DISCLAIMER: In the light of the recent "excommunication" of Orthodox Monk Fr. Felipe Balingit, the least I could do to "clear things out" with my mind was to gather insights on the issue; both from secular and religious sources. MUCH AS I WANT TO rebel against bullying displayed by some, however, I WILL TRY MY BEST not to "irritate" a nerve or two of whoever reads this from this side and/or from the other side. WORDS and CANDOR through which I am expressing my dismay over the incident (OR should I say fragging) MUST not be taken as a collective expression of the Antiochian Orthodox Church to which I belong. I AM my own advocate as I write this, no other persons no matter how involved they are in my life have got nothing to do with this undertaking.
BACKDROP: A Filipino Orthodox Monk Fr. Felipe Balingit, was recently excommunicated by Metropolitan Nektarios of Hong Kong and South East Asia. For the sake of convenience, I have changed the font style and the size. I have also edited the spacing and for emphasis, added color to high light some vital points from the letter. You can read the original letterhead here: http://www.omhksea.org/2013/08/excommunication-of-a-schismatic-filipino-layman/
Ecumenical Patriarchate
Orthodox Metropolitanate of Hong Kong and South East Asia
August 7, 2013
Encyclical
of His Eminence Metropolitan Nektarios of Hong Kong and South East Asia
to the Reverend Priests and Deacons, the Monks and Nuns,
the Members of the Orthodox Communities of the Orthodox Metropolitanate of Hong Kong and South East Asia
Dear Brethren in Christ,
By the grace of God my unworthiness happens to be the canonical Orthodox Bishop and Metropolitan in this end region of Southeast Asia and for six years I try to properly respond, as much as I am capable of doing, to my most weighty episcopal duties.
As your Bishop and spiritual Father when I see the waves of separation, schism and heresy threatening my ecclesiastical Eparchy I have to take measures and no to remain neglectful and indifferent.
I regret to inform you that the following individual, who resides in Philippines,
Felipe Balingit pretends to be an Orthodox Monk and Clergyman, participates at the services of schismatic groups, creates new schismatic groups and thus he excommunicated himself and abandon the Orthodox Church-the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church. I consider him as stranger to the Body of the Orthodox Church and I inform you that he has no the right to call himself as “Orthodox Christian” and to participate in the Holy and Sacred Sacraments of the Orthodox Church.
If any laity or clergy join him he shall have no partnership with us or with the Orthodox Church in general. I pray for his repentance and his return to the Orthodox Church.
My beloved Brethren,
Beware also of all those who come to Philippines and try to do missionary work without the Hierarchical blessing of the Canonical Orthodox Metropolitan. Beware of those who come to you and preach and celebrate the Divine Liturgy without to have my written permission and blessing. Beware of those “who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but within are ravenous wolves” (Matthew 7:15) Their purpose is to divide the Church and the Orthodox faithful as their motives are the destructive passion of the controlling spirit and the “virus” of ethno phyletism.
May the Lord Jesus Christ save you from the injuries of the adversary and keep you as a good seed for all kinds of virtues and keep you all in true faith with good works and obedience to your Canonical Bishop and to your Spiritual Mother, the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church.
+Metropolitan Nektarios
of Hong Kong and South East Asia
INTRODUCTION: Long before I converted to Orthodoxy (July 28, 2013), I had read a good deal of Church History, Saints, and the how-it-should be dones, in the Orthodox Playbook that made me convince that Orthodoxy was and is indeed 33AD. But my knack for the nostalgic, for the romantic, and for the classic, had my eyes glossed over what Grigorios Papathomas called a modern ecclesial heresy. (3)
What is Ethno Phyletism?
