Ask Vladyka

Comments

Administrator — Wed, 27 Dec 2006 00:20:27 +0000

March 13, 2008

Cecilia wrote:
Dear Vladyka,
I have read both letters that you have posted since this all this has
started. I am not sure what to call this, but it is a tragedy. I want you to know that I see no shortcomings in you and have not been offended by you.
I have been offended by what the priests and laity have said against you.
I can’t believe this is happening. I pray to God that this will go away soon
and they will see that what they have done is wrong and work to correct it.

With love and respect,

Cecilia

Dear Cecilia,
Believe me I have shortcomings and one of them that is necessary for me to
improve is how I am perceived as to strict. One can give the same medication
with honey and it goes down easier than with vinegar.
I don’t read all those letters on the internet and don’t subscribe to any of
those sites but some of them are forwarded to me. None have been sent by the
Metropolitan, however, and that is important for people to know.
Unfortunately, some of the critics have a history that isn’t as unblemished
as they want the reader to believe.
There is a saying that arguing is like mud wrestling. You both get dirty and
the pig loves it.
Love and blessings,
+Bishop NIKOLAI

March 13, 2008

James Fisher wrote:Master Bless,
Vladyka,
I am very sad to hear of the controversy going on now in the diocese. I am
praying for you and all the clergy there. I hope for reconciliation, and it
seems evident to me that there is love on both sides.
When I was moved to become Orthodox in October of 2001, I was an angry,
vengeful person with very little love in my heart or forgiveness for anyone. I learned these things coming into your church. You and Father Michael, my Godfather Paul and my new friends showed my this as a way of life. I talk to people there, periodically, and it seems that this love is there as always, from all sides.
I pray that God is using this to overcome these issues between people there.
Today I had the opportunity to meet a former colleague–one who treated me
badly and hurt my career a couple of years ago. I was going to avoid her and
shun her this week while she was on temporary duty at my base. But I
remembered what I learned up there, and some guidance I was given by Fr Michael about a similar situation.
I decided to go and meet her, and I did so bearing no grudge (or at least
trying to hide any remaining ill will). I wanted her to feel forgiven
(though she was not the only one at fault by any means).
I know this action was probably crudely applied, and I remain a sinful
person, but it made me think of the Church there, and what becoming and being
Orthodox has meant to me.
Gratefully in Christ,
James

Dear James,
This is the solution for sure, reconciliation.
Humility will go a long way on both sides, too.
Love and blessings,
+Bishop NIKOLAI

March 12, 2008

Terrance Stepetin wrote:
Vladyka, I’m unnerved by the recent allegations brought against you in our
church. My question to you: If you are being asked to take a leave of absence and you feel you are innocent of any wrong-doing, why would you not do so such as
any leader does in today’s society?Dear Terrence,
I am not sure that you or for that matter, most people, realize but I asked for assistance from my brother bishops on March 2nd. No one called, rather, I received a letter stating that I should take a leave of absence and vacate the diocese immediately; more on that later I suspect.
There is a process and the process has to be followed according to the rules of the Orthodox Church. No one should ever nor are they expected to follow rules that are made up in the Church and neither will I.Love and blessings,
+Bishop NIKOLAI

March 12, 2008

Rd. Ioannis Fortomas wrote:
Dear Vladyka,
Your blessing!I’d just like to begin by wishing you a blessed Lent. I’ve followed with sadness the news from your diocese. I personally believe that you are doing a fine job of running the Diocese of Alaska and that what you are going through right now is a great injustice on the OCA’s behalf. What does the future have in store? To “suspend” or “defrock” you for not leaving the Diocese of which you are the canonical Bishop is silly, stupid, immature, and most definitely uncanonical on behalf of Syosset. Even to utter such threats shows great immaturity. So to my question: is it possible that you would transfer your Diocese to another Jurisdiction? And if that is possible, would many parishes follow?I again wish you, Vladyka, a Blessed Lent and Pascha. I also ask for your holy prayers for me a sinner.Rd. Ioannis

Dear Reader Ioannis,

Thank you for your post and most importantly, your prayers for all of us.
My hope is for us to have reconciliation in whatever is being expressed. The passions are running very high in some and that is sad but now that Lent is here we must keep ourselves girded for the other attacks and not against one another.
We can’t discount the canons as irrelevant and that is an oath I took and will stand firm in that.
Love and blessings,
+Bishop NIKOLAI

