OLD MAGAZINE REVIEW
Website Review
update 2024
Orthodox America
Fr. Alexey Young
Orthodox America
archived back issues
https://roca.org
Very good material. Especially the older issues, pre-90's.
We are glad to have this.
Be aware that the editor [Fr. Alexy Young], although he was a spiritual son of Fr. Seraphim Rose and should have known better, fell into world orthodoxy soon after Fr. Seraphim's repose in 1982.
And be aware that MP (Moscow Patriarch) Fr. Dimitri Dudko was an MP priest [sincere] trying to work from within and he was not successful. He was arrested by the Soviets, tortured, and ended up making a public "confession" forced out of him by his torturers.
Starting with issue #165 and later, October, 2000, BEWARE of propaganda, because Orthodox America went into the pro-ROCOR-MP union camp. St. James Parish of the GOC, who now maintains the Orthodox America archives, is not pro-union. The years leading up to the union in 2007 was a very confusing time, so it is understandable why such confusing articles would appear -- newcomers should be alerted not to pay attention to pro-union materials.
Fr. Gregory recommended I not put a link to OA on the Starting blog. He was very displeased with the early-on pro-union articles that kept increasing. But, especially in the older issues, there is some material that can't be found anywhere else anymore, it seems... Nothing spectacular, but it's still interesting. Caveat Lector.
Here is an example of a pro-union article where there is left no doubt and no excuse.
Pro-union article October 2000
Orthodox America Magazine
This most recent epistle of the Synod of Bishops of the ROCOR should be greeted with joy by all those who sincerely pray for "the good estate of the holy churches of God and the union of all." Unfortunately, it has also been met with some objections from those who read in it a sign that the ROCOR has suddenly changed course. A more sober reading, however, would reveal that the Epistle's intent is simply to acknowledge positive developments within the Moscow Patriarchate: the recent glorification of the Royal Family and other New Martyrs; its strong statements concerning abortion, homosexuality, euthanasia, drug addiction and other social issues; and its affirmation that the Church cannot and will not submit to any godless and unethical decrees of the government (effectively annulling the principle of Sergianism). At the same time the MP's continuing participation in the ecumenical movement and its attempts to seize church property of the ROCOR are duly noted and remain major stumbling blocks in ROCOR/MP relations.
In support of their objections, critics have been circulating on the Internet writings of various bishops, clergy and other members of the ROCOR, writings that stand in contradiction to the present Epistle. However, these are expressions of personal opinion (to which everyone is entitled), and they were written when the changes that have recently taken place in Russia were quite unforeseeable, while this Epistle is a conciliar statement reflecting the present state of church life in Russia, and it bears the signatures of all the bishops (including four from Russia and Ukraine), none of whom would sign against his conscience. It is the fruit of careful and considerable deliberation and of much prayer, and it should inspire our confidence.
We should continue to submit ourselves to those who have the rule over us (Heb. 13:17), and pray for our hierarchs that they continue to guide us, "rightly dividing the word of Truth."
http://www.roca.org/OA/165/165d.htm
page is the same, but the link is renamed:
https://www.roca.org/oa/volume-xix/issue-165/epistle-of-the-council-of-bishops-of-the-russian-orthodox-church-outside-of-russia-to-the-beloved-children-of-the-church-in-the-homeland-and-in-the-diaspora/
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