Archbishop GREGORY of Denver and Colorado

[Suaidan]

It was suggested to me to post this from the Orthodox-Tradition list for the benefit of our readers. It's marginally edifying, but surprisingly informative.

"ARCHBISHOP GREGORY SUSPENDED"

I'm told that Metropolitan Valentin suspended Archbishop Gregory last Monday. It seems the Metropolitan was not Orthodox enough for the Skete Fathers (one monk said M Valentin had broken at least 20 canons). They were especially miffed at the way the Metropolitan received the priests in Massachusetts. As is their wont, they began a smear campaign against him. Some of the things I heard curled whatever's left of my hair. I was no big fan of someone who took 30 years to figure out he shouldn't be in the MP, but come on, the man is not the devil incarnate. No man is.

Also, the Metropolitan took under his omophorion all but one of the priests in ROAC-America, including the only priest in Archbishop Gregory's diocese. The inhabitant of the convent told one of the laymen who went under M Valentin that "It is not too late to return to the Church"---regarding, I guess, the Church of Christ to be found solely in Archbishop Gregory's existence on this Earth. When Metropolitan Valentin found out that Archbishop Gregory had chrismated Fr Andrei, who'd come from the Matthewites, he chastised him, said he had blasphemed the Holy Spirit. Considering the stuff Archbishop Gregory wrote on this list and on his website against the Matthewites, I found this amusing.

There is no mention in this week's homily from the Skete about any of these goings-on. In fact, Vladyka and Fr George are now in Bulgaria, celebrating liturgy and saying not one word about anything that's transpired. I think it's a safe bet that they will soon be spinning this so they come out smelling like roses. I, though, smell something else altogether.

I know much more than I'm telling (all of it bad, some of it horrible), but I don't see the point of sharing any more than what I'm posting today.

Let's just say the Skete Fathers are not all they claim to be, and their former trumpeting of M Valentin and ROAC was only one more flourish in the continuing opera THE PEREGRINATIONS OF THE CHOSEN, no different from their former trumpeting of the Kallinikites and before that the Kiousites. As Stavros Markou once posted here: "Gregory of Colorado believes that wherever he goes, Grace follows him." But DOES it? He's a loose cannon, in obedience to no one. If I ever defend him again, anyone on this list has my permission to shoot me.

from nicholas38018@yahoo.com

[CGW]

Well, it all seems odd to me. First Fr. Shishkoff is raised to this "adminstrator" position. Then, without any prelude, we find that one among us has been elevated to the diaconate. It then comes out that this ordination was carried out after a journey of a thousand miles or so from the place where the metropolitan and the candidate were residing. At the same time Abp. Gregory's name and image start to disappear from various sites, and now we find out that (a) he's confined to the skete, or (b) he's in Bulgaria, or (c) he's on Mt. Athos.

Am I the only one who finds this a bit-- unusual?

[romiosini]

So this is what happens to the Traditionalists, who had a decent will of calling themselves truly Orthodox but everyone else schismatics or heretics. Makes me think, hasn't this schisms been happening all the time, in World Canonical Orthodoxy and out of it? It's seems that Grace is beeing abused by our bishops today, either to judge and claim others that they don't have, or the become deluded ecumenists.

What shall the poor people do? Who are the true Martyrs of such SAD schisms happening? I beg to differ today, no bishop is worthy enough of Grace, but only the people who truly believe they hold the True Catholic and Apostolic Faith.

the lowly
Rom

[Chrysostomos]

CGW,

I would admit that alot of things about this whole situation appear
odd. I thought it was odd that the ordaining took place miles away
from where they were residing and especially that Archbishop
Gregory was not in the picture, nor obviously present. I agree
that it is odd, that Archbishop Gregory would be elevated to
Archbishop and in 5 weeks span (according to Tom), he is
censured and "retired". As to Deacon Nikolai being ordained a
deacon, one would assume congratulations would be in order....
This is a heavy cross and burden to bear. I will instead keep
Deacon Nikolai in my prayers. He has only been a short time
with the ROAC, and to go from laity to Deacon in such a short
time with the jurisdiction is quite unique to say the least.
I also thought it quite unique, that all his messages changed
from his Nicholas name, to Deacon Nikolai. Personally, I
would have rather seen him change his name, and any messages
that he wrote, after being ordained a deacon, could be seen
as such. As it stands now, it appears that he has, to people
who will read this board in the future, been a Deacon for some
time. You see the challenge. He now faces a greater challenge as Deacon,
than he had as laity. Thus, his need of our prayers. I would
assume that this also would change his role somewhat as to
what he will be allowed to say on this board, as to what has
been mentioned previously in regards to those who are ordained,
and what they are allowed to speak and not to speak.
Metropolitan Valentin ordained Deacon Nikolai and therefore
he is a Deacon and should be addressed and accorded all the
respect one is granted for such a position. It is my sincere
hope and prayer that Archbishop Gregory will be obedient. It
is my sincere hope and prayer that the enemy will not use this
situation to cause discord and division. It is my sincere hope
that we "all" can learn from this tragic situation, and be better
Orthodox Christians. Let us pray for those of the ROAC and
for specifically Metropolitan Valentin, Archbishop Gregory,
and Deacon Nikolai.

With humble bow,

Reader Chrysostomo

[joasia]

Exactly, which jurisdiction are you talking about here? I'm from ROCA. What is ROAC?

Sorry to sound ignorant, but I have enough jurisdiction dilemmas to deal with in ROCA.

[TomS]

What is ROAC?

Russian Orthodox Autonomous Church

http://www.angelfire.com/pa3/OldWorldBa ... olAid.html

[OrthodoxyOrDeath]

TomS,

Most intelligent people who have a legitimate argument make it when they can to show their position is sound.

For instance, I could easily show in any number of ways that the Holy Fathers and all of the Holy Synods never tolerated heresy, never communed with heretics, and never considered them a part of the Church. I could also show the level of error in which the Holy Fathers considered important, which would be much less serious by today’s standards, and I could thereby demonstrate that the ecumenist communion has departed from the Church. In fact, all of this has been done on this forum many times.

But far be it from this, the link you provided was to a page containing personal opinions and ideas, but mostly shallow ad hominum one-liners, which are fine, but completely meaningless without clear examples of the Church Fathers to justify it. Truly, there is no shortage of opinions today, but far less common is a willingness to cite the authority of the Church.

Then knowing that the person who wrote this web page is a former(?) Uniate who continues to believe that the Latins are part of the Church of Christ, part of the Orthodox Church, well, need I say anything more? How can such an “Orthodox” Christian believe in anything less than uncompromised papal/patriarchalism?

This separation into ecumenists and traditional Orthodox Christians is a deliverance of the Church. The majority who have the worldly spirit will remain ecumenists, thus cleansing the Church of Christ of all those who are "Orthodox" because they happen to be born in a "Orthodox" land. The few who have the spirit of the Fishermen will take refuge in the Church of Christ.