Father Nikolai forwarded an article mentioning a specific act.
To date, all that has been written refers to a phrase/comment made by an individual with respect to the heresy of Ecumenism.
A while back, an individual wrote a comment, the wording escapes me, which in essence stated, “…Ecumenism is here, but where are the protestors and what can be done about it…?”
If that is inaccurate, I apologize, but the gist of his comment is ‘there’, and I thank him. He was most correct.
Just recently, an individual stated what is the exact definition of what one could use to describe the malaise of Ecumenical Orthodoxy, or “world orthodoxy” as it is now being touted. It is:
“ "Orthodoxy" with the world. “
How true.
Yes, Ecumenism is indeed here to stay...
...along with the “new” Ecumenism of “world orthodoxy”.
Can it be fought? Of course! Can it be eliminated? That depends on whether people “want” it eliminated. It also depends on individuals who see Ecumenism for “what” it is, and try their best to inform people and are vociferously opposed to it.
There is an OUTSTANDING article, written by an OCA priest, which goes into minute detail about Ecumenism. Everyone “should” read it….but will not.
The subject "action" does more to fuel the heresy of Ecumenism, than the blasphemous act of “allowing”, ostensibly out of “...a sign of extreme respect…” a Buddhist pagan to enter the Altar area of an Orthodox Church.
It is most assured that there are individuals, who may even be Orthodox, who are now saying, either to themselves or to others of their Orthodox friends, “Here’s another “fundamentalist” kook going off on his “super-Orthodox” kick again.
The ones who should be aghast at this action are the hierarchs, the clergy and the monastics.
Whether they are indeed aghast at this is their decision.
It usually ends up being simple lay folk (the “infantry” if you will, specifically the “points”) who take up the cause and say aught against these “actions”.
Some will say, “So what! After all, the Buddhist pagan did not serve a liturgy, did he?”
Not yet.
The plain and simple fact of this isolated (I hope, but doubt) matter is that “it” was accomplished.
And nothing has been said about it.
To date, the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia is in the late final phase of consummating its “union” with Moscow. This action, by an MP bishop, should raise a few hackles.
Did it?
Was this “act” of a Moscow hierarch allowing a pagan Buddhist to enter the Altar not a classic case of Ecumenism?
Moscow staunchly maintains that it is NOT involved in Ecumenism.
It also states that its involvement in Ecumenism and the WCC is “just” from an informative aspect as one “proselytizes” to the Protestant, Latin, Shaman, Pagan, Buddhist, and other heterodox “groups”.
One wonders if any of the martyrs would have taken their tormentors into the Altar areas of their respective Churches.
I wonder if Saint and New Martyr Metropolitan Joseph of Petrograd took the people who tormented him into the Altar of his Cathedral, a “...a sign of extreme respect…”!
That is highly unlikely.
Back to the article…and why would this “act” seemingly be of no consequence to the, say, average Orthodox individual?
Could it be that they did not see it? That is understandable as if one is not aware of an occurrence, then one cannot be “held accountable”.
Could it be that they saw it and just don’t want to “say anything” for fear of being ostracized by their clergy or hierarchs? That is also understandable (not really) and unfortunately probably the case in some circles.
Could it be that some saw it and state what was stated above, “So what!”
The fact is, and getting back to the comment made by the individual regarding Ecumenism, it makes no difference.
Ecumenism, by his very words and the actions, or lack thereof, of Orthodox Christians who would/should be incensed at this act, will say nothing.
“By silence is God betrayed”.
Ecumenism is here to stay.
A “search” for “Buddhist statues on an altar” produced some very interesting ‘finds’. One was:
Evidently, as was known but not specifically identified, was the fact that in 1986 in Assisi a statue of Buddha was placed on an “altar” where the Latin pope said some prayers…along with Shamans, Aborigines and a few assorted other “heterodox” representatives.
Is “that” not Ecumenism at its “finest/worst”?
