OUR MAIN IMAGE: An artistic rendering of the photo in the announcement of the ecumenical service by GOA.
ΕΑΝ ΠΡΟΤΙΜΑΤΕ ΕΛΛΗΝΙΚΑ ΠΑΤΗΣΤΕ ΤΗ ΣΗΜΑΙΑ ΣΤΟ ΚΑΤΩ ΜΕΡΟΣ ΤΗΣ ΟΘΟΝΗΣ
By Helleniscope’s Editorial Team
Across the United States and well beyond its borders, a striking religious trend is becoming impossible to ignore: Americans—especially young adults and disproportionately young men—are turning to Eastern Orthodoxy. Mainstream media outlets have taken note, and independent platforms such as Helleniscope have published repeated reports documenting what now resembles not a trickle, but a wave.
The reasons are remarkably consistent. Converts speak of Orthodoxy’s moral clarity, its rootedness in history, and its refusal to revise foundational teachings to accommodate the spirit of the age. In a cultural moment defined by confusion about identity, truth, and even basic anthropology, Orthodoxy offers something countercultural: continuity without apology.
It is precisely at this moment—when interest in Orthodoxy is accelerating—that the Church’s public leadership appears to be sending mixed signals. While this wave gathers force, Archbishop Elpidophoros is once again planning an ecumenical prayer service at the Archdiocesan Cathedral of the Holy Trinity in Manhattan, in line with the broader ecumenical vision of Bartholomew.
This raises an unavoidable question: What message does this send to those standing at the threshold of Orthodoxy? Is Orthodoxy being presented as a faith with a distinct theological and moral witness—or as one denomination among many, interchangeable in doctrine and worldview?
For many converts, the answer to that question matters deeply. Orthodoxy’s appeal lies not in its ability to harmonize differences, but in its insistence that truth is not negotiated. The Church has always understood herself as the “pillar and ground of the truth” (1 Tim. 3:15), not as a mediator between competing interpretations of Christianity. On issues such as marriage, Orthodoxy has remained unwavering: marriage is a sacramental union between one man and one woman, grounded in Scripture and the lived tradition of the Church. This is not merely a social stance; it is a theological claim about the human person, creation, and salvation—rooted in Christ’s own words: “From the beginning of creation, God made them male and female” (Mark 10:6).
The Fathers speak with equal clarity and warn that truth is not preserved by compromise but by fidelity, writing that the Church “guards with care the faith she has received, as dwelling in one house.” They have succinctly articulated the Orthodox principle: the faith is what has been believed “everywhere, always, and by all.”
Other Christian denominations have chosen different paths—redefining marriage, revising moral teaching, and embracing novel understandings of identity that would have been unrecognizable to historic Christianity. Many seekers arrive at Orthodoxy precisely because they have rejected that trajectory. They are not looking for a church that mirrors cultural trends, but one that resists them.
This helps explain why Orthodoxy has found renewed resonance among young men. They encounter a faith that speaks frankly about discipline, repentance, sacrifice, hierarchy, and transcendence—concepts largely absent from modern therapeutic religion. Orthodoxy does not promise affirmation of every impulse; it promises transformation through struggle. it promises transformation through struggle. In the words of Christ Himself: “If anyone would come after Me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow Me” (Matt. 16:24).
Against this backdrop, high-profile ecumenical services – such as those practiced almost in regular intervals by Elpidophotos – create confusion. From “Juneteenth”, to Good Friday Way of the Cross procession over the Brooklyn Bridge (April 2025) to National Prayer Service at Washington National Cathedral (January 2025) we are watching Elpidophoros unrelenting efforts to dilute the Faith (which he doesnt completely understand as his Theology professor in Greece revealed to all of us two years ago). In this way, he both alienates the Orthodox faithful and he repels the crowds who wish to enter the Faith…
Furthermore, such gestures reflect alignment with a broader elite, global consensus culture—one that prioritizes symbolic unity and institutional respectability over doctrinal integrity. Whether or not that critique is accepted, the perception alone has consequences. Converts do not arrive seeking consensus; they arrive seeking truth.
