2013
Scientists tell us that our ancestors, the Cro-Magnons, invented new tools and acquired the rudiments of culture due to climate change. Sergei Yolkin has his opinion of all that…
23 May 2013
RIA-Novosti
http://ria.ru/caricature/20130523/938956357.html
The above images prove that “there’s life in the old dog, yet”. When we retain the ability to laugh at our foibles, we’re healthy. Pass the jug and smile…
BMD
One of the Cabinet checked in:
He’s being ousted as administrator of St Nicholas in DC. Not sure why. Tikhon Mollard to go there tomorrow [today] to work things out. Still, no resolution on JP, even though OCA Lesser Synod of Bishops just met.
Perich was Bobby’s boy. This means that the Synod‘s gotten wind of the evidence against Bobby, and has decided that it has traction and cred. Besides that, Perich was JP’s appointee. That doesn’t augur well for El Gordo… first, the Russia–USA soap opera heated up (bollixing up any approach to the Centre), now, the Synod’s seeing the evidence against Bobby and believing it. In short, Perich has no hope. No doubt, Mollard’s going to the District to tell JP that the Synod didn’t buy his bluster (for instance, the courts knocked down yet another suit by Fr Vasilie Susan… which means that JP’s legal threats have no substance whatsoever). Mollard’s on a thankless errand… no one respects him, and this will end in having more people pissed at him. However, he’s a clueless boob… he’s not an active klutz such as JP. As a genial incompetent, he’ll not understand that the only route to effectively taking control of the OCA is to kick ass and take names. Mollard was a man fit to be a bishop of a “safe” diocese (as Eastern PA, indeed, was), but he’s unsuited to be First Hierarch of anything. Sad, ain’t it?
We can be certain that the shit hit the fan fully and righteously, as this happened on Memorial Day weekend, and Mollard going to the District today is out of character… usually, the First Hierarch is at St T‘s for all of the weekend (including Friday). Is Mollard going to be at the Memorial Day liturgy at South Canaan? Perspirin’ minds wanna know…
BMD
Voices from Russia 
Patriarch Ilia Regrets Clergy’s Ill-Advised Actions in 17 May Events
Tags: Christian, Christianity, Civil Georgia, Demonstration (people), demonstrations, Eastern Orthodox Church, Georgia, Georgian Orthodox Church, homosexuality, International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia, legal affairs, mass demonstrations, Orthodox, Orthodoxy, Patriarch Ilia of Georgia, political commentary, political demonstrations, politics, Religion, Religion and Spirituality, Rustaveli Avenue, Tbilisi
______________________________
On Wednesday, Catholicos-Patriarch Ilia Ghudushauri-Shiolashvili, the First Hierarch of the Georgian Orthodox Church, said that Orthodox priests acted in an ill-advised manner during the developments on 17 May in downtown Tbilisi when a crowd led by Orthodox clergy disrupted an attempted anti-homophobia rally. Patriarch Ilia said at Holy Trinity Cathedral in Tbilisi, “What happened on 17 May is very regrettable. The ideas that [gay rights activists] wanted to propagate here are completely unacceptable in Georgia. However, it’s also very regrettable that Georgian clergy acted in an ill-advised manner, and I want to urge everyone to remain calm”.
Later that same day, the Georgian Patriarchate released a written statement expressing “regret” over the 17 May developments, saying that the Church would take “appropriate measure” against those clerics involved in the violence. The statement said that an attempt to hold a gay rights rally in downtown Tbilisi “was of provocative nature. In a country where the absolute majority of the population follows Christianity and other traditional religions, such rallies are perceived by the population as propaganda of homosexuality, which causes their fair protest”.
It said that venue of the intended rally, outside the former parliamentary building on Tbilisi’s main thoroughfare, Rustaveli Avenue, was “an additional irritating and provocative factor”. It described the venue as having “strong emotional ties” to Georgia’s “historical memory and traditions”. The statement went on to say, “The country can’t tolerate legalisation of a sin. The Church loves human beings and because of this love, it fights against sin for the salvation of souls. Despite that, there’s no excuse for violence. We unequivocally distance ourselves from the aggressive actions from the part of demonstrators, which weren’t within either legal or religious norms. It’s regrettable that clerics were involved in these processes. These separate individuals damaged the entire Church. The Patriarchate will examine their actions and we’ll take appropriate measures. It should also be noted that if were not for the efforts of large part of clergy and brave actions of the police, consequences would have been much more severe”.
23 May 2013
Civil Georgia
http://www.civil.ge/eng/article.php?id=26099
Editor’s Note:
Let’s keep it simple. Patriarch Ilia is going to lower the boom on the clerics nicked by the coppers. Then, he’ll say, “See, we disciplined these jabronies, there’s no need for you to act”. Trust me, that’s going to be the result. The Church CONDEMNS violence, even when it’s supposedly for a “good cause”, especially, when clerics egg people on to such acts. The Church paid bitterly for tolerating the Black Hundreds… I do daresay that it learned its lessons. The konvertsy can be quiet… Patriarch Ilia’s gonna act, for charges have been laid against at least two of the clerics. We’re in Christ‘s Church, NOT the Church of the Grand Inquisitor.
BMD