Title: Calif. bishop brings message of healing to Kodiak
Author: Ralph Gibbs
Date Published: 5/13/2008
Publication: Kodiak Daily Mirror (Kodiak AK)
Links:
http://www.kodiakdailymirror.com/?pid=3D19&id=3D6197
http://www.kodiakdailymirror.com/
http://pokrov.org/display.asp?ds=3DArticle&id=3D685
Now that Bishop Nikolai Soraich has left Alaska, many Orthodox Alaska
Diocese members are wondering how the rift between the bishop=92s
sup****ters and detractors will be healed, especially in light of some
recent comments by Bishop Nikolai=92s aide Archimandrite Isadore.
Early last week, Bishop Benjamin and Archpriest Alexander Garklavs
visited Alaska to answer that question. The two Orthodox Church in
America clerics traveled to Anchorage to consecrate the new St. Tikon
church, and took the op****tunity afterwards to travel to Kodiak to
meet with clerics and pari****oners.
Bishop Benjamin tried to start the healing process once Bishop Nikolai
agreed to step down by posting a letter to OCA members on the Alaska
Diocese Web site.
=93There is pain, hurt and perhaps even fear among you,=94 he wrote. =93I
can assure you all, the situation will not stay the same. All of who
have taken part in the recent drama needs to forgive each other. There
are not, nor can there ever be =91sides=92 in the church. There are only
those who are with Christ and those who are not.=94
While in Kodiak, Bishop Benjamin tried to expand on that message of
healing with a series of meeting.
=93Each one of us carries around stones,=94 he said. =93We can use those
stones to build walls between each other or we can build bridges, and
we need to build a lot of bridges.=94
Building those bridges was being made difficult by some recent
comments by Archimandrite Isadore.
In a recent interview with the Tundra Drums magazine, Fr. Isadore said
many of the priests are fearful because they are battling alcoholism.
Using warfare as an analogy, Fr. Alexander said that when a conflict
is over, it=92s not as abrupt as turning on and off a light switch.
=93There=92s still some residual feelings,=94 he said. =93They dissipate
and=
disappear very soon. In fact, I can sense already there is a different
environment here (in Alaska).=94
Bishop Benjamin called the comments made by Fr. Isadore, unfortunate.
=93There are some really good clergy out there who are struggling to do
what=92s right,=94 he said. =93It=92s not easy being in a remote
village.=94=
Archpriest Alexander said Monday that Fr. Isadore left Alaska with
Bishop Nikolai and probably will not return.
Leader****p questions
Metropolitan Herman, the OCA=92s leading cleric, has administered the
Alaska Diocese since Bishop Nikolai agreed to step down.
He appointed Bishop Benjamin, who runs his own diocese in California,
to help with day-to-day operations.
Fr. Alexander said Bishop Benjamin may have even more responsibilities
in Alaska in the future, but probably would not become the next
official Alaska Diocese leader.
Instead, he would function as a lo*** tenens, or =93someone who
functions in the place of the absent one,=94 Fr. Alexander said.
Therefore, he would probably act as the official administrator of the
diocese, but not the diocese bishop, until a permanent replacement is
found for Bishop Nikolai.
Fr. Alexander said a replacement has not been identified and may not
be for a while.
Mirror writer Ralph Gibbs can be reached via e-mail at
rgibbs@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
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