My Orthodox friend says to ignore "Brother" Nathaniel because he is a seriously bad faker. No Eastern monk ever uses the name "Brother", he is so fake he can't even get that part of their spirituality/traditions right.
Your friend is wrong.
Letter from the Chief Hierarch affirming Brother Nathanael's affiliation as a monastic with the Russian Orthodox Church.
http://www.brothernathanaelfoundation.org/pics/BNAffirm.pngQUOTE:
"To Whom It May Concern
"This is to confirm that Brother Nathanael (Kapner) is an Orthodox Christian monastic (novice) under the spiritual direction of his father-confessor, His Grace, Bishop Jerome (Shaw).
"Brother Nathanael is a regular communicant of the Holy Mysteries at the Synodal Our Lady of the Sign Cathedral in New York City and continues to be a member in good standing of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia.
"There is no objection to Brother Nathanael receiving the Holy Mysteries in other Orthodox Churches.
"(Signed) + Hilarian"Metropolitan Hilarion of Eastern America & New York, First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia."