Archbishop GREGORY of Denver and Colorado

[Nathaniel Kapner]

:(See my fisrt Posts for full story)

Fr Peter made a sham apology, saying "IF I offended you." I responded, "Not IF, you DID sin against me."
Priest monk Fr Peter replied "I stlll hold to what I did!"

I would have preferred he stuck his nose in the air and said, "Brother Nathaniel, I SINNED against you.

I am a very straight foward person. If I sin against someone, I apologize specifying that very SIN.

For Christ, The Truth,

Sbn Nathaniel

[Nathaniel Kapner]

The promises that I made was not contingent on a "Preliminary Investigation" but an anticipated "Ecclesiastical Court" that I Formally requested.

For Christ and The Truth,

Sbn Nathaniel Kapner

[joasia]

PRIDE! PRIDE! PRIDE!

You still don't understand, do you Nathaniel? How could you; pride blinds a person from seeing what low spiritual state they're in.

[TomS]

The promises that I made was not contingent on a "Preliminary Investigation" but an anticipated "Ecclesiastical Court" that I Formally requested.

You are mistaken.

[spyridon]

Well Nathaniel you have alot to learn my dear friend,One is that we cannot make people do what we want them to do or in your case say what we want them to say, that is the old game of trying to PLAY GOD-Thus your statement says,
"""I would have preferred he stuck his nose in the air and said, "Brother Nathaniel, I SINNED against you."""

you wanted him to say this to you,that isnt how it works..the way it works in God`s World is we accept any apology wether its meaningful or as you put it a Sham...we are not the judge of the apology(GOD is)..but as an Orthodox Christian we must accept and walk away, clearly somthing grave has become of somthing little and many peoples lives have been burdened....If I was you i would write all those Monks and there bishop Gregory a letter and write nothing more than.
(as an Orthodox christian and former brother I Apologise and hope you can forgive me............in christ ---your name)
and nothing else,and pray to God to help you really mean this and you will come to find this little letter a very fruitful and humbling experience to add to your belt........

[Nathaniel Kapner]

EXPOSING ABP GREGORY - IV (Continued)

"Sub Deacon Jerjis Protests Gregory's ABORT of Ecclesiastical Court Requested By Sub Deacon Nathaniel Kapner & Sub Deacon Jerjis Alajaji on July 11, 2005, And Denied By Abp Gregory on July 12, 2005. Part 1"

(Sbn Jerjis and Mother Mariam read the following "Protest" in person to Abp Gregory on July 16, 2005. It fell on 'deaf-ears,' as Abp Gregory had nothing but contempt for the following appeal of Sub Deacon/Dr. Jerjis Alajaji:

Dear Vladyka Gregory,

I ask for your blessing.

Dear Fr. George, Many years for the Feast of the Holy Apostles, and for the Deposition
of thePrecious Tunic of our Most Holy Lady and Mother of God in Blachernae !

Here are some reflections regarding recent events. Please forgive any presumption on my part, but I am merely acting as the transcription clerk ofthe words of Saint Paul to Saint Timothy, who wrote as a father to his son.Therefore, let us not make clean only the outside of the cup and the platter, but the inward part which may be full of ravening and wickedness [Lk. 11:39].

The future spiritual leaders and Orthodox guides of North America need to know how to deal with other members of the body of Christ. Disciples need to think and conduct themselves as Orthodox Christians. Saint Paul cautionsSaint Timothy how the house of God is to bemanaged and how one ought to beconducting oneself in the house of God [1 Tim. 3:15], for great is themystery of piety. If the disciples of Dormition Skete are to be goodministers of Jesus Christ, they need to be nourished with the words of theFaith and of good teaching [1 Tim. 4:6].

