The former Orthodox Priest David Anderson
Walkermonk
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Poster: Bishop Tikhon <vla...@EARTHLINK.NET>
Subject: Former Orthodox Priest David Anderson
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Of all those clergy of Ben Lomond that were deposed and excommunicated,
only one, David Anderson, remained a Priest, thanks to the personal
intervention of His Beatitude Metropolitan Theodosius with the Antiochian
Archdiocese. When David Anderson came back into the Orthodox Church in
America, he began to disobey any instructions from His Beatitude, the one
To Whom He Owes His Priesthood More Than Any Other Person Alive Today,
whenever he disagreed with those instructions. Finally, after he went so
far as to openly and publicly defy a written and public instruction not to
serve anywhere outside the territory of the monastery in Calistoga,
California, he ran to serve a funeral with clergy of the Jerusalem
Patriarchate, and then ran to the welcoming arms of the Ukrainian (Roman)
Catholic Church.
Ironic, isn't it, that if His Beatitude's heart had not been so merciful
towards David Anderson, rescuing his Priesthood, he could not have served
at that funeral at all, and the Ukrainian (Roman) Catholic Church would
Not have received him as a Priest! Thus is Christian love rewarded in this
age as in all ages. Thus is Christ's being humbled unto death, even the
death of the Cross, continued in our time.
Love,
+B.T.
alan...@my-dejanews.com
learned about this from a disciplined clergy of BL a couple weeks
ago.
It shocked me. A year ago I was a catechumen there at SP&P in BL, under
Fr. David's care. A year ago I was very ignorant, and stuck with
those "leaving Antioch" because, frankly, my sponsors, my priest and
all whom I knew in that parish were doing the same. I had just moved
up there to live with in one of the deacon's homes. A very wonderful
loving and trusting family. They still mean a lot to me. I was not
personally acquainted with anyone remaining loyal to Metropolitan
PHILIP. So the choice for me was simple. Trust those whom I knew.
And that night in February last year, that Thursday of "being told"
what was going on, I told Fr. David and Fr. John that I trusted them.
I felt I had no other choice. It took about four months to break out
of confusion. I really was confused. I was confused by pride and a
strong desire to become Orthodox, which I did with Fr. David's help
and my sponsors (pro-OCA) being Chrismated on Lazarus Saturday
last year when we all drove up to Santa Rosa the first time. I was
proud to have found "the most amazing Orthodox Church." I wanted to
be in the choir, I wanted to go to as many services as I could and
soak it all in. They were a rather tight-knit group, tough nuts to
crack some of them. But I overlooked that. One thing had nagged at me,
deep down, though. Since my first visit to Ss Peter and Paul almost two
years ago, a thought crossed my mind...and when I found out about Fr. David
a couple weeks ago, I realized I should have trusted my instincts. It may
seem easy for me to say it now, but none of you reading this are the
Judge anyway. And what can I say? I'm human. God can give me a sign,
but that doesn't mean I'm smart enough to see it.
I had visited a few Orthodox Churches before I made my way to Ben Lomond
mid-1997. I started going there on invitation of a friend that I was
working with in San Jose. Instantly I was attracted to that parish by
virtue of its visible beauty, its truly amazing choir, and a "powerful
sermon" by Father David. It was the Feast Day of Ss. Peter and Paul, and
I still remember the homily (I have it on tape, too). Peter:rock, Paul
"pavlos" (small, like pebble). Fr. David related their names to
characteristics they had that God used for their respective ministries.
Well, also that day the following thought crossed my mind, but I kept
it to myself because I didn't want to think about it. "This parish loves
the beauty of its worship more than it loves ME".
Now I see, Fr. David basically ran the worship scene, raised up young men
to be great cantors, taught a choir of converts the music (pretty much).
Fr. David led services everyday like a monastery. I thought it was cool
that people would go in for Matins every morning and Vespers every night.
