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**mirzaterak** · 03-23-2011, 12:37 AM

I heard a talk that Met. Jonah did once where someone asked the question about this. He said that canonically, we should all be going to the closest parish, regardless of ethnic backgrounds,

In a situation where there was only one administrative structure, this would be true - each parish has its own geographical territory and it is forbidden in the canons for one priest to intrude on the "territory" of another parish. Thus the people who live in the geographical territory of that parish belong to that parish. But, that isn't even the way it works in Orthodox cultures let alone in a heterogeneous culture like that of the US. People can and do cross the geographical borders of the parish at will. And in the US each jurisdiction has different "geographical territories" for its parishes that are established with no regard for the parishes of the other jurisdictions. This will probably never change. Metropolitan Jonah is a man of ideals - and that is what makes him so appealing. But not all ideals are compatible with or doable in the "real world". Doesn't mean we shouldn't strive for ideals, but it also doesn't mean that all ideals will be realized.

Fr David

03-23-2011, 12:37 AM	#15
mirzaterak Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 396 Senior Member	I heard a talk that Met. Jonah did once where someone asked the question about this. He said that canonically, we should all be going to the closest parish, regardless of ethnic backgrounds, In a situation where there was only one administrative structure, this would be true - each parish has its own geographical territory and it is forbidden in the canons for one priest to intrude on the "territory" of another parish. Thus the people who live in the geographical territory of that parish belong to that parish. But, that isn't even the way it works in Orthodox cultures let alone in a heterogeneous culture like that of the US. People can and do cross the geographical borders of the parish at will. And in the US each jurisdiction has different "geographical territories" for its parishes that are established with no regard for the parishes of the other jurisdictions. This will probably never change. Metropolitan Jonah is a man of ideals - and that is what makes him so appealing. But not all ideals are compatible with or doable in the "real world". Doesn't mean we shouldn't strive for ideals, but it also doesn't mean that all ideals will be realized. Fr David
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