March 12, 2008

Popadija Tatiana wrote:
Blagoslovite, preosveceni!Your Grace,I have never met you, but my husband and I subscribe to the North Star and
are always impressed when we meet the Orthodox faithful from your diocese. We met some wonderful monks who came here with the Sitka Icon of the Theotokos and know others who live there.As an Orthodox Christian and a fellow Serb, I am appalled at the way the OCA
Is treating such a staunch defender of the faith! It reminds me of the hateful, ignorant mistreatment of such holy men as St. Nektarios, St. John of Shanghai and even our own St. Nikolaj (Velimirovic)!Please be assured that even the lowest, most humble servants are praying for you. May God grant you the strength to continue this fight! (A fight that seems to conveniently take the pressure off of Met. Herman, who must surely welcome some breathing room within the mess he’s created.)

The Serbian Church surely has more than their share of problems at present, but the OCA is a sinking ship. Forgive me, but from how I understand the history, and with the recent reconciliation of the MP and ROCOR, it seems the OCA would be better off reunited with either body.

I am not writing this private email to debate you on this, only to let you know that we support you and are praying for you.

The season’s izkusenije have begun!

In Christ,
Pop. Tatiana

Dear Popadija Tatiana,

Thank you for the words of encouragement.
By no means am I a saint but I try very hard to uphold Orthodoxy in my diocese as well as in my own personal life and this is what I want for my people.

Of course, I think that there are many who would agree that this is a nice distraction from the real problems in our Church. You know there were over 1200 signatures calling for Metropolitan Herman to resign. And do you know there was never mention of an investigation?

We must stand firm for Orthodoxy. Our lives in America are too easy and we have been taught that we don’t have to do anything unless we want to. Our faith is not a buffet table where we choose what we want and put aside what we don’t want or like. We must struggle to meet the standard.

I truly believe my clergy want this kind of Orthodoxy.

A bishop friend from another Church last week said there was no practical reason for the OCA to exist now that ROCOR and MP have united. Have you read that the Romanians are planning to unite? That is another major body leaving the OCA and I am sure the Bulgarian Church will demand their parishes be returned, too.

Love and blessings,
+Bishop NIKOLAI

March 11, 2008

Dear Fr. Isidore,
Did my Deanery take some type of action that has led to this situation?Please know that my family is steadfast in its love and support of His
Grace. I truly think there are several things that are at the heart
of what is going on:1. I believe that there was resentment from some in Kodiak from the
very beginning because the physical seat of the Diocese was moved to
Anchorage, practically speaking. But, from my point of view it made absolute sense.
The Diocese was made accessible to the whole state by doing so.2. I think the dissenting priests’ primary motive is economic.
Instead of being focused on conducting church services first and
foremost, it seems that their own incomes may have been prime
concerns. Father Oleksa has his successful consulting business that he travels all over the State for.
Father Victor Nick purchased an expensive commercial salmon permit in
Bristol Bay. While in Dillingham, he was at least able to make money
fishing between liturgy services, but last season he had to send his
son over by himself. Father Victor simply cannot fish the permit
himself while being stationed in Mountain Village without essentially
shutting down church from June until August.

3. Before His Grace came to Alaska, no one paid attention to the
rural areas of the Diocese. I think the parishes got comfortable
operating as they saw fit. It was probably a shock that His Grace
tried to move them closer to what is correct. I would venture that
most of the priests made a habit, as did the ones that I am most
familiar with, of pretty much shutting down their church from the end
of May until late August in order to do subsistence. They want no
responsibilities except to put up fish, berrypicking and moose hunting for the whole period.

4. I am guessing that those who held down full-time jobs deeply
resented the loss of personal income when His Grace made requests to
focus more time on services instead.

I really think the timing of their combined requests to the OCA is in
the hope that it can all be resolved to their satisfaction so they can
go back to having Summer and Fall off again to pursue commercial and
subsistence activities.

Until His Grace came to Alaska, I had never in my life participated in
the Apostle Fast and Services. No one was ever around to conduct
these services for us until His Grace came to Alaska.

