It has been some time since my last effort. Truly, healing has taken longer than this impatient one has wished, however, nature shall not be denied (a lesson that Jonas Paffhausen would do well to learn). I have had enough energy for work and for housework, but, little else. Now, I am feeling up to some serious intellectual labour, although not at the level of the past for the time being. Therefore, I am writing an unexpurgated account of the last forty years, as seen from my mole’s-eye perspective. Of course, it is not an exhaustive academic exercise, but, it should help some to understand what has truly happened. Sadly, all that is available is pig-swill, sheer propaganda and eyewash. The REAL story is so much more interesting… and full of more meaning for us as Orthodox Christians. Heroes, villains, builders, thieves… we had all of that and more! Saints walked side-by-side with heretics (although many who are labelled “heretics” were not so… they were either deluded or ignorant, not heretics per se), often in the same body (cf. Seraphim Rose and Gleb Podmoshensky (the latter was one of the greatest rebels of the “silly sixties”, he was rightfully defrocked… shall Jonas Paffhausen repudiate his past connection with him? One would hope so!)).
This is not that effort; rather, it is a few words on my intent and the scope of the enquiry. For instance, no one has ever seriously studied Orthodox converts from a sociological perspective. That is, no one is asking who are they, where are they coming from, and why are they coming. My observations have led me to the conclusion that former Episcopalians are most resistant to an actual conversion. As a rule, they never leave the “Episcopalian” social category; indeed, they resist assimilation into the Orthodox mainstream. Of course, it takes a while to explain this properly. Ergo, it is going to take some time for this to be written properly. If such personalities as Laurus Skurla (he made the most errors of any hierarch, yet, it can be argued that he learned the most from them… not so bad, eh?), the Schmemann brothers (two opposites if there ever was such), and Laurence Mancuso (the deluded founder of New Skete in Cambridge NY, an American analogue of the English nutter Sophrony Sakharov) are tossed into the pot, one comes up with quite an interesting and riveting tale.
We have had quite a FASCINATING history over the last forty years… mostly hidden by those who are profiting from the present situation. Anyone who says that there was anything other than dedicated priests, holy monks, and selfless bishops is vilified and slandered. Well… human nature being what it is (and we Orthodox are not exempt from its effects) has led to a merry little adventure. There has been more than one flip-flop in the past, and there are likely others to come in future, I am sure (my crystal ball is not up to snuff… is yours?).
In short, I expect that the usual cast of suspects is going to call me a lunatic and worse… and I’ll be accused of “nastiness” yet again. However, “the truth will set you free”… but, for it to do so, it must be spoken first! It shall take about a week to get this written up, and a little more to have it vetted. The task is invigorating, to be sure, and I am certain that I shall upset an apple cart or two.
Cheers to all of you. I ask your prayers for my continued healing and good health. My thanks go out to all of you who have been kind over the past six months. God knows who you are, and He shall bless you accordingly.
I have some work to do…
Vara Drezhlo
Albany NY
Wednesday 26 August 2009
