Professional Documents
Culture Documents
the O R T H O D O X
FROM HIS GRACE:
Getting in focus
The Great Apostle, writing to the Philippians
IV:8, said: “Whatsoever things are true, whatso-
ever things are honest, whatsoever things are just,
whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things
are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report;
if there be any praise, think on these things.”
This is a reminder of timeless value to everyone call- the authentic, traditional (but not necessarily tradition-
ing himself or herself a Christian among other Chris- alist) and focused Way. This is calendarism.
tians, i.e., belonging to the Body of Which Christ Him- Calendarism arose in this century due to a reform that—
self is the Head. There are many temptations and decep- like the reforms, tragic in their consequences, of Patri-
tions placed before us by the Prince of Darkness, the arch Nikon—came down from the airy reaches of a
great deceiver and liar, who always wants to distract us church elite. Such elitism arose in the Western church
from precisely those “whatsoevers” that the Apostle of the Middle Ages when institutions like the Univer-
listed. Many of these distractions bear the name of “- sity of Paris attempted to dominate the Church ideo-
isms.” There should be no “-isms” within an authentic logically. It also resembles a continuing elitist process
traditional and focused Christian witness and piety, nor in contemporary Protestantism, where theological semi-
should there be any “-ists” among Christ’s authentic, tra- naries, professors and technical theologians, are the
ditional, and focused followers. And such followers founts of change, of the wisdom of the day, and of the
themselves should avoid adopting such “-isms” for them- future direction of the church, by virtue of possessing
selves alongside their true allegiance: Christ. They should superior knowledge-gnosis.This calendar “reform” was
also not be quick to apply the labels of “-ists” to those unilateral and inspired mainly by the Ecumenical Patri-
who differ from them or “-isms” to the beliefs of their archate of the early decades of the last century, an Ecu-
brothers and sisters in the authentic, traditional, and fo- menical Patriarchate so out of touch with the real life of
cused body of the Faithful. If I must mention some of the Church as to recognize the hierarchs of the Bolshe-
these “-isms” and “-ists,” I would start with traditional- vik-nurtured Living Church as the legitimate Church of
ism and traditionalists, innovators and innovationists, Russia, even as Saint Tikhon was languishing in con-
conservatism (which doesn’t seem to have finement! From the date of this reform-from-above,
“conservatists,” rather conservatives—the same thing), the Orthodox world has become prey to calendarisms
and liberalism (old and new), fundamentalism and fun- of one sort or the other: Old Calendarism or New
damentalists, renovationism and renovationists. In just Calendarism. Both are wrong and both are based on an
listing these unfortunate concepts which plague us, one illusion or, better, a delusion. In fact all Orthodox
feels a certain exhaustion at the thought of dealing with churches and believers follow the same Calendar (ex-
them while what one really wants to do is discuss, pray, cept for the Finnish and Estonian churches at certain
argue, and work to fulfill such Evangelical imperatives periods in their history when they apparently felt such
as prayer, fasting, and almsgiving, while holding onto a need of tax money and/or other support from their
those Pauline “whatsoevers” and worshiping God “in Lutheran-dominated governments that they therefore
spirit and truth” according to our Saviour’s own words. adopted a non Orthodox Paschalia). A moment’s reflec-
In this article I’d like to discuss and try to discuss one of tion only, added to even the most rudimentary acquain-
these “-isms” as a legitimate concern of those seeking tance with the way our services are ordered, shows this
V I S I O N S u m m e r , 2 0 0 3
1
the O R T H O D O X
WWW.OCADOW.ORG
For the latest information on the Diocese of the West
Information on all parishes, institutions and departments
Archived issues of The Orthodox Vision
Complete letters of instruction from His Grace
And much, much more
Word from
a Chaplain
Fr. Paul Schellbach
Fr. Paul and wife, Patty, also serve at St. George the Great
Martyr Mission in Hesperia, CA
2
V I S I O N S u m m e r , 2 0 0 3
In This Issue
Volume 9, Number 1
3
the O R T H O D O X
Editors Box
Spring, 2003
Berkeley Students
Dear Reader:
Order from:
Deprtment of Communications
Diocese of the West
5400 Annie Oakley Drive
5
the O R T H O D O X
SPECIAL REPORT
ON MISSIONS
Fr. Paul Lazor Addresses Mission Retreat
Fr. Paul Lazor, dean of Students at St. Vladimir’s Seminary, ad-
dressed priests and delegates from the Missions deanery of the Dio-
cese of the West who met for a retreat at the Lifegiving Spring Retreat
Center in Boulder, Nevada from February 17-19th. He based his re-
marks on Galatians 4:19, in which the Apostle Paul expresses his con-
cern that “Christ be formed” in those to whom he had preached.