My entire family has grown stronger in their Faith under His Grace.
We earnestly pray for God’s blessing upon his efforts.
A humble parishioner,
Anna

Dear Anna,
Thank you for your insightful words. I know that Vladyka appreciates your prayers and concern.
With love in the Lord,
Fr. Isidore

March 4, 2008

Christos asks:
Why did Fr. Isidore and Minadora Jacobs resign from the Metropolitan Council? Did Your Grace tell them to, or was it their own decision?Dear Christos,A number of people have asked why my two Metropolitan Council Representatives resigned. Some conjecture if I ‘told them to’ or compelled them to so so in one way or another when, in reality, I even tried to talk them both out of it.Both Fr. Isidore and Mina Jacobs sent me letters in late January asking to resign and both of them had very different reasons for doing so. Fr. Isidore expressed a general dissatisfaction with the tone of the Metropolitan Council and questioned its right to exist canonically. He was also disgusted in the vindictive approach some members of the Metropolitan Council have taken with regard to the Protopresbyter Kondractick in internal Metropolitan Council correspondence. Mina Jacobs cited a need to devote her valuable time to something more positive and conducive to building up the Body of Christ, the Church. Both Fr. Isidore and Mina Jacobs clearly indicated that their time was better spent in Alaska.

January 22, 2007

Vasily Gardecki wrote:Christ is Born! Glorify Him!Master Bless!
I am shocked about the allegations against you. I do not believe any of it and
follow your website regularly whenever I have a chance. You have done so much
good in Alaska, following your predescessor,who did nothing. I knew you on
visits to St Paul’s Church in Las Vegas and find you to be “a true and
dedicated servant” of Christ’s Holy Orthodox Church. Please keep doing the
good work. The Lord watches and knows that you are a “true ” worker in the
Vineyard of Christ”. I will always hold great respect for you .Respectfully,
Vasily Gardecki
Mayfield PaThank you for your prayers and love for us.Love and blessings,
Bishop NIKOLAI

January 2, 2007

Protodeacon Nazari Polataiko wrote:
Bless Me Master!It was God’s Great Mercy on me and my family to meet Your Grace and all of
us pray for You and the great work that Your Grace is doing in God’s beloved
land of Alaska. God help You Dear Vladyka in this difficult time. You are in
our prayers and we hope all of your Alaskan God-fearing flock also pray for
their spiritual father and realise how blessed they are to have You.Bless us Most Rev. Master and pray for us siners.Fr. Nazari Polataiko

December 26, 2006

Sheila Smith wrote:
I could only sense something so heartfelt and sincere in your recent letter to
all the people that, even though I remain clueless of the issues, I am
compelled to pray earnestly for you and this unfortunate situation. Oddly, I do
not feel this same sincere honesty in the OCA Orthodox Church Magazine. In my
ignorant opinion, they should let you alone to do as you see best rather than
all this hovering and puppeteering. God protect you in these persecutions and
reward you rightly and the prayers of Saint Herman help you. God is
merciful.

Erica robinson wrote:
Dear Vladyka,
We had the honor of meeting you in Dallas at your bishop ceremony years ago.
You are very loved by our family and are in our prayers. May God bless you and the good work you are doing.
“having done all to stand. Stand firm…”
In peace,
erica (eirene) robinson

Julianna Pletnikoff wrote:
I don’t have a question. Just would like to thank Vladyka for writing this
letter and clarifying. It is hard enough trying to be a good Orthodox Christian
and then worrying about the politics involved. Nonetheless we are blessed to
have a Bishop who has done so much for the parishes in Alaska.
Respectfully,Julianna

Elizabeth Sturgill wrote:
Master Bless!The divider devil never sleeps. His endless efforts to destroy us all
become tiresome and heart-breaking, especially when they are effective.
Thank you for your directness, I only pray that it does not add fuel to the
fire. It seems in these days, both inside and outside the Church, those
whom we have entrusted with great responsibilities are put under a constant
barrage of accusation and second-guessing. We are fools, pointing fingers
and shouting at those God has appointed - not realizing we criticize God
Himself. No man, however wise and good, can imagine all the possible
consequences or please all the people. It can not be done. We must humble
ourselves and give thanks that there are still those willing to stand in
such positions of responsibility, when the work is so difficult, honors are
so few and love grown so cold.I, myself, have only heard encouraging words regarding the many changes in
the Alaskan Diocese since your election. I hope one day to be able to visit
there and venerate the relics of St Herman.The life of St Nektarios gives us good warning of the damage a few
ill-placed words can do. If I have ever wronged you in anything, please
forgive me. My prayers,unworthy as they are, for your protection and those
who serve the Church will be on my lips for all my life.
Elizabeth Sturgill
ROCOR
Walla Walla, WA

Vladyka’s Letter

Administrator — Sat, 09 Dec 2006 06:48:13 +0000

Answers posted here are related to Vladyka’s Letter.

January 30, 2007

Mark N. Sudia wrote:

Dear Fr. Isidore:

Why does the Orthodox Church In America own property within a separate Territorial diocese?

