Articles for tag: Bartholomew

GIVING WITNESS TO THE TRUE CHURCH

Orthodox Christians all over the world have received the unchanging Christian Faith, passed down from the Holy Apostles to their successors, and continue to practice it today in the One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church – The Orthodox Church.

PATRIARCH BARTHOLOMEW SOLD OUT HIS BROTHER

We post this article hoping and praying that the Holy Spirit will open Patriarch Bartholomew’s eyes and transform him into a zealous missionary of the true Church, the Orthodox Church, the Body of Christ, and that the “elite” crowd with whom the Patriarch associates will cast him out of their company for being a faithful witness of Christ.

fr-john-diotis — Protopresbyter John Diotis is a priest of the Church of Greece and a Theologian, Journalist, Author and Publisher. He is especially known for his book on the famous Patristic Publication of J. P. Migne, and his addition to Post-Byzantine Fathers, extending it to contemporary Fathers.

Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, with unprecedented hostility, attacked the Russian Orthodox Church, which accounts for nearly half of world Orthodoxy. Such behavior of the Patriarch is inconsistent. Behold some related revelations of the patriarchal heart, as published in the “Kivotos of Orthodoxy” (2-2-2023) :

“The Russian Church (which does not have a healthy ecclesiastical conscience) has deepened the gap between Ukrainians and Russians, not the Ukrainian autocephaly.”

Synaxis of the First Hierarchs of the Holy Orthodox Autocephalous churches. This book is available for purchase here, here, or here.

The Patriarch is the one who lacks an orthodox ecclesiastical conscience; he is the one who aggravated the ecclesiastical schism of Ukraine with his uncanonical invasion into the foreign ecclesiastical jurisdiction of the Moscow Patriarchate in order to grant pseudo-autocephaly to the pseudo-church established by him in Kiev, functioning personally under him, consisting of schismatics, self-consecrated, self-ordained, non-ordained and anathematized, with the pseudo-primate, the pseudo-bishop Epiphany. And he tried to deceive all the leaders and all the Orthodox people when he claimed that he had restored ecclesiologically all those in question who were canonically punished by the Patriarchate of Moscow. As a Journalist, I requested that the Patriarch publicize the restorative process of those who were disciplined ecclesiastically, but he has remained silent, so that more of his complete ecclesiological nakedness will not be seen. Once more, we challenge the Patriarch to do publish the restorative process, as he is obliged. Orthodox Christians around the world demand this.

I will insist on this topic, because it is central and crucial. The Ukrainian issue and the creation of schisms that followed continue to shake the unity the entire Orthodox Church. The only person responsible for this sad ecclesiastical condition is Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew.

Dear readers, pay attention!!! The Patriarch expressly contradicts himself.

The Patriarch himself convened an assembly of all the First Hierarchs of the autocephalous Orthodox Churches in Chambesy, Geneva (Jan. 21-27, 2016) and the minutes and all the relevant texts of this official assembly were published by Apostoliki Diakonia of the Church of Greece, in a quality 542 page book entitled, “ASSEMBLY OF THE FIRST HIERARCHS OF THE HOLY ORTHODOX AUTOCHEPHALOUS CHURCHES” (Oct. 1, 2021 ed.).

Just listen to this! In the many dialogues and extensive discussions during the 7-day assembly, Patriarch Bartholomew directly, expressly, and clearly stated, among other things, the following:

[Note: Some of these quotations by the author were not exact quotations. We removed the quotation marks, but have included our own photos of the original Greek text which the author quoted. -Translator]

1) The unity of the Church must be expressed outwardly, not only with words, but also with deeds.

– Patriarch Bartholomew, p. 62.

[Note: This second quote was misattributed. It is actually a quote by Patriarch Kirill of Moscow]

2) I officially confirm that the most holy Church of Constantinople has no intention of taking any kind of action related to the ecclesiastical life in Ukraine, especially to the legalization of the schism and the granting of the autocephaly.

– Patriarch Kirill of Moscow, p. 150.

3) All of us here present recognize Metropolitan Onuphry as the only canonical Metropolitan of Kiev.

– Patriarch Bartholomew, p. 71.

4) I repeat, before this holy assembly, that when the hierarchs of the Ecumenical Patriarchate go to Ukraine, they will first visit the Metropolitan of Kiev, the Most Reverend Onuphry. This is the proper order.

– Patriarch Bartholomew, p. 151.

5) Philaret is a schismatic. I have given clear instructions to the clergy of the Ukrainian diaspora who are under the Ecumenical Patriarchate to abstain from all sacramental communion or common worship with the schismatics of Kiev.

