Metropolitan Vitaly decides to leave his residence in the Synod of Bishops on Thursday afternoon, October 25, 2001.
The incident described below dumbfounded witnesses who found the building of The Church Of Our Lady Of The Sign and the residence of the Synod of Bishops fortified against any visitors and denied access. Moreover, this is even more shocking since it required the presence of the New York City Police.
On Wednesday, October 24th, the Synod of Bishops, having hired two lawyers, attempted to have the Metropolitan sign over all of his properties to Bishop Michael. Metropolitan refused. Before this occurred, The Metropolitan’s secretary, Mrs. Rosniansky, was forcibly removed from the Synodal building by six men: priests, deacons, employees, lawyers and a security guard hired by the Synod of Bishops. Mrs. Rosniansky was fired from her position effective immediately and forced into a waiting car, hired to take her to her daughter’s residence in New Jersey. She was not allowed to talk with the Metropolitan or take any of her possessions. The bishops finally allowed her to take her shoes and pocketbook, but $20,000 belonging to Metropolitan was missing (according to Mrs. Rosniansky) [this was confirmed by Michael Ossorgin, confidant of Bishop Gabriel]
The Synodal building was barricaded (all the locks were changed and security guard posted) to prevent the Metropolitan to have any contact with anyone except for the bishops and employees since the Sobor began (Father Andrew Sommer, we were told, was posted outside of Vladika’s apartment to prevent any communication with the Metropolitan).
Thursday, October 25th, police were called by concerned parishioners and clergy (who were prevented from entering the building) to ascertain the health and safety of the Metropolitan. The Synodal building was kept secured by a guard and locked doors. Lawyers hired by the Synod of Bishops stated to concerned parishioners and clergy from other parishes that nobody is allowed on the premises. Concerned parishioners stayed on the sidewalk throughout the following ordeal (about 4 hours). Bishops, clergy and employees from inside the Synodal Building started peering out of the windows and through the gate, noticing the presence of these witnesses on the sidewalk outside 75 East 93rd Street. All this, because of eight witnesses, only 3 or 4 at any given time were on the sidewalk. The remainder were sitting in cars. First two New York City police officers arrived; then a Police lieutenant and a finally a Police captain arrived on 93rd Street. The first two police officers were permitted access to the Metropolitan to make sure he was well, since he was kept hostage and not permitted any visitors since the Sobor began.
Metropolitan Vitaly soon afterwards came out of the building and following him were: several bishops, clergy including Father Andrew Sommer, Father George Larin, Father Alexander Ivashevich and others and finally the " Director of the Synod", Nicholas Ohotine. Metropolitan announced to the police, that he was a free person, not in isolation and many of the bishops surrounding him, tried to convince him to remain. Visibly shaken and upset, bishop Gabriel was talking in the Metropolan’s ear, trying to convince him to stay in the Synodal building since the bishops were "going to invite him to their gathering this evening, to keep the Sobornost, and if Vladyka leaves, people would think that Metropolitan is not with the Bishops but against them." Bishop Michael did likewise.
Bishop Laurus did not make an appearance. Other bishops, Kyrill, Alexander, and later Mark stood and watched the spectacle.
The concerned parishioners and other clergy told metropolitan that he was being denied visitors and correspondence from outside the Synodal Building. Mrs. Rosniansky told the Metropolitan that she did not leave him voluntarily and that she was forcibly removed.
The Metropolitan was asked by the police if he wanted to stay or leave, and Metropolitan indicated his desire to leave. Deacon Dimitri Timidis was trying, physically, to prevent these witnesses from talking with the Metropolitan.
Metropolitan suddenly returned back into the building and the bishops followed him. After a short time, Metropolitan again came out of the building a second time again followed by bishops and clergy. Again Metropolitan Vitaly, asked if he wants to leave and go to Canada, decided to leave. The bishops especially Gabriel and Michael (and bishop Metrophan actually tried to prevent the Metropolitan from leaving, physically, and screamed inappropriate words at one of the clergy) tried again to appear "brotherly" and coax Metropolitan back into the Synodal Building. Metropolitan Vitaly sat down in a priest’s (who was trying to help the Metropolitan) car, and after a few minutes, the police motioned him to be driven away. [Editor's note: the priest was the late Fr Vladimir Shishkoff of ROAC, who had been hosting a visiting Metropolitan Valentine with him when he got the call Vladika Vitaly needed help. Metropolitan Valentine was also in the car. So two ROAC clergy rescued the First-Hierarch of ROCOR.]
In the midst of all this activity, a locksmith arrived to once again change the locks on the door of 75 East 93rd Street.
It was also obvious that during Mrs. Rosniansky’s absence (about 21 hours) that the Metropolitan was not given his daily medication.
This was very sad and painful sight to witness since the activity on the sidewalk of 93rd Street created a scene. A school bus past by with children yelling out of the windows "What is going on?"
Photographs of the incident were taken.
This is how a 92 year old First Hierarch has been treated.
It is obvious that the bishops’ concern is not only money and properties under the Metropolitan’s control, but also their own legitimacy.
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