Re-sharing a ROCA Bishop's 2015 Epistle, of vital meaning today

General Re-sharing ( in good English): of an important ROCA Bishop's Epistle, dated Nov. 15, 2015, but of vital meaning today also-    Inbox

Dan Everiss <oregdan@hotmail.com> Thu, May 12, 2016 at 11:42 AM Reply | Reply to all | Forward | Print | Delete | Show original Explanation:  This righteous and timely epistle was necessitated by the surprising and sad and totally unjustified pro-Putin nationalistic rebellion/schism  of a segment of our Russian Federation (former) clergy. Clearly they seem to think and act as if they were still members of the MP, [ and thus obedient slaves of its real head, KGB Vladimir Putin], from which they came from, and accepted by their own petitions, into our ROCA...not very long ago. In essence, they have been  demanding that our ROCA metropolitan and bishops fully support what terrible things dictator Vladimir Putin is doing in Ukraine, to 'take POLITICAL  sides' [ to support Putin's wicked and immoral war and invasion and seizing of parts of  Ukraine], ....to mix worldly politics into our church life, [and thus to be openly anti-Ukrainian independence]   and indeed, to come in on the side of that blood thirsty mass murderer neo-soviet dictator, because he is 're-uniting Ukraine to Mother Russia'......'he is a Russian patriot', etc. and other such Kremlin communist era distortions and outright lies. Those pathetic and miserable schismatics  claim that they are 'Russian patriots', and 'good loyal Russian citizens', etc. And then, to add to their unchristian and  unrighteous and unjustified POLITICALLY  minded schism, they have added many slanders and vicious  verbal attacks upon our metropolitan and on our entire ROCA church, claiming that.... our ROCA has: "Mixed politics into church life" ! ...UNBELIEVABLE!!! *Many of us wonder, if they were not all l along programmed MP plants into  our ROCA, sent into our midst, just to divide and weaken and destroy us. While the simple truth is that, exactly,  our long-suffering and patient Metropolitan Agafangel and our loyal bishops, have been PAINFULLY struggling to keep peace and maintain ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN churchly brotherly  love and harmony [ in a time of wicked war!], between all of  our world-wide flock, whether any of those  in our world-wide flock,  consider themselves as, 'Russian' or 'Ukrainian', [or whatever nationality], or those who see themselves as both,  Ukrainian and Russian, [ as is the fact of life in Ukraine],  ...or those many others, as myself as a loyal American, [ and America is my ONLY earthly country which I am loyal to],   around the world, who see ourselves primarily as loyal to our  native lands, [ and not to any of our varied ethnic roots or parent's heritages],  which are neither Russian nor Ukrainian, etc. We are ORTHODOX CHRISTIANS! Thus these ignoble  hot-headed rebels in the Russian Federation, for whom I have lost all respect for,[ and I have read all of their vicious attacks,]  have become self-holy and in unjust schism, with endless slanders in their mouths, perhaps scripted for them in the Kremlin? Yet, our ROCA  bishops still call them to repentance and await their return. I feel very sorry for their blind parishioners, who are following wolves in sheep's clothing as their spiritual guides, just as is the case with the MP's laity. Rd. Daniel Everiss in Oregon, loyal to our ROCA, and a loyal American citizen. MAY GOD BLESS AND PRESERVE OUR METROPOLITAN AGAFANGEL and ALL OF OUR ROCA BISHOPS, and grant them: MANY YEARS!     MNOGAYA LETA! Found on:<http://australiaorthodoxroca.org>    Sunday, November 15, 2015 Epistle from the Synod of Bishops Epistle of The Synod of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad to the faithful children in the homeland and in the diaspora Reverend hierarchs and pastors, monastics and lay people! Having gathered in these days in the God-preserved city of Odessa, the members of the Synod of Bishops note that in most of our parishes, scattered around the world, spiritual life proceeds steadily and successfully. However, at the same time, in some areas of the territory of the Russian Federation, and partly in other places, a time of particular trial has arrived for our Church. In these few parishes, unfortunately, disturbance and mutual accusations have nearly become norm. “And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it” (1 Cor 12:26) - the Apostle writes. Therefore, pain in one area of our Church is passed on to Her entire body. We all know that the unity of the Church is based on the unity of faith and love between Her faithful children. At present we have a unity of faith, as witnessed by the signing of a Statement of Confession together with our sister Churches – the Greek, Bulgarian and Romanian. This is a confirmation of the right path along which our Church is proceeding, together with the representatives of other confessing Orthodox Churches for more than twenty years. This unity is of great value which we must cherish. We must make every effort so as not to disturb it. Today it is possible to confidently assert that the unity of confession of the Orthodox Faith unites us. There is no reason to reproach our Bishops of confessing some kind of heresy. Therefore we must speak about the fact that we are faced with a serious test of the strength of our brotherly love. Of course, it must be taken into account that the fratricidal war in the Ukraine largely furthers this. In a few cases it has changed brotherly love into hatred. Among our faithful children there also those who stand on opposite sides of this conflict. Sometimes this conflict sometimes is even directly transferred into the bosom of the Church. Lamentably, this becomes a cause of unjust and uncanonical division. But, “Is Christ divided?” (1 Cor 1:13). Is it possible that there exist values on earth that are worth more than unity in Christ? Physical war should not go transform into “spiritual battle” between Christians the same faith. Some of our brothers unfortunately forget this, being overly enthusiastic about political slogans. Additionally, we constantly hear reproaches originating from the hurt pride of some of our former brothers. Likewise from those of our children who, while not fully comprehending the essence of the issues, attempt to defend those on whom the hierarchy has imposed fair interdicts. Those who have been rebuked, rather than changing their behaviour, have become hardened. Not only do they not make any effort or attempt to regularise their situation – instead they continue insulting and blaming the Bishops and brethren. In the words of the Apostle: “Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.” (Eph 4:29). For this reason, the Synod of Bishops urges them to lay aside all their offensive statements with regards to the hierarchs, and to ask for their forgiveness. Otherwise, these statements will remain between us forever, like an insurmountable wall. Not wanting to expose internal disputes to general spectacle, we have given the ruling Bishops the task to meet with the clergy for more detailed explanations where necessary. The clergy in turn will relate the opinion of the Synod to those parishioners who are interested. Today we appeal to all the faithful children of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad: Our Lord Jesus Christ constantly repeated: “Peace be with you.” These words are addressed also to all of us. Against the background of a general hostility and apostasy, which now has spread all over the earth, we must witness that we deserve to be called Christians – the disciples of the Divine Teacher. We must remember that we are the children of peace, not war. Remembering this, let us make every effort to maintain our unity. Chairman of the Synod: + Metropolitan Agafangel The members of the Synod: + Archbishop Andronik + Archbishop George + Bishop Athanasius + Bishop Gregory + Bishop Kyril + Bishop Nikon Posted by rocaau at 13:28:28 in Epistles, ROCA