The OCA

[OrthodoxyOrDeath]

Natasha,

I've noticed the Russians in our church come and stand in one spot and hardly move even a step during the whole liturgy.

Is there some kind of Russian practice with regards to this which I am unaware of?

[Natasha]

Hmm...come to think of it, I do the same thing.
I don't know if it is a formal practice or your just witnessing centuries of successful parental discipline!

[Chrysostomos]

OOD,

First, Thank You for you honest reply. As to my forgiveness, you already had that, though who am I? You know the response - God Forgives.

Secondly, as to the OCA not being part of the Church of Christ and being able to adminster the mysteries of the Church....While it is painful for you to say that to me, it is painful to me to hear you say that and that you actually believe it. I am more concerned about you falling into Prelest. We ALL must be mindful of this, especially those who would imagine themselves superior to all others.

As to the Old Believers/Patriarch Nikon, it is on the 1st page of this thread.

I look forward to your response....

With humble bow,

Reader Chrysostomos

[OrthodoxyOrDeath]

Chrysostomos,

The difference is that today, you have a church in Russia that was literally in non-existence until Stalin built it with KJB agents as a Soviet tool.

You have ecumenist heretics in virtually every corner of every so-called orthodox jurisdiction, signing heretical agreements, committing gross apostasy, the list of which is much to long to discuss now.

You have a communion which includes a body which was cast out by the fourth ecumenical council.

There is the ecclesiastical heresy of recognizing the Mysteries of the church in heretical churches This heresy is prevalent now in the Church of Greece, Antioch, and very much so in the OCA.

You have the heresy of the new-calendar, which is another form of the more very broad heresy of ecumenism.

It has been declared by your bishops that there are other "lungs" to the Church of Christ, which is the heretical Branch theory.

Now, when you fully grasp the magnitude of everything I quickly mentioned above, and compare it to the Fathers who were very quick to condemn even one of these issues by itself, much less all of them together, you see that no comparison can be made to the Old-believers.

For when the [unbelievers and heretics], though established in a lie, use every means to conceal the shamefulness of their opinions, while we, the servants of the truth, cannot even open our mouths, how can they help condemning the great weakness of our doctrine? How can they help suspecting our religion to be fraud and folly? How shall they not blaspheme Christ as a deceiver, and a cheat . . . ? And we are to blame for this blasphemy, because we do not desire to be wakeful in arguments for piety, but deem these things superfluous, and care only for the things of earth. (Saint John Chrysostom, Homily Seventeen on the Gospel of Saint John)

[Chrysostomos]

OOD,

It is the same Patriarch Nikon who renounced the "Old Believers", who eventually was deposed himself, for his belief that the Patriarch was equal to the Czar. May God have mercy on your soul, if the ROAC ever falls into such a situation, because if it did, you might not have any church to attend, and thereby either have to form your own, or be without the mysteries. Where would you go? You cannot say that the ROAC might not do as Patriarch Nikon did, or would you? Time will tell, I hope that they do not.

With humble bow,

Reader Chrysostomos

[OrthodoxyOrDeath]

Well, I am in the GOC of Greece. And our priests have long been persecuted and murdered by the new-calendarists, but we have always found a basement or a forest to pray in.

Christ said that in the last days we would have to run to the hills!

[Chrysostomos]

OOD,

First, my apologies, GOC, not ROAC. If the GOC fell in some way. You would have no where else to go? Would not have access to the Mysteries? So you would go to the hills to pray...so to speak. Okay, fair enough.

With humble bow,

Reader Chrysostomos