Mail
and Commentary from Our Readers……..January 1, 2001 through December 31, 2001
Mail from Our Readers is our latest
feature where we will post e-mail messages and excerpts from the cards and
letter that we receive. In all cases e-mail addresses and names will not be
published in order to protect the anonymity of the sender.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Has anyone else noticed that the banner (for lack of a more
accurate term) of St. Olha is missing from St. Andrew's Ukrainian Orthodox
Memorial Church in South Bound Brook? This banner has been in the same
spot (on the lady’s side) for years on end. After the Sobor, it has
mysteriously vanished. Could this be yet another indication of the eager
thrust towards Pan-Orthodoxy and the eradication of the Ukrainian Orthodox
Church as we know it?
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
E-mail Received 12-18-01
“What actually happened at St. Andrew’s is that our former
pastor, Fr. Zenchuch, took the Antimines one night up to Bound Brook about a
month before the end of his tenure at St. Andrews. The removal of the Antimines
occurred in October shortly after Fr. Zenchuch was advised of the Consistory
decision to change his assignment. This was all done in secret without
any announcement by Fr. Zenchuch or Archbishop Anthony and in direct violation
of the wishes of the Parish and the direct orders of the parish board.
Spitefulness was probably one of Fr. Zenchuch's worst character flaws.
Archbishop Anthony has indicated that we could have the old Antimines back for
historical purposes to display if we wished but the relics of the Saint have
undoubtedly been removed so that it would no longer be an Antimines and would
now be a mere cloth without any religious or historical significance. The board still has not decided what formal
cause of action to take with regards to the unauthorized removal of the
Antimines”.
Signed,
Name withheld by request
*******************************************************
E-mail
Received 11-30-01
"Our work is finished…" Sounds more
like Pilate washing his hands of the "messy matter" of what to do
with Christ! Once again the "sacrificial lamb" is
brought to the "cross" with lots to be cast for it's
"robe" , but who will wear the "crown"? Patriarch
Mystyslaw I, of Blessed Memory was correct or perhaps prophetic- The
Ukrainian Orthodox Church is the world's largest martyr church!"
Lord Have Mercy, we have lost our
"vision" for we were neither [" mindful of our intention
or our need."]
Please keep my identity anonymous should you choose
to print this.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++=
E-mail
Received 12-06-01
Keep
up the Fight.
This
site of yours is really wonderful in helping not only to save the Ukrainian
Church, but also to save Orthodoxy from the seven headed beast of SCOBA!
Every day these people are coming closer and closer to completely eliminating
all vestiges of ethnicity from the Orthodox landscape in America. More and more, English is replacing the old
world languages in many Orthodox parishes in a misguided attempt to save them
from extinction. In truth however, this forced
"Americanization" is making us, especially our youth, loose touch
with their historic Orthodox cultural roots from the old world, where they were
planted and thrived. I pray that all those Orthodox of every jurisdiction
who are interested in preserving their traditions and culture, wake up so we
can knock the stuffing out of this SCOBA scam! Time is running out though
so I wish you good luck from your end and please pray for me while I fight on
mine.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
E-mail Received 12-08-01
I
enjoy reading your web site on a weekly basis. It keeps me informed as to what
is happening in our church. Lately I noticed that updates to the site have been
posted every two weeks as compared to once per week. Has anything happened that
caused Save Our UOC to update less frequently? I am sure that this question is
of interest to many other readers.
Editorial Reply
Our
updates in the past have been on a weekly basis and occasionally 10-14
days. New postings are performed and
the duration the posting is maintained on our front page depends on the
importance of the information that we receive. What we lack is timely local
parish news. What is happening in the life of parishes on the west coast,
mid-west and on the east coast. What is
happening in YOUR parish. To help us, this information should be sent to us in
the form of an e-mail so that on our part editing and formatting is minimal. As
always if requested we will keep identities of the writer confidential.
Further,
as with any other volunteer organization we are hampered by lack of time from
the people that are willing to dedicate their time to this cause. You must
remember we are all volunteers working on these issues part time whereas the
bishops and their staff in Bound Brook are WELL PAID and are working against us
FULL time. If you look at the financial reports presented at the 16th
Sobor more that 50% of the UOCUSA budget of $1.5 million is for salaries. Can
we afford these high priced bishops and clergy, their expensive tax free villas,
Florida condos, cell phones and Chrysler Town Cars who took vows of
poverty? No wonder our Church
financially is near bankruptcy.
Thank
you for writing and PLEASE keep us informed as to what is happening in your own
parish or your neighboring parish.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
E-Mail Received September 26, 2001
If
you want to save our Ukrainian Orthodox Church, you had better do it quickly
before it explodes, implodes or just goes down the tubes. This may well be the last
Sobor we ever have as a Ukrainian Church.