– Patriarch Bartholomew, pp. 77-78.

6) We consider the fraternal relations of the Churches of Constantinople and Moscow to be a valuable asset.

– Patriarch Bartholomew, p. 78.

7) The canonical rights of the Most Holy Church of Russia in Ukraine is not to be questioned.

– Patriarch Bartholomew, p. 77.

8) The Most Holy Church of Constantinople in no way interferes in the internal affairs of Autocephalous Churches, always acting upon the initiative request of the Church concerned.

– Patriarch Bartholomew, p. 77.

9) The Ecumenical Patriarch undertakes the settlement of issues through the special procedures provided by canonical order.

– Patriarch Bartholomew, p. 77.

10) I propose that we decide, together with the sister Church of Russia, to work towards the healing of the ecclesiastical schism in Ukraine.

– Patriarch Bartholomew, p. 155.

All the participants in the aforementioned Assembly, along with Patriarch Bartholomew, accept and confess that the Orthodox Church in Ukraine is under the ecclesiastical jurisdiction of the Patriarchate of Moscow.

Horror!!! Patriarch Bartholomew overturned all of the above statements, which he declared at the assembly of First Hierarchs, by arbitrarily granting pseudo-autocephaly so that this pseudo-church in Kiev would come under his jurisdiction, and in doing so, he committed the gravest of canonical offenses, that of entering a foreign ecclesiastical jurisdiction, without a request for autocephaly by the canonical Church under Metropolitan Onuphry. He is also guilty of another specific canonical offense, that of installing a second Bishop (pseudo-bishop Epiphany) in a territory already having a bishop, an action absolutely forbidden by the holy Canons.

In addition to making defamatory against the Church in Russia, here are some of the other libelous statements from the heart of Patriarch Bartholomew:

“Moscow is trying to overthrow church order.” (source: vimaorthodoxias)

“The Church of Russia creates tensions in Orthodox relations.” (source: orthodoxiainfo)

“The Church of Russia has papal claims.” (source: drt915)

“Moscow does not recognize the right of the Ukrainians to have an autocephalous Church because it wants to oppress them; it wants to turn Orthodoxy into a confederation of Churches in order to be in charge of all of them.” (source: ekirikas)

“Moscow has an overtly arrogant and hegemonic mentality.” (source: ekirikas)

“The Church of Russia relentlessly pursues matricide [Constantinople being the mother (Church)].” (source: dogma.gr)

“The Church of Russia should apologize for all the suffering it has caused to Orthodoxy.” (source: NewsBomb)

This Patriarchal tirade is intolerable, and comes in terrifying contrast and contradiction with what Patriarch Bartholomew had declared at the assembly of First Hierarchs. In no way was he challenged. He lifted unjust hands. He cooperated with Masonic-controlled America to war against Orthodox Russia.1

After his frightful self-denial and his painful self-ridicule, Patriarch Bartholomew should not be permitted to circulate and be honored as the face of Orthodoxy.

The author states his view, without providing evidence, that Satanic Freemasons are behind the war on Orthodox Russia.

Comment by Medical Doctor Lykourgos Nanis:

Bravo to Elder Fr. John for this very apt critique of the unethical declarations of the “Pope of the East” and architect of the ecclesiastical anarchy in Ukraine, Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople, who constantly torpedoes Orthodox unity because of apostate and abnormal Phanariot hegemony.

Translated by Anthony Hatzidakis

This original article in Greek was published on Orthodoxos Typos on Sept. 1, 2023
When Pope Francis visited Athens in 2021, the Moscow Patricharate posted an article by the author, “Patriarch Bartholomew covers up the truth” (April 23, 2021) on its official website (March 11, 2021). We revised the English translation and posted it here. The Moscow Patriarchate also posted it in Russian
More articles by Fr. John Diotis (in Greek) are online here.

GIVING WITNESS TO THE TRUE CHURCH

Orthodox Christians all over the world have received the unchanging Christian Faith, passed down from the Holy Apostles to their successors, and continue to practice it today in the One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church – The Orthodox Church.

PATRIARCH BARTHOLOMEW COVERS UP THE TRUTH

In the newspaper “the Ark of Orthodoxy” (March 11, 2021) we made a thorough analysis of Patriarch Bartholomew’s talk to a group of Ukrainian Parliament members who were visiting Constantinople. His patriarchal address focused on the scandalous Ukrainian autocephaly issue. Much of what he said is reprehensible. In this article, I will limit my comments to one passage which, I believe, is deceiving to those who do not know the facts about this unprecedented ecclesiological scandal:

“The unity of Orthodoxy is not being tested because the Ecumenical Patriarchate responded to a request of Orthodox Ukrainians. The Tomos of Autocephaly was a responsible act of the Mother Church…”

In my article in Orthodoxos Typos (“The Orthodox Press”) entitled “Patriarch with no fear of God, have you no shame?”, I considered another of Patriarch Bartholomew’s pretentious misleading statements on this topic. When he was interviewed at that time, he said that the (pseudo) autocephaly he granted to his personal Kieven (pseudo) church, which consists of outcast self-consecrated anathematized schismatics, is similar to other autocephalous churches already in existence. At that time, I pointed out a number of significant differences.

