“If a man is passionate or mean, or conceited or boastful, or anything else of the kind, it [the priesthood] unveils all his shortcomings and speedily lays them bare.”
— St. John Chrysostom
Note: The following essay is part-parody of the blog post "Open Letter: OCA priest participates in Trump riot, reported to FBI" and part-call-to-action, since the information recorded here is absolutely true and should be challenged. My critique is meant to not only elucidate the partisan and peremptory suspension of Father Mark Hodges (more about his story in part 2), but also to ridicule the one-sided system from whence it came.
An observant reader has informed us here at Dissident Mama that there is a shocking double-standard in the policing of clergy in the Orthodox Church in America. To keep him/her safe from the very real and present danger of death threats in today’s sociopolitical climate, we are publishing his/her social-media research anonymously.
This fellow Orthodox believer has shared with us for dissemination to our readers around the planet evidence that while conservative priests are held to account for woke wrongs, left-wing priests are allowed to communicate without impunity highly partisan political rhetoric.
Yet, this is in direct opposition to the OCA’s social media guidelines for clergy: “Clergy should refrain from making political statements, joining political groups, or ‘becoming fans’ of particular political candidates or political causes on social network sites.”
And what’s more troubling is that the proof seems to suggest that the biggest benefactor of this glaring inequity is the Right Reverend Christopher Calin, an archimandrite (the highest rank of the priesthood and only one step below bishop) and dean of the Cathedral of the Holy Virgin Protection in New York City.
How is this not a political statement?
Is this not becoming a fan of both a particular political candidate and a particular political cause (note rainbow splatters which certainly don’t mean God’s promise to Noah in this context)?
A political statement but at least it’s urging prayer.
Not sure if he’s a member of this activism group, but it sure is a political statement.
Political and petulant – the telltale sign of a progressive.
Defending the BLM-Antifa riots and perpetuating the “Trump is Hitler” narrative by co-opting holocaust language.
Apparently, Trump is a “coward” for closing down one public square only after BLM-Antifa mobs burned a historic church and vandalized monuments, while Biden puts all of DC on lockdown. But maybe the good father laments DC now truly looking like “a militarized zone.”
Oh well, I guess not. Funny how 7 months and a new president makes all the difference to a political priest. Like San Fran Nan says, “our Executive Branch cowers in fear of protesters who are crying out for justice.” So much so that many of the pissed-off patriots who took part in the Jan. 6 protest are facing literal sedition charges and up to 20 years in prison. Perhaps the archimandrite’s prayers have been answered.
Comparing the DC protest to 9/11 really is duplicitous and unbecoming of any person who claims to be “intellectually curious.”
Anti-whiteness rears its head and empathy is nowhere to be found. All caps is the hallmark of a prideful man who aims to deflect.
Funny that even though Calin’s own essay simply called “Statement” (found on his parish’s About Us page) says, “We oppose any actions or laws limiting liberty, justice, the right of self-determination, freedom of speech, and civil rights throughout the world,” he obviously does not hold firm to those stated beliefs.
Pre-Trump Nazi fetish + a “Forward” meme + castigating the Gadsden Flag and Battle Flag as racist = one woke priest. Ain’t nothin’ more political than that.
More from his parish website statement, “We pray for peaceful coexistence of all nations and peoples in the unity of the Holy Spirit and as the logical extension of our incarnational theology.” Yeah, calling 71 million American voters “white supremacist” probably isn’t a good start. Oh yeah, and did I mention that that’s a political statement?
Just in case you missed it, social-justice warriors: Call anyone you disagree with a Nazi. Got it? Seems to be right in line with his parish’s “About Tolerance” section, which features a quote from Lutheran, philosopher, and social-liberalism advocate Karl Popper: “We should therefore claim, in the name of tolerance, the right not to tolerate the intolerant.”
Wearing a mask outdoors? Check. Virtue-signaling selfie? Check. Uninformed, misinformed, and intellectually incurious? You know it.
Nothing to see here, folks. Just a priest normalizing the violent riots that raged for six months and were the most costly in US history, and even featured the destruction of government buildings. Gasp, you don’t say?! I thought only conservatives “stormed” those sacred places.
