Orthodox Church in America disavows unauthorized legal fund, defense efforts

The Orthodox Church in America has been made aware of efforts on the part of some individuals to establish a legal fund to aid Archbishop Seraphim of the Archdiocese of Canada.

The Orthodox Church in America is in no way associated with this or any similar fund, nor with any other defense efforts to aid the Archbishop. Similarly, the OCA recognizes that the Archdiocese of Canada has not authorized such initiatives, as clearly noted in a statement dated December 30, 2010, issued by Igumen Alexander [Pihach], the Archdiocese’s Chancellor, posted on the Archdiocese’s web site at www.archdiocese.ca/news/2010/20101230-fund_raise_for_Vladyka_Seraphim.htm.

Individuals involved in such fundraising or related defense efforts are doing so strictly on their own initiative, as private individuals, not as representatives of the Orthodox Church in America, which has neither—nor does it have any intention to—authorized any such fund, nor the participation in any such fund by any representatives of the OCA, nor to use any OCA funds, properties, and/or other resources for said purpose. The OCA recognizes that the Archdiocese of Canada has taken a similar position with respect to its own clergy and other representatives of the Archdiocese and its funds, properties, and/or other resources, which the OCA believes is appropriate under the circumstances as it understands them. No such fund or other defensive initiatives may be discussed by any representative of the OCA in any setting, and no such matter may be discussed in Church or in any other setting by any OCA clergy in the discharge of their pastoral duties.