EDITOR’S NOTE (Nick Stamatakis). The coincidence was more than appropriate: The same day as Presidents Trump and Putin officially announced their phone call (which means likely many phone calls, including a secret visit by Steven Witkoff, Trump’s real envoy, to Moscow and the plan to start official visits possibly with Trump visiting Moscow on May 5, Victory Day) the “Archons of Disaster”, the most failed organization in our Church, offered schismatic Met. Epiphnios a dinner to “honor” him…. Let me translate it for you: The same day that the US and Russia decided to start serious negotiations to end the war in Ukraine, which will mean that Epiphanios will go back to “officiating” over the minuscule percentage of the OCU, his Church, the Archons and Elpidophoros decided to hallucinate about Ukraine…
Please read their post below from the Orthodox Times – it’s a monument to hypocrisy and futility. Do they realize that any peace agreement will include not only strict terms about religious freedom in Ukraine BUT also strict terms about those who destroyed the church property of the UOC and killed or harmed its faithful? Who is ultimately responsible for such crimes? Many, among them Epiphanios. Hopefully, the Archons made arrangements to buy him a house in America… Sending him back to Kiev is terrible news… Especially when we hear that Zelesky is looking for a safe transit to the West in one of the many houses he bought with American taxpayers’ money…
Characteristically, Elpidophoros talked about “Ukraine’s territorial integrity” on the same day Marco Rubio and Pete Hegseth announced to Zelensky to forget about returning to 2014 borders!… Keep dreaming, all of you!… I forgot that Elpidophoros also asked for reparations (he meant from Russia!!) Ha..ha… Unbelievable!!…
The time of punishment is here… For the heretic Patriarch, Elpidophoros and his “Archons”…
February 13, 2025, n.stamatakis@aol.com www.helleniscope.com
DISCLAIMER: The views and statements expressed in this article constitute constitutionally protected opinions of this author.
TO SUPPORT HELLENISCOPE OR BECOME A SUBSCRIBER, LINK HERE!!
==================
Archons hold reception and dinner in honor of Metropolitan Epiphaniy of Kyiv (PHOTOS)
© PHOTOS: GOA/Dimitrios Panagos
The reception and dinner took place on Monday, February 10, 2025 at Gallaghers Steakhouse in New York City. Metropolitan Epiphaniy took the occasion to offer his assessment of the state of the war and the Ukrainian people today. Dr. Anthony J. Limberakis, National Commander of the AEP, explained that the history of Christianity in Ukraine began when the Ecumenical Patriarchate sent Saints Cyril and Methodios to Kyiv. Thus the Holy Faith was given by Constantinople to Kyiv, and by Kyiv to Moscow; hence history contradicted Moscow’s treatment of Kyiv and Ukraine as a constituent part of Russia.
Dr. Limberakis also noted that Moscow, in its quest to supplant Constantinople and become the “Third Rome,” had appropriated the double-headed eagle symbol of the Ecumenical Patriarchate. He pointed out that the AEP used the symbol as a visible manifestation of its mission to support and defend the Ecumenical Patriarchate, while Moscow’s appropriation of it was a masquerade that was intended to delegitimize Constantinople and arrogate to itself its Ecumenical status within the Orthodox Church.
Finally, Dr. Limberakis stated that Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew had bestowed the title of “His Beatitude” (Μακαριώτατος) upon Metropolitan Epiphaniy, and that it was particularly fitting. Dr. Limberakis noted that it called to mind the Beatitudes of the Sermon on the Mount, and said that the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, “Blessed are the peacemakers” and “Blessed are those who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness,” applied in particular to Metropolitan Epiphaniy during this time of war.
TheB. Theodore Bozonelis, National Vice Commander of the AEP, offered a toast in honor of Metropolitan Epiphaniy, saying that he had profound respect for Metropolitan Epiphaniy for exemplifying the triumph of faith no matter what the hardships may be.
