Dear Brothers and Sisters who Christ calls to the fullness of communion within his Church, 

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Many faithful find themselves amidst quicksand regarding faithfulness to communities and leaders, yet via such commitment, one may have unintentionally left their personal growth in spirituality (Theosis – growth in God) unattended. I too found myself in such surroundings in the early days of my ministry. May I share the following paragraph which is taken from our Order (documentation) of Apostolic Succession:

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Such truths as mentioned above regarding the Ancient Apostolic Faith tend to become obstacles for potential believers; especially if these remain un-nurtured by clergy who are either not familiar with the Western mindset and practice of religiosity or have not fully converted to Holy Orthodoxy themselves!

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The rather fundamentalist attitude portrayed by a fair amount of orthodox clergy and believers in general also tends to damage potential wholehearted believers; I too had my fair share of such shenanigans in the early years of my faith journey – the resemblance of a religious concentration camp!

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However harsh and publically embarrassing certain stunts pulled on me became - I coped with God’s grace even in the most unbearable moments of cruelty dished out via such religious fanatics. (2Cor 12: 9) There is nothing worse than people resembling a sounding gong in the wind without true pastoral care, edification, sensitivity and above all – wholehearted charity rendered in love! (1Cor 13: 1-13)

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Thus, should any local Church Community Canonical and Non, desire to flee the torments of any given jurisdiction which thrives on exaggerated tithes and at times renders stagnant the spirituality, cultural mentality, and growth of that local Church regardless of how grand or small – Our Blessed Exarchate via the Holy Synod welcomes you under our fold bestowing canonicity, apostolic succession and protection under our Omophorion!

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St. John Chrysostom exhorted that the Church is a Spiritual Hospital - nurturing her patients and does not condemn them nor leaves them unaided. Unfortunately, Christendom may have the resemblance of the aftermath of a hurricane where souls are left desolate – in a state of malnourishment.

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Thus, in our times where ecclesial institutions tend to resemble a winter’s midnight fog, the Church needs to be a battlefield clinic tending to the wounded regardless of their belonging. Hence, making ready for them the necessary procedures of surgery and recovery in the healing process according to Holy Mother Church!

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There are no tithes, nor enforced regulations which lure reel estate and other prestigious possessions which are eventually hijacked by a good number of ecclesial institutions. Rather, a way out, just as the wise of Chaldea (Caspar, Melchior and Balthasar) were shown by the angels an alternative route (Mt 2:12) – the Exarchate bestows likewise: provided canonical norms and instructions are wholeheartedly followed!

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Alike the holy of these isles who ploughed the grounds paving the way for a fruitful vineyard; so too does our Exarchate offer refuge and canonicity to those who are lost in the tempests of ecclesial institutional warfare – extending apostolic arms from the Ark of Salvation!        

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May our blessed Celtic Saints who missioned within the British Isles and deeply rooted the glorious Gospel within those terrains made holy, guide, inspire, protect, and defend you always.

 

 

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+Raffaele

Metropolitan Exarch

Great Lent 2023AD