The epistles from the Burning Bush Brotherhood were controversial. You can read them here and here. This is a link to the Brotherhood’s official Website. The Brotherhood’s statements gathered a lot of support. Many Orthodox Christians are desperate for clergy, any clergy, to speak out about the issues within American Orthodoxy. With controversies raging from ecumenism to an all too-enthusiastic embrace of Covid mitigations / vaccines – many Orthodox Christians are hurting. As His Eminence Metropolitan Ambrosios (of Greece) said, “Wherever there is Orthodoxy there are wounds.”
But not every one was happy to read the epistles from the Brotherhood. The Brotherhood is publishing anonymously. This upset Orthodox Christians who feel that priests should be going on record with their opinions. Hiding behind anonymity struck them as a form of cowardice, especially since members of the laity are putting their careers on the line to make many of the same points. Others criticized the flowery writing style of the epistles. Still others criticized the wordiness. The first epistle is quite long, and the word “succinct” does not come to mind when reading it. Another point was the idea of a “movement” within Orthodoxy seemed strange, particularly for clergy.
Of course, no controversy in American Orthodoxy would be compete without the dreaded “P” word – Protestantism. Priests speaking out about their bishops’ actions will always be labeled by some as Protestantism. The bishop could be celebrating a divine liturgy in an Episcopal Church with a giant rainbow flag on the front, during Pride month – but some Orthodox are of the mindset that you are the problem for pointing out the issues with that. Repent and be obedient, you heretical Protestant! Don’t you know that you must be obedient to the bishop, no matter what? Obviously, anonymous clergy taking their bishops to task for poor leadership must be inherently wrong.
There are more than a few historical and theological problems with claiming that Orthodox bishops are to be always obeyed, whether they are are adhering to Holy Tradition or not. Please see St. Mark of Ephesus, additional saints, and modern hierarchs such as His Eminence Metropolitan Ambrosios, the former Metropolitan of the Metropolis of Kalavryta and Aigialeia in northern Greece or Metropolitan Neophytos of Morphou.
Priestly Isolation
Regardless of whether you liked the epistles or hated them, one key issue was completely lost in the discussion. Being a traditionalist-minded Orthodox priest in the United States, particularly one who questions the “Covid narrative”, is extremely isolating. You can literally feel like you are the last priest (or deacon or monk) with objections to what you see.
This is a typical cry from the heart of one such traditionalist Orthodox priest that we received during the height of the “pandemic:”
I am going to leave a comment here, but I am NOT going to leave my name. Why, you may ask? Because I am an Orthodox priest. You may call me a coward if you want to. That’s OK with me. I am writing anonymously because I cannot trust my fellow priests OR lay people OR the hierarchs. On a few occasions I have made comments about injustices done to priests by their bishops and was then threatened by my bishop. The priest was guilty of simply speaking the truth. Guilty of speaking the truth about what the Scriptures teach, guilty for asking questions of the bishops about their compromises with sin, their turning a blind-eye to the scandalous behaviors of wealthy, politically connected laypeople who support abortion and gay marriage and family members who live in open homosexual relationships. There are many hundreds of priests who are afraid to speak the truth because if they do their hierarch will suspend them, or remove them from their parish. In other words, deprive them of their livelihood! There are many good and pious priests who are trying to care for their people and protect them from the secularist agenda of the present political administration. Instead of being supported by their bishops they are censured, ridiculed and labeled as bigots, racists, narrow-minded, malcontents, trouble-makers and rabble-rousers.
Imagine you love God and His Church. Imagine that you feel that things have gone dangerously off-the-rails. The Church has bowed down to secular authority in ways you could never have dreamed of. The leadership of the Church is making compromises with sin under the guise of neighborly ecumenism. But you are afraid to talk about all that with your people, lest someone rat you out to the bishop for unapproved attitudes. You are afraid to confide in your fellow clergy, because unless you are bosom buddies, they could also denounce you to authority for your crimethink.
