Joanna's selections from Reader Daniel's emailings.
Sunday, September 11, 2016
OPEN LETTER to The Astoria Church Council,
Plus,
Shared on internetsobor.org: (in a Russian translation and the original
English): OPEN LETTER to The Astoria Church Council, from a parish
member of Holy Trinity Church in Astoria, New York
Уважаемые члены Церковного Совета церкви Святой Троицы,
Могли бы вы помочь мне понять, что происходит?
Я
пришла в этот приход в 2001 году. Мудрый друг говорил мне, что, оставив
Синод в 2007 году, мы создали раскол. Но я твердо верила, что остаюсь в
подлинной РПЦЗ, не зависимой от Московской Патриархии.
Сейчас
идут разговоры о создании новой церкви. Я не понимаю, какие причины для
этого. Никто никогда не объяснял нам, членам прихода, почему это
необходимо. Что плохого в старой церкви, церкви отца Всеволода? Что
случилось с митрополитом Агафангелом? Даже после прошедших приходских
собраний и встреч, люди не знают ответ на эти вопросы.
Мы
узнали из Интернета, что митрополит, якобы, сказал оскорбительные вещи о
двух членах Совета. Я очень сожалею об этом. Никто не должен быть
оскорблен, но мы должны идти в раскол из-за этого? Должны ли мы, члены
прихода, рисковать нашими душами из-за личного конфликта?
Располагает
ли Церковный Совет, который миряне избрали для обслуживания нужд
прихода, полномочиями управлять Церковью и требовать изменений в
церковной иерархии? Выбирать другого епископа? Отстранять назначенного
священника от входа в алтарь и служения литургии? Вызывать митрополита в
суд? Запрещать ему входить в церковь?
И,
в конечном счете, позволительно ли мирянам принимать все эти решения в
Церкви? Это было в Советской России, но Церкви от этого не было пользы.
Если у нас каноны и церковная иерархия не соблюдаются, то мы только
компания, корпорация, больше похожая на продуктовый магазин, и не имеем
духовной сущности.
Прошу
быть любезными ответить на английском языке, потому что есть несколько
человек, которые не говорят по-русски. Я являюсь одним из них.
С уважением, Снежана
Оригинал письма на английском языке:
LETTER TO THE CHURCH COUNCIL OF HOLY TRINITY, ASTORIA
To the: Respected Members of the Board of the Church of Holy Trinity,
COULD YOU HELP ME UNDERSTAND WHAT IS GOING ON?
I came to this parish in 2001. A wise friend told me that by leaving
the Synod [i.e. the 2007, unionist ROCOR/MP - R.D.] we were creating a
schism. But I firmly believed in staying in the original ROCA and away
from the Moscow Patriarchate.
Now there is talk of creating a new church. I don’t understand what the
reasons for this are. Nobody has ever explained to us, members of the
parish, why this is necessary. What is wrong with the old church, father
Wsewolod’s church? What is wrong with Metropolitan Agathangel? Even
after going to parish meetings, people don’t know the answers to these
questions.
We have learned from the internet that the Metropolitan has said
insulting things about two members of the Board. I am very sorry about
that. Nobody should be insulted, but do we have to go into schism
because of it? Do we, members of this parish, have to risk our souls
because of a personal conflict?
Does the Board, who are lay people chosen to do service for the Church,
have the right to rule the Church and cause changes in the Church
hierarchy? Choose another bishop? Bar the appointed priest from entering
the altar and serving liturgy? Take the Metropolitan to court? Forbid
him to enter the church?
And ultimately, are lay people allowed to make all these decisions
about the Church? It happened in Soviet Russia, but it did not work out
well for the Church. If the canons and the Church hierarchy are not
respected, then we are only a company, a corporation, more like a
grocery store than a spiritual entity. Would you kindly respond in English, for there are a few people who do not speak Russian; I am one of them.
