The OCA has been having serious problems and needs prayers that they will repent and come to the Truth.
My friends in this organization are so confused. Many are blindly accepting whatever their priest and bishops pontificate because they fear for their salvation as they are being told to avoid internet gossip and forums.
Here is a concrete example of how the OCA is no longer listening to God, but telling the priests and people to pray that OCA Synod's will be done, not God's. For example, look at the first set of prayer petitions below for electing a new Metropolitan from 2008 and compare these with the second set of prayer petitions engineered for the 2012 election.
Notice the huge difference in the prayers. Not only is there the use of You and Your, but also the language in the 2012 petitions sounds largely like what one would expect in a Protestant or Roman Catholic Church. Not only do these prayer petitions show many basic errors in English syntax when trying to be politically correct by avoiding "He", but also these 2012 prayer petition use highly disrespectful and prideful language. Look at the final prayers, where both final petitions in 2008 and in 2012 have been colored blue. The 2012 final prayer is the most egregious of all the petitions and it includes oxymorons too (to cooperate in working with the Holy Synod) and repetitions (together). These poorly written and disrespectful petitions would definitely be a serious distraction during the Divine Liturgy.
Petitions mandated by the OCA Synod in OCA parish Divine Liturgies before the 15th All-American Council.
Prayers for the 15th All-American Council and Election of the New Metropolitan of All American and Canada to be inserted in the Litany of Fervent Supplication:
Furthermore we pray that the Lord our Almighty and Eternal God, the Source of all wisdom and understanding, will be present with us as we prepare to gather in Council; and that in our striving to serve and glorify Him He will enlighten us with right judgment and godly purpose to His glory and the building up of His Holy Church.
Again we pray that the Lord our God, the Giver of every good gift, will look with favor upon His Church and bless and guide the minds and hearts of His people being gathered by the grace of the Holy Spirit; and that He will increase in us holy conversation, vigilance, fervent prayer, and trust in Him, guiding our plans and deliberations with faith and knowledge of His will for us.
Furthermore we pray that the Lord our God, Who raises up servants in every time and in every place as leaders for His people, will send His Holy Spirit upon us and so guide our minds and hearts that, inspired by His gifts of discernment and understanding, we may know and do His will as we prepare to elect a new Metropolitan.
Again we pray that the Lord our God, in His mercy and providential care for us, will call forth for His flock a true shepherd of wisdom and strength, blessing us with a Metropolitan to care for the well-being of our Church, and to unite His faithful people in a zealous confession of the Orthodox faith, in loving service to one another, and a bright witness to the glory of His Holy Name.
Reference for the 2008 petitions: http://www.monomakhos.com/timeline/#comment-35016
These are the newly revised prayers issued by the OCA Synod for mandatory and immediate use in the OCA parishes during the Divine Liturgy:
PRAYERS FOR THE 17TH ALL-AMERICAN COUNCIL AND THE ELECTION OF THE METROPOLITAN OF ALL AMERICA AND CANADA
Furthermore we pray You, O Lord our Almighty and Eternal God, Source of all wisdom and understanding, be with us as we prepare to gather in Council so that in our striving to serve and glorify You, we may be enlightened with right judgment and good purpose to the building up of Your Holy Church and to Your eternal glory, we pray You, hear us and have mercy…
Again we pray You, O Lord our God, giver of every good gift, look with favor upon Your Church and bless and guide our minds and hearts, and grant us by the grace of Your All-holy Spirit an increase in faith and understanding, so that in vigilance, fasting and prayer we are prepared for the holy work of this Electoral Council, we pray You, hear us and have mercy…
Furthermore we pray You, O Lord our God, send down Your Holy Spirit upon us and guide our minds and hearts so that, inspired by Your gifts of discernment and understanding, we may know and do Your holy will in the election of a Metropolitan for our Holy Church in North America, we pray You, hear us and have mercy…
Again we pray You, O Lord our God, in Your holy and providential care for us, call forth for us a Metropolitan of wisdom, understanding, and sanctity to cooperate in working with the Holy Synod, the pastors and faithful of our Holy Church, so that together we may be that light on the lampstand and the salt of the earth working together in loving service to Christ our God and thus to one another, we pray You, hear us and have mercy.
Reference for 2012 petitions: http://oca.org/news/headline-news/praye ... tropolitan
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Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on the faithful people in the OCA and grant them Thy holy grace to humbly repent and join the True Orthodox Church.