An Explanation of History & Canonicity in the Church.

"May God help and protect him [Gregory of Colorado] for many years!" [1]
   For Gregory is perhaps the only U.S. 'golden link' in the apostolic chain, following and taking oversight of the 'golden thread of faith'. He is a U.S. born bishop+plus of the true-glory Church. He is a missionary here because his valid credential reaches us across time and continent from the late Roman and Russian Christian Empires.

"He [Gregory] is also known for his missionary activity."
   And he is straight forward with the true Faith that he confesses.

"His [Gregory's] confession of Faith can be seen on the web sites, www.TrueOrthodoxy.org and www.TrueOrthodoxy.info."
   Fortunately for all, he is a stickler for obeying Church law and applies it in all areas of Church government and life with great wisdom. This is an expression of genuine love seldom understood or seen in these perilous times.

"Although Archbishop Gregory has the reputation of being the strictest bishop in Orthodoxy, yet in reality he is just a normal Orthodox bishop, applying strictness when applicable and economia when necessary."
   In reading his life story i find myself cheering him on for his righteous principle.

"The Life Story of Archbishop Gregory may be found at www.ArchbishopGregory.Info."
   I would not wish the circumstances that forced Gregory to defend himself on anyone, but it has worked out for our good. His life is his defense. Oh, how diverse are the cultures and traditions in Christendom! A golden chain lased with the golden thread of faith in an ocean of subterfuge. All antichrists, heretics, and schismatics are focused on defaming the one end-time Church of true-glory.

"It is because of this [vicious schismatics] that a comprehensive biography of the Archbishop’s life has shown itself to be necessary."
   Gregory's insight and teaching on schismatics reveals profound discernment. He also clearly shows how the world of Orthodoxy (a specialized area of Christendom) is filled with heretics identifiable by credible Councils of valid Church legislators.

"As may be expected, the schismatics have been even more vicious than the heretics of World Orthodoxy, in slandering the reputation of Archbishop Gregory."
   The need for Church leadership is clearly observed in the handling of schismatics. Heretics are bad enough, they continually re-invent and multiply themselves for each generation under the cloak of many innovative devices.

"The Archbishop has also been outspoken against schismatics who according to St. John Chrysostom are worse than heretics since they emulate the truth so closely and are therefore more deceptive." [2]
   Gregory leads by example concerning what to do if your local church or legitimate ecclesiastical authority heads down a side-road of heresy. Concerning such a heresy, valid Church Council; identified, defined, and declared ecumenism as a heresy in 1983. Those who have placed themselves under this anathema have become broken links in the 'golden chain' of apostolic succession. A fall to heresy breaks the link!

"It is because of his continuous desire to preserve his canonicity, that he had to, at times, abandon churches that had fallen prey to this, the greatest heresy of all times, Ecumenism."
   According to standing Church legislation of the past, communion with those who have fallen into heresy contaminates one in the same heresy.

"As far as maintaining the Orthodox Faith in America, again, Archbishop Gregory is the only hierarch in this country who has not succumbed to the heresy of Ecumenism either by espousing it or by being in communion with anyone who espouses it."
   This latest link in the golden chain in the U.S. is one among many chains emerging from the late Christian Empires of Rome and Russia. There has been a continual decline in the governments of the world forcing new challenges upon the Church of true-glory.

"Ever since his consecration [2001], Archbishop Gregory has been an upholder of the canons in all his dealings with the remaining true hierarchs [all now outside of the U.S.] of the Orthodox Church."
   He himself is an Archbishop in accordance with the exact requirements of Church law.

"This [faithful bishops] establishes the line of canonicity for Archbishop Gregory. In 2001 he was made a bishop by these hierarchs."
   Gregory was made a bishop by credible bishops in Russia and a valid Church council of bishops to which he belonged.

"These bishops [in Russia, ordained by the Russian Church Abroad, but who did not accept ecumenism] remained faithful and were canonical and grace filled."
   Many of the 'Russian Orthodox Autonomous Church' (in Russia), the 'Russian Church Abroad', and the 'Greek Old Calendar Church' (mostly Greek) splintered and fell under the anathema of ecumenism as defined in 1983.

"In the year 2000 he [Gregory] was released from the Greek Old Calendar Church to enter the Russian Orthodox Autonomous Church which was led by bishops in Russia, ordained by the Russian Church Abroad, but who did not accept their Ecumenism and who separated from them because of it." [3]
   Previously Gregory left the 'Russian Church Abroad' after 30 years because they fell to ecumenism.

"He left the Russian Church Abroad, 30 years later, in 1995 because of their acceptance of Ecumenism through their union with the heretic Cyprian of Fili and joined the Greek Old Calendar Church which was a canonical and grace filled Church."
   Previously Gregory left the 'Antiochian Church' after 21 years because they fell to ecumenism.