Your
web site is very fine, informative and well-read. We wonder if the forthcoming
Church Sobor should take place at all. None of our church’s sensitive issues
and problems will be discussed. They will be placed on the back burner. Only
fluff will be discussed and the rest will be like the usual UOL(Ukrainian
Orthodox League) love-ins. Everything will be highly rehearsed and
orchestrated. Can we not postpone this Sobor and convene a general church
meeting to discuss the issues which divide us and which the bishops refuse to
discuss? If we don’t, our church is going to disappear and all we will have
left will be a cemetery and a catering business. Do we want that?
*******************************************************************
E-mail
Received September 5, 2001
Dear readers, check out this website:
http://www.fhc.org/holycrossmonastery/upload/en/cal1999/november1999.htm and see
Archbishop Vsevolod of Scopelos visiting a monastery under a new name, His
Grace Pancratios of Scopelos.
Is it "Vsevolod" for those naïve Ukrainians
, and "Pancratios" for the Greeks and Turks?
Sounds like an identity crisis for the hierarchs.
signed, A. Myskiw
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
While perusing the Ukrainian
Orthodox Calendar of 2000 on another unrelated matter I came across pictures of
the disaster that befell the UOCUSA center in So. Bound Brook, NJ in 1999. Pages 147 through 150 shows the extensive
flooding that occurred at St. Andrew’s Memorial Church complex with flood
waters reaching the steps of the small parish church hall, church buildings
across from Fisher House and church parking lot. (The church buildings across
from Fisher House I understand are still uninhabitable requiring extensive
repairs.)
The most disturbing picture
is the one showing flood waters reaching the steps of St. Andrew’s Memorial
Church.
Within the grand advertising
campaign (see center fold of Ukrainian Orthodox Word, July/August 2001, Vol.
2001 No. 6) currently under way to sell the crypts in the Holy Resurrection
Mausoleum UNDER St. Andrew’s Memorial Church no mention is made of the
possibility of a “wet repose” of a dearly beloved. The fact that the local
zoning board approved the location for mausoleum construction some 35-40 years
ago does not preclude mother nature from flooding the area.
If the basement area of St.
Andrew’s was too “inhospitable” for priceless museum artifacts what has made it
“hospitable” for burying our dearly beloved?
Can anyone in the UOCUSA
Consistory answer that question?
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
LETTER
TO THE EDITOR:
Politics (including Byzantine ones) makes strange bedfellows:
As the
Ecumenical Patriarchate strategize and plans his next move in what many contend
to be a "papal" expansion into the Orthodox World, check out
this website which perhaps substantiates what some contend is true: that
Patriarch Bartholomew is carving out the world into jurisdictions, preparing to
become the "Eastern" pope of one worldwide orthodox church.
The 1999 list of addresses for orthodox hierarchs, listed as the official
country for the jurisdictional headquarters of the UOC hierarchs, Archbishop Constantine and Vsevolod,
is ISRAEL ! Perhaps, Archbishop's Vsevolod's Yeshiva University education
helped him land this assignment for the Metropolitan and himself.
HMMMM....Interesting.?!
Only
Archbishop Antony is listed under NJ, USA with a jurisdiction of, get
this: Edmonton (!) When the one bishop-one city
"canonical" plan for generic orthodoxy goes into effect, is this the
city of the Western Eparchy that Archbishop Antony will take over. The
groundwork seems to be laid, as bizarre as this may sound to some.
Note
that the site's advisor is none other than Archbishop Nathaniel, outspoken
SCOBA member and close colleague of the UOC hierarchs. I should think he
is "in the know." Check it out and look at each respective country.
http://yomee.com/Religions/Orthodoxy/Directory/Institutions/Addresses.htm
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
An
Observation:
HIGH ANXIETY IN
HIEROPOLIS??
Reports
of uncertainty and grumbling are being voiced in Hieropolis with regard to the latest
initiatives by Patriarch Bartholomew in Ukraine. As the news media has reported
widely, a commission was created by Patriarch Bartholomew under the
chairmanship of Archbishop Vsevolod to facilitate the union of UOC-KP and UAOC.
Archbishop Vsevolod also has the task
of systematically reporting the progress of the commission directly to the Ecumenical Patriarch. While Metropolitan
Constantine appears to play some titular role in the initiative, the Bishop of
Hieropolis is left on the sidelines.
An
astute observation by an informed reader was published here on the 1st
of April regarding the role of Archbishop Vsevolod within the organizational
structure of UOC in USA. The current activity underscores the significance of
that judgment and leads to a host of unpleasant possibilities.
The
question arises as to why such an honor was assigned to Scopelos while
Hieropolis seems to be ignored? Does it not appear that after 40 years of
unquestionable loyalty and the successful subjugation of the UOC in USA to the
authority of Constantinople, after the death of Patriarch Mstyslav, Archbishop
Vsevolod is finally reaping his rewards? It certainly seems that way with the
pre-eminencies that Archbishop Vsevolod has been recently given. But where does
that leave Archbishop Antony of Hieropolis? Somewhere in the dust of Archbishop
Vsevolod’s Greek chariot? Is Archbishop Vsevolod being groomed for bigger and
better things? It certainly seems that way!
