A Girl in a White Dress ( I. L. Rusov, 1954)
I have been ill lately, and my doctor has “asked” (ordered, actually) me to rest, including intellectual labour, save for my ordinary work. Ergo, I have not been posting. Apparently, I had been burning the candle at both ends, and one pays for that in the end, unfortunately. However, things were caught before they fell apart, that makes it easier to put them right. Even a fool knows that a blood pressure reading of 158 over 82 is very bad, indeed. In short, I came very close to a heart attack and a stroke, and I thank God that I heeded the warnings in the end (I do admit that I am a fairly stubborn sort, as all Russians are, I am afraid). The situation can be righted, but, only if I do what is right, follow directions, and REST. It is the only way to obtain a happy end to this, thank you very much. If the situation has built up over several years, it shall take a year or two to put it completely to bed.
Therefore, my output shall be considerably less than before, but, I shall do my best to get something up a couple of times of week. I must add that my staritsa seconded my doctor’s orders. “If you do not obey your doctor, it is a failure in obedience and humility”. YOUCH! A week ago, I sent her the e-mail, “Now?” Her reply was just as terse… “No!” Startsi are interesting… the real ones often give the answer, “Pray, then, do what you think is best”, or, “Talk this over with a friend closer to the situation, it is better than talking to me”. All too many people, I fear, do not wish an “elder”; rather, they desire someone to take decisions for them and take the responsibility for them… quite a different creature, wot?
Of course, if this is true for an individual, it is also true concerning an institution. Therefore, all the irresponsible talk emanating from the Syosset gang saying saying that “everything has changed” is pure utter rot and rubbish. Indeed, one of these ecclesiastical paladins was at our parish on the first Sunday of the Easter Lent and actually said (the utter cheek and hubris of it all!), “Everything has changed! You can send your money to Syosset now!” I kid you not! Then, again, the rector of the parish is a corrupt apparatchik (Igor Stepanovich Burdikov, a notorious sort in OCA circles for being one of Herman’s attack dogs), so, what else does one expect?
It is going to take a generation to repair the grievous damage done over the last 50 years by Alexander Schmemann, SVS, and the Syosset mafia. It is that simple. The financial crisis was a piffle, a mere imbroglio in a teacup. That is, it was serious enough, but, not life-threatening in itself. Metropolitan Jonas faces a daunting task… he faces a united cabal that, ultimately, rejects his vision of the Church and refuses to change one iota in any substantive way.
Let me give a concrete illustration. Yesterday, Nicky and I attended Easter liturgy at St John the Baptist parish in Mayfield PA (his brother Gregory is the deacon there… a most estimable and excellent man… hear, hear!). Since St Tikhon’s is in the vicinity, we took a motor down there. Interesting in the extreme, my dear readers, it was, indeed! Metropolitan Herman’s name has not been removed from the signage for the seminary, nor has his name been removed from the reserved slot in the car park.
“Everything has changed”. Au contraire, NOTHING has changed. This is after six months after his “removal”. If you hear a Syosset apologist claim that “everything has changed”, well, remember what I told you… and keep your money in your wallet, and do check your pocket or your purse after you’ve been in the presence of a SVS or Syosset minion… the two institutions are beyond the capacity of the present OCA to maintain, and they are always in need of funds… you get the picture.
In conclusion, just as I need time to heal properly and completely, so does the OCA. If the OCA refuses to take its medicine (dissolution of SVS, sale of the Syosset complex, dismissal of the “national staff”, and removal of the metropolitan residence to St Tikhon’s) give the “national Church” nothing… yes, nothing at all. Remember, over 2 percent of the national budget goes to the housekeeper… an amount which is inordinate in anyone’s calculations. One either does what is right or one dies, it is that simple. If I refuse to heed my doctor, I die. If the OCA refuses to heed what is needful, it shall die. We can either change our habits and live, or, persist in our ways and die.
I have decided to live. Shall the bishops who make up the present OCA choose likewise? Time shall tell us.
Barbara-Marie Drezhlo
Albany NY
Easter Monday 20 April 2009
XPHCTOC BOCKPECE! I have missed your postings, though I agree you should heed the Dr’s advice (note that I am not the best person to admonish as it has been 6 months since my Dr. requested I have blood-work to check cholest. etc., and I always plan to schedule it “next week”). I hope you and yours had a joyous Pascha and wish you a blessed Bright Week. Asking your prayers,
Fr. David
Comment by Hieromonk David — Monday, 20 April 2009 @ 14:30
Christ is risen!
I pray for your health. Let me suggest that things have and continue to change at St Tikhon’s Monastery. External signage means little right now. The real signs of change are apparent to all who know what is happening within the monastic community and the leadership and freedom that are emerging there. Christ Jesus be praised!
A joyous Bright Week,
Priest John
Comment by Priest John Wehling — Monday, 20 April 2009 @ 14:57
Fr John,
If you are defending the existence of SVS, Syosset, and the drones of the “national church”, I could not disagree with you more thoroughly. As of today, I have seen nothing of substance that gives me confidence that the Syosset/SVS cabal is loyal to Met Jonas. Of course, he has only been on power six months, and he is surrounded by acolytes of Schmemann the Horrible.
I believe that Met Jonas is going to surprise the Syosset/SVS mafia. Vladyki Jonas is the spiritual son of Archimandrite Kiril Pavlov, one of the greatest startsi of the Holy Trinity-St Sergius Lavra. Reflect on the fact that Matusiak did not make the Rossiskaya Gazeta interview available in a timely fashion to the OCA faithful. There is a special place in the Church waiting for both Jonas Paffhausen and Hilarion Kapral, and they shall both preside over the end of the OCA and the ROCOR as “independent” bodies. There is a united and god-pleasing future waiting for us if we but grasp it. Anyone who defends the “autocephaly” of the OCA must be seen for what they are: phyletistic modernists of the worst sort.
The institutional form of the Church here in the diaspora is changing as I write this, and we must do all that we can to aid such. It is our duty before God and our fellow Christians. May god help us all!
in all Christian charity,
Vara Drezhlo
Comment by 01varvara — Monday, 20 April 2009 @ 16:25
Christos Voskrese!
Vara!
Do feel better soon,
In Christ,
Leah
Comment by handmaidleah — Thursday, 23 April 2009 @ 10:03
Hi! Two videos/ songs from Russia you maybe would like. THe first one is from the Eurovision Song Contest semifinal in Moscow a couple of days ago. While people voted, the russians sang songs etc. A real masterpiece, and very funny! (some russophobiacs spoke of “militarisaion” – but for someones sake; the Red Army – Choir i s CHOIR – and the tank is pink with flowers on(thes scene – and this years Song Contest – are the most expensive ones in the history of Eurovision, by the way)
The second song i from somewhere else – the make fun aboutthe little argue between Russia and Europe concerning the gas.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FCZNfeWGTkQ&feature=player_embedded
Comment by omorphia — Thursday, 14 May 2009 @ 04:40
Christ is Risen! Indeed He is Risen!
More prayers for your health, my own and those I entrust to the Mother of God.
One thing the OCA should reflect on in its history: that for all the talk of “bringing in the numbers” they never really did. The book of their membership was somewhat exaggerated. While “leaving the ghetto of uniatism” they constructed another ghetto of intellectualism and money loving.
‘
Comment by Stephen — Friday, 22 May 2009 @ 17:09
I am relieved to see your post. I am a Slavophile Roman Catholic, art-lover and have just discovered your blog(s).
Take care of yourself.
Comment by mamaaidan — Tuesday, 26 May 2009 @ 14:20