www.byzcath.org Forums News & Events Church News questionable ordination in Alaska

Etnik, with all due respect, I think that you may have misinterpreted that gesture by Bishop Job. I think Job apologized for any fault of his own, and he prostrated himself to prove the point. However, I don't think he withdrew any of concerns about the diocese of Alaska . . . or the rest of the OCA . . . In short, I took it as a public gesture of humility but not necessarily as a withdrawl of his concerns.

-- John

Well, the stories have finally been released. Here they are:

ocanews.org news release 2/5/2008 [ocanews.org]

Nothing apparently is a given except for the first part of the story.

In IC XC,
Father Anthony+

Perhaps its time for the Alaskan Orthodox to go ROCOR! There was talk of Alaska going to ROCOR in the not so distant past.

Because this is not a viable solution. It would be tantamount to the Russian Church taking back territories of a church that it has granted autocephaly to. ROCOR is a part of the Russian Orthodox Church and any such absorption of a territory such as Alaska, would require the approval of the entire Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church. Also any such re-absorption of a territory such as Alaska would be a de facto declaration that the Tomos of Autocephaly of the OCA is null and void on the Russian Church�s part.

In IC XC,
Father Anthony+

LORD HAVE MERCY !

Thank you, Fr. Anthony, for keeping us informed. Even though the news is so uniformly bad.

At this rate, either a new generation of leadership will have to take over the OCA, probably within the next 5 years, or there just won't be an OCA.

-- John

This just makes me intensely sad. I know and have great respect for some friends who are members of the OCA. And this must be making them really wonder about many things.

When the scandal hit the RCC, everybody came around and threw it up in the faces of anyone who was known as a practicing Catholic as if we "in on" this whole mess. The "how can you be part of that" was a real bat to beat us with.

Boy, the Enemy must be popping the bottles of bubbly in Hell over the shape of Christ's poor Bride, the Church, after the beating she's taken the past number of years. Well, she's down but she's (and we all have) the Savior that will pick us up when we are the most broken. And when I hear this kind of thing it reminds me of how borken we are.


BOB

It's not quite so simple as Alaska "going ROCOR'. The American Metropolia (OCA) is an autocephalous Church, and The Russian Church has no authority over Her. If a portion of an autocephalous Church wishes to come under the omophor of another Synod, it is a matter requiring the convening of the entire Synod to accommodate such. The ongoing debacle occurring in the OCA is painful to watch, but all we can do is to watch and pray, and stand ready to help those hurt in the aftermath of the turmoil.

Alexandr

What is Fr David's take on this? His comments are always good even if at times I disagree.

My Best friend is OCA and she is afraid to put money in the collection plate because of these problems. As a Catholic I know how she feels with having corrupt men in leadership.

Is there a Saint for this type of problem?

I hear you, as I'm a new member of the OCA. I've never prayed more in my life.

Hopefully my prayers and the prayers of thousands of others will bring us through this crisis.

The situation in Alaska has come to some sort of a head. Bishop Nikolai of Alaska has been placed on a mandatory leave of absence as was just announced officially on the OCA website. A formal investigation has been begun by the OCA Synod of Bishops.

Official OCA Announcement [oca.org]

In IC XC,
Father Anthony+

St. Nectarios is a great saint.
He was accused of sexual improprieties even though he was innocent.

Likewise, for Catholics, St. Padre Pio was also falsely accused of sexual improprieties.

Both saints responded with silence in imitation of Christ who stood before his accusers in silence. Both saints encouraged the faithful who followed them to keep the faith and to pray for those who were scandalized.

Yes,Elizabeth Maria,but St,Nectarios submitted to discipline, although innocent,and God vindicated him.Furthermore,I don't think that when the Saint was a ruling bishop,that there is a record of him publicly berating his priests,altar servers,and laity,yet people of Alaska have witnessed this behaiviour in their hierarch.In these days of cell phones which can record anything,a bishop or priest can ill-afford such scenes.The bishop may have had some good ideas,but going ballistic on people publicly does lots of damage.I've been there and done that,and lived to regret it.I've often said,and I know it's wrong to look back,but had I remained a deacon,for three years,instead of the three months I spent in that rank of clergy,I might have been a bit more mature and been better prepared to approach the priesthood.Back to Alaska,the bishop in question AND the flock of that diocese need our prayers!

Dear Father Al,

Bless Father!

Indeed, Bishop Nicolai needs our prayers that he may follow the example of St. Nectarios, learn humility, and be submissive to the Holy Synod.

My prayers for Bishop Nicolai and his flock, but especially for the bishops, clergy, monastics, and faithful of the Orthodox Church in America, who have recently endured one scandal after another. May the Lord preserve us, grant us an increase in charity, and keep us strong in the faith.

Respectfully in Christ,
Elizabeth

If she truly has worry about the use of her donation, she may feel free to ear-mark it is she absolutely feels she needs to. It is as simple as making it known that her donation is to be applied directly to untilities: Gas/Water/Electric or a new roof or vestment fund or whatever...

But if the scandal of a few scares off the many, there is a lot that will not get done.

Prayers for our brethren, the clergy, and the hierarchy of the OCA, that this matter be resolved withut further damage to the Church and its faithful.

Prayers also for Bishop Nicholai that, going forward, he proceed in the best interests of his flock, his Church, and himself, and cooperate with His Beatitude Herman and the Holy Synod to resolve these matters.

Many years,

Neil