Anyone who visited would have to admit that it was beautiful....beautiful
as a human would see and hear beauty. You've never seen a more zealous
group of converts to be the best darned Orthodox on Earth.
Fr. David has bailed on his brothers, and his children that he had taught
and raised up in the Orthodox faith. If Fr. David, in his right mind, had
learned someone he knew were going Byzantine Catholic or Ukrainian,
he was have flipped his wig. But now he has flown the coop, and I
believe it is because the whole decade Fr. David was in BL was about
himself. His ways, his music, his interpretation and translation of
scripture and prayer.
I know that the people of Ben Lomond who followed Fr. David, who sacrificed
their ordinations and good standing because of Fr. David, were very sincere
in what they thought was right. Whether anyone agrees with them, that
doesn't matter. Consider whom they were trying to save. They are
WONDERFUL people. They will endure this, but I believe that this whole
mess could very well be God's way of saying "did you want merely true worship
or to worship the true GOD in fullness?" Does this make sense to anyone?
Personally, the way Fr. David treated me always made me feel stupid. Whether
after confession, or just trying to say "hi" to him, he was short,
and I became afraid to go to him in confession, so I avoided him. And
I resented him. Fortunately, after a few months of migrating from
Ben Lomond to Saratoga, I met with Fr. Basil Rhodes, and started having
confession with him. He is a very different man and priest, at least
in my experience. Now I know priests don't have to be jerks by definition.
I know about 10 months ago I posted something here that was very supportive
of the whole "go OCA" thing. Well, I am in the OCA now, no regrets. But
I do regret being full enough of myself to write that post back then. Oh
well, we all have our faults. Will you all forgive me?
I'm now back in LA. Back where I started from. I'm going to a parish
here regularly, but it takes a lot of will power to decide to keep
going to the church. When I sought "home", I walked into a divorce, and
it hurt. Bad.
Pray for me a sinner. Some of the readers of this post might be from
Ben Lomond and that parish. If you have a problem with what I have
said here, email me, and we'll talk about it. If I have truly offended
anyone, forgive me. If I have offended someone because he is proud
or unwilling to see, may God forgive us both.
Alex Langley
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alan...@my-dejanews.com
I was an inquirer under him, I asked about his background, which
is how I found out. He said he left RC and came into Orthodoxy
because of Vatican II and other things he believed were wrong.
He then went to seminary and learn a great deal about the Orthodox
Church. Everyone in Ben Lomond spoke most highly of Fr. David. A
couple of people even hinted that he'd be canonized a saint after he
died. Well, I guess that won't happen now. Just as well. A man who
knew soooo much about the true church, has shown his true colors. He's
now a priest in a church that looks orthodox on the surface, but isn't
in communion with the Orthodox Church. The very authority he left
behind in the Roman Catholic church he has now made vows to. The
motivation for him to live his original faith is now a convenience to
him. A friend told me he has no other vocation to turn to, and more
importantly, he has never dealt well with not being in control of
his life.
This blows my mind.
Alex
BrendanoD
>the beauty of its worship more than it loves ME".
Kind of reminds me of the Academy School Bus that used to be parked in
front........It was beautiful on the outside....but it didn't work.
I am glad that St. Peter and St. Paul is in better hands.
B
GS
sometime. Say hi to Father Georgi and his Popadija.
tad...@adsnet.com
Did you ask Vladyka Tikhon for his blessing to post this here? You know one
of the rules of cross-posting is to not do this without permission from the
author. Reader Timothy Tadros
Caedmon Parsons
>
> Did you ask Vladyka Tikhon for his blessing to post this here? You know one
>of the rules of cross-posting is to not do this without permission from the
>author. Reader Timothy Tadros
That rule only applies to private correspondence not to posts made on
publicly archived forums like Usenet or the Indiana Lists. Posts to
such forums are considered public property. Indeed, if you check the
Indiana archives for some time about a year ago, you'll find a post by
Vladika Tikhon in which he talks about this.
