UOC-KP position that the ordination would occur on the new date. Only days before the Ordination,
the UOC-KP Synod sent its concurrence and Bishop PAYeSIhJ of Borispil to assist. The untoward
interference by the UOC-KP left Vladikihj ALEXANDER and MAKARIOS regrettably, without the
ability to require appellate authority over proposed episcopal ordinand’s administration. In May of
2009, Archimandrit Svyataslau, having been tonsured by Met.MAKARIOS at the Houston Monastery
of the Four Evangelists and elevated to Archimandrit in Detroit by Vladyka ALEXANDER, was
ordained Bishop for the BAOC.
In Jun of 2011, an Archimandrit, University Professor, Military and Hospital Chaplain and
founding parish priest from UAOC in Ukraina was ordained Bishop SERFAFIM (Chikita) by (now)
Met.MAKARIOS, Abp.ALEXANDER, and the recently ordained BAOC Bp. SVYATISLAU.
Subsequently Vladyka SERAPHIM, not having a monastery affiliation in Ukraina or Belorussia did
affiliate with the Houston Monastery where he is the Bishop for the Belarusian Skete of Sv. Afanasij
and Dean of the Institute for Eastern Orthodox Studies (Seminary) .
In July 2012 in Brooklyn, New York’s Sv. Kyril of Tarau BAOC Sobor-Cathedral, it is alleged
that Bishop SVYATISLAV did enter into and effect an international conspiracy with canonically
unqualified, improperly credentialed voting delegates to stage a Soviet-style Robber Sobor which was
abandoned mid-day by (then) UAOC-OU, (later UAOC(s)-1973) Abp.ALEXANDER. Over the
objections of UAOC-OU Abp. (later) Met.MAKARIOS and the veto of BAOC Bishop SERAFIM.
Vladyka SVYATISLAV staged a “show” election which overwhelmingly “won” him an
Archbishopric. It is further alleged that the changes made in the Constitution of the BAOC at said
Robber Sobor effectively changed the nature of the BAOC to be a cult ruled by a layman’s governing
board. It is further alleged that this Robber Sobor illegally transferred the patrimony of the Brooklyn
Cathedral property without NY State Court approval or proper notarized and filed-as-public-record
real estate documentation in that the Cathedral facility is now fully controlled and operated by a
Belarusian Political Association without complying New York State statutory prerequisites that such a
transfer be made only after NY State Court approval and that full value be proffered to and received
by the “grantor ”.
CZECHS IN THE DIASPORA
SLAVONIC-GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH, (S-GOC)
Met.ANDREW (Prazsky), born June 16, 1949, was ordained, a novo, to the Episcopacy in May
of 1969 by (then) Abp.HRYHORIJ and Abp.HENNADIJ at Pokrova Cathedral in Chicago. The
history of this intelligent Czech, Slovak, English and Greek speaking hierarch is complex. He seems
to have, during his adolescence, worked his way through several minor autogenic and roskolnihj
groups by comporting himself intelligently, with dignity and striking the demeanor of a 40 year old.
Involvement and alleged Episcopal Ordination from two Bishops from the Czech Metropolia who
were “out of communion” and had migrated to the USA and upon reinstatement returned to (then)
Czechoslovakia left young Vladyka ANDREW abandoned . Owing to the mentorship and sponsorship
of Prof. Fr. Ihor Hubarzhevc’kihj for reordination in the UAOC, Vladyka ANDREW functioned in
the wider ecclesiastical circle of Met.HRYHORIJ, which also included Serbs, Greeks and even a
Western Rite Vicariate. Vladyka ANDREW was the Ihumen of St. Andrew Monastery, adjacent to
Co-op City in Bronx, NYC, NY, USA where services were mostly in Greek and where an array of
Greek hierarchs and (mostly) monastic, occasionally Athonite clergy served with some Ukrainian
language usage and a bit of English. He was aided in his efforts by Abp.ANTHONY who bore the
same family name. Met.ANDREW envisioned himself as the successor of Met.HRYHORIJ but could
never gain the support of the constituency of Pokrova Cathedral. Vladyka MAKARIOS, (UAOC-
1942-1947inTX) was asked in 1986 by Met.ANDREW to assist with the ordination of Fr.