I will now set forth even more incontrovertible facts which show that Orthodox unity is in fact being tested:

The Ukrainian issue has completely broken the unity between the Ecumenical Patriarchate and half of the Orthodox world, as the Moscow Patriarchate has cut canonical communion with the Ecumenical Patriarchate.

For this same reason, the Ecumenical Patriarchate and the Ecumenical Patriarch himself, have personally come into a troublesome conflict with the Patriarch of Jerusalem Theophilos.

For this same reason, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew finds himself in a state of complete ecclesiological separation with the new Patriarch of Serbia, Porfirije, who blamed Patriarch Bartholomew, stressing that the Ukrainian ecclesiastical issue is making world Orthodoxy miserable, and that the actions of Constantinople in Ukraine are not in line with the Tradition of the Church. It has become evident that Holy Canons have been violated. The rifts disuniting Orthodox worldwide continue to widen over the diabolical Ukrainian issue.

In Greece, there has been much controversy after the the pseudo-recognition of the Ukrainian autocephaly, with a plethora of publications and statements being released by high-level figures against the official Church.

In the Patriarchate of Alexandria, there is unrest among the hierarchs, and the authority of Patriarch Theodore has been seriously compromised and irreparably damaged from self-contradictions regarding his recognition of the uncanonical pseudo-bishop Epiphany as Metropolitan of Kiev and of all Ukraine (prior to that day, he had recognized Onuphry as the canonical the Metropolitan of Kiev and all Ukraine).

Also in the Church of Cyprus, the Ukrainian problem has generated a great deal of discord between the Archbishop and the Metropolitans.

Archbishop Anastasios of Albania, an outstanding theologian, proposed convening a Pan-Orthodox Council to heal the Ukrainian issue which has torn apart the unity of the world Orthodoxy. Many others have also asked him to convene such a council.

The subverting of Canons that allowed the Ukrainian autocephaly has also caused a great deal of confusion on Mt. Athos.

Moreover, many metropolitans, professors at theological schools, and other theological scholars, and also well-educated clergy, have expressed their opinion that Patriarch Bartholomew’s uncanonical and arbitrary action is precisely why multiple schisms were created throughout the Orthodox world and why more schisms will continue to be created.

In my article “Your Eminence, you are causing alarm in Orthodoxy“, we provide evidence that proves there is confusion throughout the Orthodox world. We have not received a reply from the Patriarch himself or from his staff.

Already, dozens of publications have stressed the fact that the Ukrainian pseudo-autocephaly continues to cause aftershocks throughout Orthodox lands.

This autocephaly with its pseudo-first hierarch and pseudo-bishop Epiphany, has made the schismatic ecclesiastical situation of Kiev much worse.
One year later, ten autocephalous Churches still refuse to recognize the ecclesiastical catastrophe formed in Kiev.

Even if only one autocephalous Church remains which does not recognize this new Kievan formation, there will be a schism in the bosom of Orthodoxy and the abominable patriarchal autocephaly will not have authoritative influence.

By asserting that the pseudo-autocephaly of his personal pseudo-church has not affected Church unity in any way, it is apparent that Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew contradicts himself. In his aforementioned speech, he stated that the situation of a Church schism in Ukraine was “a deep wound for the communion of the entire Orthodox Church”. However, this painful situation has not only not been healed by Patriarch Bartholomew’s action, treacherous as it is to the whole church order and Tradition, but it has become worse (this is substantiated); the Patriarch’s confession that the Ukrainian problem continues to be “a deep wound for the communion the whole Orthodox Church” is indeed absolutely correct.

The painful conclusion we draw from this is that patriarchal imprudence has caused many bleeding wounds on the holy body of the Orthodox Church.

Finally, it should be noted that there is a case to depose Patriarch Bartholomew, for,

“If a bishop tells a lie and this is proven, that indeed, heretics of his diocese re-entered the Orthodox church or that they re-entered because of him, but to the contrary they re-entered by some other means, let him be deposed.” 1

If for only one such lie, the most severe of all spiritual punishments is stipulated for a Bishop, how much more should Patriarch Bartholomew be punished?

