Serbia and ROCOR

[Justin Kissel]

I know that there are spiritual children of Saint Justin in the Serbian Church, but I'm not sure how to get in contact with them (or if they understand English). So instead, I just sent the following email to the 5 Serbian Dioceses in North America. If I get a response, I'll post it here.

Father, Bless

Greetings! A number of issues have begun to cause some confusion for me, and I am not sure where exactly to seek answers. I hope that whoever receives this will be able--by God's grace--to help me, or to direct me to someone who can help me.

The first issue I am having difficulty with is the approach that my patron Saint (Justin Popovich) had regarding those who (he thought) had erred. I read in one place, for example, that Saint Justin ceased "commemoration of the Serbian Patriarch German, on account of his activities in the ecumenical movement and involvement in what Father Justin considered its clearly Protestant goals." (Hieromonk Patapios). Yet in another place Saint Justin himself says: "I bow in reverence before the age-old achievements of the Great Church of Constantinople, and before her present cross which is neither small nor easy, which, according to the nature of things, is the cross of the entire Church - for, as the Apostle says, 'When one member suffers, the whole body suffers.' Moreover, I acknowledge the canonical rank and first place in honour of Constantinople among the local Orthodox Churches, which are equal in honour and rights." (On A Summoning of the Great Council of the Orthodox Church, 5) So what exactly is Saint Justin's position on these issues? What actions should be taken in what circumstances? I've read everything that I've been able to find by Saint Justin that has been translated into English, but I haven't seen the answer yet.

The other issue that is confusing me is the relationship between the Serbian Church and (the Church I'm in) ROCOR. The synod sent a letter to Patriarch Pavle in October of 2000, for instance, that had a very charitable and brotherly tone, and sought to continue communion with the Serbian Church. (Letter) Unfortunately, I recently ran across a letter supposedly written by Patriarch Pavle in which he speaks of ROCOR very negatively, saying that we are "anticanonical and worthy of every condemnation" (Letter). What exactly, then, is the status of the relations between the Serbian Church and ROCOR?

In Christ our God,

Justin

[Savva24]

It was very troubling to see Patriarch Pavel's harsh words about ROCOR. I knew that he opposed the Synod's setting up in Russia, but I had no idea he was so condenming. What a shame

In Christ,

Nicholas (Savva)

[Julianna]

I recently ran across a letter supposedly written by Patriarch Pavle in which he speaks of ROCOR very negatively, saying that we are "anticanonical and worthy of every condemnation" (Letter).

Nice people you're in communion with there! Especially since their ecumenism is "anticanonical and worthy of every condemnation"!

Why doesn't ROCOR condemn their actions?

[ania]

Paradosis, Mate, Though the statement of Pat. Pavel may be true, (I have no idea if it is or not), I would be careful of the source. Vertograd is not to be trusted. When Pat. Pavel came to America a while back, (I think 2 summers ago), we went to Ohio to see him. There were ROCOR people there (besides us), and a ROCOR priest was serving, as well as 2 of Met. Lavr's personal sub-deacons. I would very much like to see the date of the statement. The only 2 years menitoned are 1998 & 1918.
If I were you, I would wait for the responce of the people you sent the letter too.
Ania

[Integrity]

I can state with certainty (since I was there) that only a few months ago my priest (Fr. John Whiteford) concelebrated with Metropolitan Christopher at Divine Liturgy at Sts. Constantine and Helen in Galveston. If there's been a break in communion between ROCOR and Serbia, this is the first I've heard of it.

[Justin Kissel]

I don't think there's a break in communion. I think it's just church politics. Saints such as Basil the Great and Gregory the Theologian engaged in it, I don't expect that bishops today would be free from it. I'm just trying to get some type of definitive word from a Serbian source.

[Justin Kissel]

I've received the first reply. This reply came from the email addy provided for the "Midwestern American Metropolitante" of the Serbian Church here in America. Here is the email, in full, and unedited:

Dear Justin,
First of all, to end your confusion, Fr. Justin Popovich is NOT A SAINT. He was not canonized as such, and therefore he is not "St. Justin" - but simply the late +Archimandrite Justin Popovic.
Secondly, the ROC abroad or in exile is not a recognized canonical church. The Serbian Orthodox Church is in commuinon with the canonical Russian Ortodox Church of Russia. It is hoped that the ROC abroad return to the bosom of their Mother Church which is long overdue. True, we maintain friendly relations in the trust that they will do the right thing in the sight of God and return to their canonical churdh and cease attempt to inflict wounds upon the body of Christ - the long suffering Russian Orthodox Church which the gates of hades of atheistic communism could not prevail against! Instead of rejoicing in the fact that the Church has prevailed and survived, they chose to villify Her! Why? Fortunately many of them, including several illustrious hierarchs are carrying out a dialogue with their suffering martyred Mother Church. Others seem to wish to persist in cold-hearted vilification - conveniently forgetting that they had escaped and did not share in the suffering and martyrdom of their Church - and from safe havvens continue to hold themselves out as "super-Orthodox" not realizing that they make a mockerry of Holy Orthodoxy by their disgraceful behvior.

I'm not going to comment on this (here or in a reply email) because... well... what's the use? Being called "a heretic on his way to hell" by a TradCatholic or Calvinist I can handle, but stuff like this really get me down. I just want to run off and write a lengthy apology and "set the record straight". But what good would it do? At the very least, now is not the time. A time and a season for everything.

Justin

PS. The reason this is so upsetting to me is that, while I expect some level of rhetorical exaggeration and polemic when bishops are talking about Church politics, I certainly didn't expect this kind of reply to my email! I tried to keep it non-polemical and to just ask a few questions in a level-headed way. The few Serbs I have met in my life were very nice people, and had no problem with ROCOR (and many venerated St. Justin). I'm going to Vigil/Vespers at a Serb Church tomorrow, I will be sure to try and talk with the priest.