Declaration of Archbishop Gregory
to the Synod of the Russian Orthodox Autonomous Church

Teremki 2 Street
Vladimirskaya oblast
601293, Suzdal,
RUSSIA

 

October 23/November 5, 2004
St. Iakovos, the Lord's Brother

 

This is official notice that I am breaking communion with Metropolitan Valentine and the Synod of the Russian Orthodox Autonomous Church, who have not contacted me since the tragic events of this past summer, 2004.

The reasons for this course of action are the following:

1. Metropolitan Valentine has adopted a new ecumenical course, which leads to theological disaster by his acceptance of the Jerusalem Patriarchate, believing that it is part of the Church and grace-filled. This is the opinion of the Grabbe family of New York, which has brought him to this way of thinking. He also believes that all the Churches of World Orthodoxy have valid Chrismation, and does not believe that converts to True Orthodoxy should be chrismated.

2. Metropolitan Valentine has repeatedly and deliberately condoned the Cyprianite ecclesiology of Father Vladimir Shiskoff and Bishop Anthony Grabbe by giving Communion to those outside of the Church. Not only has Metropolitan Valentine accepted this accursed practice, he has, instead of punishing Father Vladimir for this sin, even rewarded him for it by elevating him to the rank of protopresbyter and maintaining him as administrator of the Church in America.

3. Metropolitan Valentine even goes beyond the Cyprianite brand of ecumenism by accepting into the Church all those who are not baptized. In so doing, he acts contrary to the directives of the canons and, more specifically, those of the Russian Church Abroad under Saint Metropolitan Philaret. In doing this, he introduces another heretical practice into the Church.

4. After adopting the above errors, Metropolitan Valentine has stated openly and in writing that he receives clergy and laity into the Church "without investigation." This is an innovation which is unacceptable.

5. Metropolitan Valentine has adopted papal ideas, whereby he believes he has the authority to enter any diocese of any country and usurp any bishop, steal any priest, and ordain any person, without the permission from the ruling bishop. In doing thus, he is condemned by the Oecumenical Synods and their canons.

6. Metropolitan Valentine has maliciously slandered me, publicly and in writing [Ukaz 130], and has again condemned himself to deposition by these actions. No accounting was made by him in Russia to prove any of his fabricated charges.

Metropolitan Valentine has shown no Christian love for the Church or the faithful here in America by his undisciplined actions. He has caused great damage to the Church and serious injury to many innocent souls.

After I presented formal accusations against Metropolitan Valentine, he was treated as one who could not be accused. After asking numerous times for officially signed and stamped documentation of Protocols 48 and 49, which were supposedly taken against me, nothing was sent to me.

Therefore, for all of the above, I am notifying the Synod that I am left with no other course of action other than officially to break communion with you.

In verification thereof, I place my seal and attach my signature to this document on this day, October 23/November 5, 2004, the feast day of St. Iakovos the Brother of the Lord.

 

Archbishop of Denver and Colorado

GREGORY