St. Philaret of New York: Yahoo Forum Excerpts 2005

Yahoo Forum Excerpts 2005

Excerpts from a 2005 Yahoo Group forum

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/orthodox-synod/message/14691

The Prosperous Years

Tue Jul 26, 2005 3:01 am

michael nikitin

We know St.Metr.Philaret disagreed with the decision of those who began praying for Fr.Dimitri. His letters state so.

It is amazing that ROCOR, under St.Metr.Philaret, was administered so well, considering, according to Fr.Alexander, St.Metr.Philaret didn't do anything. Many from other jurisdictions, who were despondent over the road their bishops were taking them, were joining ROCOR in crowds. And now many are unhappy and left ROCOR or are sitting on the fence.

Somebody must have been doing something right, must have been HTM who administered ROCOR. Fr.John Shaw writes that HTM wrote the anathema of 1983, letters of St.Metr.Philaret were written by HTM. I must admit, they were very well written. Fr. John writes everyone follows Fr.Panteleimon. Well, if that is the case, Fr.Panteleimon and HTM did a very good job administering ROCOR. Because those were the golden years when HTM was with us. ROCOR was prospering spiritually and her faithful were happy.

When we started proclaiming the MP is the Mother Church, the MP began thinking of glorifying Metr.Serge as their Sviatitel'. ROCOR will also have Patr. Serge as her saint. We will not have St. Philaret's icon, but will have icons of Metr.Sergei in our Churches. We will have no choice. This is our future when we unite with MP.

Some fish, as did the Apostles, to relax and pray, some drink.

Michael N

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/orthodox-synod/message/14700

Wed Jul 27, 2005 4:45 pm

michael nikitin

Holy Metr. Philaret

Dear List,

Now that Fr. Alexander has finished bashing Holy Metropolitan Philaret, maybe NOW he can send us the Ukaze that directed the ROCOR parishes to pray for Fr.Dimitri Dudko.

ROCOR can not pray for Fr.Dimitri Dudko and be faithful to her "Bishops' Sobor, which resolved to be guided by and to fulfill the Will and Testament of Blessed Metropolitan Anastasy which stated that we must NOT have any communion whatsoever with the MP, not only in prayer, but also not even in ordinary contact of daily life." (quote from a letter of Holy Metropolitan Philaret)

Furthermore, Holy Metropolitan Philaret could not have written such a strong letter of reprimand to the priest of ROCOR who prayed for Fr.Dimitri if there was such an Ukaze to justify prayers, of all things, at the proskomedia. .The priest could have defended himself before the Metropolitan, if he had such an Ukaze, but the priest had no defense.

Furthermore, this Ukaze doesn't exist for NO policy can be administered in a diocese of a bishop without its bishop's approval! The bishop is the (hoziaen) lord of his diocese.

Again, with grief, we read another attempt to discredit a pillar of Orthodox Confession, the Holy Metropolitan Philaret. Those of us who knew him as early as in China know that he wasn't afraid of anything, he only feared God.

There was an attempt on his life in China by the Soviets who tried to kill him by burning the monastic dwelling in which he lived because he was so outspoken against MP and against Communism. But, this didn't stop him for he would not compromise the Faith. He simply refused to commemorate the hierarchy of MP or pray for the Soviet Government.

Holy Metropolitan Philaret didn't fly on doctor's orders. "If I could more easily bear a lengthy flight by airplane, it would be possible to travel by air rather than by sea. But I cannot resolve to do it; lengthy flights are too hard on me (and my doctors have advised me to avoid them)." "Vladyka Antony [of Geneva], according to the account given by him to his entourage, was satisfied with our meeting. But it left me with the most painful memories. I saw how truly alone I am among our hierarchs with my views on matters of principle (although on a personal level I am on good terms with everyone). And I am in earnest when I say that I am considering retiring. Of course, I won leave all of a sudden, unexpectedly. But at the next Sobor I intend to point out that too many things that are taking place in our church life do not sit well with me. And if the majority of the episcopacy agrees with me then I will not raise the matter of retiring. But if I see that I am alone or see myself in the minority then I will announce that I am retiring. For I cannot head, nor, therefore, bear the responsibility for that with which I am not in agreement in principle." ( Excerpts from a Letter of Holy Metropolitan Philaret to Fr. George Grabbe,12/25 July 1975)

As any head of a Church, Holy Metropolitan Philaret had faithful supporters that he trusted and it was Blessed Metropolitan Anastassy who told him to keep Fr.Gregory Grabbe as secretary of the ROCOR, which he did to help him lead the Church on the correct path.

