Thoughts on ROAC

[尼古拉前执事]

I've seen (and have) similar questions about Bp. Gregory of Denver. But since I won't be here to discuss them I'll put off asking them until I get back. I look forward to hearing the priest's response, Nicholas.

Perhaps if you will not be around to discuss them you could write Dormition Skete yourself and ask them and let them know that you will not be online to read emails after next Thursday? Their email that I sent your questions on Metropolitan Valentine to is DormitionSkete@Starband.net

[Matushka Christina]

3. Why was Met. Valentine so against ROCA hearing accusations against him? Why not do all that you can to get the truth out, rather than trying to obstruct an investigation?

The sole accuser was a layperson from the MP, a heretical organization. The canons forbid Church synods to even hear accusations against an Orthodox clergyman if they are made by someone who is not Orthodox and not of good (pious) reputation. Mark of Berlin, for the obvious purpose of undermining the FROC, sought to introduce this person's testimony, in violation of the canons, in order to find any means possible to remove Bishop Valentine from the leadership of the FROC dioceses. For this reason alone it would have been not only just to protest, but injust and anti-canonical not to protest. Furthermore, even if this accuser were Orthodox and of good reputation, even then, the Holy Scriptures and the canons forbid recieving an accusation against a clergyman from one person only. So anybody can see that this was just a lawless endeavor to destroy a true confessing bishop.

To add;

The Metropolitan's protest was only to those who wanted to give credence to this "one man's accusation". He did not protest an investigation, in fact, asked for a COMPLETE investigation so as to be cleaded. The ROCOR did invistigate and found nothing in the charges. An Ukaz was issued, No. 11/35/204a, declaring this. After this, the family of the accuser converted and joined the ROAC and are very loyal to the Metropolitan.

In Christ,
Priest Dionysi
priestdionysi@russianorthodox-roac.com

[Julianna]

I'm confused. Matushka did you write this or did Fr. Dionysi?

[rebecca]

I'm a busy woman. Could someone give me (or refer me to) a one-sentence-each summary of what Cyprianites, Matthewites, ROAC, HOCNA, TOC, GOC, etc. are?

[尼古拉前执事]

I'm a busy woman. Could someone give me (or refer me to) a one-sentence-each summary of what Cyprianites, Matthewites, ROAC, HOCNA, TOC, GOC, etc. are?

Let me try.

ROAC = Russian Orthodox Autonomous Church; left ROCOR/ROCA over union with the Cyprian TOC and some administrative issues.

TOC = True Orthodox Church of Greece; Broke away from the GOC when their leader, Cyprian, decided that all World Orthodox had grace, which was something he, as all of the GOC did not believe.

GOC = Genuine Orthodox Church of Greece; Old Calendarist group formed when the EP forcibly made Greece change to the new calendar and led persecutions against the Old Calendarists. Considered the lifting of the anathemas to be the end of grace in the EP.

Matthewites; An extreme group that considers the EP to not have grace after the calendar change. Bishop Matthew ordained his bishop by himself against the canons of the Church.

HOCNA - Holy Orthodox Church of North America; Was in the EP until the lifting of the anathema's, led by a nephew of the EP Athenagora. Came to ROCOR and then left when their leader was accused of homosexual abuse. Joined a GOC group to get bishops then formed HOCNA.

ROCiE - Russian Orthodox Church in Exile; Broke away from ROCOR with Met. Vitaly when he was retired and treated poorly by the ROCOR Synod. Althouhg they point to Cyprianism as an evil of ROCOR, Met. Vitaly was Met. when the communion began and concelebrated with Cyprian, which caused the break of ROAC and some others.

I think I got it, and others can probably go in more detail. Hope it helps!

[尼古拉前执事]

Also, I tried to tell those from each group's side of the story except HOCNA, because I cannot figure out what reason they had to leave.

[rebecca]

Thanks!

Let me see if I have this right: ROCOR is criticized (by the more "extreme" jurisdictions) because

1. It agrees with the TOC Cyprianites, who say that World Orthodoxy has grace,
   1. It has had discussions with the MP, implying that they may have grace, and
2. It is in communion with the SOC, which participates in the ecumenical movement?