Orthodoxy in America stands at a crossroads. One path presents Orthodoxy as a distinctive, demanding way of life that challenges modern assumptions about freedom, identity, and desire. The other presents it as merely another participant in a pluralistic religious marketplace.
The surge toward Orthodoxy suggests that many Americans—and many beyond America—are not searching for sameness. They are searching for the faith once delivered, preserved without dilution. If Orthodoxy is to remain a refuge for those seekers, it must not obscure the very differences that make it compelling.
January 21, 2026, n.stamatakis@aol.com www.helleniscope.com
DISCLAIMER: The views and statements expressed in this article constitute constitutionally protected opinions of this author.
Barf!
Another image that would summarize what is happening is showing multitudes of thirsty people exiting the “spiritual desert” and heading for an “Orthodox oasis”, while hierarchs like Elpidophoros are depicted heading in the opposite direction…
There are still a couple stubborn commentators on this forum who also have their “head in the sand”, not believing that there is a very large statistical increase in Catechumens and converts to Orthodoxy (the past few years), but mostly to other jurisdictions. Not even the recent article that showed “mass baptisms” has convinced them.
At the same time, on multiple occasions, Helleniscope has also commented on the falling “membership” numbers in GOARCH, which proves two points:
1) GOARCH faithful are leaving for other jurisdictions
2) the rate of influx of “new converts” to GOARCH is much lower than the “rate of exit” at a time when the exact opposite is true in other Orthodox jurisdictions
And why is that?
Non-authentic / Non-Orthodox behavior at the top of the hierarchy (just as what Elpidophoros is apparently going to do on Jan 29th), trickling down to the local parish priest level is the main reason for this.
Taking a step back, one must wonder if Elpidophoros is part of a wider “race to the bottom”…with himself, Emmanuel (the architect of the Ukrainian Tomos), Sotirios (multiple Communion spoon champion in Canada), and other hierarchs of the Ecumenical Patriarchate competing for who can dilute Tradition the most, who can kiss the Pope’s hand the most, who can violate the most Canons in a manner that ultimately has the centuries-old Vatican Uniate movement celebrating… And what is the reward? Well, apparently even after the “Bulgarian scandal” in Paris made the news, Emmanuel was promoted because the Ukrainian “tomos” / fiasco that he “architected” resulted in such a “pleasing” Schism to his overlords, that they promoted him to Metropolitan of Chalcedon, which is traditionally the “runner-up” or “Vice-Patriarch” if we can use that term. Elpidophoros is also angling for that throne…that’s evident from the way he caters to Erdogan etc, but perhaps there is also a silent mandate that whoever achieves the most progress for the Uniate movement will also be “rewarded” in the future?…history will be the judge of that…but if that’s the case, it would be appropriate to name that future “Uniate Patriarch” Patriarch JUDAS the first…
Is there s silver lining anywhere? Perhaps…
The day when these “leaders” routinely see empty buildings everywhere they show up,
The day when they open the “pagkari” and find buttons instead of coins,
They day when they realize there are no more “hard assets” to sell in order to sustain the “financial needs” and “humble salaries” of the Patriarchate and its hierarchy, and ultimately
The day when their “rich Archon buddies” realize that they won’t get into heaven by becoming Archons and they stop funding the fiscal gap for their deceivers who routinely violate Canons and Holy Tradition,
….then and only then perhaps something will change.
Until that day, it’s encouraging to see that both converts as well as the remaining faithful appear to be sending the message that Tradition and Authenticity are what the people are thirsty for and really need…
You miss the point. The reason the GOA is not receiving as many converts as the other archdioceses is because it primarily remains an ethnic enclave rather than a churh, the Body of Christ. My GOA parish is predominantly comprised of non-Greeks, with a significant number of converts because we worship in a language people understand.
JK,
Your head is in the sand on this topic, and it would be a good idea for you to spend some time “in the streets” to realize what is going on.
