*Sergei Savchenko's [a ROCA parish starosta and a lawyer himself, in Ukraine], his point by point response, originally in Russian, on: <http://internetsobor.org to a letter from Victoria Sherba, posted on http://www.rocana.org in both English and Russian.
Friday, October 28, 2016
A response letter to Victoria Sherba ,
herself a parish choir director and a lawyer in combination, from Sergei Savchenko,
himself a parish
warden and a lawyer , responding to her letter: “Some thoughts of a
parish choir director and a lawyer “, distributed on the internet.
“This
know also, that perilous times shall come in the last days. For men
will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers,
disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving,
slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors,
reckless, conceited, more lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,
having a form of godliness, but denying its power. From such turn away ”
(2 Timothy 3:1-5)
“Many therefore of his disciples, when they had
heard this, said, This is an hard saying; who can hear it…from that time
many of His disciples went back, and walked no more with him” John 6:60
-66
Dear Victoria,
ROCA will not divide into
two or more parts. ROCA is one, and will remain one. From Her may leave 2
bishops, 10 priests, and 200 lay people; but ROCA will remain one.
Whilst
the departed leaders of this schism will answer before Christ: what
weighty blessed reasons they had for this step. Similarly those involved
in their sin will answer before God for their immortal soul.
Now let us consider the “severity of punishment.” (I am going on the content of your letter).
Obviously
the condemned bishops expressed unchristian non-humility, from the loss
of 4 dioceses (by one, three at once, by the other, only one). Even so
no one banned bishops Andronik and Sofrony from serving, nor expelled
them from their rank, and so on. They were left with the right to serve
only in their own parish and monastery respectively. Neither of them
came to the Synod nor to the ecclesiastical court, which is in itself a
call from ones’ brother colleagues.
Furthermore, the opinion of
Metropolitan Agafangel in this situation: the punishment of.... leaving
them in their ministry. The opinion of the members of the Synod is
stricter: to ban, and to expel.
Mercy was victorious, it triumphs
over judgment, and the Synod decided to leave them in their ministry,
with a view to allow the peaceful resolution of further
misunderstandings. However it seems the leaders of the schism
specifically exacerbate the conflict.
I shall explain to you why I
and many others in ROCA, since the mid 90’s, supported, support, and
will support Metropolitan Agafangel, the Synod, and the Bishop’s
Council. The34rd apostolic canon defines:
“For bishops of
every nation it is befitting to know the senior among them, and
recognize him as the head, and do nothing exceeding their authority
without his consideration: for each to do just what concerns his own
diocese and to places belonging to it. However let the senior bishop not
do anything without the consideration of all the bishops. In this way
there will be unity of thought, and God will be glorified in the Lord in
the Holy Spirit, the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. “
In
this case, Metropolitan Agafangel is accused of.... intervening in
“another’s” diocese of Archbishops Andronik and Sofrony. What about the
insolent intervention of archbishops Andronik and Sofrony in the Diocese
of New York and Eastern-America? Has Archbishop Andronik so little to
do in the dioceses of Syracuse and St. Nicholas, Ottawa and North
America, Australia and New Zealand? Or bishop Sofrony, being in the USA,
having flown across the ocean, is deciding questions of the St.
Petersburg and North-Russian diocese?
Archbishops Sofrony and
Andronik sin against the 34th apostolic canon, because they do not
recognize the authority of the senior bishop, who they themselves have
elected.
Will the apostles really show favoritism at the Last
Judgment, and approve the actions of the leaders of the schism of
Andronik and Sofrony, contrary to their rules, those established by the
Holy Spirit? Then the holy apostles lied to the entire Orthodox Church
for two thousand years, if their rules mean nothing for everlasting
life. I think that the conscious violators of the holy God-inspired
Canons, hope in vain for this.
If the church rejects the apostolic canons, it is then not the Church of the Apostles.
Victoria,
if you sing the symbol of faith at each liturgy, then you know, that by
their actions, archbishops Andronik and Sofrony reject the church
dogma: “I believe … in the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church.”
Pay attention to the doctrine of the unity of the Church. With whom are
Christ and the apostles? With those who deliberately, persistently,
cynically violate the canons; or with those who observe the canons,
meekly bear their obedience, suffer slander, contempt, ridicule? I think
neither you, nor I, have in the past year undergone so much blasphemy
as our Metropolitan.
Victoria, you write that at least two of our
bishops may have possibly not been properly ordained and do not have
apostolic succession. But did you know that since 2008 the apostolic
succession of bishops Athanasius and John is from bishops Andronik and
Sofrony, who read all the required prayers at the consecration of
bishops at the cheirothesia of these individuals? Or do you question the
sacraments performed by bishops Andronik and Sofrony in 2008!
