PHOTO: Metropolitan of Glyfada Antonios
UPDATED JULY 12, 11.15 AM – BELOW YOU CAN SEE METROPOLITAN ANTONIOS MEMO TO THE HOLY SYNOD OF THE CHURCH AND AB ELPIDOPHOROS DECEPTIVE LETTER TO HIM!!
EDITOR’S NOTE (Nick Stamatakis). An uproar against AB Elpidophoros has been raised in Greece and all the expatriate communities around the world, as the Metropolitan of Glyfada Antonios made a public statement that he was misled regarding the true nature f the baptisms to be performed in one of his Churches… Meanwhile, the heretic Patriarch Bartholomew, who also happens to be in Greece these days, keeps a guilty silence. Many in the Greek-American community expect that Elpidophoros will have to resign or be removed IMMEDIATELY!! In any other circumstance, we have heard from several corners that demonstrations are planned outside 79th Street!!
BELOW THE MEMO AND THE LETTER – AB Elpidophoros clearly misleads the Metropolitan saying simply that he asks “his permission to perform the baptism of two children of the Bousis Family of Chicago”…
You can read the news below in English and Greek. Here is the Monday front page of the Greek tabloid Espresso…
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source: espressonews.gr
Uproar in Greece over the… Gay Baptisms of Elpidophoros! Bartholomew’s “chosen one” Exposed To Heavy Criticism!
There is no precedent for the wave of angry reactions caused by the secular baptism of the two children who have been adopted by a gay couple and which was performed last Saturday by the Archbishop of America Elpidophoros, in the Church of Panagia Faneromeni in Vouliagmeni!
By Ioanna Tsefliou
The Greek-American businessman Evangelos Bousis and his Scandinavian partner Peter Dundas wanted the Archbishop to perform the sacrament, who for this reason came directly from America to stir up the already troubled waters of Orthodoxy, proving in practice that he does not take seriously the reactions from the religious circles of the country. The baptism may have taken place in a closed circle, but several celbrities attended, while the “show production” party that followed also attracted attention.
Many wondered whether the Archbishop had requested the permission of the Metropolitan of Glyfada – Hellinikon – Voula – Vouliagmeni and Vari, Antonios, in order to proceed with such a move. “Espresso” contacted the metropolitan, who explained that he did not know that the parents were a gay couple.
“The Archbishop sent me a document, asking me for permission to baptize the two children of the Busis expatriate family of Chicago. In this letter he did not give me any other information, therefore I considered that it was a baptism like all the others, and so I gave him, as I owed, the permission” stated Metropolitan Antonios and added: “I was informed by the rest by the priests in this Church late on Saturday afternoon, after the sacrament had taken place. Elpidophoros never contacted me again.”
As the Metropolitan explained exclusively to “Espresso”, if he had been informed in time, he would have contacted the Holy Synod in order to handle the issue.
“We should have known before the sacrament that the parents are gay. From then on, it would be up to the Holy Synod to decide what would happen and whether they would be allowed to baptize their children here. The Church cannot refuse two children to be baptized, but the sacrament should at least be done with due respect and humility. Without publicity and lights. This whole projection was not good,” he concluded.
“He misled him”
“Espresso” also contacted the former assistant of the blessed Archbishop Christodoulos, Sotiris Tzoumas, who stood by his side from the moment of his rise to the helm of the Church of Greece until the moment he fell asleep in the Lord. As he said, he is not against the baptism of children, but against the way the Archbishop did it.
“The two children had to be baptized. I personally do not condemn the couple, they clearly have the right to self-determination. However, Elpidophoros introduces “new demons” into our country. And the information I have gathered says that even the Diocese of Glyfada was misled. He referred to the children of the Bousi family without specifying. Who knew that the word “family” means something other than what we all knew for so many years?” Mr. Tzoumas said first and continued: “The way the Archbishop acted was not right. He did not have the blessing of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, which of course keeps a fishy silence, just like the Church of Greece! This has never happened before! Always…. a pioneer the “Hope-bearer”!”
As the associate of Blessed Archbishop Christodoulos explained, the Archbishop of America would not have needed to request written permission for such a ceremony, however, he could have contacted the metropolitan by phone and informed him so that he would not be in the dark.
“He should have said something so important to the metropolitan since he went to his own church and performed the sacrament. Finally, Elpidophoros proves that he lives from the Church and not for the Church. He made yet another mistake and didn’t even come out to apologize! He deceived the metropolitan and the Patriarchate, I imagine. The Church, however, is not a formality, but a deeply essential part for the faithful and everyone must respect it” Sotiris Tzoumas emphasized and ended by leaving tips for the reason why Mr. Elpidophoros behaved in this way: “The purpose it doesn’t sanctify the means, but when you seek relationships of trust with powerful people, these things happen.”
