Moderator: Mark Templet
Reader Jerjis wrote:I have personally telephoned US Customs at JFK.
A deal was made with the Russian embassy and no "official" arrest was made.
We will be getting some paper documentary evidence hopefully in the next few weeks, and we will publish it.
I am indeed, interested to see the documentation of an unofficial arrest, for reasons that have nothing to do with Metropolitan Valentin.
Patrick
When Gregory was cast out of the synod of Archbishop Chrysostomos II, there were no long debates or wrangling over the details. A letter was issued, he was cast out, and the only noise you heard was all the hissing coming from Colorado - literally for years.
I must admit it was a bit frustrating to see, there is a great desire (on my part) to answer such non-sense.
But in the end, there was not one person who converted to Abu-Assali mysticism as a result. If anything, it became clear there was a great deal of energy being wasted in Colorado on self-justification and pride. I must agree with what Fr. Panteleimon who wrote when this was all started some years ago, it is important for Gregory to have "recognition".
So perhaps everyone should just give Gregory a big pat on the head and tell him to clear out some room, we are all coming to join him in a big purple school bus, and when we get there we are going to unfurl the black flag of anarchy...but not to stay up to late waiting.
A deal was made between US Customs and the Embassy of the Russian Federation over the 'alleged' arrest of a visiting ROAC hierarch?
ROAC is disapproved of by the Russian Federation administration, and within Russia this body has suffered repeated attacks, presumably sanctioned. This 'story' appears, I am sorry to say, to have all the hallmarks of disinformation and character assassination.
I have no standing or connection with any of the parties involved, nor to my knowledge the 'jurisdiction' that they belong to. The continual and intemperate attacks are helping no-one that I can see, save the evil one. If anyone has evidence of wrong doing according to the canons then let that person take the matter to a competent ecclesiastical authority, taking such evidence as they possess. :ohvey:
I would have liked to see a customs report and such evidence,
the problem with ANYONE attaining such information is that these police reports are confidential and could only be obtained by 1) Arbp. Valentine or 2) representatives form the russian government.
to test this I called customs and asked if it would be possible for a third party to get information on a customs arrest, they said
"Unless you're the person arrested then there's no way ANYONE could do that"
I think your information is incorrect.
Go here and do a search on "arrests".
http://www.customs.ustreas.gov/
Hardly a tight lipped event.
Following is a journalist's delight...actually two of them:
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News Flash # 1
Archimandrite Arrested at Miami International AirportThe Very Rev. Archimandrite Michael, an Orthodox priest from Haiti, was ARRESTED at the Miami International Airport on Friday, 16 July, for trying to SMUGGLE a can of 24 karot gold spray paint out of the country in his suitcase. Rev. Michael was ARRESTED by the federal authorities (since Miami International Airport is an international airport...which means it has US Customs and Immigration agents), thus making it a FEDERAL OFFENSE.
Since the transportation of such articles (combustable/flamable) in airplanes is now FORBIDDEN...even on domestic flights, the reverend was FORCED to SURRENDER the spray paint before being permitted to board the aircraft. Because the spray paint was certifiably 24 karot gold and very expensive, and because the reverend was taking it back to Haiti in order to spray some religious articles, he was saddened to have to relinquish the paint. While discussing ways or other possibilities to take the paint with him, he was HELD in a glass CAGE during which time he was OBVIOUSLY WATCHED for twenty minutes by the authorities.
Finally, having no alternative, Rev.Michael gave the can of paint to the AUTHORITIES and he was then given his FREEDOM to leave.
NOW, here's the real story:
NEWS FLASH # 2
The Very Rev. Archimandrite Michael, an Orthodox priest from Haiti,
was detained briefly at the Miami International Airport on Friday, 16 July, because he had a can of 24 karot gold spray paint in his suitcase. Father Michael was questioned about the spray paint because such articles (combustable/flamable) are not permtted to be carried on airplanes....not even on domestic flights, a regulation about which he did not know.
Father Michael apologised for not knowing of the regulation and although he was sad to have to leave it behind, he willingly gave the can of spray paint to the federal authorities (since Miami International is a port of entry, and therefore staffed by federal agents), and was escorted to an air conditioned glass room while waiting to have his suitcase re-tagged. The federal agents were extremely polite and even asked Father Michael for his blessing before he left.
THIS IS A SPOOF, of course, but it has a point. I have capitalized several words in the first "News Flash" in order to make them stand out and to show that the clever useage of words can slant almost any article to
make the reader think what the writer wants him or her to think.
Take, for example:
"ARRESTED" and detained.
"SMUGGLE" and carrying
"FORBIDDEN" and not permitted
"FORCED" and asked
"SURRENDER" and give
"HELD" and escorted to....
"GLASS CAGE" and air-conditioned glass room
"OBVIOUSLY WATCHED" and asked for his blessing
"given his FREEDOM" and left
Now compare these two articles with the junk that was written about Metropoliltan Valentin when he departed from JFK in NYC!
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Archimandrite Michael...a former journalist[/b]