Archbishop Elpidophoros then reminded those present that the AEP had honored Metropolitan Epiphaniy with the Athenagoras Human Rights Award. Addressing Metropolitan Epiphaniy, he stated: “As ever, our prayers are with you, Your Beatitude, and we pray for a swift and just peace that will leave Ukraine with its entire territorial integrity. There must also be righteous reparations for all the damage done to the Country, especially the hundreds of churches and the institutions and infrastructure that have been wantonly destroyed.” He declared: “We are here to stand with you, Your Beatitude, and to provide whatever means of support that we can muster for you and your Faithful People.”
Archbishop Elpidophoros of America with Metropolitan Epiphaniy, National Commander Dr. Anthony J. Limberakis and prominent guests.
The Archbishop added that “the Mother Church of Constantinople – the Mother of the Christian People of Ukraine – has nothing but their best interests at heart. The granting of the Autocephaly has always been meant to heal and unite all the Orthodox Christians of Ukraine into a single, national Church serving the Faithful and the Country.”
After Metropolitan Epiphaniy expressed his gratitude to the Archbishop and to the AEP, he declared that while Russia would like to be Third Rome, there never will be a Third Rome. He revealed that Archbishop Elpidophoros had believed from the earliest point that the church would be independent. Years ago, he said, nobody was talking about this, but Archbishop Elpidophoros inspired the Ukrainians, because he believed that the Church should be independent. He encouraged Ukrainians to go ahead with their struggle for independence. The Archbishop’s contribution was huge, said Metropolitan Epiphaniy, and pivotal for the Church to receive the Tomos of Autocephaly from Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew in January 2019.
The Autocephalous Orthodox Church of Ukraine, said Metropolitan Epiphaniy, has become a cornerstone for Ukrainian nation particularly during this time of struggle and war. Slowly, he said, step by step, the Orthodox Church of Ukraine will unite all Orthodox believers of Ukraine in one, single Orthodox Church. Metropolitan Epiphaniy expressed confidence in Ukraine’s ultimate victory, saying that he Ukraine would win because it enjoys the support of the United States and all the democratic world.
Metropolitan Epiphaniy spoke movingly about the Athenagoras Human Rights Award, which he received in 2019. “Five years ago,” said Metropolitan Epiphaniy, “I received the Athenagoras Human Rights Award. It’s in my office. People ask me what it means, and I explain how this award is important and why it is valuable to me. Even some presidents of the United States have received it. And your support of Archons is so important for us.”
Metropolitan Epiphaniy added: “Now is crucial moment for Ukraine. We await important decision which brings the end of this war. I’ve been asked how we can see the end of this war. I answered: ‘We are Christians. We believe in God. We believe that He exists. We believe that He is able to create the conditions for this war to end, maybe immediately. But God acts through us, and for this reason, we call on everybody to pray.’” He asked everyone present to pray urgently for peace in Ukraine, and expressed his gratitude to all those who had made contributions for the survival and safety of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams also made a brief appearance to pay his respects to Metropolitan Epiphaniy.
Source: Facebook “Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate”
RIP, OCU. I will be having a party of my own when you will actually no longer be able to hurt the UOC.
I hope Epiphanius will end up in Europe somewhere. I hope he doesn’t come here to continue his disasters. Maybe this was a good bye party for him. We don’t need an Elpi and an Epi here. Maybe he will join the UOC of USA which I am only familiar with a little, but seems to be another schismatic structure. This is more dangerous and confusing, calling these structures something similar to the canonical OC, trying to give them legitimacy.
Nick you got to apologize to your readers first posting these disgusting and gag reflex causing pictures… what a pathetic gathering of ignorant, servile, treasonous, schismatic gang of miserable individuals… Money can’t buy brains, guts, spine for these sorry excuses of human existence… And they dare to smile??!! On top of surrendering Constantinople to the Genocidal antiChristian Vatican and the Christ hating Zionists who instigate this fracticidal and genocidal war against Christianity betraying the more than a million dead Orthodox Christians in the Ukraine… shame to them!