On the other hand, if you are a priest who supports ecumenism, progressive politics (abortion, LGBTQ, BLM, CRT, unchecked immigration, etc.) and the official Covid narrative (NPIs work, we can stop the virus if we all work together, we must follow the law as the government just wants to help, get vaccinated you sinners, questioning Big Pharma is a conspiracy theory, communion has historically changed so changing it now is no big deal, Fauci is a genius, etc.), then you can write blogs, post on social media, march with BLM, or just generally do or say anything you wish.
We saw that fact fully on display with the Fr Mark Hodges suspension for attending the “Stop the Steal” rally in Washington. Fr Mark is a political and social conservative who had been active on social media and as an author. His overall activism seems to have figured into his suspension. During the controversy, Orthodox bloggers uncovered multiple cases of very progressive priests who post inappropriately on social media but are left in peace by the bishops. Archpriest Gregory Hallam provided a scathing response to the Burning Bush Brotherhood under his own name and even provided a link to his parish in the UK. The good priest’s response could have been written by the BBC. It was the epitome of endorsing the “official line” on all things. Which is why he has no fear of writing under his own name.
There are some traditionalist priests, with objections to the “official” line on Covid and progressive politics, that are in secure situations affording them the opportunity to speak out as they see fit. They are lucky, few, and far between. At least in the jurisdictions I am most familiar with. For most, it is keep silent or run the risk that persecution won’t come from the government, it will come from your fellow Orthodox Christians.
In terms of freedom of speech, some clerical animals are more equal than others.
Even in the best of times, being a priest in America often leads to loneliness, frustration, and isolation. Add in the current fear factor, and things get especially difficult. During the past year, an Orthodox Church census (Pdf) found that 45% of the OCA clergy and 36% of GOA in the survey considered leaving pastoral ministry. 33% of the OCA and 24% of the GOA clergy at some point even doubted if God had called them to ministry at all. Having been close friends with multiple Orthodox priests, I do not doubt that these figures hold true across-the-board.
Clearly our priests need fellowship and support – particularly from other priests. But that can be tricky, because trust is an issue as we already noted. Traditionalists can find themselves feeling isolated, and the hierarchy can be guilty of reinforcing that isolation for their own ends.
In an article titled The Broken Covenant, an anonymous group of OCA clergy (see a trend?) described how dissenters from the Covid narrative were psychologically manipulated:
As the priests, one by one, objected they were told that they were the only priest having the problem. Some priests who objected were told they might need a psych exam. After all, if someone doesn’t care if people die and are continuing in practices leading to death and are therefore guilty of murder, the priest must be crazy! Lock him up for his own good!
In unity there is strength, which is why authoritarian power structures always try to convince dissenters that they are alone. You have a problem, everyone else is fine. Just shut up and get back in line before someone notices that you are mentally disturbed. After all, we wouldn’t want anything bad to happen that priesthood of yours, now would we?
Related Posts:
What the Burning Bush Brotherhood Can Contribute
The Burning Bush Brotherhood is not a perfect approach. There are some definite flaws. But I think it should be seen as an overall positive development. Frankly, I am surprised it took us being 18 months into our current crisis before such a movement arose. In any case, here is how I think the brotherhood can make a real difference:
- Help traditionalist clergy feel less alone, less crazy, and more emboldened to stand firm for the Faith. Everyone needs encouragement, even clergy. They are human, after all, and they have been given a very large burden to carry.
- Provide a forum for traditionalist clergy to network and “find” each other. Perhaps the brotherhood will expand and bring more like-minded men into the fold. When they go public, hopefully it will be in an organized fashion and with such numbers that attention will have to be paid.
- Remind us of the need for our own repentance. All of us have sinned and come short of the Glory of God. Sometimes in our zeal to contend for the Faith, we all get too carried away and real harm is done. Humility is called for, and nothing teaches us to be humble more than confronting our own sins.
- Call attention to very real issues in the Church, even if done in a way that is too “wordy” or too “flowery.” This intrudes on the “echo” chamber that many progressive laity and clergy (of all ranks) tend to live in. A common progressive strategy is to “manufacture” consent by stifling any and all opposition. The Brotherhood makes that harder. It also complicates the ongoing attempt by some in power to bring forth a “revolution within the form.”
