self-imposed!

#39 Anonymous on 2009-10-06 08:25

The OCA web page depends on information reaching them from wherever events take place. If no-one in the Archdiocese of Canada has thought of sending them the photos of the consecration of Bishop Irénée, they won't have them to post.

Jane (Ottawa)

#40 Jane Szepesi on 2009-10-06 09:18

Dear No Name,

You want full time work so that the OCA website can be up-to-the minute? Then ask the MC why they keep cutting back on communications? You get what you pay for and there is no full-time communication person. No full-time web person.

#41 Anonymous on 2009-10-06 10:00

Another factor is that Ben Lomond had what...10 priests and 12 deacons? +Joseph also wanted to move some of these priests and deacons to other areas - they refused to move. This may have been the main factor for them to consider going to the OCA. Most had livelihoods in the Ben Lomond area and weren't about to move. As for +Philip going back on his word, if any individual approached him to repent, I'm sure he would have listened!

#42 Anonymous on 2009-10-06 10:40

Please be advised that the Holy Synod elected a ew Metropolitan of Tropoli - and it is not one of the Bishops from North America. There is information on the Antochian Archdiocese homepgae: www.antiochian.org

#43 Anonymous on 2009-10-06 10:42

According to The Antiochian Archdiocese website the fall meeting of the Holy Synod meeting in Damascus is absent one prominent Metropolitan.

So once again Met. Philip snubs The Holy Synod and His Beatitude. Without explanation i.e. illness or he simply cannot bear to miss a new episode of CSI His Eminence is a no show.

Either they are going to have to do away with these meetings during season premiers or move the whole operation to Englewood where His Grace no doubt believes it belongs anyway.

Obviously he isn't in much of a mood to answer a few friendly questions from His Beatitude about recent document alterations appearing on our Archdiocesan website that were purported to be from The Holy Synod?

Let's face it there is a whole laundry list of concerns I'm sure His Eminence is in no hurry to address. Besides he undoubtedly is awfully busy brushing up on his speech to be given to his assistants (Our Diocesan Bishops) further clarifying their own newly revised subservient roles at our synod gathering October 16 in Houston.

#44 Kevin Kirwan on 2009-10-06 12:49

From a friend's Facebook page this morning,

Abouna Ephraim Kyriakos, Bishop elect of Tripoli and Koura... AXIOS... ya heik moutran, ya bala

#45 Anonymous on 2009-10-06 13:35

Rosamaria writes:

"Either way, we will need more Bishops here in America, so maybe we better start hunting around. We only have a handful of Archmandrites, half of whom are ready to retire. "

A real impediment to this process, I believe, is the condition that episcopal candidates in the Antiochian Archdiocese must have an earned degree from an Orthodox seminary.

This curious rule deprives us of such possible bishops as Archmandrites John Mangels and Theodore Pulcini and others.

This rule would likewise eliminate the Apostles and most of the Church Fathers.

It would permit, however, the episcopal election of Arius and a number of others I could mention.

#46 Father Patrick Reardon on 2009-10-06 17:00

Bishop Joseph is the root cause of the Ben Lomond parish mess. Even Met Philip admitted this. He is calculating and his quietness covers his cold nature. Fellow L.A. people testify to this!

We did not elect him, A fellow Damascene and Godson of the Patriarch he is Met. Philip's side pocket candidate to succeed him, as the Met. cannot fathom having Bishop Basil follow him. Too spiritual, etc. Ahhhh the machinations of men (Bishops) ?

#47 Anonymous Western Reg, Priest on 2009-10-06 23:41

Dear Anonymous,

The OCA Holy Synod with regards to +Fr Alexander turned on him THE DAY then Bishop Pierre (Peter) became a member of the Holy Synod. The irony of this is that both + Meyendorff and + Fr Alexander were advocates of bringing Archbishop Peter to the USA from France. It was not Dmitri who instigated the turn on Fr Alexander, although he was a wiling participant, as were all the other bishops on the Synod.

Your interpretation of history is flawed.

#48 Anonymous on 2009-10-07 07:40

I know I'm getting into the thread a little late here, but maybe the problem of bishops having to travel all the time would be mitigated if we would return to another ancient tradition of the Church - that of having more than one bishop per congregation.

Philippians 1:1 is addressed to "all the saints in Christ Jesus at Philippi, together with the bishops [plural] and deacons." In Acts 20, we are told that Paul "sent to Ephesus for the elders of the church," of whom he later says, "Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you bishops [plural] (vv. 17, 28)."