Fr. Lazor described priesthood as a “vocationless vocation,” saying
that the priest’s primary task is to be transparent and make Christ’s
presence possible. A priest must first of all be the good news that he
proclaims. The priest should know each of the sheep by name, like
the Good Shepherd of John 10, and discern what “next step” each
might take towards Christ, and how to assist him or her in doing so.
Warning against perfectionism, he drew examples from Anton
Checkov’s “The Murder”, in which zealous believers kept perfect all-
night vigil–and then killed someone for eating olive-oil during Lent.
“Don’t try to jump to heaven. You might break your neck,” he said,
remembering words from the late Fr. Alexander Schmemman. The
priest should reveal God and, at the same time, keep both feet on the ground, “like Christ in the icons of the
Transfiguration.”
Reports were also made by Fr. Ian MacKinnon, former dean of the Missions Deanery, Fr. Matthew Tate, its
present dean, Fr. Eric Tosi, who now oversees the Department of Evangelism for the Orthodox Church in America,
and each of the deanery priests concerning their respective missions.
The retreat convened on Wednesday morning, following the celebration of the Divine Liturgy at the Retreat
Center’s recently renovated chapel.
Women’s Fellowship
Collects Animals
The women of the Martha and Mary Fellowship of
St. Gabriel Orthodox Church in Ashland, Oregon
struggled to find an almsgiving activity for Lent. They
decided to collect stuffed animals for the Children’s
Advocacy Center in Medford, OR, an organization that
helps trauma-stricken children. In a two week period
the women collected over 1,300 stuffed animals. The
Center was overwhelmed at the women’s generous gift
and the time they had spent on the project. As a result
of this drive, the Advocacy Center now has an eighteen
month or better supply of stuffed animals.
6
V I S I O N S u m m e r , 2 0 0 3
7
the O R T H O D O X
Holy Virgin Cathedral:
Reflections on the Beginnings
on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of its founding
Holy Virgin Cathedral celebrates its 75th anniversary this Spring. In what follows, we trace the Cathedral’s first 50 years,
beginning with the words of one of it’s founders, and concluding with the words of His Grace, Bishop TIKHON, who wrote
as its Archpriest in 1983.
8
V I S I O N S u m m e r , 2 0 0 3
. . . cont’d. from previous page 1924.The money from that collection, together with that
ager, the Episcopalian nun Sister Mary, was an extremely saved up previously, appeared to be enough for a down
happy sort in general and well-disposed to us Russians. payment for a piece of property for the Church. There
Through her Father Razumov got a good apartment free, could be no question of a Church in the center of the
at the same Church, and M.N. Beloblodskaya, who or- city, and everyone agreed to buy two good lots in the
ganized the Church choir, got an apartment for a very new area around Ramon Boulevard. Some thought this
very low rent. was too remote for most, but agreed that this represented
The first Liturgy in that Church was celebrated by a necessary economy. And so it seemed. At the end of
Father Razumov in February, 1923. For the occasion S. 1927, when it seemed the amount was just about all col-
Rastegin, who was an expert in everything, made a very lected, it was found to be enough to buy a lot on
beautiful candlestand out of wood. Candles at that time Micheltorena Street, a purchase that we could not even
were purchased from a store belonging to Roman Catho- think of in 1924.
lics. From the very start of the parish until 1926 the Presi-
The wooden candlestand built by Rastegin still stands dent of the Church Committee was uninterruptedly V.L.
in our Church. On those rare occasions when Father Maleev who at the annual general meeting in 1926 de-
Razumov could not serve, he was replace by Father clined to be on the ballot and nominated F.A.
