The circumstances which lead a spiritual father to deal with a particular person or group of persons is difficult to ascertain by those not directly involved. In our fallen condition, it is always easier to view others' actions in a negative, rather than a positive light.
The Synod of the Russian Orthodox Autonomous Church is guided first by the precepts of our Lord, "Forgive, and ye shall be forgiven", "Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy", and other similar sentiments.
In attempting to effect the salvation of Father Gregory Lourye, as well as all those following him, our Church has striven to bring Father Gregory to a voluntary renunciation of his errors, rather than a forced repentance from the Bishops. Unfortunately, Father Gregory has not followed the path of humility and obedience.
Although canonically our Synod could have handed down a ruling of deposition, our Metropolitan refrained from doing so, in the hope that Father Gregory might later repent.
It is necessary to keep in mind that according to the canons, once a person has been deposed, contrary to the common practice of most orthodox groups, he cannot be reinstated as a clergyman again, should he repent. Therefore, our Church is exercising her right to extend mercy to Father Gregory by not handing down the irrevocable sentence of deposition.
This is not "dumping" Father Gregory on another jurisdiction; we are simply protecting the flock entrusted to us from the heresies Father Gregory continues to propagate. Should Father Gregory find some Orthodox group to receive him, perhaps he will then reconsider his ideas.
The fact that Father Gregory continues to label himself as part of ROAC is as much within the control of Metropolitan Valentine as is the ROCA's progression towards union with the Moscow Patriarchate. Our Church has no political apperatus with which to silence its detractors; how much less one who proclaims the ROAC as the true Russian Church on the internet.
The fact that the official ROAC web site has of today not been changed to reflect Father Gregory's status does not mean that Fr. Gregory is secretly part of our Church. Those who choose to be suspicious will be so in the face of any evidence, or lack thereof.
The internet is not the living entity of the Church. Our Church uses the internet as a means to propagate the truth of Orthodoxy, not as an organic part of the life of our faithful. Unlike those in the west, the vast majority of our faithful in Russia do not have computers, do not even use them. Rather, they dedicate their lives to fulfilling the commandments of Christ. Therefore, the internet is not a viable means of communication for our Church in Russia. Consequently, we who use the internet should not depend upon it to ascertain the day to day affairs of our Church's spiritual center in Suzdal.
This is how I see this matter.
In Christ,
George, hegumen