Bishop orders Alaska clergy not to obey national leader

Article published on Wednesday, March 12th, 2008
By RALPH GIBBS
Mirror Writer
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The Orthodox Church in America is in chaos as the power struggle between church leaders and Alaska Diocese leader Bishop Nikolai Soraich continues to unfold.

The eventual winner of the struggle will receive as a prize Alaska, the birthplace of the OCA in America with its nearly 100 parishes, missions and institutions, more than 40 clergy and 25,000 members.

The latest development adding to the confusion is an open letter by Bishop Nikolai to the clergy of Alaska ordering them not to obey Metropolitan Herman, the OCA leader.

On Friday, the Metropolitan informed the Alaskan clergy that Bishop Nikolai had been placed on a mandatory leave of absence and to cease the commemoration of the bishop.

“You have received instructions (albeit through Internet postings and newspaper reports) from His Beatitude Metropolitan Herman to cease the commemoration of your Bishop in the Divine Liturgy,” Bishop Nikolai said in his letter. “Let me be clear: all clergy of the Diocese should continue the current practice, maintain the commemoration of their Diocesan Bishop in the celebration of the Divine Services our Church, and not accept as canonical or biblical recent innovations announced by Metropolitan Herman.”

In his letter Nikolai argues the church does not have the authority to remove him from his position without first going through procedures outlined in the Church Canons, established in the 4th century during the First Ecumenical Council.

“The church protects the voice of all Orthodox persons who are accused,” the Bishop said. “The church has determined the voice of the accused will be heard before judgment is passed. The means by which the church has protected the voice of accused persons are The Holy Scriptures and Canon Law … not by public opinion or by the ‘investigations’ of committees.”

The announcement comes at the holiest of time for the Orthodox Church, the first week of Lent, further adding to the confusion. Many offices are closed in celebration.

Battle lines are being drawn through every parish in Alaska, but it’s too early to tell where clergy allegiance lies.

However, an indication of which way the Kodiak clergy lean may lie in a recent insert in the parish bulletin of the Holy Resurrection Cathedral.

The insert, given to all members of the church, restated Bishop Nikolai’s reasons for not taking a leave of absence and offered guidance.

The announcement cites some of the same references Bishop Nikolai did in the bishop’s initial letter of refusal, but also said it is important to be aware of the Canons that apply to the situation.

Specifically, Canon 74, which requires a bishop be summoned three times to the synod to answer charges against him, was cited. As was Canon 2 which forbids diocesan bishops from intruding, liturgically serving without a blessing, or meddling in the affairs of another diocese.

Bishop Nikolai called a press conference for today at the Russian Orthodox Museum in Anchorage. In the release, the bishop said he would respond to all questions concerning the canonical crisis created in the Diocese of Alaska by Metropolitan Herman and other bishops of the OCA. Information presented at the press conference was not available as of press time.

Mirror writer Ralph Gibbs can be reached by e-mail at rgibbs@kodiakdailymirror.com.

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