http://vertograd.ru/txt/03/08/375c.html In Russian
The LETTER of ARCHPRIEST VICTOR POTOPOV (ROCOR (L)) CONCERNING
SCANDALOUS KHIROTONI ARCHIMANDRITE PETER (LUKYANOV)
Translation with àíãë.: " portal. - Credo Ru "
Dear fathers and brothers,
A few weeks ago father John Shaw sent out to different persons a
brief report about episcopal khirotonii of archimandrite Peter
Lukyanov. On July 14 hostile in relation to ROCOR the information
web-site portal-credo.ru (connected with the name of metropolitan
Suzdal Valentine, of the chapter of "Synods" which our Foreign
Church directly or indirectly helped to create in Russia) word for
word has transferred (translated) the report of father John Shaw,
referring to the correspondent in Chicago. The report was reprinted
by another also hostile in relation to ROCOR, a web-site
vertograd.ru, with addition, that the person shouting "anaksios",
wanted to specify the ekklesiologicheskiye views of the candidate,
which has the reputation of "moderate ekumenista". I know, that
father John Shaw is not the correspondent " portal - Credo.Ru "
nor "Vertograd", but I find it curious, that people in Moscow by
some means rapidly obtained and have published the message about
khirotonii.
In his communication from Chicago father John Shaw informed us about
the fact that on khirotonii [ on 12 July ] "there was the unknown
brawler, who attempted to prevent the accomplishment of divine
service. He was asked to leave ".
At first sight, it is possible to think, that " the unknown
rowdy "("heckler") (which, by the way, was in cassock) was politely
asked to leave church.
In reality, this was not so. Actually in the presence of hundred
believing, two elder brothers of new bishop Peter, etc. literally
thrashed and pulled out to the street the so-
called "heckler". "Heckler" conducted the remainder of day in the
emergency ward of hospital, where they took him and where they
rendered aid, after putting on the hand bandage.
On the grounds, that he was a victim of violence, the employees of
hospital called the police, which questioned "heckler" and made out
the report. On 15 July "heckler" again returned into the hospital in
Minneapolis with the complaints on the pain in the neck and the arm,
they told him that two cervical vertebrae were damaged and neck was
dislocated. He stayed two days in the hospital.
In reality, everyone to whom the letter was addressed, knows that
this "heckler", which father John Shaw persistently refused to name
by name, is Valentine Shcheglovskiy. Valentine, who lives with his
family in Minneapolis, 63- years (rukopolozhennyy) laying-on-of-
hands subdeacon, a parish council member of the church ST
Panteleimon.
He has been a respected member of ROCOR all his life, who many years
without tiredness worked in the Russian orthodox scouts camp in Rock
City, Illinois, which was started by the now reposed archbishop
Serafim. I personally know subdeacon Valentine, at least, forty
years.
Why, by force was he manhandled from the cathedral of the Protection
Of the Mother of God ? Because he dared to use his right of an
Orthodox Christian and three times proclaimed "anaksios" in other
words, "unworthy". He was manhandled because he dared to openly
proclaim in front of the the church that the person, devoted into
the dignity of bishop, was unworthy of this dignity.
Father John Shaw, who, on my information, neither spoke to Mr.
shcheglovskiy during nor after dedication, several times stated,
that "heckler" proclaimed "anaksios" because he was not agreeable
with the ekklesiologicheskimi views of bishop Peter.
I spoke to Mr. shcheglovskiy several times after incident in
Chicago. Contrary to the statement of father John Shaw, his
proclamation of "anaksios" was not because of the differences in
ekklesiologii, but because he was convinced of the truthfulness of
charges, according to which arkhimandrit Peter morally is unstable,
which makes him unworthy of khirotonii.
In other words, Valentina shcheglovskiy proclaimed "anaksios",
caring about the moral cleanliness of church.
This is what, according to father Vladimir Boikov, he said literally:
"I take no pride in stepping forward - it was a duty not to keep
silent at the moment of the last opportunity, when, in accordance
with my understanding of holy canons, one could challenge the ill-
fated and imposed decision by a group of our bishops on the rest.
I have no regret about this, and, in spite of various difficulties
and complexities, that are just beginning to develop, I would have
done this again. It is a terrible shame and a travesty, our bishops
of yesterday would not have allowed to take place.
You ask, what is the opinion of people who know me in Chicago?
You mean those that, not to be noticed, attended the "bright
festivities" and the subsequent gala- celebrations? A few openly
shun away from me lest I might contaminate them, while others say
one thing to the face and seem to do the opposite. Even a couple of
my close friends (40+ years of friendship) here in Minneapolis area
began to behave as though I have caused pestilence or even worse,
and that is just two days after the "event".
I will be ostracized, I feel this coming already. From time to time
I am reminded of the very sorrowful words by Tsar- martyr Nikolas
(on the day of his forced abdication): "Roundabout me do treason,
cowardice and deceit abound". I say this as a matter of fact,
without sadness even with some humor. I am, however, heartbroken by
the fact that all the attempts to prevent the disgrace proved to be
unsuccessful. May our Lord God have mercy on all of us!
