Saturday, November 17, 2001

Metropolitan Vitaly Endures Further Harrassment.

The brief account below was related by Mrs. Ludmilla Rosniansky, a first hand witness of the event.

"At approximtely about 8:30 this morning again appears the same lawyer [who was present on November 1, 2001] and a guy called George Novitsky... and Alexander Sapa, ... came with four police cars. They kept shoving and pushing and abusing me in every possible way and they again went through all my stuff. They took all my papers. They took all Vladika's papers. They took away the car keys, they took away the registration, the insurance, everything. And I was forced to, again, put on whatever I had and they took me down to the border, to the American immigration. The people [there] were very nice and the officers were totally on my side. They said we will protect you and defend you in any way you want. You do whatever you want because you can go to the States, you can go home or you can return to Canada. The only problem I have is staying away from Vladika, I have to stay a mile away from him until further notice, because if I don't do that the Canadians will arrest me and put me in jail. And I'm not about to sit in jail. So next best thing is to stay nearby. I 'm at a place nearby and the Canadians have no problem. They concurred with Sherbrooke or whatever and I have no problem with the Canadian side, I have no problem with the American side. The only problem I have are the lawyers. Because right now I am sitting here and they are tormenting Vladika. He's with Fr. Sergei Petrov, but nevertheless...and Bishop Vladimir is there, but nevertheless , he is being tormented by the lawyers. God know what they are trying to get out of him and meanwhile, while I was sent to the border, I was told that he was being taken to a hospital for another evaluation. According to Vladika, (I saw him for a few minutes) he was simply being driven around to stay away from Mansonville [that is, the Skete] while my situation was being settled. So now he's back in Mansonville, I told him not to worry about anything, I have to stay away from you and that's all there is to it. I mean, right now I'm nearby and I'm going to stay nearby, until such time as I am given permission to go back. That's all I can do. I'm not about to sit in jail. I wouldn't serve any purpose sitting in jail. So therefore I'm staying nearby."

Note from the webmaster:

This is another example of the "love and concern" of the Lavrite Synod for the Aged Hierarch.

Vladika Metropolitan has clearly stated that it is his will and personal choice that he retain his personal secretary and caregiver, of the last 11 years, Mrs Ludmilla Rosniansky. We ask all Loyal members of the Church in Exile and those remaining in the Church Abroad to vehemently protest the continued harrasment of the First Hierarch by those who have indeed seared their consciences and have proven there likeness once again to the Soviet regime.

Who among the "hierarchs" of the Church Abroad would endure such actions against their persons?

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