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Dear OrthodoxEast,

You are so laid low by illness - and you are still as cynical as ever!

(I hope you are drinking a lot of fluids rather than worrying about Ukrainian juridictions too much). And wasn't Yarslaw a close friend of yours? (Whereas I don't know him).

You are right - that is a problem and perhaps it has something to do with the years of being spiritual vassals under the Russian Orthodox Church - I don't know.

But the Russian Church has also had its schisms, like the ROCOR.

And like the Russian Church, we Ukies treat our brothers with respect in the hope of having a unified and canonical Orthodox jurisdiction that is also independent of the colonial caress of Moscow.

It's an uphill battle, to be sure, at times.

And we've had other deacons leave the UGCC to go on to become Metropolitans elsewhere . . .

Some of our former UGCC deacons apparently felt they couldn't fly with eagles when they had to work with turkeys . . .

Speaking of which, Happy Thanksgiving!

(Now start gobbling some fluids and garlic, and never mind quibbling on the forum right now . . . yes, I can hear you now, "grrrr!" )

Alex

Dear Alex - the Lord blesses.

To be fair to the Russian 'Novobriadtsy' , they have done a lot to foster good relations with the Old (Rite) Orthodox, including research into Old Rite liturgics, music, iconogrpahy and material culture. There a great deal of attention given to the matter of the pomortsy priestless Old Believers of the Baltic, some of whom are in negotiation with Bishop Daniel of Erie of ROCOR!

The problem with the Russian Orthodox Old Rite Church and the Russian Old Orthodox Church, is that they are getting hard-line and digging their heals in. They are proud people and will not budge. The Novozybkovtsy cannot accept the canonicity of the Belakrinitsy, who in turn look down on the Novozybkovtsy as a tiny uneductaed group that may not last much longer. Both groups look at the United Old Believers within the New Rite State Church as 'untouchables'.

It doesn't bode well.

Spasi Khristos -

Mark, monk and sinner.

Bless, Father Mark!

Then perhaps they need another "St Ambrose" to lead them.

Perhaps that man is you!

Also, would you know where one could purchase an icon of the Old Beleiver Saints Constantine and Arcadius - the ones who were killed by thieves or other enemies in the snow?

Alex

Possibly thanks to the machinations of my former Old Believer bishop, (you know who! ) I seem to be an outcast in all Old Believer circles and couldn't lead anybody anywhere!!!

Spasi Khristos -
Mark, monk and sinner.

Bless, Father Mark!

Well, you always have a place in our hearts.

And the UGCC has formerly had an Old Rite usage . . .

Blessed are you when you are persecuted . . .

Any ideas about that icon, however?

Alex

It seems impossible to find Old Believer ikons anywhere. There are painters in Russia, but its a case of finding them.

For years I've been trying to find an icon of the Nun-Martyr Feodosia (Boyarina Morozova) and of the martyred fathers of Solovetsk, but I've got nowhere.

Spasi Khristos -

Mark, monk and sinner.

Bless, Father Mark,

No problem!

FYI, I just heard that two Ukrainian martyrs are being proferred for canonization - the Orthodox protopresbyter-martyrs, shot in 1937, Alexander Hlaholiv and Michael Yedlinsky.

God bless,

Alex