Those are EXCELLENT finds, Maria ! I am immensely enjoying the letter about the sad, sorry, stress-laden Rocor union with the mp. I have to finish it but it is SO well composed with such clear logic that one can only marvel.
Reading Archbishop Tikhon's eloquent denunciation of this ill-conceived idea takes me right back to those days. It is a wonderful refresher for us all about how dangerous the union really is and was.
Yes, Maria, that is precisely the document to which I was referring. I was wondering what the reply to that firm denial of ability to transfer to the STOC from RTOC is ? Maybe nothing has been composed in English yet. I received the impression that Lesna is going ahead anyway with complete disregard for their request having been flatly turned down by the Omsk Synod.
Thus I am wondering what the follow-up is. If Lesna has shrugged and said "We don't care what Archbishiop Tikhon thinks of our plan, tough luck to him", then is there anything that the RTOC hierarchs can do to stop Lesna from fleeing into the arms of STOC ?
For I really see that all this talk about STOC is still part of RTOC is questionable. If STOC were a firm daughter Church of the Omsk Synod, then why would Abp Tikhon and the other clergy refuse for Lesna to go under them ? Surely the Omsk Synod must
know that STOC is not really loyal to Abp Tikhon. Not only that, but the Omsk Bishops must regard him as a traitor or else somewhere dangerously near that state. Otherwise the rejection of Lesna's application to transfer would not have been so strongly turned down.
I am waiting anxiously for more information to emerge about the dynamics of this prickly situation. Please let us know if you, Maria, or anyone else hears any further news. This impasse can not endure TOO long, after all.
I like the idea of appointing Archimandrite Philaretos to administer RTOC's European diocese. Certainly a qualified Bishop must be found who could restore peace and order and mollify Lesna and if at all possible, the wild card, STOC. These both need to return to the umbrella of RTOC in my opinion. We have no word about what grievances Lesna may have with RTOC - at least not available in English as of this moment.