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| Source: uncutmountainsupply.com |
The summit between President Donald Trump and President Vladimir Putin in Anchorage, Alaska, is now over. I am not sure what was actually accomplished, but that is not my present concern. There was a deeply unfortunate event that was peripheral to the two presidents meeting. And that was the OCA Archbishop of Alaska - Aleksei - cordially and warmly greeting Putin and exchanging pleasantries and icons with him. Vladimir Putin is the personal source behind the war in Ukraine that has caused unbelievable suffering and grief for literally millions of people. Currently, the International Crime Court (ICC) has issued a warrant for his arrest, for the crime of kidnapping about 20,000 Ukrainian children and deporting them to Russia. Watching the warm greeting between this dictator and an Orthodox Archbishop was a cause of deep disappointment and dismay for both presvytera and me. It is not as if Putin is a benign representative of the Russian Orthodox Church!
Presvytera Deborah and I have written a joint letter to Metropolitan Tikhon to express our profound disagreement with what transpired in Anchorage, Alaska, on Friday (the Feast of the Dormition of the Mother of God!). Presvytera and I made it clear that this was a personal letter from the two of us, and not written on behalf of the parish.
This unfortunate event is pulsating throughout the OCA. I will assume that some members of the Church had no issues with this meeting, but many clergy and laity are angered and frustrated. I have already heard from them. It is time for the Church to speak out on behalf of the Gospel of Jesus Christ against war-mongering and the kidnapping of children. Silence in the face of such calculated injustice is unworthy of the Church. This cannot be hidden behind cordial greetings, pious rhetoric and the exchange of gifts.
I encourage everyone to remain faithful to Christ and the Gospel. Christ is the Truth and that Truth will always ultimately prevail. Our Christian witness is to always choose to stand with Christ and the Gospel over all oppressive forces that seek to harm other innocent human beings. May the Lord strengthen us in that witness!
In Christ,
Fr. Steven