When a large percentage of converts are fleeing to Orthodoxy because they don’t like the “woke” direction of their prior denominations, there is no way they will be attracted to a jurisdiction that has a leader who performed that baptism in Glyfada, who makes statements that there are “multiple paths to the top of the mountain”, who marches with BLM, who celebrates Liturgy in a “rainbow flag-draped” heretical place of worship, etc, etc…
I have seen far more converts in parishes that use Slavonic than in GOA parishes within the same zip code, and that crushes your theory right there…
Mr. Markos, the converts in our parish are not aware of the issues you present. I see and experience the parishes in my area and the slavonic speaking parishes, and we have 2, have no converts. The other Goa parish, which uses Greek has a few converts but our parish which uses English has the largest number of converts by far. We currently have 45 people in our adult catechism class for catechumens. I doubt you visit parishes that use slavonic as I still doubt that you know of a parish that prayed the Lord’s prayer in 8 languages. This crushes your your theory.
You can doubt all you want, and you can call yourself Thomas all day too, if you want. The videos are still on youtube on the Lord’s prayer…2 parishes, 2 seprate Metropolises…do your homework.
And it’s a good thing that the converts are not aware of these issues…if and when they become aware, let’s see if they remain…
Please let me know where I can find the video you reference where the lords prayer in recited in 8 languages. I will then ask for your forgiveness.
JK,
We’ve discussed this. I intentionally don’t make it a habit of publicly advertising which parishes I visit, have visited, or plan to visit (and especially “when”, which would be evident in the timestamp of any youtube video). That’s basic internet security and privacy protocol.
There is a finite list of GOARCH parishes. You can start looking online to see which ones have a youtube channel, and that will narrow down the list for you…eventually, you will find the examples you seek. It won’t take any more time than you are actually currently wasting posting on this forum…since you obviously already have the energy to sit in front of a screen for hours, go ahead and do the homework on your own…If you had started investing a few minutes each day in this effort when we first discussed this, you would have already found those examples.
And by the way, asking for forgiveness for what? For not believing what someone else says, or for being egotistical? Neither of the two conditions offend me anyway, but only one of the two is the actual root cause in this case…Nevertheless achieving 100% true and lasting repentance implies that the individual will never again repeat the same sin (hm…where have we seen that “go forth and sin no more” quote?)…wish you the best in that effort…it will be great if you achieve that state…show us the way!
Jk : well put. Greek Church is too attached to Greek ethnicity language & I’ve known Anglican converts choose the Russian church over Greek.
You are partially correct…….Archbishop Elpidophoros, by engaging in such conduct (which parenthetically, I call the “Anglicanization” of our faith) is like a most effective force field, causing Greek Orthodox adherents to leave Greek Orthodoxy to join other Eastern Orthodox denominations , while repelling new converts from joining the Greek Orthodox faith to join other Eastern Orthodox denominations…..either way, a no win situation for our church (Greek American Orthodoxy) in America…under Elpidophoros leadership , Greek Orthodoxy in America loses at the expense of the other Eastern Orthodox denominations in America……
They are not different denominations but rather jurisdictions.
Elpidophoros is an embarrassment to the Church. If all priests and bishops would be like him and Barto, I would stop going to church.
In that pic, Which one is Curly?
Events like this are really more of a photo-op and meant to protect the church from the political intrigue of our current times. It’s like a billboard that says, “nothing here to see, move on”. It will make more sense when the whole world turns against the “Russian World” ideology of the Russian Church, and Orthodoxy is put in the cross-hairs.
For that matter, the Greek parishes that I am familiar with are all growing by leaps and bounds, adding new catechumens almost weekly.
Joseph, I too am seeing growth in some GOA parishes. May I ask in which area of the country you are likewise seeing growth in the GOA?
George, I don’t think it’s particularly a regional phenomenon. I’ve heard the same story from Greek Archdiocese clergy in different parts of the U.S., that they are overwhelmed with catechumens. They will all tell you that much of this growth started happening after COVID.
Archbishop Elpidophoros recently commented on the influx of converts into the Greek Archdiocese at last November’s Assembly of Bishops meeting in Denver, Colorado:
“we face the inevitable augmentation in our communities occasioned by the arrival of so many newcomers.”
https://www.assemblyofbishops.org/news/2025/aob-xiv-press-release
Joseph, you are like a broken record. You demonize the Russian Church, yet give a free pass to the Greek Church of Istanbul (Constantinople), which is guilty of the same things you accuse Moscow of doing. And yes, it’s true…and you know it!
