www.byzcath.org Forums Faith & Christian Life Prayer I'm upset

That is very sad, indeed, Dr. Alex!

I am Orthodox and I have learned a lot from your articles on that site, especially regarding the Orthodox of the Kyivan Baroque era and their "Latin" devotions.

I always thought that your articles on that page were a good indication of the positive relations and cooperation that exist between Ukrainian Orthodox and Ukrainian Greek Catholics, at least in North America.

Shame on whoever caused the stink!

Dave

I will NOT withdraw my comments.
Having said that, it should not be in the Prayer section.
This is America, not Moscow. We do have freedom of speech, as distasteful or allegedly uncharitable as anyone (moderators included) may think.
I shall not post comments in the prayer section on this topic, but, my prayers are with Alex. He now sees what happened to him can happen to anyone who posts his opinion even in this forum. It is supressed or dismissed as out of hand for its passion. Quite un American I would say. Tom Payne would not be pleased.

JMVFFTP

Alex - you are "Orthodox" in communion with Rome.
A suggesstion for a new hobby - you should create your own website and write whatever you choose. I like your posts here - you have a gift with words.

As for those who are making posts critical of Orthodoxy - we should examine ourselves first.

Spare us all. Tom Paine would have had the sense to know that when he entered into a "signed" user agreement that says, and I quote from it:

That he would have to abide by it. That is only, as they say "Common Sense".

Your comment is inaccurate.

Gaudior, who also begs to point out that Alex is located in Canada, as, presumably, his bishop is, as well as the Orthodox Priest that Alex co-wrote that website with. Launching into a diatribe about "un-American"...well, it is in one sense un-American, but, since it did not take place in America, or concern Americans, condemning it as un-American is merely rhetoric.

My sympathies are with Alex, as well as my prayers.

I am Orthodox. I just visited the Ukrainian Orthodoxy site for the first time. I liked what I read. I will go back. It looks like it will be a poorer site without you, Dr. Alex.

While the internet is sometimes a force for good,but it is all to easy to treat fellow humans like abstract entities or worse. Too many people of all faiths forget there are real people at the other end of those avatars. Frankly, the "Orthodoxy" I have seen on some online groups leaves a lot to be desired in terms of simple Christianity. I imagine it may be the same iwth some Catholic online groups too.

Dr. Alex
I will remember you in my prayers this evening.

thirdpew,

Charity is a virtue and must reign at all times. As I noted in another post to you I recommend to you 1 Corinthians 13 and the example of the late Holy Father. If you do not have charity in your heart and on your lips you are just a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. Resounding gongs and clanging cymbals are not good things and quickly loose their privilege to speak on this Forum.

At this point I think you have earned yourself a 30 day timeout.

Admin

Dear friend Alex,
It saddens me to see you abused in this way. I know that they have made a mistake criticizing you in this fashion .

I have enjoyed your contributions here and on that site. I think that you have done a remarkable job disseminating good information. I know that there are a lot of people who have gained by your work, myself included.

I see that you are the bigger man for stepping down, however I wish it weren't so. I know that you will excel in whatever you choose to focus on next (I cannot imagine that you would not put your energy and resources into something else !).

You have my prayers for healing, consolation and success in projecting Our Lord's work!

Michael

ALex,

I would like to second jw's suggestion here. Your articles, akathists and postings are brilliant and worthy of their own home on the internet.

If you build it, we will come!

Many blessings and prayers for you,

Gordo

I've been warming up lately to the idea of reunion, but it's attitudes like this that make me step back and think twice.

I don't see any error in the Orthodox way. If I did, I wouldn't be Orthodox. The problem I've seen lately in Orthodoxy is that Christian brotherhood has been thrown out the window, being replaced by political squabbling and ethnic rivalry. The latter has always been there, and probably always will be, but for God's sake, it shouldn't consume the religion like it has.

What exactly, do you, as a Catholics, believe the terms of reunion should be?

If reunion actually happens, would the existing Orthodox hierarchy be retained in Orthodox countries, or would the Catholic dioceses, if they've been established, take precedence over them? Given that the Vatican wants reunion so eagerly, why have so many dioceses been set up in Russia? I thought Rome recognised our hierarchs as valid, given that we're supposedly sister Churches. So if reunion were to occur, the existing Orthodox dioceses would just continue as they have in the past, but in communion with Rome. Wouldn't it make more sense to establish a single exarchate for the Latin Rite in Russia? After all, that's how the various Orthodox churches operate in the Catholic countries.

Also consider that we have a lot of housekeeping to take care of, amongst ourselves, with the schismatic Orthodox groups, with the Oriental Orthodox. Wouldn't reunion be better if the Eastern churches were reconciled amongst themselves first?

Dear Friends,

First of all, thank you for your prayers - it is a great consolation to me.

And I really mean that. I've learned to come running here first whenever I experience a reversal of things in my life. And your prayers are very powerful with God - I know.

What happened to me yesterday was unfortunate, but it involved only a few and one person in particular who has been trying to kick me off that site for some time now.

Things do get problematic when I'm contacted by Orthodox priests to discuss further certain subjects - and then they find out I'm an EC.

Some don't mind, others do mind and wonder what is going on with an EC on an Orthodox site.

I've been asked to return to that site this morning, but I won't since the matter has gone somewhat public and I've been advised (in a very warm and understanding way) to "refrain from doing anything to upset the Orthodox."

And I was assured that this won't be a "black mark" against me (I hope! . It was amazing, I'm told, I lasted as long as all that there!

For me, it is always a great ecumenical event for Catholics and Orthodox to get together and speak to one another in an understanding way and to even share matters that enrich us in the Life in Christ.

That will continue to go on, even with the odd glitch here and there.

I want to that the Administrator for his private, erudite words to me yesterday. He really is a treasure that I know I don't appreciate as much as he really deserves!

I thank all of you, Catholic and Orthodox, for your prayers and kind words - they are a balm for the soul as always.

May the Lord reward you a thousandfold!

Alex

Since this is the Prayer Forum I will go ahead and close this thread, since it has wandered from a prayer request to a more general discussion. Please start new discussions in the appropriate forums if you wish to continue the non-prayer discussions.

I ask all readers to keep Alex in their prayers.