www.byzcath.org Forums General Discussions Town Hall condemnation of Russian "invasion"

This irrational anti-Russian attitude is really getting very old. Perhaps this "Autocehpalous" church bought the lies of the western media which blamed the Russians for responding against a sneak attack and genocide against Russian citizens. Or, perhaps this church is knowlingly speading lies about the Russian peacekeeping excercise, seeking to prop up the U.S. backed dictator of Georgia. The bishop's statement: "World Orthodoxy has a duty to stand with Georgia" eerily reminds me of Russia's support of the Orthodox Serbs, which partly lead to the outbreak of WWI.


Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Condemn “Russian Invasion” of Georgia
2008-08-14
13.08.2008, [17:31] // Speech, greeting, press release // RISU.ORG.UA


Bishop Paul Peter Jesep, the USA spokesperson for the Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church Kyiv-Patriarchate (UAOC), Ukraine's third largest Orthodox church, issued a statement condemning what he called the “Russian invasion” of Georgia. Information received on 13 August 2008.

Bishop Paul Peter Jesep
By Appointment of His Beatitude
Metropolitan Myfodii of Kyiv and All Ukraine
Director of Public Affairs and Government Relations in the United States

Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church
Kyiv Patriarchate

Wednesday, 13 August 2008

UKRAINIAN AUTOCEPHALOUS ORTHODOX
PLEDGE SPIRITUAL SOLIDARITY WITH GEORGIA
UAOC Condemns Russian Invasion

"All Orthodoxy must stand with their Georgian sisters and brothers to denounce the Russian invasion of a peaceful, democratic people in an ancient, non-Russian land," Bishop Jesep said. "This is not a complicated, international political matter. Russia has invaded a democracy. Georgia, by its committed example to liberty, is a threat to Moscow. World Orthodoxy has a duty to stand with Georgia."

Bishop Jesep concluded by saying, "God bless Georgia, her people, and President Mikheil Saakashvili now and always. Ukrainian Orthodoxy is one with our Georgian sisters and brothers."

Bishop Jesep is the Director of Public Affairs and Government Relations of the UAOC, Ukraine's third largest Orthodox Church, By Appointment of His Beatitude Metropolitan Myfodii of Kyiv and All Ukraine of the Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church Kyiv-Patriarchate

Sources:


• http://www.brama.com/news/press/2007/02/070205bishoppaulpeterjesep_director.html

• http://www.uaoc.org

• http://www.uaoc.info/ua/

I'm writing this as charitably as I can.

The UAOC-Sobornopravna Bishop Paul Peter Jesep belongs to recognized Metropolitan Mefodiy in November of 2003, before that they were 'independent' in North America.

http://www.uaoc.org/metmefodiy.html

Here's where I have to be careful, there 'founding' in the US is a bit sketchy. I encourage folks to research it.

This doesn't make what Bishop Paul wrote incorrect or correct, it is just that they aren't on the most solid of footing canonically speaking.

For example they were with 'Patriarch' Mosei before this:

http://www.uaoc.org/page1.html


Monomakh

"...Of a peaceful, democratic people in an ancient, non-Russian land."

As a historical argument, I find this very interesting. I would not be surprised if Bishop Paul Peter Jesep knows how much those claims irk the Russians.

Gegoria needs our prayers, asking that Gegorgian sovereignty be respected by Russia so that Russia will withdraw from Gegorian territory with the local political structure intact.

Terry

I'm taking this opportunity to stop this thread before it gets out of hand like the previously locked thread concerning the Russian invasion of Georgia.

There are two legitimate sides to this situation and we can agree that the news we have from the media on opposite sides of this war makes one wonder whether we are discussing the same issue.

It is tragic. The problem for us on this forum, however, is that it quickly moves to uncharitable exchanges between brothers and sisters by Baptism. We need to pray for the injured and the innocent on both sides, especially the civilians who have been killed, injured, or left homeless.

This thread is locked. I would ask that no more discussions of this issue be initiated in this section.

BOB
Moderator