Bishop Agafangel receives American clergy

[Michael]

"May 19 2007

Honored Fathers and Flock of The Eastern U.S. Diocese!

A blessing is given to you until official documents by the Higher Church Authority are issued to raise my name during your services in accordance with the formula:

The Orthodox Episcopate of the Persecuted Russian Church and our Master, His Grace, Bishop Agafangel of Odessa!

A pertinent UKAZ will be sent to you by mail.

• Епископ Агафангел (+ Bishop Agafangel)"

Received clergy and laymen:

Protopriest Gregory Kotliaroff - RUSSIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH OF ST. SERGIUS OF RADONEZH; VALLEY COTTAGE, NY
Protopriest Wsewolod Dutikow - HOLY TRINITY RUSSIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH; ASTORIA, NY
Protopriest Sergei Klestov - Sea Kliff, NY
Protopriest Igor Hreblinko - ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST CATHEDRAL; WASHINGTON, DC
Protopriest Alexei Mikrikov - RUSSIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH OF THE EPIPHANY; ROSLINDALE, MA, HOLY TRINITY MONASTERY
Priest Victor Dobroff - SYNODAL CATHEDRAL OF THE MOTHER OF GOD OF THE SIGN; NEW YORK, NY
Priest Sergei Serzhanov
Priest Ilia Gan
Priest Daniel Meschter - ST. INNOCENT ORTHODOX MISSION; POTTSTOWN, PA
Hegumen Andronik Kotliaroff - CONVENT OF THE ASCENSION, JERUSALEM
Hiermonk Evtikhy Dovganiuk - HOLY TRINITY MONASTERY; JORDANVILLE, NY
Protodeacon Job Chemerov - RUSSIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH OF ST. SERGIUS OF RADONEZH; VALLEY COTTAGE, NY
Hiermonk Savva Bogdan
Hiermonk Ilya Shepitsky - Jerusalem, Israel
Alexander Volk
Olga Kozinsky
Oleg Rodzianko
Peter Koltypin
Evgeny Magerovsky

[stumbler]

This figure has since been updated and so far it is reported that over 50 clergy worldwide are now under Vladyka Agafangel's omophorion.

For those who read Russian, this website provides details: http://www.ipc.od.ua/

That is Vladyka Agafangel's own website. There is also an interesting story there about how one of the diocese's cars was "accidentally" hit by a loaded truck and knocked 30 meters very recently.

[joasia]

Yes. I just heard about this "accident" tonight, from a friend. It was also said that a bishop of ROCOR stated that Vl. Agafanel would be taken care of. For those that are not familiar with the english expresss: taken care of...it means that a "problem" that is not acceptable will be illiminated. A very good example is Princess Diana. And of course, Vladika Averky and Fr. Seraphim.

Purely, communist tactics. The example of the church in Australia is another good example.

So, let them do what they want. But, we must save ourselves and those around us. They can't harm us, unless we allow ourselves to believe with them.

Can somebody translate the article?

In Christ, Joanna

[Грешник]

With this news of Bishop Agathangel, does this not make for an interesting conversation on HOW this is Orthodox> I mean is this not the same thing that every Hierarch who has "gone into schism" done? Metr. Vitaly, Metr. Valentine ot name a few.. they leave because of things that are not right and then the rest of the world passes a sentence that they are heretics and schismatics.

The other thing that bothers me is that he is a lone bishop. The last "lone bishop" we had was Gregory of Colorado. Yes, we all think he is off his rocker, but still how is this any different?

I AM NOT, let me state again for the record, I AM NOT trying ot start an argument here, I am just trying to understand the logic and the repercussions behind something like this. Does he have a Synod? Will he refer to himself as the ROCOR etc. I know some of my questions will not have immediate answers so we will wait and see.

Thanks

[Pravoslavnik]

Rather than "taking care" of Bishop Agafangel, the ROCOR-Laurus Synod should be taking care of their own flocks in accordance with the commandments of the Lord. Do these men--Laurus, Mark, Kyril, Hilarion, Gabriel, and Michael-- have no fear of God? Vladika Agafangel is doing the right thing by not entering into heresy with the Moscow Patriarchate. It is bewildering to me that any devout Orthodox Christian would question his conduct, rather than questioning the obvious apostasy of the other members of the ROCOR-Laurus Synod. As for the ROCOR-Laurus bishop's comment about the KGB "taking care of" Agafangel, if any more KGB "accidents" occur around dissenting ROCOR bishops, parishioners or priests, they should serve as one more obvious sign among many that the ROCOR-Laurus has now entered into irreversible communion with the Evil One.

[Грешник]

Pravoslavnik,

You said:
Vladika Agafangel is doing the right thing by not entering into heresy with the Moscow Patriarchate. It is bewildering to me that any devout Orthodox Christian would question his conduct, rather than questioning the obvious apostasy of the other members of the ROCOR-Laurus Synod.

I am hoping by this comment you were not refering to my above post. I am not, nor have I ever been (contrary to some rumors I have heard recently) been a member of the ROCOR-L.

All I was asking was how this could be seen as different in the light of others who have done the same thing years ago seeing the road that the ROCOR-L was/is traveling.

I personally applaud the Bishop for his strength. I am not one to question him as a person nor his character as that is not my place to do so not my desire. I was only asking how this is seen in the eyes of others when compared to other hierarchs who have done this in the past.

I apologize if my post as not clear to you.

[stumbler]

Juvenaly- I think the way you pose your question says a lot. Agafangel is not the one who has gone into schism, heresy and/or apostasy.

In the cases of some who have parted ways with ROCOR-L in the past, the issues are always the same, namely the ROCOR-L insistence on taking a path contrary to Orthodoxy and in violation of their own anathemas.

The rest is entirely a matter of timing. Some, acting according to conscience, parted sooner, and some were later separated for the same reasons.

I have a feeling that the signing of the "Act" will indeed bring about union in the Orthodox church - just not quite the union they were hoping for.