I have not nor have I ever agreed to the social contract, which places authority of the godless state over the individual. That’s a progressive paradigm, Father. Have you ever stopped to think that the DC protesters were just rising up and speaking out against the “last vestiges” of the sick and sinister system in which you put so much faith?
If it’s hard to read, it’s because the left can’t meme. If it’s hard to stomach, it’s because anti-whiteness is a devilish ideology.
But, but, but I thought that Calin celebrated “deadly force … arrest and ruin” and violating the civil rights of intolerants?
Yep, “immigrant rights” (i.e. open borders) is purely political. Then again, even the OCA’s Met. Tikhon and other bishops twist their spiritual tongues when it meets their worldly needs.
Sure, this frame was added after a shooting, but still. At the very least, it’s an ecumenical virtue-signal. At worst, he’s undergirding the archetype.
And speaking of ecumenism …
It’s telling that he shares a post by a controversial lefty bishop who denigrates traditionalist Christian clergy as Muslims.
Aha, now we’re getting at the heart of the matter. So, Calin hates official church teaching on homosexuality as inherently sinful, as does the website that ran the open letter. In fact, its irksome editor sees sodomy as a holy war and, thus, a conservative priest’s suspension as a “small victory for LGBTQ Orthodox Christians.”
More predictable political platitudes. Hey, why don’t we just scrap it all and fight against homophobia with this nifty Orthodox calendar?!
Repentance is anathema to the rainbow mafia. I mean, why struggle against your sin when you can just celebrate it?So the thinking goes: Homosexuality and all its deviant behaviors is not a sin, but “transphobia” is. The equity and inclusion overfloweth.
Wow, those are some sturdy and scientific facts there, Father. Just as LGBT activists play loose with the self-fulfilling prophecy numbers of trans suicide, the implication here is that church doctrine kills people. If only Orthodox Christians would be nicer.
“While we don’t engage fools in their folly, we must warn the Church about them.”
— Fr. Ioannes Apiarius
We at Dissident Mama are “chilled to the bone” that the OCA attracts the sorts of followers, like fellow-traveler Father Joshua Coolman. Below he displays a quote from the “progressive Christian theologian,” who encouraged young girls and women to surrender their purity rings so that they could be melted down and made into a vagina sculpture that was presented to longtime feminist Gloria Steinem. Father Coolman might be well advised to be more circumspect concerning with whom he makes common cause.
Were it not for our concerned reader who has brought these images to our attention, we might not be wise to the insurrectionists in our midst. “I did not do so out of political, social, or spiritual spite,” he/she explained.
Had it not been for his/her brave handiwork, we might be lulled into complacence by outwards appearances. “I did it out of civic responsibility,” he/she added.
Or because we faithful are always seeking unity to strengthen the Church, we might turn a blind eye to the revolutionary spirit brewing in some of our jurisdictions.
Perhaps some cassock-donned wolves, who are purposefully identifiable as Orthodox priests and representatives of the Orthodox Church, are attempting a siege – a kind of cucked coup within the OCA and beyond.
Father Juvenaly also happens to be an OCA archimandrite and the admin for the Facebook group Progressive Orthodox Christianity, where all the juicy left-wing politics is unabashedly on display.
Concerned citizens at Monomahkos and Orthodoxy Today have already in years past pointed out that Calin’s public figure page on Facebook contains nothing of spiritual edification for Orthodox faithful, but rather a steady stream of left-wing conspiracy theories, election denialism, anti-Trumpism, anti-whiteness, and promotion of the rallies where domestic terrorist groups incited insurrections against law-abiding citizens. Yet, these condemnations have fallen on deaf ears.
Unfortunately, the woke priest’s actions cannot be reported to the FBI, since the government agency has not requested information on him/her because all of his/her beliefs fall right inline with the federal regime.
So, we pray that the stark inconsistencies, the abetting of violence and sin, and the hurt will end in our jurisdictions, and in our Church. Like Saint Ambrose opined, “Not only for every idle word must man give an account, but for every idle silence.”
