St. Vladimir's Parish Blog

Bishop Andronik's 2008 Nativity Epistle

Posted by frandrew on 2009-01-08 12:19:47 Permanent Link

Nativity Epistle of the Most Reverend Andronik,

ROCA Archbishop of Ottawa and North America 

“What shall we offer You, O Christ, who for our sakes have appeared on earth as a man?”

Sticheron to the Lord, proclaimed at the vigil before the feast of the Nativity of Christ 

Congratulations on the Nativity of Christ and the 2009 New Year! 

To you, dear brothers and sisters in Christ, honorable pastors, clergy, and the faithful flock of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad, I direct my greeting and congratulations upon the glorious and salvific feast day of the Birth of our Lord in the flesh! 

Once again, on this day, our thoughts return more than two thousand years back to the cave in Bethlehem to witness the event that which is sacred to all mankind – the Coming of the Lord, our Jesus Christ, to this world. 

Like the Star of Bethlehem, our Mother Church, the Church Abroad, has brought us to this joyful event and with the Magi we bring to the Christ Child in place of gold, frankincense, and myrrh, our spiritual gifts, cleansed by fasting, and we glorify the Most Blessed Empress and Mother of God. 

In awe and with song we glorify the wonder before our eyes, the Nativity of Christ, and we offer the Christ Child our profound gratitude for all of God’s blessings that have been bestowed upon the Church Abroad. 

The year past, 2008, will remain an epochal year in the history of the Russian Church.  By the Grace of God, the ruin wrought on our Holy Church in May 2007, on par with that manifested by the Herodians, was overcome in this year for all time.  Slowly and with fidelity to the canons, all the elements of the Church Administration of the Church Abroad were restored; the Vth All-Diaspora Council was convened and concluded; the Synod of Bishops and Council of the Church Abroad were re-established; and the Chairman and First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad was elected – the Most Reverend Agafangel, Metropolitan of Eastern America and New York. 

Our Nativity joy is further heightened by the fact that the honorable episcopate of the Church Abroad was further enlarged:  the Most Reverend Georgiy (Kravchenko) was named to the Bolgrad cathedra, the Most Reverend Joseph (Hrebinka) was named to the Washington, D.C. cathedra, and two bishops joined the ROCA from the “Tikhon-Seraphim-Gennadiy” branch of the Russian Catacomb Church – Bishop John of Buinsk and Bishop Afanasiy of Vologodsk. 

The vessel that is the Church Abroad has weathered the storm through the intercessions of St. John of Shanghai and Holy Hierarch St. Philaret (who was glorified during the Vth All-Diaspora Council), for which we thank the Lord, born those many years ago in Bethlehem. 

Sadly our joy is not complete, as several of our brothers have recently left the redemptive haven of the Church Abroad. 

Again, I appeal to all our former brethren, brothers and sisters, who left the Church Abroad at various times and under various circumstances and who may now find themselves in various “jurisdictions,” return, for God’s sake return to the Church.  Leave behind your hurtful aspersions, pride, and enmity and may all of us here on earth join together in the angels’ joyful singing: 

“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to those on whom His favor rests!” 

+ Humble Andronik  Archbishop of Ottawa and North America

Metropolitan Agafangel's 2008 Nativity Epistle

Posted by frandrew on 2009-01-08 12:18:37 Permanent Link

Nativity Epistle of His Eminence Agafangel,

Metropolitan of Eastern America and New York 

Honorable prelates, dear pastors, brothers and sisters! 

      The light fades and the darkness deepens – we draw near to the end of the Seventh Day.  There is no clear or noticeable difference in the edifice of the world.  The economic crisis is discussed everywhere, but no one sees the spiritual crisis, which is far more ruinous and noteworthy – a crisis from which there is no way out.  The current spiritual crisis, ignored by many, is unvanquishable, as there is no one capable of defeating it.  The more spiritual exemplars of mankind have passed away into eternity and those who could replace them, who would be their equals in virtue, are nowhere to be found.  And where would one find them, as the religious and cultural environment from which they would emerge has become impoverished.  We can only become used to the spiritual crisis that has overtaken us and try to learn to live with it somehow, if God allows us the time to do so. 

      Many of the symbols of the past have been swallowed up by the gloom and disappear as if they never existed; nations, culture lose their meaning and populations forfeit their ethos.  Globalism mixes it all together into one featureless lump.  The borders of the Local Churches become indistinct, become incomprehensible reasons for ancient disagreements and disputes.  Superstitions spread everywhere, arising from a cultivation of commonplace reason, emotions and willpower, the characteristic features of the illusory idol of democracy. 

      In these days, God clearly reveals to us Christians the futility of this world.  In this dying world, where once magnificent values that seemed eternal become broken and unwanted potshards, the Person of Christ becomes more distinct and glorious.  He is born in hearts as a kind of divine Light, which slowly takes on the features of an Image.  For many of the faithful, this is how His Nativity expresses itself.  The days drew near to the end, when He will appear before our eyes, flashing throughout the sky brighter than any lightening and shining like a blinding sun.  This light will strike fear in this world, but it will show unbelievable mercy to those in whom this light dwelt. 

      My wish is that we all do not remain idle observers, but humble partakers of the Nativity of Christ, so that the Incarnation of God serves as our birth into life eternal. 
 

+Metropolitan Agafangel 

First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad 

The coming year of 2009 from the Nativity of Christ

Bishop Andronik's 2008 Paschal Epistle

Posted by frandrew on 2008-04-28 14:54:12 Permanent Link

“The angels in heaven, o Christ our Savior, sing of Thy resurrection. 

Make us on earth also worthy to hymn Thee with a pure heart.”

Hymn of the Bright Resurrection of Christ

 
Honorable fathers, dear brothers and sisters in Christ!

             Pascha of 2008 soon will be upon us, and after having endured the religious upheaval of last year, it reminds one of the first Pascha celebrated by God’s disciples.

            Only a year ago, we tried to be like an anchor, holding fast the life-saving vessel of our dear Church Abroad in honor of the traditions of the Holy Fathers of Orthodoxy, the memory of the Holy Royal Martyrs, the deeds of the New Russian Martyrs and Confessors, and the legacies of the hierarchs and founding fathers of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad.  Since then, we have seen this vessel tear from its anchor and be drawn with no one at the helm to uncertain shores.

            The pain of separation has once again touched our families and communities.  Many of our brothers and sisters, even those who were in total agreement with us, did not wait for the day of our first Pascha after the ruin and destruction of the past. 

            Then last summer, we met here, on American soil, gathering all our remaining spiritual strengths and resources for the re-establishment of our Church Abroad.  All of us for whom the Church has been a Mother since being born abroad, and all those for whom it became a Mother in our eternally divided Fatherland.

For several months we all celebrated at our Altars the name of the only bishop of the Church Abroad who withstood the threats and temptations, the Most Reverend Bishop Agafangel.  But God in His Mercy did not abandon us and now we have three sacred omofors in our Church.  And from one day to the next, there are more of us.

That is why this day reminds us so much of the first Pascha, when the Resurrected Lord Jesus Christ came to His disciples, who were dwelling in sorrow and dread.

As we go forward, it is now very important that all of us – bishops, priests and the flock – carry out their service without any false feelings like the Pharisees and to literally follow the New Testament epistle of the Holy Apostle Peter:

“The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed:

Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;

Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being examples to the flock.

And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.

Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.

Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:

Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.

Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

Whom resist steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.

But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, establish, strengthen, settle you.

To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.” (1 Peter 5; 1-11) 

        As we celebrate our joy at the Resurrected Christ during Bright Week and in the days of Pentecost, let us free our hearts from pride, impurity, doubts and fears.  Having brought the “fruit worthy of repentance” (Matthew 3:8) during Great Lent and having partaken of the Holy Sacraments of Christ, let us not defile ourselves with sin.

        We shall ask our Lord, now Resurrected, to give us strength this and every Sunday with the life-affirming words –

Christ is risen!

Truly, He is risen!
 

Humbly

+Andronik

Bishop of Richmond Hill and New York

 

New York

April 27, 2008 (N.S.)

Resurrection of Christ

St. Vladimir's is received under Bishop Andronik

Posted by Editor on 2008-03-15 20:18:45 Permanent Link

On Saturday, March 1, 2008, the parish of St. Vladimir's in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, made a very important decision.

St. Vladimir's parish had been part of the ROCiE (Russian Orthodox Church in Exile) since its beginning, when in 2001, ties were severed with ROCOR under Metropolitan Laurus. The parish always held firm against any union or ties with the MP (Moscow Patriarchate). Our expectation and belief was that the ROCiE would carry on the legacy of Metropolitan Vitaly and the "old ROCOR." However, after seven years and numerous schisms and intrigues, the remaining ROCiE hierarchs have been unable to function as a Sobor, let alone maintain the royal path of Metropolitan Vitaly and his predecessors.

Almost two years earlier, Fr. Andrew and members of the parish council executive could see that ROCiE was not fulfilling its mission and that something was very amiss. With the blessing of our Bishop Bartholomew, before he completely lost his health, we had made inquiries to go elsewhere. But we always hoped that we could stay with our ROCOR roots, and so we agreed to wait a while longer, still praying things would get better.

After the unification of the ROCOR and the MP May 17, 2007, we learned that Bishop Agafangel and many clergy and laity all over the world did not go along with the union. We were encouraged by this but wanted to wait and see how things would develop. In late 2007, there was discussion in the parish about informally inviting Bishop Andronik to St. Vladimir's and have an open question/answer session to clarify conflicting information and answer many questions. Some parishioners left St. Vladimir's because they wanted to remain in the ROCiE. This rift with old friends has been very painful and upsetting. Nevertheless, the majority voted to move ahead. We could no longer live under the spiritual chaos and hopelessness of the shattered ROCiE.

Finally, a visit was arranged to take place the first weekend in March 2008. Bishop Andronik came with Protodeacon Iov. The meeting, with a light lunch, lasted about two and a half hours. At the conclusion of the questions and discussion, Vladika Andronik and Fr. Iov left the room to give the parish members time to discuss their response to the meeting and an open vote was brought forward. The parish voted unanimously to accept Bishop Andronik as our bishop. The decision brought us peace and we felt relieved that this difficult time of transition was completed. We understood that we had returned to where we had moved away from. We understood that God had been very merciful to us and through a lot of suffering had now brought us back to our ROCOR roots.

Following the meeting, the Saturday evening Vigil was served and Bishop Andronik and Fr. Iov served with the rector, Fr. Andrew Kencis. The service was a blend of English and Slavonic. After the Vigil, several parish members stayed and we had an informal meal with Vladika in a smaller, cozier dining room. It gave us a chance to get to know Vladika better. He told us about remarkable and holy monastics he met at Jordanville and in the Holy Land during his twenty-five years there.

The next morning, a hierarchical liturgy was served. Again, the service was a blend of English and Slavonic, which flowed from one language to the other, with ease. Most of the parish members had prepared to receive the Holy Mysteries at our first liturgy with Bishop Andronik. As usual, a trapieza followed the Sunday service. This gave another opportunity for parishioners to get to know the bishop better. Bishop Andronik's visit to St. Vladimir's concluded joyfully, giving our parish renewed hope.

Before leaving Edmonton, Bishop Andronik went to visit Bishop Bartholomew in the nursing home. They had known each other in the Holy Land. Bp. Andronik was able to see firsthand how ill Bp. Bartholomew has become. After that, a drive was made to the Protection Convent in Bluffton to meet Abbess Amvrosia and the sisters there, and share a meal before returning to Dormition Skete in Wildwood.

As news has spread, Fr. Andrew has received warm greetings offering congratulations to St. Vladimir's.