The Holy apostles were fisherman is there anything wrong for a bishop to fish?

For shame Fr. Alexander Lebedeff for resorting to pettiness in trying to

discredit Holy Metropolitan Philaret who stood with firm resolve against MP for it was founded on falsehood by Joseph Stalin in 1943 as you yourself, Fr.Alexander, have declared before.

Michael N

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/orthodox-synod/message/14710

Holy Metr.Philaret

Fri Jul 29, 2005 12:17 pm

michael nikitin

ROCOR cannot pray for Fr.Dimitri Dudko and be faithful to her "Bishops' Sobor, which resolved to be guided by and to fulfill the Will and Testament of Blessed Metropolitan Anastasy which stated that we must NOT have any communion whatsoever with the MP, not only in prayer, but also not even in ordinary contact of daily life." (quote from a letter of Holy Metropolitan Philaret).

<http://metphilaret.homestead.com/philaret.html>

The Ukaze that Dimitra found certainly was sent from Synod. Holy Metr. Philaret did not sign it as he was in Australia at the time when this Ukaze was written. And Holy Metr. Philaret was very much against it. So, bishops waited til Holy Metr. was visiting Australia and quickly passed this Ukaze. That's why in his personal letters Holy Metr. Philaret was thinking of retiring.

Fr. John can ask for a copy of the letters written by Holy Metr. Philaret from the Synod's archives. I am sure they will be more than happy to accommodate their own priest. Fr. John can ask Fr. Victor Patapov for a copy of the letter that Holy Metr. Philaret wrote him personally. I am sure Fr. Victor won't mind sending him a copy.

Michael N

Excerpt from Holy Metr.Philaret's Letter written when he was in Australia to a priest concerning Fr. Dimitry Dudko and MP church.

"Dear Father _____,

For a long time now I have been intending to write a few words to you, but somehow I haven't managed to get around to it. But at last I have collected myself, and so I write.

When I, while still in Australia, began to receive information from America already post factum that here [in New York City] there had been protests, demonstrations, and even molebens in front of the Soviet consulate, I became quite alarmed and regretted that I was not here, since I would have decisively opposed much of what took place. In particular, holding a moleben in such a place. Did they not sing the Lord's song in a strange land? What cause was there to display the holy things of the Church's services before the gaze of the frenzied servants of Antichrist? Was it really not possible to pray in church?

.....

In precisely the same manner, in receiving the Soviet clergy, we apply the principle of economia. And we receive the clergymen from Moscow not as ones possessing grace, but as ones receiving it by the very act of union. But to recognize the church of the evil-doers as the bearer and repository of grace, that we cannot do, of course. For outside of Orthodoxy there is no grace; and the Soviet church has deprived itself of grace.

In concluding my lengthy letter, I should like to point several things out to you, Father. The Bishops' Sobor resolved to be guided by and to fulfill the Testament of Metropolitan Anastasy, in which the late First Hierarch bade us not to have any communion with the Soviet church whatsoever, not only no prayerful

communion, but not even ordinary contact. On what basis then have you and other clergymen had direct relations with Father Dudko? And have written him letters, etc.? No matter how sincere a man you may have considered him to be, nevertheless, can your private opinion annul a ruling adopted by the Church?

Now, had Father Dudko said: I am breaking with the official church and leaving her then you could have entered into lively contact with him. But in the absence of that, your actions constitute a violation of ecclesiastical discipline. Dudko wrote to me personally, but I did not answer him although I could have said

much. By the way, on what basis did you, even before this, take into your head to commemorate an archbishop of the Soviet church during the Great Entrance? Who gave you the right to do that, which hierarch who, how, where, when?.. Be more careful, my dear, zealous, but, ah, too impetuous fellow minister!

Peace to you and the mercy of the Lord. To Matushka and the children too.

