“I consider your website a valuable asset to those of us trying to sort
out the various intricacies of church politics. When one feels strongly about a subject, however, it is sometimes
difficult to keep passion from coloring the reporting of facts.
In reference to your article about
"Gold Discovered in South Bound Brook": If you research our church archives from the time that our
Memorial Church and its surroundings were still in the planning stage (almost
50 years ago), you will find evidence that (then) Archbishop Mstyslav did
indeed originally envision crypts underneath the church itself. As tempting as it is to believe that this is
a new plan by our hierarchs to amass still more money , it's just not quite
true.
Does this mean that all our valuable museum
pieces were properly packed and moved? No, not necessarily. Certainly the local employees aren't
trained in handling of museum items, and the move could have and should have
been handled in a more professional manner.
But, don't let your obvious distaste for the mausoleums color your
reporting of the facts. And keep in
mind, also, that even if the basement were not being converted into mausoleum
space it still would not be the proper environment for a museum precisely
because it is a basement. It doesn't
have the facilities to store and display museum articles properly.
I am leaving my name at the bottom of this
letter, but please do not publish either my name or my e-mail address. Thanks.”
Dear Reader,
Thank you for
your e-mail of 02-06-01. We are aware of your family's standing within
the Ukrainian Orthodox community and we will honor you request and not publish your name
or e-mail address. However, the Committee may publish your e-mail as a means of
publicizing the necessary reply.
You are
absolutely - correct emotions do color judgments. But we were not incorrect in
reporting that the museum pieces were not handled with appropriate care and as was incorrectly
described in the Orthodox Word. Our information comes from observations
by individuals present at the time the items were moved. We will
not identify these individuals for fear of reprisals against them.
With reference to the original plans for the basement of St.
Andrews Memorial Church, you are correct. Then Archbishop Mstyslav did
envision crypts beneath the church itself. But a half-truth, as reported in the Orthodox Word, is as bad as a
complete lie.
What Archbishop Mstyslav envisioned were crypts beneath the alter of St. Andrews. However, the hierarchs of our
Church (Metropolitans, Bishops, Archbishops), deserving
clergy, and prominent Ukrainian patriots and individuals
deserving of such honor were to be buried
in this place of honor. That was his original plan and intent. It was
published in the Ukrainian Orthodox Word and can be verified by anyone
over the age of 60 who was an active member of the church at that time.
The Ukrainian Orthodox Word does not mention this
important distinction. All they state is that they are
building what was originally intended. And they are building them and selling them to any Tom, Dick or Harry who
can come up with $10K or more.
Unfortunately,
Archbishop Mstyslav's vision could not be fulfilled. When the
foundation was excavated for St. Andrews, due to the high water table, the entire area
was flooded and the plan for the basement crypts was abandoned. Tons
of concrete was poured in order to lay a foundation for the structure and to
prevent flooding of the basement.
We think that
you will agree that churches and cathedrals of any faith in any part of the world are
indeed used for burials. But these places of honor are reserved for
prominent individuals such as kings, national heroes, and church leaders
such as bishops, archbishops, cardinals, etc. They are not used for burying
anyone who is wealthy enough to pay for such a privilege.
What it really
comes to, unfortunately, is money and the unabashed way in which it is being
pursued.
Again, thank you
for your e-mail.
Save Our UOC Committee