Polemics

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Pravoslavny Seraphim
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Polemics

Post by Pravoslavny Seraphim »

On Abp Gregory's website trueorthodoxy.org, he puts forth many accusations against various groups. Many of these things, if true, are extremely disturbing. I take no sides here, because I understand little of the politics within the Russian Church. But how can one respond to the charge against ROAC-Valentine that Metropolitan Valentine determined that " . . . Baptism in a canonical form is unnecessary for Orthodox, on which basis Met. Valentine received 180 unbaptized Haitians into the ROAC . . ." (see http://www.trueorthodoxy.org/schismatics_aroc.shtml )

Again, I ask only to understand how this accusation came about, not to become an accuser myself. Is Gregory exagerating, or telling absolute lies? I know that often times the author of polemical writings may take a single statement out of its original context. Thus, the author of the polemic can use it to his advantage. But how can we be sure? Some of the pictures Gregory uses within his articles are quite shocking to see.

Please see my last post to my weblog: http://orthodoxynow.blogspot.com/2006/0 ... on-of.html

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Kollyvas
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Economy...

Post by Kollyvas »

A misrepresentation of akriveia (stricit observance) vs. oikonomia (economy) in reception of converts. There are cases to be made for both which are the prerogatives of a Bishop and his synodeia...
R

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pjhatala
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Post by pjhatala »

That webpage is truly disturbing and details the extent of Gregory's sickness. Is he part of any jurisdiction yet? Does he have fellow bishops, or is alone in the mountains playing church still? Are people still buying into his lies? It's hard to imagine a more dangerous place to encounter "orthodoxy".

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Pravoslavny Seraphim
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Post by Pravoslavny Seraphim »

According to the Dormition Skete website, they find themselves "temporarily independent." Can any Orthodox body be <i>independent</i> from the One Catholic Church of Christ?

Strange. He does, however, seem to have churches in Bulgaria, aka the True Orthodox Church of Bulgaria.

Last edited by Pravoslavny Seraphim on Sat 4 February 2006 2:01 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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尼古拉前执事
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Post by 尼古拉前执事 »

Gregory is still a synod of one. He is now calling himself the Genuine Orthodox Church of America. His new web site is at http://www.gocamerica.org/ He recently lost a number of clergymen that realized he was in schism, including a priest, 2 subdeacons and their families.

As for the accusation, the facts are that the ROAC received from the Antiochians this Father Michael, who had a proper form of Baptism in the Jordan. He had Baptized all of parishioners who were accepted by him. Most were Baptised in a 50 gallon drum and were emersed 3 times.

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尼古拉前执事
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Post by 尼古拉前执事 »

Pravoslavny Seraphim wrote:

According to the Dormition Skete website, they find themselves "temporarily independent." Can any Orthodox body be <i>independent</i> from the One Catholic Church of Christ?

Strange. He does, however, seem to have churches in Bulgaria, aka the True Orthodox Church of Bulgaria.[/i]

No, being independent of the Church and still being in the Church is not possible. He does have clergy in Bulgaria, which many were uncanonically ordained when he was suspended. Oddly enough, he complained about how evil it was to have Russian bishops over Americans, but he considers himself to be over people in many nations!

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TomS
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Post by TomS »

Диакон Никола wrote:

No, being independent of the Church and still being in the Church is not possible.

Words you should take to heart, my friend. 8)

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