And let’s not forget how the actions of Elpi and Barto have brought cruelty and even death to the canonical UOC. Metropolitan Arseny in particular (although not the only one) has been treated like a criminal and is refused medical treatment while in prison on bogus charges. The so called “autocephaly” that Barto and Elpi gave birth to, has forced a schismatic church that the majority of the ukrainian citizens do not recognize as legitimate. They do not want to join a fake church. You will never see Metr. Arseny or the other canonical UOC bishops pictured like Elpi is pictured here.
Metr. Arseny not only is refused medical care and is kept in jail for no reason, but according to the doctor in the link below, is given the wrong treatment that can cause him further harm. Where is the one “without equals” and why is he not scandalized by this? The crimes that Barto’s “autocephaly” given out of “love”, will go down in history as the most shameful act in the recent history of OC. And Barto speaks about “love”! What love? His actions took away basic human rights. They let to crimes, not love! But all they care is going for photo ops! Those two are an embarrassment to the OC and depict what a bishop should not be like.
https://spzh.eu/en/news/90395-court-denies-urgent-hospitalization-for-metropolitan-arseniy
May God strengthen the UOC and all it’s children, especially Metr. Arseny who is in probably the worst case of persecution at the moment.
https://spzh.eu/en/news/90395-court-denies-urgent-hospitalization-for-metropolitan-arseniy
Joseph,
When the entire village is telling you that they don’t see what you are seeing, it’s probably time for you to look in the mirror and realize that you are currently not “part of this village”… In other words, take your schismatic Uniate propaganda elsewhere…
Markos, well said! (Though, you have to admit…Joesph is entertaining.)
….However, GOARCH is bleeding numbers at a much higher rate than they new comers are coming in. The decline in numbers is undeniable. That’s what happens when we have Elpi the terrible as an Archbishop and Barto the worst as a Patriarch… No influx of newcomers can stop the bleeding but maybe provide a transfusion to keep things going…
A few comments if I may: 1) I regularly visit GOA churches throughout the country, and everywhere, converts are coming into the church, albeit seemingly in greater numbers in parts of the country where worship is primarily in English. I know of GOA parishes in the midwest, south and west with many catechumens and recent converts. Even on the East Coast, where I am located (and attend a GOA church that is more culturally Greek), we presently have 3 catechumens and 2 recent converts, none of which have come into the church due to marrying someone Orthodox. 2) You state that: “Many seekers arrive at Orthodoxy precisely because they have rejected that trajectory,” as if it is something that is only positive. While many seekers reject much of what they have come from, and sometimes for good reason, sometimes that is problematic, as they come into Orthodoxy rejecting something, adapting that which they find in Orthodoxy to support what they have rejected, yet not embracing the fullness of Orthodoxy, the spirit of Orthodoxy.
I have trouble understanding your point: If a great number of converts are rejecting what their Churches already adopted (LGBTQ+ rights, gay marriage, many identities, why do you think it is “problematic” they abandon heresy and they come to Orthodoxy for this reason? Are we out of our minds to0 think that abandoning heresy is “problematic” or even questionable? Especially because in the case of homosexuality it’s beyond Orthodoxy and beyond religion: It’s against nature, which was interpreted as “God”.
Because Orthodoxy is not only about the rejection of what is false, but the embrace of all that is true, right and born from the love and mercy of the love of God in Jesus Christ.
The neat thing about Orthodoxy is that in addition to scripture, we learn from our services. The Church Fathers and Saints from the past continue to communicate with us through the Vesper and Matins services. Prelates like Bartholomew, Elpidophoros and Emmanuel who seem to be weakening in the Orthodox faith should read the services for Pentecost which makes clear what the mission of the Church is and will always be. Fishing metaphors are used. In the troparion for Pentecost it says that the fishermen(the Apostles) became fishers of men. Let’s pray that these three representatives of the Venerable See of Constantinople, mend their nets, get out in their boats and become fishers of people as Christ commanded on Pentecost and has been continued by worthy bishops for 2,00 years.