According to Wikipedia: Phyletism or ethnophyletism (from Greek ἔθνος ethnos "nation" and φυλετισμός phyletismos "tribalism") is the principle of nationalities applied in the ecclesiastical domain: in other words, the confusion between Church and nation. The term ethnophyletismos designates the idea that a local autocephalous Church should be based not on a local [ecclesial] criterion, but on an ethnophyletist, national or linguistic one. It was used at the Holy and Great [Μείζων Meizon "enlarged"] pan-Orthodox Synod in Constantinople on 10 September 1872 to qualify “phyletist (religious) nationalism,” which was condemned as a modern ecclesial heresy: the Church should not be confused with the destiny of a single nation or a single race.[1]In other words ecclesiastical racism: in which nationality trumps ecclesiology... A BIG NO, NO.
Going back to the encyclical, there are four accusations against Mr. Felipe Balingit: 1. Mr. Felipe Balingit allegedly PRETENDS to be an Orthodox Monk. 2. Mr. Felipe Balingit allegedly creates schismatic groups. 4. He allegedly celebrates Divine Liturgy with SCHISMATIC GROUPS. 3. He allegedly has committed the modern heresy of Ethno Phyletism.
Let's deconstruct the letter: the first accusation, notwithstanding the salutations, tells any astute reader that Mr. Felipe Balingit HAS NEVER BEEN an Orthodox Monk. I was like who are you kidding? Were the writers behind the encyclical trying to deceive people into believing that Felipe Balingit tonsured himself? OR could this be a clear indication that the case of Felipe Balingit has never been brought to any synod?
The second accusation has got to do with Schismatic groups: WHAT exactly is the name of the Schismatic group Monk Felipe Balingit created? Just who exactly are these people? If they are REALLY schismatics, WHY NOT DROP A NAME? Why be cryptic? Why associate THEM with Mr. Balingit? WHAT'S THE ANGLE?
The third accusation, that Monk Felipe Balingit celebrates Divine Liturgy with Schismatic groups: Are there documentations of said activities? If there are, then where are those? Are the Divine Liturgies, in which Monk Felipe Balingit is allegedly connected to, even AUTHENTICALLY separatists in essence and in nature?
The fourth accusation: Ethno Phyletism is, if I may use the crassness of this word, BULL.
Here's why.
Just before the encyclical ended, Met. Nektarios lovingly warned others of getting involved with other Orthodox groups NOT BLESSED BY HIM (Met. Nektarios).
Something tells me, that, if my hunch is correct then, this letter is not only an encyclical announcing Monk Felipe Balingit's excommunication, BUT ALSO a warning that those Orthodox Jurisdictions WHO ARE NOT "GREEK" must have their paws OFF the "territories" of the Greek Patriarchate; those who welcome other jurisdictions (I can't remember the proper term for other Orthodox Churches who are not under the Ecumenical Patriarchate) COULD suffer the same fate already being endured by Monk Felipe Balingit.
I congratulate whoever is the author of such a letter. He failed to notice that his rabid parallelism caused not clarity but speculation as to where the accusations ACTUALLY COME FROM. The encyclical only deepened wounds already stabbed at the Filipino Orthodox Community. So, instead of devotion to the Orthodox faith, it has caused further division (Oh the irony of accusing Mr. Balingit of this SIZZLES!).
And although Monk Felipe Balingit has already been welcomed to ROCOR, and although I do not see Monk Felipe Balingit expressing personal dismay to anyone IN PARTICULAR, well, the damage has been done.
I cannot help but think about the humiliation the monk had to endure when his excommunication went "viral".
I cannot help being indignant over quick judgments from people who are obviously swayed by the CAPRICIOUS and MALICIOUS wordings of the Metropolitan's Encyclical.
WORSE, I cannot help but remember how one Orthodox Christian put the whole mess in this way: "A PISSING CONTEST between Greek Patriarchate and [other Patriarchates]..." WHICH tells me, if the case of Monk Balingit is a case of BULLYING and SCAPEGOATING or not.
Stay safe. Stay tuned. Until next time.
Through the prayers of the Saints, the Church Fathers, The Theotokos, Savior save us!
Footnotes:
1. Biblegateway.com
2. and 3. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phyletism#cite_note-1
and
http://byztex.blogspot.com/2013/08/hong-kong-metropolitanate-continues-to.html
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