Sebastian Karpenko. The parish in those days was very Ladyzhensky as President. The following year F.A.
poor, and we were unable to pay a Priest more than fifty Tolubeyev was elected President, and one must attribute
dollars a month. In order to exist in such circumstances, the success in building the Church on Micheltorena to
Father Razumov worked weekdays in one of the city’s his energy and abilities. He also selected the name: the
buildings operating the elevator. wonderworking icon of the Mother of God: “Rescuer of
After Liturgies Matushka Ann Vasilievna Razumova the Perishing,” that is located in Moscow in the Church
would invite the active members of the parish for a cup of Christ’s Nativity “on Palashakh” and which is cel-
of tea in their apartment, and it was at those teas that the ebrated on February 5th, old style.
idea was born of founding a Ladies’ Circle with the pur- In conclusion it must be added that for the Church
pose of working for the magnificence of the church ser- building eight icons on the Iconostasis and many others
vices, obtaining icons, vestments for the Priest and deco- were painted at no charge by General Anatoly L’vovich
rating the Church on the Great Feasts. The first Presi- Schultz, who was one of the most energetic raisers of
dent of it was T.N. Dol and an active role was taken by money in building the Church and also Starosta for many
O. I. Bekish (relative of Metropolitan Ireney +B.T), M.N. long years.
Beloblotskaya and others. Administratively and spiritu- ************************
ally our Church was actually in the care of Metropoli-
tan Platon, but partially under the direction of the Vicar
Bishop of Chicago, Most Reverend Theophilus. Parish History 1973-1983
Bishop Theophilus’s son, Boris Pashkovich, lived at
that time in Los Angeles and was a member of our par-
ish. Fifty years of the Holy Virgin Mary parish came to a
Among those who took part in the activities of our conclusion with the jubilee celebration of February,
parish at that time one must mention: N.I. Beliakov, K.I. 1973. At the anniversary banquet at the Roger Young
Dragun, I.I. Nasedkin, P.I. Orlov, I.K. Reutovich, A.K. Auditorium, the parish Starosta, Mr. Ilarion (“Larry”)
Kostygin (also a member of the Committee)(who is now Worontzoff, rose and began to give a truly inspirational
a Priest in the San Francisco Cathedral), N.I.Damaskin, address to the assembled guests. At a particularly
F.A. Lodyzhensky, M.I. Vavich, and I.I. Rasson. exalted moment in this address, he collapsed and fell
The life of the parish flowed along peacefully. The asleep in the Lord.
number of parishioners grew; the financial situation im- It had been a glorious day–His Beatitude Metropolitan
proved and there appeared, though not that much, some Ireney and His Eminence Archbishop John had presided
money in the bank. People began to say that it would be over church services. Fr. Dimitri’s son, Seraphim, had
good to build their own Church. This was given a push been ordained Deacon at the Divine Liturgy. During
by a good collection of money—taken up during the meal the same Liturgy, Fr. Dimitry was awarded the privilege
after the Paschal Liturgy in, I think, the spring of cont’d. on next page . . .
9
the O R T H O D O X
. . . cont’d. from previous page by splendid greetings from church and civic leaders,
including His Beatitude, Metropolitan Theodosius, and
Fr. Dimitri's childhood friend, Fr. Alexander
Schmemann, still the whole parish had to now gather
together the strengths it had built up under Fr. Dimitri's
pastorship and rely on the Lord God to continue to bless
all the activities leading to the salvation of mankind.
The Parish Council, together with Fr. Dimitri,
forwarded a resolution to Metropolitan Theodosius, then
"locum tenens" of our diocese, asking the Fr. Stephen
would be appointed Rector and another priest be
appointed as assistant. While Fr. Stephen was appointed
rector immediately, it took some time to locate a second
The 50th Anniversary Banquet–Fr. Dimitri and the late priest. In the interim, Archimandrite Mark (Pemberton),
Metropolitan Ireney on loan from the Antiochian Patriarchate, served at the
English services, until, in June, Fr. Alexander Lisenko
of wearing the jeweled pectoral cross, and Archbishop
beginning of 1980. Fr. Dimitri's health problems were
brought on, in the writer's opinion, by long years of
overwork and the stresses of building up and maintaining,
in the face of the onslaught of visible and invisible
enemies, especially at the time of the controversies
accompanying the attainment of a fully canonical and
independent (autocephalous) status by the national
Orthodox Church in America, of the oldest and largest
Russian parish in Los Angeles, and, by 1980, in the
Diocese of the West. While financial and material
burdens are borne, more or less, by all the parish, the
main part of spiritual burden had to borne in this case by
Fr. Dimitri. That the parish survived the attacks of these
A visit from the late Metropolitan Leonty
irrational forces so well, when many did not, is due in
large part to Fr. Dimitri's wise and energetic, and self- arrived in the parish from Santa Rosa, California. Fr.
sacrificing leadership. Alexander was uniquely suited for the next phase in
So it was that Fr. Dimitri's retirement was greeted with parish life. Instead of, as in the past, one priest being
many tears, and feelings of insecurity, and while Fr. assigned to do English services and one priest doing
Dimitri's retirement dinner in the parish hall was marked Slavonic services, and consequently, serving an "English
side" and a "Russian side", respectively, Fr. Stephen
decided that each priest should serve the whole parish,
and so the English and slavonic services are served
alternately by both priests, and the idea of "sides" of the
parish is therefore weakened or changed from a divisive
to a complementary factor in parish life.