Archimandrit Alexis (Nizza). The Texas Hierarch declined, citing Fr. Alexis’ recent conversion to
Orthodoxy and his lack of theological education, formation or experience. In December of 1990
Vladyka ANDREI perished in a tragic industrial accident in the Monastery’s gold and silver plating
workshop. He was then succeeded by Vladyka ALEXIS (Nizza). Styling himself, regrettably, as
Metropolitan of the UAOC rather than the S-GOC Metropolitan, Vladyka ALEXIS’s tenure was
problematic . After obtaining retirement status from the stock brokerage for which he had worked for
decades, he resigned from the S-GOC early in the 21st century. He returned to the Latin Catholic
Church as a layman and married. It is presumed that Greek speaking Archbishop EFTIMIOS now
presides over S-GOC.
SERBIAN PATRIARCHATE in the DIASPORA
The Serbian Orthodoxy suffered divisions as well. The Non-Communists, Royalist had their
temples immorally seized by the Communist controlled Serbian Patriarchate by decree from the US
Supreme Court in the 1960’s. The Free Serbian Metropolia had then to build a new and look to our
UAOC-1942-1947 Met.HRYHORIJ to assist in episcopal ordinations. The reunion of the Free
Serbian Jurisdiction with the post-communist era Patriarchate has had the regrettable results of the
patriarchal administration acquiring the title of all but perhaps two of the parish properties in the new
world.
ROMANIAN PATRIARCHATE
The Romanians who were dissenting against the communist controlled Patriarch of Bucharest
gathered in the USA in the post WWII era and called upon the Ukrainian Church to assist with
supplying a bishop. On 27 April 1952 Fr. Valarian Trifa was ordained a bishop by Ukrainian
Hierarchs, Met.IOAN, Abp.HENNADIJ, and Abp.MSTYSLAV. Vladyka VALARIAN later allied
himself with the OCA. After several decades of harassment by the US Immigration Service, Vladyka
VALARIAN was deported, labeled as a Nazi-collaborator. The OCA-Romanians continue the
separation from the Romanian Patriarchate.
PARTICULATION GIVES WAY TO AMALGAMATION
We see at the end of the 20th Century and the beginning of the 21st Century that the pendulum has
swung the other way. Particulation has given way to consolidation. The hopes and desires of
Ukrainians for recognition by Constantinople and Moscow for Autocephaly wane as increasingly
unobtainable. No new autocephalous Churches are envisioned by the financially beleaguered and
power hungry imperial church centers.
Constantinople will not give Ukraina Autocephaly but will use that hope to extort compliance
with the limitations that the Kyivan omofor protects only those within the borders of Ukraina.
Constantinople continues the tactic of characterizing Ukrainian Churches as un-canonical, and then
will receive hierarchs, clergy and faithful in their present status. Istanbul will also continue to demand
Church unity of all the Orthodox Jurisdictions in Ukraina before recognition can be given. If this
should be accomplished, will then Greek Patriarchate demand that those Churches in union with Rome
also be included in the national church in order to qualify for Autocephaly?
The present Moscow Patriarchate, while accepting the clinical Baptism of the Latin Catholic
Church, has now announced that it will not accept the Baptisms of the UOC-KP. This is obvious
propaganda which is being disseminated to demoralize Ukrainian Orthodoxy. Meanwhile the ROC-
MP has re-lifted the anathema against 17th Ukrainian Separatist, Hetman Ivan Mezepa calling it an
invalid and politically motivated anathema. Following the enthronement of its latest Patriarch,
KYRIL the UOC-MP has those from within that are fomenting the abdication of the autonomy of the
Ukrainian Orthodox Church – Moscow Patriarchate, Met.VLADIMIR (Sabodan). The ROC-MP
cannot be envisioned as agreeing to any form of Ukrainian Autocephaly.
