First openly American bishop consecrated

[priestmark]

Unlike bishop Tikhon (who sanctioned this), I don't find this funny.

I don't believe he even comes close to sanctioning this.

The Onion Dome owner says about himself:
"I am currently, by the grace of God and the love and prayers of my Bishop TIKHON and priest John, a member in good standing of Holy Resurrection Orthodox Church, Diocese of the West, OCA. "

But does this mean Bp Tikhon santions this garbage?

Here is what the bishop had to say before he was aware of the above statement (which when pointed out to him he considered as a "gotcha"):

Date: Wed, 1 Oct 2003 08:15:48 -0700
Sender: Orthodox Christianity <orthodox@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU
From: Bishop Tikhon <vladyka@WORLDNET.ATT.NET
Subject: Re: Post-Mortem Tollhouse to Close for Repairs

Why not leave this sort of thing on the puerile pages of "the onion dome?" Mockery of the Orthodox is its metier, after all, but I don't think it's a function of this List. Love, +B.T.

[rebecca]

That second paragraph, implying that ROCOR bishops consider Russians a superior and holier race, is crossing the line, IMO.

Some Americans I know struggle with the ethnic component of Orthodox churches. You get some mixed ethnic churches (like mine) where people are very open-minded and respectful of each other, delighting in practicing what little they know of each other's languages. But other parishes make Americans feel like outsiders or second-class citizens. This is a temptation and a sensitive issue for many people (especially inquirers and new converts), so making light of it doesn't seem appropriate.

It's true that Russian is the default language amongst our hierarchy, regardless of their national origins, since most of our foreign-born (as in not born in Russia) bishops grew up speaking Russian with their immigrant parents.

[Nevski]

Because you judge that there are people who need more humility (and I do), your prescription is mockery? And make no mistake, this is not "taking ourselves to seriously" as the Onion Dome tries to explain itself away, this is taking the Church "to seriously". In other words, because people are serious about certain important issues, we should all just laugh at it because it is worthy of laughter and not tears.

Perhaps you can add your voice to the ones Mr. Riggle lists here:

http://www.theoniondome.com/disgrunts.php

As for me, I consider The Onion Dome to be a breath of fresh air.

[Nevski]

I don't believe he even comes close to sanctioning this.

The Onion Dome owner says about himself:
"I am currently, by the grace of God and the love and prayers of my Bishop TIKHON and priest John, a member in good standing of Holy Resurrection Orthodox Church, Diocese of the West, OCA. "

But does this mean Bp Tikhon santions this garbage?

Here is what the bishop had to say before he was aware of the above statement (which when pointed out to him he considered as a "gotcha"):

Date: Wed, 1 Oct 2003 08:15:48 -0700
Sender: Orthodox Christianity <orthodox@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU
From: Bishop Tikhon <vladyka@WORLDNET.ATT.NET
Subject: Re: Post-Mortem Tollhouse to Close for Repairs

Why not leave this sort of thing on the puerile pages of "the onion dome?" Mockery of the Orthodox is its metier, after all, but I don't think it's a function of this List. Love, +B.T.

You're absolutely right, Father. Vladyka does not sanction this "garbage." One of several things I disagree with His Grace about.

But I think the jury is still out about which kind of web site, whether the kind represented by the Onion Dome, or the kind of site represented by certain Orthodox discussion fora, is more "puerile." Just my opinion.

[Nevski]

The Onion Dome owner says about himself:
"I am currently, by the grace of God and the love and prayers of my Bishop TIKHON and priest John, a member in good standing of Holy Resurrection Orthodox Church, Diocese of the West, OCA.

The Onion Dome owner also references one "Nicholas of Euphrosynos Cafe fame" as one who has "encouraged (him) in this bizarre enterprise." So, what's up with that?

[OrthodoxyOrDeath]

Thank you for the correction Fr. Mark. For some reason I walked away thinking bishop Tikhon sanctioned the site. Upon re-reading it, that's not what it says.

I can't speak for Nicholas, but a few years ago I thought the Onion Dome was "innocent fun" too. Reality slowly set in. I don't want to offend anyone, nor do I want stay silent.

[Daniel]

Satire is used to mock what some concider a vice, or folly. So does the writer concider Orthodoxy a vice or folly? Whether intended or not, that's the way writer comes off. The ethinc stereotypes are very outdated.

Subject matter aside, the writing is just plain bad. It's not funny because it simply is not funny.