On the question of the calendar

[Liudmilla]

Deacon Nick:
I think you forgot the link for the site.... I know we've discussed this before!

Milla

[ania]

Didn't ROCOR make a whole bunch of bishops for New Calanderists back in the 50s? I have to doublecheck for who and exactly when, but I am absolutely positive that it did happen. (Remember being rather surprised upon reading it actually).

[joasia]

Savva,

You assume that I am talking about a church in the U.S.

And yes, I am talking about Bishop Paul of Astoria, but his jurisdiction doesn't only cover the United States. As I mentioned I was baptised when Bishop Peter was still alive. I DO know what bishop I was baptised under.

Sorry for the confusion.

[尼古拉前执事]

You assume that I am talking about a church in the U.S.

Joasia, let me make sure I understand. You are judging the entire GOC this way based on one parish in Canada?

[joasia]

Nikolai,

I am expressing my view on some very negative experiences that are limited to my area.

I would love to know that they are not all the same.

I have a best friend who is Greek and has Greek immigrant parents and relatives. She has relatives all over the world and she knows many people of Greek origin. Her relatives are composed of new calendar and old. And she is the first to complain about the old calendar relatives that are so narrow-minded, judgemental and over-bearing.

So, please do not think that I stand along in my opinion. She is not my only source, either.

But, she also agrees with me on the opinion that, not only in our area, but others, in the U.S...that there are some clergy who are not quite literate about the faith, but are more like villager priests.

If you're Greek, you will know what I mean by villager priest. These are the immigrant priests who came to North America, Canada and U.S. All of which are monk-priests.

For converts, they are very difficult to understand. Perhaps the priests you know are different and that would be wonderful to know.

But, I'm so confused with all these divisions. Please tell me, who are the GOC? I have only been referring to the clergy under the old calendar Greeks, under Bishop Paul in Astoria.

[Etienne]

Joasia,

I would not wish to deny either your experience or that of those you know. I have spent time in Greece and for a time had a house there, travelled extensively and stayed always with Christian Orthodox people. I too have contacts from the Americas, Europe, Australasia and Africa plus the Middle East.

In Greece I have met gentle and kind priests, monastic and married, in villages, and cities. Some were with the 'New' Calendar and others with one or other group adhereing to the Church Calendar. My own adherence to the Church Calendar is well known, as is my refusal to use the term 'Old Calendar. My experience contrasts sharply with yours.

Yes, there are differences, similarities and contrasts that can be made. One thing I never forget is no New Calendarist clergy have been hounded by the police, forcibly stripped of their clothes, shaved and shorn, beaten or killed. Those adhereing to the Church Calendar experienced that and more. Churches entered during divine services and violated by the gendarmarie, etc. Such brutal actions preceded by the violent rupture of the liturgical unity of the Church by the calendar innovation tend to polarise people. Nor have the New Calendar folks been blameless in the further polarisation that has taken place since.

The challenge of the love that 'following Him' requires of us is to love the person in front of you, and especially if he or she does nothing to make you want to love them. Today love is much talked about, as we all know, often either as a sentiment or an abstract. Calendars are not really the issue, but rather innovation, modernism and an absence of the notion of Christian ascetic struggle.

[George Australia]

One answer to the original question which started this thread, namely: "Why do people think that the new calendar is acceptable?"
can be found at this link. ( http://www.eastern-orthodoxy.com/calendar.htm ).