Please contact the Most Reverend Michael Dahulich at bishopmichael@nynjoca.org or (914) 779-6580 to register your concerns. You need not be part of the OCA’s Diocese of New York and New Jersey, or even Orthodox to write or phone him. We are deeply hopeful that His Eminence will recognize the gravity of the situation and swiftly suspend Calin and his collaborators.
In reading all of this, I could feel my blood pressure rising. Literally.
The left is absolutely mad. And clearly happily so. I find their abuses laid out on this nation vile and disgusting.
Excellent piece, as always!
Thanks for all you do!
In Christ,
Thank you, Miss Anne. I feel the same as you, but we must keep exposing the madness. Please do share far and wide because many “conservative” Orthodox groups and pages are NOT approving this essay for their followers. Seems that truth is even too radical for some supposed traditional Christians. They too are often compromised by political correctness and misguided protection of an unhinged priest. And the worst part is that the progressive Orthodox will never, ever cut Father Mark Hodges that slack. They always go for the jugular and that is why they always win. It’s time to put on our battle armor and stop ceding one, single inch to these Ameridox. On the offensive is the only place we should be.
I couldn’t agree with you more.
And yes, exposing all we can is key. When I’m called “white trash” or a “white supremicist” by a liberal, I report it as harassment and assault. They do nothing, of course, but I won’t stop.
Fr. Mark Hodges has deserved none of what he has gotten. We know that. And I will support him completely however I can.
We pray for you to keep up the exposures, the essays and that the fight in you allows it. (We are dealing with brain cancer over here, as you may recall, so my laser focus is on my husband). Never mind asking me to share something or to help spread the word on something! I’m with ya Girly!
In Christ, (and a warrior FOR Christ!)
Anne, you keep fighting your fight with Michael, and I’ll keep fighting mine … we’ll show those petulant progressives what a couple of white-trash warriors can do when we keep the true faith and keep our armor of God on nice and snug. We ain’t skeered, eh?! Much love to you two. 🙂
I really didn’t think this was how it was going to turn out, with the lefties running and hiding and all. But I guess they’re in a pickle: if they attack me, your humble messenger, all they will do is increase traffic to my site and give light to the article and all of Calin’s crazy. Huh, going on the offensive against bullies actually works. Who woulda thunk?! 😉
Another pretty odd development is that many supposed “conservative” and “traditional” Ortho groups won’t let the exposé see the light of day. Pathetic. I also wish some Ortho bigwigs would help get the word out, but as of now, I may have to depend on some of my fearless Protestant and Catholic friends. We shall see …
BTW, I love your rainbow overlay – priceless.
I was one of his Conservative “Far-Right” Parishioners about 15 years ago, And he called me a Racist. So I left him. , I’m not gonna stay and take abuse from him.
Outstanding ! A veritable ” devastating artillery barrage ” of evidence and facts against the intended ” target ” . But,the US Left seems to be winning. Who – in the rich.prosperous and rapidly-progressing Russia of the Year 1910 – could have predicted the devastated,demolished and demoralized condition of that same country just 50 years later ? With Marxism at the helm,it seems that the USA might be next. One Founding Father opined to this effect : ” Republics are notoriously short-lived. ” .
Cultural Marxism **is** winning in Murica, and that’s why I fight so hard against subversives, “Christians” or otherwise. Elder Ignatius of Harbin said, “What started in Russia will end in America,” and that is what we’re experiencing today. We must resist it at every step because if you give the leftists an inch, they will take a Leninist mile. But our republic has already expired, circa 1861 or even earlier. What we need now is secession and Jesus, for if the US falls, the godless globohomo game is up.
I find so often, among radical liberals, that they ARE what they accuse other of being: racists, hatemongers (or merchants of hate), Nazis(after all, they are socialists who believe in telling you what to say and think), ignorant, domestic terrorists, intolerant, and people who just plain will not listen to reason or truth. This was a difficult piece to read, and I am sure more so to write. Keep up the good work. God bless!