I just reread the posting from “Orthodox Christians for Accountability”, regarding the apparent problem of ownership of Church Properties in Alaska.

Although I’m not a lawyer, it seems clear to me that the quickest way to end the dispute would be for His Beatitude Metropolitan Herman to convene a meeting of the Metropolitan Council, and to begin the procedures that would lead to all properties in Alaska being officially-deeded to the Russian Orthodox Diocese of Alaska.

Maybe this answer is oversimplified, but it seems that it would reinforce His Grace Bishop NIKOLAI’s assertion that as Diocesan Bishop, he is responsible for all spiritual and administrative matters in His Diocese.

Also, this would allow the Diocese of Alaska to support the national church by tithing, as His Grace has suggested, and it would equalize the authority that Syosset has over the Diocese.

I hope this suggestion is helpful. Please answer at your earliest convenience.

Yours In Christ,
Mark N. Sudia

Dear Mark,
Greetings. We have been thinking about the best way to answer your question and I spoke to Vladyka NIKOLAI who gave me some good pointers to appropriately answer your question.

In Orthodoxy, the territory, i.e. the physical property in a particular diocese, comes with the Diocese. No where in the world does a bishop who is not the bishop of a particular diocese own land in that diocese - this is a canonical impossibility. There is what we call stavropighial but that is yet another term and is not being used properly in our Church and does not pertain to Alaska at all. Nearly all of the property which we have title to in Alaska falls into the category of current church or cemetery sites, or sites which once had churches or cemeteries. When Alaska was sold to the US in 1867, specific stipulations were made in the treaty with Russia that church lands would be titled to the church. This took some time to complete — but it should be understood, in 1867 there was only ONE diocese in America, and that Diocese had as her see, Sitka. In 1867 there were no parishes outside Alaska in America. It was only later that the administrative center was moved to San Francisco, and later New York. At the time, there was no Russian Orthodox Greek Catholic Metropolia, or later OCA.

The Lands Commission was created by Archbishop GREGORY because he wanted to ensure what was being done. Since this commission was created by the diocesan hierarch at the time, that same commission only exists at the pleasure of the diocesan hierarch. Bishop NIKOLAI chose to dissolve the commission which consisted mainly of members outside his diocese. To do so was his prerogative.

Any question of who owns property in Alaska is a question of the authenticity of the church here and nothing more. For example, if the OCA owned the property in Alaska, then it also owns the churches and cemeteries, and there is no diocese. That’s not the case in any respect, canonically or legally.

The Diocese of Alaska is alive and growing and will continue to do that despite the negative allegations and attacks. Our bishop is competent, experienced, and well-versed in the work he needs to do for the care of the church. The spiritual and material needs of the diocese couldn’t be in better hands. I think the growth and spiritual renewal we are experiencing is clearly indicative of that.

Please let me know if this doesn’t answer your question adequately and I will elucidate any other point you might find missing.

Love and Blessings,
Fr. Isidore

December 26, 2006

Walt wrote:

Dear Vladyka,

Thanks for the very insightful letter. Many questions were clarified.
Any comment about the dismissed librarian, or the 50 year old deacon who was dismissed from St. Herman Seminary?

Sincerely, Walt

Dear Walt,

The 50 year old deacon is a Subdeacon. I received a call from Father Chad,
my dean at SHS prior to my visit there in early November. He said that the
Lekanof’s wanted to leave because of family issues back at St. George and asked if I
would talk with them. We agreed that this would occur on my visit. The day of my
arrival he served as a Subdeacon at vigil but was not at all focused on the
service which I thought must be his preoccupation with leaving, still not an
excuse not to serve well to God’s glory. The next morning he didn’t serve
and actually had to be called and told to come to Church by one of the staff
and after liturgy Father Chad went to get them for their meeting. He was told that it
was no use they had started to pack and were leaving. The fact is that I
never met with them and he was subsequently suspended from serving.

As for the librarian, you must be referring to Dr. Lydia Black. She was not
terminated at this time nor was she evicted from the apartment the Seminary
had provided her for several years while she used our archives to do
research for her writings.

Love and Blessings,
Bishop NIKOLAI

Gail Sheppard wrote:
On the Forum, a popular Internet site, several people were wondering if everyone
in the OCA received letters with Vladyka’s statement?
Dear Gail,
We took all the names and address that we have accumulated in the last five
years and tried to remove the duplicates before sending the letter to all on the list.
It may be interesting to note that there was no diocesan mailing list when
we arrived. Bishop Innocent took it and we were told by the people at PIP
printers, here in Anchorage, that he would bring the list in and then take it away again after the mailings.
Providentially, they kept a copy for whatever reason and it was from that copy that we started our first mailing list.It’s too bad, that the Orthodox Church in America does not make it’s mailing list available to all the dioceses for their mailings.

