Pastoring Young Men into Manhood: Talk Given at the 2019 Touchstone Magazine Conference on Patriarchy

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2 responses to “Pastoring Young Men into Manhood: Talk Given at the 2019 Touchstone Magazine Conference on Patriarchy”

1. Francis Frost

   December 25, 2018

   Dear Fr. Johannes:

   Christ is born ! Glorify Him !

   Glory to God in the highest , and on peace goodwill to men!

   What a Christmas gift! Today, there are “tidings of great joy” to all the Orthodox people

   Despite the hysterical warnings of “bloodshed in the streets and babushkas dying on the church steps” issued in certain quarters; the “war” over the church in Ukraine is over; not with a bang; but with a whimper.

   Yesterday, the Moscow Patriarchate announced its willingness to resume negotiations with the Ecumenical Patriarchate. Of course, this announcement was low key, made by Mr. Legoyda rather than by Metropolitan Hilarion. In effect, the MP has conceded defeat.

   At the same time, Metropolitan Onuphry of Kiev, primate of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, has started distancing his church from the MP. In its own announcement, the UOC-MP officially declared that it “considers the Russian Federation an aggressor state and the Crimea an occupied territory” Metropolitan Onuphry further announced that the “UOC-MP does not recognize the annexation of Crimea and condemns everything that has happened in the Donbass.” Onuphry’ called on the “head of the Russian State to stop its aggression against Ukraine”.

   The statement issued by Archbishop Kliment, secretary of the UOC synod, goes on to state “in the statute by which it is registered in Ukraine and operates, it is written that the UOC is a self-governing church. We do not have a center in the aggressor country, and there is no center in any other foreign country.”

   In effect the UOC-MP has announced its own autocephaly !

   You can now look for Metropolitan Onuphry to start his own negotiations with the Ecumenical Patriarch and the real possibility of a united Orthodox Church in Ukraine.

   A very Merry Christmas to those on the New Calendar !

   A Happy Saint Spiridon’s day to those on the Old Calendar !

   A Happy St. Herman’s day to our people in Alaska (tomorrow) !

   And to His All Holiness Ilya II, Catholicos – Patriarch of All Georgia, Archbishop of Mtskheta – Tbilisi and Metropolitan of Bichvinta and Tskhum-Abkhazeti: Mravaljavier !!! Many Years, Most Holy Master !!!

   Today, his All Holiness celebrates 41 years on the patriarchal throne. How many trials and hardship he has suffered with his people, all the while encouraging all to keep the faith! Mravaljamier kidev da kidev !!!

   Many happy returns of the day to our Holy Father who never lost faith and who has promised us all these years that Georgia will once again be made whole by God’s sovereign will.

   Glory to God !!! Ghmerts Dideba !!!

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2. M. Stankovich

   December 29, 2018

   I must say that it had become my impression that this site – which I have historically contended to have been something of a “sanctuary” for Orthodox honesty in the public square, contention & “repartee” notwithstanding – was lost to the esoteric & void of the mission of being a voice of moral authority. Why I then decided to listen to your entire presentation, Fr. Hans, is unexplainable, but I am glad that I did. And I am glad that I did, not because I necessarily agree with your formulation of the “problem” or your “hands on” approach outside a very limited context; but for the first time in a very long time, I am genuinely encouraged by your assumption of role of “moral authority,” without hesitation, and with the five words individuals who suffer under the torment of these consequences of our broken world are desperate to hear: “I know what to do.” It brought back the memory of a friend of mine who was Chief of Cardiology in a medical center in NY who participated in our training regarding mental illness & chemical dependency; he referred a spouse to me whose lawyer husband had cardiomyopathy from his use of alcohol. She told me that in speaking privately with her husband’s numerous specialists, they all basically said, “What can you do?” until they crossed paths with my friend who said, “I know what to do.” She said she cried for five minutes, unable to speak. This speaks to what I believe is our first “mission,” to instill hope. While they may not appreciate what is happening in the moment, it seems to me we are extending not our own hand, but the hand of the True Physician:

   Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus… whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think on these things.” (Phil. 4:6-8)

   Certainly we must have a “theoretical” base for our interventions, but as you emphasized, in the end, there must be concrete answers; answers that instill hope, that lead to forgiveness, to chastity, and to the narrow path to which we are all called, and to experience the joy of the rewards. I compliment your “first step.” We need to go further, without hesitation & with moral authority.

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