With love,

Metropolitan Philaret

EPISTLE OF METROPOLITAN PHILARET TO ORTHODOX BISHOPS AND ALL WHO HOLD DEAR THE FATE OF THE RUSSIAN CHURCH (1965)

"But a schism nonetheless occurred. The minority, accepting the declaration, formed a central administration, the so-called "Moscow Patriarchate,"

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/orthodox-synod/message/14724

Tue Aug 2, 2005 1:52 pm

michael nikitin

Re: [orthodox-synod] Fr. Dmitri Dudko - HERE IS THE UKAZ

How many bishops compromise the Synod? There were no signatures on this Ukaze.

We know Holy Metr.Philaret, who was first hierarch and who's diocese was Eastern America, did not sign the Ukaze or agreed with the Ukaze. Dimitra should be upset at Holy Metr.Philaret , not HTM, because they followed Holy Metr.Philaret's wishes who was head of their diocese.

If one doesn't believe his letters, one can hear it from Holy Metr.Philaret himself, in his sermons one can purchase from the site below. I would strongly recommend listening to these sermons. The sermons confirm everything he states in his letters and are in agreement with the Holy Fathers which he often

mentions.

http://metphilaret.homestead.com/philaret.html

The Ukaze might have been distributed by the Synod, but it was not signed nor binding. If it was, B.Anthony of San Francisco would not have proclaimed one for his diocese.

Eastern America was the diocese of our first hierarch, Holy Metr.Philaret, who did not agree with the Ukaze. B.Anthony of Los Angeles, Fr.Alexander's bishop, also did not agree and did not sign it.

We can pray for whomever we want, but the Church cannot pray for those who are outside Her fold.

Michael N

DDD <dimitradd@...> wrote:

"UKASE No. 1-80

The Gospel reading for the coming Sunday (Meat-fare Sunday_ reminds us especially of compassion for those in prison. "I was in prison, and ye visited Me," the Lord says to the merciful; and to the unmerciful: "I was sick and in prison, and ye did not visit Me."

In our Homeland now there has appeared a new wave of persecutions. The Synod of Bishops calls on everyone to pray for those imprisoned. Therefore, on Meat-fare Sunday, Jan. 28/Feb. 10, I call on you in all churches after the Liturgy to serve a moleben for those in prison. We will commemorate: Priest Dimitry (Dudko), Priest Gleb (Yakunin), Priest Basil, Igor (Ogurtsov), Alexander (Ogorodnikov), Vladimir…and all, everyone who is imprisoned and suffers with them.

The Chairman of the committee for the Defense of Persecuted Orthodox Christians, Priest Victor Potapov, has organized aid for the needy Matushkas of Fr. Dimitry Dudko and Fr. Gleb Yakunin. For this purpose I give my blessing for a special collection to be made in churches on Meat-fare Sunday.

Archbishop Anthony

Diocese of Western America and San Francisco

Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia"

--------------------------------------

Look at our Saviour's words! "I was in prison, and ye visited Me" but to the unmerciful: "I was sick and in prison, and ye did not visit Me." Who "visited" imprisoned Fr. Dimitri and the other imprisoned fathers-- those who organized aid for their needy matushki and prayed for them at proskomide, molebens, or

those who refused to commemorate them?

I am grieved, because while Fr. Dimitri and others were in prison, I would not pray for him or read about him or read anything by him, because at that time I was with HTM & Co., which had told us that his church isn't a church, he isn't clergy, and we musn't have anything to do with him. I skipped all the articles

about him and remained cold towards him.

Who knows if his fate would have been better, had we prayed for him then?

God have mercy on me, a sinner

--Dimitra

________________________

Fr. Alexander Lebedeff wrote: Michael Nikitin is here, once again, demonstrating his complete ignorance of the way in which the Church Abroad is administered, how Synod Meetings are held, and how Ukases are distributed.

1. Ukases from the Synod of Bishops are distributed **without** the signature of the First Hierarch. They are printed on official Synod stationery and signed by the Secretary of the Synod, and stamped with the

Seal of the Synod of Bishops.

So to make a point that an Ukase was sent without the signature of Metropolitan Philaret is ludicrous....

"Mike Nikitin" wrote:>

>Show us this Ukaze."

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/orthodox-synod/message/14760

Re: [orthodox-synod]The Anathema Debate

Thu Aug 11, 2005 5:03 pm

michael nikitin

Orthodox read the Holy Fathers for interpretations of the Bible and Canons. Each Protestant interprets individually. How one can call another's writings a heresy when no example of a refutation from our Holy fathers are given. We cannot be like Protestants.

