Nathanael Speaks! - December 27th, 2006

~ The GOC in America has at least two thriving businesses in Astoria NY; as well as investments; various donations; and tray-takes; all amounting to over 2 million dollars a year. And allegedly, Archbishop Chrysostomos II Kiousis it is said has access to the monies. "Perhaps this is why the paralyzed Paul of Astoria is not being replaced after almost a year of his incapacitated state," a parishioner of New York recently observed to +CHURCH NEWS+

# Br Nathanael: There is much shady and controversial "business" going on in Astoria NY in my opinion.

First of all, Met Paul of Astoria demanded that all the GOC churches throughout America turn over the deeds to their properties to him and put in his sole name. This was fully effected in 2001. It should be noted that Paul of Astoria is a one- man-diocese in America with no accountability to anyone.

And his "jurisdictional autonomy" with no accountability was conferred upon him by Archbishop Chrysostomos Kiousis himself.

~ Second. There really is no such thing as "The GOC in America" but the "church" has as its title a Corporation in Paul Stratigeas' sole name doing business as, "The Hellenic Orthodox Traditionalist Church In America.

" This corporate entity is a completely different entity than the GOC of Greece with a completely different ecclesiology that is more akin to the ecumenist New Calendar church than the Old Calendar struggle.

~ Three. Paul of Astoria has in his sole name, two thriving businesses in Astoria, the take being over 2 million dollars a year.

~ Four. Paul of Astoria has gathered a cult around him of "Paul Worshippers." Anyone with an independent non-cultish mind he would not allow to be part of his cult.

Many clergy, (not just one or two), and sincere faithful have been either expelled or turned away by the insecure Paul of Astoria, being intimidated by stronger men and women than himself. Thus the small cult of "Paul Worshippers" would remain in control and not those who really care about The Church.

~ Five.

Paul of Astoria never had any monastic training but was made a bishop in spite of his huge appetite and stomach which is a shame and a disgrace for any who call themselves a "monk." A pricey "monastery" was purchased in the Woodstock NY area only recently.

Bottom Line: God dealt with Paul of Astoria last February with a severe stroke.

"If I forget thee O Jerusalem let my right hand forgot its cunning and let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth," said the Psalmist. Surely Paul of Astoria who is paralyzed on his right side and *not* improving, is a living example of this imprecation.

~ And now Abp Chrysostomos will not replace the incapacitated Paul for the purpose of, as it is allegedly said, padding his own pocket apart from any interference from a newly appointed Metropolitan for America.

For a newly appointed Metropolitan in America would put a stop to this shady activity and make it manifest for the entire Orthodox world to see. And this is why Paul of Astoria is not being replaced.

For Paul of Astoria's Business Seal, See:

For Met Paul's Property Deed Demand, See:
(And See Comments)

As a Greek Police Swat Team complete with prisoner transport vans prepared to ferry out from Ourianopolis Greece to Mt Athos to forcibly evacuate the Esphigmenou monks at their Administration Building, they were suddenly given orders to turn back home. Because of much public pressure and a probable call from a key U.S.

State Department official, the Greek Foreign Ministry under Dora Bakoyiannis and the Prime Minister's office, decided to call off their criminal activities in support of Patriarch Bartholomew. Below is an interview that +CHURCH NEWS+ conducted with a "Friend of Esphigmenou" from Greece this morning:

BN: Why did the Greek Swat Team turn back? Was there a call from a U.

S. State Department official?

Friend of Esphigmenou: Many calls, e-mails, and faxes, poured into the Greek Foreign Ministry.

Also major Newspapers from around the world carried the story. This put enough pressure on the authorities to change their plans. We are thankful to all of the supporters of Esphigmenou Monastery's righteous cause who made a special effort to protest to the authorities.

~ As regards a U.S. State Department Official, our lawyers have informed us that certain U.

S. State Department officials have been following the case since 2003. Notices of numerous human rights violations and of International Treaties of which the Greek government has been a signatory, have been recorded on the U.

S. State Department's annual report. A call was placed we were told by the State Department expressing alarm over the recent violent events that took place at Karyes.

BN: Will there be more persecution?

Friend of Esphigmenou: We might expect it. For Patriarch Bartholomew is obsessed with the removal of the peaceful monks of Esphigmenou Monastery and has established a group of 5 violent men as the so-called "legal" new brotherhood to whom the monks are supposed to turn over their monastery.

The monks of Esphigmenou Monastery have censured Patriarch Bartholomew for his ecumenist activities; his common prayer with heretics; and his active role and sponsorship in the World Council of Churches. For this reason His Holiness Patriarch Bartholomew is on a vendetta against the righteous monks of Esphigmenou Monastery.