P.S.#1. You can communicate with heretics but for the reason of bringing them to the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church.
P.S.#2Work to heal and unite the One, Holy and Apostolic Church. NEVER to divide it.
God strengthen us all.
Voithia Mas.
Agreed. That’s precisely why I do Matins almost every Sunday morning. The theology of the church is expressed in the verses of the canon. Not to mention the resurrection; we hear,” Having beheld the Resurrection of Christ..” every Sunday, not just Pascha. Some priests conduct adult education classes before liturgy. Matins is the adult education class, that’s why it’s a shame some Orthodox churches don’t serve them.
Canon 45 of the Holy Apostles: “A Bishop, or a Presbyter, or a Deacon that only prays together with heretics, should be excommunicated; if he has permitted them to perform anything as Clergymen, let him be defrocked.”
Canon 45 of the Holy Apostles: “A Bishop, or a Presbyter, or a Deacon that only prays together with heretics, should be excommunicated; if he has permitted them to perform anything as Clergymen, let him be defrocked.”
Canon 10 of the Holy Apostles: “If one who is not in communion prays together, even at home, let him be excommunicated”
Canon 32 of the Local Synod of Laodicea: “That it is not permitted to accept the blessings of heretics, which are foolishness rather than blessings”
Canon 33 of the Local Synod of Laodicea: “That one must not pray together with heretics or schismatics”
These people have no regard for the holy cannons and betray holy orthodoxy.
Joseph, the Church doesn’t exist for the sake of following holy canons. The holy canons, rather, exist for the sake of the freedom and life of the Church. This is what Jesus Christ was also saying, when he said, “the Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.”
It is characteristic of schismatics to have an obsession with “following the holy canons.” They will often claim to be the “true” or “genuine Orthodox church”, but their obsession with “holy canons” ultimately brings them to a rejection of grace.
Indeed, the rejection of grace is the main characteristic of all schismatics, whether they be Protestants, Roman Catholics, Muslims, or Jews.
Yeah, Joseph, great idea. Don’t follow the cannons. Might as well stop following the commandments and the other teachings of the Church. They were all made for men, men was not made for them, right? What kind of faith is that? You do not sound orthodox at all.
I wonder, have you ever been cared for by a Jewish doctor? Some of the canons address very specific situations in a particular context . Others are more universal.
I don’t think he is. He sure used the Canons to “prove.” ROCOR was schism matic prior to 2007.
Sandy, there’s a saying among canonists, “don’t turn the canons into cannons.”
You cannot turn them into fresh air either…
“Why do I speak of the canons and imply a distinction? For it is one and the same thing to speak of them and of the Gospel of Christ. He himself said when he gave the keys of the kingdom of heaven to the great Peter, “Whomever you loose and whomever you bind, it will be as you have said.” [Cf. Matt. 16:19] And again he said to all the Apostles: “Receive the Holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive, they are forgiven; whose sins you retain, they are retained.” [John 20:22-23] And consequently he transmitted the authority to those who came after them, if they should act in the same way.
For this reason the canons of Basil and of saints equal in rank to him have been received along with the Apostolic Canons, in as much as they followed them without making any innovation, only amplifying where necessary.”
“Sir, a council does not consist simply in the gathering of bishops and priests, no matter how many there are. For Scripture says that one doing the will of the Lord is better than thousands who transgress [Ecclus. 16:3]. A council occurs when, in the Lord’s name, the canons are thoroughly searched out and maintained. And a council is not to bind and loose in some random way, but as seems proper to the truth and to the canon and to the rule of strictness.”
http://orthodoxinfo.com/ecumenism/sttheo_canon.aspx
The holy fathers have always taught that the cannons must be kept this is just one example.
Joseph, are you suggesting that the canons have equal authority with scripture? Many saints would disagree with this assertion.
JK, no not necessarily I just provided this qoute to show that it is important to keep the cannons.
