21 November 2011. Here’s My Reply to ALL the Loudmouth Orthodox Rightwingers…

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They want to wreck the economy to defeat President Obama… they want to slash the social safety net to transfer the money to the already-rich… they want to fight wars all over the globe so that the American affluent effluent can extend their squid-like tentacles over all the usable wealth in the world. As for me, I oppose all of that and I HATE everything that the rightwing stands for… they’re AGAINST everything that I love and hold dear. Don’t let the Religious Right take over Our Lord Christ. His teachings are antipodes removed from their hateful drivel… we should say it LOUDLY. The Church stands against them… His Holiness stands against them… don’t let them associate God and the rightwing. When someone like Reardon opens his yap… oppose him! He wouldn’t last thirty seconds with me, that’s for certain! You can stand with Pat Reardon and his support for laying regressive taxes on the poor to give breaks to the rich, or, you can stand with the Real Church, which stands for Social Justice. Do you applaud the CIA‘s efforts to run torture centres in the Baltics and the Ukraine… or… do you applaud the Komosmol activists who defended our churches and priests from American-paid mobs? I stand for righting what’s wrong… and if the Reds are right… so be it. The rightwing’s had thirty years to prove their crackbrained theories. Their ideas led to the greatest economic meltdown since the Great Depression. I’ll give you a hint… many priests in the homeland are telling their parishioners to vote for the KPRF… for the LEFT!

The Cross isn’t an instrument of oppression… someone should tell Reardon et al that…

BMD

Meeting of First Hierarchs and Representatives from Seven Local Orthodox Churches in the Moscow Kremlin… Guess Who WASN’T Present… You KNEW!

Orthodox parish church in Medzilaborcích SLOVAKIA. The population is split fairly evenly between Orthodox and Uniates. This is in the po-nashemu heartland, from whence so many of the emigrants in the future OCA came…

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On 21 November 2011, at the Patriarch’s Palace in the Moscow Kremlin, there was a meeting of the First Hierarchs of the MP and Local Churches of Georgia, Poland, and Czechia/Slovakia, along with representatives from other Local Churches. His Holiness Patriarch Kirill Gundyaev of Moscow and all the Russias was the chairman of the meeting. Before the meeting, the other attendees from the other Local Orthodox Churches, who had arrived in Moscow to celebrate the 65th birthday of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill, were accompanied by Metropolitan Hilarion Alfeyev of Volokolamsk {not a ruling bishop, as is customary, but only a Patriarchal Vicar… that is, a high-powered flunky with a white hat for show: editor}, the Chairman of the MP Department of External Church Relations (DECR), visited the Kremlin’s Archangel Cathedral, where they attended a Liturgy served by Metropolitan Yuvenaly Poyarkov of Krutitsy and Kolomna {the Patriarchal Vicar for the Diocese of Moscow… he outranks the Blunder, and has served three patriarchs since 1977: editor} with the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill. Archpriest Igor Yakimchuk, the DECR secretary for inter-Orthodox relations, and other DECR staff members accompanied the guests during their veneration of the Kremlin holy places.

In the Patriarch’s Palace of the Kremlin, the consecration of which took place earlier in the day, Patriarch Kirill warmly welcomed the First Hierarchs and the Representatives of the Local Orthodox Churches. After telling his guests about the consecration, His Holiness emphasised that this day was special in the annals of the Patriarch’s residence in this historic place in Russia. He pointed up the fact that, in the past century, the residence of the Patriarch of Moscow and all the Russias was in the Kremlin (the historical Patriarchal Palace is now a museum, but, in addition, from time to time, there are church activities), saying, “As our present residence isn’t very convenient for work involving high state affairs, we decided that we needed a permanent residence for the Patriarch of Moscow and all the Russias in the Kremlin. This morning, we consecrated those premises”.

