The Byzantine-American Orthodox Church

On Being Orthodox and Canonical

There is a lot of talk going on about "Canonicity." What is canonicity? Canonicity simply means following the Canons. However, there are some that believe that being canonical means being a part of SCOBA. We are not part of SCOBA, nor do we wish to be. First of all, there is too much game playing going on in the SCOBA jurisdictions (or, as we like to call them, the Immigrant Church). There are too many head games. To some, being canonical means being a colony of a foreign power, or being part of an ethnic group.

Did you know that the Orthodox Church was the first Christian church to take a stand against racism? It was! It has even called xenophobia (being afraid of a person because he is different from you) a heresy! And we call this the triple heresy, as racism, xenophobia, and ethnophilitism (only liking the people of your own ethnic and cultural heritage) have done a great deal of damage to the Church. The worst thing that it does is keep people from becoming Orthodox Christians. Too many times and in too many places have we seen people shunned at Church because they were not Greek (or Russian or fill in an ethnic group) enough. This is a sin and a shame! To hold the door closed to anyone is the same thing that Jesus accused the Pharisees of doing. This has to stop!

But this same triple heresy is the very reason for our existance. If the Immigrant Church was doing its job, there would be no need for us. However, that does not mean we are at odds with our brethren in the Immigrant Church on what we believe. We hold to the same Faith that was given to the Apostles on the Day of Pentecost, handed down from them and taught by the Holy Fathers (and Mothers) and believed by the Faithful throughout the ages.

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