They must become an example of thebelievers in word, in behavior, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity [1 Tim. 4:12]. They have to be anchored in the Holy Scriptures, Canons, and Fathers. Saint Paul tells Saint Timothy not to rebuke an elder, but exhort him as a father, and elder women as mothers, with all purity [1 Tim. 5:1, 2]. This did not happen with respect to Mother Mariam. Disciples and converts must not do what they think is right in their own eyes or experience. They are toguard the deposit entrusted to their care [1 Tim. 6:20]. Father Peter claims they were afraid of bodily injury and damage. "But God gave us not a spirit of cowardice, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind [2 Tim. 1:7]." Please see how we all fall short of these. These are the virtues and practices that we are to strive after.

Saint Paul goes on to tell Saint Timothy that Timothy is to "keep on holding fast to an outline of sound words which he heard from Paul, in faith and love [2 Tim. 1:13]."

What outline or prototype are we leaving behind for emulation? Calling the police? Throwing a brother in prison? Stripping him of his means of sustenance and black? Ousting him from the monastery impulsively at once without a blessing? Paul goes on to tell Timothy that he is to be empowered in the grace that is in Jesus Christ. He also commandsTimothy saying, "Be empowered in the things which thou heardest from me in the midst of many witnesses, commit thou these things to faithful men who shall be competent to teach others [2 Tim. 2:2]."

So how are the future clerics to be empowered and competent if they are not taught reverence for Scriptures and Canons, but rather they are indulged and pampered? How are they to learn their lesson if they are not seriously canonized for theirweighty transgressions? We are doing a terrible disservice to them and future Orthodox Christians by just giving them a slap on the wrist.

Timothy was told to "endeavor to present thyself approved to God, a workman that hath no cause for shame, cutting in a straight line the word of truth[2 Tim. 2:15]." Are we professing the word of truth, or are we covering upfor the errors of a priest and pointing the fingers only to the novice subdeacon? Paul also tells our Timothy: "There is no need for a slave of the Lord to fight, but to be gentle toward all, apt to teach, forbearing, in meekness instructing those who oppose themselves, if perhaps God might give them repentance to a full knowledge of the truth, and that they mightrecover from out of the snare of the devil [2 Tim. 2:24-26]."

Timothy was warned to "exhort the word with all long-suffering and teaching [2 Tim.4:2]." Was there enough gentleness and exhortation on the part of Fr. Petertowards Br. Nathaniel, or was there an immediate accusation of "lying" aboutthe blessing to take his name's day off from the kitchen? Does not Fr. Peter take off from his work with the server and from mounting icons on Sundaysand Feast Days? Does the cook take off from work on any Sunday or Feast Day? I would think not. Why would not Fr. Peter himself have blessed Br.Nathaniel to take off on his name's day?

All the above from St. Paul's epistle to St. Timothy is plainly against calling in civil authorities. The future spiritual leaders and Orthodox guides need to know that calling in the police and going to court is not the accepted practice of Christ or the apostles or the saints, when dealing with others members of the body of Christ. Are we to emulate the brothers of Joseph the All-Comely who were rid of their brother by delivering him up to aliens? It is true that Nathaniel was no Joseph; he was not as subordinate as he could have been, but neither was he an apostate, heretic, ax-murderer, or terrorist.

I am troubled, dear Vladyka, by many particulars in your Decision concerning Br. Nathaniel's Charges. Our Savior instructs us, "If thy brother should commit a sin against thee...tell it to the Church...whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven" (Matthew 18:15). In Mother Mariam's ONT,the footnote by St. Chrysostom explains, "The Savior permits the binding, to the one who is aggrieved."

There are many reproofs in the Law of Moses and the writings of the Holy Prophets for "perverting the judgment of theafflicted". I believe that Sbn. Nathaniel indeed has a right to bring his cause unto the tribunal of the Church against Fr. Peter et al.

Surely, Fr.George and your Eminence would not want to be in a position of contradicting the Savior's guidelines for dealing with disputes. To simply say, "forgive and forget", is not the Gospel wisdom or Canonical prescriptions for dealingwith contentions between Christian brothers.