Joseph,
It appears you are trying to convince the readers that Canons are not important or relevant ONLY when you don’t cite them, correct? Do you want to count how many times you’ve cited Canons on this forum? That fits the definition of hypocrisy…
Joseph, I think any reasonable and of good faith person, would realize that I added a “n” because I misspelled the word canon. Don’t confuse things again. Let the canons be canons. Unless a canon is cancelled by the whole OC hierarchy, in a council, they are here to stay. We can’t pick and choose the canons and faith as we please, like the protestants. Otherwise, we can do the same with sins, pick and choose which ones are, and which ones aren’t, as we please.
Sandy, please forgive me, I was only making that comment in light-hearted jest. St. Paisos also made the distinction between canons and cannons:
“Elder Paisios is well known for advising spiritual fathers and confessors not to turn canons into cannons. That is, don’t turn the rules of the Church into military weapons to attack people.”
https://cyberdesert.wordpress.com/2014/11/15/rules-canons-or-cannons/
The main danger is when people use canons to denounce others and to justify their own self-righteousness, rather than viewing them as the medical tools of the Church given to us for our own humility and spiritual healing.
Joseph,
Why are you always so selective and only pick one thing (without context, that fits your agenda) from St. Paisios’ teachings, and ignore the rest? Of course we have to love everyone and not weaponize the canons, but that does not mean we should ignore them!
The main danger is when people ignore the canons and make up their own religion, like barto and elpi.
Please don’t be confused, St. Paisios was not pro-schism and against canons. He NEVER prayed with ANYONE outside our faith but he prayed for them. He was very clear about this! He did not even pray Our Father with anyone of a different faith, forget about commemorating Leo and praying will all kinds of strange characters in our Church! It is not about denouncing others and to justify my own self-righteousness, but rather keeping my faith and respecting the teachings of the church, the martys that died for our faith, and respecting the canons because they are inspired by the Holy Spirit.
St. Paisios never broke a canon to my knowledge. He never prayed with catholics and other denominations or with the schismatics. He never created or blessed a schism like barto and elpi. His disciple, Fr Gabriel from Mt. Athos, is against the schism in Ukraine and he has criticized the schismatics of OCU setting foot on the Holy Mt. Athos. Fr. Gabriel, as most of the canonical OC, only recognizes Metr. Onuphry and UOC as canonical. Fr. Gabriel attributed the earthquakes in Mt. Athos that caused serious damage to some of the infrastructure, to the visit of the OCU characters to the Mt. Athos. Be honest.
Sandy, St. Paisios was very much against ecumenism to his great credit and example, but he was also against going into schism with the Orthodox bishops involved with ecumenism. Case in point, he was very critical of the schismatic Old Calendarists and didn’t join with them.
We can easily observe that Orthodox bishops today, especially the head bishops of local churches everywhere, are almost all involved with ecumenism to some degree. Yes, this ecumenism tends to scandalize the faithful.
However, there is something else at play here, and it’s not a false union. Rather, Orthodox bishops are largely engaging in ecumenism as photo-ops to protect the faithful from the political intrigue of our current times. It’s really sort of a pious ruse, but in our present times it’s often the photo-op that really counts to the world.
Again Joseph,
St. Paisios was not going out of his way for photo-ops with those of different faith in our churces. This is one of the reasons UOC is persecuted, never have I seen one of its bishops taking pictures or commemorating Leo or pray together in our altars.
I admire those that follow God and are not looking to have their picture taken and falling into ecumenism–the heresy of heresies. You know the Canons and you know this is wrong. If you don’t follow the Canons that speak against this, why do you bother to follow the others? And if you don’t, you put yourself outside the Church. They are from the Holy Spirit and were written after much prayer and fasting.
Are we going to follow those that fall into delusion at least for a while, serving other interests and not God, for the sake of a photo up, or are we going to follow those that are not front and center for photo ups and follow the cannons? You can believe whatever you want but commemorating Leo is just wrong. That is what the photo ups led up to. This is the main problem I have with it–IT WILL NOT end at photo-ups. As reported here on Helleniscope, some catholic priests blessed the faithful with holy water in our churches. Unacceptable. Not in a million years would St. Paisios be ok with it. My heart goes to the persecuted UOC because that is the pure heart of the OC, not to those that take photos and pray with those whom they should not pray in the altars.