Often said, “you can’t fix stupid”.
This year during Holy Week, instead of focusing so much on the Uniate movement, it would be good for all Archons to self-reflect and pay closer attention to the words contained in the original & ancient “verse for the Archons” that we hear every year on Holy Thursday evening…
«Άρχοντες λαών συνήχθησαν, κατά του Κυρίου, και κατά του Χριστού αυτού…»
of course, this was inspired by Acts 4:26…
παρεσταθησαν οι βασιλεις της γης και οι αρχοντες συνηχθησαν ομου κατα του Κυριου και κατα του Χριστου αυτου
Supporting Epiphanios is supporting the continuation of this formal Schism that was started with the granting of the “tomos”. Period. And that can’t be beneficial to the “unity of the Faith”. In fact supporting Schism is an assault on the unity of the Orthodox Church (which loops right back to the verse above). And using the “power of the purse” that Archons have to continue to support Epiphanios like this is a terrible thing.
While there may soon be a truce or ceasefire in the Ukrainian military war, the Schism in Orthodoxy that Patriarch Bartholomew perpetrated with the Ukrainian “tomos” will never be resolved by continuing to support Epiphanios… This is a serious situation, indeed, because while Zelensky will likely be “thrown to the dogs” of history’s backyard shortly, Epiphanios’s continued presence will remain a provocation, a continual reminder of the Zelensky hostilities (Kiev Caves takeover, etc), as well as a problematic, lingering perpetuation of the “puppeteering” and operationalization of the original root causes for the Ukrainian war to begin with…
The tomos is somehow going to have to be rescinded in the future for this Ukrainian war to “truly” end, as well as for Orthodoxy to enjoy the “unity of the faith”… anything less is delusional thinking. The whole “tomos” fiasco is just as much of a “land grab” (ecclesiastical jurisdiction) as any other “territorial invasion”…especially since Bartholomew had previously put his very own signature for the first 27 years of his reign on letters assuring Patriarch Alexei of Moscow and later Kyrill that
a) Philaret and his followers were defrocked, illegitimate schismatics
b) Constantinople acknowledged Moscow’s TOTAL jurisdiction over the matter. (The Limberakis discourse seems to forget to include this “minor” detail…instead he focused on some tangential theory about a “double-headed eagle”, which also happens to be on the Austrian (up until WW2), Albanian, and Serbian flags for many years…so the point he tried to make is not exactly buit upon a firm foundation…did Austria want to take over Constantinople too, just because they had a double-headed eagle until WW2? Let’s get serious here)
And what about that “blessed are the peacemakers” comment? Did Dr. Limberakis feel that the Kiev Caves were “taken over in peace” by Epiphanios, or that metropolitans and clergy loyal to Ounoufrios were given fair trials or imprisoned “peacefully”? That’s an insult to our collective intelligence…
The marketing illusions and false propaganda being promoted since the late 1990s by the Phanar that Bartholomew is a “pope of the East” (leader of all Orthodox Christians), including the infamous and heretical “primus sine paribus” doctrine authored and promoted by Elpidophoros himself are not going to stand the test of time…
Eventually, even if this Schism is formalized and condemned by a future Pan-Orthodox Synod, historically we all know how this plays out…Orthodoxy will remain intact because at a minimum, 3 truly Orthodox bishops will resist the heresy/schism. Unfortunately, in the meantime, until then a lot of people (and maybe even a Patriarch or two) will inevitably end up on the “wrong side of the fence”, and quite willingly at that… and when we say “people” we mean both from the ranks of rich (archons) as well as from the ranks of the poor…
“Beware of wolves in sheepskins…”
Saints Cyril and Methodios lived a century before the conversion of Kievan Rus and therefore did not go to Kiev.
Kiev was converted to Christianity a century later through the diplomatic efforts of Emperor Basil II. Another version comes from the Russian Chronicles which states that Prince Vladimir of Kiev send a delegation to find a religion and were dissatisfied until they visited Constantinople.
