An Invitation to Dialogue

It should not come as a surprise to any of us that Orthodoxy has struggled mightily in an effort to bring the fullness of the Gospel to North America. Unlike the East, where entire nations converted to Orthodoxy, North America has proven to be a most "difficult nut to crack". There are numerous reasons for this to be so, but I should like to focus upon one of them. The following is a quotation from His Grace, Basil (Essey), the recently enthroned Bishop of Wichita and the (Antiochian) Diocese of Mid-America, excerpted from an interview published in "Again" Magazine, Spring, 2005. (Emphasis is added) "... I believe America meets Holy Orthodoxy donned in an irrelevant costume. That's because we ourselves have dressed her either in camouflage - which results in America not seeing her at all - or in ethnic costumes, which makes Orthodoxy appear as an exotic foreigner. Invisible or marginalized - that's what we have made of Holy Orthodoxy in America. God forgive us. We need to strip ourselves of every costume and put on Christ alone, as the Scriptures describe: "As many as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ." America's perception of us is what counts when we speak of evangelization. We need to quit asking ourselves, "What can we do to bring America to Orthodoxy?", and we need to start asking America that same question." I believe that His Grace, Basil is making a most interesting and poignant statement here. I also believe that it is something that our spiritual forefather St Tikhon recognized 100 years ago, when he was serving as Metropolitan of the Russian Church in North America. We dare not, in fact we cannot change the undying truths of Orthodoxy, but we must proclaim them to the Americas in words and manners which are not foreign or "Old World" ethno-centric. To evangelize that portion of the world in which we live, we must translate Orthodoxy into the language that is here spoken. No one disputes that the Scriptures or the Fathers need to be translated into local idiom, why should we expect that this truth should be any different when it comes to our Liturgy and the outward expressions of our Faith? St. Tikhon recognized the wisdom in this approach to evangelizing America, and for this very reason he worked to receive canonical endorsement of the English Liturgy which now bears his name. But Tikhon's Liturgy exists only in a form which was appropriate to the world in which he lived, 100 years ago. I have to ask, does this Liturgy still speak to our people today, or is an updated translation necessary? Some of our Eastern brethren have updated Chrysostom into modern English. Is it time for us to do the same with Tikhon? I would invite comment from any and all. +Randolph

Archbishop Ordinary Diocese of Minnesota and the Upper Midwest Western Orthodox Church in America

Comment: It is not what America can do for Orthodoxy, but what Orthodoxy can do for America that should be our primary goal... And, the Divine Liturgy of St. Tikhon can do with an upgrade too...

Dear Eminence; This is to respond to your posting concerning Orthodoxy in America and the West.

I, personally, would have no difficulty with the Liturgy of St. Tikhon being celebrated in English, such as the Liturgies of St. John Chrysostom and St. Basil. However, one must make every endeavor to protect the Spirit and flavor of Orthodoxy. This was the biggest fault with Rome when they instituted the Novus Ordo in place of the Latin Tridentine Mass. If they had just translated the Tridentine into English, but kept everything else the same, it would have been ok, but when they changed everything, the Mass lost all of its spirituality. That, along with all of the physical changes that have been made to the individual parish churches, is what drove me away from the Roman Church, and led me to become Orthodox when I was 13 years old. Another point that I would like to state is that one of the reasons for Orthodoxy not "catching on" in the West, is for a large part due to the Orthodox Christians themselves, this goes for the members of the clergy as well as the laity. The sad thing is that they are so hung up on ethnicity and nationality, (Russian, Serbian, Ukrainian, Greek, etc.). By this, I mean that they are not very welcoming to "outsiders", Oh, sure, they love to have outsiders come to their church festivals and spend their money, but they are not very welcome if they come to attend the Divine Liturgy. Perhaps if the Orthodox would show a little warmth and open their doors and hearts to outsiders, then just maybe they will see a growth of Orthodoxy in the West. One other problem, is the American people themselves, or I should say with the majority of westerners both here and in Europe. The western mindset today is that they do not want to be told that they are sinners and in need of repentance. I have noticed that most people today will only attend church, just so long as the church is willing to turn a blind eye to their immoral and sinful life-styles, (Abortion, euthanasia, cohabitating without marriage, homosexuality, promiscuity, illegal drug use, you name it). So many priests and ministers have spent so much time telling people that "Jesus loves you just as you are", nothing much is said about repentance, thus the people feel, "Why should I repent, Jesus loves me just like I am".Most people today don't want to change their sinful ways, but they demand that the Church change to suit them. So, all we can do is keep on keeping on and pray for the best. I feel that if we each can bring at least one or two people to the Lord and to Orthodoxy, then we are doing well. Finally, let me stress that we who follow and believe in True Orthodoxy, (members of the clergy), MUST do all we can to avoid bringing scandals upon the Church, lest we are looked upon with scorn like the Roman Church. The Greek Orthodox seem to be falling under the influence of the Evil One, much like the Roman Church. I feel that it is our great responsibility to get our own house in order, and then admonish our bretheren in other Orthodox jurisdictions to return to their Orthodox spiritual roots and stop with the worldly pursuits of money, illicit sexual gratification and prestige. Fr. Abbot +Gregori