Finally, the Metropolitan Makarios of Sidirokastro, contacted by “Espresso”, did not want to comment on the event, but limited himself to one sentence, clearly angry: “Ask the Archbishop of America himself.”
According to what “Espresso” is able to know, the despots have been “boiling” silently since the moment the sacrament was performed, while the expatriate community is also upset. However, no one dares to take a position publicly, as the Archbishop of America remains the “chosen one” of Patriarch Bartholomew!
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Σάλος για τα… Gay βαφτισια του Ελπιδοφόρου! Έκθετος ο «εκλεκτός» του Βαρθολομαίου
Δεν έχει προηγούμενο το κύμα οργισμένων αντιδράσεων που έχει προκαλέσει η κοσμική βάφτιση των δύο νεοφώτιστων τα οποία έχει αποκτήσει ένα gay ζευγάρι και την οποία τέλεσε το περασμένο Σάββατο ο Αρχιεπίσκοπος Αμερικής Ελπιδοφόρος, στον Ναό της Παναγίας Φανερωμένης στη Βουλιαγμένη!
Από την Ιωάννα Τσέφλιου
Ο Ελληνοαμερικανός επιχειρηματίας Ευάγγελος Μπούσης και ο Σκανδιναβός σύντροφός του Peter Dundas ήθελαν να τελέσει το μυστήριο ο Αρχιεπίσκοπος, ο οποίος ήρθε για τον λόγο αυτόν απευθείας από την Αμερική για να ταράξει τα ήδη ταραγμένα νερά της Ορθοδοξίας, αποδεικνύοντας έμπρακτα πια ότι δεν λογαριάζει τις αντιδράσεις από τους θρησκευτικούς κύκλους της χώρας. Και μπορεί η βάφτιση να έγινε σε κλειστό κύκλο, αλλά παρευρέθησαν αρκετοί κοσμικοί, ενώ τα βλέμματα τράβηξε και το πάρτι «υπερπαραγωγή» που ακολούθησε.
Δεν είναι λίγοι εκείνοι που αναρωτήθηκαν αν ο Αρχιεπίσκοπος είχε ζητήσει την άδεια του μητροπολίτη Γλυφάδας – Ελληνικού – Βούλας – Βουλιαγμένης και Βάρης, Αντωνίου (φωτό αριστερά), προκειμένου να προχωρήσει σε μια τέτοια κίνηση. Η «Espresso» επικοινώνησε με τον μητροπολίτη, ο οποίος εξήγησε πως δεν γνώριζε ότι οι γονείς ήταν gay ζευγάρι.
«Ο Αρχιεπίσκοπος μου έστειλε έγγραφο, με το οποίο μου ζητούσε την άδεια για να τελέσει τη βάπτιση των δύο τέκνων της ορμωμένης εκ Σικάγου ομογενειακής οικογενείας Μπούση. Στην επιστολή αυτή δεν μου έδινε καμία άλλη πληροφορία, επομένως θεώρησα ότι πρόκειται για μία βάφτιση όπως όλες οι άλλες, και έτσι του έδωσα, ως όφειλα, την άδεια» δήλωσε ο σεβασμιότατος και συμπλήρωσε: «Εγώ πληροφορήθηκα τα υπόλοιπα από τους ιερείς του ναού αργά το απόγευμα του Σαββάτου, αφότου είχε γίνει το μυστήριο. Ο Ελπιδοφόρος δεν επικοινώνησε μαζί μου ποτέ ξανά».
Όπως εξήγησε αποκλειστικά στην «Espresso» ο μητροπολίτης, αν είχε ενημερωθεί εγκαίρως, θα είχε επικοινωνήσει με την Ιερά Σύνοδο προκειμένου να επιμεληθεί εκείνη του θέματος.
«Θα έπρεπε να γνωρίζουμε πριν από την τέλεση του μυστηρίου ότι οι γονείς είναι ομοφυλόφιλοι. Από εκεί και πέρα θα ήταν στην αρμοδιότητα της Ιεράς Συνόδου να αποφασίσει τι θα γίνει και αν θα τους επιτραπεί να βαφτίσουν εδώ τα τέκνα τους. Η Εκκλησία δεν μπορεί να αρνηθεί σε δύο παιδιά να βαφτιστούν, αλλά το μυστήριο θα έπρεπε τουλάχιστον να γίνει με τον δέοντα σεβασμό και την ταπεινότητα. Χωρίς δημοσιότητα και φώτα. Όλη αυτή η προβολή δεν ήταν καλή» κατέληξε.
