Antiapologetics

Dear Mr. Oleksiv and fellow brothers, whose names – as You write – are unknown,

in the very introduction You quote St. Paul the Apostle: “Such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.” (2Cor 11:13-14)

You continue with the citation: “Devise your devices but they will fail, for the Lord is with us.” There is a question with whom God is, whether with You or with us. And there is a question, too, who are the false apostles, deceitful workmen and servants of an angel of light. Is it You, or You ascribe it to us?

This introduction is followed by a report of 25 pages where almost on every page You use abusive language against us, distort the truth, distort the citations from God’s Word in the spirit of the angel of light... Your so-called apologetics, by means of which You want to prove that Card. L. Husar does not preach heresies, is unconvincing. It consists in terms of abuse, ridicule, half-truths, religious phrases. You proceed similarly when You distort the Memorandum of Metropolitan S. Sulyk and the term „vsich vas pravoslavnych Christian“ (i.e. “all of you Orthodox Christians”).

Concerning the mentioned heresies You claim that Card. L. Husar does not divine by pendulum and You give an explanation: “One has to distinguish various energies – natural and unnatural, good and evil.” You claim that God is with You, yet the First Commandment of the Decalogue prohibits all forms of divination, magic and spiritism. Divination by pendulum is a sin against the First Commandment. St. Alphonsus explains: “The pendulum is moved by a demon.” So if You claim that God is with You, then it is just the one with small g.

Your so-called apologetics is not aimed at the defence of the truth but at its liquidation. You know well that in this difficult situation of a fast progressing decay and apostasy from the Church we defend the foundations of faith, preach Christ and the Gospel, lead the faithful to true conversion, teach them interior prayer and point out the spiritual fight which is very covert and cunning! We have the same Spirit as the Apostles, orthodox Christians and martyrs. We point at the hotbed of contagion with boldness, and with love we seek the solution. The fact that we endeavour after a true renewal of the Church can be recognized by any honest atheist who has read our Letters from Ukraine (4 books). We do not act cunningly or insidiously, though we are aware that we are fighting with spiritual serpents. We suffer persecution, and we are prepared that it may intensify and claim even supreme sacrifices.

Our letters originate in prayers before God’s face. We really know that in spite of our numerous imperfections and sins God is with us!

Concerning You and Your service, You consciously fight against the truth. The souls dwelling in darkness have seen a great light through our letters, and now You quench this light and do not want to allow these souls to turn wholly to Christ through genuine conversion, repentance and following of Him. Your catchphrases and psychological manipulations are no innocuous thing. You have and will have on Your conscience the souls which could be saved but because of Your killing of the truth and of the true witnesses will not be saved. Do You not fear God and God’s judgement? We do, and that is why we must defend Christ and His Gospel. If the Apostle Paul was in our situation today, he would call heresies heresies just as it is being done by us and, unfortunately, he would have to write about You: “Such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.” (2Cor 11:13-14)

We feel grief over You, we forgive You; however, it is painful for us that many souls will be spiritually poisoned with the spirit of lie and death which is behind Your “apologetics”. We are seized with horror when we perceive the fruit of death which You are sowing.

Bishops of the standing Synod of the UGCC

              + Markian OSBM

              + Samuel OSBM

              + Metod?j OSBM

              + Eliáš OSBM

                                                                                                                                                       Pidhirtsi, 7th May 2009

Address: Pidhirtsi 19, Brody dist., Lvov reg., 80660, Ukraine

www.community.org.ua; e-mail address: pidhirci. community@gmail.com