Orthodox in michigan wrote:Also does anyone know if when this statement was made and if the goc mathew had known or joined to the church abroad before or after this .
The GOC joined the ROCOR in 1971 asking for a copy of their statement of faith, but none was provided them. In spite of the lack of a statement of faith, the GOC remained in communion with the ROCOR trusting in their good faith, and believing that Met. Philaret of New York was a holy man of God.
Later on in 1976, about five years later, when the truth about ROCOR's Anthony of Geneva's intercommunion with the heterodox was made known, and when several priests and parishes had left Anthony to join the GOC, then the GOC left the ROCOR and wrote an encyclical condemning Ecumenism within the ROCOR.
What is interesting is that HOCNA probably knew about this encyclical but waited until after Elder Panteleimon was charged with the sexual abuse of his monks and also waited until after the death of Met. Philaret of New York before denouncing ROCOR for Ecumenism in 1986. That was ten years after the GOC had already condemned the ROCOR of Ecumenism!
This is why HOCNA has been accused of using smokescreens. Perhaps not so strange is that HOCNA recognizes Met. Philaret of New York as a saint.