"He left the Antiochian Church, 21 years later, because of their acceptance of Ecumenism in 1965 and joined the Russian Church Abroad which was a canonical and grace filled Church at that time."
   Gregory's baptism was valid because this credible group had not yet fallen into heresy.

"He [Gregory] was baptized at infancy in the Antiochian Church [in the U.S.] which was a canonical and grace filled Church at that time."
   Gregory has lived to see many links in the 'golden chain' of apostolic succession in the country of the 'Late Great United States' break off and fall. Maybe the seeds of revolt-rebellion, Masonic domination, and Askanauzy anti-Christianity has been underestimated by everyone?

"Archbishop Gregory is the only hierarch in the United States who has remained free of any communion or union with this heresy of Ecumenism who has valid apostolic succession. Therefore, he is considered to be truly canonical."
   Many of the thousands of denominations in Christendom were launched in the United States. Neither the Protestants, Vaticans, nor Orthodoxy have been exempt from splintering after hitting the shores of the U.S.?

"They are all under condemnation."
   Many come to believe that numbers gives credibility to any movement, but that simply is not the case. Especially within the the degeneration of the Constitutional Republic of the U.S. to a welfare state; for the mob of the majority on any issue believe that they are right - even though they are manipulated every day by a power that they cannot quite understand!

"Does it matter if these hierarchs number two or three, or does it matter if these hierarchs number two or three hundred? It does not matter how many hierarchs espouse heresy." [4]
   Are we going to be ultimately judged by our choice of allegiance between one heresy or another, or between a heresy and the one true Church of true-glory? Yes, indeed!

"Is it difficult to understand why any Orthodox Christian who remains under allegiance to these newly appeared heretical hierarchs is committing spiritual suicide? These 'hierarchs' are the ones who have become uncanonical and heretical."
   What are the standing Anathemas of the past and is there a legitimate law-making body that can altar them? No one will be able to plead ignorance when they have lived most of their lives with access to a search engine that instantly provides such information! Was the Council [of 1965] that lifted the anathema, that cut off one fifth of the Church a thousand years ago [1054], legitimate? Or rather was the standing anathema lifted according to established Church law? I say, NO; and NO a second time!

"With the mutual lifting of these Anathemas [of 1054] the conclusion is that the two churches [the Franco-Latin Vaticans, a.k.a Roman Catholic Church] - and the other 4 world centers of Christianity; [grouped as the Ecumenical Greek Orthodox] are again one church."
   Now if the issue between the East and the West was just a split or schism, they could kiss and make up as was supposed to have happened in 1965. But what happened in 1054 is that four of the Roman Patriarchates of the Christian Church removed one Patriarchate for having a counterfeit faith. Those of the counterfeit faith could then only be received through repentance from that heresy.

"We [Constantinople, Jerusalem, Antioch, and Alexandria] anathematized the teritorial Old-Roman Papal church for their heresy of the infallibility of the pope and his changing of the Creed and they [the old city of Rome and environs] anathematized us, those of True-glory, for not accepting their heresy [all in 1054]."
    Nine hundred years later (five hundred of which were under Ottoman rule) the Patriarch of Constantinople presumed to lift the anathema in agreement with the Pope!

"From that time [1965] onwards, all the other local Orthodox Churches were forced to either reject this path by breaking communion with this false church, or accept this new direction by remaining in communion with it."
   Franco-Latin Vaticanism was in no way renouncing or repented of their counterfeit faith. And so the Church of true-glory came to a fork in the path of the straight and narrow - a valley of decision if you please.

"The first official action of apostasy occurred in 1965, when Patriarch Athenagoras of Constantinople lifted the Anathema placed on the Roman Catholic Church in 1054." [5]
   It is not the ancient viruses of Papism and the 'trinity-in-contortion' that attacked the Body of Christ (on the earth) with full force this time in our day; but rather ecumenism was the leading heresy under the cloak of brotherly love, equality, and toleration.

"This heresy of Ecumenism infected the Orthodox Church."
   Now the reason the Orthodox Church is singled out in all of Christendom here is because she is the trunk that has never been chopped. She is that from which everything else has been pruned and cut off. Does history bare this out? Who were of the council of the 'Russian Church Abroad' and what authority where they wielding? Are the Bishops of the council linked together in the golden chain of apostolic succession having apprehended the golden thread of faith? Have a listen to their declaration...

"In 1983 the Russian Church Abroad declared “To those who attack the Church of Christ by teaching that Christ’s Church is divided into so-called 'branches' which differ in doctrine and way of life, or that the Church does not exist visibly, but will be formed in the future when all 'branches' or sects or denominations, and even religions will be united into one body; and who do not distinguish the priesthood and mysteries of the Church from those of the heretics, but say that the baptism and Eucharist of heretics is effectual for salvation; therefore, to those who knowingly have communion with these aforementioned heretics or who advocate, disseminate, or defend their new heresy of Ecumenism under the pretext of brotherly love or the supposed unification of separated Christians, Anathema!"
   And so one good anathema follows hard after another as populations expand and all trees bear their fruit. Do you not think we have been led down into a valley of decision in our generation? Which is it for you? -the 1965 lifting of the old 1054 anathema, or the 1983 anathema against ecumenism upholding the old 1054 anathema?