Does
anyone have any other opinion?
P.S. If you are wondering who
or what is Hieropolis, Scopelos and Eirenopolis they are non-existing
localities/cities, jurisdiction over which was bestowed upon Archbishop Antony,
Archbishop Vsevolod and Metropolitan Constantine by the Church of
Constantinople at the 1995 signing of the infamous Points of Agreement.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Received
mail June 8, 2001
Sir: Good post this time around and we await more. However,
the posts from the Indiana University site are from very poorly informed
people spewing Russian and OCA disinformation. The writers appear to be
slightly daft, need to take their medicine and stay off the web. These posts
are crazy, written by people who are apparently slightly deranged and who have
absolutely no idea about what they are speaking. Don’t dignify this trash with
a comment. It is all Russian propaganda and we have heard it all beforehand. It
is also slander and the Bishops could well take some legal action against
defaming their good name.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Received
e-mail June 2, 2001
To Whom It May Concern:
I am in agreement with you that the Ukrainian Orthodox Church
in the United States needs to be saved.
We have seen our membership drop from an estimated 450,000 faithful in
the early 1960's to an estimated 7,000 members today. This type of attrition within any organization is indicative of
serious problems, especially within the leadership.
However, the solution to the problem is not to build an
"ethnic enclave" within the United States. You may not want to believe this but Christ did not speak
Ukrainian! As a matter of fact,
Ukrainians are relative latecomers to Christianity. One of Christ's messages was that His Teachings were not just for
the Chosen People but for all.
Interestingly, Greeks were the first Gentiles brought to the
Church. The New Testament was revealed
to Greek writers.
The message of any Christian organization has to be to continue
to spread and protect the Teachings of Christ.
The true (Orthodox) Church does this by maintaining the Sacred
Traditions and the Teachings of Christ.
These Sacred Traditions were codified by the Seven Ecumenical
Councils during the first eight centuries
of Christianity. Ukraine (Kievan Rus)
did not adopt Christianity until the tenth century. The Ukrainian people have a no more special place in the history
of Christ's Church than any other nationality.
Only division can result from your group's current words and actions,
which is precisely the opposite of Christ's Message and I hope, your
intentions.
Having said all of this, you are, however, basically correct in
many of your assertions against the ruling Hierarchs of the UOCUSA Consistory. Among many other questionable actions
perpetrated by these Bishops, seeking civil redress against a parish is the
most grievous. These Bishops, having
chosen this civil action and subsequently disobeying a court order, stand in
direct contradiction to Christ's Teachings and Church Canon Law. These Bishops must be held accountable for
their actions.
With the Sobor rapidly approaching, perhaps your forum can be
used to open a constructive dialogue on this issue. We must, however, stay faithful to Christ's Commandment to love
one another in our pursuit of a solution.
If we have love for one another then all men will know we are Christ's
disciples
Yours in Christ,
M. Thomas Wolenski
Venetia, PA
MNW@adelphia.net
P.S. Truth does not need to hide behind the veil
of anonymity. Please feel free to use
my name and E-Mail address.
Editorial
Reply
Dear Mr. Wolenski,
First
of all thank you for your letter and for giving permission to use your
name. We are always interested in feedback,
and in establishing a discourse on all issues that affect the future of the
Ukrainian Orthodox Church.
An important point must
be made. We are not trying to build an
"ethnic enclave" in the US, however, we are trying to preserve the
unique traditions and heritage of our forefathers. We are aware that Our Savior did not speak Ukrainian and that His
words and teachings are for the whole world.
However, we are also aware that he did not speak Greek, or Russian, or Old Church Slavonic, or Bulgarian,
etc. And even though Ukrainians may be
relative latecomers to Christianity, that does not make us second class
citizens or "less worthy" from those that preceded, or those that
will follow us in accepting Christ's teachings. We are not seeking a "special place", we are seeking
treatment that is no different from other Churches.
We
do not believe that the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, either in Ukraine or in the
diaspora should be under the jurisdiction of the Ecumenical Patriarch. The truth of the matter is that no Orthodox
Church is under the jurisdiction of the Ecumenical Patriarch, with the
exception of the Greeks in the diaspora.
Even the Greek Orthodox Church in Greece is not under his jurisdiction. We believe that the Ukrainian Orthodox
Church is not inferior to any other Orthodox Church.
The
constitution of our Church clearly states that we are "autocephalous and
equal" to other Orthodox Churches.
We firmly believe that our bishop's placing the Church under the
jurisdiction of any Patriarch is against the constitution of our Church, and
therefore illegal. We never denied
their rights as individuals to place themselves under whatever jurisdiction
they choose, however, they have no right or authority to do this on behalf of
the whole Church.