Met. Panteleimon of Corinth, Key of the holy Canons, p. 481. (Παντελεήμονος Μητρ. Κορίνθου, Κλεὶς τῶν ἱερῶν Κανόνων, σελ. 481.)

Translated by Anthony Hatzidakis

This article was published in English translation on the website of the Moscow Patriarchate (April 23, 2021), which we edited. On the same website a Russian translation of this article was published.
The original text for this translation (in Greek) is posted on orthodoxostypos.gr.
More articles by Fr. John Diotis (in Greek) are online here.

GIVING WITNESS TO THE TRUE CHURCH

Orthodox Christians all over the world have received the unchanging Christian Faith, passed down from the Holy Apostles to their successors, and continue to practice it today in the One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church – The Orthodox Church.

Patriarch of Constantinople calls for a
permanent pan-religion Synod

We post this translation hoping and praying that Patriarch Bartholomew will come to his senses and begin evangelizing for the Orthodox Church, the true Church.

by Mr. Dimitrios Lambropoulos, theologian.
Originally posted (in Greek) on orthodoxostypos.gr on Nov 24, 2023

Patriarch Bartholomew was in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (November 3-6, 2023) where he delivered two talks, the first at the 16th “World Politics Conference” with the general theme “The international system between globalization and disintegration: Which forces will prevail?” His talk was entitled, “Religion: Hope in a changing world”. His second talk entitled, “The compass of conscience: Guiding ethical action in a warming world” was given at the “COP28” conference on the so-called climate change, which had as its general theme, “Stream of Consciousness: Uniting Faith Leaders for Planetary Revival”. How many times has the Patriarch traveled to a rich Arab country to preach Christ?

Religion: The network of politics

The Patriarch stated at the outset that in the context of the present conference, that he would not be talking about faith as salvation. He stated,

“The question asked [Which forces will prevail?”] has a broader scope, that of the global future. It concerns the political and geopolitical influence of religion.”

That is, religion can be a mechanism to parallel other institutions, and offer hope:

“If the economy and politics can no longer inspire hope, can we turn to religion?”

He not only equates religion with the secular sphere, but also equates all religions:

“In their teachings and rituals and in the organization of social ties, religions mobilize the wisdom that man has accumulated for millennia.”

He also says,

“Our [diverse] faith traditions share fundamental teachings concerning the spiritual responsibility to care for God’s creation. Our sacred texts command us to protect our common home.”

So according to him, all religions have wisdom, love for God’s creation (even though some believe in “deities” who oppose the Creation) and sacred texts. “Wisdom”, the Patriarch is saying, is human, not divine, as the Apostle says (1 Cor 2:1-16). “Rituals” (read magic) are approved by him as the path of [acquiring] this “wisdom”!

All of these words were spoken for only one purpose: To promote the religions as the healers of the political systems:

“Religions have, in their traditions, the necessary elements to fill the void that has settled in souls. [Religions] can help breathe new life into democratic societies”(!)

as the following:

“Religious and indigenous communities offer ancient wisdom for sustainable living today; their voices can help transform society.”

So then, according to the Patriarch, is saving a democratic society also a goal of theocratic Islam??

The Patriarch also says that religions have an advantage over secular institutions as mechanisms:

“Religious institutions have the ability to reach, through their teachings, more people than international organizations, think tanks or NGOs.”

That is, it is easy for them to go after people because of what they proclaim, even if they it means terrorizing souls or peddling false metaphysical expectations.

The Phanar: The perfect hook

It is easy for one to see that the patriarchal line of reasoning gradually leads the minds of his listeners to his purpose, to demonstrate the Patriarchate of Constantinople’s position and role in this mechanism. The reasoning is plain to see:

“Most religious networks cross continents and borders. Therefore, they form a spiritual structure that can help moderate the forces of separation and division… The Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople, with its global presence, is an model example of this. Its presence and acceptance could prove particularly beneficial.”

So we see that the universal Orthodox Church is nowhere to be seen, having been replaced by, and only by, the Patriarchate of Constantinople! The Phanar views itself as a multinational company called “Patriarchate Corp.” and not as the Church of the true Faith. As for the other autocephalous Orthodox Churches, they are written off. The reason he wants jurisdiction over the entire Diaspora is not for the canonical reasons he has maintained, but in order to have power which he can use as a negotiating card for his political objectives.

