In the original Greek text of the Rudder, Apostolic Canon 55 uses the phrase «υβρίσοι τον Επίσκοπον»[1], meaning “curses his Bishop.” This is not applicable in the present case, as Fr. Matthew has consistently conducted himself toward his Bishop in a civil and Orthodox manner, and at no time was he impolite or disrespectful.

Furthermore, it is Canon 15 of the 1st–2nd Council which contains the terms “heretic” and “pseudo-bishop”, and was quoted by Fr. Matthew as the canonical foundation for the cessation of commemoration of Metropolitan Silouan. However, even if Fr. Matthew did in fact call his Bishop a “heretic” or “pseudo-bishop”, nowhere in the history of the Orthodox Church or in the writings of the Church Fathers is it stated that these terms are insults. On the contrary, “these terms are … not derogatory, neither are they slurs, but they are theological and even technical terms which best describe the spiritual and ecclesiastical delusion and error in which [Metropolitan Silouan] finds himself. We, in fact use them with love, for when one loves his brother he tells him the truth hoping to bring him back to his senses.”[2] Furthermore, “the characterization of a bishop as a ‘pseudo-bishop’ (as found in Canon 15 of the 1st-2nd Council) or as ‘not a bishop’ (in the words of St. Hypatius) prior to a synodal decision is heuristic or diagnostic in nature and not final and juridical or condemnatory.”[3]

The analysis shows that Metropolitan Silouan misapplied Apostolic Canon 55, contradicting the patristic interpretation of the canon, which Saint Nicodemus summarised as follows: “Whoever dares to strike or to imprison a bishop, WITHOUT CAUSE OR FOR ANY FICTITIOUS AND FALSE CAUSE, shall be anathematized.”[4]

Fr. Matthew and the Parish used the terms “heretic” and “pseudo-bishop” by quoting Canon 15 of the 1st–2nd Council in their letter of cessation of commemoration of Metropolitan Silouan (dated 20 December 2023). Since accusing someone of publicly preaching heresy or false teaching is not an “insult,” the evidence shows that there has been no violation of Apostolic Canon 55.

This fragment is from the letter sent to His Beatitude Patriarch John X and the Holy Synod of the Church of Antioch Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch and All the East, dated 2 June 2025 by Zisimos (Simon) Charalambides, Commonwealth Advocate, Representative of His Reverence Protopresbyter Matthew (Ion-Valentin) Vulcanescu.

Furthermore, Protopresbyter Theodoros Zisis explains in his letter sent to Father Matthew Vulcanescu and to His Beatitude Patriarch John X and the Holy Synod of the Church of Antioch Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch and All the East, dated  31 March 2025 the following: 

“In particular, the cessation of commemoration of a bishop who publicly promotes heresy (αἱρετίζοντος ἐπισκόπου) is endorsed and upheld by the 31st Apostolic Canon and the 15th Canon of the First-Second Synod (861) of Saint Photios the Great. The latter Canon describes bishops who publicly promote heresy as pseudo-bishops, and this is not an insult—as Metropolitan Silouan claims that Your Reverence has insulted Him—but is an act of rebuking heresy. In the New Testament and in the writings of the Holy Fathers, we frequently encounter references to false prophets, false apostles, and false teachers. This is not an insult, but a necessary rebuke for the return of those led astray and for the protection of the Orthodox faithful.”[5]

Endnotes 

[1]  Τυπ. του εκδότου Κωνσταντίνου Γκαρπολά, “Πηδάλιον της νοητής νηός, της Μίας Αγίας, Καθολικής και Αποστολικήs των ορθοδόξων Εκκλησίας”, Αγάπιος, Μοναχός ,Νικόδημος, ο Αγιορείτης (1841), pg. 72.

[2] Orthodox Christian Information Center, “A Letter to Pope Francis Concerning His Past, the Abysmal State of Papism, and a Plea to Return to Holy Orthodoxy”, Metropolitans Seraphim of Piraeus and Andreas of Dryinoupolis, Pogoniani and Konitsa (10 April 2014), Retrieved from: http://orthodoxinfo.com/ecumenism/epistle-to-pope-francis.pdf 

[3]  Orthodox Ethos, “How Ss. Hypatius, Cyril of Alexandria and Celestine of Rome Confronted the Heresy of Nestorius”, Gregor Isiopili, (16 Mar 2017), Retrieved from: https://www.orthodoxethos.com/post/how-ss-hypatius-cyril-of-alexandria-and-celestine-of-rome-confronted-the-heresy-of-nestorius

[4] Wayback Machine, “The Rudder (Pedalion)”, The Orthodox Christian Educational Society, Masterjohn, Ralph J, (Jan 2005), pgs. 146 & 971, Apostolic Canon 31 and Canon 13 of the 1st-2nd Council, retrieved from: https://web.archive.org/web/20131105100901/http://orthodoxbahamas.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/THE_RUDDER_Copyright__Ralph_J._Masterjohn_2006.pdf

[5] Protopresbyter Theodoros Zisis , https://orthodoxchurchliverpool.co.uk/2025/04/06/protopresbyter-theodoros-zisis-does-not-recognise-the-deposition-of-father-matei-vulcanescu-a-theological-evaluation-of-fr-matei-vulc-nescu-s-position-and-of-the-canonicity-of-the-actions-of-metropoli/, accessed at 7 July 2025