The strange, sad case of the defrocked deacon, Lev Puhalo

[Justin Kissel]

Actually, the Holy Canons call for...

Ahh yes, the Holy Canons! What do they call for?

If anyone insults an emperor or king, or any other ruler, contrary to what is right and just, let him pay the penalty. Accordingly, if he is a clergyman, let him be deposed; but if he is a layman, let him be excommunicated. - Apostolic Canons, 84

"It is not meet for a layman to reprove a priest, or to strike him, or to rail against him, or slander him, or to rebuke him to his face, even if what he [the layman] says is true. If he should dare to do this, let the layman be accursed, and let him be cast out of the Church, for he is cut off from the Holy Trinity and sent to the place of Judas. For it is written, 'Thou shalt not speak evil of the ruler of thy people.'" - Quoted by Matushka Anna Lardas on this site before; she references: Canon 121 of the Nomokanon (Abridged Collection of the Holy Canons of the Holy Apostles, St. Basil and the Holy Councils)

[Kollyvas]

I'll gladly face a spiritual court if mr. puhalo will. What might some characters have said about the lay brotherhoods in SW Russia during the uniate period?! (To which my family on both sides were inextricably bound.) Their sophistries really would have preserved unia...
R
Such cynicism, using akriveia to argue against itself! Down with all councils! Nail it to the doors of the churches! By proclamation of the Cleveland bake sale and the men's "R" club! Gus Kastamakis has spoken!LOL!

[moschonisi]

Yes indeed, the canons DO apply.

As you quoted correctly, they apply 100% to clergy (for example to all those who are laity and clergy and viciously attack CANONICAL Elders and hieromonks).

I do not believe the canons discuss any application towards deposed deacons and self-made bishops... w/ peculiar pasts... changing affiliation faster than Marie Presley changes husbands... attacking Orthodox Tradition with their western theological silliness... attacking other clergy w/ guru-garbage self-made theories... and all along exemplifying immense weaknesses in the personal life and behavior!...

[Justin Kissel]

You can lead a horse to water, but...

[moschonisi]

You can lead a horse to water, but...

...but you can not turn him into a donkey?

[Tessa]

I wasn't "gleefully slamming" Mr. Puhalo. Just being bilingual, his name is funny in realtion to what he seems to do-blow off a lot of hot air. In this in regards to two BEACONS of light in the Orthodox Church-Blessed Fr. Seraphim and Elder Ephraim.

And no, I will not refer to him as a Bishop. We could break off from our church today and start calling my husband Vladika Mladen, but that still doesn't make him a Vladika.

I am not trying to be slanderous to Mr. Puhalo-may God lead him and us all, especially me, to repent. I do think his teachings (which are surely from the devil himself) are against the Traditions of the church and heretical-I would suggest the lecture by Kostantinos Zalalas, "Are All Teachers?", that can be purchased from St. Anthony's.

Please forgive me if I have offended anyone.

In Christ,
Tessa

[moschonisi]

I found the following on the Indiana list:

"

As for your remarks about Lazar Puhalo: I must admit that when I heard he had been received into the OCA as a bishop I was quite perplexed! He certainly has a colorful history and reputation as an odd-ball. His theology on "soul-sleeping" appears to be stolen directly from Ellen G. White and her Protestant denomination, the Seventh Day Adventists... and that's just one of his "curios". You're right about that concern!

"

May I suggest we concentrate on whatever other curious hybrid teachings Mr Puhalo supports and what traditional Orthodox values he opposes? It is my understanding that his FIRDST trouble in ROCOR came from exactly that (plus a few other rumored things) but this was the basis of ROCOR deposing him.

He is also a well know polemic of Fr. Seraphim Rose of blessed memory.

For example, he is big in his theories not only abou soul sleeping but he totally opposed to toll houses.