You
make the interesting and correct observation that when our Bishops chose civil
court action, and then disobeyed a court order, they contradicted both Christ's
teachings and Cannon Law. We have found
that an interesting aspect of Cannon Law is how and when it is conveniently
invoked, and when it is conveniently ignored.
For example, cannon law forbids the clergy to control or manage assets
of the Church, yet when is this ever mentioned.
We agree with you that
the Bishops should be held accountable for dragging parishes to civil courts
and would support an effort to do so.
Unfortunately,
as you point out, the membership of our Church has dropped significantly. However, even thought it has decreased in
size, it has grown in worldly value mainly due to the income from the cemetery
in Bound Brook and from endowments from elderly, childless Ukrainians who have
always viewed their Church as the defender and repository of their
heritage. So the Church is now a target
for individuals who care little for the spiritual, but care a lot for the
worldly. And these individuals are not
interested in discourse or in addressing key issues. They only care for their own well being and power. And unfortunately, most of the members of
the Church are not interested.
We,
therefore, applaud your interest and concern.
We hope and pray that more members of our Church question, discuss, and
pursue why certain action were and continue to be taken. Thank you for writing.
Save
Our UOC Committee
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Received e-mail May 9, 2001
Being away from the Ukrainian Orthodox Church since I entered the Navy 26 years ago, I was stunned when I came across this web site. Since there has been no recent information, may I ask the status of this law suit and what has come about this “selling out” by the Ukrainian bishops (if it is still appropriate to call them Ukrainian bishops)?
Sincerely,
M.H.
Ed. Note…There
have been recent developments regarding the lawsuit. As soon as all the details
are known and firm we will provide an update.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Received e-mail May 1, 2001…………. “Just a little note”
I just wanted to add a perspective to some of the
information I found on this website. My
writing of this e-mail was due to the recent banner display in Bound Brook. First, I address the "public reply to
Mr. Taras Hundak". I refer to the
following..."In a recent court deposition filed by attorneys for
Archbishop Antony they finally admitted that they are NOT Bishops of the
UOC-USA but are Bishops of the Church of Constantinople." If the Bishops in Bound Brook are not members
of the UOC-USA, why then do they conduct services and or any other business
affairs at what is titled the Consistory of the UOC-USA? Do they have the right to lead the Ukrainian
Orthodox Church of the United States if they no longer consider themselves as
members of that church?
Second, I add the following
information, referring to the statement made by Metropolitan Constantine and
Archbishop Antony in the reply "Arrogance and the Abuse of Power".
The South Bound Brook "Bishops" make the following statement--
"I was not a bishop of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church headed by the late
Patriarch Mstyslav." Again, if
they do not consider themselves bishops of the current Ukrainian church in America
(Or Ukraine) or that one which was ESTABLISHED and RECOGNIZED under Patriarch
Mstyslav, how can they now expect to oversee a church that in all appearances
to THEM does not exist.
Third, I would like to make a personal comment-- With all
the fighting and political arguments going on within the current church, the
people suffer. I suffer from a lack of
spiritual guidance and fear that I may lose my faith entirely because I have
not seen any TRUE faith for a long time.
Growing up, I was able to combine my culture with my faith and I
remember feeling joy and hope. I want future generations to have this same
opportunity. Over the thousands of
years in which Orthodoxy has existed, cultures were an integral part. I simply do not see a way of separating the
two without ruing the entire religion.
I guess what I ask is --Will I ever again feel the hope and love I did
when I was younger? Or is the church of
my forefathers totally gone? It seems
to me that the political refuse that has been generated over the past several
years and hunger for money and power have blinded our eyes from remembering OUR
past and OUR faith. Although the fact that we as a people share being Ukrainian
and Orthodox may be repulsive to some, we cannot ignore it. In that past, our
FAITH and HERITAGE was shared and held together by our mothers, sisters,
brothers, grandmothers, fathers, and grandfathers. They carried this sense of hope with love and pride to
America. In the future, I HOPE that we
will continue what our ancestors began. We must come together for the preservation
of our future religious and cultural survival.
Lastly, if there is a way (hope?) for the Bound Brook
"Bishops" to recant their collaborations and alliance with
Constantinople, will they go about it? OR DO THEY NOT HAVE ENOUGH STRENGTH,
SPIRIT, AND FAITH TO CONTINUE THE FIGHT STARTED BY OUR FORBEARERS? I know that there have been a lot of wrongs
committed, but now is the TIME TO STAND FOR THE UKRAINIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH.
I am NOT ashamed of both parts of my heritage --
Ukrainian and Orthodox. I will continue
to fight for a UNIFIED INDEPENDENT UKRAINIAN ORTHODOX Church.
LET IT BE KNOWN TO ALL THAT A
YOUNGER GENERATION IS NOW TAKING UP THE FIGHT FOR AN INDEPENDENT UKRAINIAN
ORTHODOX CHURCH IN BOTH THE UNITED STATES AND UKRAINE!