Love and Blessings,
Bishop NIKOLAI

Life Around the Diocese

Administrator — Sat, 09 Dec 2006 06:46:43 +0000

Answers posted here pertain to life around the Diocese of Alaska.

June 1, 2007

John Peter Presson wrote:Your Grace -bless.

Would you mind explaining how the “3D” program has worked
and succeeded in the Diocese of AK, and how a similar program can be emulated
in other diocesan settings.

Thank you. Kissing your hand and asking your prayers.

John, sinner and reader
Protopsaltis -Holy Nativity of the Theotokos Cath. Portland, OR

Dear John,

This idea came up in a Diocesan Council meeting several years ago. It was Matushka Anna Andrew who coined the term. I had to chuckle because that is the same term used in the Carpatho-Russian Diocese and Metropolitan Nicholas mentioned it to me once when I was visiting there.
The funds collected were used to support the diocesan budget In general until last November when a proposal was made to designate them for the Museum project we have downtown. So beginning with this year we are using the funds collected to help defray the mortgage. It is slow but will be fine in time.
I think that some people prefer to give to a specific project and since most of the funds come from outside they can see their donations at work. This isn’t that important, since we are called to be stewards but the 3-D givers often give above and beyond what is expected of Christians and it is nice to give them a chance to see the fruit of their generosity.
Love and blessings.
+Bishop NIKOLAI

Liturgical

Administrator — Sat, 09 Dec 2006 06:45:09 +0000

Answers posted here address liturgical practices in the Diocese of Alaska and other Church related matters.

General

Administrator — Sat, 09 Dec 2006 06:43:46 +0000

Answers posted here, if they don’t fit into one of the above categories.
June 1, 2007

Master, Bless!

Vladyka,

It has come to my attention that some people, laity and clergy alike, are questioning Archimandrite Isidore’s credentials in regards to substance abuse counseling on a private Orthodox forum. They have assumed he has not received any training in substance abuse counseling. It would seem to me that with a Masters of Divinity he would be more than equipped to counsel those with substance abuse problems. What are your thoughts on this matter? Please forgive my question if it is inappropriate. I can’t stand to see gossip about our young monastic priests on the Internet.

Olympiada

Dear Olympiada,

I wonder why there would be a question as to the Archimandrite’s substance abuse qualifications. He is a priest just like many we have in America and by far most have no training in substance abuse counseling but one doesn’t need that to be a priest.
I believe that 15% of my priests are certified right now and that number is rising and it only enhances their ability to deal with what is a serious issue here.

Love and blessings,
+Bishop NIKOLAI

Nicos Konstan wrote:
Dear Despota,

Christ is Risen!

Now that the Moscow Patriarchate and the Russian Church Abroad are reuniting,
what does that mean for the OCA?

Will the ROCOR recognise the OCA’s Autocephaly, or just it’s autonomy as the
Greek churches do?

One more question; Will the OCA now be in communion with the Church Abroad,
that was a nasty schism in the 30’s and 40’s?

Nicos

Dear Nicos,

I believe that this reuniting is very positive. The Moscow Patriarchate is the Mother of both The Orthodox Church in America and the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia.
ROCOR, as part of the Moscow Patriarchate, has no choice but to honor what the Mother Church gave to the OCA, and yes, absolutely, we will be in communion just as we are in communion with the Moscow Patriarchate.

Love and blessings,
+Bishop NIKOLAI

May 13, 2007

Subdeacon Mark Harrison wrote:

Master, bless!

I saw on this web-site that you are establishing a skete in Eklutna that will
be a skete of “St. Heman Monastery” on Spruce Island. From all that I have seen
from being there, there is only a remnant of what I believe is the former
monastery under the Platina group. There is no living monastic community under
your jurisdiction. I was hoping you would be willing to clarify exactly what
you mean by calling the new skete a skete of St. Heman Monastery. In all
honesty, it looks odd, and I am sure that you will agree that in the current
climate in the OCA such things are bound to raise concern. If it were stated
clearly in your publicity information that this skete is the seed for a
monastery you hope to see built on Spruce Island, that would certainly make it
clear to me. If there are specific plans for such a monastery in the works, I
am sure that I and other readers would be happy to hear of them.

Thank you for your time.

