Is Mainline Orthodoxy world wide following Rome?

Mainline Orthodoxy World Wide has always been greatly upheld as being the proponents and maintainers of all things held from the days of the Holy Apostles and patristic fathers as given them by Jesus Christ.  Orthodoxy, as it has been called in brief, refers to those nationalistic names (ie: Russian Orthodox Church, Ukrainian Orthodox Church, Greek Orthodox Church, even American Orthodox Church, etc.) of those belonging to what is known as Eastern Orthodox which had been considered and defended as being the root of all things Catholic due to the Western branch, being the Roman Jurisdiction's continual actions to change things not accepted by the East and which is also a departure from the ancient Seven (7) Ecumenical Councils.

The Roman Jurisdiction of the Catholic Church schismed in 1054 A.D. but the actions leading up to that schism, as history (not the history as given by Rome) clearly show and proves, began several centuries before.

Now, in these present times, we are witnessing things that Holy Scripture and Prophesy had foretold and which now we are witnessing as happening even to Eastern Orthodoxy itself.

Recently we received and e-mail from a former student of our Western Orthodox Theological Institute (WOTI) in which he does not actually go so far as to berate the AMERICAN ORTHODOX CHURCH; but provides an attitude of understanding that is rampant with many Eastern Orthodox jurisdictions and their clergy who act much like the arrogant and elitist Romans...

The E-mail has been, for editorial reasons and privacy rights, edited with the providing of that which is the main thrust of a man so distraught and frustrated with what is on-going through out the world.  This particular Student is in an African country where he faces daily struggles out of pain of heart for the faith, including those of a political bent by both secular (civil) forces and religious.

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Blessings and Greetings...
  Thank you for your e-mail. 

 May I, personally, remind you that in previous communications you were informed and told that none of the mainline Canonical Orthodox Churches recognize us...

 We are impacted by the Homeland Security Rules in place in this country which impacts all who are outside the U.S.A.  

 I am not concerned about the (what you were told) for I believe he is truly, according to his nature and degree of ability, doing what is appropriate and proper in advising you. 

 The Dean of Students has been impacted by issues of your not being able to pay for postage which he can no longer afford as he is on limited income for his Social Security Disability is a pittance amount monthly. 

May I say that if a political Orthodox Church which considers those, such as us, not CANONICAL... as they do... remember you were provided information and lessons to show AND PROVE that we are Canonical according to the Ancient Seven Ecumenical Councils.  When Archbishop Ofeish was consecrated and later was provided the TOMA (Decree) by the now Sainted Tikhon of Moscow (MP), Archbishop Ofeish was celibate and unmarried.  Sometime later he married.  And that was and is the issue with all the so-called CANONICAL Orthodox Churches.  When the TOMA was issued, it established the AMERICAN ORTHODOX CHURCH the sovereign right, authority and ability in its newly autocephalous and autonomous standing to act on its own while still being recognized and a part of world wide Orthodoxy. 

But when Archbishop Ofeish married some time after the TOMA was given... the rest of mainline Orthodoxy considered him no longer as being Orthodox and never was the TOMA by TIKHON ever made null or void and once Tikhon went to his repose, no other could null or void it. 

The so-called mainline canonical ORTHODOX CHURCHES, in their political adhesions to each other, want to bring all others including those with TOMAS under their control both political and otherwise... They have bitten into and become one with MAMMON and less with spiritual fruits... many of them following and bedding down with the Roman Jurisdiction's Pope...

In saying these things, history cannot be changed and that is a Fact!  Thus, by all that is held near and dear in SPIRIT and TRUTH... they can make all the spurious claims they wish as regards our unworthy repentant selves... but they fail to provide total honesty, upfront and factual truth! 

The actions of St. Tikhon (Russia) when he was alive, and Archbishop Ofeish when he was alive, does not destroy the fact that we are ORTHODOX in spirit and truth and therefore ONE with WORLD WIDE ORTHODOX even though they continue to reject that fact because of his (Archbishop Ofeish) having married long after the TOMA was issued...  although the so-called CANONICAL Orthodox Churches ACT in a political manner that the TOMA is also void when it was never ever voided whatsoever and cannot be. 

In short, they want us to come under a PATRIARCH when the TOMA means we do not have to serve or be under a Patriarch whatsoever...

One last thing... Read Holy Scripture about Bishops... It says rather succinctly that it is better that one be MARRIED to one wife!  Why do they consistently and constantly avoid that with spurious round-about claims to hold that a bishop MUST BE CELIBATE which is I have to sadly say, false and misleading (much like the Sanhedrin and Pharisees did in their times when Jesus Christ walked the earth in the flesh), even the ancient Epitome of the 7 Ecumenical Councils holds true to.  And, we are of the opinion and spiritual belief that the Orthodox are and have been bedding down with Rome more and more as she, since her departure from even being truly CATHOLIC in spirit and truth which is founded, grounded and based in ORTHODOXY... shows the degree to which Prophesy (Holy Scripture) is being bent.

