BTW, the vaudeville part of “vaudevillian” comes from OCA Church Father, Fr. Alexander Schmemann who wrote in his Journals: “More and more often it seems to me that revising the monasticism that everybody so ecstatically talks about–or at least trying to revive it–can be done only by liquidating first of all the monastic institution itself, i.e. the whole vaudeville of klobuks, cowls, stylization, etc.”

It is only one small step downhill for those who can take it on faith that Coin indeed has the right kind of “eyes” to then buy into his amorphous attack on the Orthodox “Old World.”

Harry, Michael, if you know who these people are, then tell us because we’ve got to get the word out about these evil people!

How does what you describe fit into this preface: “There are some efforts at ‘cultifying’ Orthodoxy pretending to be growth avenues.”

“Growth avenues?”

Which jurisidiction or jurisdictional body is using “guru-pseudo monasticism” as an avenue for growth?

The upshot is that susceptible lay Orthodox are effectively taken out of community and give the impression that they are superior to anyone else because they have such an exalted ‘spiritual father’.

What I describe is not hypothetical. I occured in my own parish. Fortunately, it was not wide spread, but I have heard similar situations described in other parishes.

I suspect it happens rather more often to converts who have been exposed to eastern pagan religions and the erstatz mysticism popularized the the proponents of such systems prior to coming to the Church. It is yet another fruit, IMO however, of the lack of ecclesial order in the United States: frauds are given free reign, genuine spiritual formation is ignored or parishes are too large to allow for any. The spiritual disciplines are not really taught, particularly confession.

Can you give specific examples?

The OCA was blessed with being the first Orthodox body to begin to address the issue (perhaps that says more than anything else where the Holy Spirit is leading us). The AO
CA obviously is now facing similar issues. If our ‘General Assembly’ goes off as normal,i.e, a Met Philip extravaganza, the AOCA is dead. If +Basil comes out publically for change in leadership, we have a chance.

The various Slavic bodies have to decide whether they will go forward of backward. If they really want a podvig, what greater one could their be than plunging head long into the American morass. I question the tactic that Joe alludes to, remaining aloof to protect one’s own holiness.

Unless the GOA changes direction, they will be a millstone around the neck of the Church, getting all of the media attention while providing little real substance.

The Church will likely appear to grow smaller during this time, but she will grow stronger. I mean, who but a crazy person would choose to join such a dysfunctional group, or one called by the Holy Spirit?