We inform all Old Believer parishes of the foreign diocese of the Belokrinitskaya hierarchy that: those individuals from our parishes in Alaska and Oregon, as shown in the video youtube.com/watch?v=VznLvGWluP8а>, who participated in services and prayed together (some even receiving communion) in the heretical church of the so-called Old Believers of the Bezopovtsy Pomor sect. Who are natives of the districts of Pskov and Novgorod and fled to Poland due to persecution, in 1880 emigrated to the United States. By the end of 1916, they had founded the Nativity Church parish in the city of Erie, Pennsylvania. In 1983, a split occurred among them, with one part of the parish joining the jurisdiction of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia (ROCOR) a the Nikonian/New-Rite persuasion.

From their midst, on July 24, 1983, a Bezpopovets (Pomor) mentor named Pimen, who had been accepted into the third rank of the ROCOR, was ordained as a priest by Archbishop Lavr (Shkurlo). Later, Father Feodor Yurevich joined this parish. Thus, their community became a Popovtsy (Old Believer) church, spiritually subordinate to the ROCOR.

On this topic, a month ago from the pulpit, I clarified that our Belokrinitskaya Metropolia and the entire Church of Christ with its Old Believer parishes has NO prayer communion or any commonality with the Popovtsy (Old Believer) community living in the city of Erie, Pennsylvania. Because their clergy was accepted into the third rank by the New-Rite. Meaning they did not have full Baptism with Chrismation, nor the Sacrament of Marriage. The same alternative was created by Bezpopovtsy (Pomors) in Latvia and in Moscow. Patriarch Kirill ordained their priest Ivan Mirolyubov, so that they woul avoid being alone, wherever they are in the world. This way they have access to visit any New-Rite churches, pray, and receive the sacrament of Communion... without any abstinence, preparation, confession, penance, or fasting.

Therefore, we have no right to have prayerful communion with those who drag our holy Church of Christ into ecumenism, crossing different borders and entering other church jurisdictions without any discernment or examination, bowing their own necks under a foreign yoke. I, as an Old Believer archbishop Sofroniy, based on the holy rules: the 10th of the Holy Apostles which says: "Pray with the excommunicated, and you will also be excommunicated. Interpretation: If anyone prays with heretics in church or at home with those excommunicated from the church, he himself shall also be excommunicated" (Rudder. Chapter 1, Letter 3). Likewise, in the 65th rule of the Holy Apostles, it is said about participation in the ecumenical movement and remaining in their teaching, as well as going to an heretical church and praying with them, if there is a layman, let him be excommunicated. But if a communicant, let him be cast out. Likewise, in the 45th rule of the Holy Apostles, it is said: "If one prays with heretics, let him be excommunicated. But if he receives communion, let him be cast out." Also, in the rules of the Holy Apostles, it is said: "If any Christian brings oil into an heretical church on their feast day or lights incense or a candle there, let him be excommunicated" (Rule 71, Holy Apostles). And based on the holy patristic traditions, I FORBID all those who have prayed with heretics and unworthily received communion. Until they fully repent and acknowledge their mistakes, so that in the future they may know their True Mother, the Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church of Christ. Which gave birth to them by Water and the Holy Spirit, and not confuse themselves by attaching themselves to foreign jurisdictions and praying with them.

Specification:

1: Before my departure to the feast of the Ascension of the Lord in the state of Oregon, I call upon all those who are under the arch-pastoral ban (i.e. those who have not received communion in a heretical church) to come to the Holy Nicholas Church on the 5th Sunday after Easter, on Sunday May 14th, and stand on the narthex. After the service, I will read out permissive and purifying prayers so that the Lord God may cleanse your conscience and soul. Only after this will you have the right to have prayerful communion with all the hierarchy of our Old Believer Church of Belokrinitskaya.

2: Those individuals who (have defiled themselves by receiving communion from heretics), are FORBIDDEN from having any prayerful communion with the Church of Christ's Belokrinitskaya hierarchy for a period of 2 months until full repentance. This act of fearlessness, defiling one's soul and body, mockery, and blasphemy against the Holiness. The Holy Apostle Paul strictly says about this: "Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body. For this reason, many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep. For if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged. But when we are judged, we are chastened by the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world." (1 Corinthians 11:27-32).

Humbly
Sofroniy,
Old Believer Archbishop of Australia and Canada-American, of the Belokrinitskaya hierarchy!
Nikolaevsk, Alaska, USA, May 3, 2023.