The Patriarchate inserts itself into “world politics” and touts itself as the unifying force of the world, holding in one hand the world roadmap which penetrates the other religions, and in the other hand the “parchments” to support him, which other religious groups involved in inter-religious dialogue initiatives do not possess:

“The long history of coexistence, dialogue and exchanges, not only with Judaism, but also with Islam, is a real advantage the Christian world has.”

and also:

“We remain active participants in the inter-religious dialogue, for the protection of the environment.”

“The new normal” according to Patriarch Bartholomew

It is evident that his dialoguing is conducted for no other reason but to serve the priorities of the political “agenda”: now the environment, now health measures, now the ideology about the “West”, etc. It is not by chance that he refers to: “relations between the West and the rest of the world”. He says, “The Russian invasion of Ukraine and now the terrible war between Hamas and Israel have revealed a growing spiritual divide between these two blocs”. So Russia and Hamas belong to the same side… of “terrorism”?

However, “the big plan” suddenly comes into view with the following revelations in the two talks:

“Leaders of the different religions must coordinate their efforts in order to magnify the beneficial results of their ancestral traditions. This is why interfaith dialogue is necessary.”

and

“Cooperation is the new normal! Like never before, disparate groups are forming alliances to protect civilization and planetary health. … In order to sustain cooperation between different religions and partners in science and society, we must create a lasting mechanism… that will turn strong intentions into actualized results. Together we are greater from the sum of our parts.”!

Who will be “responsible” for this cooperation? The Phanar itself? “What kind of fellowship can light have with darkness?” (2 Cor 6:14) Could it be that, if international laws had not been established and if there were no political and military powers, that some [violent] religions would also be “peace-loving”?

The focus of his talks was “cooperation” among religions and the creation of a “permanent mechanism” in order to achieve this cooperation. How will this mechanism be implemented?

First, after we learn to respect or just tolerate people’s freedom to believe even in idols, we will be led to the next step, that of embracing other religions. How else will “cooperation” be possible?

Second, Orthodoxy will be abandoned as a witness to [Jesus Christ who is] the truth and the “Orthodox Church” will be promoted as a procurer of utilitarianism, since the criterion for its contribution will be “global benefit” as defined by the politicians…

Third, who will be the “coordinator” of this mechanism? Is anyone so naïve as to believe that a “permanent synod of religions” will be a neutral and independent body, while “the watchmen have the knowledge” of how all the international organizations function (UN, WHO, NATO, etc.)?

Is bowing to political agendas and promoting them part of the episcopal mission of the Patriarch of Constantinople?

Until now, no one had even thought of such a mechanism, and now all of a sudden Patriarch Bartholomew has this brilliant idea? What does “together we are greater from the sum of our parts” mean? What are the “parts” of the Patriarchate? Does togetherness with other religions surpass the power of God in the Orthodox Church? Is geopolitical influence the only concern of… “a man of God”?

Spokesperson of the USA?

It is dangerous, if not ecclesiastically reprehensible, to give a theoretical foundation to something completely foreign to theology. This reveals, therefore, that an equalizing of everything is being attempted, and not just that, but also the promotion of a pan-religion is being taken to the next level. Interfaith dialogue has been a preparatory stage in order to create the necessary conditions for this “permanent mechanism” proposed by… the “Orthodox” Patriarch! Subsequently, by submitting the religions to each political expediency, direct control of them is given to those who are “responsible”, who will keep their mouth closed when the state gives an order, since the “West” is always on the “right side of history”. For them, this new world religion is also inherently good, because it will be a creation of Antichrist! Whoever does not go along with the para-religon will be labeled as… a terrorist!

When the essentially non-existent hierarchy of the Phanar do not oppose Patriarch Bartholomew’s participating in “conferences of world politics” and his promoting views which they do not approve of, it means that already, nothing is left anymore, whatever it had is gone, not even a reminder that it is a Church!

Translated by Anthony Hatzidakis, November 30, 2023. Bold text is the translator’s.

Source text

Appendix

GIVING WITNESS TO THE TRUE CHURCH

Orthodox Christians all over the world have received the unchanging Christian Faith, passed down from the Holy Apostles to their successors, and continue to practice it today in the One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church – The Orthodox Church.

The ultimate goal of ecumenists is to mix-up the faithful

The devotees of the pan-heresy of ecumenism have literally gone wild in our day. Until yesterday, they pretended to be pious and traditional. Today, however, they have thrown off their sheepskin disguise and let their real intentions be seen clearly.

We cannot even keep up with counting their demonic innovations! They hardly give themselves a rest, thinking up some new way to confuse the consciences of the faithful even more.

Most of our woefully uninstructed people are, unfortunately, unable to distinguish factual truth from the pseudo-truths of the ecumenists, and thus they very easily fall victim to the traps set by the antichrists.