If returning to the most ancient tradition of the first century is too radical for some of you, then how about at least having multiple bishops per diocese so that no one bishop has to travel all over the place?

There is yet another pastoral argument for married bishops: being able to minister to married priests and other married clergy, of whom we have a great number. How can someone who has never been married possibly understand the problems that married clergy encounter? Again, I refer to the most ancient tradition of the first century: "A bishop must be ... the husband of one wife (1 Timothy 3:2)."

Some of the canons that may have made sense in the early centuries of the Church no longer do so in 21st-century America. Let's not make an idol out of practices that actually POSTDATE the New Testament.

#49 Edmund on 2009-10-07 11:03

Khalil Gibran, a Maronite, was a great God fearing man. Turned off by the feudal like Bishops of the Old Country. Reviled yet at his funeral after one in Boston - he was buried by ALL Christian bodies. Much of his writings would despise the power hungry Bishops in Orthodoxy today!

#50 Anonymous Priest on 2009-10-07 20:51

It is quite depressing to read so many comments that reflect disdain and lack of reverence and understanding of the monastic life and Church Tradition in general.

The criteria for episcopal candidates is supposed to be spiritual. The original Tradition was that an episcopal candidate should be manifesting the signs of deification and unceasing prayer. The focus was not on "celibacy" or married but on the spiritual stature and formation. While the early Church had married apostles and bishops, they were still men filled with the Holy Spirit, purified of sinful passions and illumined. There is no evidence that St. Ignatius was married, nor St. Polycarp, nor St. Irenaeus, despite the fact that they were pre-Nicean.

After St. Constantine the Church inevitably became more worldly (St. Gregory the Theologian lamented the kind of people that were being ordained in his day) and in reaction bishops eventually began to be chosen from the monasteries, not because they were "celibate" only, but because of their spiritual formation, which was much closer to the apostolic experience (Let us not forget the the structure of the first, apostolic Jerusalem Church. It required the giving away of all possessions, daily worship, community life, a high level of asceticism even for married people. Sounds rather "monastic" does it not??).

The problem is not celibacy it is lack of true Orthodox spiritual formation, which despite what many of us modern Orthodox think still occurs through prayer, fasting, ascetical effort, all at the direction of a real spiritual elder.

Our bishops spiritual poverty has nothing to do with celibacy and everything to do with lack of traditional spiritual formation. If our bishops were real monastics refined by the fire of many years of prayer and humility we would be much less in the situation we find ourselves. Our problem is no different than that which St. Symeon the New Theologian pointed to and was hated for in his time. We have "professional" clerics in many cases who have never entered deeply into the Orthodox Tradition which purifies and illumines the heart (I include myself in this). In many cases we have bishops and priests who have received a secularized and academic (and frankly, anti-ascetical) version of Orthodoxy. And if we ourselves are not purified and illumined then we had better stick with the teachings of those who were and not try to "innovate" from our own understanding.

Fathers Schmemann and Meyendorff were great men in many ways and contributed to a renewal (largely liturgical) in Orthodoxy but there were also many things they did not comprehend on the level of Orthodox spirituality and praxis. My heartfelt conviction would be that one cannot become truly comprehend and live Orthodox Christianity simply following these venerable theologians (I would guess they would agree with me). There is too much that is truly Patristic that is missing from their ability and perspective. To give a contemporary example, one must also have a Metropolitan Hierotheos Vlakos.

If the comments I am seeing are indicative of the future of Orthodoxy in America, I fear for my son and the future of the Church.

Father Michael Shanbour

#51 Fr. Michael Shanbour on 2009-10-07 21:19

I know several clergy who have repented and are back at the Ben Lomond church rather than down the road in Felton. They are getting the same treatment, they are way past due for their return to active duty as clergy. +MP hasn't kept his promise to them either. They would have been better off staying in Felton.

As far as 'repenting', that wasn't part of the deal. The restrictions were to be for a certain amount of time, not requiring anything on the part of the former clergy other than simply behaving themselves which they have done in an exemplary fashion. Again +MP's promises are not kept.

Again, I will repeat, glad to not be Antiochian

#52 Glad to not be Antiochian on 2009-10-07 21:27

Bishop-elect Michael Dahulich was born in Johnson City, NY and was educated in the Binghamton, NY public schools and attended St. Michael's Church in Binghamton. This native New York son has now been called home to serve.

#53 Terry C. Peet on 2009-10-07 22:23

Mark, is this true?