Thanks so much, Southern Gent. Yes, this was a challenging piece to write, not only because I wanted to stay on the offensive, but also because this progressive subversion is just so damn sad. Predictable, but still sad. So I really appreciate your comment and your encouragement. Please do keep reading and keeping me on my toes.
In Christ, Rebecca/DM
Tis true. And I think they’re needs to be truth in advertising when it comes to what each jurisdiction is actually about. I think it will save unknowing converts a lot of heartache and, God willing, help them avoid unnecessary pitfalls in their coming to Orthodoxy.
Late to the party but following this discussion. So, Dissident Mama, I’m one of the “unknowing converts” you mentioned above. I’ve been studying Orthodoxy on my own for a while now, and living it as best I can, but haven’t yet joined the Church formerly (that is, I haven’t been baptized into it), somewhat because I see that the Leftist lunacy of modern America has infiltrated the Church to a great degree. I came to Orthodoxy because of it upholds God’s Truth for humanity. Yet I see that in many ways, some jurisdictions (and individual churches) have strayed far.
There’s an OCA church very close to me, but the OCA is, well, problematic for all the reasons you and others have illustrated. The other option is a ROCOR church over an hour away, which is too far to participate in the church’s daily life. Realistically, I’d only be able to make the Sunday services, which is not nearly as involved as I would like to be to have a meaningful church life. Other than that, I’m left to continue on my own, outside the official Church and her blessed mysteries, and muddle forward as best I can with scripture, Church Fathers and other Orthodox writers, and streamed services.
Is there any advice you could offer to avoid the heartache and unnecessary pitfalls you mentioned?
Michael, I wish I could emphatically say, “No. It’s all good. It will fall into place.” But alas, that would not be realistic. I’m going to be writing up something soon, God willing, about the lacking community even in some quarters of Orthodox church life. I do believe it’s a postmodern malady that infects way too many people and parishes, but especially in disjointed, atomized Murica. This is one reason I’ve worked so hard in making the Ludwell Orthodox Fellowship happen (and our website launch is soon, God willing, in September). We need each other, yet Americans are still so individualistic and waaaaaaaay too comfortable. Still! I pray the fellowship is a gift for my children and children’s children, newbies, and cradle Orthos. We need each other – perhaps more now than in a long, long time. https://www.dissidentmama.net/the-ludwell-orthodox-fellowship-our-mission/
However, I would say be thankful that you have a ROCOR parish within an hour drive of your house. And if it’s English-speaking: woohoo! My struggling mission, which is only a couple years old and was homeless since March until two Sundays ago, is an hour from my house. It’s hard, but it’s worth it.
But a frustrating part is that many of the people I have grown closest to over the past 1.5 years still aren’t on board with our mission 100%. We’ve been through a lot together, yet there’s still a lack of commitment (not faith-wise, but parish-wise) on some of their parts. So, I always try to remember that we ALL have been through the ringer and other people may have different issues to work through or different goals than do me and my fam. I think this is simply part of righting our course, as in the lame, misdirected and confusing course of Murica and its diminishing Christian people.
I think the best advice I could give is know you’re blessed when you get the fellowship and community for which you, but know that you won’t get it all the time. “Never a dull moment in Orthodoxy,” as I like to say. So keep studying, keep praying, and keep nurturing those bonds. We are literally building beauty from the ashes, so these psychological trials are par for the course. Studying the trials of the saints will also be beneficial. Do what’s right and leave the rest to God. 💚
Is Fr. Calin going g to run for office after retiring?
The uniqiness of XC and his body the church is that it is not an ideology . Ideology is all CC has to offer and a whole lot of ego … his superficial and predictable political views are a parody of the worst our country has to offer .
Fr. Calins envolvment in politics and sloganering is a shameful and embarrising late life cynicism being lauded on an unsuspecting mostly convert constituency.
The fact that the OCA allows some one to flagrantly indulge in this spectacle is a travesty.
One more thing. He was seen to have hidden his pectoral in his pocket at an inter faith gathering. My question is why venerate the cross and the martyrs if this is where you are at spiritually … living in the luxurious Cathedral apartments and enjoying the bounty of this country he cannot even wear the cross proudly. This is beyond the the pale and prompts the question . Is he even a believer?