--At this time I prefer to
remain anonymous, but be assured that in the future my name will be known to
all interested in preserving our faith and culture.
++++++++++++++++++++
The next day in
a follow up e-mail the author wrote: “Now that you know my family name, I am sure that
you are most likely aware of why it is so very important that I remain
non-existent. I am more afraid about what will be done to my family than what
will be done to me….Last nights letter was the result of a very proud Ukrainian
Orthodox and the only regret I have in writing it was what might happen to my
family…..”
********************************************************************************
Reply to Mark Pupillo on the Orthodox News Service webpage
Dear editor@orthodoxnews.com
I would like to respond to
Mark Pupillo's letter on "ethnic jurisdictionalism".
In simple terms the statement
that "ethnic jurisdictionalism is un-Orthodox" is a lot of hog wash.
We heard this before from Fr. Michael Conrad when he referred to
"hyper-nationalistic jingoism of the Ukrainian autocephalers". The
constant reiteration of "its un-canonical", "its philetism",
"its heresy",
"its blatantly heterodox" is getting to be
"blatantly" nauseating. The
truth of the matter is ethnic jurisdictions exist throughout the world and will
continue to exist. Whether Mark Pupillo or Fr. Michael Conrad likes it or not.
Mark Pupillos statement that
V. Didok "demonstrates a lack of understanding of Orthodox theology and
its canonical traditions" is completely off the mark. One need not be a
student of Orthodox theology or Orthodox cannon law to understand something
very basic. That is:
When I go to Sunday Services I
want to hear them in my native Ukrainian language, not in Greek or in Russian
or in English. And I am sure that a
Greek American would state that he or she would want to hear them in their
native Greek language.
When I go to Sunday Services I
want to hear a Ukrainian Patriarch commemorated in the prayers.
When I go to Sunday Services I
want our Church to be in communion with the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in
Ukraine.
When I go to Sunday Services I
want to go to a church which has "Ukrainian Orthodox" in its name not
simply "Orthodox" or "American Orthodox".
These are very simple concepts
that are easy to understand and that we are not forcing upon anyone. Why are we
considered "un-canonical", "heretics" and
"hyper-nationalistic jingoists" just because we want to worship in
our own language, preserve our traditions and culture, and be in communion with
our mother church in Ukraine? Every
other Orthodox Church in America is in communion with their mother Church. Even the presumed "totally American"
OCA is in communion with its mother Church in Russia.
What each one of us, even
students of theology and Orthodox cannons, must remember is that cannons are
man made laws. By wanting to be Ukrainian in our faith, worship and traditions
are we less Christian? Are we less Orthodox? I think not.
"Un-canonical" maybe according to Mr. Pupillo, but man made cannons
are subject to convenient interpretations and can be changed. Only God's laws
are inviolate.
Mark Pupillo writes…"The
question is not if, but When will the Church in America be formed into a single
canonical jurisdiction!" . The
real answer is "You can unite all the "canonical" jurisdiction
you want in America, but there will always be independent Greek, Ukrainian,
Bulgarian, Russian, etc churches in America".
Ted Baker
***********************
Reply to Mr. Nicholas E. Denysenko
on the Orthodox News Service webpage
Editor:
First of all let me complement you on your site and
for printing articles and letters describing various viewpoints. Most of our church publications ignore and /
or vilify differing viewpoints, so your web-site serves as an excellent and
essential point of discussion.
I am of Ukrainian decent and have been following the
reports and letters regarding the situation of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church
with a great deal of interest. The
recent letter submitted by Mr. Denysenko was particularly revealing, and in my
opinion illogical. Mr. Denysenko spent
considerable time admonishing the views expressed by Mr. Nahnybida, and then
condemned the “worship of national ideologies instead of our crucified Savior”. I guess that according to Mr. Denysenko all
of the ethnic Orthodox Churches in the US have it all wrong, and unless they
are willing to become part of the OCA, they are ignoring the teachings of
Christ.
Mr. Denysenko seems to have a great deal of difficulty
dealing with the desire of some Orthodox, specifically Ukrainians, to want an
independent church or to be united with their mother church in their native
land. Yet he does not seem to have any
difficulty dealing with the fact that the OCA was established by the Moscow
Patriarch and continues to have strong ties with this mother church. I guess Russian ethnicity is OK. I have no problem with Mr. Denysenko
feeling this way, and am glad he has found a church where he can escape the
horrors of Ukrainian patriotism.
However, he should understand that not everyone believes that all US
Orthodox believers should strive for “one American Orthodox Church”. This does not make us less Christian than
the members of the OCA.
The UOC-USA was established on certain principles,
independence being foremost. The
Ukrainians that joined this church, nurtured, built, and enriched it, because
it was a national church that preserved their native traditions. On the brink of complete annihilation by the
Russians, the hierarchy of the UOC was forced to flee. Since its establishment in the US, the
UOC-USA represented a Church and a people that have fought for centuries
against foreign oppressors who tried to obliterate their national
identity. As a student of history, Mr.
