Aleksei Ilyich Osipov: “Schmemann was Clueless in His Understanding of the Spiritual Life”

Aleksandr Schmemann (1921-83), perhaps, the greatest Renovationist heretic of the 20th Century, still the guiding light of the gibbering pseudo-intellectuals in the OCA (sadly, some in the ROCOR, too).

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Professor Osipov questioned the usefulness of reading the works of this modernist priest…

The official publication of the Yekaterinburg diocese Православная газета (The Orthodox Newspaper) reported that Aleksei Osipov, Doctor of Theology, Professor of the Moscow Theological Academy (MDA) expressed his opinions on the works of the famous modernist theologian, Protopresbyter Aleksandr Schmemann, on a live TV broadcast on the Союз (Union) channel. In response to a question on whether it’s useful to read the Schmemann’s books, he said, “It depends on what you’re looking for… What does it mean that something’s useful to read? It’s useful to walk down the street and observe things. It’s useful to go to museums and libraries. What does ‘useful to read’ mean? What criterion do you use to test such ‘usefulness?’ That’s what one needs to talk about. However, if you ask from a Christian perspective about ‘usefulness’, it’s all the things that help to change our lives, to change what’s wrong and sinful. Therefore, we have to ask, ‘Do these books change our life’s path for the better?’ Schmemann, I would say, was a very clever man, a man of very high intellect. Moreover, his reasoning, his rationality, in human terms, is somewhat attractive. He was clever, I would give him that, but he, unfortunately, was clueless in his understanding of the spiritual life. In his diary, he wrote frankly, ‘I can’t accept Brianchaninov or Feofan the Recluse. My soul isn’t in contact with them, they don’t speak to me’. Therefore, please, ask yourself if reading Schmemann helps you to change your life or not? You should use this criterion to judge his output”, Aleksei Ilyich rightly noted.

The well-known Church journalist Igor Druz has written the most detailed in-depth analysis of Schmemann’s works. In his opinion, “The books of Protopresbyter Aleksandr Schmemann are vague and incredibly ambiguous, they’re incompatible with the letter and spirit of the Gospel and the Fathers, which always clearly define sin, and clearly distinguish between light and darkness, sin and righteousness, and hell and reward. His books negate these concepts and words through silence, such concepts are absolutely out of bounds for his disciples. Fr Aleksandr actually tried to abolish the very concept of truth, he constantly stated mutually illogical contentions, blasphemed fasting and prayer, and looked down on saints, ascetics, and confessors of Christ’s Faith. Moreover, each of these blasphemous attacks dissolved into sentimental maunderings about Christ and an incomprehensible ‘Primitive Christianity’. The danger in Schmemann’s books, especially his Diaries, lies not only in the fact that he openly slandered the Church and our motherland, he also wanted to introduce destructive ‘reforms’ in the Church. In general, he tried to undo the truth as such, artfully blending truth and lies. All of his books fly in the face of solid criteria of good and evil. But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil (The Gospel According to St Matthew 5.37). All of his anti-clerical statements hide behind such masquerades as ‘perhaps’, ‘maybe’, ‘possibly’, and ‘apparently’”.

11 August 2010

Благодатный Огонь (Blessed Fire)

http://www.blagogon.ru/news/60/

Editor’s Note:

A priestly friend sent on some interesting links… this is the only one that I had time to translate. For those who have facility in Russian, there’s also:

http://www.ruskline.ru/analitika/2010/09/06/shmeman_vernye_voprosy_i_nevernye_otvety/

http://www.ruskline.ru/analitika/2010/09/09/kuda_sposobny_uvesti_nastavleniya_protoiereya_aleksandra_menya/

Both are GOOD reads!

BMD

A Comment from a Correspondent:

Here’s something from one of my “regulars”:

I was reading something so amusing that I couldn’t resist the temptation to share it. It is from a long post of a Romanian “Patrologist” living in France. “This country (France) saved Orthodoxy from rotting over the last seventy years. We shouldn’t forget that, thanks to Russian émigrés of exceptional valour that settled on the banks of the Seine after the Bolshevik Revolution, Orthodoxy could stand tall”. I needn’t tell you who those “exceptional Russians” were.

Hmm… I think that they mean “exceptional” people like the arch-heretic Sergei Bulgakov (one of the few people actually excommunicated (anathematised) by the MP in the 20th century). Does it surprise you that Bulgakov was ADS’ mentor and idol? The student surpassed the teacher, though…

Do note that the MP excommunicated Bulgakov. This is VERY rare in the Orthodox Church and konvertsy should stop bandying about the word. You have to WORK at it… it’s only for the worst unrepentant heretics, not those targeted for elimination by local gossips and jumped-up convert “experts”. Get your mind right.

BMD

Appearance vs Actuality: Internet Reality vs Real Life (The Tale of One RATHER Small “Jordanville” Parish)

Interior of the ROCOR parish in Albany NY… note well that this is the ENTIRE nave, and that when one takes “waste space” into account, it means that only about 100 parishioners can attend service… and because of the space taken up by the excess clergy… there are less than 100 faithful present at this affair… this is a typical Pravoslavny Potyomkin Village, I fear (the clergy are over 10 percent of those present).