Afterwards, the following participants attended a meeting in the Patriarchal Chambers:

From the Local Church of Moscow and all the Russias:

• His Holiness Patriarch Kirill Gundyaev of Moscow and all the Russias (First Hierarch)
• Metropolitan Hilarion Alfeyev, the Chairman of the MP DECR

From the Local Church of all Georgia:

• His Beatitude and Holiness Catholicos-Patriarch Ilya Ghudushauri-Shiolashvili of all Georgia (First Hierarch)
• Metropolitan Gerasimos Sharashenidze of Zugdidi and Tsaishi, Chairman of the Foreign Department of the Georgian Orthodox Church

From the Local Church of all Poland:

• His Beatitude Metropolitan Sawa Gritsuniak of Warsaw and all Poland (First Hierarch)
• Archbishop Avel Poplavsky of Lublin and Chełm

From the Local Church of Czechia and Slovakia:

• Metropolitan Kryštof Pulec of Praha and all Czechia and Slovakia (First Hierarch)
• Archbishop Juraj Stransky of of Michalovce and Košice

From the Local Church of Antioch and all the East:

• Archbishop Niphon Saykaly of Philippopolis, the Permanent Representative of the Patriarchate of Antioch to the Local Church of Moscow and all the Russias

From the Local Church of Romania:

• Archbishop Nifon Mihaita of Târgovişte
• Deacon Eugene Rogoti (translator)

From the Local Church of Bulgaria:

• Metropolitan Dometian Topuzliev of Vidin
• Bishop Sioni Radev of Velichsky (Vicar of the Diocese of Sofia)

Archpriest Nikolai Balashov, the Deputy Chairman of the MP DECR, and Archpriest Igor Yakimchuk, kept the minutes of the meeting. During the meeting, the attendees discussed strengthening missionary work and social service to the Church in constructive cooperation with all positive forces in society. The participants expressed their solidarity with the Churches of the Middle East and North Africa (Constantinople, Alexandria, Cyprus, Jerusalem, and Antioch), extending their profound sympathy to Christians in the Middle East, who now undergo harassment, and, in some cases, outright persecution for their faith, and with Orthodox Serbs in the Kosovo territory. In addition, they discussed issues of common Orthodox interest, in particular, in regard to the preparations for the convening of an all-Orthodox Council. At the end of the meeting, the participants signed a communiqué.

21 November 2011

Patriarchia.ru/DECR Communications Service

Official MP Website (release from DECR, not main Patriarchal news service)

http://www.patriarchia.ru/db/text/1749942.html

Editor’s Note:

Guess who DIDN’T come to dinner! The OCA was left out in the cold, yet again. This is particularly important, this news release didn’t come from the main patriarchal news service; it came from the Blunder’s rumour mill in Bolshaya Ordynka. There was no OCA bishop present, Dickie Wood wasn’t present… no OCA representative was present. NONE at all. If there had been any present, the Blunder’s minions would have mentioned it. It’s as if the OCA doesn’t exist as an autocephalous Local Church as far as the Centre’s concerned. If that wasn’t enough, President Medvedev held a reception for all the Orthodox clerics… again, no mention of ANY OCA participation (this time, it’s from the main patriarchal news service, you can bank on this report, kids… V R Legoida IS that good). Click here if you want to read it in Russian.

To put the cherry on the sundae, there was NO mention of His Holiness’ 65th birthday on oca.org… there was no mention if any OCA cleric was present in an official capacity during the festivities. Where was JP? Where was Lyonyo? Where was Jillions? Where was Behr? Where were they? I’d call it crass ingratitude… supposedly the “Tomos” came from Moscow… and no congratulations on His Holiness’ birthday, when he received them from all the Orthodox world… including Bart and his party. However, from the OCA, a group that owes its very existence as the “OCA” to Moscow, there was nary a word… NOTHING. That speaks volumes to me and should to you, too. Ingrate is the kindest word for such sorts, isn’t it?

I’m adding together “one plus one” and coming up with “three”… and no threat of lawsuit can stop me from saying that. Where is the truth? Take your time in answering that… then, once you’ve answered it, you’ll know what to do with the creaky structure known as the OCA…

BMD

VOR Presents… A Precious Relic Arrived in Moscow

On 19 November, the Belt of the Most Holy Mother of God will arrive in Moscow. The Cathedral of Christ the Saviour in the Russian capital will be the last destination in our country of this great Christian relic. Over the last month, believers in St Petersburg, Norilsk, Vladivostok, Krasnoyarsk, Nizhny Novgorod, Diveyevo, Saransk, Samara, Rostov-on-Don, Kaliningrad, Volgograd, Stavropol, and Tyumen bowed before this holy memento. The image shows the reliquary of the Belt of the Most Holy Mother of God at the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour in Kaliningrad.

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There was quite an unprecedented stir in all the 14 Russian cities named above when the Vatopedi delegation carrying the Belt arrived, both amongst believers and amongst irreligious people, too. More than 2 million people came to bow before this Christian relic. In the image above, we see pilgrims during the service marking the arrival of the Belt of the Most Holy Mother of God at the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour in Kaliningrad.

