PHOTO: The Archbishop is known for his tendency to accept “novelties” of all kinds, but could someone tell me exactly what this “engolpion” features? Yes, I can see Archangel Michael at the center… How about the rest of it? Does anyone see the sign of the cross?
By Jackie Morfesis
God have mercy. God have mercy on our Holy Orthodox Churches. God have mercy upon and open the eyes and heart of Archbishop Elpidophoros.
As I opened his Christmas message – I fully expected, or might I say, “hoped against all hope” to see him glorifying our Lord and Savior, rejoicing at His holy birth. But instead, I see that once again, he uses the faith to politicize, to stand upon the pulpit, and indeed soapbox of his personal ideology instead of standing firmly and solidly on God’s Holy Word, with God as our anchor. Instead, he shows us once again that he builds his house on sand and not rock.
The opening of his message:
“My beloved Sisters and Brothers in Christ, as you settle into your homes and prepare to enjoy this Holy Feast of Christmas with family and friends, I ask that all of you take a moment to remember those whose lives have been shattered by violence and war.”
Mercy. Since he chose to begin his message in a more secularist way, reflecting on Christmas gatherings, parties, and obviously the Christmas dinner, I truly “hoped against all hope” I would further read: “In the midst of our parties and celebrations, let us focus on the true meaning of Christmas. The birth of our Lord and Savior.”
But of course, that did not happen. It goes without saying, every day and in every moment, we are to have mercy and pray for all who suffer, everywhere in the world. Those suffering because of conflicts, wars, abuse, poverty, illness, and hardship. Around the world there are wars, conflict, and untold suffering, not only in this moment, but every day.
However, again, a Christmas Message is not the time to politicize nor to sow the seeds of division. Nor to minimize, distort, or draw attention away from the greatest story ever told, the birth of our Savior. He is the Light, the Love, the Mercy, the Promise.
To completely frame or even frame at all, his message on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the call for justice, missed the mark of the Feast of the Nativity. Again, this is the moment to focus fully on our Savior’s glorious birth, fulfilling God’s plan for humanity, and for our salvation. This is the meaning of Christmas, this is the meaning of a Christmas message.
No, my eyes did not deceive me. My eyes saw exactly what we have all seen again and again from Archbishop Elpidophoros. But we are being deceived if we believe for one moment that a Christmas message should not speak directly and fully to the birth of Christ and its meaning for all of God’s children. God have mercy.
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Christmas Message of Archbishop Elpidophoros of America 2022
Christmas Message of Archbishop Elpidophoros of America
2022
My beloved Sisters and Brothers in Christ,
As you settle into your homes and prepare to enjoy this Holy Feast of Christmas with family and friends, I ask that all of you take a moment to remember those whose lives have been shattered by violence and war.
The Prophet Isaiah promises:
For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given … and His name shall be called …The Prince of Peace.
How we need the Prince of Peace more than ever in our world! Especially for our Ukrainian brothers and sisters who have endured for nearly all of 2022 a brutal invasion by Russia. Tens of thousands have lost their lives on both sides, and, just as there is no justifiable reason for this war, there is no end in sight.
Therefore, as we welcome the Holy Infant of Bethlehem, beholding in His humility and poverty the essence of true power and glory, may we remember those whose lives are deprived of the blessing of peace.
May the Newborn Lord of Glory grant peace to His world, and bring speedy justice, reconciliation, and hope to the Peoples of Ukraine and Russia.
A very Merry Christmas to you and yours, and a happy and healthy 2023.
“Χριστὸς Γεννᾶται! Δοξάσατε!
Christ is Born! Glorify Him!
Jackie I don’t get the symbols on what
Elpidoforos is wearing ??
Archbishop Demetrios never rambled on
about politics, his message was just Christ.
Guess Elpdoktonos gets big money to side with Zelensky.
The photo is from a recent Christmas party… No one is exactly sure..
Zoey, I had a nightmare that I was in the church and there were two snakes like small cobras on the loose – dangerous and venomous. We are being attacked from within.
Re: Christmas Message of Archbishop Elpidophoros of America 2022
It is a travesty that even on Christmas the archbishop insists on propagating anti-Russian rhetoric consistent with globalist talking points.
At the very least, the archbishop ON CHRISTMAS should remain neutral. Orthodox Christians are being slaughtered on both sides of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict. Lord Have Mercy.
Presently, Ukrainian President Zelensky is responsible for persecuting canonical Orthodox Christians—who comprise 70 percent of the Orthodox Christians in Ukraine. He has also barred all political opposition parties. His tyrannical actions belie any talk of democracy in Ukraine. Sadly, the GOA has sided with the corrupt, woke, and war-mongering US state department.