Ответ Снежане от члена нашей Церкви на английском языке:
A response to Snezana from another member of the Church in the English language:
Dear Snezana, Your observations and understanding of things are quite correct. Your observations and understanding of things are quite correct. Yes,
there are no answers to these questions because the two bishops in
question who wish to separate themselves from our church- wish to do so
for reasons of a personal basis. Yes, there are no answers to
these questions because the two bishops in question who wish to separate
themselves from our church- wish to do so for reasons of a personal
basis. As that
is not realistically possible, (because, as we know- we must be obedient
to the Church and to the decisions of the holy councils of bishops
which are guided by the Holy Spirit, and not give in to our own desires,
our own passions, our own will), they therefore make claims about
Bishop Agafangel making some uncanonical actions/decisions, and even
accuse him of heresy. As that is not realistically possible,
(because, as we know- we must be obedient to the Church and to the
decisions of the holy councils of bishops which are guided by the Holy
Spirit, and not give in to our own desires, our own passions, our own
will), they therefore make claims about Bishop Agafangel making some
uncanonical actions / decisions, and even accuse him of heresy. However, they have no facts WHATSOEVER to support their so-called claims. However, they have no facts WHATSOEVER to support their so-called claims. (Whereas
Metropolitan Agafangel can back up all of his and the councils' actions
with proof.) It is suspected that there are certain people behind the
scenes who influence and provoke them, solely to reach their goal of
destroying our church, slyly, from within. (Whereas Metropolitan
Agafangel can back up all of his and the councils' actions with proof.)
It is suspected that there are certain people behind the scenes who
influence and provoke them, solely to reach their goal of destroying our
church, slyly, from within .Since
the tactics (of the former communist regime) of destroying the church
from without resulted in producing multitudes of holy martyrs and only
increased the strength of the Church, the tactics used nowadays are much
more subtle, and from within, through the use of people's weaknesses
and passions, with the intent to sow discord between each other, and
thus little by little destroying the unity of the church, and creating
schism. Since the tactics (of the former communist regime) of
destroying the church from without resulted in producing multitudes of
holy martyrs and only increased the strength of the Church, the tactics
used nowadays are much more subtle, and from within, through the use of
people's weaknesses and passions, with the intent to sow discord between
each other, and thus little by little destroying the unity of the
church, and creating schism. Meanwhile,
the schismatics sincerely think they are on the side of the truth, and
may even produce wonderful sermons about the truth etc., yet there is
nothing to back up their claims and reasons for separating from the
Church. Meanwhile, the schismatics sincerely think they are on
the side of the truth, and may even produce wonderful sermons about the
truth etc., yet there is nothing to back up their claims and reasons for
separating from the Church. (Getting
insulted and offended, or else not getting what you want, is not a
legitimate canonical reason!) In fact, their intention to take the
Metropolitan to court and their intent and means of choosing a new
leader is wholly uncanonical and even has no logical basis, and the
spirit in which it will be done can only produce bad fruits and worse.
(Getting insulted and offended, or else not getting what you want, is
not a legitimate canonical reason!) In fact, their intention to take the
Metropolitan to court and their intent and means of choosing a new
leader is wholly uncanonical and even has no logical basis, and the
spirit in which it will be done can only produce bad fruits and worse. All
involved, both those who caused and are involved in the temptation and
all those who believe the slander against the Metropolitan, should be
prayed for, in the hopes that,- God willing- they come to their senses.
All involved, both those who caused and are involved in the temptation
and all those who believe the slander against the Metropolitan, should
be prayed for, in the hopes that, - God willing- they come to their
senses. We are
called to pray for one another, and to wish for each other's salvation,
as the Lord shed His blood for each and every one of us, and because He
desires that all come to the knowledge of the truth and be saved.
We are called to pray for one another, and to wish for each other's
salvation, as the Lord shed His blood for each and every one of us, and
because He desires that all come to the knowledge of the truth and be
saved. May He forgive us, have mercy on us and save us. May He forgive us, have mercy on us and save us. Amen Amen
P.S.
Be aware that there may be talk about "the truth not being in numbers"
(ie that the number of bishops does not always mean that where the
majority (of bishops) is, is where the truth is, and thus use St.
Maximos the Confessor as an example). PS Be aware that there may
be talk about "the truth not being in numbers" (ie that the number of
bishops does not always mean that where the majority (of bishops) is, is
where the truth is, and thus use St. Maximos the Confessor as an
example). True, QUANTITY means nothing......whether 10 bishops, whether 20, whether 8, 1 or 3...... It is the QUALITY which matters. True, QUANTITY means nothing ...... whether 10 bishops, whether 20, Whether 8, 1 or 3 ...... It is the QUALITY which matters. Meaning, their disposition of soul, the spirit behind their words and deeds.... Meaning, their disposition of soul, the spirit behind their words and deeds.
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Guest comments MAYBE can be made by email.
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Anonymous comments will not be published. Daniel will not see unpublished comments. If you have a message for him, you need to contact him directly.
oregdan@hotmail.com