- It reminds us laity to be less judgmental. The priests are carrying real burdens. Especially the good ones. It is easy for us to criticize them for insufficient martyrdom from the comfort of our own couches. If we want to encourage them to greater boldness, then we must support their efforts.
My prayer is that if the brotherhood is not up to realizing the above goals, then may God bring forth a group of men who are.
Nicholas – member of the Western Rite Vicariate, a part of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese in America
Lonely in Canada. New to the church and longing to go but told myself I wouldn’t attend church in a mask again after they dropped the requirement for a brief time. I know many say what’s the big deal, it’s just a mask, but it isn’t just a mask. It is part of occult rituals and the harms being done following these non scientific dictates are legion! And I know that is an appropriate term in many ways!
I can no longer go to Gods house in a mask. I have no where else to go. Longing for others to join with in support and love of Truth.
Perhaps the Brotherhood needs to be even more explicit, but from the start it was clear to me that their main objective is to inspire a stronger spiritual brotherhood of all Orthodox Christians – clergy and laity. They have called on the faithful to pray more and to look to God for spiritual and physical healing. They have suggested that those who are like minded pray an additional prayer rope rule along with them daily. This isn’t just flowery pious language, it is the core point that they are making. The solution to the many trials and tribulations that the world faces today is the same solution that Christ and His Church has always offered: Union with Him through prayer and repentance.
Does this call to prayer seem too meager? Too inconsequential? I don’t think so. I believed from the start that there will be more coming from this brotherhood as the time ripens for more action, but this call to prayer is the strong foundation that we need.
During these last upside down years, I’ve been seeking open parishes and more opportunities for worship. Thank God, in my area there are now many more services offered by our clergy and I’m regularly attending several services during the week for the first time since my days at the seminary and outside my time at our monasteries. We all need to support the clergy who are offering these additional liturgical services by attending them and by encouraging others to also attend.
Now is the time for every home and every parish to become a place of encounter with God, to become like the burning bush. This, I believe, is the message of the Burning Bush Brotherhood. This approach will save us and thousands around us, as St Seraphim of Sarov famously said.
If nobody knows who these clergy are, how can priests who agree with them find support and fellowship with them? How can the laity in need of the Mysteries seek them out? How can anyone support them and how can anyone take them seriously if it is unknown whether the Brotherhood is comprised of 2 priests or dozens? They take a stand for faith over fear, but remain anonymous out of fear?
We’ve passed on their contact email to multiple priests and deacons who have asked for it. If they recruit, expand, and go public then what a blessing that will be. Otherwise, then this will die. If they don’t move forward, may God raise up priests who will!
God bless the burning bush brotherhood! They are not alone .Their are many of us who feel the same way .I will support them! This is long over due. Panagia mazi tous !
Lord Jesus Christ have Mercy on us all!!!
I agree their message provides valuable counterpoint to the unsettling worldliness I see in much of the Church.
The concern I have heard from my priest about this movement is that nobody knows how much of a “movement” this actually is, and therefore hierarchs and influential laity may not take it seriously. If it’s just a few priests writing this stuff, or even (God forbid) a layperson pretending to be a brotherhood of priests, it doesn’t have the moral high ground, although the message is very much needed. My priest said that he had never heard of this brotherhood, even though he should be a member of it because he shares their principles. He wondered how he could not have been invited to join…which begs the question, how extensive this thing really is.
But it’s the age-old question of how to get recruits for a secret society while keeping the society secret.
Blessed Disobedience or Evil Obedience? Archpriest Theodore ZisisJun 13, 2019
https://russian-faith.com/explaining-orthodoxy/blessed-disobedience-or-evil-obedience-authors-foreword-n3317
“Unfortunately, today church hierarchs prefer to maintain good relations with the powers that be, obeying their worldly plans – syncretic, globalistic, ecumenical, environmental and social (hypocritical in fact). They apparently forgot that there is nothing more valuable and precious than God and true faith; that only Christ is the Light of the world and that their most important ministry and mission is to testify, preach and reveal this Light, which invariably shines in the One Holy Catholic (Catholic) and Apostolic Church. And everything outside the Church is the “Pagan Galilee, a people sitting in darkness” (Matthew 4, 15–16), which should be brought to the light, and not left in the darkness of godlessness, error, and heresy.