Russia invaded Ukraine after the US rejected Putin’s demand for a guarantee that Ukraine NOT join NATO–a position held by George Kennan, a leading architect of the NATO alliance itself. The archbishop–or his handlers–conveniently leave out important context.
The conflict between Russia and Ukraine has more to do with Crimea than “democracy,” touted ad nauseam by Zelensky, the war-mongering uniparty in Congress, and the mainstream media. Crimea is culturally Russian. The country that controls Crimea dominates the Black Sea, which can “project its military force into Europe, the Middle East, and even the steppes of Eurasia,” according to Christopher Caldwell of the Clairmont Institute.
Protecting borders is noble for all except the globalists. From Greek history, we recall that it was Archbishop Germanos who raised the flag of independence at Agia Lavra in the Peloponnese in 1821, which marked the beginning of the Greek Revolution.
We see time and again the archbishop playing politics. He must think very little of his flock if he believes we can not discern between truth and propaganda. Christmas is a time to reflect on the Triune God who took on flesh and gave himself up for the life the world.
We need an archbishop to call us to repentance and to speak truth in the spirit of Archbishop Damaskinos, of blessed memory, who defended the Jews against German extermination, citing St. Paul: “There is neither Jew nor Greek.”
Christ is Born. Glorify Him.
Well said, E….
Elpi thinks nothing of his ‘flock’ if you can call it that, as he presupposes that he actually has a following. How vain he is for thinking we support him and his political ideologies, especially during the Incarnation of Christ our Lord. Shameful….
He should know this, many faithful Orthodox Christians love their traditional church. They follow the sacraments and commandments, study the canons, read about dogma and the lives of the saints, as they have an overall comprehensive Orthopraxis in place for their salvation.
We don’t need him!
God bless his delusional, secular little heart. Someone please tell him he can’t take his riches with him nor will he live on the dystopian earth they have planned, for long.
It’s a horrible death, Elpi, and an even more horrible eternity of darkness. Repent and go away quietly. We will pray for you!
Jesus is my Shepard.
“My sheep hear my voice, I know them, and they follow Me” (John 10:27).
“Christ is born. Glorify Him,” A Christmas message in five words. Thank you.
Jackie, thank you for your courage to speak truth about the Archbishop’s secular message.
The GOA was sold to the globalists quite a few years ago. And who knows what deals were made behind closed doors between the Patriarch with the government to fracture Ukraine?
This secular Archbishop forgot to pray for all those people murdered by bombs in Syria, Lebanon, Vietnam, Yemen, Afghanistan, Iraq, Iran, Temor, Cambodia, Korea, Russia, Palestine, to name a few.
Lord have mercy on all of us.
Good point Jane. Politicizing mercy goes hand in hand with politicizing the faith.
Elps = nothing more than
Turk Govt Agent out to dismantle
Holy Church.
Elps has got to go!
You waste your time comparing him to a legitimate Archbishop, he has done enough to show that he is not. The Patriarchate has been totally compromised for a Century. Only an Archon would throw good money down a hole. As my grandma would say, you don’t store olive oil in a cracked pot (ραγισμένη sfyda).
As to the mystery of Elpidoktonos’ engolpion, check out the logo on a Bentley.
The man has expensive gousta!
https://purepng.com/public/uploads/medium/purepng.com-bentley-motors-logobentleybentley-motorsbritishmanufacturerluxury-carsloho-1701527414243x56eb.png
WHOA!! 🤑
You can’t always understand the “now”, unless you take a quick look at both the rearview mirror as well as glance at the next stop on the road ahead…
What Elpi just read was a standard script from the Vatican – the architect of the Uniate movement and apparently, his “boss.”
And now you might ask “why”?
Recall recent publications foreshadowing a “Union” with Rome via a common celebration of Pascha (some say the year 2025)
Other sources have alluded to a “deal” that may have already been cut between the Vatican and Constantinople…i.e. in exchange for Union and recognition of Papal Primacy, all Eastern rite Uniate parishes globally would be “transferred in appreciation” to Constantinople, for financial exploitation:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=StLcl_kPHXg
Either way, expressing personal political opinions as part of a Nativity message (whether it is for personal financial gain or if he actually believes what he says) is not befitting of any bishop…
You can’t serve 2 Masters…
Render what is Ceasar’s to Ceasar…
etc…
Correct approach… Only one note of caution: The rest of the Archbishops of the Patriarchate (Australia, Canada, England, etc.) did not fall into the trap of politicizing Christmas – following the Vatican’s dictates… Maybe Elpidophoros was testing the waters? We shall see..