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

[romiosini]

Are you serious? Well, wasn't Vladika Lazar in the Rocor, until he left? And joined the Kiyvian "Patriarchate"?

[Savva24]

Are you serious? Well, wasn't Vladika Lazar in the Rocor, until he left? And joined the Kiyvian "Patriarchate"?

I am not sure what your point is. He joined a parade of juristictions before being accepted into the OCA if I am not mistaken.

AND WHAT? HE attacked Saint Seraphim of Platina? Are you serious? I don't he necessarily attacked in a direct way, did he? And if he did, what did Elder Seraphim Rose do to him?

He did attack Fr. Seraphim quite directly; Fr. Seraphim didn't do anything to him, they simply disagreed. The issue was over the toll houses but he made his arguments much more personal and slanderous than just a normal debate. Also instead of addressing the fathers in Platina first over the matter, he came out with public attacks. (I doubt that his tactics are any different now with Fr. Ephraim; I wonder if he ever thought of contacting Fr. Ephraim privatly over the matter before attacking him and trying to make him out to be cultish.) And still twenty years after Blessed Seraphim's death he can't get over it. If you would like to learn more about the twistedness of Bishop Lazar' (then Deacon Lev) attacks, I suggest you read ''Fr. Seraphim Rose: The Private Letters'' (to Fr. Alexei Young).

You ask if the OCA should care.... Well... Metropolitan Herman, or then Metropolitan Theodosius, had to worry on how to protect and expand the American Church. (I don't have a problem with them at all...) Ordaining converts such as Vladika Seraphim of Canada, or Tikhon of West or Dmitri of the South. (Which I personally think was a good thing, because bishops that are cradle to Orthodoxy from birth are more Ecumenists and the converts are... if there is any...)

Again, I am not really sure what your point is. I wasn't asking if the OCA should care, I was wondering why they accepted this man in the capacity of a bishop, even though they did retire him. Certainly they should care about the soul of a man.

Anyways, I don't think Vladika Lazar hates him, I'm sure he doesn't, maybe he really didn't mean to direct his letters at Elder Ephraim, you never know...

It is obvious that his letters are directed against Elder Ephraim. I am not sure if he ''hates'' him or not. My impression what more along the lines of jealousy than hatred. I would just think that someone who truly wants to see the spread of Orthodoxy and traditional monastasism in North America would try to promote Fr. Emphraim's efforts rather than bring them down. I personaly think that Fr. Ephraim's monasteries are probably the best thing to happen in modern Orthdoxy in North America and would like to see them promoted by someone who seems to be working towards the same goals.

In Christ,

Nicholas

[Giorgos]

+
Dear Brothers,
In an ancient number of Bishop's Lazar magazine (then a Archimandrite) "Canadian Orthodox Missionary", published under the aegis of Free Serbian Diocese, is published a photo of him with the Abbot Herman of Platina, carrying an icon-portrait of Fr. Seraphim that hang in the Lazar'sMonastery af a gift of the St. Herman of Alaska Brotherhood. This is not astound?
With Love,
Giorgos

[/\RT3|\/|0|\|]

Not only is it the best thing for North America but for the whole Greek Community in America, if you go to St.Joeseph's Hospital in Phenoix Arizona the hospital nurses saw him "LITTERALY" preform a MIRICALE back in 95or 97 just go to the top floor and ask the Lightskinned AfricanAmerican nurse she saw him heal a dying nonOrthodox man of spinal cancer the man and his wife and children became Orthodox because of that, so did the nurse.

[joasia]

Yes, it is confusing to see so many sides of a person's behaviour. But, one thing that strikes me clearly is that Fr. Ephraim has been a tool of God to convert others, as was describe with the miracle below. That will always be a blessing for Fr. Ephraim at his judgement (and other conversions he has effected).

What he does in his private life and the state of his soul at death will be God's judgement. I, personally, am old calendar. I do not agree with OCA(they are ecumenists). But, within Orthodoxy, God has given us economia. It's the grey area which I always find difficult to understand and will not tread on.

As for those clergy who openly teach ecumenism, they are showing their true colors from the start. How they will end up at death can change, so I don't give up on anyone until their death. You never know if they may come to God in the truth. After all, St. Cyprian, who was a satan worshipper came to God. What a shock! And let's not forget St. Paul.

That's why we are taught to pray for others.

That's what gives me hope for others.

Joasia

[Michael]

I find it comical that a supporter of "archbishop" Lazar Puhalo would be posting messages against false eldership on various internet cites. He seems completely unaware that Lazar himself, for much of his ecclesiastical career, has had his "disciples" refer to him as elder, to the extent that he even published his own name (as in, "for our Elder, Archimandrite Lazar") in the Great Litanies of his service books given to the metochion parishes of his monastery. He would leave a blank space for the name of the bishop - afterall, he changed bishops like most people change socks - but was sure to include his name for commemoration. Utter nonsense.

[Kollyvas]

Isn't it strange that the DEPOSED mr. puhalo has tried to make a name for himself attacking "gurus," when he has his followers refer to him as an "elder," (wonder if rick ross is aware?!)and his opus is the product of rehashing the heretical babblings (soundly refuted in PRE-REVOLUTIONARY RUSSIA BY PEOPLE WITH IMPECCABLE CREDENTIAL, qv TROITSKY for one.)of a para-church personality cult which was centered around fr. sergius bulgakov, a condemned heretic?! This is the ground on which Athonite eldership can be condemned?! I'm surprised makrakis hasn't been cited as an authority by certain people...Although the "theologians" cited on the new ostrog and david smith websites seem to be less than makrakis' peers. LOL!
R