Saturday is Zero Hour in Kiev…

I have never felt so apprehensive about an event in the Church as I do concerning Saturday in Kiev. Mind you, I would be extremely pleased if “nothing happened”. Please, God, let that be the result. Unfortunately, I fear that is not going to be so. If Bart does anything as silly as recognising the schismatic Ukrainian bodies, it shall toss a match onto a standing pool of petrol. All this week, he has been playing with matches, pretending to be the “universal patriarch” (how bloody silly, the Church has NEVER had such an office, it’s why we kicked the Pope of Rome out!), and puffing himself up silly.

If Bart recognises the schismatics Kudryakov and Denisenko, the end result shall be a rupture in communion with the MP. Metropolitan Vladimir of Kiev would demand such, and Patriarch Aleksei would defer to him. Vladyki Vladimir, speaking through his aide Archimandrite Kirill Govorun, has made it clear that ANYTHING concerning the Ukrainian Church MUST pass through his hands, as he is the only canonical First Hierarch in the country, and Bart does not have the authority to change that. The Ukraine is not the canonical territory of the EP, it is under the omophor of the MP.

In short, we have a horrific situation facing us. I repeat, I fervently hope that Black Bart retreats from the precipice. I sincerely pray that nothing happens. However, the signs are there for those of us who know the church situation all too well. If Black Bart stabs the Holy Church of Moscow in the back, if he spits in the faces of Metropolitan Vladimir Sabodan and Patriarch Aleksei Rediger, there shall be hell to pay. The MP has put up with much from this Vatican and American sock-puppet, and this would be the end of it, I think.

Interestingly, I think the Pope of Rome is innocent in this particular potboiler, for I believe that Benedict sincerely wishes good relations with us. He knows that such an event would smear him, so, I think that he has actually been trying to restrain Bart. I fear that he is going to fail, because there are people in the US State Department who have encouraged Bart into thinking that he can have an extraterritorial enclave in Istanbul, just as the Pope has an enclave in Rome. Of course, the Turks would nix it. However, we all know that people have the capacity to believe the most foolish things. After all, aren’t there those who believe in Mormonism? I rest my case (magical spectacles and “Reformed Egyptian”, indeed!).

I fear that there is going to be a noxious brew cooked up by Bart, Viktor Yushchenko, and Condoleeza Rice. All of us are going to gag upon it. In conclusion, I would pray that Bart pulls back. I am praying for the best and preparing for the worst. I fear that is the only thing that any of us can do. Dear Lord, save Thy Church from this, if Thou willest. If not, send us the strength to endure what we must.

These are the saddest words I have ever written… why did we live to see such?

Vara Drezhlo

Thursday 24 July 2008

Addendum:

I should, perhaps, make clear that what worries is not so much Bart’s posturing, for Orthodox are well-used to his hubristic antics, but, the actions of Viktor Yushchenko and his American puppeteer, Condoleeza Rice. Yushchenko invited Bart without asking His Holiness, as protocol demands, and posters with Yushchenko and Bart are plastered all over Kiev, whilst those of His Holiness are banned. Bart may indeed have the good-sense to try to keep his mouth shut, but Yushchenko may very well commit him to an action in public. This is what is so worrisome, because Yushchenko is an unbalanced individual who believes his own propaganda. In this lies the danger…