tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-73042886598650075.post6874967770667929450..comments2024-03-22T11:37:52.668-05:00Comments on Byzantine, Texas: EP delegation in Belgrade to speak with Serbian ChurchByzantine, TXhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17845681957622343484noreply@blogger.comBlogger38125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-73042886598650075.post-62017783438253822462019-11-06T12:14:05.991-06:002019-11-06T12:14:05.991-06:00Randy and Timmy,
You both say too much to unpack ...Randy and Timmy,<br /><br />You both say too much to unpack easily, but your information source(s) for your opinions is essentially Russian biased - more than biased, it is in truth propaganda. In a sense your simply 'choosing sides' in the normal ethno-national-give-and-take of this ethno-national Church of the East. Your doing this from your NA armchair, and convincing yourself that your "theology" is somehow relevant - or even real theology! You even claim to know what is "practical" in Africa!! Your being quite silly. Sorry if this offends, but there is no other way to put it.Jakehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16152024447008244670noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-73042886598650075.post-68264085256974218862019-11-02T16:14:00.239-05:002019-11-02T16:14:00.239-05:00Seems like there are lots of these bots that frequ...Seems like there are lots of these bots that frequent blogspot.com and post advertisements. Probably would be best to just ban them, but they'll probably just come back on a different account.Randyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06277889467316537183noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-73042886598650075.post-79713425917686266642019-11-02T10:42:10.891-05:002019-11-02T10:42:10.891-05:00This ain't no Indonesian site. Take that mess ...This ain't no Indonesian site. Take that mess somewhere else!BorisJojicjhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02796218761394313699noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-73042886598650075.post-64104964270185026562019-11-01T23:00:25.783-05:002019-11-01T23:00:25.783-05:00Jake,
Like the Churches of Poland & Cyprus ha...Jake,<br /><br />Like the Churches of Poland & Cyprus have said (and I agree) Ukraine has a right to be an autocephalous Church under the right circumstances, i.e., they collectively desire & request it, which hasn't happened.<br /><br />I'm not at all opposed to Ukraine being autocephalous. However, to date a minority group of defrocked, excommunicated, anathematized, schismatics who have shown no repentance & make up less than 25% of the Ukrainian population (the other 75% being the UOC) have requested it, and the means of the EP's "creative" intervention in Ukraine defy logic & historical reality. I think this opposition is not merely "canonical" but also theological & practical. This is my objection to the so-call autocephaly in Ukraine as it currently stands.<br /><br />Conversely, I don't think it would benefit every nation that has it unique culture & language to have its own autocephalous Church or else the Patriarchate of Alexandria would be divide up in ways that are impractical. On the other hand, the US would likely (I suspect...maybe) do well to have an autocephalous Church.<br /><br />At any rate, we're two laymen, and the bishops will work this out. Afterwards we can add our collective lay support or rejection of it. You & I are a couple of "armchair theologians". I'm a lousy sinner & ask that you remember me in your prayers. Timmyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06833797224685670708noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-73042886598650075.post-48061598015162174602019-11-01T13:04:04.038-05:002019-11-01T13:04:04.038-05:00St. Lawrence used extremely polemical language, as...St. Lawrence used extremely polemical language, as many saints do, but his words always seem to come to my mind when discussing Ukraine: <br />"At these words, Batiushka said a prayer for all who have gone astray from or renounced Orthodoxy; he began to cry and said, “No, the Lord will not call them to repentance, they will not be saved, for they are unworthy of God’s mercy. This was revealed to me by the Queen of Heaven and my holy Guardian Angel.” Batiushka testified: “The Queen of Heaven has appeared to me several times, has visited me both by Herself, and with the Archangels Michael and Gabriel.” “In those who have gone astray from and have renounced the True Faith20 there is no salvation or receiving of the Kingdom of Heaven. We, the Orthodox, do not need anything—only the Orthodox Faith, the salvation of our souls, and to receive the Kingdom of Heaven. And we have all this in our Mother, the Russian Orthodox Church. Thanks be to God! But to break off from it and leave it is the greatest sin, which is unforgivable both in this life and in the life to come—it is blasphemy against the Holy Spirit.”<br /><br />And at this Batiushka lit up with a light not of this world, finishing his conversation with the words, "Hear thou and see!" as the Holy Evangelist says, and added: "They will be deaf and blind!"