Comment to the comment of +Gegori: So true, so true! Just take a look at the article "Is there Evil in the Church" for surely whomever it is talking about as the "shouter" indicates how evil and wrong "Orthodoxy" has been dished out! I reviewed the article about "THE FATHERS OF THE CHURCH" and I was really impressed with it too because it also speaks to the issue and heart of the matter raised.

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Remember, anything that is a HALF TRUTH is not truth but a lie! Many there are that you may know who fit those descriptives... pray for them. Pray that God will send his Spirit of Truth upon them and lead them to Salvation through tears of Repentance, conversion of their cold and calculating hearts toward seeking forgiveness from God and those whom they attempt to harm.

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If you are of another jurisdiction, you too could find that your parishioners, clergy and faithful might become subject to the same as we have recently found.

Let this be a warning to visitors so as to be safeguarded against unscrupulous e-mails which contain viruses, worms and unsavory material from person(s) organizations or institutions that are more self-serving than uplifting and informatively news worthy.

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We have learned that the organization we subscribe to, whose members come from various legal and law enforcement backgrounds amongst other areas of society, are committed to the faith even though they may hold different theologies. Yet, in their monitoring of electronic communications of various persons or people, they do not always make haste to bring perpetrators to justice until after enough evidence has been gained in order to build a solid case. We do not always know what information they have gained, but we do know the organization, whom we've been asked not to name, has had a 97% success rate in bringing to justice and obtaining a conviction against individuals, people, and sometimes even religious organizations of a persona that gives the appearance of both secular and religious bearing but who abuse and misuse technology. The organization views those who abuse and misuse the internet and other technologies as nothing more than a form of "domestic terrorism" - - - - and, it would seem to appear that the courts are in agreement!

Those kinds of people, organizations, etc. who misuse and abuse communication technologies are no different than those who attempt to use coercive measures, and in some instance, even blackmail for the same idea is involved... to cause havoc and wreckage, to destroy the spirit and activity of those who struggle in the faith out of pain of heart for the Orthodox Church which is TRUTH. The degree that some have been known to go to, as seen by other jurisdictions, is to take advantage of questionably mentally challenged or those who have a lack of education and understanding to get them to make statements, even outright lies, in writing, in order to destroy.

Yes, our Metropolitan Archbishop, +Joseph Thaddeus, OSB, SSJt., Ph.D. strongly defends the Seals of the Confessional for such leads to true Repentance in thought, word and deed whereby the penitent is required to make amends, where possible, to seek forgiveness of those harmed by his actions whether real or imagined, and to give his forgiveness to those who have harmed him before taking the Holy Body and Blood in the Eucharist. The reality of this understanding is bound in and with the findings for which cause he, himself, had been character assassinated by his detractors who claim the courts prevented him from breaking the Seals of the Confessional which is not the truth at all.... Click here to see what another bishop's findings are...

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