The OC always have been infiltrated by those not quite orthodox, that were serving different masters. We must be cautions. The saints warned us that at the end of times, we will be betrayed by those that should guard and protect our faith. Judah was an apostle too, but he betrayed Christ. Lord have mercy!
Bottom line…..Secret agent man, Elpi needs to be defrocked, deposed, and deported! ASAP!
Don’t turn my canon into cannons? Lol, too funny Joseph. There’s a reason why we have them….they are not suggestions, and must be followed.
A good priest once told me: If the canons were applied to the letter, you and most other Orthodox Christians would be excommunicated until your deathbed.
The canons show us the way, but they are not the way unto themselves.
Yes, you are correct. They keep getting bent more and more with every generation, they are not applied to the letter. This shows we depart more and more from what we are supposed and expected to do. This is not a positive state we are in, by all means.
St Paul – the letter of the law kills but the spirit gives life. John of Kronstandt- if a person comes with genuine repentance forget the canons.
Of course, that is the case of Saul vs. Paul. But let’s be serious, genuine repentance is very rare and those that keep breaking the canons do not have genuine repentance. Paul became a different person, completely. Paul, once he became a Christian, he stayed a Christian, he did not go back to being a pegan. Christ and Paul were not praying with the pagans or commemorating those of a different faith in the temple of God, so let’s not confuse things. Barto is the only one that allowed the commemoration of Leo in an orthodox service. This is scandalous.
Sandy, Paul was never a pagan. The majority of the people Paul preached to were pagans or Jews. In Athens his spirit was troubled because of the abundance of idolatry yet h preached the gospel.
JK,
Preaching TO is different from Preaching WITH. Leo was not there to be preached TO. Patr. Barto did not preach to Leo.
Sandy:
To answer you above, I once was photographed with a Ukrainian Catholic priest. My sons at the time were going to a Ukrainian Catholic school. This was almost forty years ago, before the collapse of the communist rule in Eastern Europe. So, at the time, we had a common adversary, the Soviet Union. But I didn’t enter the altar of their church. Nor did I ever invite him to enter my altar.
In happier times, one can see Metropolitan Onuphry appearing on the streets of Kyiv for a military parade. Standing near him were both Philaret Denisenko and the Uniate Metropolitan. But it was a public event, no joint service, no appearing in vestments.
This is precisely why Metropolitan Onuphry is being persecuted, he’s not an Ecumenist. His predecessor, Metropolitan Vladimir Sabodan was photographed in vestments together with the Ukrainian Catholic Metropolitan, also vested.
I had previously thought that you were Greek or Greek American. Since you grew up under communism, I don’t have to tell you about the Joseph Goebbel’s style of distorting the truth. You no doubt experienced it.
Hieromonk Alexei,
I have many friends that are Catholic and I have nothing against them. One of my closest and oldest friends is an English protestant lady. I love them as I would love any orthodox person. I just don’t want their priests, male and female, in our altars, serving together. It is confusing to the catechumens and to our children and against canons. I think we have to keep things honest. Pope Leo serving with Patr. Bartolomew and even being commemorated as if he is an equal–or maybe he is now above the ecumenical patriarch since he was commemorated first?–This is not acceptable to me.
This is precisely why I am against ecumenism–it does not stop at photo-ups. God bless you and please pray for us!
Sandy, St Paul did not preach at everyone with whom he came in contact. He learned to be ” all things to all men” to win them to Christ. Though I have questions about some Ecumenical prayer services dialogue cab be valuable.
The GOA is made up of two elements: The historical (and heavily Greek) Northeastern Core and the Mission oriented outer Metropolises (where Elder Ephraim’s monasteries are thriving). It would seem that it is the latter that is showing the growth being mentioned. The Ecumenical Patriarchate, for all of its faults, does Mission VERY well. Many of the great Greek Bishops you can name are (were) in the Mission lands and were spiritually formed there (Archbishop Nikitas of the UK and Metropolitan Ambrosios of Korea being two prominent examples). I’ve heard the cynical remark that the Mission lands is where the Phanar “sends all of the Orthodox Bishops.”
