New York, January 16, 2025
Photo: YouTube
The First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia issued a statement on Tuesday distancing the jurisdiction from the activities of one of American Orthodoxy’s most eccentric and controversial figures.
The statement from His Eminence Metropolitan Nicholas concerns the online activities of Brother Nathanael (Kapner), whose popularity has come and gone in waves over the past twenty years. He initially came to public attention as an eccentric street preacher with an unusual appearance for an Orthodox monastic—with one white and one black glove and a giant pectoral cross, sometimes wearing an all-white habit.
However, it is his activity online, where he has used his own website, YouTube, and other social media platforms to publish a mix of Biblical interpretations, political commentary, and numerous exposé publications and videos about Judaism and the activities of Jews, that has caused the most controversy. Br. Nathanael is himself ethnically Jewish.
Most recently, he caused concern with his comments on the photos of a young woman on X (see below).
In the new statement, Met. Nicholas notes that “Brother Nathanael (Kapner) received the monastic tonsure (clothed in the ryassa and klobuk i.e. rassophore monk) with the blessing of Metropolitan Hilarion (Kapral),” however, “All postings and comments on social media platforms by Brother Nathanael do not reflect the position or thoughts of the Synod of Bishops and ROCOR in general.”
Photo: wadiocese.org
Further, Met. Nicholas quotes a 1993 decision of the ROCOR Council of Bishops saying the Church doesn’t align itself with any political movement or social organization and that “our Church also condemns any demonstration of hatred towards people based either on their ethnic heritage, their political views, or their religious convictions.”
Br. Nathanael’s jurisdictional affiliation has often been questioned, though he has been associated with ROCOR for several years now.
At one point, he was a novice at a schismatic monastery in Colorado, but he refused to leave when asked and was arrested.
In July 2013, His Eminence Archbishop Kyrill of San Francisco issued a statement saying Br. Nathanael had no relation to ROCOR at that time. However, at some point his situation changed, and a 2018 statement from then-First Hierarch Met. Hilarion confirmed him as a regular communicant at the Synodal Our Lady of the Sign Cathedral in New York City. In August 2023, Abp. Kyrill issued a statement saying Br. Nathanael is a member in good standing of ROCOR’s Western American Diocese.
There are also old reports that Br. Nathanael suffers from OCD and bipolar disorder and often goes off his medication.
The most recent controversy involving Br. Nathanael involves his inappropriate comments on pictures of a young woman on X:
Photo: x.com
Photo: x.com
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