To be sure, the ecumenists also talk about love, but not in the language of the Disciple of Love, John, who forbade even saying “good morning” to heretics (2 Jn 1:10).

The ecumenists also talk about peaceful co-existence with heretics and non-Christians. However, they insultingly despise our holy Fathers, who applied the condemnations of defrocking and excommunication even for simply entering a synagogue or a mosque. The ecumenists also talk about synodal decisions. They express more, however, the decisions of the so-called WCC [World Council of “Churches”], than the decrees of our Ecumenical Councils and the Tradition of our Holy Fathers.

Our beloved Saint Paisios used to say: “When all sorts of unrelated people – sorcerers, fire-worshipers, cultic religious types of all persuasions – enter into the mix and attempt to work together, how can there be a common purpose or a common ground for peace? God forgive me, but such things are the devil’s rags. Can peace be achieved through sinful association? How can there be peace when people are not reconciled with God? Only when man is reconciled with God can inward and outward peace come.”1

Ecumenists also talk about “churches”, but not the Church as defined by the Creed and the teachings of our Holy Fathers. They recognize the heretics as “churches” and, with their signatures, mock the uniqueness of the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church, which is our Church, the Orthodox Church.

Ecumenists also talk about majestic con-celebrations and fervent prayers. Their minds, however, are on con-celebrations with heretics, and their daily practice of praying together with the deceived – and even with people of other religions.

Their ultimate goal is to mix-up the faithful: They assure us that “all religions are ways to salvation”; they light candles in synagogues; and they describe the Koran as a “sacred book”. They mix-up the dogmas, alter the fundamental values of the Orthodox, and in the end change our Faith!

And we, baptized Orthodox Christians, in the face of this unprecedented apostasy, what do we do? – Or, to say it better, What should we do, what is our duty and our obligation as members of our Church?

Father Athanasios Mytilineos of blessed memory used to say in such a case: Woe to him who does not react. However, what is observed today in our parishes and in our monasteries is generally the complete opposite: The majority of the confessors and abbots advise their spiritual children that all we need to do is pray. They say, Go into your inner room and pray (Mt. 6:6). You do not need to talk.

Yes, “pray”, our venerable elders, however prayer does not go by itself. It goes with “be watchful” (1 Cor. 16:13, 1 Pet 5:8, Rev. 3:2). Watch and pray (Mt. 26:41, Mk. 14:38, Lk. 21:36).

Is it a coincidence that one of the last admonitions of Saint Porphyrios to his spiritual children related to the danger of losing their souls by the demonic heresies? (Testimony of his disciple, Mrs. Sideris.) Or perhaps the exhortation of Saint Theodore the Studite to resist the deceptions of the heretics is just a coincidence, and is he, in teaching us that “the instruction of the Lord is not to keep silent in times of endangered Faith” (Eph. 5:11), old-fashioned and obsolete?

The unsurpassed worker of the anti-heretical struggle, Fr. Charalambos Vasilopoulos, thundered:

If we want to be with Christ, we must expose the antichristian ecumenism! For every action, every move, and every work which is not in line with the Orthodox Faith, it is necessary to raise our voice of protest and denounce it!

Also, in a letter addressed to then ecumenical Patriarch Athenagoras, Blessed Fr. Epiphanios Theodoropoulos wrote:

When did our Church include in her numbers together with the Orthodox Bishops the bishops of the heretics? Do you speak the language of dogmatic and canonical accuracy or that of the flexible diplomatic hypocrisy? Are you a bishop or a diplomat?

And to close this short address about our ecclesiological and spiritual obligation to vigorously resist the calamity of the pan-heresy of ecumenism, we will appeal to the unrepeatable guide whom we follow, St. Kosmas the Aetolian:

All [other] faiths are false, counterfit; they all are of the Devil. Only the faith of Orthodox Christians is good and holy.

Translated from Greek by Fr. E.H. and A.H.
Source trelogiannis.blogspot.com

We have used the original quote by Saint Paisions, slightly expanded. Source: Saint Paisios of Mount Athos: Spiritual Counsels, Vol. II, “Spiritual Awakening”. Holy Monastery of Saint John the Evangelist and Theologian, Thessaloniki, 2016. (All 5 volumes are available from Alexander Press in Montreal)

GIVING WITNESS TO THE TRUE CHURCH

Orthodox Christians all over the world have received the unchanging Christian Faith, passed down from the Holy Apostles to their successors, and continue to practice it today in the One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church – The Orthodox Church.

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What would the Orthodox Church be without the Ecumenical Patriarch?

