Decree (Ukase) to Archpriest Joseph Sunderland

03/02/S
1/14 December 2002
Pr. Nahum

To: Archpriest Joseph Sunderland

UKASE

This is to inform you that because of your activities clearly aimed at the creation of confusion and disorders among the clergy and flock of our Church, to wit:

Support of the usurpation of the Church power and the organization of an uprising against the Church leadership of ROCA by Fr. Victor Melekhov; and
Participation in an unlawful meeting, that was conducted without a blessing from the ROCA's First Hierarch, Metropolitan Vitaly, in Worcester, Mass. On Oct. 28/Nov. 10, 2002; and
Serving Liturgy on the territory of another diocese without the knowledge and blessing of its ruling Bishop.
Distributing over the Internet false information unlawfully using an Appeal to the entire Church (the right to address the entire Church belongs only to the Bishop's Council and the First Hierarch); and
The unlawful usage of the official ROCA(V) web site for publicizing your schismatic views; and
The usage of my name for justifying your uncanonical actions; and
Inadequacy to your position and behavior as a Dean, who should serve as a good example for the flock, rather than a destroyer of their spiritual wellbeing; therefore,

You are hereby banned from the performance of your duties as Dean.

I sincerely wish that you will come to realize how ruinous are the spirit and attitude that you are bringing into the church life and that you will humbly repent for this. I hope that our Lord Jesus Christ and His Purest Mother the Holy Theotokos will help you in this.

To avoid further confusion, I am banning you from undertaking any church activity without my hierarchical blessing.

As a preliminary, I am warning you that, should you disobey the Church Authority, you will be banned from serving as a priest.

Let God help and enlighten you.

+Vladimir, Bishop of Sacramento (signature)



		Russian version 03/02/S 1/14 December 2002 Pr. Nahum To: Archpriest Joseph Sunderland UKASE This is to inform you that because of your activities clearly aimed at the creation of confusion and disorders among the clergy and flock of our Church, to wit: Support of the usurpation of the Church power and the organization of an uprising against the Church leadership of ROCA by Fr. Victor Melekhov; and Participation in an unlawful meeting, that was conducted without a blessing from the ROCA's First Hierarch, Metropolitan Vitaly, in Worcester, Mass. On Oct. 28/Nov. 10, 2002; and Serving Liturgy on the territory of another diocese without the knowledge and blessing of its ruling Bishop. Distributing over the Internet false information unlawfully using an Appeal to the entire Church (the right to address the entire Church belongs only to the Bishop's Council and the First Hierarch); and The unlawful usage of the official ROCA(V) web site for publicizing your schismatic views; and The usage of my name for justifying your uncanonical actions; and Inadequacy to your position and behavior as a Dean, who should serve as a good example for the flock, rather than a destroyer of their spiritual wellbeing; therefore, You are hereby banned from the performance of your duties as Dean. I sincerely wish that you will come to realize how ruinous are the spirit and attitude that you are bringing into the church life and that you will humbly repent for this. I hope that our Lord Jesus Christ and His Purest Mother the Holy Theotokos will help you in this. To avoid further confusion, I am banning you from undertaking any church activity without my hierarchical blessing. As a preliminary, I am warning you that, should you disobey the Church Authority, you will be banned from serving as a priest. Let God help and enlighten you. +Vladimir, Bishop of Sacramento (signature) close window