Autonomous Orthodox Metropolia of North and South America and the British Isles
From the Office of the Metropolitan
July 13/26, 2013,
During the Octave of St. Benedict, St. Mildred of Minster-in-Thanet, Abbess, VirginTo the Clergy and Laity of the ROCOR Western Rite,
For the past few decades, there have been many attempts by many individuals to use an Orthodox Western Rite in the context of union with the Orthodox Church. These attempts have varied greatly over time. In the past few years, the ROCOR, united with the Moscow Patriarchate, has greatly expanded its Western Rite initiative. In this process, they have taken in a great deal of clergy and laity. Many came from different groups and of varied backgrounds. During this period, the newly formed “Russian Western Rite Vicariate” was not without its prominent critics, both those inside the ROCOR and those without. ...
The Moscow Patriarchate, of which the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia under Metropolitan Hilarion (Kapral) belongs, is under these very authorities and powers who are still the same people that held power in the Soviet Union. By virtue of the fact that the Moscow Patriarchate and ROCOR are in union with the arch-heretical see of Constantinople, and all the other fallen Patriarchates, and by virtue of its own forays into heresy, we have seen the horrific fruits. The heresies of Ecumenism teach that the Roman Catholic Church is a Sister Church of “Orthodoxy”; if this is so, many of these leaders in the different Patriarchates, especially Constantinople, see no reason for a “Western rite.” And, those who do see a “need for a Western rite” only do this for the purpose of using innocent people in the role of a chess piece in an ecumenical game.
The Orthodox Faith must, however, be free from these heresies. It must be true to its Founder, Our Lord God and Savior, Jesus Christ. This means adherence to the Holy Ecumenical Councils, and all the Councils and Canons approved by the undivided Church (which has been only the Orthodox Church for these nearly 2,000 years). Yet, this dogmatic foundation cannot be served by union with those who teach the heresies of Ecumenism, Modernism, Sergianism, and embrace a ethno-centric view that is contrary to the Church’s Catholicity, or with Bishops allied with Patriarch Bartholomew, who seeks to encourage the principles of masonry and abortion rights. ...
To read the complete Open Letter to the Clergy and Laity of the ROCOR Western Rite, please click:
http://orthodoxmetropolia.org/wp-conten ... N-RITE.pdf