I myself am an English speaking Orthodox person. My ethnicity is Russian and I speak, read and write Russian a bit better than most of my contemporary counterparts, but I am thoroughly frustrated with the resistance to change any Russian religious traditions in the 'west' in spite of the fact (as I believe), that many people are being lost to other religions (be that churchly or secular). For example I know that most (if not all) the youth that attend our churches do not understand Slavonic, and even most of the older people. Yet in a bid to keep the Russian traditions, we put our Orthodoxy at risk.
In my personal life I'm observing that many convert's belonging to different Russian jurisdictions do not fully understand how far-reaching this nationalistic pride really is. Often when I speak to converts regarding this issue they are unaware of the prejudice within these 'extreme' Russian nationalist's they are in contact with. And it only makes sense that as an extreme Russian nationalist you would not express your extreme views to those who belong to the culture that you critisize, especially if you want them to attend your church. Hope I don't put anyone off Orthodoxy in saying that - it's just another one of many tempations we all face in our earthly life and struggle for the Heavenly Kingdom and plus not all Russians are like that. My point in saying this is that comments made on this thread imply that this type of nationalistic pride and "World" Orthodoxy go hand in hand. I would dispute that assertion. This sort of nationalistic pride goes right across the board of different Russian jurisdictions. I know this from very personal experience of 'Russian pride' in jurisdictions other than the MP and ROCOR.
I believe (but stand open to correction if anyone can prove otherwise) that the following quote by Bishop Tikhon's address to the clergy and flock of ROCOR, implies that this Church also is more interested in preversing 'RUSSIAN' Orthodoxy than cultivating intelligent (conscious and deliberate, with knowledge and understanding) Orthodoxy in the hearts and minds of their flock by introducing English into their Church traditions. I realise there is not a direct indication of this in the quote, but use of the words "Russian feat" as oposed to "Orthodox feat" only ring too many familiar bells in my head. And not that I oppose Russian traditions, but I certainly oppose stubborn resistance to be flexible in the light of 'Western' circumstances.I hope my words haven't been too harsh and ask forgiveness if they have been.
"The bishops of the Russian True Orthodox Church are making an appeal to the ROCOR clergy and flock not to leave the Church Abroad in search of canonical shelter in different Greek jurisdictions but to preserve the canonicity and traditions of the Local Russian Church having had Her own autocephaly over several centuries, to continue the feat, “Russian feat”, started by their fathers. This feat, which the Russian Church Outside of Russia has carried all these years in foreign and often hostile environments. Therefore, the bishops of the RTOC are appealling to the clergy and flock of ROCOR including to those not of Russian origin, not to leave their Mother – The Russian Orthodox Church which provided them Holy Baptism and continuous spiritual nourishment."
http://www.catacomb.org.ua/modules.php? ... e&pid=1101