Your questions are all right on point, Kiril. As far as CC’s belief goes, I suppose only he and God know about that. But your calling a “travesty” the OCA allowing a priest to “flagrantly indulge” in such unorthodox and unseemly behavior is a matter for all of us Orthodox in America – especially when it is OCA priests (a la Fr David Galloway’s presentation at the Diocese of the South conference earlier this year) who try to shame Orthodox content creators for being too, um, traditional. 🤷♀️ The double standard isn’t just ridiculous, it’s also quite dangerous.
I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you to live in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— 7 which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ. 8 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let them be under God’s curse! 9 As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let them be under God’s curse!
GALATIANS 1:6
Apostasy is permitted by God – do not attempt to stop it with your powerless hand. Flee from it yourself, protect yourself from it; that is enough for you to do. Learn to know the spirit of the age, study it, so whenever possible you will be able to avoid its influence…Only God’s special mercy is able to stop this all-destroying moral epidemic, to stop it for a while, because it is necessary that everything foretold by the Scriptures happen.
There are no homosexuals only homosexual acts . The same is true of “heterosexuals”
The church calls us to personhood.
Criticisms of gays usually gives ” straights” a free pass . This obsession with gays while divorse and adultery are so so common is oft a neurosis a neurosis .
However Fr. Calin buys into the gay ideology and falls into the trap. It seems more like self justification than christian. In fact such ideological stands replace Christ’s mercy for mere virtue signaling and misses the liberty of personhood all together. This is not the fullness of the faith by anyone’s standards and makes a sham out of the Holy Orthodox Church.
Bishop Michael please wake up.
fr Christopher Calin going back to the Kondratic days of St Vlads knows well where the so called ” bodies are buried” that is why there is no diciplinary actions against his apostacy.
Comments
In reading all of this, I could feel my blood pressure rising. Literally.
The left is absolutely mad. And clearly happily so. I find their abuses laid out on this nation vile and disgusting.
Excellent piece, as always!
Thanks for all you do!
In Christ,
Thank you, Miss Anne. I feel the same as you, but we must keep exposing the madness. Please do share far and wide because many “conservative” Orthodox groups and pages are NOT approving this essay for their followers. Seems that truth is even too radical for some supposed traditional Christians. They too are often compromised by political correctness and misguided protection of an unhinged priest. And the worst part is that the progressive Orthodox will never, ever cut Father Mark Hodges that slack. They always go for the jugular and that is why they always win. It’s time to put on our battle armor and stop ceding one, single inch to these Ameridox. On the offensive is the only place we should be.
I couldn’t agree with you more.
And yes, exposing all we can is key. When I’m called “white trash” or a “white supremicist” by a liberal, I report it as harassment and assault. They do nothing, of course, but I won’t stop.
Fr. Mark Hodges has deserved none of what he has gotten. We know that. And I will support him completely however I can.
We pray for you to keep up the exposures, the essays and that the fight in you allows it. (We are dealing with brain cancer over here, as you may recall, so my laser focus is on my husband). Never mind asking me to share something or to help spread the word on something! I’m with ya Girly!
In Christ, (and a warrior FOR Christ!)
Anne, you keep fighting your fight with Michael, and I’ll keep fighting mine … we’ll show those petulant progressives what a couple of white-trash warriors can do when we keep the true faith and keep our armor of God on nice and snug. We ain’t skeered, eh?! Much love to you two. 🙂
if anything should happen.. you now have a back up …
https://web.archive.org/web/20210131200719/http://www.dissidentmama.net/wheres-the-clerical-consistency-part-1/
Why thank you, Sherman. I guess this means my essay is stirring the progressive pot. Good!
IT’S because I know Calin, and he scrubbed his FB ACCOUNT of all the evidence. sad really, he can’t face the truth.
