Naughty Orthobros and Nice Ecumenists
Why are traditional "Orthobros" perpetually branded as naughty, while their progressive and ecumenist critics get a free pass to the nice list—no matter how harshly they condemn their brethren?
I’m starting to notice a disturbing trend emerging on Orthodox YouTube.
More and more, creators are using offensive and dehumanizing language when referring to fellow Christians, and even fellow Orthodox.
They call them “Protestants”, “heretics”, “blasphemers”, “disgusting”, or simply “trash”.
Who is being subjected to this hateful language, you ask? Why, the OrthoBros, of course.
I. Fr. Seraphim Aldea and 'Protestant Orthodoxy'
For instance, a few months ago, Fr. Seraphim Aldea of Ancient Faith published a video titled “Protestant Orthodoxy”.
In it, he warns of “an insidious way of Protestantism to survive in the hearts and the minds of a very large proportion of these new converts of ours”—usually, having heard “some horrible, non-Orthodox, entirely Protestant things mostly online.”
Fr. Seraphim says that the “engine” of this Protestant Orthodoxy “is really in social issues and in politics.” These folks are “converting because they do not want to belong to a church that ordains women," or because "they think Orthodoxy is... not afraid to protect one's country with a gun." This “Christian misogyny” (as he calls it) is “heretical,” even “blasphemous." And of course, the idea that “God gives us permission to use violence of any sort to protect our borders" is “pure heresy.”
Now, I’m not unsympathetic to Christian pacifism. But that position is difficult to square with Church tradition. And that’s putting it mildly.
For instance, in the Akathist of Sts. Helena and Constantine, we praise the Emperor for “having arrayed yourself in the weapon of the Cross” in order to “overcome tyrants.”
The Akathist of St. Boris of Bulgaria honors him for “hastening to the new law of piety given by God,” like Abraham, and “slaying the ungodly.”
Likewise, the Akathist of St. Sergius of Radonezh asks this great saint to “deliver us with your prayers from the invasion of foreigners.”
And we could go on. The point is that an Orthodox pacifist like Fr. Seraphim might want to be a little more modest when asserting his position.
But here’s the thing: Those who criticize the “Orthobros”—the so-called "Protestant Orthodox” that Fr. Seraphim decries—accuse them of insisting that their own narrow vision of Orthodoxy is the only acceptable version.
For instance, the Orthobros will say that all real Orthodox should follow the Old Calendar, or that the Ecumenical Patriarch isn’t really Orthodox because he commemorates the Pope of Rome.
So, why is it okay for Fr. Seraphim to say that No True Orthodox™ would be a nationalist—but it’s not okay for the Orthobros to say that No True Orthodox™ would be an ecumenist?
II. Roots of Orthodoxy vs. 'Trash' Apologists
Let’s look at another example. Jonathan Cabada is the host of the popular YouTube channel Roots of Orthodoxy. For those who don’t know, he is also a Roman Catholic. And while he’s usually quite friendly to the Orthodox, Cabada sometimes uses his platform to criticize the Orthodox.
Recently, Cabada posted a reel to the Roots Instagram with the caption, “CALLING OUT THE FAKE ONLINE ORTHOBROS." In it, he issues a blistering tirade against Orthodox apologists, saying (in part), “You Orthodox apologists are absolutely freaking disgusting. You’re a disgusting human being. You’re trash. I’m not scared to say that.”
Clearly, Jonathan is just venting his spleen. And, hey—who am I to judge? We all say things we don’t mean. That’s part of being human.
The problem is that, apparently, Cabada did mean it.
A few days later, in response to the backlash, Cabada posted the following statement on Instagram saying: “While my message could have been given with more grace and charity, I stand behind my statement.” He goes on to discuss the uncharity of the Orthobros before declaring: “If anyone denies that this online phenomena [sic] exists, one is simply turning a blind eye.” Cabada concludes by saying, “I ask forgiveness for the spirit in which I delivered my message, but I 100 percent will double down on what I said.”
We’re supposed to take it for granted that Orthodox Christians uniquely struggle with uncharity. Cabada will say, “Not all Orthodox Christians! Just the Orthobros!” But Orthobros are Orthodox Christians. So, again: he’s saying that the per-capita rate of uncharity is higher among Orthodox Christians than among the heterodox.
And remember: if you disagree, you're "simply turning a blind eye.” If you don't take all of this for granted, it’s just further evidence of your own moral failing.
Cabada isn’t the only one who feels this way, either. An account called “The Orthodox Journey” posted the following comment on our Instagram:
Once again, you create another piece on Jonathan purely out of pride. You take a clip out of context and use it to destroy his character despite Jonathan’s immediately [sic] clarification… Also labelling him as a vlogger is simply disrespectful and belittles the work he’s done for the Orthodox Church. Once again, may the Lord soften your heart and guide you to grow in the likeness of Himself.
To be clear, we didn’t take the quote out of context. The clip was on Cabada's Instagram page; we quoted the whole thing, word-for-word. And while he did “clarify,” it was only to (as he put it) 100% double down. So, Cabada calls us disgusting trash, and that’s fine. But we called him a vlogger—and for that, there can be no forgiveness.
III. Are You Naughty or Nice?
Look: I am not criticizing Fr. Seraphim or Cabada for defending their opinions on the internet. I’m not condemning them for using strong language like “heretic." I’m not judging them for hurling insults like “trash.” None of that matters to me.
What matters is the double standard.
This should go without saying, but apparently it doesn't, so I'll say it anyway:
If it’s wrong for us to argue our opinions on the internet, then it’s wrong for them to argue their opinions on the internet.
If it’s wrong for us to call them heretics, then it’s wrong for them to call us heretics.
If it’s wrong for us to call them names, then it’s wrong for them to call us names.
If it’s wrong for us to bring politics into the Church, then it’s wrong for them to bring politics into the Church.
If it’s wrong for Orthobros to be mean, then it’s wrong to be mean to Orthobros.
But of course, at the end of the day, this is all just a smokescreen.
Fr. Seraphim is more of the progressive persuasion, while Cabada is a confessed ecumenist. That’s what makes them “charitable.” Meanwhile, the Orthobros—folks like Jay Dyer and us here at the UOJ—are defenders of traditional Orthodoxy. That in itself is enough to make us “uncharitable.” It's not really about how we conduct ourselves. It's about whether our opinions conform to the zeitgeist. Rather than charitable or uncharitable, we should say comfortable or uncomfortable.
Again, I will readily admit: there are nasty Orthodox Christians online. But there are nasty members of every religion online. The Orthodox are no better or worse than anyone else. (Also, some of the nastiest people I’ve encountered on social media have been Orthodox liberals!)
The term “Orthobro” was invented precisely to create a connection in people’s minds between social-media trolling and traditional Orthodoxy. Anyone who defends the Apostolic Faith in its entirety is assumed to be “uncharitable” and automatically put on the Naughty List. Meanwhile, progressives and ecumenists are put on the Nice List—no matter what terrible things they say about their opponents.
So, use strong language—or don’t! Mix politics and religion—or don’t! I’m not here to judge! But let's have one standard and apply it equally to everyone. Better yet, let's strive to be more charitable and patient with each other; let's also try to grow thicker skin and waste less time tone-policing. Above all, I hope we can stop playing along with the Black Myth of the Orthobro.
Merry Christmas to you all, especially Fr. Seraphim and Mr. Cabada.
