Comments on: Fighting Against Great Odds

By: Miriam

Miriam — Mon, 14 Apr 2014 20:51:41 +0000

I was chrismated in 2000. Before be so, I confided in my spiritual father, the associate priest of my parish, that I was a pre-op transsexual male to female women. The spiritual darkness in the room became palpable. He looked at my and said: “never…NEVER ever say again what you just told me”….thus the old don’t ask don’t tell. He was an ex Anglican and perhaps a little more familliar with people who might be out. But he was emphatic: Tell no one—not any other clergy—no one. About one year later, a women who had suspected me, and herself was an expatriot Anglican, told the archpriest that I was a trans-person (I don’t know what words she used), because her daughter had seen the “M” male designator on my driver’ license when, while the latter was working at Wal Mart, I made a purchase from her, paying with a check and having to show my ID. Without even verifying it or asking to talk to me, the archpriest ordered the subdeacon and priest to not give me communion. I returned to my place and continued till the end of the liturgy. The archpriest refused my calls. I gave up. After seven years, in 2007, I called the Bishop on the phone. I told him what happened. He said that it was horrible what happened. He said that I was not excommunicated. I asked permission to change to another jurisdiction. I am a member of another parish, now, and the priest accepts me, I get a little gossip about the matter because we are becoming pan orthodox–but I know that Christos wishes me to be in his church, he wishes for me to love him, he wishes for me to be saved…and part of theosis is being WHO and WHAT you are—it is what God chose for me. I am as the Ethiopian.

By: andre

andre — Tue, 11 Feb 2014 02:10:45 +0000

In reply to Georges.

Georges,
Thank you for your comment and support. Frequently this is all that it takes to change minds – human contact and first hand observation with a great dose of kindness and charity. Invite someone over to your home, share coffee or a meal and they will see how similar we are to them.
Andriy

By: Georges

Georges — Sat, 01 Feb 2014 14:48:15 +0000

In his autobiography, Fr Gene Robinson wrote that, while still a priest, there was a fellow old homophobic priest. Fr Gene and his husband invited that old priest to have supper with them. The old priest went, just by politeness. He saw that they were a normal, Christian family like his. Moreover, as the old homophobic priest was in a wheelchair, Fr Gene installed a wheelchair facility. The old priest got impressed by his hosts’ charity. He changed his mind, and later expressed the wish that, when he dies, the funeral Mass be presided by Fr Gene. And so was it.

By: andre

andre — Fri, 30 Aug 2013 21:01:50 +0000

In reply to Noel Warren.

Noel,
Thank you for your comment and support as always. I know that others want a more confrontational approach and I do no judge them for that. It is also possible to “drive the demon out” with numerous approaches. Prayer and Fasting is certainly a Biblical way and should be tried – perhaps even along side the other methods.
I wish you well.
Andriy

By: Noel Warren

Noel Warren — Fri, 30 Aug 2013 01:16:20 +0000

I have been rather naive about how great the odds are that LGTB people in Russia and the Orthodox Church worldwide are facing. A poll by a Russian news service, Interfax, reported that 87% of those polled opposed Gay Pride celebrations in their country, 5% agreed that LGTB people should be “liquidated” and 20% believed they could be cured. Putin and Krill obviously have a lot of support if this poll can be trusted.
I agree with the non-violent approach. Our messages should be about love and hope for all Russians.

By: andre

andre — Tue, 27 Aug 2013 09:49:47 +0000

In reply to Vladimir Vandalov.

Thank you Vladimir for your kind words and support. We are all struggling and are in pursuit of the same goal.
I bid you peace,
Andriy

By: Vladimir Vandalov

Vladimir Vandalov — Mon, 26 Aug 2013 10:20:16 +0000

Thank you for your words of inspiration, motivation and perseverance in this spiritual warfare! May God save and protect you!