Basil quoted the Holy Fathers and was not refuted. His lengthy extracts were done for a purpose, which is to cover the whole thought not just a paragraph that can be interpreted many different ways.

St.Metr.Philaret stated in his letter to a priest:

"I am accused of excessive strictness and of "fanaticism". But I have sufficient basis for holding to my point of view, for behind me stand great authorities, both ancient and contemporary."

Basil had these authorities behind him. Fr's .John and Alexander do not.

The Holy Fathers are the voice of the Church. They did not contradict each other on issues of Faith.

Fr.John should give us an example where our Holy Fathers wrote that an anathema has to be in someones name?

The anathema of 1983 which our ROCOR Synod pronounced is not in anyones name.

Michael N

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/orthodox-synod/message/14766

Fri Aug 12, 2005 8:03 pm

michael nikitin

Re: [orthodox-synod]The Anathema Debate

The quote from Holy Metr.Philaret is found in the letter to Abbess Magdalena(Countess Grabbe) in Russian. If anyone wishes to read it they can ask Lesna Convent in France to send them a copy.I'm sure they would not mind giving Fr.John a copy if he asked for it.

"A Letter from Metropolitan Philaret (Voznesensky) to Abbess Magdalena (Countess Grabbe), Superior of the Lesna Convent in France November 26 / December 9, 1979"

Fr.John says Basil misused the writings of the Holy Fathers, but he cannot

refute these writings.

Holy Metr.Philaret also used the writings of our Holy Fathers to come to his conclusion that the MP was without Grace, because of this he will never become a Saint in ROCOR(L). His letters were never disputed as being incorrect, nor will they ever be ,because as he said, "behind me stand great authorities, both ancient and contemporary." Fr.John is not implying that Holy Metr. Philaret misused these writings to justify himself?

If the writings of our Holy Fathers have never been refuted we can use them as being authoritative. Holy Metr.Philaret did just that. Basil also.

Supposed hearsay from someone who is dead cannot be used as any authority, especially if they come from someone who attended a Church regularly, but can't remember if it had any doors. Writings from letters and cassettes can, especially if they are backed up by the writings of the Holy fathers.

We know the letters agreed with the spirit of St.Metr.Philaret. If Fr.John doesn't believe he wrote them he can click on this site

http://metphilaret.homestead.com/philaret.html

and listen to his speeches that are in agreement with what he wrote. Those who don't agree with his letters will try to discredit the tapes as they try their letters.

Michael N

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/orthodox-synod/message/14769

Fri Aug 12, 2005 11:21 pm

michael nikitin

Re: [orthodox-synod]The Anathema Debate

Holy Metr.Philaret also used the writings of the Holy Fathers to come to his conclusion that the MP was without Grace.

Audio

"And here is something to which I would like to draw your attention to – something about which very many do not think about. Father Archimandrite Constantine, whom probably many of you know, the reposed editor of the journal “Orthodox Rus’”, a profound Christian mind, considered that the most terrible among all the achievements of the communists was that the communists created their own false-church, a soviet church which they shoved onto the unfortunate people in place of the genuine Church which went underground into the catacombs. Do not think that I am exaggerating or that Father Constantine was exaggerating!

Once, in the year 1918, a Pan-Russian Church Council was held. At this Council, the entire Pan-Russian Church together with its first holy hierarch, Patriarch Tikhon ANATHEMATIZED, excommunicated from the Church not only the theomachists and godless ones themselves, but also ALL THOSE WHO WOULD COLLABORATE WITH THEM."

~St. Philaret of NY

St. Philaret speaking (in Russian) against MP

audio 1½ minutes

https://app.box.com/s/ki1x0vx8obex3kszzor13idqj5d40yj2

Prayer to St. Philaret

O our Saintly father Philaret, God chosen confessor of recent times, true Orthodox hierarch, guide, upholder and dependable intercessor before God for all true Orthodox faithful, standing and praying for them before God’s altar: implore our ever benevolent God to forgive us our sins and wash them away through our repentance. Through your prayers, save us from calumny of the godless and endow us with a fear of God, so that we may remain faithful children of Christ’s True Church to the end. Strengthen us in the confession of our Faith, so that we will not be frightened of persecution or suffering, and should we suffer for our Orthodox Faith, grant us strength not to reject Christ and not to accept the mark of the accursed antichrist.