«Τον παραπλάνησε»
Η «Espresso» επικοινώνησε και με τον άλλοτε συνεργάτη του μακαριστού Αρχιεπισκόπου Χριστοδούλου, Σωτήρη Τζούμα, ο οποίος στάθηκε δίπλα του από τη στιγμή της ανάδειξής του στο τιμόνι της Ελλαδικής Εκκλησίας ως τη στιγμή που εκοιμήθη. Όπως είπε, δεν είναι αντίθετος με τη βάπτιση των παιδιών, αλλά με τον τρόπο που έπραξε ο Αρχιεπίσκοπος.
«Τα δύο τέκνα έπρεπε να βαπτιστούν. Προσωπικά δεν καταδικάζω το ζευγάρι, έχουν σαφώς το δικαίωμα της αυτοδιάθεσης. Όμως, ο Ελπιδοφόρος εισάγει στην πατρίδα μας “καινά δαιμόνια”. Και οι πληροφορίες που έχω συλλέξει λένε ότι ακόμη και τη Μητρόπολη Γλυφάδας την παραπλάνησε. Εκανε αναφορά στα τέκνα της οικογένειας Μπούση χωρίς να διευκρινίσει. Ποιος να ήξερε ότι η λέξη “οικογένεια” σημαίνει κάτι άλλο απ’ αυτό που τόσα χρόνια όλοι εμείς ξέραμε;» είπε αρχικά ο κ. Τζούμας και συνέχισε: «Ο τρόπος με τον οποίο έπραξε ο Αρχιεπίσκοπος δεν ήταν σωστός. Δεν είχε την ευλογία του Οικουμενικού Πατριαρχείου, το οποίο βέβαια τηρεί σιγήν ιχθύος, όπως και η Εκκλησία της Ελλάδος! Δεν έχει ξαναγίνει κάτι τέτοιο ποτέ! Πάντα…. πρωτοπόρος ο Ελπιδοφόρος!»
Όπως εξήγησε ο συνεργάτης του μακαριστού Αρχιεπισκόπου Χριστοδούλου, ο Αρχιεπίσκοπος Αμερικής δεν θα χρειαζόταν να ζητήσει έγγραφη άδεια για μια τέτοια τελετή, ωστόσο θα μπορούσε να είχε επικοινωνήσει τηλεφωνικά με τον μητροπολίτη και να τον ενημερώσει, ώστε να μην είναι στην άγνοια.
«Έπρεπε, ως όφειλε, να έχει πει κάτι τόσο σημαντικό στον μητροπολίτη, αφού στη δική του εκκλησία πήγε και τέλεσε το μυστήριο. Τελικά, ο Ελπιδοφόρος αποδεικνύει ότι ζει από την Εκκλησία και όχι για την Εκκλησία. Εκανε ακόμη ένα λάθος και δεν βγήκε καν να ζητήσει συγγνώμη! Εξαπάτησε τον μητροπολίτη και το Πατριαρχείο, φαντάζομαι. Η Εκκλησία, όμως, δεν είναι τυπικό, αλλά ένα βαθιά ουσιαστικό κομμάτι για τους πιστούς και πρέπει να το σέβονται όλοι» τόνισε ο Σωτήρης Τζούμας και κατέληξε αφήνοντας αιχμές για τον λόγο που ο κ. Ελπιδοφόρος συμπεριφέρθηκε κατ’ αυτόν τον τρόπο: «Ο σκοπός δεν αγιάζει τα μέσα, αλλά, όταν επιδιώκεις σχέσεις εμπιστοσύνης με ισχυρά πρόσωπα, αυτά συμβαίνουν».
Τέλος, ο μητροπολίτης Σιδηροκάστρου Μακάριος, με τον οποίο επικοινώνησε η «Espresso», δεν θέλησε να σχολιάσει το γεγονός, αλλά περιορίστηκε σε μια φράση, φανερά οργισμένος: «Να ρωτήσετε τον ίδιο τον Αρχιεπίσκοπο Αμερικής».
Σύμφωνα με όσα είναι σε θέση να γνωρίζει η «Espresso», οι δεσπότες «βράζουν» σιωπηρά από τη στιγμή που τελέστηκε το μυστήριο, ενώ ανάστατη είναι και η ομογένεια. Ωστόσο, κανείς δεν τολμά να τοποθετηθεί δημόσια, καθώς ο Αρχιεπίσκοπος Αμερικής παραμένει ο «εκλεκτός» του Πατριάρχη Βαρθολομαίου!
