Dear Friends,
I'm just passing this on for your consideration....and amusement.
Archimandrite Michael
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FLASH WORD HAS JUST COME TO US from one priest and two laypersons who were in Russia in December of 2002 for the consecration to the episcopacy of Archbishop Gregory of Buena Vista, Colorado. They have declared that the consecration service was completely invalid. Not only did the main celebrant at the service have his hands upside-down when he laid them upon the candidate's head; he also, had his mitre on backwards!
This is, of course, in direct violation of the Sacred Canons, most especially of Canon 65c of the Council of Cannonopolis. It is essential that the right hand of the chief consecrator touch the head of the one being consecrated, with the left hand on top; this was reversed in the case of the consecration of Bishop Gregory, thus making the sacrament completely null and utterly void.
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Additionally, when the candidate kissed the Holy Gospel, it was unintentionally held upside down, thus causing yet another infraction in the canonical order for the consecration of one to the Holy Episcopate in The Orthodox Church.It therefore stands to reason that the man known as "Archbishop Gregory" of Buena Vista, Colorado is not properly consecrated, and it will be necessary for a delegation (at least three) of valid bishops to visit with him and re-consecrate him so that the letter of the law may be followed.
Since the heretofore-mentioned "Bishop" Gregory does not accept the proper and time-honored Orthodox Doctrine of Economy, wherein incomplete sacramental actions might be validated by the proper ecclesiastical superior on the basis of a Confession of Faith; it is not certain if the archbishop will submit to such validating action. It is also not yet known when the necessary three bishops will be able to meet with the invalid bishop in order to regularize his situation. During the interim it will be impossible for the afore-mentioned man to function as a bishop.
Also, because the said Gregory was not ordained as a priest by the Russian Orthodox Autonomous Church, but by another jurisdiction which is considered to be in error, there is a question as to the validity of his original ordination....and even Baptism since none of those sacraments were performed by ROAC. Bishop Gregory has, on several occasions, mentioned that the very group from which he claims his ordination is without grace, and therefore the circumstances of his ordination are presently being investigated. He was not re-baptized nor re-ordained upon entrance to ROAC.
Those clergymen whom Gregory ordained to the diaconate and priesthood and who have remained steadfast with the Holy Synod of Suzdal and Vladimir, have been accepted by Metropolitan Valentin on their Confession of Faith, and as such are proper priests and deacons under the authority of ROAC; all others are not.
It was hoped that Gregory of Buena Vista would understand the various intricacies of his situation, but such was not the case and so we must wait for his ecclesiastical situation to be rectified according to his understanding.
We are saddened by the current situation with Gregory of Buena Vista, but the impossibility of rectifying it in a proper and normal manner was not accepted by him, so we must wait,and that wait may be long.
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Most respectfully submitted,
Alexander K. Zeldzer
(aka: Al K.Seltzer or simply Alka-seltzer)nb: Very "tongue-in-cheek"I would say!