Denysenko should agree that the Russian Orthodox Church was a willingly and
enthusiastically participant in this effort.
Much of the leadership and clergy of the UOC-USA were patriots and
former freedom-fighters dedicated to preserving the Ukrainian identity. This is now derided as “nationalism” in the
worst sense. These were people who
defended their country and their church, not only with prayers, but with arms
and sometimes their lives. The UOC
served as the torch-bearer for the Ukrainian cause and for freedom. Patriots and national heros were honored and
commemorated. Children were taught in
the Church schools, not only to preserve the cultural heritage, but with the
realization that preserving the language was essential to insure the survival
of the UOC for future generations.
All Orthodox Churches throughout the world have an
ethnic identity – they are Greek Orthodox, Russian Orthodox, Serbian Orthodox,
Bulgarian Orthodox, etc., the national designation is part of their
definition. There is a reason there is
a Russian Orthodox Church in Athens where there is a plethora of Greek Orthodox
Churches, why there is a Russian Orthodox Church in Romania, Jerusalem,
etc. Although all celebrate the same
Liturgy, each nationality has imparted unique characteristics that make their
worship a personal and rich experience for that ethic group. Does this mean that all of these churches
worship “national ideologies instead of Christ”, and is Mr. Denysenko going to
advocate creating a “Orthodox Church of the World” modeled after the OCA.
I was amazed by Mr. Denysenko’s statement that we
must obey our bishops, or else we are bad Christians. History has shown that bishops, Orthodox and others, are not
infallible. I believe that one of the
basic differences between us and the Catholics is that they believe and teach
that their chief bishop, the Pope, in infallible. The point is that bishops are human, not divine, and all humans
are capable of making mistakes. This
whole reasoning leads to the concept of “pay, pray, and obey”, which I believe
is foreign to Orthodox tradition.
Mr. Denysenko should heed the words of an
extraordinary candid Saint:
"Now of the
lion one need have no fear, the leopard is a gentle creature, and even the snake
you are terrified by is likely to turn in flight; but there is one thing you
must beware of, I assure you. Bad Bishops. Don't be over-awed by the dignity of
the throne. All have dignity, yes; but not all have the Grace. Discard the
outer clothing; watch for the wolf. Words do not convince me; I must have
deeds." - St. Gregory Nazianzus
One last point: Mr. Denysenko repeats the Moscow
snippet that Patriarch Filaret has a wife and children and that is why he was
defrocked. No mentioned of a family is
made in the document published by the Blessed Bishops Council of the Russian
Orthodox Church. Patriarch Filaret was
defrocked for one reason – he dared to defy Moscow. It is interesting and telling that Patriarch Filaret’s family was
“discovered” only when he started opposing Moscow’s dominance of the Ukrainian
Church. I do not believe that there is
any family and condemn the standard Russian tactic of personal destruction of
people that oppose them. Shame on Mr.
Denysenko for repeating this snippet.
On this same subject, there is no way Patriarch Mstyslav would uphold or
recognize any defrocking or sanction by Moscow. He knew too well their tactics, for according to Professor
Meyerdorff Patriarch Mstyslav himself was also sanctioned by the Russian Church.
++++++++++++++++++++++++
Sir:
I have been a reader of the
Ukrainian Orthodox Word for many years. In reading the official publication of
the UOC-USA I pay particular attention to not only what is written but also
what is not written. My question has to do with the March 2001 issue which
outlines the program for St. Thomas weekend at St. Andrews Memorial Church, So.
Bound Brook, NJ.
According to the schedule on
Saturday April 21 a procession will take place to bless the newly installed
entrance gates, a gift donation of Mrs. Rose Wawriv, to the Memorial Church
grounds. Over one year ago new glass entrance doors to St. Andrews Memorial
Church were installed under protest from many of the faithful. Your web page
publishes information about these doors and a petition of protest with over 260
signatures was delivered to Archbishop Antony. The new church doors, which many
of the faithful equated to “Supermarket Doors”, were not blessed at that time.
The question is why? Are doors to a Memorial Church less worthy then the gates
to the Memorial Church complex? Or will Archbishop Antony heed the voices of
the many protesters and the “Supermarket Doors” will be removed and St. Andrews
Memorial Church will be restored to its previous magnificent splendor?
I don’t understand why
the big deal with the gates but nothing at all with St. Andrews Memorial Church
doors?
Name withheld upon
request.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Reflecting
upon the events that have transpired in the life of our Church for the past 5-6
years I am at a loss to describe what exactly has happened. Why are there so
much turmoil, unrest and agitation in our religious lives that started to
manifest itself since the end of 1994? The Soviet Union collapsed and Ukraine
has been free since 1990. We have had a large influx of Ukrainian immigrants to
the US. The economy has been spectacular for the past 8-10 years. In general
life has been good. But yet many feel uneasy, dejected, troubled and betrayed.
