Glenn Beck just did something on the Holodomor “the genocide history has erased”:
WARNING SOME IMAGES DISTURBING.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H8XLKNUJzMQ

George,

I’m sure you’re right about Pat. Kirill. As to the Russian government “taking responsibility” for Soviet crimes against humanity, you all have a point. One thing to keep in mind however: Putin and Medvedev are politicians, Pat. Kirill is clergy. Politicians often go as far out of the way as possible not to offend those to whom they appeal for votes or in order not to offend potential allies on any particular issue. There is still a communist party in Russia. Also, some small but significant minority of the population still long for the economic and social stability (as they see it) of the Stalin era. We can’t imagine this, but bread had the same price for over 30 years. Also, with some justification, they give Stalin credit for victory over Germany in WWII. They tend to forget that it was Stalin’s foolish politics before Germany’s attack on Russia that probably caused them to start the war at a considerable disadvantage. In truth, it was the sacrifice and courage of Russians, and other Soviet people, and aid from the West that made the difference. But Stalin did lead and the USSR did prevail. By early 1944, well before America had set foot on Normandy, the Soviets had crossed the pre-war borders and were gaining ground.

Putin and Medvedev have to take this significant minority into account so what they seem to be doing is retelling the story so as to spread credit and avoid directly addressing the horror of communism. I can’t agree with the approach but I don’t seriously believe that the horror is not widely appreciated even within Russia regardless of what they do. Krushchev began the de-Stalinization crusade and was pretty frank in denouncing him as a psychopath.

It is natural for a populace to want to be proud and, especially, not to loathe itself.

Kevin,

I can’t speak to Fr. Johannes point, but I can comment on the relationship between the ROC and the Russian government.

We in the United States and Western Europe have this idea of separation of church and state or “secularization”. Setting aside for the moment that in the case of the U.S. this attitude is a misrepresentation of what our Constitution actually says, the idea is foreign to Orthodoxy (and historical Catholicism, for that matter).

In Russia today, church and state are distinct entities. However, that does not mean that they cannot, or should not, work in symphony. Cooperation of church and state is utterly Orthodox. It may also be necessary in order to maintain any semblance of traditional morality (which hopefully will slowly be restored in Russia).

From the perspective of Americanism, this is disquieting since we have been taught throughout the grades and college (and even, sometimes, in church) that church and state should remain aloof with a wall between them. I’ve even heard Christians quote Christ’s words, “Render unto Caesar . . . ” as proof for separation of church and state. This quote strikes me as a clever way to escape a trap laid by His enemies rather than political commentary. If that indeed was His point then almost all Orthodox societies throughout history have trampled on His words.

Russia gets a boat load of bad press in America. The reason is quite simple: Liberals do not like Russia since it abandoned communism and has reembraced Christianity. They know that liberals in Russia have a hard time making any headway against what remains of Russian traditional attitudes. Liberals in Russia also constantly sound the alarm regarding the role of the Russian Orthodox Church in hampering their efforts.

Conservative liberals (and I call American conservatives this because they aren’t that conservative and they owe much of their philosophy to classical liberalism) also are hostile to Russia. They get shivers up their spine when they think of the “Spirit of ’76”. They believe representative government is more important than morality. They still look at Russia as a [weakened] evil empire, mostly because it has a more authoritarian government (in practice, at least) than they would prefer.

So it is very easy for Orthodox in America to fall into the trap of seeing Russia as a sinister power. If you hear nothing to the contrary from left-center-right, you just take it as a given.

We shouldn’t get too caught up in Americanism. Sometimes – and I know this is unthinkable to some – it is the enemy of the Gospel. Our system has not done too good a job vis a vis public morality: abortion, divorce, illegitimacy, promiscuity, feminism, etc.

I myself refuse to criticize other systems on the basis of American politics. Of Christianity, on the other hand, . . .

Mistake alert: I got today’s Gospel reading wrong. That was a couple of weeks ago. I think the point still stands however. Why would anybody want to fight turf wars or be lukewarm about such an exciting and worthwhile ministry?

