My Bad Experience With RTOC (Stefan)
I want to encourage the reader to set aside your bias and to engage the evidence and cited sources. Back when I identified as an Old Calendarist, Dr. Vladimir Moss directed me to the Old Calendarist group Russian True Orthodox Church (RTOC). I did a Google search, and discovered that there were two groups claiming this title, but not in communion with each other. Moss informed me that he recommended the one under Bishop Stefan Sabelnik. I then contacted their priest Fr. Vladimir Mordvinkin, expressing my interest to attend his parish, since it was closest to where I lived, but he directed me to a mainstream Serbian Orthodox monastery, stating that they were not far from me and spoke English. I was surprised by his advice, because the RTOC (Stefan) officially believes that the mainstream Serbian Orthodox Church is apostate and heretical. I notified Fr. Vladimir that the church he directed me to was part of the mainstream Serbian Orthodox Church, but he never responded, and never contacted me again. There was no apology from him, and no explanation for this ecclesiastical contradiction. He just left me hanging in the dark, which is selfish. I notified Dr. Moss that Fr. Vladimir had directed me to a parish in the mainstream Serbian Orthodox Church, and Dr. Moss asked me if I was sure Fr. Vladimir was part of Bishop Stefan's RTOC. I assured him that he was, and forwarded to Dr. Moss a copy of my email correspondence with Fr. Vladimir. Dr. Moss never offered me any explanation or apology. He could have at least apologized, because he was the one responsible for directing me to the RTOC (Stefan). I wrote several RTOC priests, including Bishop Stefan, notifying them about this, but they failed to provide any explanation for Fr. Vladimir's advice. Bishop Stefan never responded. This whole situation is another example of several things which I have found repeatedly among Old Calendarists and those professing Orthodoxy:
Ecclesiastical contradiction, inconsistency, hypocrisy, complete disregard for my bewilderment and feelings. They make no attempt at reconciliation or explanation, they just cut you off. They hurt people, but have no problem going to Communion, and they never admit their mistakes. Once groups like this realize that you are going to question them on an ecclesiastical contradiction or a violation, they drop you like you never existed. Of course, this is a totally non-Christian attitude, and selfish.
Jerjis, an Old Calendarist medical doctor, who I have corresponded with for several years told me that Dr. Moss could have at least leveled with me, by admitting that one of the priests in the jurisdiction he directed me to pointed me in the wrong direction. I shared my story with the leading bishop of the other RTOC jurisdiction (I forgot his name, maybe Alexy), and he said it was wrong for Fr. Vladimir to have directed me to that Serbian Orthodox parish, and he said that I should not have to be going through this, and that he would pray for me. I communicated with one of the priests under Bishop Stefan, and he showed compassion, and actually offered to buy me a plane ticket, so I could visit his parish. That was an incredible act of charity, but I declined, because by that time I had lost interest in this group. I made several attempts to get an explanation from Bishop Stefan and his clergy, but failed. However, one priest told me that he did not know why Fr. Vladimir directed me to the Serbian Orthodox parish. I warned Bishop Stefan that if he did not provide an explanation, I would share this story publically, and I gave him plenty of time, but he refused; so the rest is history and documented here and in videos. Please note, it is Old Calendarist ecumenism (Cyprianism) for an Old Calendarist priest to point someone to a parish in “World Orthodoxy” (the mainstream Orthodox Church). Fr. Vladimir went to his grave without ever offering to speak with me about this and never apologizing, yet he apparently had no qualms about receiving Communion, even though he was responsible for causing scandal and leaving me in the dark.
Let’s just stay with the facts. Why did Fr. Vladimir point me to a church which his church does not recognize, and why did he, his bishop, and other clergy refuse to explain this to me and apologize? Consider, a sick church makes you the problem for pointing out it’s problems, so I may register as problematic in their minds, even though this is who these people really are. I was genuinely shocked by the things I experienced with the RTOC and GOC, and asked Jerjis, the Old Calendarist medical doctor mentioned above if the things I experienced with these groups were real, or if I was exaggerating, and he replied: “The evil you perceive is real.” Yes, it is real. The facts are the facts.