Victoria, blasphemy against the Holy Spirit shall not be forgiven to Andronik and Sofrony. Do not participate in their sin.
It
may seem strange to you, but I am one of the few, who believe that
there is grace in the Moscow Patriarchate as well! Since August 1995
however, I have never taken communion in the patriarchate, though I live
in Ukraine next to their churches, I was forced to independently
purchase premises, and arrange regular services. Happily the Lord has
granted our true pastors to serve 58 Divine Liturgies, in the 16 years
of existence of our house church.
Why did I come from the MP to the
ROCA? Due to violations by Metropolitan Sergius Stragorodsky, and
automatically without exception by all his successors, of the 30th
apostolic canon (If any bishop, or by a secular head,
having utilized them, and through them, will receive episcopal
authority in the Church, let him be deposed and excommunicated, and all
those in communication with him, including lay people). This prohibition
applies to all members of the Moscow Patriarchate, from the Patriarch
to the layman. That is what is said there: “all communicating”. All
these people are under judgment. All of them will be judged by Christ
and the apostles: why did they not follow the new martyrs to the
catacomb churches and to the cross, that which they took at the
beginning of their ministry as Christians, clergy and archpastors?
At
present, they are in canonical sin, and subject to judgment. Judgment
is inevitable. Their judgment will occur after their death, or if it be
pleasing to God - at the upcoming Council of the Russian Church, at
which Sergianism must be condemned as a pre-antichristian phenomenon of
apostasy, which is detestable to God. The grace of the Holy Spirit will
be to their condemnation. As the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Truth.
So
by your logic, your future schism is a direct road to the Moscow
Patriarchate, where most likely they are already awaiting you.
The postulate of grace is in solidarity with the postulate of truth.
Victoria, consider the words of Christ, said by Him to the Samaritan woman:
“You
do not know what we worship and we know what we worship, for salvation
is from the Jews. But the hour comes, and now is, when the true
worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the
Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is a Spirit and they that
worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. ” (John 4:22-24)
When you will worship God in the churches of the schismatics Andronik and Sofrony, will it truly be in Truth, or only in Spirit?
Or are there two Truths in Christ? Perhaps nevertheless someone is wrong?
Do
not be fooled. You know that Metropolitan Agafangel and the ROCOR Synod
is in the right. I think the next Council of Bishops will confirm this
as well: whilst a bunch of detached people from the Church, who have
organized a parasinagogue, are in the wrong. You write that not one of
them preaches heresy or non-traditional teaching. Is not sin against the
dogma of the unity of the Church not heresy for you? Or is violation of
Apostolic Canons a tradition that was established in the church
immediately after the Apostolic Council in the year of 51?
By definition, this group will not be canonical.
Is this ministry according to God’s will, being contrary to the canons of the apostles?
Victoria,
tell me the rules of canon law, which allows a few dioceses of the
Church to dissociate themselves from Church fellowship with the other
dioceses of the Church.
Victoria, tell me the norm of canon law,
according to which the role of the first bishop is reduced to the role
of chairman at the councils?
I think that it will be better for
Catholics and Sergianists at the Day of Judgment, than for these people,
who do not accept, rather banish their archbishop, do not listen to his
words, but listen to false voices of wolves in sheep’s clothing.
The ROCA is higher than the parasinagogue of bishops Andronik and Sofrony, like heaven is above hell.
In
a spiritual sense, the bishops, clergy and laity of the Moscow
Patriarchate will be higher than all of you who will follow the leaders
Andronik and Sofrony into schism. Because the blind patriarchal
sergianists follow their leaders, who have not yet been condemned by the
future Council of the Russian Church (the probability of which was
believed by the pillars of ROCOR); whilst you are following those who
have been condemned already! The Moscow Patriarchate leaders are under
judgment by the Canons and dogma of the Church; but this judgment is not
presently expressed individually to each sergianist, as almost none of
them were judged as bishops Andronik and Sofrony. Your sin is even
greater, by the fact that you have freedom of choice.
