A Message from Bishop Seraphim of Lagos and Nigeria to an Enquirer

February 1/14, 2026

Thank you for your interest to continue with us. I wish to make the following known to you.

In True or Genuine Orthodoxy, we are very strict observers of the apostolic canons. It is good to make this known, to whom it may concern, whoever wants to join us, from the beginning. As far as Christianity is concerned, the only Christian Church founded by Christ that has never once deviated from the canons is the Genuine Orthodox. Others called “Orthodox” are so only in name and not in spirit. And the Church canons forbid us to relate or celebrate with those people. As the saying goes: the friend of a thief is a thief. The friend of Ecumenism is an Ecumenist. What do we have in common with the unbelievers? Christ said, “I am the tree of which you are the branches; cut away from Me you can do nothing.” Meaning that those in Ecumenism who have cut themselves off from the true Church lack the grace of God. In the last video by Archbishop Gregory sent to you, you will see more of the teaching in this. Once we become a believer through the grace of God in His Church, we can't join other so-called churches or interact in prayers with them. We do not attend their fellowship. No matter how close they could be to us. Like for me, I do not attend my own mother’s burial, she being a Roman Catholic. And we can only become a member of this true Faith of genuine apostolic succession through Holy Baptism. This can only be done for us by a clergyman of the Genuine Orthodox Church, not just anyone reputed to be clergy (deposed clergy, Ecumenical clergy, etc.), but a Genuine Orthodox clergyman with true apostolic succession. Even if the pope today wanted to become Orthodox, he would go through the same process. I don't see how this should be a problem to anyone. If we truly understand the meaning of Baptism we would pray to have it done for us every day if it were possible. Jesus demonstrated humility to have received Baptism from John the Baptist as an example for us all. We need to be humble in our day to day activities; humility turns men to angels and pride turns angels to devils. God hates pride.

Another important points is that we do not use drums and other instruments in the church. We do not dance, we do not clap, but in humility praying and chanting to God for mercy and forgiveness of our sins. The priest faces the altar leading the faithful to God in prayer. We use incense at some prescribed times during service. We do not talk in church; we do not use secular music or any hymn not given to us in the Church. The Church has hymns and chants that are given to us by the angels or the fathers of the Church, not the so-called Christian music of Ecumenism. We do not use statues of the Virgin Mary or Jesus either in Church or on the premises or even in our houses. We do not celebrate “Christmas” of the Romans or “Easter.” But we observe the Nativity of our Lord Jesus, which is on a separate date, and we celebrate the Resurrection of our Lord (Pascha). We do not use “host,” the white wafer used by the Romans, but rather a leavened bread personally baked by us, not purchased on the street.

We do no voodoo or black magic or consult oracles or any of the pagan practices. We do not eat their offerings or take any part in their celebrations. We do not celebrate the Liturgy without the faithful as they practice in the Roman Church. We do not house women or girls in the monastery or the mission for kitchen assistance of any kind, except for a married priest. We do not separate (schism) from the Church after we have been incorporated through Holy Baptism. We make the sign of the Cross in the Orthodox way, not the Roman Catholic way.

We cannot just keep all these practices in isolation; that doesn't make us a member of the true Church of Christ. The reason, Christ says, is that your righteousness has to exceed that of the Pharisees. The apostles were always united. Paul did not just encounter Christ and start a mission in isolation but rather went to the apostles. One of the 70 apostles baptized him. And he preached against separation: the faithful have to be united. Satan brings pride. The chief priests in the synagogue rejected Christ because of their pride. The number of years they stayed in the synagogue, and other excuses, etc., were what blinded them. Otherwise the Church would have continued in the synagogue, but because of their recalcitrance they chased Christ away, as many are still doing today. They are talking of the position they occupy in the ecumenical churches and fail to repent. Christ says if your hand or eyes or any part of your body will lead you to sin, cut such a part off. For it is better to make it into the kingdom of God than to have yourself and those with you thrown into hell. Your wife could be your eyes, your husband, son, daughter, or parent could be the part you have to cut off. For the kingdom of God suffers violence, and you need to be deliberate. You don't need to be lukewarm, for Christ will throw you out.

If I have used some hash words, I don't meant to insult you, but the truth has to be told raw.

If there is any of the above-mentioned you do not understand or need more clarification do not hesitate to contact me.

Thank you.