Lord Have Mercy!

[romiosini]

Lord Have Mercy!

[OrthodoxyOrDeath]

I pray that one day he will be moved to be baptized (after all, he was not baptized in a Lutheran church as he claims, nor could he be "baptized" in an ecumenist church) and join the Orthodox Church.

That would take an act of great humility and struggle, but it is possible. Not only that, but because of his position and recognition in the ecumenist church, it would be more of a message and example to the world than anyone could ever preach with the words of a lifetime. Of course he would loose everything including his pension.

And if this happened, I think I would fly out to meet him whereever he is. Then I could report back to you.

[romiosini]

Lord Have Mercy!

[Joe Zollars]

and I would strongly suggest that you meet Vladyka Gregory of ROAC, because in addition to whatever Tikhon has going for him, Vladyka Gregory has much more--namely the Orthodox Faith.

Nicholas Zollars

[Chrysostomos]

romiosini,

Bishop Tikhon is the Bishop who oversees our Diocese of the
West. I would concur that he is a traditionalist. I have met him
numerous times, he is the Bishop who tonsured me a reader.
I found it most interesting that the last time he was at our Church,
we used the "ROCOR" version of the hours for example. I am
thankful to God that he is our Bishop of our Church.

OOD,

I don't see what benefit would be derived from your going out
to see Bishop Tikhon if he did as you requested. Perhaps such
an act would be required by him to be able to get an audience
with you.... As to him doing a great act of humility and struggle,
I dunno... I have enough struggles and challenges with pride
myself, than having time to even fathom what things he needs
to do.

Nicholas,

What amazes me about you is that here you are, a
catechumen, who has never met Bishop Tikhon, saying
he doesn't have the Orthodox Faith. Explain to me, how
you, being a catechumen, not baptized and chrismated,
can define what the Orthodox Faith is, let alone live it?
Yet, you pass judgement on him?

I have never met Bishop Gregory and if our paths cross,
I would be more than happy to meet him and would surely
ask for his blessing and believe I would derive much from
a possible conversation with him.

With humble bow,

Rd. Chrysostomos

[OrthodoxyOrDeath]

Romiosini,

If what you are saying is true, those are encouraging signs.

Chrysostomos,

I would fly there just to see a great man (presuming of course that this happened).

[schetsmark]

As you know, most of the Hierarchs of the OCA of Metropolitan Herman, are converts from heretodox religions such as Archbishop Peter. A french convert to Orthodoxy, or Archbishop Dimitri or Bishop Seraphim (Bishop Seraphim knows a lot on Russian Monastism).

This is interesting. I was not aware that most of the Heirarchs of the OCA were converts. One question I have in general does being a convert make one less of a bishop than one born into ihe faith? Is the fact that most of heirarchs of OCA are converts a positive or negative sign about that juridiction. This is not to point any jabs, it is just a question.

Personnaly I think myself to be of the more traditionalist mind set. I am not in favor of ecumenism, I am in favor of the calendar of Julius Caesar, and understand the appropriate manner for the clergy in terms of dress, appearnace, and manners. I am a convert to Orthodoxy from Uniatism. I am a member of the OCA. I have found much of the posting of this forum of value. One area that is of some personal concern is that by being a member of the OCA, I am considered by some to be either a heretic, or not even Orthodox. I even gather that my soul is on the path to hell because I am a member of the OCA.

When I study the Gospels and read the Words of the Saviour, I believe them and it its my primary desire to live out these words and instructions from Him. I have understood that this is what a Christian is, one who out of faith accepts and believes the words of Jesus Christ and lives their life on Earth trying to live them out. Now, it seems that by being of the OCA, it would cancel such faith in Christ and His Words in the Gospels.

There are numerous aberrations mentioned by the OCA in this forum. I can not say they are true or false, but I have not seen them in my parish. In addition by my regular participation in Church life, participation in the Sacraments (especially regular confession and communion), teaching Sunday school to young adults and the life and writings of the Saints to adults, I find my spiritual strength and maturity growing. I can feel myself step by step being further transformed by both my faith and my involvement in my OCA parish.

If I am experiencing this, why would I leave? Also, if I am traditionalist minded, and leave, and others of the same mindset leave, how can the Church turn back to more traditionalist ways. It is encouraging for me to read what is said about Bishop Tikhon. It is also encouraging to me what goes on in my parish. I have no desire to "jump ship" I also see many of the accusations against the OCA generalizations of some incidents that may have happened. I Love Jesus Christ and I love His Church. They are the center piece of my life.