The reply of the RTOC Synod to a series of questions touched on in addresses by clergy of the Omsk-Siberian Diocese and those sympathizing with them.
The reply of the RTOC Synod to the clergy of the Omsk-Siberian Diocese
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Re: The reply of the RTOC Synod to the clergy of the Omsk-Siberian Diocese
The very first paragraph from the RTOC Synod reply spells out some of the problems:
Introduction
The question of the grace or gracelessness of the Moscow Patriarchate continues to trouble many members of our Church, as witnessed especially by an attack against the position of our Church launched by Archimandrite Ilia (Yempulev) and several priests of the Omsk diocese. This question is linked, in the minds of these priests, with several others, including: the heretical nature of the teaching known as “Cyprianism”, the status of the Secretary of the Holy Synod, Protopresbyter Victor Melehov, and the competence of the Synod or Sobor of RTOC to resolve such questions.
This excerpt from the second paragraph is vitally important today:
First, any major question of Church life can be adequately answered, not by appealing to the practice of a local Church in a particular historical period, but to Holy Tradition, that is, the dogmas, traditions, canons and conciliar resolutions that have been accepted as binding by the whole of the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church throughout her history.
Not surprisingly, this essay was most likely written or largely written by the Secretary of the Synod, Protopresbyter Victor Melehov, who was one of the signers of this RTOC Synod document.
Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me a sinner.