Joasia wrote:Sue,
With ROCOR clergy though, I tend to think they are all saintly people doing God's work.
Joasia wrote:Don't be so naive. They can mistakes too...many times.
I've been to Jordanville and I know about the Jews who came for the green cards. It's not commendable, on the part of the hierarchy. But, it has happened for many decades. God will judge them for whatever motives they were following.
You've been to Jordanville, huh? Well, I used to live in Jordanville (for 18 years) and I know it very well. Many of the people who came to Jordanville from the USSR (whether they have Jewish ancestry or not is another story, it's their intentions that are most important) did do it for greencards. However, it's very bad of us to judge them for it (just putting the disclaimer "God will judge them for it" does not erase the judgmental tone by which it was written). When my sister decided to marry a Russian seminarian, do you have any idea how many people commented "ah, he's just doing it for the greencard" or "they musta done something, otherwise, she'd never marry someone from "over there" "??? We were hearing this for quite some time, before & after the wedding. They’ve been married quite happily for almost 6 years now. Many from the former USSR who came to Jordanville (for whatever reason) are still there, working for/in the monastery. The important thing is that we judge them not!
Joasia wrote:I have gone to Fr. Luke for confession and I was very distraught after I left him. He is not someone that gives much understanding to strangers. Especially those who are not Russian. I will never go to him for confession again. I don't think he likes to deal with women.
I've gone to Fr. Luke twice in my life. If he is the only one hearing confessions, I request someone else. Being Russian or not has nothing to do if he likes you or not... the man's Russian isn't too good actually (he speaks it with a heavy accent), and most of his followers are actually English speaking converts. As far as him dealing with women... it seems his followers are split down the middle as far as females/males go. Who knows what makes the man tick.
Joasia wrote:For example, Vladika Vitaly refused to consecrate St. John Maximovitch as a saint. He was one of the bishops who strongly opposed St. John, when he was persecuted and put on trial.
This is a fact to be sure. It took much convincing & many years for Met. Vitaly to agree that St. John was a saint.
Joasia wrote:Let's not romantisize them in some kind of dream of perfect Orthodoxy. For that, I look only to the true saints.
My goodness... who is romanticizing here...??? Perfect Orthodoxy... there is no such thing except in the Kingdom of Heaven. If I could tell all about what I know of the goings on of ROCOR, quite a few people would probably contemplate leaving it. However, I'm fully confident that ROCOR is part of the True Church, and trust that the Holy Spirit will somehow make our heirarchs do the right thing in the end.