The present incumbent of the Ukrainian Presidency, Viktor Fedorovych Yanukovych is a Russian
Speaker and an adherent of the UOC-MP. He has excluded the UOC-KP from governmentally
sponsored, national events, beginning with his own inauguration. The latest manifestation of
Presidentially promoted Russian chauvinism is the exclusionary statements of Pat. KRYIL, ROC-MP
who will preside at the governmentally sponsored 1025th Anniversary of the Baptism of Kyiv in Kyiv
to coincide with Sv. Volodymyr Day in July.
The loss of Ukraina would damage Moscow’s demographic position as the numerically largest
Orthodox Jurisdiction in the World. Indeed, the UOC-KP alone is likely more numerically significant
that the ROC-MP without the inclusion of UOC-KP census. Unified Orthodoxy in Ukraina i.e. UOC-
KP, UAOC, UOC-MP, apart from Russian Orthodoxy would certainly constitute the world’s largest
Orthodox Administration.
History informs us that autocephaly does eventually come. It is a decades-long, at times even
centuries-long process. Those who “grant” autocephaly will not have been those who first felt the
shock and fear of loss in the idea of “granting” of autocephaly, but rather those who later come to see
autocephaly as fiat accompli and finally, post facto, issue the documentation.
POMISNA UKRAINIAN CHURCH
There are Ukrainian Orthodox and Ukrainians in union with Rome, both in Mother Ukraina and
abroad, who long for and speak of the possibility of a Ukrainian Pomisna (i.e. National) Church that
includes both the Orthodox and the Greek-Catholics united without allegiance to any “foreign” church
center.
WHY THE LINGERING IMPERIAL CULTURE ?
Church Centers that are (or were) identified with Empires are accustomed to controlling and
staffing all the Temples in the Empire. When there is dissention, the offender is dismissed and
removed, with help from the army/police if needed, and replaced with compliant servitors. Monies
move upwards to the Patriarchal institutions and administration with no expectations of “value
received” by the lower clergy and faithful. Rome is Rome. Istanbul sees “barbarian” lands as
mercantile colonies for the support of the besieged and beleaguered Fanar. Moscow sees the National
churches in its orbit as buffer zones from the untoward influences of the West.
OLD TITLES NEED NEW ATTITUDES
These imperialistic models become increasing less tolerable, especially in lands with some form
of democratic government. Often times one reads of the symphony betwixt the Orthodox Church and
the Empire(s). The days of empires are vanquished.
the people’s role: The faithful now must take up the responsibilities of Emperors towards the Church.
The Laity must equip themselves both spiritually and intellectually for this task. History reminds us
that often time betrayal of Orthodoxy by the hierarchy is counter-balanced by the faithful Laity. It is
the Laity in this age, who will build and fund temples, rectories, monasteries for men, seminaries,
monasteries for women, retreat centers, continuing education centers, exhibition halls, museums,
parking lots and all other expedient facilities for the Church. As well, church servitors should be
“elected” from qualified candidates and employed by an elected Parish Rada (Board, Vestry) with the
concurrence (blessing) of the bishop. Let Eparchies return to the calling a Diocesan Elective Rada of
representatives from the parishes and other institutions. Episcopal vacancies can be filled by election
of qualified candidates, with the concurrence (blessing and eventual ordination) by the Metropolitan.
This is both the ancient model and the one that is workable today. Adherence to Church Centers
cannot not be maintained by intimidation, by coercion, or by any other untoward, limiting model.