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Editor’s Foreword:

I anticipate a great deal of heat and Sturm und Drang on this. However, it’s a classic example of internet “reality”… much too good to pass up, I dare say.

BMD

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Firstly, look at these:

http://www.patriarchia.ru/db/text/1270811.html

http://www.russianorthodoxchurch.ws/synod/eng2010/9enalbanyconsecration.html

Pretty impressive, no? The reality is MUCH more modest than what this portends (as is so much in American Orthodoxy). Firstly, note the modest size of the building, this, at the epicentre of an MSA of approximately a million people. Secondly, it is set on a secondary road, out of sight of the major thoroughfares of the region; it would have been better sited on Wolf Road or Washington Avenue Extension, rather than Sand Creek Road (which was chosen as it was convenient for a clan that fancies itself the “leaders” of the parish (they’re within a five-minute motor of this site)).

This parish is, for all intents and purposes, a dependency of the monastery at Jordanville. It has always been allied with the rigourist faction there, indeed, one could gauge the “party-line” by the way that the clergy and (some of) the people easily adjusted their opinions to fit it. Don’t argue with such sorts… for they’ll tell you that they had always held their current opinion. They’ll be “sincere”, and they’ll take offence if you press the matter. For instance, in the nasty days of the Ustinovshchyna, they loudly upheld Vitaly’s inane notion of parishes in Russia. When the wind shifted… they changed their tune. All in all, not a bunch to trust; no, not in the least. After all, they threw out a priest for not following the Vitalyist party-line slavishly… his name disappeared… his photos disappeared… no one dared refer to him. I have seen what “unperson” means… it’s not pretty in the least. Don’t point fingers at Proddies for shunning… what we do is far worse and far more noxious.

In short, none of this concerned this rather minor parish and the gossipy coterie that runs it. Since this parish is so tightly intertwined with the “Jordanville Gang”, it was a sign that Hilarion Kapral felt that he had to mend fences with certain factions at Jordanville. Take, for instance, the rector. One would think that he was a zealous pastor. Nothing could be farther from the truth. He lives in Mohawk NY, right outside Jordanville, over 100 kilometres away from this parish. The assistant priest lives at over a half-hour’s motor from Albany… that is, there is no resident ROCOR priest in Albany (a deacon does live in one of the suburban towns).

One can see that this major shindig was nothing but an excuse for Hilarion Kapral to “rally the troops” and mollify the Jordanville hardheads. That’s why one has to take all internet Orthodox news from the USA with a great deal of scepticism and wariness. There’s a great deal of over-inflation (yet, the patriarchia.ru citation means that Hilarion wanted the world to know that he was mending fences with Jordanville… it has nothing to do with this tiny parish). However, that’s the way of it in Orthodoxy in America… a great deal of puffery and very little in the way of actuality. Sad, isn’t it?

Since no major “quotations” came out of this, one can’t say whether Hilarion Kapral is making a tactical move (mollifying Jordanville prior to a major decision) or a strategic change (capitulating to the hardhead faction at Jordanville). It bears watching, though. Do note that there were no OCA clergy in the photos nor was the OCA bishop (or his representative) present. Interesting, no? Things are NEVER boring in Orthodoxy!

By the way… don’t shoot me, I’m just a messenger. If you wish to refute me, PROVE that Wsewolod Drobot doesn’t and didn’t live in Mohawk NY… I’ll retract everything, if you can prove that… and you CAN’T.

Barbara-Marie Drezhlo

Thursday 9 September 2010

Albany NY

Editor’s Postscript:

A correspondent noted that a ROCOR deacon WAS present at the consecration of an OCA parish in the area in ’09, but there appeared to be no reciprocity here. It’s interesting… but I think that’s easily explained… this parish is run by a set of hard-headed (and hard-hearted) rigourists. Ergo, Hilarion Kapral chose not to upset them. ALWAYS seek out the explanation with the fewest complications… THAT’S usually the way of it!

BMD

Editor’s PPS:

Another correspondent tells me that they believe that Fr Peter Olsen of the OCA was present. That’s interesting… he was the priest thrown out by the hardheads in this parish for not following the party-line in the ’90s! I’ll be blunt… there was more than one “sincere insincere” smile smiled in his direction. Fr Peter’s a fool if he thinks that some of these slippery louts are truly sorry for hurting him (and he’s no fool).

BMD

PM Putin Greets Jews Celebrating Rosh Hashanah 5771

Prime Minister Vladimir Putin greeted all Russian Jews celebrating the Jewish New Year. “For followers of Judaism, this holiday symbolises spiritual cleansing and moral and religious development. During this time, people sum up the year and plan for the future”, Mr Putin said in a congratulatory telegram to Rav Berel Lazar, the Chief Rabbi of Russia, which was published on Wednesday on the official RF Government website. According to Mr Putin, today, Russian Jews do much for the successful development of the country. “Jewish religious organisations are generous and charitable, and they are actively involved in education and educational projects”, the Prime Minister said. “The RF Government attaches great importance to the multifaceted work of religious organisations to strengthen our country’s interethnic and interfaith dialogue, to promote good relations between people of different faiths”, he said. Mr Putin wished Rav Lazar and all Russian Jews good health, prosperity, and a happy holiday.

9 September 2010

Interfax-Religion

http://www.interfax-religion.ru/?act=news&div=37277