Victoria, who
is ridiculing who? On yourself and your brothers and sisters - can you
wear all the mud and humiliation, which is spewed out of your group of
activists? Who is ridiculing who? The victim here is the Church! She is
being mocked by bishops Andronik, Sofrony and associates. Do you know
that it all started by Metropolitan Agafangel interceding for the widow
Irene Dutikova, to whom was pointed the door? I personally corresponded
on this subject with V.Yarmolinets. He acknowledged that the Astoria
church council decided that 1 year after the death of Archpriest
Vsevolod, Irene Dutikova his widow, was to vacate the rectory apartment
(which will subsequently be rented out) and go to live with her
children. They do not see any other way to improve the financial
problems of the parish. It seems they have decided to sell the rectory
apartment. Since they do not hide on 'facebook' that the profitability
of this action would be counted in the hundreds of thousands of dollars (
pieces of silver). The spiritual atmosphere that has arisen in the
church parish in Astoria, after the death of Father Vsevolod, can be
clearly illustrated to you by the facebook page of the church council
member Vadim Yarmolynts. I will tell you the basic principle of this
page – not a word about God (except perhaps in swearing). Therefore I
consider his ecclesiastical prohibition [ his excommunication] a logical
consequence of his lack of proper spiritual Christian life.
Is not
the development of the image of the enemy (Satan) and the accompanying
hate - a method of the Soviets ? Have you not read in the Gospel, that
in the days of Christ many people left Him? Perhaps Christ should have
adjusted His doctrine, so that no one would leave Him?
Victoria, with whom are you?
At the beginning of creation, God separated light from darkness (Gen. 1.4). In Hebrew it sounds literally as follows:
“And God divided the sons of light and sons of darkness”.
God acted like a tyrant? That there are children of darkness - who is
guilty in your opinion? Perhaps it is not God, but rather the free will
of those who choose against Him?
“But there are some of
you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were
that believed not, and who should betray him. And he said, Therefore
said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto
him of my Father. From that time many of his disciples went back, and
walked no more with Him. Then Jesus said unto the twelve, Will ye also
go away? “. John 6.64-66.
“So the devils besought him, saying, If
thou cast us out, send us into the herd of swine. And he said unto them,
Go. And they were come out, they went into the herd of swine: and
behold, the whole herd of swine ran violently down a steep place into
the sea, and perished in the waters. And they that kept them fled, and
went their ways into the city, and told everything, and what was
befallen to the possessed of the devils. And, behold, the whole city
came out to meet Jesus; and when they saw him, they besought him that he
would depart out of their coasts”. Matthew 8. 31-34
Also the rich young man who loved Christ, parted from Christ, etc. etc.
There are numerous examples of disciples departing from the apostles.
How can Christ and the apostles be blamed?
However you dare to blame the Metropolitan - that he acted strictly, in relation to other members of the Church.
Do all those who have departed from the Church to their own place, have the gift of the Holy Spirit in the fear of God?
Victoria,
for the sake of the salvation of your own soul, do not participate in
the sin of the destruction of the Russian Orthodox Church.
You write that you have tried all options in avoiding a schism.
It is surprising - do you yourself believe in what you write? From the side it looks quite the opposite.
It
is not BA/BS, [Bishop Andronik/Bishop Sofrony] as you call them, that
travel to the Metropolitan for a resolution of the conflict, but on the
contrary, the Metropolitan travels to the USA, personally recalls all
his signatures from the prohibitions against Archbishop Andronik, but that one, [Bishop Andronik] …changes
his mind! Bishop Sofrony says to the Metropolitan that he needs to
consult with someone to remain in the One Church. Consult with whom? We
can only guess who those advisers (from the word soviet) are, and what
cash money and certificates are in their pockets. Money, in
denominations enough for the Archbishop of Northern Russia to leave the
diocese in the Russian Federation, and live for months in the Americas.
In addition, Archbishop Sofrony denounces himself, in confessing that he
does not have his own opinion, and is subject to the opinions of other
unknown persons. So this is your candidate for the future
false-metropolitan!
BA/BS, they preach heresy, because they teach
that the Church can divide. This is a heresy – one type of ecumenism. It
is simple. Will the church services of those who have been banned and
stripped of their rank, retain the sacrament of grace of the Holy
Spirit? The answer is obvious - no, of course.
The Lord said,
“Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound
in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven”
(Mt.18: 18).You have equated the services of the catacomb
new-martyrs with the services of justly punished proud people. It is a
comical situation, when residing in the USA amid western standard of
living, you equate yourself with people of the catacomb Church, who
“suffered
mocking and scourging, and even chains and imprisonment: They were
stoned, asunder, were tempted, died by the sword: they wandered about in
the mantle and goat skins , destitute, afflicted, tormented; those of
whom the world was not worthy, wandering in deserts and mountains, and
in dens and caves of the earth “(Hebrews 11. 36 -38).
This
is obviously similar to the spiritual state of delusion. The state of
delusion, first of all, gives its victim insolence. And from insolence
comes blasphemy and slander.
Examine the book of St. Ignatius
Brianchaninov “Ascetic Experiences” in two volumes and “Otechnik”. They
disclosed the spiritual state of BA / BS and those with them.
Peace to you.
Sergey Savchenko
English translation from the source
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