Now... with all that I have thus far said, and considering that you have not been, when you wanted to be, attendant to those things pertinent to maintaining lessons and sending them one way or another... taking into consideration that Abbot +Gregori has bent over backwards for you to the extent of putting out personal funds of his own to assist through many ways... you show a degree of obstinacy that cannot and will not be accepted neither by us or anyone else we believe...

Therefore I can only say, believe what you will about us... and our having attempted to be as considerate as possible in your desire to learn and hopefully come to Ordination... But considering the issues and problems we are faced with here in the U.S.A. and you, yourself, we will ask that you accept our endearing prayers for you and your's as you seek another jurisdiction...

A copy of this will be supplied Abbot +Gregori

+Thaddeus the Repentant Unworthy One

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The Toma (Decree) granting autonomy and autocephaly so referenced above was issued in 1927 An Act of the Synod of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church in North America Moscow Patriarchate of which we are inheritors through a lone line of Successors...

Many of the things pointed out above regarding Canonical Orthodoxy and their slow departure from spiritual and material truth... one can only ask when does it become clear that "Canonical" may not be applicable to some of those Eastern Orthodox Churches since they are beginning to, or have, violated the ancient 7 Ecumenical Councils themselves while attempting to make all others accountable by being under a Patriarch... Yet, they, in denouncing the Patriarch of Constantinople, knowing full well that some of his statements and actions cause for his no longer being recognized in spirit and truth as the Patriarch of Constantinople... continue in their obstinacy to bed down with Mammon, serve two masters and ride two horses themselves.

What they have been and are condemning of others they are, themselves, showing by their own doings violations of the same they condemn in others.

Eastern Orthodoxy as represented by and through those in the western world, often attempt to exert themselves in the same arrogant, elitist and ETHNIC oriented manner that bespeaks of a Sanhedrin and Pharisaic approach which Jesus Christ condemned in both spirit and in truth as the Holy Bible clearly shows forth.

EASTERN ORTHODOXY (Orthodox Catholic Christianity) and the ROMAN JURISDICTION of the Catholic Church have always held themselves out to be the ONLY ones... when, following the spirit of the Life and Teachings of Jesus Christ, the Holy Apostles, Patristic Fathers and ancient 7 Ecumenical Councils; we will not submit to a Patriarch for to do so is to fall into step with those things forbidden by those ancient councils and, more especially, the Life and Teachings of Jesus Christ. 

Not all who are Eastern Orthodox or those who represent them in the western world, such as the U.S.A. are to be lumped in and with those modern day Sanhedrin and Pharisees... so much as one has to take careful introspection and be guided by the Holy Spirit in delving into who is or is not true to the Faith once and for all delivered unto us who are the successors to the Holy Apostles as depicted by our present day actions to maintain truth both spiritually and materially, not for anyone's sins as no one can see the content of one's heart.  But, if we are to surely follow things of Holy Writ (Bible) we can count on the actions of those whom we speak of and by their actions (fruits of their work) know the truth.

Sometimes we have been witness to the antics of Orthodox Jurisdictions as their infighting become known to the World Wide Web.  And in that alone, there shows forth the fruits of their actions, or lack of them, to bring about a spirituality that is solid for the needs of the faithful.  This cannot and must not take into consideration the old addage that, "like a family, there is much in-fighting among brethren often times, but when one is attacked, everyone else joins in to take up the slack to protect them."  Such an allegorical argument clearly points the way of departure from the Life and Teachings of Jesus Christ which means they are not feeding the sheep but acting like wolves in sheep's clothing even though they may be valid clergy themselves. None of us are exempt from this truth... even our unworthy selves. Yet, once recognized and realized, there is still time while in this life to be remorseful and become repentant in spirit and in truth! 

With such remorsefulness and repentance, we are once again Servants in the vineyard and one with Jesus Christ in spirit and truth.  Far too much is happening to cause and bring about division within jurisdictions and Orthodoxy itself.  We do not like to see what is happening but God does not interfere with that gift of FREE WILL He gave to mankind, unless one becomes aware, awakened, enlivened (and that only by the Grace of God through the Holy Spirit) and thereafter remorseful and seeking thereafter true repentance.

Thus, for this jurisdiction, we have had to learn many a spiritual lesson through hard experience and the indwelling of the Holy Ghost (Holy Spirit) and believe by our lessons and experiences with the aide and comfort of the Holy Spirit, we cannot bite the proverbial religio-political bullet sent our way by those who are under a Patriarch or acceptable to mainline Orthodoxy itself for such brand of politics is not only one of the disease of scholasticism but an altered form of synchrestic ecumenism in spirit and in truth.

If we stay on the path of providing spiritual truth in and through understanding and knowledge in word and deed; Jesus Christ Himself will provide the protection needed for us to continue while life exists on planet earth until His second coming. 

Other Articles & Information relating to this subject:

Lines of Succession: for those who have discussed them

Apostolic Succession in general:

•Ancient Canons/Seven Ecumenical Councils  

•An Understanding of the Ancient Canons

• Ancient Canons/Seven Ecumenical Councils

• A bit of understanding about the Fundamentalist Cults....

• Modern Day Ecumenism and its horrors

•  How Many Times