The patriarchal role: The Patriarch or Metropolitan should be serving as an appellate spiritual court
to settle controversies as they arise. Hierarchical Administrations should be publishing Liturgical
Books, multi-language service books and hymnals for the faithful along with multi-language annual
kalendars with Ustav advice. Church centers which have long histories might produce documentaries
sharing the riches of the architecture, ecclesiastic art and music of the Patriarchal City and organize
traveling exhibitions of artistic patrimonies of Patriarchates. Patriarchal institutions of higher learning
might be opened to offer continuing education to those who have been elected and installed as
bishops; for priests, who should be given regular paid educational sabbaticals; for lower clergy to
attend liturgical refresher courses; for renewal of certification for Lay Blahovisnikihj; for seminars for
choir directors, choir clinics and festivals, for spiritual renewal retreats for the laity and recovery
programs for those with mental health issues and addictions. Patriarchal Commissions should be
continuously convened to investigate how new scientific information and new technologies effect the
Orthodox spiritual perspective so we might have an intellectual context for our times to aid in the
preservation and praxis of Orthodoxy without becoming viewed as running centuries behind reality.
The Patriarchates should be on the forefront of Orthodox Apologetics to the materialistic,
individualistic, hedonistic world whose marketing methodology is invasive to the spiritual,
philanthropic, and artistic requirements of our humanity. For example, the OEcumenical Patriarch has
been on the forefront of speaking to the Christian perspective on “having dominion over the earth”,
which refers to ecology, not the squandering of nature’s resources. The Patriarchates should turn their
focus from the regulating of romantic love and conception control to the real brunt of morality which
is love of one’s neighbor as one’s self; of love’s higher forms including graciousness and charity,
forgiveness, generosity, long-suffering, tolerance, service, self-sacrifice, teaching and the leading lives
of quiet example.
IMBUE THE OLD IMPERIAL MODEL WITH GRACE AND LOVE
It was expedient and convenient for the church to organize the church’s administration along the
geographical demarcations of the imperial government. The Emperor Constantine solidified the
practice by paying clergy salaries. The Bishop of Rome took over governmental functions after the 5th
Century invasion of Rome by the Visigoths continuing the geographic designations. The conquering
Ottoman Empire made bishops into ethnic governors who were both bishop and civil authority over
Orthodox constituencies. The Tsarist Empire retained serfdom until 1866, consequently controlling
the functions of State and the Military and utilizing the Church to control the populous. The 19th
century saw the reduction of Papal Estates. The Ottoman Empire morphed into modern Turkey. The
Tsar and almost his entire family were murdered in 1918 and the Communist Regime caved in in the
1990’s.
Yet patriarchs remained in their ‘ivory towers”, imposing their imperialistic privileges and
forgetting about the spiritual hunger of the modern world. The 21st century is adorned by almost
universal literacy in traditional Orthodox Lands and throughout the industrialized diaspora. This is the
information age. The magnificence of Liturgy and the virtues of Christianity are needed by the
impersonal but individualized culture of the 21st century. Imperialism does not promote a sense of
involvement by the laity. Parochialism in the information age while modeling the magnificence of
Church Center’s Liturgical Life should also be promoting ministry to “the least of these”. Cooperation
of Patriarchates with parochialism engenders a sense of “value received” by the laity towards the
hierarchy. Let us without eschewing the glories of Orthodoxy’s (i.e. provoslavnij’s) Liturgical Life
(N.B.: Orthodoxy is from the Greek: correct glory, that is worship ; not correct doctrine.) stoop down
to touch with the grace of the Church those who are sick, suffering, dying, imprisoned, persecuted,
down-cast, down-trodden, marginalized, unappreciated, forgotten, lost, those who suffer with
addictions in addition to our welcoming of Emperors, Kings, Princes, Families, Politicians,
Journalists, Scientists, Educators, Business Magnates, Bankers, Management, Laborers, Students and
even Celebrities. Let all, yea, even patriarchs, metropolitans, archbishops, bishops, monastics with the
faithful, donors and well-wishers, imbued with a new sense of Grace, together practice, preserve,
defend, staff and fund the Ministry of the One, Holy Apostolic, Universal, Right-believing, Right-
worshiping, Eastern Orthodox Church, which is indeed the very Bride of Christ. Glory to God for all
things. Amen.
Continuation
Eshewing Imperialism, Particulation &Autocephaly! Or Consolidation?