The subject of the promotion of the “Ecumenical” Patriarch to “Pope of the East” is not new. It was advanced more recently by Metropolitan John Zizioulas of Pergamos and intensified after the pseudo-synod of Crete (2016). Fr. Aggelos Aggelakopoulos, Protoprebyter of the Metropolis of Peraius, addresses the subject in this article, commenting on statements made by two Metropolitans of the “first throne” of Constantinople.

Fr Aggelos Aggelakopoulos

In a recent interview, the Ecumenist Archbishop of Telmessos, Job asserted:

The Ecumenical Patriarch is not only one among the patriarchs in the Orthodox Church. He is not only “the first among equals.” Incidentally, the Latin formula “primus inter pares” is nowhere to be found in Orthodox Church law, which, on the contrary, refers to the “seniority of honor” (presveia timês), indicating a certain hierarchy or at least some sort of order. Having this “seniority of honor” according to the sacred canons, the Ecumenical Patriarch, as the “head” and “protos” [first] in the Orthodox Church, he must ensure the unity of the Local Churches and coordinate them. This was evident in the 20th century during the preparation of the Holy and Great Council of the Orthodox Church and in the coordination with the local Churches in the inter-Christian dialogue at the universal level.1

Another Ecumenist, his Eminence Metropolitan of Andrianoupolis Amfilochios, in a recent text of his, remarked:

What would the Orthodox Church be, without the Ecumenical Patriarch? Another kind of Protestantism, and even more dangerous, since it would be enveloped in the mantle of truth.

At another point in his text, he states:

Whoever manages to destroy the cornerstone of the Orthodox Edifice, which is called and is the Ecumenical Patriarch, then he would have become of his own accord suicidal, and would have disregarded our faith with incalculable and irreversible consequences.2

For both, then, of the above Ecumenist hierarchs who continue the deconstruction of the Orthodox work of imposition of the Ecumenical Patriarch as first without equals and as Pope of the East in the Orthodox Church, which was first taught by the veteran ecumenist, his Eminence Metropolitan Yeron Pergamou, Ioannis Zizioulas3, and continued by their Eminences Metropolitans of Proussa, Elpidoforos4, and of Selybria, Maximos5, the ecumenist Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew is “the ‘head’ and ‘the first’ in the Orthodox Church” and “the cornerstone of the Orthodox Edifice.”

The above positions constitute an offense and a blasphemy against the Theanthropos, our Lord Jesus Christ. They distort, mutate, and in reality destroy and dissolve the Orthodox Church. They introduce Vaticanist and papal patterns. They introduce the primacy of authority of the heresiarch Pope of Rome to the Orthodox Church. They displace the God-man and they replace Him with a man. They expel the God-centered character of the Orthodox Church and scatter the humanistic, humanitarian spirit as a virus within her. They downgrade, diminish, and turn into religion the revealed holy Orthodox faith and piety. All this turns into a personality cult, which leads to idolatry, faithlessness and atheism, because instead of the Creator they worship and bow down before a creature, instead of the Theanthropos Christ a common, mortal, sinful, impassioned, heretical and ecumenist man, the Patriarch. Essentially they show unbelief and impiety toward the true God.

The acting First Chancellor of the Patriarchate of Moscow, Metropolitan of St. Petersburg and Ladoga, Varsanoufios, is absolutely right when, at his recent pilgrimage to the Holy Land, declared: “We do not want a Pope of the East. All the Orthodox local Churches are equal, as equal in authority are all the Patriarchs.”6

It is hardly necessary to emphasize the basic, timeless position of the Orthodox teaching, attested thousands of times, that the Orthodox Church is the Body of Christ, and that our Lord Jesus Christ is the Head of His Body. He is the first without equal, and the cornerstone of the Orthodox Edifice.

In the Gospel according to Matthew we read: Jesus said to them,

“Have you never read in the Scriptures: ‘The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; the Lord has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes’?”7

That is, Jesus says to the Jews, “I am the stone that you, the builders, rejected, which has become the foundation stone in the spiritual structure of God, that is, the Church, which has come from God, and is a remarkable thing in your eyes.”

In the Acts of the Apostles, the Apostle Peter says:

“This is the stone that was rejected by you the builders, which has become the head of the corner.”8

That is, “This is the stone [Christ] that you, the leaders within the spiritual structure of Israel, have despised as useless, and yet it [that is, He] has become a foundation stone in the new spiritual structure [composed both] of Israelites and idolaters.”

The same Apostle at another place states:

“Come to Him, to that living stone, rejected by men but in God’s sight chosen and precious”.