In July 1980, Bishop Basil tonsured V. Morosan and
H. Soot Readers in his first official visit to our parish.
In August the parish council voted to help out two new
missions, in Sacramento and Santa Maria, with cash
loans. In October a new liturgical custom was added to
our already rich liturgical life. In view of the really large
Some active parishioners in the days of
Fr. Dimitri’s tenure. cont’d. on next page . . .
10
V I S I O N S u m m e r , 2 0 0 3
11
the O R T H O D O X
. . . cont’d. from previous page
of mankind. Throughout all the past ten years (and
before) our Sisterhood has been under the wise and
energetic direction of that unique person, Mrs. N. N.
Wulffert. She has been a true steward of the talents
entrusted to her by God and by the parish, and a steadfast
and loyal pillar of help to to the pastors of the church.
The ladies of the Sisterhood in their selfless hard work
need no special lessons in "Stewardship." Indeed, they
are themselves examples worthy of emulation in this
Christian quality. We have to express gratitude that
impulses exist in our parish to do good for others as
evidenced by the organization of the R.B.R. chapter and
L.O.V.E.S. Such affiliate organizations as the "O" Club, vine Liturgy on Sundays. At the present our membership con-
which supports all Church functions, and helps various sists of approximately 20 people.We are praying that God
national F.R.O.C. projects as well as local missions, and will bless us with increased growth and to become a greater
the S.O.S. Fund, and the Hollywood Branch of the blessing to our community at large. Reno, being a 24 hour
Russian Children's Welfare society, Inc., also are grounds
for hope that God will not desert us in the future, as He
did not in the past. Thanks and Glory to Him for
everything!
12
V I S I O N S u m m e r , 2 0 0 3
Announcements
Annual Ft. Ross Liturgy with Retreat Diocesan Assembly 2003
Liturgy and a memorial for the departed were served The 2003 Diocesan Assembly will take place in
on Friday, July 4th, at Holy Trinity chapel, constructed Tacoma/Puyallup, WA on October 7th and 8th. It will
in 1828 on the grounds of Ft. Ross, established in 1812 be hosted by Holy Resurrection Church. Clergy and
as a base for Russian expansion in California. His Grace, delegates will be housed at the Best Western Park Plaza
Bishop TIKHON, presided. This continues an annual Hotel (bestwesternpark plaza.com, 253-848-1500), a
tradition, begun seven decades ago, by Fr. Vladimir new facility, near restaurants and other amenities. Those
Sakovich, then dean of Holy Trinity Cathedral in San arriving by air can obtain shuttle transport from Seatac
Francisco. Airport via Shuttle Express (shuttleexpress.com, 800-
The service was accompanied by a weekend retreat 487-7433).
sponsored by the Monastery of St. John of San Fran- Registration begins at noon, on Monday the 6th, at
cisco, with talks by Fr. Jonah Paffhausen and a cycle of the hotel. The Diocesan Council will meet at 7 p.m. that
services for the feast of St. John of San Francisco on evening. A hierarchical Divine Liturgy will be celebrated
Saturday the 5th. Participants in the retreat were housed at 8 a.m. on Wednesday.
at nearby St. Columba’s Retreat Center in Inverness, A page devoted to information on the Assembly will
CA. be posted on the Holy Resurrection (orthodoxtacoma.
Olympia Mission receives new name com) and Diocese of the West websites, (ocadow.org)
websites. Information may also be obtained by calling
On May 5th, the mission in Olympia, WA received Holy Resurrection Church at (253) 537-4883.
the name, “Holy Ascension Orthodox Mission.”
14
V I S I O N S u m m e r , 2 0 0 3
In some of the jurisdictional or special lists, one may learn of a sur-
prising lack of liturgical, theological knowledge and "know-how" among
even seminary graduates who hotly debate matters that I recall were
covered in the first year studies that I had at SVS. It seems some "got
through" or were passed through, somehow, even as children are passed
through school in some sorry school districts: "in order to keep up with
their 'age' group!"