~ Now the time has come for the Greek Government to withdraw their support of Patriarch Bartholomew and rather bow to world-wide public opinion and the dictates of basic human rights.

For there exists an dehumanising embargo placed against the monks of Esphigmenou in which they are forbidden food; water; fuel oil; doctor's visits, medicine for diabetics; and telephone service. Their retirement checks it should be noted are being stolen by the false and violent brotherhood. These all are basic human rights which the citizens of every decent nation enjoy.

Yet the innocent monks of Esphigmenou are denied these basic human rights by orders from the Patriarch. I urge your readers to contact again the various authorities and demand that equal treatment be granted to the persecuted monks of Esphigmenou Monastery.

# Br Nathanael: For authorities to contact, See:
(Scroll Down To The List Of Contacts)

For A Background on the Crises, See:


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Eritrean Gospel singer, Helen Berhane, 29-years old, has been detained by the military since 13 May 2004 after releasing a CD of Christian music. Helen is reportedly being held in a shipping container at the Mai Serwa military camp until she agrees to sign a paper recanting her faith. She will not do so.

Currently, 17 Christian pastors and more than 900 Christians remain incarcerated in prisons, police stations, military camps and shipping containers. They have not been charged with any offences, nor have there been any trials held.

# Br Nathanael: The Eritrean government denies that there is religious repression, but there are regular reports of the arrests of people attending home Bible studies, meeting for prayers, attending Christian wedding ceremonies, or even participating in family devotionals.

For The Whole Story, SEE: Please do what you can to help.

MAGEROVSKY REPORTS: "Please read carefully the following excerpt from a recent report by Russia's Interfax News Agency:

------Interfax, 26 December 2006: The Holy Synod of the Moscow Patriarchate has approved proposals of the church commissions concerning the time, place and procedures for signing the Act of Canonical Communion with the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, which will mean finally overcoming the division of the Russian Church that took place after the revolution and the civil war. Participants in the winter session of the Holy Synod taking place on Tuesday invited to Moscow a plenipotentiary delegation of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad in order to reach agreement on issues to be settled before the Act of Canonical Communion comes into effect. Earlier it was said that the signing of the Act might take place in spring 2007 in Moscow.

------

~ "This Interfax article is an unofficial report and not wholly reliable. But an official statement was recently made by the Journal of the Moscow Patriarchy which does *not* give a date or place for the Joint Signings. Apparently, the Moscow Patriarchy has balked on something that was decided at the ROCOR Synod's session held on December 7 2006.

For in the acts of the MP's Synod meeting on December 26 2006 they state in point #3 of their Decision:

------The Holy Synod considers it necessary in connection with the proposals formulated at the ROCOR Synod meeting on December 7-10 2006, to reach an agreement in questions which have to be solved before the Act of Canonical Communion can enter into force.------

~ "Apparently the Bishops of ROCOR have made a statement of which the MP is requiring from the ROCOR Bishops either elucidation or cancellation. We at this point do not know exactly just what this statement might be.

However, I do not believe that the MP will jettison at this far-reached point the signings of the MP Act. But it looks like a showdown is taking place of which the ROCOR Bishops will either hold their ground, or as they have always done in the past, capitulate to the demands of the MP." ELM
For Dr Magerovsky's Commentary In Russian, See:


# Br Nathanael: For continual updates on the ROCOR-MP union, See:

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In an effort to replicate the European Union only for "economic interests," the United States Government is planning an economic union with Canada and Mexico. Many are concerned that the U.S.

will foot the bill for this union, and bring about a deterioration of the sovereignty of the United States.
For More On The North American Union Plans, See:
For More On "The Amero," See:

# Br Nathanael: This is a bad idea, this "North American Union," and the common currency known as "The Amero." For two reasons.

First. We will lose our "national consciousness," which still has a residue of America being a "Christian nation." To unite with the anti-Christian nation of Canada, which has passed a bill advocating Gay Marriages, what is left of our Christian consciousness will deteriorate completely.

And there still is a chance, if America remains a sovereign nation with firm borders, geographically, economically, and morally, to recover in full our Christian consciousness. But an "economic union” is nothing less than an "amoral" union, which will serve to reinforce that "man can live *on bread alone."*

~ Second.

The currency of a nation is an icon of a people's identity. We still have on our currency, "In God We Trust." The "Amero" will adversely affect our identity as individuals and a nation, by allying ourselves, by way of images on the currency, with "foreign" ideologies.

I am against this "amoral" union!
For Commentary Against The North American Union, See:

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For More See:

# Br Nathanael: Please support the AFA for they are doing a much needed work in our sick society.

To help AFA please visit:

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