EDITOR’S NOTE. Just three months ago, when Pat. Bartholomew visited Athens, Kasselakis met with Bartholomew and reported that they talked about everything, and the Patriarch was very accepting… Kasselakis gave the impression that Pat. Bartholomew was very accepting of his relationship/marriage with Tyler. Not so during his recent visit to the Phanar to celebrate the Epiphany. Tyler was nowhere to be found – he stayed in Athens (or delayed his trip from America to Greece…) It seems that recent developments, such as the postponement of the legalization of gay marriage in Greece, along with the Mt.Athos letter to Bartholomew about the gay baptism by Elpidophoros, had an effect on both Bartholomew and Kasselakis…
Both leaders of the Left, Androulakis (PASOK), and Kasselakis (SYRIZA), were in the Phanar for the Epiphany!.. May the Holy Spirit enlighten all of them!! The faithful are still waiting for Pat. Bartholomew to make a statement and reaffirm the Faith… What’s so difficult? Why couldn’t he make a simple statement and say: “Orthodoxy has its Churches open for everyone, we accept all human beings but we will never change the tenets of our faith – marriage is between a man and a woman, period.”…
But Bartholomew will not do it…
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SYRIZA-Progressive Alliance leader Stefanos Kasselakis and a delegation arrived in Istanbul on Friday following an invitation by Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew in October 2023 to attend the celebration of Epiphany Day (Saturday).
On Epiphany Day, Kasselakis will attend the liturgy at the Patriarchal Church of St. George in Phanar and bless the waters at the Golden Horn. The main opposition leader will also attend a lunch with the Ecumenical Patriarch and then meet with him privately at 16:00.
This will be followed by meetings with the Metropolitan of Chalchedon and at Sismanoglio Hall with representatives of the Greek diaspora, in the presence of the Greek general consul.
On Sunday, Kasselakis will meet with Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu and visit the Phanar Greek Orthodox College. He will return to Athens on Sunday night.
The delegation includes Kasselakis’ political office director, Manolis Kapnissakis, party member Yiannis Bournous, and diplomatic advisor Vangelis Kalpadakis.
PASOK-KINAL leader Androulakis meets with Ecumenical Patriarch at Phanar
PASOK-Movement for Change (KINAL) leader Nikos Androulakis was welcomed on Thursday by Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew in Phanar, where he attended Epiphany services.
The spiritual leader of Eastern Orthodox Christians thanked Androulakis for his visit and his continuous interest in issues of concern to the Ecumenical Patriarchate and the Greek diaspora in Istanbul, Imvros (Gökçeada) and Tenedos (Bozcaada).
Androulakis said it was a great honour to meet with the Ecumenical Patriarch again following a year of wars in the region and a climate crisis that struck Greece with painful consequences in Thessaly, the Dadia forest and the Rhodes island ecosystem.
“Climate change is an issue in which the Ecumenical Patriarch has played a leading role, highlighting the need for global initiatives to face its extreme repercussions,” PASOK-KINAL’s leader said.
He added that he was “deeply saddened by the news of damage and inadequate maintenance of Hagia Sophia, symbol of Orthodoxy and a UNESCO monument of world heritage.”
Let’s put this nonsensical debate to rest…
Just prior to Orthodox Baptism, a candidate has to respond to certain very intentional questions:
– Do you renounce Satan, and all his works, and all his worship, and all his angels (demons), and all his pomp?
Ἀποτάσσῃ τῷ Σατανᾷ; Καὶ πᾶσι τοῖς ἔργοις αὐτοῦ; Καὶ πάσῃ τῇ λατρείᾳ αὐτοῦ; Καὶ πᾶσι τοῖς ἀγγέλοις αὐτοῦ; Καὶ πάσῃ τῇ πομπῇ αὐτοῦ;
– Do you join Christ?
– Have you joined Christ?
Nowhere does it say “have you joined Tyler”….
It’s one thing to battle with sin, and just like the Publican be fully aware of your sinfulness (“God have mercy on me a sinner”). Everyone has weak spots.
However, it’s another thing to consciously to accept and promote dogmas that are anti-Orthodox, including this blasphemous use of the term “marriage” to apply to an attempted “legitimization” of what has been declared spiritually illegal from the beginning of time.
Once these intentional actions have taken place, and the individual has “crossed the line” from “activly battling with a sin, but publicly acknowledging that it is a sin” to “surrendering and being proud of the sin, and promoting it as being ok”, that’s when the Church has to say “you can’t serve 2 masters”, and inform that individual that he/she cannot call themselves Orthodox until the day when they repent and “reject” the delusion (πλανη) that they have fallen into.
That’s what the Patriarch should have told him in their first meeting. However, we all know that this is not a traditional Patriarch…
Bingo Markos! A perfect summary of this situation.
Not that SYRIZA spoiled gay brat again?
Kasselakis won’t be so arrogant if he gets AIDS & Bartholomew is brain dead to be photographed with this punk