Heiromonk James on the Complicated Orthodox

[尼古拉前执事]

The Complicated Orthodox

Lawrence Uzzell

[Lounger]

Here is the article the letter addresses:

Russians and Catholics
Lawrence Uzzell
First Things 126 (October 2002): 21-23.

To feel the full historical weight of Russian attitudes toward the Roman Catholic Church one should see the 1938 film Aleksandr Nevski

[Lounger]

Many good points, but I am glad to see only Orthodox Church in Russia. Religious freedom is a western thing, we need not associate it with everyone!

[Denis]

Many good points, but I am glad to see only Orthodox Church in Russia. Religious freedom is a western thing, we need not associate it with everyone!

I must say I agree: Orthodoxy in Russia should be kept russian. Onthe other hand, it should be the opposite in the West.

[尼古拉前执事]

What do you mean that it should be the opposite in the west?

[Justin Kissel]

Perhaps he means that Orthodoxy in the west should be kept western?

On a note similar to that, my wife and I just found a ROCOR parish not too long ago that is only about an hour and a half away, which is way closer than the next nearest parish (2 1/2 hours away in good weather). This parish is made up of former Carpatho-Russians, and still has a Carpatho-Russian culture, service, etc. (while being ROCOR, using old calendar, etc.) This seems like a wonderful opportunity to see how a non-Russian ROCOR parish does, and I'm really looking forward to participating there once spring comes (and my car gets work done on it). It might not be "western," but I think the Carpatho-Russian Orthodoxy as practiced in America is a lot more accessible to "westerners" than Russian Orthodoxy is. (which, of course, is not a knock against the Russians).

[Denis]

What do you mean that it should be the opposite in the west?

It was very early in the morning and very badly phrased.
I mean it should keep all of the traditions of the original Church but adopt the language of the countries in which the Church is present. I think this would make it much easier for new converts as well as spreading the true faith without an ethnic screen. I do understand that it would be a difficult position for most Russian, Greek, and SErbian in North-America.