With the love of Christ,
Valya ".
Some clergy assume that Valentine Shcheglovskiy - is a mentally
unbalanced person, to be under the influence of a "senior bishop".
But he is far from being the only one subjected to question the
moral cleanliness of the new bishop. He was sincere in his actions
and seriously considered the right and duty to declare the
disagreement with the dedication.
Dedication into the spiritual dignity in the Orthodox Church
requires not only the placing of the hands of bishop, but also the
agreements of the entire Church - people of God. During the rite of
laying-on -of-hands (rukopolozheniya) laymen proclaim their
agreement with the dedication, declaring that the candidate is
worthy, by the threefold proclamation of "axsios".
But if someone is not agreeable with the dedication, this should
draw the attention of church authorities to his opinion, but him
they ignore?
What remains for him, besides to arrive in church and to
proclaim "nedostoin!" unworthy?
Valentine Shcheglovskiy made this not only for himself, but also for
all those, who in ROCOR were not agreeable with rukopolozheniyem
(laying-on-of-hands) of father Peter.
In the different Internet- lists subdeacon Valentine was ridiculed
for the fact that he proclaimed "anaksios". But what could be said
about the violence, which was carried out in the walls of cathedral?
Why did no one condemn this shameful behavior?
In fact, the official communication, sent to the site ROCOR, the
incident with "anaksios" even was not mentioned, although much was
said about the excellent singing Trisvyatogo and the threefold
proclamation "aksios!"
This in a mystical manner reminds one of those reportings, which we
read today on the pages of the "periodical of Moscow Patriarch".
Besides the short quoted above letter, it was too painful for
Valentine Shcheglovskomu to write anything more essential about why
he did what he did. More detailed personal explanation still is
necessary.
I will not be astonished, if I am to learn, that some of you would
prefer not to hear that which for me is necessary to speak, and to
go around by silence, the fact that our church, the Russian Orthodox
Church Abroad, is in the state of deep crisis.
Only the blind will deny the existence of crisis, but it seems only
a few understand the entire depth and scales. Khirotoniya in
Chicago - not that other, as bright display of this crisis. There is
a temptation to always prefer "peace" to truth, the effectiveness of
honesty, to human glory over the will of God.
This is the holy responsibility of clergyman - to protect the
cleanliness of church in this world, even if this is not
considered "appropriate".
Now let's return to the essence of the matter.
The candidature of arkhimandrita Peter for bishop has already been
discussed, when the first-heirarch was Metropolitan Vitaliy, but it
was rejected, because metropolitan solidly resisted it, publicly
having declared, that he, Metropolitan Vitaliy, will not allow this
khirotonii, while he is alive.
In the protocols it is documented, that this year five bishops
(Gabriel, Agapit, Amvrosiy, Evtich, Agafangel) of our tiny cathedral
of bishops voted against the candidature of arkhimandrita Peter and
that one (Serafim) abstained. It seems reasonable to ask: why almost
half of the Cathedral of bishops has voted against, or abstained?
A number of clergy commented, that if there would be any proof,
which testifies against the advancement of arkhimandrita Peter to
episcopacy, it would be represented long before the khirotoniya took
place.
IT WAS!
Several years ago several priests, including me, presented a
statement. Repeatedly I spoke concerning this matter with
Metropolitan Vitaly, bishops Grigoriy (Grabbe), Mark, Hilarion,
Alipiy and Gabriel.
Before the khirotonii bishops, priests and laymen phoned and wrote
metropolitan Laurus, calling him to cancel khirotoniyu.
Their requests were ignored. In the letter to metropolitan Laurus,
which I sent to him by fax some days prior to the khirotorii, I
urgently requested his eminence to gather the opponents of father
Peter together and listen to them. I indicated that if it is
determined that they lie, the Synod of bishops can and must punish
them with the full conformity with church jurisprudence. I did not
obtain an answer.
The rank of khirotonii proceeded, despite the fact that the
exclamation of "anaksios" generates serious doubts about its
canonicity.
The 9th rule OF THE I oecumenical council says: "To ashche some
without examination are produced into presvitery, or although by the
testing confessed their sins, but after their confession, against
the rule podviglis' person, and the laying on of hands on them:
the same rule does not allow to Holy Service. Since Kafolicheskaya
church without fail requires chastity ".
In the interpretation of this canon we read:
Sobornaya church requires and desires, so that the priests would be
irreproachable or, in other words, free from the load of sins,
exactly as apostle Paul suggests, what a bishop must be,
saying: "bishop will be chaste" (I Tim. 3:2) or, in other words, not
only not deserving reproach according to the law, but also by
completely chaste and free from any charge, which is concerned his
moral appearance.