"Now we come to the present time when the holy Church issued its Anathema against Ecumenism."
   And so from St. Peter's day down to our day "there were false prophets also among the people" and he was warning of "damnable heresies" brought in "privily" or cunningly and secretive. He tells clearly the "many shall follow their pernicious ways". Many anathemas are just a matter of undisputed history rather we like them or not, for example:

"Again, therefore, if any bishop or church teaches that the Son of God was not begotten before time and did not become incarnate of the Virgin Mary or who does not believe that the Eucharist is the very body and blood of Christ, they are Anathema, and any person who is a member of this so called church, will find his membership to be spiritual suicide." [1]
   I think a case could be made that anyone in Christendom should at least consider the anathemas of the first seven councils of the undivided Church? No one in the West would consider the Church split at that time - 741 A.D. After a careful consideration of those then look over the rest.

"Another example is when the Church anathematized the Bogomils by saying, 'To those who deny that the Logos and Son was begotten before time, and became incarnate of the Virgin Mary for our salvation: and those who believe the Eucharist to be only bread and wine and not truly the flesh and blood of the Savior: Anathema'."
   This anathema requires some background reading to realize that the term 'begotten' used with regard to the Uncreated differs than when it is used of the creatures. For example Arias had Jesus as a begotten creature before creation and was therefore condemned. Notice also that the Protestant reaction against Vaticanism can easily end up in throwing the Baby out with the bath water. Consider another historical reality:

"Therefore, if any bishop is an iconoclast or any church is iconoclastic, it is uncanonical, and to unite oneself to them is spiritual suicide."
   The way the following anathema is worded leads me to believe that icons were used for education in the faith and to function in part as a mnemonic device for the one teaching. Certainly they preserved remembrance or tradition both in the local church and at large. Also notice that one could rebuke another for worshipping an icon without reprisal because 'to venerate' is a long way from and much different than 'to worship'.  

"For example, the iconoclasts refused to accept the holy icons. The Church put an Anathema on these heretics by saying, “To those who accept Christ’s saving works but refuse to view those acts depicted in holy icons or to venerate them: Anathema”"
   However, those who make an issue out of the use of icons, misrepresenting their several purposes, would have appropriate discipline placed upon them.

"When this happens [being labeled uncanonical or heretical] the Church puts an ‘Anathema’ on that teaching or on that preacher of heresy, (anathema means a complete cutting off from God and separation from the Church and consignment to the devil)."
   Can a heretic fulfill Church law including and built upon the Bible?

"He [that teaches falsely] is rightly labeled uncanonical or heretical. All heretics of course are by their very meaning, uncanonical."
   Being labeled a heretic or against Church law is really just a confirmation of what already exists - it is a corrective and protective measure.  

"When a bishop does not keep the first requirement and teaches a heresy even though he is in the Church, if he is not corrected, he loses his Orthodox Faith, and he loses his canonicity."
   Teaching a heresy or being a heretic also breaks the link of apostolic succession.

"In other words, he must be part of the unbroken line of ordinations which can be traced back to the holy Apostles, and which have occurred only in the Church."
   An apostolic faith (Jesus' faith) and a lawful lineage of ordinations are a requirement of a credible Bishop.

"Secondly a bishop must have the continuous apostolic succession in his ordination." [2]
   How can one preach and teach the Faith of true-glory if he doesn't know what it is, and how can he have no variation to the left or to the right if he comprehends not the straight and narrow?

"In other words, he must preach the Orthodox Faith which was once handed down to us by the holy Apostles, our predecessors in the Church."
   St. Paul taught that part of standing fast was to hold the traditions that one had been taught in the Church (2 Thes 2:15).

"First a bishop must maintain at all times and continuously the teachings and traditions of the Orthodox Church."
   The teachings and traditions of the Church only brings it in harmony with Church canon or law first established by the Apostles.

"We say a church is canonical if it keeps or maintains two essential requirements."
   When a Counsel or Synod falls into heresy or are lawless they often think they can continue business as usual.

"When a bishop or a Synod does not obey the canons they are considered renegades and lawless and this lawlessness will inevitably lead to heresy."
   Church law is binding on all Christians and leaders.

"These commandments [rules of the Church] are binding on all Christians, especially the bishops who are sworn to uphold the canons and teachings of Christ."
   When speaking of Church rules the term 'canones' is used from the Greek.

"When we speak of the word canonicity we mean nothing other than that which is according to the rules (canons) of the Church."
 This is a partial and brief explanation of the history and canonicity of the Church of true-glory using modern examples.