EDITOR’S NOTE (Markos – Helleniscope Religion Commentator).
August 29th is a day of strict fasting, and while it falls on Saturday and we can actually consume oil and wine, that still doesn’t mean “wine and dine” and dance, on the day of the Beheading of St. John the Baptist…is Konstantinos Argyros also going to sing to the tune of “belly dancing” (tsifteteli), which was the type of dance that precisely led to the beheading of St. John the Baptist? Is that the way that Fr. Karloutsos feels is appropriate to commemorate the saint at his “Cathedral”?
“Και εις ανωτερα”, as they say…
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HONORARY CO-CHAIRS
Alexandra Martinou
President, Together for Children
Phillip Schermer
Founder and CEO, Project Healthy Minds
CHAIRS
Angela Giannopoulos
Olga Karloutsos
Karen Mehiel
CO-CHAIRS
John Catsimatidis
Bruce Mosler
SPIRITUAL ADVISORS
Father Alexander and Presbytera Xanthi Karloutsos
Father Constantine and Presbytera Anastasia Lazarakis
KarLOOTsous does not care if it’s a fast day.
I’m not familiar with Project Healthy Minds or Together for the Children. Some quick internet searches indicate these are totally secular organizations. Perhaps they do some good work, I have no idea. However, I believe our Church should always have a ministry approach to what ever we get behind. Meaning, in addition to feeding the hungry, helping parents, etc… the preaching of Christ’s love should have a prominent position in the activity. Too many of our Churches are spending enormous energy in activities that merely turn them into Human Service Agencies or NGO’s. They operate no differenctly than a secular human service agency. I know it makes people feel good to put there time into these activity but without the Christ/Church component, it is not a ministry. Forgive me if I offended anyone or if I am inaccurate in any of my statements. Many of our Orthodox Churches have put tremendous focus on these secular organizations and we should rethink it.
This is insane! A “gala” that sells influence for a hefty price — in the name of charity.
Look at the invitations. Rasputin and his wife masquerade as “Spiritual Advisors!” Will they be taking confessions at this event? What is their retainer fee? Do I get to keep my watch?
Where can faithful Christians go in the face of this obscenity…what can they do… When the beheading of St. John the Baptist becomes a backdrop for wine, dancing, and $100,000 “underwriter” packages, we are no longer looking at church leadership but at ecclesiastical decadence with a donor list.
No surprise from the Prince of Darkness who has special place reserved in hell.