Problems I have found with clergy professing Orthodoxy: They never admit when they are wrong, they run roughshod over their people (meaning they completely ignore the opinions, rights, or feelings of others), they never resolve problems they create, they never apologize to people they hurt, they never repent (except perhaps to themselves). Everything is restricted to formal church ritual (i.e. Forgiveness Sunday), where their "righteousness" is put on public display. But they seem to miss the whole point of the Forgiveness Sunday ritual. When you are used to feeling special and having people bow to you, kissing your hand, and following your every order, this can lead to a sense of entitlement and superiority. Questioning a narcissist is considered the deepest betrayal. I am not accusing all these men of narcissism, but I believe many are. They want everyone to uncritically accept everything they do, even when they contradict Church teaching, or they will throw you under the bus. This attitude is totally unchristian.
It is Christian to first make restitution with the person you hurt before receiving Holy Communion again. Fr. Vladimir never once offered to make restitution with me, and he never made any attempt to explain his conduct.
Below I will post what I think are relevant Scriptural passages on Christian love, which I found lacking in the leadership of the RTOC (with one exception).
I did, however, attend a Pascha service at a RTOC parish. The priest was warm, but the people seemed a bit cold. No one brought me a candle at the time candles are distributed. I don't think this has ever happened before in my Orthodox experience.
LESSONS ON CHRISTIAN LOVE
According to Christian teaching, a Christian is to put the spiritual, psychological, and material needs of his brother, neighbor, and enemy before his own. Your fellow man is always more important than yourself. Below is a list of several relevant Scriptural passages.
whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment...Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift. (Matt. 5:22-24).
Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. (Phil. 2:4).
Let no man seek his own, but every man another's wealth. (1Cor. 10:24).
If someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual restore him gently. (Gal. 6:1).
No one should wrong his brother. (1Thess. 4:6).
It is better not to do anything that will cause your brother to fall. (Rom. 14:21).
But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumbling block to them that are weak. (1Cor. 8:9).
Initiate dialogue regularly with the depressed person though frequent phone calls and intentional contact. (see Pro. 16:21).
Help the weak, be patient with everyone. (1Thess. 5:14).
Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. (Phil. 2:4).
Do not withhold good from those who deserve it, when it is in your power to act. (Pro. 3:27).
A friend loves at all times. (Pro. 17:17).
Encourage one another daily (Heb. 3:13).
St. Paul called love the greatest virtue (1Cor. 13:13).
In humility consider others better than yourself. (Phil. 2:3).
Honor one another above yourselves. (Rom. 12:9-10).
Love thy neighbor as thy self. (Matt. 22:39).
Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets. (Matt. 7:12).
But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? (1 John 3:17).
The story of the Prodigal son (Luke 15:11-32).
The parable of the one lost sheep. (Matthew 10:18-14).
The parable of the lost coin. (Luke 15:8-10).
A priest should imitate the High Priest, the Lord Jesus Christ, who is able to sympathize with our weaknesses since he is "a merciful and faithful high priest." (Heb. 2:17) who is able to "sympathize with our weaknesses." (Heb. 4:15).
In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother. (1John 3:10).
“For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?" (Matthew 5:46).
Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently: (1 Peter 1:22).
Honour all men. Love the brotherhood... (1 Peter 2:17).
Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous: (1 Peter 3:8).
And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins. (1 Peter 4:8).
Christians should not be a stumbling block to others. (see 1 Cor. 8-10 and Rom. 14:1-15:13).
In Ezekiel 34, God rebukes incompetent shepherds of his flock, comparing his own competence with their incompetence.
FURTHER RESOURCES
Recommended article on the warning signs of potentially unsafe religious groups/leaders
https://culteducation.com/warningsigns.html
"They are never to criticize a leader but criticize themselves instead." (Hassan, Combatting Cult Mind Control, p. 64).