ROCOR-A: Sergianism Formally Anathematized

[Priest Antonios]

http://nftu.net/rocor-a-sergianism-form ... thematized

I know there are not a lot of ROCOR-A fans here, however, is this a step in the right direction? In any case, it sure seems like good news to me.

-Antonios

[Maria]

I think that this is a wonderful development.

Let us continue to pray for the ROCOR-A.

[Barbara]

I was pleased to see that !
Yes, it IS a good step, Antonios. Rocor A was a bit "liberal" for the tastes of many.
Maybe they are closing the gap between their stands and ours [the jurisdictions represented here in this Forum, generally speaking].
Coming back to your earlier question, though Mother Evfrosinia would be an immensely better explainer !
Just to let you know I have not forgotten that. Just busy, preoccupied.

[Priest Antonios]

Just to let you know I have not forgotten that. Just busy, preoccupied.

No worries Barbara... life happens!

[Matthew]

Yes, it is a good step in the right direction. They may still need to be re-ordained and chrismated, and some whose baptism is recent possibly baptised, since they have been formally in communion for years with ecumenist heretics. If the bishops decide that they must be received back into the TOC with some degree of akriveia then they may find that requirement a bit too much to swallow. However, let us hope and pray for the best. Actually this may be something similar to the move towards a correction within SiR, who are now in dialogue with us to overcome impediments to intercommunion, namely the Cyprianite ecclesiological error.

[Lydia]

The "Cyprian ecclesiastical error" is, in fact, not an error but heresy. If heresy is an impediment to communion, then why not enter into dialogue with all other heretics? I'm afraid unity with heretics is possible only if one side completely renounces its position. Metropolitan Cyprian professed (while he was physically able) that the Church of Christ is divided. This is ecumenism. It and those who profess it are anathematized by The Orthodox Church..
If Metropolitan Cyprian's followers desire to return to the True Church, then Glory be to God. I don't like the idea of a dialogue, however.
I wish the updates would include specifics of what is actually being discussed in these meetings.

[jgress]

Yes, it is a good step in the right direction. They may still need to be re-ordained and chrismated, and some whose baptism is recent possibly baptised, since they have been formally in communion for years with ecumenist heretics. If the bishops decide that they must be received back into the TOC with some degree of akriveia then they may find that requirement a bit too much to swallow. However, let us hope and pray for the best. Actually this may be something similar to the move towards a correction within SiR, who are now in dialogue with us to overcome impediments to intercommunion, namely the Cyprianite ecclesiological error.

I think the baptism issue depends on the form with which they were baptized in the MP. There are reports that, as in many NC churches, MP churches often use sprinkling, and this is what upset some zealots in the GOC concerning some RTOC members.

Strictness can be necessary, but not always. I think we just live in very confusing times, and often it just isn't clear when we should be strict and when we should be relaxed. E.g. for decades ROCOR had a relaxed attitude to ecclesiological matters, and I think in some ways that may have been good. For example, by not making a firm decision about grace in the ecumenist churches, ROCOR to me seems to have been a kind of bridge between conservatives in the World Orthodox churches and the True Orthodox, enabling some in the WO churches to "make the leap". But in other ways, of course, this attitude was bad, since it allowed ecumenist-minded people to hijack ROCOR and take advantage of its tolerance to drag it into World Orthodoxy.

You could say ROCOR should have been strict from the beginning, but I think you could argue that would have driven away many people who are now in the True Church. In the end, it's just impossible to say.