Some have taken to isolate themselves while others have taken a more militant
attitude and have become vocal activists. But the main theme, the main thread
that seems to wind its way through all conversations and discussions is “Where
is our Church headed and why?”
It
is an undeniable and irrefutable fact that for many of us, our personal lives
are inextricably tied to the fate of our church. We are Ukrainians or Americans
of Ukrainian decent but we are also Christians be it Orthodox or Catholic. And
for many of us our lives are intertwined in our church and community
activities. For many of us there is no separation of our national identity from
our religious lives. And yet we are having serious problems to the point that
people are starting to question such stalwart icons of community life as the
clergy. Why? Is it because we see injustice, lies and deceit from those same
icons that we once revered? Or is it because we see naked “arrogance” from men
who profess piety?
We
have seen this naked arrogance time and time again. As students in grade
schools and high schools we studied world history and read about dictators exhibiting
this characteristic. More recently we have seen this phenomenon in presidents
such as Lyndon Johnson, Richard Nixon and Bill Clinton. But it was difficult to
comprehend the extent of this debilitating character fault because we are not
directly involved or directly affected. Only when it hits close to home can we
fully appreciate and fully understand the meaning of “arrogance of power”.
Arrogance
of power is not restricted to dictators, presidents, kings or heads of
states. Popes, Patriarchs, Metropolitans,
Bishops and other clergy are also not immune to this disease. But its full
impact on our lives can only be felt when we witness this “disease” first hand,
up close and how it affects our daily lives.
Examples:
Archbishop
Antony “I would rather go to jail then turn over documents” ............……………. Arrogance of Power?
Archbishop
Antony “The parishioners of Holy Ascension stole the antimines from the
altar”.....Arrogance of Power?
Archbishop
Antony disregarding the petition of 262 faithful protesting the installation of
“Supermarket
doors” at St. Andrews Memorial Church
.......................................……………Arrogance
of Power?
Intimidation
of parish priests “I cannot speak freely for I have to protect my pension”.……….
Arrogance of Power?
Metropolitan
Constantine “It doesn’t matter what the Sobor decides”………………………….Arrogance of Power?
Archbishop
Antony “Remove two members of the Board
of St. Andrews Brotherhood” …….Arrogance of Power?
Archbishop
Antony supporting the lockout of parishioners and initiation of a lawsuit at
St.
Michaels, Uniondale, NY…………………………………………………………………… Arrogance
of Power?
An
employee of the Consistory “I cannot speak, please understand as to who signs
my check” ..Arrogance of Power?
Metropolitan
Constantine, Archbishop Antony……..
I
was not a bishop of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church headed by the late Patriarch
Mstyslav……Arrogance of Power?
Disregarding
the vehement protests by the faithful, continuing the desecration of a shrine
by
selling
burial crypts in St. Andrews Memorial Church to anyone who has the cash………………Arrogance of Power?
Denying the oath of office to two elected members of St.
Andrews Brotherhood …………… Arrogance of
Power?
Archbishop
Antony…"Holy Ascension, as a local parish within the hierarchial
organization,
holds
all its property in implied trust for superior ecclesiastical
authority”………………………..Arrogance of Power?
Metropolitan
Constantine…………... placed a member of the Board of Trustees,
Mr.
William Turchyn, “on Epitimia, a form of spiritual suspension “ as punishment
for
attending
a meeting of a Kyiv Patriarchate parish…………………………………………………Arrogance of
Power?
All
of the above have been perpetrated by hierarchs of UOC-USA under the guise of “protecting
our Church”. But where was this “protection” when the infamous Points of
Agreements were signed, in secret, “at the bishops level behind closed doors”
as confirmed by Dr. Anatolyj Lysyj? Where was this “protection” when
Archimandrite Andrij Partykevich expressed his “concerns” to Metropolitan
Constantine on May 22, 1995 stating… “If these agreements were indeed
“finalized” and “signed” in December of 1994, why were the members of the
Metropolitan Council not informed about them?…. why then were the members of
the Metropolitan Council kept in the dark?….”
If
the above is not arrogance and abuse of power then what is it? Have we not
learned from past history that arrogance and abuse of power corrupts? Have we
not seen the downfall of all those mighty kings, heads of state and presidents
who abused their power?
But
the situation in our religious life, in our UOC-USA is different. It is
different because we are not talking about kings, presidents or lay leaders. We
are talking about our church leaders, our clergy, our bishops. We are talking
about men who took vows to represent on this earth, through their faith, our
Lord Jesus Christ. We are talking about men whose sole mission in life is to
save souls and teach by example. Could this be the reason we are so
disillusioned? That our “icons” of faith, humility and brotherly love are
nothing more then ambitious, power hungry and “recognition-obsessed” just as we
are? That our clergy does not “practice” what they “preach”?