It is certainly bearing fruit. Archbishop Elpidophoros can do as he likes in his own jurisdiction, but SNIP (Smile, Nod, Ignore, Proceed) seems to be the order of the day in relations with His Eminence by other Metropolitans.
I don’t think the Ecumenical Patriarchate has much to do with the missionary success across America. It’s the hard work of priests and faithful parishioners. The distant overseas hierarchy doesn’t have much of an actual role one way or the other.
For sure! I visit the Greek Churches because of Fr. Ephraim, St. Joseph the Hesychast, St. Paisios, St. Nectarios etc. I never go in because Elpi and Barto did some extraordinary missionary work. Quite the opposite.
If the U.S. government starts investigating Orthodoxy in America for Russian influence, I would guess a place like Holy Trinity Monastery in Jordanville would top the list right now.
As for the Greek monasteries founded by Elder Ephraim, they probably wouldn’t be investigated, thanks to Archbishop Elpidophoros and Patriarch Bartholomew.
You sure about that? I can easily see the Archons/L100/East Coast power elite using the Feds to investigate the monasteries.
Just like the USCCB (Catholic bishops USA) were stunningly quiet when it was revealed two years ago that the FBI was infiltrating RC chapels where the TLM (Latin Rite) was being celebrated.
Joseph,
It is not Jordanville that I am concerned about. It is you and Barto and Elpi that are full of propaganda, delusion, paranoia. Metr. Luke is quite inspiring from what I saw when I ran into some of his sermons. His words are full of the Holy Spirit.
Sometimes you top the communists with your propaganda. Barto rarely speaks from the heart, always reading from a paper. I wonder who is writing the garbage about saving trees. He is supposed to save people, not trees. His actions in Ukraine are not in the orthodox spirit. The rest of the stuff he did, I ignored. But persecuting the canonical OC, I can’t ignore. Praying with and commemoration Leo in orthodox services is a heretic action, that I can’t ignore either. Not once he spoke against Metr. Arseny being persecuted. How many more have to die in UOC for him to have a forced, fake, and violent OCU “church” in Ukraine? He has blood on his hands. Many are praying for Metr. Arseny because his conditions are terrible and his health is poor. We don’t want a holy man, a hierarch of God, to die in prison.
Barto will go down in history as a schismatic lover and persecutor in chief of the OC. Note that several members of the Ukrainian government wanted Metr. Arseny to be freed and they were ready to guarantee for his person. What brave people! Not Barto, though. Not him. He would rather see Metr. Arseny in prison so his minions can steal the UOC Churches. He would rather “save” trees, than a holy man of God.
Metropolitan Arseny is in schism with Patriarch Bartholomew, so how is Patriarch Bartholomew supposed to help him? Patriarch Bartholomew sent him a personal invite in 2018, along with all the other bishops of the UOC, to join together for an autocephalous Ukrainian church. That invite was never responded to. Patriarch Bartholomew expressed great sadness that most of the bishops of the UOC either rejected or ignored his invitations.
So what is Patriarch Kirill doing to help the UOC? Anything? He still claims that Ukraine is under his jurisdiction.
Joseph,
Metr. Arseny is not in schism. He is part of the canonical OC that most of the other Orthodox hierarchs and OCs are recognizing. It is not Metr. Arseny that is in schism. It is Barto that is in schism, since he is the CEO and creator of the schismatic OCU. You are clearly very confused. What can Patr. Kirill do? He is not a political patriarch going to meet Zelenski, all the time, but Barto is.
UOC will never be able to join Barto’s fake schismatic political church. It is just like the fake Living Church created but the other confused patriarch. The Living Church came and went. So will OCU. It will never be recognized by the other canonical OCs.
That is some invitation, Joseph! If someone would send me an invitation to join a schismatic structure, do you think I would go? The answer is NO. Not even if they pay me 25 trillion dollars. I hear that Barto only asked for 25 million. I would not have done it for all the money in the world. We don’t take anything with us when we live this world. Pieces of silver in exchange for joining a schismatic structure and betraying the canonical OC, are of no interest to me. There is not enough money in this world that would be able to buy me out. I am not a traitor. Neither is Metr. Arseny. That is an invitation to betray Christ and His Church. I don’t want to associate myself with Judah.