Saint Michael the Archangel Russian Orthodox Church, Philadelphia

A parishoner of St. Michael's for some 40 years shares her thoughts with me about the parish: As long as our church focuses on something we are not instead of on Jesus, we cannot grow. Its become a private club not teaching the love of God or His salvation. It teaches cannons written by men, imposes absurd fasts and suffering while ignoring Jesus and his direct message of hypocrisy of the Jewish Pharisees and Sadducees whom he directly challenged. They killed Him for it. Meanwhile all the miraculous appearances of the Blessed Mother, message of forgiveness and salvation as well as Gods love are downplayed. Where are their charitable works, doing good for the sick, poor, hungry, homeless and lost? Why are we using ridiculous Russian names for study groups and Russian novels only? Why a Novgorod Ball in Philadelphia? This isn't Czarist Russia. The Pentecost saw the Holy Spirit change the apostles' tongues and the same day when they went out preaching the gospel over 30000 were instantly converted. God showed you must speak in the language of the people and tell the Gospel of repentance, baptism and becoming a new being in Christ. My heart weeps at what is happening