I really didn’t think this was how it was going to turn out, with the lefties running and hiding and all. But I guess they’re in a pickle: if they attack me, your humble messenger, all they will do is increase traffic to my site and give light to the article and all of Calin’s crazy. Huh, going on the offensive against bullies actually works. Who woulda thunk?! 😉
Another pretty odd development is that many supposed “conservative” and “traditional” Ortho groups won’t let the exposé see the light of day. Pathetic. I also wish some Ortho bigwigs would help get the word out, but as of now, I may have to depend on some of my fearless Protestant and Catholic friends. We shall see …
BTW, I love your rainbow overlay – priceless.
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/450445cc79b8e43e3a43a6ba0f455318fde523febfc8b6402be4f0a6f8ae3e86.jpg
I was one of his Conservative “Far-Right” Parishioners about 15 years ago, And he called me a Racist. So I left him. , I’m not gonna stay and take abuse from him.
Posting this Here for further reference
http://hellenicnationalist.blogspot.com/2007/01/more-on-oca-stupidity-part-2.html
Outstanding ! A veritable ” devastating artillery barrage ” of evidence and facts against the intended ” target ” . But,the US Left seems to be winning. Who – in the rich.prosperous and rapidly-progressing Russia of the Year 1910 – could have predicted the devastated,demolished and demoralized condition of that same country just 50 years later ? With Marxism at the helm,it seems that the USA might be next. One Founding Father opined to this effect : ” Republics are notoriously short-lived. ” .
Cultural Marxism **is** winning in Murica, and that’s why I fight so hard against subversives, “Christians” or otherwise. Elder Ignatius of Harbin said, “What started in Russia will end in America,” and that is what we’re experiencing today. We must resist it at every step because if you give the leftists an inch, they will take a Leninist mile. But our republic has already expired, circa 1861 or even earlier. What we need now is secession and Jesus, for if the US falls, the godless globohomo game is up.
I find so often, among radical liberals, that they ARE what they accuse other of being: racists, hatemongers (or merchants of hate), Nazis(after all, they are socialists who believe in telling you what to say and think), ignorant, domestic terrorists, intolerant, and people who just plain will not listen to reason or truth. This was a difficult piece to read, and I am sure more so to write. Keep up the good work. God bless!
Author
Thanks so much, Southern Gent. Yes, this was a challenging piece to write, not only because I wanted to stay on the offensive, but also because this progressive subversion is just so damn sad. Predictable, but still sad. So I really appreciate your comment and your encouragement. Please do keep reading and keeping me on my toes.
In Christ, Rebecca/DM
OCA was invented by Sergianists. It is the natural home of renovationist such as this Calvin character
Author
Tis true. And I think they’re needs to be truth in advertising when it comes to what each jurisdiction is actually about. I think it will save unknowing converts a lot of heartache and, God willing, help them avoid unnecessary pitfalls in their coming to Orthodoxy.
Late to the party but following this discussion. So, Dissident Mama, I’m one of the “unknowing converts” you mentioned above. I’ve been studying Orthodoxy on my own for a while now, and living it as best I can, but haven’t yet joined the Church formerly (that is, I haven’t been baptized into it), somewhat because I see that the Leftist lunacy of modern America has infiltrated the Church to a great degree. I came to Orthodoxy because of it upholds God’s Truth for humanity. Yet I see that in many ways, some jurisdictions (and individual churches) have strayed far.
There’s an OCA church very close to me, but the OCA is, well, problematic for all the reasons you and others have illustrated. The other option is a ROCOR church over an hour away, which is too far to participate in the church’s daily life. Realistically, I’d only be able to make the Sunday services, which is not nearly as involved as I would like to be to have a meaningful church life. Other than that, I’m left to continue on my own, outside the official Church and her blessed mysteries, and muddle forward as best I can with scripture, Church Fathers and other Orthodox writers, and streamed services.
Is there any advice you could offer to avoid the heartache and unnecessary pitfalls you mentioned?