Confronting Ecumenism excerpt:
“We praise the Lord that in every corner of the earth there are pious people who do not suffer from the grievous affliction of indifference. A contagious contemporary disease that is widespread, resulting into spiritual paralysis, interrupting as a consequence the Christian struggle and ending in spiritual death.
The proper Christian should be involved in “good restlessness” as Elder Paisios characteristically would say, becoming specifically and primarily interested by whatever concerns his Orthodox Faith. However this vigilance should at no time result in the loss of inner peace and going overboard with unjustifiable stress.” Read the rest at
https://www.impantokratoros.gr/Ecumenism-Confronting.
Doxa to Theo, John
As laity I feel isolated myself. Now is the time where Christians need to be supporting, praying, fellowshipping and preparing for what’s coming. I don’t feel like I have any close relationships in my Parish.
I had a person ask me if I was new the other week and I just laughed. Been there a year and a half.
CoVID made it Impossible to make relationships happen. Couldn’t help and serve in some capacities unless one was “Vaccinated” I would love to have some on fire brothers and sisters to spend time with.
I received the original article from a priest and then shared it with other priests and several laity. I was really surprised at the pushback I got from the clergy. I am so sad for the direction much of the Church is taking at this critical point in our history.
The Burning Bush article? What kind of comments?
Count me in support and a strong ally of these priests. If any were to contact me I will speak not a single word to our enemies. Today I have resolved in my heart and soul to be as strong as possible to support all who stand against what is happening in our churches and country regarding the innovations which continue in my parish and the vaccine.
Today I also learned my parish priest won’t help any one who wishes a religious exemption from the vaccine. Thus there are those who will be fired from their jobs. I also learned he had no problem receiving the vaccine in-spite of aborted fetal cells being used in its development. Why you ask? Because it is not stated Orthodox doctrine in our jurisdiction! I was literally sick to my stomach when I learned that.
I firmly believe, and see with clarity, that we are being judged for our lack of repentance and slide into apostasy. It is past time to pray. Is your lamp filled?
God have mercy on us. Forgive me.
We all get that this isn’t perfect. But I don’t think a perfect solution exists right now. Even the glorification of Saints start out grass roots.
I feel like the lines have already been drawn, whether we like it or not. I support these men. I am just a layman so I can’t support them the way fellow clergy can. So I won’t ask for their email address. But to the OR Staff, you’re welcome to give ’em mine. Any Trad Orthodox, regardless of their station, will find an ally in me. The clergy are not the only ones who have felt isolated over the last year. My wife and I have felt so alone it’s not funny. We still do. We had to drive 6 hours just to experience a normal Liturgy during this madness. So I will gladly stand up, name and all, with anyone standing up for the truth.
Here are a few interesting questions: Do Orthodox bishops give out traffic tickets? Or, if someone is breaking into your home and you call 911, will they sent out a bishop? Or a priest, if the bishop is unavailable? Oh, of course, it must be the bishops that do health inspections at restaurants as well as Orthodox temples–where ever bread and wine are served–(got to check those sanitary conditions, especially the masks, clean spoons, and hand sanitizer, and for sure no snotty babies), as they are fully qualified, trained, and authorized (oh, they are not?). OK, then, why in the Hades are they enforcing illegal fiats as if they were a department of the health gestapo?? Do these bishops collect a paycheck for enforcing the quazi-law?
If not, then they are not just non-canonical but stupid as well; they should at the very least get a paycheck for toting water for the state (who knows? maybe they do, we should ask).
If you break your leg, do you go to the Orthodox theological society that published a favorable review on vaccines? They certainly act like they are doctors of medicine over there. As things are going toward more lockdowns, forced vaccinations, it will be interesting to see if anybody learned anything the first time around.
