|
Three clergy members accepted into ROCOR(V) Three clergy members were accepted by Bishop Vladimir of West America and San Francisco under the omoforion of ROCOR(V): Protopriest Spyridon Schneider, Priest Christopher Johnson and Deacon John Sommers. Protopriest Spyridon, who several years ago participated in a Church unrest, connected to the name of protopriest Viktor Melekhov, wrote a penitent letter (below) and has been received through repentance on January 2/15, 2007. Priest Christopher Johnson has been received on January 4/17, 2007, and Deacon John Sommers -- on January 6/19, 2007. They were both received through "chirotesia", as they both had been ordained in "TOC of Greece", Synod of Met. Kallinik, -- and ROCOR(V) is not in communion with this Synod.
The Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of
Russia Blagoslovite! I prostrate myself before you and write you to
confess the sin that I committed by unlawfully and uncanonically separating
myself from my Holy Father in Christ, my First Hierarch and Ruling Bishop, His
Beatitude Metropolitan Vitaly of Blessed Memory. I am also writing to express
the despair and shame I brought upon His Beatitude, the bishops of Holy Russian
Orthodox Church, my own priesthood and most of all, my beloved in Christ Family
and flock. By my sinful actions and pride I have separated myself and my flock
from the God protecting and saving bosom of the One True Russian Orthodox
Church and have, as a result placed myself and loved ones in grave spiritual
danger. While I am deeply concerned for my own salvation as a result of this
sinful schism, I am much more concerned for my beloved family, Matushka Xenia,
my wife of forty two years, my children Nicholas, Seraphima and Juliana, their
spouses, my grandchildren and my flock of nearly one hundred souls counting
men, women and children. Your Eminence, there is no way for me to explain my sin
without making more “excuses in sin” except to declare that it is the result of
my stupidity, pride, disobedience and lack of faith. Before God and before you
I take full responsibility for my sinful actions and yet, I despair of the harm
I have done to our Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, my family and my
flock. Therefore, Your Eminence, I am turning to you in full repentance and
humility, asking, even begging you and imploring you on my knees to accept me
once again as a priest of the True Russian Orthodox Church under your
Omophorion. With all of my heart I appeal to your Archpastoral love and
mercy and ask forgiveness. For, you and all of the Archpastors of the Holy
Synod have the keys to the Kingdom of Heaven. By the power of God’s love and
mercy you have the ability to forgive and to reconcile those who have been lost
by their sin of pride and disobedience, if they return again, as did the
Prodigal Son, through recognition of their sin and sincere repentance. On my
knees I ask you to believe that I understand, fully recognize and take personal
responsibility for my sin, and, please believe that my repentance is sincere. If it were not for the testimony of the Holy Apostle and
Evangelist John the Theologian in which he recounts the reconciliation of the
Holy Apostle Peter, after he denied Christ three times during our Savior’s
crucifixion, and as a result of his denials fell from the rank of the Holy Apostles,
I would not be bold enough to ask you to be an advocate for my reconciliation
before the Holy Synod. However, after His Glorious resurrection our Lord and
God and Savior Jesus Christ appeared to the Apostles and in their presence
asked Peter if he loved Him three times, and, Peter replied each time: “Yea,
Lord; thou knowest that I love thee.” And again, “Yea, Lord; thou knowest that
I love thee.” And finally, “Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I
love thee.” After each expression of Peter’s love for the Savior, Christ
confirmed his restoration saying: “Feed my lambs.” And again, “Feed my sheep.”
And finally, “Feed my sheep.” Once again, on bended knees, I humbly ask Your Eminence to
receive me once again as a priest of
the True Russian Orthodox Church Abroad. Anxiously awaiting your reply, I remain, Your humble servant in Christ, Protopriest Spyridon Schneider |