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In Moscow, the Belt of the Most Holy Mother of God will be open for public veneration until 27 November. In the image above, clergy carry an icon that accompanies the Belt at the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour in Kaliningrad.

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The Belt will be on display at the main cathedral in Russia… the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour in Moscow. Believers can come in 24/7 and bow before the relic at any time. For the convenience of pilgrims, in areas around the church and all along the pilgrimage route, the Moscow City authorities organised medical points and heated tents with hot food and drink available at very low cost. In the image above, a priest venerates the Belt during the service marking the arrival of the Belt of the Most Holy Mother of God at the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour in Kaliningrad.

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Bishop Serafim Melkonyan of Baltiisk (Vicar of the Diocese of Kaliningrad, 1961- ) holds the reliquary containing the Belt of the Most Holy Mother of God during the service marking the arrival of the relic at the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour in Kaliningrad

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Orthodox believers say that the Belt has miraculous powers to help with childbirth and to heal incurable diseases. In the image above, we see pilgrims during the service marking the arrival of the Belt of the Most Holy Mother of God at the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour in Kaliningrad.

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The Belt of the Most Holy Mother of God, which today is divided into three parts, is the only surviving relic of her earthly life. According to Tradition, the Belt was woven of camel’s hair; the Mother of God gave it to Apostle St Thomas at the time of her Assumption into Heaven after her death. In the image above, we see a scene from the service marking the arrival of the Belt of the Most Holy Mother of God in Kaliningrad.

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Since the 14th century, Vatopedi Monastery has kept the Belt. During this time, the relic has never left Greece. Yet, the Athonite fathers made an exception for Russia. In the image above, we see pilgrims in the square before the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour in Kaliningrad during the service marking the arrival of the Belt of the Most Holy Mother of God.

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18 November 2011

Voice of Russia World Service

http://rus.ruvr.ru/photoalbum/60625241/60625256/

21 November 2011. Why COMPLETE Honesty on the Church’s Part is IMPERATIVE

Jesus and the Money-Changers

Boris Olshansky

2006

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A friend of mine sent me a concerned note… I understand why, our society being as litigious as it is. I’ll stand up and make a challenge. I’ll say to the powers-that-be in the OCA:

“Is Dickie Wood suspended or is he not suspended? What’s your official word on the matter? If you’ve decided to suspend him, but didn’t make a public declaration, I’ll call your action dishonest and beneath contempt. If you’ve rejected suspension, but removed him from the online clergy directory on oca.org, I’d say that you’re being deceptive. If you want respect… act in an aboveboard manner. Don’t skulk around in the shadows. If you act secretively, you’ll earn nothing but disrespect… and you’ll merit every bit of it.

IS DICKIE IN OR OUT? SPEAK UP ON THE RECORD! Make a straightforward, easily-accessible, post on oca.org stating, “Rev Wood’s suspended”, or, “Rev Wood’s in good standing”. That’s what honest people do. Frankly, I think that this skulduggery has to cease. Are you going to make your decision pubic in an easily-accessible manner or are you not? I believe that people should withhold their money until you do come clean. Do I respect you? Emphatically not… and I can’t be sued for stating so”.

The ball’s in their court, now. I advise you not to hold your breath waiting for an answer. I can’t be sued for stating my contempt of their secretiveness or my disrespect of their methods. I do daresay that Vladyki Kyprian, or Vladyki Leonty, or Fr Joe Pishtey, or Fr Basil Stroyen didn’t act that way… I won’t praise a set of people who believe more in gaming the legal system than in Jesus Christ. God do spare us. I’m a believer… that’s why I expect that the powers-that-be should be such as well. If I weren’t a believer, I wouldn’t put up with such, not for a moment. Don’t lecture me about “spirituality” and “forgiveness” when you can’t even make a simple public statement.

Note well that I sign this with my full legal name and that I take full responsibility for my words. I’ll not use “sock-puppets” or “trolls“, nor shall I hide behind a “username“. This is too much of a muchness, and someone’s got to stand up and speak out. Do look at the painting by Olshansky that I posted above (and do think upon what caused Mr Olshansky to paint it)… ponder it. We’ll either have honesty or the whole edifice is going to fall of its own accord. Honesty or the “Institution” (it’s for the “good of the Church”, dontcha know)… which one do you want?

What DO we want?

Barbara-Marie Drezhlo

Monday 21 November 2011

Albany NY