In Him,
the sinner Caedmon
"Attain the Spirit of Peace and thousands around you will be saved."
--St. Seraphim of Sarov
Walkermonk
>here regularly, but it takes a lot of will power to decide to keep
>going to the church. When I sought "home", I walked into a divorce, and
>it hurt. Bad.
I am truly sorry, Alex, and I hope and pray that you are able to continue to
attending Divine Services with the help of God and your saint's prayers and
your gaurdian angel.
Forgive me any harsh or offensive words I have written towards you.
Grace
Walkermonk
>of the rules of cross-posting is to not do this without permission from the
>author. Reader Timothy Tadros
I am sorry, I thought those rules only applied to private email. Just recently
a post of Fr. Anthony Nelson's was quoted by Subdeacon John Hanson, and other
things from the Orthodox List have been posted in the past. My apologies; I
thought public info was okay.
Grace
GS
Grace,
You are right. It is ok. The Rocor Orthodoxy List is publically
archived. THe only thing that isn't considered proper is to take very
personal information such as addresses and phone numbers that have
inadvertantly ended up archived somewhere becuase that might affect
someone's safetly or privacy or both..
I think certain of us are just sad that Bishop Tikhon does not post
here.
Nanhwmd
>He's
>now a priest in a church that looks orthodox on the surface, but isn't
>in communion with the Orthodox Church.<
It(the Ukrainian Byzantine Catholic Church) will be in communion with the
Orthodox Church 100 years from now.
> he has never dealt well with not being in control of
>his life<
That is a big problem for many Western Christians, turning total control over
to Jesus Christ. Maybe Fr. Abbot Boniface can straighten him out.
Walkermonk
>From: nan...@aol.comnospam (Nanhwmd)
>Date: 2/14/99 12:49 AM Central Standard Time
>Message-id: <19990214014948...@ngol06.aol.com>
>
>
>In article <7a4iv7$pd2$1...@nnrp1.dejanews.com>, alan...@my-dejanews.com
>writes:
>
>>He's
>>now a priest in a church that looks orthodox on the surface, but isn't
>>in communion with the Orthodox Church.<
>
>It(the Ukrainian Byzantine Catholic Church) will be in communion with the
>Orthodox Church 100 years from now.
Huh? That may or may not be true, but how does that relate to what the former
priest David Anderson did?
A little confused here . . .
Grace
GS
>
> In article <7a4iv7$pd2$1...@nnrp1.dejanews.com>, alan...@my-dejanews.com writes:
>
> >He's
> >now a priest in a church that looks orthodox on the surface, but isn't
> >in communion with the Orthodox Church.<
>
> It(the Ukrainian Byzantine Catholic Church) will be in communion with the
> Orthodox Church 100 years from now.
>
> >his life<
>
> That is a big problem for many Western Christians, turning total control over
> to Jesus Christ. Maybe Fr. Abbot Boniface can straighten him out.
WOW. I occasionally attend a Carpathorussian Orthodox CHurch. THey
made the right decision quite a while ago and are doing a crack up job
of praise. I am very fond of that Rusyn music.
Nanhwmd
>
>I think certain of us are just sad that Bishop Tikhon does not post
>here.
>
He reads our posts.
Nanhwmd
In article <19990214015856...@ng58.aol.com>, walke...@aol.com
(Walkermonk) writes:
>Huh? That may or may not be true, but how does that relate to what the former
>priest David Anderson did?
>
>A little confused here . . .
>
>Grace
I am just trying to be optomistic. Grace, you have not had the
opportunity, as I have, to meet Holy Father Abbott Boniface at Mt. Tabor in
Ukiah, or to hear how Joseph of Ukraine spoke to the Theotokos when she
appeared to him while he was in a Soviet jail.