Kevin,

Amen. I believe tomorrow’s Gospel lesson is about the sheep and goats. To my knowledge, that is the only place in the Bible where Jesus says what are the requirements for getting into Heaven. Feeding the hungry and clothing the naked are right up there if memory serves. I quake for my own sins when I stand before the dread judgment seat of Christ, I certainly don’t want to be a bishop (of whatever ethnicity) who stands athwart the simple command of the Gospel.

Lord have mercy.

George,

Troy Polamalu is a big enough Orthodox “star”, one would think! I fear it comes down to control- FOCUS NA is not run by the GOA, or (yet) officially under SCOBA (although given its “blessing”). The good news: local Greek priests and Greek laity are enthusiastically supporting FOCUS efforts, when it has been presented to them. In some cases however they have been told not to become involved, requests to meet with hierarchs have been denied to FOCUS leaders, meetings to present our work to GOA groups have been summarily cancelled (at the order of the hierarch), etc. It is very, very sad and frankly I would not want to be in the shoes of any bishop who stood in the way of their flock wanting to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, and shelter the homeless.

Besides his speech being filled with anything but an Orthodox message, at the end he gave an “important” (his words) gift: the “holy” (his words) Koran(!). He gave the book which denies the divinity of Christ as a gift. Do you, do we, really understand what that means? It means he has lost the grace of God, he has blasphemed the Lord, he has betrayed Him. In doing this, he has done something far worse than all of his other heretical opinions.
And, yet, in front and in center were all the bishops of the GOA.

There are some things which are of primary importance: The Church dogmas, the Holy Trinity, the Godhood of the Holy Trinity as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. We must be ready to suffer martyrdom for these truths. There are other things which we regret, but they do not have the same importance.

It seems that Constantinople had gone astray for quite same time now. In the late 1960s it was Eugene Rose (Fr Seraphim Rose) and Gleb who called Patriarch Athenagoras to return to genuine Orthodoxy. Getting complaints about being so outspoken Eugene went to Viadika John (St. John Maximovitch) for advice:

But glory be to God, Vladika John fully supported us and blessed us to continue in the same spirit.

(See: Concerning Hasty and False Union with Rome)

There is a precedent, the infamous Pope John Paull II Koran kissing incident.

Kevin, I heard the AFR podcast you did w/ the Polumalus. Great stuff. I did’nt realize about the “obstructionism,” though I can’t say I’m not surprised. That saddens me. But Dorothy Day was right, I’m glad you dredged up that quote. We need to make it operative from now on. Bishops themselves may have to step out of the way.

Just a thought: maybe if Jennifer Aniston and/or Tom Hanks had done this (FOCUS) then the local diocesan councils of the GOA would have moved heaven and earth to be in the shadow of the glitterati. What do you think?

As for their championship of FOCUS, God bless them and grant them many years!

I do have an question for the GOA however. Why is the the GOA ignoring FOCUS and the Polmalu Family? One would think the GOA would celebrate the Polmalu family service and hold them up as an example for others. Troy is a national sports star. They are also a fine example of how a family overcomes the whole omogenia propaganda to live a healthy Orthodox life.

However if you look on the GOA website their is no mention of FOCUS North America or the Polamalu Family and their outreach.

If you ask me it looks like their is already a defactor schism in the GOA between those who find their fellowship more traditional settings such as the local monastery and those who get all excited about the local Greek festival, march in a parade or two and read the National Herald.

I wonder does 79th street and the Phanar consider the Polamalu family fanatics. Shame on them if they do. Orthodoxy and the world need more people like the Polamalu family. They are wonderful examples for all of America.

Why is 79th Street ignoring them?

Getting back to +Kirill, he views his position principally as a preacher of the Gospel beyond the boundaries of Russia. I don’t know what his position is on the so-called Diaspora, perhaps he sees his authority to preach wherever Russian emigres reside in Europe. Regardless, like +Benedict and +John Paul II before him, he understands the transformative nature of the Gospel and its salvific effect on culture. Europe for him is Ground Zero.

Fr Hans,

I am surprised by this last sentence. Everything I read [see current issue of The Economist] and people who know what is going on in Russia tell me that the MP and Putin (and his crony Medvedev) are connected at the hip, and that the politial leadership in Russia uses the Russian Orthodox Church (and it allows itself to be used) as an arm of Russian diplomacy and influence.