Rule 59 (61 in the Russian transfer) Karfagenskogo cathedral
says: "it becomes necessary to determine and this: to ashche when
let us approach the election of bishop and will arise certain
contradiction, to ponezhe have we in razsmotrenii such cases, there
will daring be three tokmo of gathering for the justification
imeyushchago of rukopolozhitisya: but to the vysherechennomu number
yes will be joined united or two bishops, and with the people, to
which that selected has to byti it is put, first yes there will be
izsledovaniye about to the persons of those contradicting, then yes
will be joined to izsledovaniyu that declared by them, and when it
will be pure (clean) before face of people, then already yes it
rukopolozhitsya "
Interpretation of this rule also by the way:
If some objection is advanced by others by way of charge against
the candidate (since such possibilities frequently are)?, only three
people cannot judge and justify it, but except for them, it is
necessary to add one or two bishops. And before the people, into
diocese of which the candidate rukopolagayetsya, they must
thoroughly investigate the personalities of accusers, what they have
reputation, and if they prove to be free from the slander in the
eyes of people, yes there will be rukopolozhen in bishops?
What has changed since the time metropolitan Vitaly was first-
heirarch and has forbidden khirotoniyu of arkhimandrita Peter? Is it
possible already all proofs, which were represented then, already
more have no validity?
Let us for a minute be turned mentally to the recent history in
ROCOR: to our intrusion into the life of Russian church in the
former Soviet Union. As excited and as glad were then our bishops,
after obtaining the possibility to affirm the new, independent
hierarchy. Arkhimandrit Valentine from Suzdal was selected in
order to become the second bishop in Russia (Lazarus was the first),
and he was soon elevated to bishop. Our heiarchs rapidly cooled to
the new suzdal'skomu bishop and very seriously considered the
accusations of sodomy, which were put forward against him.
It was not undertaken anything an affair of Valentine reminding
investigation and accusations of the address. Nevertheless, he was
cast out and, without church court, he was deprived the dignity,
and, moreover, it was made in absentia. Two bishops who participated
in khirotonii Valentine, have noticed in conversation with me later,
that they were against khirotoni.
Then why did they participate in this, even they did head it? When
by Jose munoz-Kortes, the keeper of myrrh-streaming Iverskoy icon,
was killed in Athens, as rapidly many of our hierarchs and clergy
preferred to believe slander! They published slander in the one-
only short article in the Greek tabloid about the devotee- keeper of
the sacred and dear icon, who never gave any occasion to reproach
himself in immoral behavior!
Why some of the clergy of our church, which so rapidly did believe
the charges against The the suzdal'skogo Valentina and brother Jose,
and whom they do know about the immoral inclinations of
arkhimandrita Peter, are ready now "to look to the other side"?
Why? This is the result of assertions, that Suzdal'skiy of the
Valentinas? this homo sovieticus, but not real Russian, that brother
Jose of altogether only some strange foreigner, and not real
Russian? This representation, "that to the one from us",
arkhimandritu Peter, it is possible to approach with other, softer
measures?
For the last several weeks in the electronic correspondence were
ascertained, that we should not make our differences by publicly
displaying our disagreements. Because this will be to the hand of
the enemies of ROCOR. I do consider that khirotoniya in Chicago -
that enemies will use, and already use.
I send you to two articles under the titles of? Pedofiliya in ROCOR/
(Lavr) and Mitropolit Vitaly: khirotoniya of arkhimandrita Peter
(Lukyanov) it is void, sent into Listok web- site, disposed
decisively hostilely against ROCOR (i.e.? ROCOR(Lavr)? ed.), and to
the entirely recent publications on the site Of budzilovicha under
the title of "Anaksios" with risk for life.
However that may be, who is the enemy? Where must we search for him?
In Moscow, Istanbul or it can be, in New York? It is more probable
that he is among us, as a cancerous tumor slowly, but truly destroys
our church from within. It is possible to speculate on the theme,
why individual bishops can privately express their doubts relative
to khirotonii of Peter, but on no account publicly, why some
priests can recognize that they knew about the obstacles to
khirotonii, but on no account could speak at all about khirotonii
being wrong, but khirotoniya already is come to pass which cannot be
challenged.
The Orthodox doctrine teaches the Christian, that he should live
according to the highest standards, that we completely should reject
church policy(politics), friends of our youth if they interfere with
our rescue.
We should be true to Christ and His Church. It is the duty of all of
His children - to fulfill His will in all matters, and let the chips
fly, where they may.
It is the come to pass fact, that father Peter is ordained to
bishop. It also the come to pass fact, that objections against
khirotonii against Peter were sounded long before khirotonii
itself, and that today they are not taken, according to canons of
Church.
It is the come to pass fact, that an infringement of church
tradition of khirotoniya of Peter to bishop was held, despite public
accusations that he is unworthy of this.
It is the come to pass fact, that until these accusations will not
be removed (taken off), his episcopal authority will be open to
question, and on his reputation there will be a stain. If he is not
guilty of that, with what they charge him, he should demand to stop
ceremony and to demand investigation, to clear the name. It still
can be made until now. Let bishops of our Church invite all
witnesses and in the presence of the newly ordained bishop will
listen many accusers (many of which clergy) and accused. It would be
honestly, this would be in interests of new bishop, and very
important, this would be in the interests ROCOR.
God will help us.
In Christ,
Archpriest Victor Potapov