My feeling is that any "Preliminary Investigation" should be governed by, and in concert with, thespirit and tenor of the Canons. Canon VI of the Second Ecumenical Councilsays: "Likewise, as regarding those who are themselves being accused, theyare not to be permitted to accuse a bishop or other clergymen until theyhave first proved themselves innocent of the charges placed against them" . This is the Canon we used a year ago against Metropolitan Valentine when he countered your genuine accusations to the ROAC Synod with fabricated accusations of his own.

The Preliminary Investigation should not go beyond deciding whether the charges of the Accuser have enough merit to warrant the convening of an Ecclesiastical Court. Father George and your Eminence violated the the spirit of the above cited Canon, by pointing out the 'faults' of the Accuser, before the Defendant "proved himself innocent of the charge placed against him."

Second, it is clear to me and provable that Br. Nathaniel did indeed 'obey' Fr. Peter's excommunication and epitemia, thus abiding by the Monastic Rules, which should not have beenused against him.

Third, I feel very uncomfortable with your use of Canon CXXXIX of Carthage so as to preclude any consideration of the remaining charges against the defendants. Given Sbn. Nathaniel's obedience to Fr. Peter's excommunication and penance, citing Canon CXXXIX of Carthage is not applicable. Nor was this Canon intended to be used in such a scenario, forthere is nothing at all suspect or worthy of skepticism in his very grave and serious charges. And as he has proven himself to be a faithful member of the Body of Christ, to cite this Canon would impede getting to the knowledgeof the truth concerning his Accusations about these very tragic events.

Fourth, saying that Br. Nathaniel, Subdeacon, is "primarily a member of thecommunity" [i.e. novice] prior to him being a Subdeacon is somewhat legalistic. Where do his two 'hats' of Novice and Subdeacon change? For instance, when he is trimmingthe lamps at 4:30 am, beginning at the altar,is he doing it as a Subdeacon only (for only a clergyman may dare to touch the altar) and is longer no in the rank of 'novice?' If you say yes, then what if someone should come in and tell him at this point that the soup he has cooking on the stove smells funny? Should he answer "that does not concern me, go away, for now I am only a Subdeacon and not the novice whose 'obedience' is the kitchen-cooking?

No, Vladyka he is in reality both at all times; novice, and one who serves the Cathedral as a Subdeacon. He is at all times to act according to the privileges and responsibilities of Novice and Subdeacon. In the vein, Fr. George, Fr. Peter, and your Eminence are at all times both 'priests' and 'monks.'

END OF "Sbn Jerjis Protests Gregory's Aborting Spritl Crt (Drm Skte)" PART 1

[joasia]

Nathaniel,

Perhaps you should include the following daily prayer of the Optina Elders to your morning routine. It's the perfect example of how we should approach each day...

GRANT UNTO ME, O LORD, THAT WITH PEACE OF MIND I MAY FACE ALL THAT THIS NEW DAY IS TO BRING. GRANT UNTO ME TO DEDICATE MYSELF COMPLETELY TO THY HOLY WILL. FOR EVERY HOUR OF THIS DAY, INSTRUCT AND SUPPORT ME IN ALL THINGS. WHATSOEVER TIDINGS I MAY RECEIVE DURING THE DAY, DO THOU TEACH ME TO ACCEPT TRANQUILLY, IN THE FIRM CONVICTION THAT ALL EVENTUALITIES FULFILL THY HOLY WILL. GOVERN THOU MY THOUGHTS AND FEELINGS IN ALL I DO AND SAY. WHEN THINGS UNFORESEEN OCCUR, LET ME NOT FORGET THAT ALL COMETH DOWN FROM THEE. TEACH ME TO BEHAVE SINCERELY AND RATIONALLY TOWARD EVERY MEMBER OF MY FAMILY, THAT I MAY BRING CONFUSION AND SORROW TO NONE. BESTOW UPON ME, MY LORD, STRENGTH TO ENDURE THE FATIGUE OF THE DAY, AND TO BEAR MY PART IN ALL ITS PASSING EVENTS. GUIDE MY WILL AND TEACH ME TO PRAY, TO BELIEVE, TO HOPE, TO FORGIVE AND TO LOVE. AMEN.