September 6, 2012 An Open Letter to the Orthodox Church of America What follows is a summary based on my understanding of the events that led to the Synod’s request that Metropolitan Jonah resign. This is the story as I have pieced it together, taken from various news sources and first-hand accounts from witnesses. What I have learned in my research is contained within the following pages. My conclusion is that the reasons given by the Synod for the forced resignation of Metropolitan Jonah are based on distortions and misperceptions, rather than on truth. Thank you for taking the time to read this document. I welcome all comments at my email address:
[email protected]. This document is much easier to read in print, so if you'd like a printable copy, please send me an email. If you agree with my analysis of the situation, please feel free to visit the website: http://christinefevronia.blogspot.com/, and sign your name. Thank you. Lord have mercy on us all. Christine Fevronia 1 An Open Letter to the Orthodox Church of America and the Synod Summary Background SIC and SMPAC Fr. Isidore Brittain Committees and Charters Fr. Simeon Kharon Archbishop Seraphim The Conclusion of SMPAC Metropolitan Jonah Responds Fr. Simeon… Part Two Metropolitan Jonah Resigns… …And the Synod Releases A Statement Deconstructing the Lies of the Synod Statement It is Meet and Right to Give Thanks! The Monastery of St. John of Shanghai and San Francisco Where Do We Go From Here? 2 SUMMARY Fr. Jonah was enthroned as Metropolitan of the Orthodox Church of America in November 2008, the third such Metropolitan of the autocephalous Orthodox Church of America (OCA), preceded by Metropolitan Theodosius Lazor (served 1977-2002), and Metropolitan Herman Swaiko (served 2002-2008).i Prior to his elevation as Metropolitan of the OCA, Metropolitan Jonah received two Master’s degrees (Master’s of Divinity, 1985; Master’s of Theology, 1988), joined Valaam Monastery in Russia, was tonsured a Hieromonk in 1994.