<br />Randyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06277889467316537183noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-73042886598650075.post-2525035546947757762019-11-01T12:55:06.466-05:002019-11-01T12:55:06.466-05:00The issue is not whether or not Ukraine hypothetic...The issue is not whether or not Ukraine hypothetically should have autocephaly or not, something that many anti-schismatic "OCU" voices support, such as the church of Poland. The issue is how this particular process was handled by the EP, how the "autocephaly" was granted, and to whom. <br /><br />Also, just something to keep in mind when talking about this stuff, St. Lawrence of Chernigov specifically said that the separation of Ukraine from it's common history with Russia is a (using his language) demonic practice, and that any attempt to give "autocephaly" or independence to the church of Ukraine is (once again to use his language) of the devil. Take that as you will<br /><br />http://orthochristian.com/77399.htmlRandyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06277889467316537183noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-73042886598650075.post-64818924742565269612019-11-01T11:39:15.650-05:002019-11-01T11:39:15.650-05:00In your response Timmy, even though you start an e...In your response Timmy, even though you start an end from a seemingly "canonical" perspective, the Church, the very Body of Christ as a human reality breaks through. Just to be clear, you believe that the Serbian Church with its own culture, language, and nation state engenders autocephaly, where as the Ukrainian Church with its own culture, language, and nation state engenders...what... ontologyy as a living relic/symbol of the Russian mythology...a kind of zoo people?Jakehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16152024447008244670noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-73042886598650075.post-63070578012441778002019-10-31T11:58:34.287-05:002019-10-31T11:58:34.287-05:00I think the "two lungs of the same organism&q...I think the "two lungs of the same organism" analogy stretches the limits of credibility given the fact that:<br />1) Serbia long ago articulated its firm stance stance against the OCU & the EP's non-role in Ukraine and their firm support for the UOC<br />2) their unique histories<br />3) their very different autocephalous statuses (Greece's really being more of a hybrid between autonomy & autocephaly and Serbia have full autocephaly).Timmyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06833797224685670708noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-73042886598650075.post-81949650666620392322019-10-31T09:13:27.337-05:002019-10-31T09:13:27.337-05:00Yet the Serbians and the Greeks are like two lungs...Yet the Serbians and the Greeks are like two lungs of the same organism.Jakehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16152024447008244670noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-73042886598650075.post-42964091883903751792019-10-30T17:24:21.895-05:002019-10-30T17:24:21.895-05:00Exactly!
However, the Serbs are no-nonsense folks...Exactly!<br /><br />However, the Serbs are no-nonsense folks who don't mince their words or pull any punches so that wouldn't go well for the EP.<br /><br />Then again the EP isn't in the business of making sound decisions lately.<br /><br />Time will tell...Timmyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06833797224685670708noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-73042886598650075.post-18011512012613510162019-10-30T12:09:59.227-05:002019-10-30T12:09:59.227-05:00"Nice Church you have there, Serbia. It would..."Nice Church you have there, Serbia. It would be a shame if something happened to it."Fr. John Whitefordhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03455863282054302939noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-73042886598650075.post-2250419972262772019-10-29T13:17:45.110-05:002019-10-29T13:17:45.110-05:00St. Mark of Ephesus pray for us!St. Mark of Ephesus pray for us!Mikailhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06189539560391433081noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-73042886598650075.post-18385671485819250092019-10-29T12:52:04.288-05:002019-10-29T12:52:04.288-05:00St. Mark of Ephesus might be able to help you.St. Mark of Ephesus might be able to help you.Jakehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16152024447008244670noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-73042886598650075.post-58686631969085477582019-10-29T12:28:43.487-05:002019-10-29T12:28:43.487-05:00I am a part-time editor. I can't help it.I am a part-time editor. I can't help it.Mikailhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06189539560391433081noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-73042886598650075.post-78396226324444098312019-10-29T12:02:59.780-05:002019-10-29T12:02:59.780-05:00former...though you are a formal prooftexter...we ...former...though you are a formal prooftexter...we never leave your roots behind do we ;)Jakehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16152024447008244670noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-73042886598650075.post-32080347035173940592019-10-29T11:56:35.257-05:002019-10-29T11:56:35.257-05:00Formal....or former?Formal....or former?Mikailhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06189539560391433081noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-73042886598650075.post-18164971838887372822019-10-29T11:13:55.351-05:002019-10-29T11:13:55.351-05:00Ha! As a formal trad catholic I thought you might...Ha! As a formal trad catholic I thought you might be amiable to getting out of purgatory...eventually... ;) Ah well, Hell is as Hell does :)Jakehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16152024447008244670noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-73042886598650075.post-62529494998455433952019-10-29T10:59:49.483-05:002019-10-29T10:59:49.483-05:00Sorry. All sales are final.Sorry. All sales are final.Mikailhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06189539560391433081noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-73042886598650075.post-77663250337466545522019-10-29T10:01:29.266-05:002019-10-29T10:01:29.266-05:00"I sold him my beat up '99 Civic yesterda..."I sold him my beat up '99 Civic yesterday. 