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Saturday, December 2, 2023
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Patriarch Tikhon
Metropolitan Anthony Khrapovitsky
Metropolitan Anastasy Gribanovsky
Archbishop Makarios
Metropolitan Gregory
Metropolitan Demetrius
Metropolitan Ephraim
Metropolitan Makarios
Metropolitan Philarete
Archbishop Andrew
Bishop Gregory Lourie
Hiero-schemamonk Anthony Bulatovitch
Schemamonk Hilarion
Elder Silouan
Tuesday, October 24, 2023
Documents Concerning Name-Worshipping
"In every instance when the Church has been assailed
by one or another heresy, we find that many people
are fooled without actually understanding what is
happening. Heresy is always presented as the truth
and in this way many are misled."
⁜ Metropolitan Ephraim of Blessed Memory
*The creators of this site are not necessarily in full agreement with all of the statements made in the following files regarding these issues on either side, whether to do with Name-worshipping or to do with the synod of HOCNA. The following are simply factual documents and all the information is provided...
"They left the head and worship the hat"
- Elder Kallinikos the Hesychast
2010
In 2010, the Bishops of HOCNA issued a statement proclaiming their dedication to being not and autocephalous body, but rather seeking unity with the other True Orthodox Synods.
✠ SYNODAL PROCLAMATION OF AUTOCEPHALY
Fast forward to 2016, six years after the "Not Autocephalous" letter (and one year after the election of Gregory as the new Metropolitan of Boston) the Synod of HOCNA reversed the former decision and proclaimed autocephaly even though the number of parishes and people had diminished by about half, the opposite reason to switch this decision.
2011
✠ CONCERNING 'BISHOP' GREGORY LURIE
Two emails, one written by Metropolitan Gregory concerning the defrocked 'Bishop' Gregory Lurie (ex-ROAC). This shows the affinity for 'Bishop' Lurie which Metropolitan Gregory clearly had (and pushed) from his time as a Hieromonk at HTM.
2012
✠ METROPOLITAN GREGORY'S PROMISE
An email correspondence in which Metropolitan Gregory promised to abide by the decision of the synod (to no longer delve into the name-worshiping question) and stating that this idea was his "attitude towards this topic all along." It is obvious now that his response then was only so that he could be made a Bishop.
After Bishop Gregory was made a Bishop, he immediately began his campaign in support of Name-Worshipping, despite his promise not to do so. Below is a letter of Fr. John Flesser expressing his concerns against this teaching.
✠ CHRONOLOGY OF NAME WORSHIPING
An analysis and chronology of the historical events and consequences concerning the Name-Worshiping conflict
An email sent by Fr. Nicholas to former Bishop Demetrius of Carlisle concerning the false 'Bishop' Gregory Lurie.
✠ CONCERNING THE PATRIARCHAL ENCYCLICAL
In 2012 HOCNA issued a statement concerning the encyclical of Patriarch Tikhon supposedly using an incorrect translation. Attached is a document written by members of the Kallinikos "Synod" explaining what Patriarch Tikhon was supposed to have said.
2012 statement of HOCNA regarding their stance on Name Worshipping
An analysis 2012 statement of HOCNA regarding their stance on Name Worshipping according to the Kallinikos "Synod".
In 2012 HOCNA issued a document titled "Divergent Teachings" in order to present their stance on name-worshipping.
Analysis of "Divergent Teachings" according to the Kallinikos "Synod".
✠ LETTER OF FR. MICHAEL AZKOUL
An email which was sent by Fr Michael Azkoul to Metropolitan Ephraim of Boston voicing his concerns about the troubling events happening within the synod.
✠ A CALL FOR SANITY, A CALL FOR CLARITY, A CALL FOR UNITY
A well respected priest of HOCNA, Fr. Christos Patitsas wrote an open letter expressing his experiences and view on what is happening in the synod.
✠ ARTICLE ON NAME-WORSHIPING IN THE ECONOMIST
It is believed that Metropolitan Gregory had influenced the publishing of this article in the economist. Is it a coincidence that this happened during the upheaval within HOCNA?
An analysis of the above article
✠ A RESPONSE TO METROPOLITAN EPHRAIM’S ARTICLE
A letter from a former parishioner of HOCNA about the article “Psalm 19:1”
2013
✠ LETTER FROM METROPOLITAN EPHRAIM TO ARCHBISHOP MAKARIOS
A letter from Metropolitan Ephraim of Boston to Archbishop Makarios explaining the position of HOCNA on name worshipping and awake sleeper, condemning both ‘teachings.’ It was on this basis that true union was established between HOCNA and the GOC
✠ LETTER TO METROPOLITAN EPHRAIM FROM ELDER GABRIEL (GREEK)
Here is attached a letter from the Elder Gabriel of Katounakia (in Greek only) to Metropolitan Ephraim of Boston. In it he expresses his concerns about Name-Worshiping and Awake Sleeper
✠ ANOTHER LETTER FROM METROPOLITAN EPHRAIM TO ARCHBISHOP MAKARIOS
One of the conditions for the union of HOCNA and the GOC Synod of Archbishop Makarios of Athens was that HOCNA would cease preaching about Name Worshipping and Awake Sleeper. In fact, in the letter below Metropolitan Ephraim states, "no matter how much I may be provoked, I hope that It will not be necessary tor me to deal anymore with this in the future, for above all I believe how these matter surpass human knowledge." Unfortunately, Metropolitan Ephraim was not able to keep his word at the insistence of Metropolitan Gregory who consistently brought up this topic and encouraged others to do so, leading to the eventual break in communion with the Synod in Greece.
