Reply to the article allegedly written by Bishop S. Dmyterko OSBM

The religious journal Nova Zorya has carried an article which was allegedly written on 10th October 2008 by nearly dying Bishop Sophron Dmyterko OSBM. This orthodox (i.e. true-Catholic) bishop died on 5th November 2008. The question is how he could write that article if for more than a year he could not speak and his arms and legs were paralyzed. In December 2007 he was visited by Bishop Eliáš OSBM and by religious sisters. Unfortunately, at that time he was already unable to communicate. Certainly, we do believe in miracles, that Bishop S. Dmyterko could miraculously return to health and then speak and write. But such a miracle did not happen; instead, Bishop S. Dmyterko died.

How mean it is to abuse a powerless and paralyzed bishop and to write a shameless article without his consent. We ask: Who is the true author of this article and who is responsible for this offence?

It is manifest at first sight that the article is written in a sheer psychological style from the very beginning, so as to work on the readers’ national and religious consciousness, making them uncritically believe all that is written there and open themselves to the spirit of lie and death hidden behind the article.

Quotation: “... they (the bishops from Pidhirtsi) harshly and mendaciously attack our Church...”

It is impossible that Bishop S. Dmyterko, even if he had been able to speak or write, would have labelled the defence of faith against heresies as “harsh and mendacious attacks on the Church”. That which we point to is seven concrete heresies which can be distinguished even by a little child. It is no high theology. It is simply impossible for a true-Catholic bishop not to be able to discern so primitive heresies!

Quotation: “... unwelcome guests in our hospitable Ukrainian land...”

Saints Cyril and Methodius likewise were unwelcome guests in the hospitable Moravian land. But just for the treacherous bishop Wiching who sought to destroy the whole God’s mission among the Slavs. Those who were eager for the knowledge of Christ and for the salvation of their souls received the Greeks, Cyril and Methodius, as welcome guests, and not only welcome but, as everyone knew, also God-sent guests. It is the same now. That is why it is easy to identify who is the author of the article and what he is actually aiming at. 

Quotation: “... they send throughout the world nonessential and fabricated accusations...”

The Holy Father, to whom our letters are addressed, has never characterized them as nonessential and fabricated accusations. Only the one who escapes the truth calls them so. In his book “Discussions with His Beatitude L. Husar: On Postconfessional Christianity” L. Husar overtly publishes seven heresies (casting doubt on the Divinity of Christ, on the Virginity of the Mother of God, denial of the eternity of hell, of the Pope’s primacy etc.). Bishop S. Dmyterko would never call these heresies nonessential. These heresies were not fabricated by us, they were fabricated and also published by Card. L. Husar.

Quotation: “... they damage the glory of holy religious people... ”

Whose glory is damaged when one reveals and removes heresies and returns the glory to God? Revelation of heresies does not damage the glory of holy and pious people. It damages the glory of those who are heretics and regard themselves as holy.

Quotation: “... do not believe the prophets coming to destroy and ruin what Christ Himself has fostered and developed throughout the millennium...”

But Christ never fostered or developed heresies. It is heresies that destroy and ruin Christ’s work, and that is why we fight against them.

Quotation: “By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another...” (Jn 13:35), and not by accusations, defamations and overt lie.”

The author seems not to have much love for us since he does not omit using “accusations”, “defamations” as well as “overt lie” against us.

We, however, have true love and therefore we desire every soul to be saved, because Jesus shed His holy blood for every one of us. Heresies pull the souls to hell. It is no love to look at it passively or to smile affectionately at those who are rushing there.  And concerning the term “defamation” and “overt lie”, the author does not concretely mention a single one which we would tell, for he has found none. It is him, not us, who is telling an overt lie.

Quotation: “... we are obliged to believe Christ who says about His Church: ‘And the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it’, and not to believe false prophets who work hard to disgrace and destroy the Body of Christ the Saviour in His Church...”

We fully agree with this statement. But it is necessary to put it more precisely that these false prophets are the apostates who have disgraced the Body of Christ by their heresies.

Quotation: “... they are poisoning the faith and the Church...”

It is not us but Card. L. Husar and the bishops united with him who are poisoning the faith and destroying the Church by their apostasy.

The fruits of their work are manifest even now!

Quotation: “... the only thing that joins me to them is my prayer for these malice-ruled people...”

So the author would probably have to label all defenders of faith – all saints – as people ruled by malice as these were at their time obliged to fight against the heresies that destroyed the saving faith. However, by the author’s standards, the most malice-ruled person should have to be the Lord Jesus Himself!

Saint Basil fought against Arianism. The Arians were in power at that time. So to fight against this heresy was heroism. The Arian bishops used the same methods against him, an orthodox bishop, as are now used against us: overt lies, accusations, defamation... Similarly, to defend the Church and the faith today against the spirit of apostasy, which is behind the heretical hierarchy in Ukraine, is a sign of true love for Christ. However, these apostates term it “malice-ruled”.

Quotation: “... so they too hold Christ, the Church and the nation up to ridicule...”

We do not hold Christ, the Church and the nation up to ridicule, but those do who proclaim heresies and propagate occultism (divination by pendulum etc.) and psychologies.

The whole article had one aim – to abuse the authority of an orthodox but powerless bishop and thus to deceive the faithful, especially on the territory of the orthodox Ivano-Frankivsk eparchy. Our enemies, with the aim of our defamation, will not stop even at such meanness!