www.byzcath.org Forums Faith & Christian Life The Christian East & West Priest Andrew Phillips on ROCOR and the OCA

My brother David, I am not chastising you or Chtec, it is just that I see this proffered across other forums as well. Yes, I admit, we in ROCOR can be stubborn. Bullheaded if you will. It is because we have had to be, just to survive. But unfortunately, our reputation in the English speaking world was irreparably harmed from 1965 to 1987, when Holy Transfiguration Monastery and associated parishes were under Metropolitans +Philaret and +Vitali's omophor. That is when the rancor in America started. Were you aware that Archbishop Iakovos of the GOA performed a Parastas over the remains of Metropolitan Anastassy in 1965? Were you aware that almost the entire original brotherhood of Holy Trinity Monastery in Jordanville New York were in exile in Ladomirova, Czechoslovakia from 1924 until 1944, and of the great love and friendship that blossomed between the local Carpatho-Russian peoples and the simple monks? (Just as a side note, I remember once seeing Archmandrite +Cyprian, the great iconographer walk up to a group of visitors, and greeting them with a "як ше маш"! I didn't know what to think!) A lot of the rancor that existed through the 70's and 80's was due to the simple naivety of the Russian bishops, not speaking English, were really caught unaware as to what the Panteleimonites were doing. With the Boston monastery going off into schism and the very small, but vocal reactionary wing leaving after the rapprochement with the MP, things have again returned to the way they were pre-65. The Jordanville Prayer Book is still unmatched in the English speaking world. ROCOR has printed the vast majority of Orthodox texts and translations into English in the English speaking world. Yes we love what Russia was and what we hope will be again, but we love Christ and His Church more. That is why we start more missions than any of the other Orthodox jurisdictions in this country, even though, numerically, we are one of the smallest jurisdictions. I keep hearing of the Russianess this and the Russianess that, but is that not the same of any ethnic Church? Can you honestly say that we are more ethnic than say the Ukrainian Church, or the Greek? Of the last 7 bishops consecrated by ROCOR, only 2 were ethnically Russian. Probably 50%, maybe more, of our parishes here are English only or majority. And with the emphasis now on missionary work as opposed to simply preserving the Church, this number will grow. The only thing that we simply refuse to change, alter or manipulate is the Faith itself. We have been, at least here in the West, the guardians of Orthodoxy. One does not have to even ask what the position of ROCOR is on any given subject. It will be what the Orthodox Church teaches. That is a given.

If you have been hurt by the actions of some ROCOR people in the past I ask for your forgiveness. We have had some members say and do some stupid things, and we let Boston carry on far too long in my opinion. But know that we accept you and ACROD as brother Orthodox. Fully and completely. As a matter of fact, the last time The Kurskaya Mother of God was in Pittsburgh, I got a frantic phone call one Sunday afternoon, could I direct Bishop +George's cell attendant to the Cathedral in Johnstown, so that the ailing Metropolitan Nicholas of Blessed memory could venerate the Wonder Working Icon of the Theotokos. All the packed parishes in Pittsburgh waiting for Her were put on hold so that Vladika Nicholas, who was so sick, could venerate Her.

Yes, my Brother, some of the things that happened in the past were regrettable. And the hurt has gone both ways. I remember the case of where an elderly ROCOR member died, and the priest at the only local Orthodox Church would only say the Trisagion over him, as that particular priest viewed the ROCOR as being schismatic. We flew an elderly hieromonk 1200 miles to bury that poor man.

But I digress...

Not knowing which Calendar you are on, I wish you either a fruitful and spiritually edifying Fast, or a big Christos Razdajetse if you are celebrating the Nativity of our Lord this weekend.

Your Brother in Christ,
Alexandr

Ooops, that should have been a pm, but I guess I didn't say anything too embarrassing!

(Thanks to our Eastern Catholic friends for allowing us to air this out here!)