On October 29, 2005, ROCOR Protopresbyter Father Alexander
Lebedeff, challanged the Anti MP/ROCOR Unionists, on by his post to
Orthodox-Tradition Discussion Group known as "Paradosis" at
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/orthodox-tradition, with the following:
"In the midst of accusations that some people are "rewriting the
history of the Church Abroad"--the following text from the
official publication of the Synod of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox
Church Outside of Russia -- "Church Life," edited by (at that time)
Protopresbyter George Grabbe (issue of April-June, 1966), should
be read and noted carefully:
"THE RUSSIAN CHURCH ABROAD
"What shall we say about the canonical status of the Russian
Church Abroad?
"First of all, that she may exist only on condition of horrible
persecution of the Russian Church in the U.S.S.R.
on the part of militant atheists, who have set themselves
the aim of totally annihilating the Church and striving by all
means to achieve this.
"Under normal conditions of life, we repeat once again, An
independent state of existence of a part of the Russian Church
outside the borders of Russia would be impossible and
unthinkable. But even now there is a limit to this (i.e.
independent) existence - the cessation of persecutions of the
Church and her freedom in Russia.
"From this we conclude, that the existence of the Russian
Church Abroad is a temporary phenomenon, conditional upon
persecutions of the Russian Church. If you like, an abnormal
condition. " (Page 61)
Fr. Alexander Lebedeff then concluded his challange with:
"[All of the emphasis in the passage quoted is from the original,
where the words marked between double asterisks appear in boldface
type].
"Those who have ears, let them hear."
"I would appreciate hearing substantive comments on this text."
"With the Love of Christ,
"Prot. Alexander Lebedeff"
I, ROAC Subdeacon Nathaniel Kapner, in no wise quailing before
Fr. Alexander Lebedeff's challenge, and having 'stripped myself
for the contest, 'hastened to reply thus:
"My dear Fr Alexander, perhaps you are unaware of the divers and
sundry stratagems of him who at will 'transforms himself into an angel of light?'
"But we who are Anti-MP/ROCOR unia are not ignorant of Satan and
his false apostles' devices. You see Fr Alexander the devil never
sleeps and sometimes like a roaring lion, as in the first phase of
Bolshevik persecution of the Church, the collective anti-christ was
quite overt in its 'militant atheism.' This phase which can be
called 'The International Revolutionary Phase' was between the years
of 1917 unto 1943.
"Now allow me to bring you to the second phase of the Soviet
government's militant atheism' beginning in 1943 up to our present
evil times. This may be called 'The Stalinist Phase of State-ism.'
"Because Stalin's new Soviet policy was now looking inward, he and
his Politburo decided to form a 'Church' that would be an essential
part of the Soviet system and to help control the population from a
standpoint that was not present before, namely to utilize 'religion'
as an organization that would 'support' the government.
"Bishop Grabbe in the 1960's was still trying to peer into Soviet
Life from an incredibly disadvantaged lookout, namely from behind
the barrier known as "The Iron Curtain." When Bishop Grabbe of holy
memory penned these words he was still premising his assetions upon
what was true of the First Phase.
"Russian historians will tell us to a man that Russia's reality even
when viewed close up is an enigma. How much more when one is behind
a wall made of triple-thick iron! The West in 1966 had no real
information about life in the Soviet Union.
"The Old Idea which was informing Bishop Grabbe's position of
premising the Church Abroads' reason for existence because of overt
persecution had changed into a new one which he was not permitted to
see, namely the same intense hatred and persecution of religion, now
under the hoped-for guise of government 'approval.'
"Which brings us to the present. Essentially in this on-going second
phase of militant atheism, religion is used only in the interest of
maintaining control. Putin uses religion in all of its aspects
as buttressing elements for maintaining his authority. Not only for
his 'vetical power' from top down, but as an insidious power from
within the population. Soon he will wield his propped-up 'MP' for
his international designs.
"As things usually happen, the 'evolution' of Bolshevik persecution
is no longer set on the overt annihilation of the Church but
something far more pernicious and perhaps imperceptable to the
simple, namely the bolstering of a facade that appears like 'the
Church.' And this facade is for the sole purpose of supporting the
aims and intents of the government. This is what is known
as 'Sergianism.'
"And 'Sergianism' my dear Fr Alexander, is alive and well in the
Soviet Church known as "The Moscow Patriarcate." I dare say, you are
about to fall into the merciless snare of the Adversary.
"ROAC Subdeacon Nathaniel Kapner
The Eleventh Hour
October 30, 2005
St. Andrew in "The Judgment"
"P.S. I would like to thank the renowned historian and my dear friend
ROCOR Dr. Eugene L. Magerovsky for his insightful insights above. I
have simply 'dramatized' the good Doctors' analysis.
"P.P.S. Anti MP/ROCOR Dr Eugene L Magerovsky holds a 1975 Phd from
Columbia University in 'The Peoples' Commissariat Of Foreign
Affairs, 1917-1943.' He has taught Russian History at the renown
educational institutions of Forham University, Georgetown University, and NYU.
"P.P.P.S. Dr. Magerovsky is a major contributor to the
'Fidelity' Anti-MP/ROCOR unia Website at www.metanthonymemorial.org.
I consider myself highly privileged to call myself a
co-member with the venerable Dr Eugene Magerovsky.