But
if anything can be learned from history it is that “this too shall pass”. But
the unknown is to what depths will our religious leaders descend and, in the
wake of their whirlpool, destroy that which the faithful have built and
venerated through the centuries? That is the real question.
ЗУХВАЛЬСТВО
І
ЗЛОВЖИВАННЯ
АВТОРИТЕТУ
Навіть
уважний
перегляд
подій, що
сталися в
нашій Церкві
на прот’язі
5-6 років, не дає
ясної
відповіді на
те, що в ній
сталося. Чому
такий
неспокій і
конфлікти в
нашому
релігійному
житті, який
почався з 1994-го
року? Розпався
Совєтський
Союз і з
ласки Божої
Україна нарешті
здобула
незалежність.
Наша українська
громада
збільшується
завдяки
новим емігрантам
з України.
Останні 10
років відзначилися
безприкладним
зростом
американської
економіки.
Рівень
нашого
життя, назагал,
став вищим.
Але багато з
нас відчувають
неспокій,
опанований
почуттям
зради. В наслідок
цього дехто
відійшов від
церковного
життя, інші
стали
активними,
непримиримими
і
нетолерантними
церковними
діячами. Але
головним
мотивом всіх
наших розмов
і дискусій
залишається
питання: “Куди
прямує наша
Церква і
чому?”
Для
багатьох з
нас
лишається
істиною, що
наше
особисте
життя є тісно
пов’язане з
долею нашої
Церкви. Ми є
українці або
американці українського
походження, але
ми є також
християнами,
православними
або
католиками. У
багатьох з
нас наше
життя є
переплетене
з церковною і
громадською
діяльністю. У
багатьох з
нас наше
церковне переконання
не можна
відділіти
від національної
індентичности.
Але ми маємо
сумніви і починаємо
становити
питання
проти таких традиційних
стовпів
нашої
громади, як
священиків.
Чому ? Тому що
бачимо
неправду,
обман і
облуду тих,
на яких ми
молимся? А
може тому, що
ми є свідками
неприхованого
зухвальства
тих, які
видають себе
за побожних?
Ми
знову і знову
були
свідками
такого неприхованого
зухвальства.
Світова
історія навчила
нас, що
зухвалість
завжди була
видатною
рисою
диктаторів.
Недавно ми
мали досвід з
зухвальством
Линдона
Джонсона,
Ричард
Ніксона і
Біла
Клинтона. Але
нам було важко
зрозуміти цю
ваду в
характері
тому що ми не
були
безпосередньо
замішані.
Тільки тепер,
коли ми
зустрілися з
таким
зухвальством
безпосередньо
ми повністю
зрозуміли
термін зухвальствa
з позиції
влади.
Зловживання
владою не
відноситься
тільки до
диктаторів,
президентів,
королів чи голів
держав.
Римські Папи,
Патріархи,
Митрополити,
єпископи і
священики
також хворіють
цією
хворобою. Але
безпосередньо
ми відчуваємо
повний осяг
цієї хвороби
тільки тоді,
коли ми стали
її жертвами.
Переконатися
в
зухвальстві
нашої
церковної
верхівки дуже
легко, і
прикладів
дуже багато:
1)Коли
Архиєпископ
Антоній
заявляє
через свого
адвоката:
“Я
краще піду до
в’язниці, як
передам ці
документи”..................
чи не є це
зразком
зухвальства?
2)Коли
Архиєпископ
Антоній
заявляє:
“Парафіяни
церкви
Святого
Вознесіння
викрали
Антимінс з
Вівтаря!” ..........чи
не є це
зухвальство?
3)Залякування
священиків
втратою
пенсії, якщо
вони не
погоджуються
з ним
.....зразком
адміністративного
зухвальства?
4)Чи не є
заява Митрополита
Константина:
“Постанови
Собору
нічого не
означають”
................................зразком
зухвальства?
5)Чи
не є
домагання
звільнення
двох членів з
Управи
братсва
Святого
Андрія в
Бавнд Бруці
єпископом
Антонієм
знову ж таки
прикладом
зловживання
своїм
становищем?
6)Послухаймо
працівників
Консисторії:
“Я не
можу
говорити
вільно, бо Ви
ж знаєте, хто
підписує мій
чек”.
Прикладів
зухвальної
поведінки не
вистачає.
7)А чого
варта
офіційна
судова заява
Митрополита
Константина
і
Архиєпископа
Антонія, що: “Я не був
єпископом
Української
Православної
Церкви, яку
очолював
покійний
Патріарх
Мстислав”?
8)Ігнорування
зауваги
протестів
вірних щодо
наміру
продажі
криптів під
Церквою-Пам’ятника
тим, хто
заплатить
більше,
зовсім як на
ярмарці... чи
це не є
зразком
зухвальства?
9)Відмовлення
дати присягу
нововибраній
Управі
Братства
Святого
Андрія.......чи
це не є
зразком
адміністративного
зухвальства?
10)Нарушення прав власності парафій, бо