I want some definitive opinions on the ROCOR?

[Orthodox Andrew]

Dear Andreas
ROCOR is in communion with my Patriarchate. There is a small ROCOR parish in town...the only other Orthodox church besides our little mission, and the BIIIIIG Greek Church....They have a priest that visits them twice a month from the big city..(San Francisco) and the rest of the time, they come to our church...they are all delightful people with much to share...Today, my priest had a chance to look at the new church website that I built....he was THRILLED that I had listed their little parish on our links page...I really believe that situation will be healed....I pray for it.
Check out the little ROCOR parish in my town from our church website...go to the links page:
http://forerunnerbooks.net/links.html
Their little website is very beautiful! Their church is called Holy Royal Martyrs

Very nice sites. Which is the one you made?

 

[Suzannah]

I made forerunnerbooks.net

Thanks!

 

[MariaRegina]

Dear Suzannah,

Where is Our Lady of the Snows Church located on that Reno map?

I went to school there and used to live on Moanna Lane. (Not sure about the spelling). All I remember as a young child was the Truckee River -- and we lived on the other side (North) from the casinos.

In the back of my home there were vacant hills and horse properties which are now covered with expensive homes. A tax dodger had to give his property to the government -- so now it's heavily populated. Reno has really expanded.

 

[Suzannah]

Dear Suzannah,

Where is Our Lady of the Snows Church located on that Reno map?

I went to school there and used to live on Moanna Lane. (Not sure about the spelling). All I remember as a young child was the Truckee River -- and we lived on the other side (North) from the casinos.

In the back of my home there were vacant hills and horse properties which are now covered with expensive homes. A tax dodger had to give his property to the government -- so now it's heavily populated. Reno has really expanded.

That guy's son is a major land developer here!!! ROFL!!!! He changed his name to Lepori. But I forget what it was originally...I only know because my husband is a contractor who knows everybody, tax dodgers and all! And also that his misdeeds at one time, about fifteen years ago threatened the Carmelite Convent...*sigh*my friend Katie told me that an "understanding Judge" straightened THAT out... I know who that is...!!!! Okay, stop gossipping, Suzannah...it's Lent! (giggle)

Our Lady of the Snows is at:
1125 Lander St
Reno, NV 89509-2097
Phone: (775)322-2773

They are still there...beautiful church! And a good pre-school!
It is due west of our parish....about one mile. It would be about 1/2 mile north of the Russian parish...just follow the line up about 1 inch and you will see Vassar on that map. Lander is parallel to Vassar. They still have many "original" parishioners...I bet you still know some of them or some of the people that work there! Call them !


Ps: Those homes sell for above 500 thousand... Too rich for my irish blood! LOL

 

[Orthodox Andrew]

I made forerunnerbooks.net

Thanks!

WOW! You're good. I wish I could create something like that one day.

 

[Suzannah]

pssst...Andreas...I only used the templates available from the hosting service...ROFL!
But I did gather all the graphics and figure out how to do the html text...that part is HARD...not easy...it took me a couple days!!!

 

[Orthodox Andrew]

pssst...Andreas...I only used the templates available from the hosting service...ROFL!
But I did gather all the graphics and figure out how to do the html text...that part is HARD...not easy...it took me a couple days!!!

I know it's hard. I took an HTML class at school and passed it. However, I can't even put a jpg up on a site.

 

[vanshan]

Back to the topic at hand, I have never heard ROCOR parishoners were restricted from taking communion from other jurisdictions. I am in the Antiochian Archdiocese, and while some distrust exists in their relation to ROCOR, my parish priest was fine having a ROCOR member as the godparent at my child's baptism and someone in ROCOR as my best man in my wedding. Also I was welcome to take communion in a ROCOR parish as long as I prepared properly (confession + praying 2 canons and one akathist).

ROCOR has a complex history which involves a very difficult time in Russia's history. I think it's also important to realize that connection to a patriarch is not required for a jurisdiction to be canonical. There are of course several autonomous jurisdictions. I think we need to watch for canonical teachings as well as Apostolic Sucession, not just the former.

 

[Basil]

I have always had good experiences visiting ROCOR parishes. Although I find their strictness difficult, I think expecting a certain amount of rigor and dedication from laymen actually increases commitment, involvment, and Orthodox devotion. I don't see their customs as legalism, but rather as spiritual struggle toward theosis and greater devtion to Christ. I guess some could make the actions of fasting, covering their head, and not taking communion during their periods prideful acts, but those acts can also be great acts of submission and devotion. I am not in ROCOR -- but I don't like seeing them maligned here. If I had to choose between the more liberal modernist jurisdictions and a more tradtional jurisdiction I would definitely feel more secure following the direction of the ones who stick to their principles without changing, but that's just me.

Many of the modern jurisdications have changed Orthodoxy, at least here in America like the changes of post-Vatican II Catholicism in America. Many of the changes are just tradition (small t) but many of those traditions were arrived at out of devout Orthodox devotion and should not be shucked off as if they were completely without value (I'm thinking of headscarfs, no kneeling in church on Sundays, etc.) They don't seem worth creating divisions over, but these little traditions teach us a great deal about ourselves and our place in God's kingdom.