It is only a matter of a few decades before the Ukrainian Byzantine
Catholic Church reunites with the Holy Ukrainian Orthodox Church after the EP
recognizes it. So, eventually, Fr. David Anderson will reunite with the
Orthodox Church.
Your Sister, Nancy
Nanhwmd
>
>WOW. I occasionally attend a Carpathorussian Orthodox CHurch. THey
>made the right decision quite a while ago and are doing a crack up job
>of praise. I am very fond of that Rusyn music.
>
So am I fond of the Holy Music of Kyiv-Rus'.
T254
nanhwmd writes:
>It(the Ukrainian Byzantine Catholic Church) will be in communion with >the
>Orthodox Church 100 years from now.
So please tell us what you base this prediction on...
robert G Tallick
T254
priest David Anderson did?
A little confused here . . .
Grace
=================================================================
Just Nancy's wraped version of Ukrainian/Russian history.
robert G Tallick
SubDJoseph
>Date: 2/14/1999 12:40 AM Pacific Standard
>>I think certain of us are just sad that Bishop Tikhon does not post
>>here.
>>
>
>He reads our posts.
>
OOps. I'm in trouble now!
Joseph
GS
> >here.
> >
>
> He reads our posts.
In honor of Mr. Bill, late of Saturday Night Live,
oh NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO....................
Walkermonk
>From: nan...@aol.comnospam (Nanhwmd)
>Message-id: <19990214040052...@ngol08.aol.com>
>former
>>priest David Anderson did?
>>
>>A little confused here . . .
>>
>>Grace
>
>opportunity, as I have, to meet Holy Father Abbott Boniface at Mt. Tabor in
>Ukiah, or to hear how Joseph of Ukraine spoke to the Theotokos when she
>appeared to him while he was in a Soviet jail.
> It is only a matter of a few decades before the Ukrainian Byzantine
>Catholic Church reunites with the Holy Ukrainian Orthodox Church after the EP
>recognizes it. So, eventually, Fr. David Anderson will reunite with the
>Orthodox Church.
>
> Your Sister, Nancy
>
Dear Nancy,
Thank you for your answer, and no I haven't had the opportunity to meet anyone
from Mt. Tabor (at least not the one in CA). And I appreciate your optimistic
take on this situation. However, it must not be forgotten that even if the
Ukrainian Byzantines become fully Orthodox, it does not change the present
facts. The former priest David Anderson has been disobedient to not just one
but two Metropolitans in the last year, one of whom (Metropolitan THEODOSIUS,
to be exact) he owes so, so much. His rebellion has hurt a huge amount of
people, and caused little ones to stumble. Possible "reunion" in 100 years does
not help those hurt, nor does it absolve the former priest David Anderson of
his actions.
Grace Walker Monk
wmoe...@gmail.com
mrb...@gmail.com
mrb...@gmail.com
Which if memory is correct, they had several services, long servicez. It was said the diocese wanted shorter services so people could watch ball games and such or something like that. I wasn't able to really make sense of any of it.
pyotr filipivich
alt.religion.christian.east-orthodox the following:
helpful. Who, what ,when, where.
--
pyotr
After the war two Army Chaplains were mustering out. The one said to
the other "Chaplain, it has been a real pleasure serving God with you.
You in your way, and I in His."
Steve Hayes
<ph...@mindspring.com> wrote:
>mrb...@gmail.com on Fri, 17 Apr 2020 10:12:18 -0700 (PDT) typed in
>alt.religion.christian.east-orthodox the following:
>>How would anyone know what directives he was given as a priest by the
>> bishops, then who would know about him attending these different
>>functions? Who can substantiate these claims? I ask, where unless
>>he told someone, I don't see how others would know. So, I ask.
>
> If I had any notion of what you were referring, it might be
>helpful. Who, what ,when, where.
--
A: Because it messes up the order in which people normally read text.
Q: Why is top-posting such a bad thing?
A: Top-posting.
Q: What is the most annoying thing on usenet and in e-mail?