What was said about that “act” and a subsequent one in 2002?
Nothing.
Sure there was a few outcries amongst the “super-Orthodox”, “fundamentalists”, but others? None, sadly to say said aught against this “act”.
In other words, the “attention span” phenomenon took over and "it" faded away.
At what point in time does one say,
“This is enough!”
Is it when the “leaders” of “world orthodoxy” (the latest Ecumenical buzz-word) are making statements of concession to the Latins, or is it when an MP bishop goes to Cuba and praises a Communist ruthless dictator and then has the gall to say that the church is in memory of the comrades who built it?
“If” the builders were indeed Orthodox, they were slaves; if they were not Orthodox, which they probably weren’t, they were plain old godless Communists.
I know of an Orthodox Church, in America, which was actually built on the blood of its Orthodox parishioners.
As they were building the foundation, they were being pelted with rocks thrown by “Christians”.
Their blood INDEED was sown as the foundation of that Church.
Consider:
Isn’t the heresy of Ecumenism supposed to be one of the three “sticking points” with respect to the “union” between the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia and Moscow?
Also:
From the article itself, it was stated…
“...As a sign of extreme respect…”!
Was this “act” just an “in the spirit” action?
Note:
ONLY BAPTIZED ORTHODOX CHRISTIANS are allowed in the Altar area.
And, they are allowed to enter ONLY if there is a SPECIFIC REASON for them to be there.
Heterodox, let alone, pagans are not even allowed in the Cliros!
But here we have a pagan Buddhist allowed to enter the Altar!
It appears that the heresy of Ecumenism is very much alive and well in Russia.
In Canada, a few years ago, a number of NON ORTHODOX policemen, PLUS A NON ORTHODOX FEMALE were actually taken in to the Altar of an Orthodox Cathedral in Canada.
A recent phrase comes to mind. It is:
“…forces that hinder rapprochement...”
So what!
These “forces”, I believe, are those individuals, be they hierarchs, clergy, monastics of laymen belonging to the Russian orthodox Church Outside of Russia, who are “questioning” the “union” with the MP.
Questioning from the standpoint that there are many "questionable" practices and "acts" perpetrated by the MP, which go "unnoticed". The "questioning" is NOT done in a disrespectful mode!Not at all.
Yet, these individuals are "labeled" as “…forces that hinder rapprochement...”...by their own people.
In other words, the "act" has been completed, and their voices are most definitely NOT needed nor will they be "heard". The bishops always have had the "final word". So be it.
How will the heresy of Ecumenism be dealt with?
One may say, “So what does that have to do with an Orthodox bishop taking a Buddhist pagan into the Altar area?”
Ecumenism and its allowance of Ecumenical actions with deference to...
“...a sign of extreme respect…”...
...is what “it” has to do with it.
The following are statements which show, in managerial verbiage, how this “act” and past others, and future others have been and will be “handled”.
“…And also that the ROC to this day participates in the ecumenical movement and is in the World Council of Churches.”
“The documents already adopted by us in the process of discussions can act against these arguments.”
And one wonders,
“How can the heresy of Ecumenism be dealt with?”
Indeed.
These “trial balloons” that the MP uses are accomplishing their sinister goal.
They are succinctly measuring the “reaction” of individuals with respect to the “and how far can we go with this Ecumenical nonsense before something is said?
For one minute…does anyone actually expect Moscow to 100% wash their hands of the filth of Ecumenism?
After all, the heresy of Ecumenism was anathematized by the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia…the VERY people that the MP needs to stay afloat.
These “…forces…” mentioned above, are absolutely NOTHING more or less than plain old (and young) sheep, laity who are AGAINST these Ecumenist incidents!
They are, from what is readily being made aware; the ONLY ones who are actually (without any success) trying to make these Ecumenistic occurrences, by Moscow, come to light.
They are NOT “…forces…”!
If they are indeed “…forces…” then they are “…forces…” confessing as best they can,
Orthodoxy.
John
