I, like many of you, am simply speechless with regard to the Holy Synod’s most recent statement concerning this present crisis. However, I was truly uplifted by the 70 senior priests of our Church who signed the letter that was sent to His Beatitude Metropolitan Herman and the Holy Synod of Bishops imploring them that an investigation take place to answer all allegations and also that a competent professional audit going back to the mid-1990s be commissioned. I was later informed that the actual number of senior priests who were willing to sign the letter exceeded the 70, but the letter was sent before their names could be added. For all that have righteously concluded that we must answer Archbishop Job’s original question “Are the accusations true or false?” do not be discouraged. God will provide the way for these acts of darkness to be brought to light.

St. Tikhon when he witnessed the devastating effects of the Russian revolution on the Church, called all the members of the body of Christ to fight for its preservation. The leadership of the Church was decimated. Over 2,000 priests and 200 bishops were murdered. Every man, woman, and child had to turn to and do their part in defense of our holy Church. The Church was under attack from a godless regime, and all the Church membership had to become warriors for Christ. I believe if St. Tikhon were alive today, he would call the faithful both clergy and lay to fight that the truth be known and the destruction of our beloved Orthodox Church in America be averted. St. Tikhon would remind us, however, that the enemy of the Church in this crisis is from within.

Jesus often told parables to illustrate important points or concerns He was attempting to convey. I will humbly try to offer the following parable in order to put our present crisis into perspective:

We must think of our Orthodox Church in America as a sheep ranch, and it is obvious, or should be, who owns the ranch. Archshepherds, assistants, shepherds, and sheep dwell on the ranch. The shepherds over the last couple of decades have complained bitterly that the flock is being ravaged by wolves. Their concerns were met by excuses when forwarded to some of the archshepherds. Some of the archshepherds responded by suggesting that everything was fine, that the shepherds should not be concerned and simply take care of their own flocks, and most importantly, quiet them.

One day by the grace of God, an assistant to the chief archshepherd came forward with startling news. He claimed that the wolves attacking the sheep were not coming from outside the sheep ranch but from within its confines. The wolves were not detected because some had disguised themselves as archshepherds, assistants, shepherds, and even sheep. The shepherds became alarmed. They began to meet and discuss this startling revelation. They poured over the facts presented by the assistant and others and concluded that this information bore merit and needed to be investigated. Even some archshepherds were convinced that this information was worthy of investigation. Seventy senior shepherds produced an urgent letter and sent it to the chief archshepherd and his conclave of archshepherds—imploring them to launch a full investigation. The shepherds and even the sheep would stand by to assist. Their idea was that the investigation should be so thorough that on the entire ranch no stone unturned would be found.

The shepherds waited patiently for a reply. Finally a statement was issued by the conclave of archshepherds, and in effect, it said what had been said many times before. The chief archshepherd will look into the matter, and the shepherds should not be overly concerned. The shepherds, directly or indirectly, were warned by some of the archshepherds not to discuss the matter so as not to rile the sheep.

Some shepherds not of the 70 began to rail on the good shepherds. They accused them of not caring for the sheep or the ranch. They were told to calm the sheep and bring them to the pens so that once they were in the pens, the sheep would feel safe, and the shepherds could take their rest.

The good shepherds said “No—this is impossible. The wolves have been seen in the pens and the barn. The sheep will be ravished.” “No,” said the other shepherds. “We might lose a few sheep, but the wolves are not without cunning. They will not decimate the flock. They will simply take their fill to assuage their appetites.” The good shepherds said “No, this cannot be. We have been losing sheep for decades.” The other shepherds retorted “So have those who tend herds and flocks on heterodox ranches. This is a sign of our times. A little bloodletting, and we can get back to normal. Besides, if you have a problem with the loss of sheep, simply multiply the number of your sheep by two or three and allow that number to be known and noised about. If you speak of several hundred thousand sheep, the shepherds will be reassured and the sheep too will be comforted by the thought of such large numbers.”

Therefore said the shepherds not of the 70, “Bring your flocks calmly and quietly into the pens. Then you, like us, can take your rest and be rewarded by perhaps taking a trip with an archshepherd or you might receive a gift, or perhaps you could become a group leader for a number of the shepherds.” The shepherds not of the 70 said. “Let us remind you of something very important. Not only were the sheep ravaged by the wolves but archshepherds, assistants, and shepherds have also been injured by them. Therefore, if you don’t calm the sheep and bring them to where they think they’re safe, they will become sick. Sick sheep produce poor wool and we will suffer loss when we fleece them. You will pay a price for the loss.”

“No,” said the good shepherds. “We will take our sheep to higher ground so we can see far in every direction that the wolves not attack us unseen. We will merge all our flocks into one large flock, drawing close together where there is strength in numbers. We as shepherds will take up our staffs, the staffs of righteousness to fight these crazed beasts from within. We will light fires that the light shine into all dark crevices, that the wolves and their lairs be discovered, and that the heat of the flame will remind these predators of God’s judgment on those, who having been made sheep, shepherds, assistants, and archshepherds. willfully became wolves. We will take up the stones for our slings, the rocks of salvation, the eternal word of God, and with them we will break the teeth of the wolves, and silence their howls. We will encourage the sheep to bleat without ceasing. It is known that a bleating sheep in danger sounds like the screams of an hysterical woman or a child that will not be comforted. Their wailing will be heard by all.”

It is important to know that some archshepherds, assistants, shepherds, and sheep originally did not want the wolves to be harmed. They wanted them to be snared, and if they were previously archshepherds, assistants, shepherds, or sheep and they repented, they could be made sheep in the Lord’s flock. With man, this is impossible. With God, all things are possible.

Unfortunately now, the fate of the wolves is nearly out of our hands. They have chosen to remain disguised and continue to devastate the sheep, frustrate the shepherds, and demoralize some archshepherds and assistants. The question is “What will happen to the ranch and those entrusted with its care when the owner returns?” For certain, if the wolves have not been driven off, they will be banished to the wilderness and where there, not finding prey, will devour each other. The archshepherds, assistants, shepherds, and sheep, if they have not worked diligently without fear to restore the ranch to safety and good order, will also be banished. However, if the archshepherds, assistants, shepherds and sheep with courage and faith have been found to have fought the good fight, driven off the wolves, and restored the ranks to good order, they will receive the fruits of the ranch presently and Heaven’s choicest rewards in the world to come.

Brothers, we must continue the fight to restore integrity, honor, and faith in our holy Church and its leadership. The whole of our Church membership is watching. Due to the media, the world is watching, but most importantly, God is watching. May God grant us the grace during this Lenten season to fight the good fight for His glory, the building-up of His holy Church, and the salvation of our souls.

In Christ,
Fr. Michael Simerick