Saints Cyril and Methodios introduced Christianity to the Slavs but when did they ever go to Kiev. And Kiev was Russia. The Russian Church celebrated the 1,000 anniversary of Christianity and the baptism of Kiev in 1988.
It is a funeral, I could hear the bugle call of Taps! All of them being eulogized one by one! How pathetic they all are, as they give each other another round of awards and a history lesson, for their support of insidious actions accomplishing nothing but acts of evil against humanity and the body of Christ, and in Ukraine, against the majority UOC, the real Orthodox Church with Met Onuphriy at the helm!
Let them eulogize one another, they already have blood on their hands. Good ridden!
Most pathetic was Mayor Adams who truly has no clue of the historic significance of what was happening. As he appeared, tie-less, smiles, and extremely grateful for his pardon/bailout from the president. I wonder if Adams will return the favor and pardon thousands of his city workers for refusing the Convid jabs and restore them back to their jobs after 3 long years of unemployment?
We’re waiting Mr Mayor….return the favor. Election season just around the corner.
What a joke! And, those individuals in the pictures—what clowns!
In the mean time, over there in Ukraine, they continue to use the same schemes, lies, and tricks to steal churches for UOC and block the faithful from being able to vote. So cunning! These people do not follow God!
https://spzh.eu/en/news/84946-in-hlyboka-uoc-believers-invited-to-prayer-on-feb-14-as-ocu-intent-on-raid
It appears that there may be a desperate attempt in the Ecumenical Patriarchate to appeal to the pro-GOP wing amidst the Archons, e.g. John Catsimatidis who is there (interestingly he didn’t get any pictures with just himself and Epiphany/Zoria, only a big group shot with Archbp. Elpidophoros sandwiched in between). Eric Adams is also coming around to Trumpland these days.
Truth be told the Archons are so overloaded with center-left Greek Americans and never-Trump Republicans that it’s not likely to endear them to the Trump administration as a collective whole. Trump will care less about what Bartholomew thinks, especially if it’s going to get in the way of any deal he wants to make with the Russians regarding Ukraine’s future. Also, Trump remembers it was Mr. Pompeo who concocted this whole project, and hopefully wise voices around him will indicate that the OCU project was one of the final straws that pushed Putin into the special military operation into action (cited during Putin’s February 24th 2022 speech).
The Archons do indeed have a problem in that they must get Mr Trump’s attention if they want any intercession on Bartholomew’s behalf vis a vis Erdogan. They’re not going to have an easy time.
The Neocons and Globalist have been successful in their goal to cause divisions in the Orthodox Church. Shamefully, a few Orthodox hierarchs assisted the warmongers. President Trump’s peace initiative presents an opening for the Orthodox to heal our divisions. Our bishops tend to be timid. Hopefully, some bishops will take the lead. I believe the Patriarch of Jerusalem would be the right person to initiate the call for a meeting of the bishops to heal the divisions.. He’s Greek and is respected by Greeks. But he also has good Slavic relations because of the large number of Russian and Ukrainian pilgrims that come to the Holy Land. But, time is of the essence as Pope Francis and Patriarch Bartholemew are hell bent on setting a common date for Easter. If they succeed the current divisions will harden into a permanent schism more like 1054 and 1924. Pray that our hierarchs get more active. May our bishops be inspired by the memory of Archbishop Anastasios who spoke of the need of a meeting of the bishops to heal the divisions in the Church.Anastasios was an example of what a bishop should be. Memory Eternal. But we believe the bishops can rise to that level. We’re counting on you and we’re praying for you.
No karloutsos? Herd the Archons are done with his influence-peddling crime family. He is the only one on Hunter’s laptop who lined his pockets with his Moron son “Fredo” and did not get a pardon. It looks like the Biden Family is done with him also after the Greek Independence Day National embarrassment.
https://nypost.com/2023/03/29/biden-to-hunter-linked-orthodox-clergyman-at-greek-independence-event-gonna-ruin-your-reputation/