😁"<br /><br />LOL! Mikail, I am going to have to return it...It does not have a "flame job" ;)Jakehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16152024447008244670noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-73042886598650075.post-21906920646432371062019-10-28T21:41:30.890-05:002019-10-28T21:41:30.890-05:00Don't worry Timmy. Jake will be okay. I sold h...Don't worry Timmy. Jake will be okay. I sold him my beat up '99 Civic yesterday. 😁Mikailhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06189539560391433081noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-73042886598650075.post-67854218164339546172019-10-28T18:06:31.014-05:002019-10-28T18:06:31.014-05:00My father always said sarcastically, "Don'...My father always said sarcastically, "Don't try to confuse me with the facts! I've already go my mind made up." Other times he'd say, "A wise man will change his mind in the presence of facts."<br /><br />Thankfully with Jake there's no need for dialogue. He's lovingly abolished the need for discourse. All others need to do is accept everything he says because any other position is sheer foolishness. Jake is just like Patriarch Bartholomew!Timmyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06833797224685670708noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-73042886598650075.post-47207323609524155292019-10-28T17:59:48.048-05:002019-10-28T17:59:48.048-05:00Fact: Anyone who disagrees with Jake is an amateur...Fact: Anyone who disagrees with Jake is an amateur canon lawyer beguiled by Moscow Patriarchate propaganda incapable of thinking for themselves and unable to grasp the complexities of the situation as well as being incapable of authentic Christian love.<br /><br />Well said, sir! You're a true genius & modern-day Cappadoican!<br /><br />I humbly bow to you & your irrefutable position. You must glow in the dark when you pray.<br /><br />Ah, I'd love to see a transcript of disagreements between Jake & his wife. That would be entertaining, indeed : )Timmyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06833797224685670708noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-73042886598650075.post-3352707311289190532019-10-28T15:23:15.688-05:002019-10-28T15:23:15.688-05:00Fact: all you amateur canon lawyers have no facts,...Fact: all you amateur canon lawyers have no facts, you have propaganda which is opinion masquerading as fact.<br /><br />Fact: you mistake propaganda as fact, and when this is pointed out you strangely call this "anti-intellectualism".<br /><br />Fact: none of you can engage any of the dimensions of the situation beyond what you have been led to believe is the "canonical" one.<br /><br />Fact: You're trapped in your own "logic", even though it's Christianity 101 that life, the church, humanity, and God are not logical legal problems.<br /><br />Jakehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16152024447008244670noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-73042886598650075.post-8643642444310066722019-10-28T14:10:13.610-05:002019-10-28T14:10:13.610-05:00"They are simple categorical, linear thinkers..."They are simple categorical, linear thinkers...followed by colorful rhetorical insults."<br /><br />Jake, thanks for showing us your hand. These are signs of authentic hubris & anti-intellectualism...when you can't or won't bother to offer a respectful, factual & logical rebuttal then, of course, resorting to simple ad hominem attacks is considered sufficient.<br /><br />Last I knew that was fundamentalism disguised as open-minded tolerance...until someone has a different point of view then hit the "red button" to launch character assassination torpedos.<br /><br />This is my cue to sign off. No point attempting to have a reasonable conversation of someone who rejects reason & respectfulness. Godspeed.Timmyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06833797224685670708noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-73042886598650075.post-42748408146960761702019-10-28T12:34:18.068-05:002019-10-28T12:34:18.068-05:00"...any number of Orthodox clergy--and not a ..."...any number of Orthodox clergy--and not a few lay people--seem comfortable making comments about the EP that they would never make to their own bishops."<br /><br />They are simple categorical, linear thinkers. They have been led to a determination (by the MP's propaganda - they certainly did not come to it themselves) that "The EP is a schismatic/heretic" and then A+B=C. It gives them a thrill, and "pricks" their inner self righteous man-child, not that there is any manliness in it really. It's a kind of intellectual masturbation, and obviously has nothing to do with actually loving your neighbor... Jakehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16152024447008244670noreply@blogger.com