Yes, Bishop Kallistos is in the GOA, not the OCA. I'm in an OCA parish, and we have a very warm relationship with the ROCOR monastery on Vashon Island (Fr. Tryphon and Fr. Paul), and especially with St. Nicholas Church in Seattle (Fr. Alexei). I recently picked up a lampada from Greece for them, when I went to Mt. Athos.
Newbie Question
Moderator: Mark Templet
I haven't been here for a little while, so I wanted to thank everyone for your very helpful replies to my question. Your comments did help to clear up some of my confusion!
I think the main problem is, coming from Catholicism, I'm very aware when any statement is "convservative", "modern", "really left wing" (!), however, because I am very new to Orthodoxy, I'm not able to determine any nuances in a statement. I hope that is clear. I find that traditionalism of the ROCOR very appealing, obviously though, people who have very liberal views regarding religion will find aspects of the church to criticisize. I think because the church I attend has a large Russian population, the sort of picky issues that plague American churches do not seem to be an issue. I've been very happy attending this church, but I'm hesitant to bother the priest with my questions. I think for right now, it's best to just attend and observe. Everyone has been kind and welcoming. I do feel terrible though, because people come up to me speaking Russian, and I feel awful that I don't understand! I'm studying on my own, but without much progress.
Well, anyway, I still have endless questions, and there are always areas that may trouble one's mind a bit, but I'm just going to continue attending church. Interesting note: last week I told a friend about my church attendance, and he didn't realise that Russian Orthodoxy was even a Christian religion!! Sort of funny, sort of sad.
Thanks again everyone!
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mwoerl
why do orthodox people have bad view of rocor?
why do so many orthodox people have such a terrible view of rocor?
well....rocor has, over the years, made enemies by its positions. new calendarists do not like rocor's position on the calendar; ecumenists do not like rocor's position on ecumenism; modernists do not like rocor's position on modernism; the oca does not like rocor's position on the oca; any "official world orthodoxy" jurisdiction does not like rocor's position on accepting clergy from "official world orthodoxy" jurisdictions who are sick and tired of it all. people do not like to be told they are wrong, mistaken, or in error. or violating the canons of the church. or in delusion. or have their comfort zones violated.
michael woerl