Can you give your perspective on why the MC is cutting funding for communications? To be it seems like a huge mistake...

(Ediot's note: I believe the cuts you are referring to was that funding for printed copies of the Orthodox Church were reduced. Most younger people get their news online - older people do not. Determining the right formula for printed media these days is a problem for everyone.)

#54 Rdr. Nilus on 2009-10-08 02:53

Bishop Alexandar is not going to be moved!

There is no conspiracy against him. He is a delightful, person and you should all stop trying to foment nastiness by trying to make him believe something else.

Who do you think you are talking about bishops like they are chess pieces and you know nothing whereof you speak?

How absolutely ugly to try to make someone feel insecure!

We are all fine together here in Montreal and who would say otherwise is off base! Just more proof that this site is without any spirit that is not mean.

Just stop it!

Lynn G.

#55 Lynn on 2009-10-08 16:24

So what you're saying is that our diocese, the DOS, was founded on spite and revenge? The past thirty years have been nothing but the fruits of getting back at Schmemman? You are 100% sure that it was not love for his native South that drove Arichbiship Dmtri to found the Diocese of the South? I am sure you are wrong. He is a good man with a good hard and a hard worker. Peace to you.

#56 Anonymous on 2009-10-08 18:52

Mr Peet,

Bishop-elect Michael was never a member of the OCA in his youth or his priesthood. He was from the Carp. Rus. Diocese. His OCA career began when he was made dean of STS. You are right, he is from the Empire State, but he was never part of the diocese of NY/NJ. Check your facts before you write.

#57 Anonymous on 2009-10-10 13:56

"Fathers Schmemann and Meyendorff were great men in many ways and contributed to a renewal (largely liturgical) in Orthodoxy but there were also many things they did not comprehend on the level of Orthodox spirituality and praxis. My heartfelt conviction would be that one cannot become truly comprehend and live Orthodox Christianity simply following these venerable theologians (I would guess they would agree with me). There is too much that is truly Patristic that is missing from their ability and perspective."

A ridiculous statement! You are talking out of your hat. Everything Schmemann & Meyendorff taught was Scriptural, the full Orthodox Tradition and surely Patristic. For those of us who are "Schmemannites," we studied under the two best Orthodox theologians of the 20th century. You on the other hand, did not and have no clue!

#58 Anonymous on 2009-10-11 12:06

Sorry to push your buttons there Mr. Schmemannite. I happened to study under Fr. Meyendorff and had him as my father confessor for a year, so I will look forward to your apology (you must have learned humility from your teachers). I've also read just about everything Schmemann ever wrote

By the way Meyendorff misunderstood the teachings of St. Maximos the Confessor in relation to sexuality and he taught in Patristics that St. Basil was open to the idea of Evolution by quoting one line from his "Six Day of Creation" (something one cannot derive from St. Basil or any of the Fathers).

I did not say they were not Scriptural, I said there were things "they did not comprehend on the level of Orthodox spirituality and praxis." They simply did not fully comprehend the ascetical tradition of the Church. Sorry, brother, they made their contribution but they were not Elder Paisios and Elder Porphyrios, nor were they St. John of San Francisco.

Enough said for now my dear brother.

Fr. Michael

P.S. I was a whole hearted Schmemannite myself once. But man cannot live by Schmemann alone!

#59 Fr. Michael Shanbour on 2009-10-12 21:45

Sorry to push your buttons there Mr. Schmemannite. I happened to study under Fr. Meyendorff and had him as my father confessor for a year, so I will look forward to your apology (you must have learned humility from your teachers). I've also read just about everything Schmemann ever wrote

By the way Meyendorff misunderstood the teachings of St. Maximos the Confessor in relation to sexuality and he taught in Patristics that St. Basil was open to the idea of Evolution by quoting one line from his "Six Day of Creation" (something one cannot derive from St. Basil or any of the Fathers).

I did not say they were not Scriptural, I said there were things "they did not comprehend on the level of Orthodox spirituality and praxis." They simply did not fully comprehend the ascetical tradition of the Church. Sorry, brother, they made their contribution but they were not Elder Paisios and Elder Porphyrios, nor were they St. John of San Francisco.

Enough said for now my dear brother.

Fr. Michael

P.S. I was a whole hearted Schmemannite myself once. But man cannot live by Schmemann alone!

#60 fr. michael Shanbour on 2009-10-13 20:46

News From Across North America

OCA News

Friday, October 2. 2009

News From Across North America

Calendar

Quicksearch

Archives