In another vein, which jurisdiction pretty much ignored all the COVID protocols? Was it the Serbs? If so, priests need to start a conversation with alternative jurisdictions for breakaway churches and the new diaspora. As for the Greeks, their ship is taking on water fast, and at some point you have to start searching for the life boat. The alternative of hanging on to apostate Elpidophoros will cost you your children, and future generations of the Greek Orthodox (do you want to sacrifice that?); time to move is now; start the wheels rolling. At some point, this apostate will do something so outrageous (I thought he already had), the genuine faithful will scatter, and you will need a safe place for them to land, where families can take their babies; if you love Orthodox people, you will start building a life raft now; just like the movie (Titanic) the boat goes down; it has hit an ice berg (the EP) and is irreparably doomed to become Episcopalian 2.0. The longer you wait, the more will be lost.
Archpriest Gregory Hallam sounds like the Governor of Michigan.
Now, Now…there’s no need to degrade Gov Whitmer by lumping her in the same category as Fr. Gregory. 🙂
I think there is an underlying strategy to gather the laity and build a more viable resistance. Once that is done they are less likely to be defrocked. If they are defrocked by publicizing their names then not only do they lose their livelihood but you also have communities of people who can no longer commune. I am inspired by their bold move!
Gregory P,
I think that is an astute observation. May our Lord strengthen all of us clergy and laity who have a genuine yearning to be faithful in all things!
I am interested in the discussion-topics
Before Covid, I spent my Saturdays as a lay Orthodox prison minister. As such, I had dealings with about every jurisdiction in the US. I must say I find fault with all the bishops. They rolled over to illegal and unconstitutional orders, but more disturbing is how many failed to use this as a reaching moment for how no disease can possibly be transmitted through the Eucharist.The OCA had disposable spoons and swabbed alcohol on spoons between Communicants. That’s faithlessness epitomized!
Then to support experimental Genetic Therapies all derived or developed from tissue from victims of Abortion?!
Explain how they are still bishops please? Canon states they are no longer Bishops. Does it not declare Anathema on any Bishop who closes Churches and Denies the Eucharist?
The Saints warned us of these times.
My wife and I are building an Orthodox chapel and community in the Ozarks. We are preparing the Catacombs, as very soon that is where one will only be able to truly worship.
Hi Mike,my husband and I (and 5 sons) have been eyeing the Ozarks for a while, but we know we need to be in community. We have a wonderful active parish in our current location so no small decision to leave it. Would love to get in contact with you! Email is katieabunch@protonmail.com.
Trying to keep online posts to a minimum these days, but I live in the Ozarks and we are of the same mind as you. Any way to connect? Perhaps set up a protonmail account email address that is not your name I can email?
This is what I want to do as well, in the PNW. Build a chapel, gather community, get back to being human.
Timothy,
I live in the PNW as well. Unfortunately it’s a big area so we might not even live in the same state.
How are we to contact the Brotherhood? There is no general contact information on their website. It’s great they’re doing this but if they remain anonymous and we faithful don’t know who to go after, what’s the point? We’re still flying just as blind as we were before they wrote the letter.
That is a great question. We have an email address to them, and we have provided it to priests and deacons who have asked for it. As we noted, the approach is far from perfect and we hope they get better over time. Or else may God raise up someone else who will be more effective.
Again, I agree it’s not perfect. But we can still make the choice as to where to put our focus here. if these priests put out the same letter under their names, we’d have great leaders up front. But we’d also probably have a bunch of defrocked priests who couldn’t serve the Sacraments to the faithful, and then we would just be stuck with a bunch of priests who we know are of a whole different worldview. As it is they can still operate and be of some help in their respective areas. In the meantime we can join this brotherhood and build our outposts where possible. I know full well how lonely it can be. But unfortunately that might be a cross some of us have to bear. “all who wish to live a godly life will be persecuted.” If it’s just your own family group, then pray anyway. Back in the 70s Fr. Alexey Young was just a convert family man who could rarely attend Liturgy cause of distance. So he turned his shed into a chapel and his family started praying everyday. Eventually it caused the neighbors to pay attention and it slowly grew. A fire starts with just a small spark.