www.byzcath.org Forums News & Events Church News OCL Under a New Name

If it were one set of parents it would be understandable, but there are numerous complaints some from those who were novices:
http://www.pokrov.org/resource.asp?ds=Article&id=121&sSrch=elder ephraim&sType=Articles

As the Legion of Christ shows, unfortunately, being conservative or traditional does not mean free of abuse.

Alice, indeed, it should be "old news". But the ugly head of neo-protestantism keeps rearing it's head within the confines of American Orthodoxy. It's time for the hierarchs to stand up and place the lot under epetemia, if not outright excommunication.

Alexandr

Deacon Lance, you should know better. Pokrov is notorious for it's hatred of monasticism in ANY form. That would be like judging Franciscan monasticism on the reports of the Jehovah's Witnesses.

Alexandr

My apologies. It was Metropolitans Evangelos of New Jersey and Isaiah of Denver.

http://www.pokrov.org/resource.asp?ds=Article&id=128&sSrch=elder ephraim&sType=Articles

The Pokrov.org has as a basis a good idea---that of providing support to those survivors of sexual abuse by clergy. The ideals of the group are admirable, however regretfully, their presentation of issues has often been skewed and shows that their own personal issues that have not yet been resolved. The three ladies that run it are not even Orthodox, but have left the faith.

Some of the problems that I note on the site are as follow:
1---the site is anti-monastic and seems to infer that our celibate clergy should be watched carefully as they have a chance of being sexual predators
2---the site fails to recognize the belief in Orthodoxy that people can repent and begin a new life through repentance in Christ--in other words they seem to be seeking revenge and retribution rather than healing and salvation for all parties.
3---the site presents traditional monastic models like that of Elder Ephriam's Monasteries under the GOA as cultist and "un-American"
4---Recently, they seem to have expanded their site to include orthodox "cultism" of which monasticism is just a portion, they often focus on the non-canonical jurisdictions as hotbeds of sexual predators and charismatic ultism.

While I applaud their support for the victims of sexual abuse in the Church, I am concerned about their appropriateness at times, their disrespect to the Hierarchs of the Church, and their often one-sided presentation of a story.| I agree with them that a clergyman who has been guilty of sexual abuse of children, members of his parish, or other people should be deposed, yet we must still be willing to accept the repentant sinner back into the church---Pokrov leaves the distinct impression that there is no place for them in the church even as a member of the Laity, and offers no solution as to how to reincorporate them into the church while assuring safety to the victim.

I frequent one of the monasteries quite often with my husband. There is nothing amiss at all there...*nothing*. We speak to those monks assigned to the guest house, and have known them now for ten years...they are emotionally balanced and joyful in the spirit of the Lord!

I wouldn't believe anything which is being said, but I do believe that many parents, (especially fathers) who cannot fathom their young sons living out a celibate, unmarried life without the American dream of money, a career, and financial success, may be hysterical about what the monastic way of life is really about and what their sons are living.

If the ancient canons did not make such a point of maintaining vigilance against it, then one might feel more comfortable. However, one does not legislate against what is not happening.


While repentance is always open to those of contrite heart, it is also necessary to ensure that those who have transgressed do not backslide.


Beware of all cults of personality. A true monastic is very sparing with the first person singular pronoun, and usually employs it only to denounce his own shortcomings.


And are they? In any case, do you support non-canonical ecclesial groups?


The canons would say "must be deposed"--is there really any leeway here?


What do the ancient canons say about this? Under modern circumstances, at the very least one would have to submit to what ever secular penalty is involved, make monetary restitution, and, of course, submit to an extended course of prayer and fasting before being readmitted to communion.

If the canons covering murder and abortion require anywhere from three to five years excommunication, how much more for a crime that the Lord Himself would have considered far worse?

My experience of Geronta Ephraim's Monasteries, for both men and women, agrees completely with Alice's. I also agree with her analysis of why some parents misunderstand their children's monastic vocation.

Fr David Straut

I've spent several days both on Mount Athos and at one of Elder Ephraim's monasteries.

First, Stuart is 100% right that there is no thing as "Athonite" monasticism, and there's no inherent reason a "non-Athonite" monastery anywhere else is less holy than one of the monasteries on Athos. Moreover, there are several different forms of spiritual fatherhood on the Holy Mountain, and the way one monastery organizes itself may be completely different from another. The revival on Mount Athos since the 60s has sprung up independently in several different monasteries with sometimes quite different organization, showing that there is indeed more than one form of monasticism.

Elder Ephraim's monasteries are reportedly close to the monasteries of Philotheou and Xiropotamou - not surprising, since he came from Philotheou. As a whole, it is true that they are less than enthusiastic about the Pope of Rome, and I'm told they're among the stricter Athonite cenobia.

That being said, AFAIC the accusations against Elder Ephraim's monasteries on that website are nonsense. I have no doubt the monastery I visited has "real monks" who are dedicated to the authentic monastic vocation. (almost all the monks under the age of 35 as well!!).

[quote=Memo Rodriguez]Efremitism sounds a lot like Lefevbritism.
[/quote]

Dear Memo,
Speaking as a person who has spent the last 5 years attending SSPX Chapels, I can tell you that Efremite doctrines are a tad extreme, even for us. SSPX priests do not Re-Baptize unless the original Baptism was not conducted in the Name of the Holy Trinity. Cloistered nuns and monks would never conduct Pre- or Post-Marital counseling and the idea of Aerial Toll Houses would never be preached from any SSPX pulpit. In fact, one of my closest friends, a longtime priest of the SSPX, frequently visits the local Orthodox bookstore to purchase icons and books about Byzantine spirituality. We are far from being as bigoted as we are often accused.

Hi LatinMassTrad,

I understand what you say and I believe that there are quite a few sincere disciples of Christ who find the SSPX the best offer for a spiritual home, among the various "flavors" of Christianity "available" these days.

I do have to tell you: I've been on the business end of SSPX bigotry and yes, what I hear from Efremitism is quite unlike what I experienced from the SSPX: Miguided as one might think it is, Efremitism seems to be within the bounds of legality and morality (barely, in some cases, but within nevertheless).

What I suffered at the hands of the SSPX and their secular associates was within neither of those bounds.

God bless!

Shalom,
Memo