Vision: Our nation is now at war. Does this have implications for
Orthodox Christians in the practice of their faith?
B . T . : This is the question that faces all Christians. Just think how
many studies have been made on the actions, reactions of Christians
during WWII,
trying to learn
what could and
should have
been expected
of Christians. I
was particularly
exercised in my
years before becoming Orthodox by the question of Ger-
man Christians and the popularity of Hitler among them,
and wondered what responsibility they had in the years
when Hitler's ideology was engulfing the entire national
psychology and ethos. How was it, I asked, that such an
intelligent, educated, and devout people could fall for such
an banal, hence evil (or evil, hence, banal) sales pitch as
that of the nazis or, if not fall for, idly sit by and watch?
I feel this same question faces Americans today, there-
fore us Americans, in a particularly acute, painful way. How can
the Orthodox Christian pray at a Litiya that the Lord God will
protect us from foreign invasion, and not realize that Iraqi Chris-
tians are praying for the same? It is true that Iraq is not America:
it does not have our huge military establishment, our huge finan-
cial establishment with its markets of all sorts, massive Faith com-
munities that include such powerful groups as Mormons and South-
ern Baptists, our culturally and socially dominant media, espe-
cially film and television, a gambling industry of a scope never
before seen in the history of mankind, a prosperous abortion in-
dustry, Self-Improvement and Self-Realization contexts for every
known human activity, as America does, yet one asks why the
lack of all that makes it somehow permissible to be invaded by
foreigners. We ourselves possess a warehouse of weapons of mass
destruction on such a scale that one can say we have reached the
point where quantitative difference turns into qualitative differ-
ence. Does this mean that we are more responsible or less danger-
ous than some other human beings?
Yet, this entire structure was shaken to its foundations, causing
fundamental changes in what used to be considered “American-
15
the O R T H O D O X
ism,” by no weapons of mass destruction at all, but by those ready
to lay down their own lives for a way of life they thought was being
destroyed by ours.
The blood of the Martyrs is indeed the seed of the Church.
St.Ignatius longed for it, he longed to be ground up by lions' teeth
like grain for bread.
Are we in the Tradition of St. Ignatius? Just a few thoughts on
"implications."
16
V I S I O N S u m m e r , 2 0 0 3
Vision: Our diocese spans everything from Old-cal-
endar Russian churches to parishes made up almost en-
tirely of converts from Protestantism and, in some cases,
New-age religion. How can we minister to so many di-
verse groups?
Vision: What examples of Church life can we look to From your youth you loved Christ, O Blessed one.
to guide us in our understanding of what the Church You were a model to all in word, life, love, spirit, faith,
could and should be? purity and humility.
Wherefore you have now taken up your dwelling in the
B.T.: Of course, the Apostles are our first examples heavenly mansions,
after Christ. They seem to have left the temple and syna- where, as you stand before the throne of the Most Holy
gogue worship alone: in other words, Liturgical theol- Trinity,
ogy as lived by them was not a “priority” in their preach- O Saint Tikhon, pray that our souls be saved.
ing or teaching. Whether or not all the people partici-
pated along with the High Priest in the Temple or with “God is the supreme good from Whom every good thing
the Apostles and Bishop’s in their episcopacy, or presi- flows, and all blessing that is and ever shall be.
dency/superintendence of the Eucharist and Community Without God all blessedness is cursedness and woe, life
does not seem to be a question that distracted them or is death, joy and sweetness are bitterness. To live with God
preoccupied them to the degree it does us today. We need is happiness in misfortune, riches in poverty, glory in dis-
to realize more that we are nothing and that God is ev- honor, and consolation in sorrow. Without God there can-
erything, that none of us is called, like a modern-day not be true repose, peace and consolation.
Luther, to “recover” Therefore love Him as your supreme good and blessed-
ness, love Him above every creature, above father and
mother, above wife and children, and above your own self.
Vision: Thank you, Your Grace.
Cleave to Him alone in your heart, and above all, desire
Him alone because He is your eternal good and blesseness
Master Bless! without Whom there is neither life or blessedness in this
age or the next.”
Eis Polli Eti Despota! –St. Tikhon
17
The Orthodox Vision BULK RATE
The Diocese of the West U.S. POSTAGE
The Orthodox Church in America PAID
5400 Annie Oakley Drive Las Vegas, NV
Las Vegas, NV 89120 PERMIT NO. 1274
Non-Profit Organization
Return Service Requested