ROCOR Synod Releases Statement on Fr. Peter Heers
Holy Synod off ROCOR says Fr. Peter Heers is not blessed to teach in parishes until canonical status is clarified.
London, UK—In addition to the ongoing scandal surrounding Barbara Larin, the Synod seemed to clarify its position on Fr. Peter Heers—a one-time professor at ROCOR's Holy Trinity Seminary in Jordanville, NY.
"Regarding the case of Archpriest Peter Heers, the Synod resolved to remind the clergy and faithful that he is not blessed to serve, preach, or give lectures in parishes, monasteries or other institutions of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia until his canonical status is clarified."
Fr. Peter Heers has a prolific presence online where he runs the Orthodox Ethos website and YouTube channel. He is also the proprietor of Uncut Mountain Supply and Uncut Mountain Press, specializing in iconography and the publication of translated works from an array of Orthodox authorities, respectively.
Originally a priest of the Church of Greece, Fr. Peter has presented evidence he says shows he was canonically released to the Moscow Patriarchate's Patriarchal Parishes in the US, before being received into ROCOR under the omophorion of Metropolitan Hilarion (Kapral) of Blessed Memory. Allegedly, the validity of these transfers has been called into question by the Moscow Patriarchate.
A great deal of speculation on the topic has led to lively debates online.
A priest of the Greek Archdiocese, going by Father Evagoras (@frevagoras) on X, fired off a flurry of tweets on the topic:
"what we are seeing today i now to be known as OMS: Orthobro Meltdown Syndrome. A Bunch of terminally online 'theologians' will stop at nothing to defend their sensei. Unfortch for them, he's just operating outside the canons. Even ROCOR says so.
User Orthodoxy Above the Clouds (@noetic_healing) took a different tact in defense of Fr. Peter:
"Those who attack remember the Synod recognized him as an Archpriest. In my own journey, after almost 6 years not being able to find a priest or spiritual guidance, I went to Arizona seeking wisdom in the monasteries. Father Peter met with me without knowing me when I was in a spiritual crisis, I came into that monastery with a lot of sin in my heart there were consequences. I was crushed for trying to touch holy things while I was struggling in sin, but he was patient with me and when his podcast really start taking off is when I actually really began to grow in my knowledge of the church and faith. Going to Mt Athos with Father Peter was amazing and some of the most prominent elders gave him nothing but respect and honor.... Thank you Father Peter for helping me become truly orthodox."
