RTOC consecrated a Bishop for Serbian TOC

[Priest Siluan]

Dear in Christ, Jonathan:

Yes, is very difficult to make get an accurate reading of this event so recent, and the Metropolitan Petros`case is not in the very difficult GOC-ROCOR history. We should remember that Abp Seraphim, first, and Abp Leonty, later, consecrated the GOC hierarchy without the approval of the ROCOR Synod (and even they were punished for doing it), in the case of Archbishop Leonty (which I know better), he did it on grounds of conscience. maybe the RTOC did it on the same gounds than Vl. Leonty. God and time will tell. So,we will see what will happen with STOC, "by their fruits ye shall know them"

[leonidas]

While there are some similarities between Fr. Akakios and Bishop Petros' ordinations, there a number of differences as well. Firstly, Bishop Petros was ordained by the American-based ROCOR in America for America, not in France for Serbia. Secondly, Bishop Petros was part of ROCOR until the 1970's when they gave him a canonical release to the Greek Church. Thirdly, Bishop Petros had the support of the Greek Old Calendar parishes in America. Finally, Bishop Petros' ordination did not create a schism in America or in the Greek Church, as Fr. Akakios' has in Serbia. Neither did it impede commune between the Greek and Russia Churches. Rather, it furthered that goal. It is equally incongruous to make a parallel between Fr. Akakios of Serbia and Archbishop Akakios of Talantion (Greece). In the late 1930's, there were close to 800 organized communities of GOC throughout Greece, while the most conservative estimates between 1951 and 1969 (by the NC Church) claimed that there were between 60,000 and 100,000 Old Calendarists in Greece. In contrast, five communities and three priests in Serbia signed the "Official Announcement addressed to the GOC Synod".

[Ekklisiastikos]

Some are looking for excuses, but there are no excuses for this anticanonic consecration which is a fruit of the slavic chauvinism.

The history of TOC of Greece has nothing to do with the "Serbian matter". These are two different stories. In Greece there was a continuation of True Orthodoxy even after the schism of 1924 . And back in 60's there was an already established and organized Orthodox Church which was left without bishops. And it was at the second panhellenic counsil of TOC clergy and faithful where they elected the candidates and decided to whom to turn for help.

Fr. Akakios or the akakian clique till now has not clarified some issues.

Which Holy Canon of the Orthodox Church allowed Akakios to abandon his lawful Bishop and stop being obedient to Him?
Did his Bishop cease to be orthodox? Did he become a heretic?
Is a bishop's nationality over the Holy canons?
Is an artificial presbyterian autocaphalous concregation of three priests over an orthodox and canonic Holy Synod of Bishops?
Who elected him?
Who anointed him as the only candidate?
Were there any council in Serbia where all the parishes participated and elected him?
Why he was consecrated secretly in France far away from Serbia and ''his flock'' ?
Why the Russians two days after their visit to Archbishop Kallinikos and his objections to the ordianation of HIS priest (fr. Akakios) they proceed to this action? Were they truly looking forward to our union or not ?

[Mark Templet]

My opinion: It's done now, so we'll have to deal with it.
But, man, we've got to quit doing this kind of stuff. I just don't see how we can tell the WO to follow the canons and be obedient to Orthodoxy when so much in the TOC is so free-wheeling. Aren't we supposed to be showing the WO that you can't just do whatever you want? Many of you think this is great thing, but I promise you this stuff scandalizes many who are in the WO and are/were considering becoming TO, or are outside of all Orthodoxy and see this mess and decide to avoid it.
Do the Serbs deserve their own bishop at some point, of course they do, but doesn't the whole world deserve to see Christ's True Bride in harmony and unity? Where is the example of quietly, obediently saying our prayers? Instead, we make the news with jurisdiction-hopping. :ohvey:

I pray for the best to come out of this situation now. The best would be for cool heads and calmness in reactions.

[Priest Siluan]

Why the Russians two days after their visit to Archbishop Kallinikos and his objections to the ordiantion of HIS priest (fr. Akakios) they proceed to this action? Were they truly looking forward to our union or not ?

According what I heard, it was not any "canonical objections" against Fr. Akakije from Abp Kallinikos, he only said "he is not prepared to be Bishop", so our Bishop Germongen asked him about canonical objections which forgive Fr. Akakije to be ordained as a bishop, again Abp. Kallinikos said "he is not prepared to be Bishop", it is not a canonical objection . Anyway, soon we will do a official statement about the whole of matter. I also know other details, therefore, now, I am able to say that for many time, Greeks were doing their besto for obstructing any self-administration of our Serbian brothers. And Greeks are not exactly the most suitable for speaking against the chauvinism.

[sava]

Akakios Made a schism and that's the bottom line.

[Priest Siluan]

Sava:

What is your jurisdiction? Under what Bishop are you?

Thanks.