That is, “It is natural for you to feel this intense desire for spiritual food, as you have tasted, and by your own personal experience have known that the Lord is always beneficent and good. Always come with a sacred desire and devoutness to the Lord Jesus Christ, who is the cornerstone of the Church, the life and the source of life, who has been rejected and despised, as it has been shown by the fact of crucifixion, yet before God He is chosen and honored.” A little further down the Apostle Peter writes:

“For it stands in the scripture: ‘Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornerstone chosen and precious, and he who believes in Him will not be put to shame.’”9

That is, “The Holy Scripture includes this inspired phrase: ‘Behold, I set in Zion a foundation stone that will hold and firmly support the structure of the Church, a choice and precious stone, and he who believes and rests upon this stone [i.e., Christ] will not be disgraced.’”

The Apostle Paul also says [quoting from Is. 28:16 and 8:14-15]:

“Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone that will make men stumble, a rock that will make them fall; and he who believes in Him will not be put to shame.”10

In other words, “I will put in Jerusalem a foundation cornerstone, Jesus Christ, in Whom, however, those who do not believe, will stumble and will fall, as on a stumbling stone. On the contrary, anyone who believes, and is founded on this One, will not be ashamed.” In another place the Apostle to the Nations says:

“… built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the cornerstone.”11

That is, “You are built on the spiritual foundation of the Apostles and the prophets in a spiritual structure, the Church, of which the cornerstone and foundational stone is Jesus Christ Himself.”

The same Apostle elsewhere says:

“… and He [God] has put all things under His [Christ’s] feet and has made Him the head over all things for the Church, which is His Body…”.12

The heading image of this article is a combination of images found in this video of Fr. Augustinos Kantiotes. Our translation.

That is, “He has made this glorious Master of ours head of the Church above all. And this Church is His Body.” In another place the Apostle Paul says:

“He [Christ] is the head of the Body, the Church; He is [also] the beginning, the firstborn of the dead, that He might be pre-eminent in everything.”13

That is, “He is the head and the leader of the body, i.e. the Church; the beginning and the life-giving power of the Church, the first one raised from the dead, to become Himself, even in His humanity, first in everything”.

Therefore, answering the question of the Ecumenist Most Rev. Metropolitan of Andrianoupolis Amphilochios, “What would the Orthodox Church be without the Ecumenical Patriarch?” we would answer: After so many years with the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew Vaticanizing the Orthodox Church and changing it into an imitation of a papal, uniate and ecumenist Church, without him the Church would, of course, be simply Orthodox and free.

Fr. Aggelos Aggelakopoulos is a Protoprebyter of the Metropolis of Piraeus, serving at the church of Saint Paraskevi, New Kallipolis, Peraius. He is a prodigious writer and an avowed anti-ecumenist. Many of his numerous articles appear (in Greek) here.

Translated by Fr. E.H. from the original Greek.

Abp. Job of Telmessos gets a tad bellicose, 9-15-2018.

Metropolitan of Andrianoupolis: “By denying the Ecumenical Patriarchate you deny the source of your existence” 9-15-2018.

See the “Eucharistic Ecclesiology,” declared by the bishop of Pergamos. The “Eucharistic Ecclesiology” is described as the Trojan horse, through which the greater portion of the Orthodox Church will be united with the Vatican. (The heresy of Eucharistic Ecclesiology is linked to the Pope’s primacy). The bishop of Pergamos develops the theory of the sacredness of the primacy of the Pope, which the secularized Orthodoxy could not understand. He has also said: “Worldly factors, which dominated then in worldly Orthodoxy, did not allow it to see the sacredness of the primacy” and “the Church needs the papal primacy”. See, “Heavy accusations of heresy against the philo-popist Metropolitan of Pergamos”, Orthodox Typos (13-4-2012) 1,7 and Bose Italy, Orthodox Typos (16-7-1999) and the Orthodox Christian Militant Association “Saint Theodore Studite” and the Philo-Orthodox Union “Kosmas Flamiatos”, “The Basic Erroneous Beliefs of the Heretical Bishop Mr. Zizioulas”, Kosmas Flamiatos 10 (September-October 2011) 15).

See our text, “Elpidoforeia ecumenical welter of words”, 6-12-2018.

See our text, “An orthodox critique of the presentation of the study of Archdeacon Maximos about the primacy by Archdeacon Panteleimon Manousakis”, 5-6-2014.

http://aktines.blogspot.com/2018/09/blog-post_386.html

Mt. 21:42, Mk. 12:10-11, Lk. 20:17, 1 Pet. 2:7.

Acts 4:11.

1 Pet. 2:3-4. 6.

Rom. 9:33.

Eph. 2:20.

Eph. 1:22-23.

Col. 1:18.

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