Sdn. Mark Harrison

Dear Subdeacon Mark,

Christ is Risen! Indeed He is Risen!

Thank you for your question. I know that you are personally aware of the integrity of the Diocese of Alaska and the importance to me that we are forthright in our activities. At the same time, I don’t find it necessary to make public explanations for every decision made in the best interest of the church here in Alaska. I realize also that the establishment of a Skete in Anchorage as a dependency of St. Herman Monastery on Spruce Island may be a cause for confusion for some, as it did for you, and an intelligent explanation of our reasons for deciding to establish St. Nicholas as such would do a lot to clear your confusion.

I don’t need to tell you of the historical and spiritual significance of Spruce Island to our Holy Orthodox Faith. Your time in Alaska has certainly made you deeply aware of that. It was this same significance that served as my motivation for making the decision to have St. Nicholas be a Skete of St. Herman Monastery. While, indeed, there are no monks at Monks Lagoon, no one has ever conceded to giving up the struggle to establish a monastic life there. Indeed, my own work as Diocesan Bishop with regard to the rejuvenation of the chapel and the building up of the annual pilgrimage are steps toward this. As of yet, however, we don’t have the men to go and live there. We do however have men here in Anchorage who support our efforts in the administration of the church and have embraced monasticism with faith in the vision of the administration. It is our hope that, over time, as our Skete in Anchorage grows and attracts vocations, we can seed the mother house with those men.

So, you see Mark — the decision to make the Skete a dependency of the St. Herman Monastery was a spiritual decision. It was a decision made with faith in St. Herman’s prophesy as we hear in the Akathist service; that a great monastery be established in this land. It is also a clear indication that we have not given up on our belief that St. Herman is ceaselessly praying for the establishment and growth of this great vineyard of Christ. I hope that this brief explanation sufficiently answers your question. Please feel free to post another question should you need further clarification.

Love and Blessings,
Bishop NIKOLAI

January 26, 2007

Tryphon wrote:

Dear Vladyka,

Thank you for the opportunity to address you in this manner-it is appreciated. I’ve watched, for the last year, the issues within the OCA unfold to the public at-large and have had many discussions abroad about our turmoiled jurisdiction. I pray it improves.

Vladyka, I’ve wondered for quite sometime now, why the Diocese of Alaska remains within the jurisdiction of the OCA? The culture and practices of the Diocese of Alaska seems so different at times from the majority of parishes within the rest of the OCA. Not that I encourage a schism or anything or would even know to which jurisdiction we would go, I merely feel our diocese is so much more aligned with certain Orthodox beliefs not shared by the majority of our jurisdiction - like not having protestant style pews invading our places of worship, the use of the “old calender”, stain glass windows, or modernization of church service texts from our older traditional ones (for instance, proclaiming: “Glory to You oh God…” rather than “Glory to Thee oh God…”) and other practices. I appreciate not having these things in our churches, but it seems many who were protestant Christians prior to their “becoming”, retain these residual acceptances. I realize what I ask might sound
suggestive or divisive-however it isn’t intended to be.

Thank you so much Vladyka for your time and attention, it is dearly appreciated.

Christ is Born! Glorify Him!

Tryphon (Brad) Angasan

Dear Tryphon,

Yes, we all hope and pray that God’s mercy will abound and these tribulations in the OCA and America will be resolved.

I don’t think your question concerning the Diocese of Alaska is at all divisive or fomenting schism. While I agree with what you are saying, nonetheless we’ve all got to try and put things together as they should be. Unfortunately, there are those who think very little of Alaska and Her rightful place in the history of Orthodoxy in America.

I am not going to deter the direction I have set for my diocese nor will I capitulate to the pressures from outside of what is rightfully mine to steward. It isn’t easy but it is right and may God be the judge.

Love and Blessings,
Bishop NIKOLAI

January 4, 2007
Ilija wrote:Vase Preosvestenstvo Gospodine Vladiko NikolajPomaze BogMy name is Ilija, my interested, do you speak Serbian language?S postovanjem
IlijaDear Ilija,Yes, I do speak Serbian.Love and blessings,
Bishop NIKOLAI

Ilija wrote:Vase Preosvestenstvo Gospodine Vladiko NikolajPomaze BogMy name is Ilija, my interested, do you speak Serbian language?S postovanjemIlijaDear Ilija,

Ilija wrote:Vase Preosvestenstvo Gospodine Vladiko NikolajPomaze BogMy name is Ilija, my interested, do you speak Serbian language?S postovanjemIlijaDear Ilija,