I am nothing.

[TomS]

Take care and drink some coffee why dontcha, lol

I have had 2 cups - maybe that's part of my problem!

[Alexis in Alaska]

Glory to Jesus Christ!

Lord, Bless!

Or maybe have a drink of the Cool-Aide! lol...

I'm work'n on a pot and a half and 7 rolly cigs.

Hospodi Pomilui!

Lord, Bless!

In Christ God,

Alexei

[Symeon]

I am nothing.

[Austin Doc]

Dear Alexi,

If the money belonged to V. Valentine, why is it 'illegal"? Is it immoral to possess and carry your own money? The answer is no; however, the increasinly liberal American govt has created such "laws" that make it a felony to carry one's own money if it greater than a certain amount. I dont' know that specific amount, but if the police stop you and if they find you with...say $10,000 of your own dollars, they can confiscate it and not return it. This stupid 'law" is from the unsuccessful "War against Drugs". Most law abiding citizens don't even know about this law! I would expect Met. Valentine to know about it even less.

On the other hand, I would like to bring up a point I've thought about. How would the customs personal even know that V. Valentine had money stashed in his pants or undergarments? It is not like there are "money sniffing " dogs for that purpose. Could there have been a tip off? If so, by whom?...and if so, that is evil.

Anyway, I think Fr. John Claypools useage of this excuse to leave the Synod is premature. My parents came to the US from Germany and the Philippines. Both of them had weird behaviors like sewing money on the inside of their clothing. I would think this is a kind of an "old world" mentality.

I would also caution you in your unflinching zeal to defend Bp. Gregory simply because he was 'kind" to you. Yes, he can be kind. I've know of his kindness since he baptized me in 1992. I know of two other Orthodox hieromonks that can be kind, and both of them created cults around themselves and exerted unOrthodox control over people. (One of them is a fromer ROCOR monastery near Austin.)
Whether Bp. Gregory intends it or not, there is definitely a "cult" surrounding him. I have experienced it from some of his followers, and some of what I have seen is outright scary, and unChristian! (If you want me to share my particular experiences, I would gladly share this with you or anyone privately.) Because of this I would seriously suggest that you reconsider, or at least refrain from your harsh criticisms of the people who have posted here who are sharing their tramas of being under Dormition Skete. Our Mission in Austin, TX was the first American ROAC group along with Rd. Dionysi's. We were also the first to leave. We had specific reasons for doing so. You seem to think that no one has any good points, yet you apparently don't know about the traumas and discord Bp. Gregory created when he was in the Kiousite synod, or in any other circumstance. Nor, does it seem to matter to you that he uncanonically left his Lamian bishop to join ROAC. Have you ever stopped to consider why? Bp. Niphon did not preach heresy or schism.

Unfortunately, this kind of discussion makes for argument, but at some point it is valuable for the sake of souls to make some things open. In too many cases I stood back and kept quiet and watched others get hurt. I think it is good that Matushka Christina is speaking out...finally. and you'll probably see more.

Nectarios

[Грешник]

Alexei,

Next time you talk to Father John ask him if he is in he habit of doing this wilth confesional material. I would like to know if the conversations that we had were recorded as well.

Outside of the fact that along with all the "state/federal crimes" that Father John seems to have knowledge of I wonder if he knows that it is an offense as well to tape record conversations without the knowledge of the other party.

I guess though that this no longer matters as when he seperates himself formally from the church he will have no authority to hear confessions as he might be stripped of his rank by the Synod for leaving the Synod illegally and uncannonically.

You see Alexei, the tower of salt will fall.

[OrthodoxyOrDeath]

Fr. John said:

Everything in the ANSWER is backed up by hard work and evidence.

I have already shown, as it is well beyond any dispute, that his portrait of Gregory's history is either the result of simply taking Gregory's word for it, purposefully misleading and deceitful, or done ineptly.

In any case, it shows that his ANSWER is not "backed up by hard work and evidence."

[Austin Doc]

Fr. John's "history" of Bp. Gregory's past is biased. I have seen this mentality in a few of Bp. gregory's followers. They are usually converts and are attracted by his fundamentalism, ie, "strictness" ...or at least his version of strictness and where Grace resides, and they have very little rational ability to scrutinize facts. Any rational discussion that points out bp. Gregory's "bad" behaviors automatically evoke a comment that you are "demonizing" him. These "followers" have no ability to step back and actually see the truth. They are blind follewers and simply spout back whatever Bp. Gregory taught them.

Personally, I am sadden by all of this. I had a great fondness for Bp. Gregroy, Fr. George, and Dormition, yet over the years I have watched some very unChristian comments and behaviors coming from them -- who as Schema monks should know better. When I asked them to apologize for some of their rude and provocative comments on some of the Orthodox Lists, all I got back was justifications. So, it became clear that these are not men to receive guidance from.

The problem ultimately comes from lack of obedience on the part of Bp. Gregory throughout his entire monastic career -- at least since leaving HTM, and his negative characterizations of other people and groups unfortunatly attracts supple minds, who in turn become just like him.

It makes me loath to say these things, because in fact a part of me hurts to even write this, because it is in gratitude that I did find, then, Fr. Gregory who baptized me, and later my wife. Yet, I've seen too much destruction and chaos surrounding him. I've experienced the spiritually hurtful coersions from his cult followers.

People reading this can doubt me, but I've experienced it with a former Kiousite priest and former ROCOR monastery. It is the same cultic mind control going on, and the followers instantly attack you if you make any seemingly "negative" observation about their "elder".

So, I'm sharing this in hope that others who are thinking about being under obedience to Bp. Gregory and Dormition Skete, or who are still currently in ROAC under him, will wake up. Look honestly at the whole picture. Talk in private to those of us who have written in this forum. We are not all in the same jurisdicitions: ROAC, Kiousite, Matthewite...and there is nothing for us to gain. It is not like we are trying to sway people into our little jurisdiction.

in Christ,
Nectarios