In not hiding your labours and enduring extreme conditions for the sake of True Orthodoxy, we extol and propagate your good works:

Glorifying the Royal Martyrs and the new Russian Confessors of Orthodoxy; for giving all true Orthodox Christians a true Apostolic succession; for anathematizing ecumenism that is the heresy of all heresies, and maintaining the rightness of authority through the unwavering truth of Christ’s words.

We lay before you our prayer for your help, blessing and intercession, and at all times beseech your prayers for us.

Do not cease to utter prayers to the Lover of Man God for the small flock of true Orthodox Christians, and may He grant peace to his Church, and may He deliver Her from heresies and schisms. May He also deliver us from the darkness of sin and lusts, from the clandestine snares of the sly antichrist, and may we remain steadfast unto death in confessing our holy Orthodoxy, so that in the end we may without condemnation receive Communion of the Lord’s Holy Flesh and Blood from true clergy. And at the close of our lives, may we secure mercy and clemency from the Lord, Who created us and gave us life and made us what we are, and to Whom is due every glory, praise, honour and adoration, with the eternal Father and Holy Spirit, now and ever, and to the ages of ages.

Amen

PRAYER

O Hierarch of Christ Philaret, with contrition of heart we glorify thee and entreat thee. Having boldness before the Holy Trinity, One in essence and undivided, intercede that the Russian Church not be divided: that the Lord keep it from being cut asunder, as St. Mark of Ephesus plead; may He save it from ruptures in its body, as prayed the Hierarch Philaret of Moscow; and may He preserve also the lot of thine episcopate, the Russian diaspora, scattered among the nations, instructing them in the Orthodox Faith, bearing unfeigned witness to the truth, confessing the faith of the holy fathers, preserving the language of Saints Methodius and Cyril in the order of the divine services, and celebrating the feasts of the Church of Christ as of old.

Through thy prayers, may the Lord grant the wisdom of serpents and the purity of doves to His hierarchs, apostolic love and prophetic zeal, the patience and sympathy and total forgiveness of Christ. That He confirm the pastors in care for their spiritual children, teaching them to flee the attractions of this fallen world, that He enrich their knowledge with the glad tidings of the Gospel, keep their hands impartial to filthy lucre, direct their feet to preaching the Gospel of peace, preserve their hearts in purity. That He grant monastics the spirit of obedience, chastity, self-restraint, observing the monastic rules, confirmed in nonpossessiveness. And to the people of God, the infants, young boys and girls, men and women and the aged may He grant health of soul and body, the spirit of faith, the spirit of love, the spirit of loyalty to their Orthodox faith. And for all of us to acquire blessedness and inherit the heavenly Kingdom. Amen

QUOTE

... But the Most Blessed Metropolitan Philaret said:

You have probably heard many times how there are many most sublime, beautiful and seemingly Christian words being said about everyone joining together into one faith, one religion. But remember, what lies behind this is precisely indifference towards truth. If a person valued truth, he would never agree to this. It is precisely because everyone is little interested in truth and wishes only to make things simpler and more convenient even in matters of the faith, this is why they say that everyone must unite", i.e. each person must admit that his faith is not the truth, and only when all these truth-less faiths combine into one, then somehow truth will emerge. Brethren, let us fear such indifference toward the truth. Our Lord Jesus Christ clearly indicates to us in Revelations how terrifying indifference toward the truth is. He speaks to the Angel of the Church of Laodiceans:

"I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot ( lukewarm - you do not treasure the truth) I will spue thee out of My mouth." This is expressed more severely and strongly in the Slavonic text: "I will vomit you out of My mouth", just as an organism expels something truly repulsive and harmful to it.

Metropolitan Philaret NY (1986)

source:

http://metanthonymemorial.org/VernostNo83.html

QUOTE

A man who does not express a desire to link himself to the latest of the saints (in time) in all love and humility owing to a certain distrust in himself, will never be linked to the preceding saints and will not be admitted to their succession, even though he thinks he possesses all possible faith and love for God and for all His saints. He will be cast out of their midst, as one who refused to take humbly the place allotted to him by God before all time, and to link himself to that latest saint (in time) as God had disposed.

St. Symeon the New Theologian