Saint Ambrose Orthodox Church, Revisited

Good afternoon and Happy Father's Day everyone!

The Antiochian crisis over auxiliary bishops appears to be over, with a favorable ruling from the Holy Synod stating that the Episcopate is one, and that a Bishop is a Bishop, period. There is no such thing as an "auxiliary bishop."

At first glance, it appears that the decision is a bit of a split decision. No, there is no such thing as an "assistant bishop," but the existing bishops were still said to be those who assist the Metropolitan in the administration of the Archdiocese.

At any rate, during the crisis, one of the silliest edicts that came down was a prohibition of public prayers at the Divine Liturgy for any bishop but the Metropolitan and the Patriarch, unless the "auxiliary bishop" was present in the parish at the time.

Of course, most of the Priests thumbed their noses at this unwise and unnecessary edict. I say, rightly so. All of our bishops need prayer all the time.

I learned from observing this to respect the office of bishop, but not necessarily every lame-brained decision coming down from the individuals who hold the office.

I've also come to the conclusion that it's time to move forward with the dream of finding new convert families in the Parker area in the hopes that an eventual Western Rite mission can be established.

The benefits of establishing new parishes are increased revenues for the new retreat center and for Lancelot Andrewes Press, and a much greater readership for our materials. Other benefits are obvious: Increased conversions, vital parishes, and the blessings of obeying the Great Commission.

A local priest responded to a question I offered about an exception to the 60-mile rule in the following manner:

Benedictions,

I cannot do anything about the 60 mile rule. I can, once some of the
dust settles on the Diocesan bishops crisis, offer an opinion under
the best circumstances and get a response, maybe, from Bp Basil and
that, so far as I am concerned would be the road map. However, a
'mission station' would still need layers of approval further up the
hierarchy at some time. My sense is the whole scheme would float on my
reputation and personal contact with Metropolitan Philip and
Chancellor Kevorkian and Bp Basil. So far all that is working pretty
well.

A Road Map is designed to be followed to a destination.

I took the following from this response:

Maintain a good relationship with the established priests in our area at all times. Be obedient to their leadership and guidance.

Go ahead with dreaming and planning for an eventual mission. Start the work.

Don't do anything that might embarrass our local priests or harm their reputations.

Once enough people and resources are garnered, put the ball in the court of our local priests and let them carry that ball to the Bishop, the Vicar General, and on to the Metropolitan.

We live and serve in a heirarchical church, and acquiring permissions is just part of things with us. As long as everything is done decently and in good order, God can open doors no man can shut.

So if we build it correctly and bathe the endeavor in prayer, perhaps the approval will come.

In other words, do the work and then cross the bridge of gaining the proper approvals when we come to it.

Worst case-scenario: Generate interest and conversions to Holy Orthodoxy and if no approval comes, pack out Saint Marks.

But I believe God can move mountains, and there is no harm in trying to brush back the "60 mile rule."

Pax Christi,

Columba Silouan