Author
Michael, I wish I could emphatically say, “No. It’s all good. It will fall into place.” But alas, that would not be realistic. I’m going to be writing up something soon, God willing, about the lacking community even in some quarters of Orthodox church life. I do believe it’s a postmodern malady that infects way too many people and parishes, but especially in disjointed, atomized Murica. This is one reason I’ve worked so hard in making the Ludwell Orthodox Fellowship happen (and our website launch is soon, God willing, in September). We need each other, yet Americans are still so individualistic and waaaaaaaay too comfortable. Still! I pray the fellowship is a gift for my children and children’s children, newbies, and cradle Orthos. We need each other – perhaps more now than in a long, long time.
https://www.dissidentmama.net/the-ludwell-orthodox-fellowship-our-mission/
However, I would say be thankful that you have a ROCOR parish within an hour drive of your house. And if it’s English-speaking: woohoo! My struggling mission, which is only a couple years old and was homeless since March until two Sundays ago, is an hour from my house. It’s hard, but it’s worth it.
But a frustrating part is that many of the people I have grown closest to over the past 1.5 years still aren’t on board with our mission 100%. We’ve been through a lot together, yet there’s still a lack of commitment (not faith-wise, but parish-wise) on some of their parts. So, I always try to remember that we ALL have been through the ringer and other people may have different issues to work through or different goals than do me and my fam. I think this is simply part of righting our course, as in the lame, misdirected and confusing course of Murica and its diminishing Christian people.
I think the best advice I could give is know you’re blessed when you get the fellowship and community for which you, but know that you won’t get it all the time. “Never a dull moment in Orthodoxy,” as I like to say. So keep studying, keep praying, and keep nurturing those bonds. We are literally building beauty from the ashes, so these psychological trials are par for the course. Studying the trials of the saints will also be beneficial. Do what’s right and leave the rest to God. 💚
Is Fr. Calin going g to run for office after retiring?
The uniqiness of XC and his body the church is that it is not an ideology . Ideology is all CC has to offer and a whole lot of ego … his superficial and predictable political views are a parody of the worst our country has to offer .
Fr. Calins envolvment in politics and sloganering is a shameful and embarrising late life cynicism being lauded on an unsuspecting mostly convert constituency.
The fact that the OCA allows some one to flagrantly indulge in this spectacle is a travesty.
One more thing. He was seen to have hidden his pectoral in his pocket at an inter faith gathering. My question is why venerate the cross and the martyrs if this is where you are at spiritually … living in the luxurious Cathedral apartments and enjoying the bounty of this country he cannot even wear the cross proudly. This is beyond the the pale and prompts the question . Is he even a believer?
Author
Your questions are all right on point, Kiril. As far as CC’s belief goes, I suppose only he and God know about that. But your calling a “travesty” the OCA allowing a priest to “flagrantly indulge” in such unorthodox and unseemly behavior is a matter for all of us Orthodox in America – especially when it is OCA priests (a la Fr David Galloway’s presentation at the Diocese of the South conference earlier this year) who try to shame Orthodox content creators for being too, um, traditional. 🤷♀️ The double standard isn’t just ridiculous, it’s also quite dangerous.
https://www.youtube.com/live/6OB1YUSiwXs?feature=share
Birds of a feather.
I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you to live in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— 7 which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ. 8 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let them be under God’s curse! 9 As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let them be under God’s curse!
GALATIANS 1:6
Apostasy is permitted by God – do not attempt to stop it with your powerless hand. Flee from it yourself, protect yourself from it; that is enough for you to do. Learn to know the spirit of the age, study it, so whenever possible you will be able to avoid its influence…Only God’s special mercy is able to stop this all-destroying moral epidemic, to stop it for a while, because it is necessary that everything foretold by the Scriptures happen.
There are no homosexuals only homosexual acts . The same is true of “heterosexuals”
The church calls us to personhood.
Criticisms of gays usually gives ” straights” a free pass . This obsession with gays while divorse and adultery are so so common is oft a neurosis a neurosis .
However Fr. Calin buys into the gay ideology and falls into the trap. It seems more like self justification than christian. In fact such ideological stands replace Christ’s mercy for mere virtue signaling and misses the liberty of personhood all together. This is not the fullness of the faith by anyone’s standards and makes a sham out of the Holy Orthodox Church.
Bishop Michael please wake up.
fr Christopher Calin going back to the Kondratic days of St Vlads knows well where the so called ” bodies are buried” that is why there is no diciplinary actions against his apostacy.