✠ WHY THE RUSSIAN SYNOD OF 1913 WAS NOT HERETICAL
A document written by Bishop Maximus of Pelagonia, of the Kallinikos "Synod", concerning his opinion on why the Russian Synod of 1913 was not heretical.
HOCNA ofter shares Tom Deretich's works in defence of Name-Worshiping. Here are two replies to Toms works.
2014
✠ 2014 LETTER OF MET. RAPHAEL TO MET. JOHN
✠ RETURN LETTER OF MET. JOHN TO MET. RAPHAEL
In June 2014, HOCNA shared the letter of "Metropolitan" Raphael of Moscow (TOC-R) to "Metropolitan" John of New York (Metropolia of North and South America and the British Isles) in support of Name Worshipping. But Metropolitan Gregory has refused to share the response of "Metropolitan" John to "Metropolitan" Raphael.
2017
Cryptic message by a clergyman belonging to HOCNA (photo showing the final resting place of Fr. Panteleimon, the Elder of HTM.)
Yet another version of "Divergent Teachings" in 2017
✠ RADIO INTERVIEW OF METROPOLITAN GREGORY OF BOSTON
A radio interview of Metropolitan Gregory of Boston where he explained that it is his duty to defend the Name-Worshipping heresy according to his understanding of it.
2018
This document contains a letter from Archbishop Makarios to Archbishop Andrei voicing his concerns about the issue of Name-Worshipping, attaching a letter from Toronto parishioners who had the same concerns. Metropolitan Gregory responds with a letter which besides being written in a rude tone, also contains a threat that because of this communion may be broken.
✠ LETTER OF METROPOLITAN PHILARET (FRANCE) TO METROPOLITAN GREGORY
A letter which Metropolitan Philaret of France (GOC) had written to Metropolitan Gregory of Boston in which he expresses the need to keep unity in the church, and that 'those' who implemented this conflict into our church had done so to cause division...
✠ METROPOLITAN GREGORY'S RESPONSE
✠ A LETTER FROM ARCHBISHOP MAKARIOS TO HIERARCHS OF HOCNA
A letter addressed to the Hierarchs of HOCNA assuring them that the intention of His Beatitude was not to backstab HOCNA or to cause any sort of troubles for the church, but out of concern of the topics discussed between them in the meeting with Archbishop Andrei and to show him how important these discussions are.
2019
✠ METROPOLITAN GREGORY'S RESPONSE
A letter addressed to Archbishop Makarios explaining the reasons why the two synods entered into communion.
✠ GOC OF GREECE (MAKARIOS) CONFESSION OF FAITH
A letter addressed to the synod of HOCNA declaring the confession of faith of the GOC concerning the teachings of Fr. Anthony Bulatovitch and that there is no repentance in Hades. It was expected for all the Bishops of HOCNA to sign this also so that the established communion could continue.
Metropolitan Gregory refuses to sign the letter and declares a brake in communion. This here is proof that Metropolitan Gregory himself was the instigator of this conflict and at fault for this schism. The Confession of faith of the Makarios Synod did not condemn the idea of "Name-Worshipping", the documents called "Divergent Teachings" or the so-called "Awake Sleeper". Instead, it outlined the true and Orthodox understanding of the fight over the theology of the Name of God, and the question of repentance in Hades. It was the understanding of Metropolitan Ephraim that the beliefs of HOCNA concerning these two topics, were not in accordance with what was being portrayed, he therefore condemned the heresies of "Name-Worshipping" and "Awake Sleeper" by condemning the theological errors which were being portrayed as the beliefs held by HOCNA. These exact same theological errors which were condemned by Metropolitan Ephraim in 2013, were outlined in the confession of the Makarios Synod in 2019, and again condemned. This was done to settle the many questions which had risen up during those six years, and the constant preaching of Met. Gregory, something which he was not supposed to do. Unfortunately, Metropolitan Gregory himself held these theological beliefs which were condemned by Metropolitan Ephraim before him, and for this reason was unable to sign this confession of faith, sealing the continuous breaking of his promise, and splitting apart the Church. By his act to not sign this confession, he has also dogmatized these unorthodox teachings by proclaiming that without holding them, one cannot be an orthodox christian and part of the Church. Accusations are hurled at Archbishop Makarios and his Synod, that they really broke the promise and that they were well aware of the growingly heretical beliefs held personally by Metropolitan Gregory, and that it was only after the death of Fr. Panteleimon and Metropolitan Ephraim that they waited to cause a schism. Perhaps instead, it was the insistence, constant secrecy, and obsession showed by Metropolitan Gregory towards these topics which caused distrust among the two Synods, and confusion in general, so that after the death of these two fathers, he was the only one left to "guide" the flock, and by cutting his ties with the Greek hierarchs (and Met. Makarios, the eldest member of the Synod), he would not have any one on top of him to say no.
A quote from St. John Cassian
✠ LETTER FROM METROPOLITAN MAKARIOS OF TORONTO TO ARCHBISHOP MAKARIOS
A letter from Metropolitan Makarios seeking to be received into the synod of Archbishop Makarios.
Address to the flock explaining the turn of events.
Additional Files
An article from NFTU about the changing of liturgical texts in the English translations in the Holy Transfiguration Monastery.
A book explaining the events in recent church history written by Archbishop Makarios of Athens.
A section of the book written on Saint Silouan of Mount Athos, where he explains his experience with this conflict, and felt at peace when the conclusion of this debate was made at the Synod.
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