http://www.orthodoxchristianbooks.com/downloads/299_A_HISTORY_OF_THE_FALL_OF_ROCOR.pdf
Having just read this very long text, by the author, Vladimir Moss (who thinks he knows all, about all subjects!), through to it's bitter end, I have only a few over-view observations:
1) most likely, much of the events, personages, documents, etc, which Moss refers to or quotes here, are more or less true......* instructive to read, THOUGH we can't be certain of his 'facts', as he has proven himself to be very biased & opinionated & unfair, & sometimes even a LIAR, and ....unstable himself, an effete intellectual SNOB living in his ivory tower, as to his own...ever changing.... jurisdictional loyalty (he has been with a number of jurisdictions, leaving most of them, by condemning each one, as 'not Orthodox enough!"
2) however,ODDLY and illogically, he is very biased in favour of the RTOC Tikhon-Pasechnik's entity, referring to it (alone), as THE only canonical & valid continuation of the pre-union ROCOR, etc. ...i.e. Moss here reveals himself as a very petty party-HACK propagandist for his (current) favorite Russian fragment jurisdiction, while defaming all others, especially that of ROCA Met. Agafangel's
3) he continues his long term attack upon the SIR synod,(conveniently forgetting his own glorious Tikhon Pasechnik's failed attempt at joining RTOC to it, but when he was rebuffed and the SIR instead recognized ROCA under Met. Agafangel, THEN Tikhon suddenly condemned the SIR as 'heretical'!!!) portraying it as heretical and unOrthodox & uncanonical...and because ROCA and it are in fraternal communion, that the TAINT of their SIR 'heresy' has also infected and rendered ROCA as, ALSO....automatically...100% ..heretical and uncanonical, etc.- A radical and extremist position that MANY Orthodox do not hold to...indeed everything seems to be, automatic, to Mr. Moss, with no room in his highly regimented & limited brain, for any differences of opinion or expression, etc. ...anyone who doesn't think EXACTLY like Prof Moss, is...'in heresy'.
So, in conclusion, I have found this text both of some historical interest and some value (especially in his exposee of KGB and MP plots and conspiracies, etc.), but I just cannot trust his views en toto. He has too many axes to grind and too many pre-conceived yet unsubstantiated ....guesses, as to what has motivated various people, especially so, is he very unfairly biased and prejudiced against ROCA.
And too, Vladimir Moss has the mind-set of a perpetual sectarian schismatic, not someone on the Royal Path or in a balanced view of the Orthodox Faith. He is a sectarian, PERIOD!
My final question to Mr. V. Moss: IS THERE ANY Orthodox jurisdiction, other than your current favorite one, the RTOC, that you approve of, and which you will STAY in???...and how long before you anathematize RTOC?
4) Moss continues his long term super-legalistic, PERSONAL & selective interpretations of 'the canons' , using SOME of them, as his weapons against rival jurisdictions, as ROCA, whom he sees, as counterfeits to his precious & all-perfect Tikhon Pasechnik's RTOC. In such activities, how is he any different than the KGB's MP? They use the canons in exactly the same fashion, and to the same ends-i.e. to divide and destroy the faithful.
5) laughably, he seems to not see virtually ANYTHING deficient or....KGB related or suspicious about his RTOC or wonderful perfect Mr. Tikhon Pasechnik ,a total product of soviet culture, even though, many others have found many suspicious connections between that man, and the KGB.
6) why doesn't Mr. Moss address the very serious objections to his Tikhon Pasechnik, of the two escaped RTOC bishops ,Bps. Ireney and Dionesy, who fled RTOC and Tikhon, and have been received into ROCA (*from what I read, they have stated long lists of wrongs and unOrthodox behaviour in Mr. Tikhon Pasechnik....none of which accusations, Moss even seems to be aware of, or is he?...though they were all over the Russian internet, not that long ago).
7) If we could hear the FULL story of all thisrecent Russianj church, especially of ROCOR, history,....,such as seen from Met. Agafangel's perspective, (& I have read some of his memories and views on all this), we would get a VERY different picture of many of these events and quotes, and one which shows, in our heroic Vl. Agafangel, a very Orthodox, a very honest, and a very long-suffering servant of Christ and of Orthodoxy. And many around our Vladyka Agafangel can attest to this goodness and sincerity in him.
But, just my personal observations about V. Moss and this his latest offering...
He pretends to care only for 'the facts', but in reality, he is just another clever propagandist..
Rd. Daniel Everiss
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Sat, Apr 2, 2011 at 12:27 AM