Both Archbishop Elpidophoros and Patriarch Bartholomew must be deposed. First, the fake council of Crete, the Ukrainian schism, and now this gay baptism. The Greek Churches need to clean house.
They can start by defrocking Elpidophoros and then they can deal with Patriarch Bartholomew. The bishops of Greece brought shame on themselves when they entered into communion with Ukrainian schismatics. They can begin to redeem themselves by denouncing and banning Archbishop Elpidophoros from Greece and taking steps to defrock him and the Patriarch.
This is the time to clean house.
Absolutely Theodoros!
DEFROCK Elpidoforos asap!
Απαίσιες πράξεις που καταρρακώνουν όχι την
Ορθόδοξη πίστη μας , αλλά αυτούς προέβησαν
σ’αυτό το ανοσιούργημα και σ’αυτόν που χορήγησε την άδεια.
Δια του λόγου το αληθές και για να απαλλαγεί της
ευθύνης Ο Μητροπολίτης Γλυφάδας θα πρέπει να
δημοσιεύσει την παραπλανητική επιστολή, αν
δεν το κάνει η ΡΕΤΣΙΝΙΑ θα τον κυνηγάει.
Αν έκανε λάθος να βγεί να το παραδεχτεί σαν
άνδρας και να ζητήσει συγνώμη από τον Θεόν
και τους ανθρώπους.
Αν αποδειχθεί ότι πράγματι τον εξαπάτησε ,τότε
ο Αμερικής δεν πρέπει να έχει θέση στην Αμερική
και αυτό πρέπει να το μεριμνήσουν, το Πατριαρχείο , οι “ Άρχοντες” ο κλήρος και σύσωμη η Ομογένεια.
Έτσι είναι: “ Μωραίνει Κύριος ον βούλεται απωλέσαι”
Ο Επισκ Γλυφαδας εστειλε την παρακατω επιστολη στην Ιερα Συνοδο που ευρισκεται ηδη ανηρτημενη στο παραπανω αρθρο.
https://www.helleniscope.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/GLYFADAS-MEMO-TO-THE-HOLY-SYNOD-OF-THE-CHURCH-OF-GREECE-3-696×880.jpg
How about a Change.org Petition?
Since assuming his Bishopric, Elpidophoros has consistently and continuously acted heretically against our Holy Orthodox Church, clearly disobeying and trampling the HOLY SACRAMENTS, Dogma, sacred Tradition, including, but certainly not limited to Holy Communion, Marriage, Baptism, the sanctity of the Most Holy Theotokos, the Sacraments including Communion, Baptism, Marriage, the protection of unborn children…etc…instead he has either fired, moved and threatened our Hierarchs, our Clergy, our Diaconate (and in affect, each and every one of us, both and unborn)…as well as refusing to make the church finances and budget transparent…instead following and thereby accepting and legitimizing the tenets and actions of the demonic New World Order, including but not limited to claiming our church is just of many, interfaith sacraments, the destruction of the meaning of marriage, baptism to name a few…we request his removal immediately so that the exodus us from our Greek Orthodox church to the other Orthodox Churches stops or at the very least lessened (as the harm may already to be irreversible) including our financial contributions (as that seems to have become the Archdiocese’s priority, all the while refusing transparency.
You can still go and sign our change.org petition for Independence of this Church… We may initiate a new one soon…
https://www.change.org/p/americans-of-greek-descent-independence-for-greek-orthodox-church-in-america?recruiter=1230433513&recruited_by_id=ee521440-32c7-11ec-b401-ef7d47135ca3&utm_source=share_petition&utm_medium=copylink&utm_campaign=petition_dashboard
Yes please do and blast it all over social media including Facebook. There is power in numbers.
I think you should start a new one @Helleniscope, specifically calling for his and the EP’s removal.
I’d also suggest calling all those in the Metro NY area to stage protests at 79th street.
ELPI MUST RESIGN!
Question: Any way to get Email lists to all Greek Churches of America & forward your articles exposing Elps madness ?
What about Newsmax only they would cover it..the others are in woke mode forevermore
We’ll all be labeled homophobic… these people will push their agenda no matter what!
And we will resist it no matter what! We won’t allow child abuse, child trafficking and baby murders to keep happening… We hold the moral high ground! What do you prefer to be called a false insulting name or to be accessory to child abuse and child trafficking?
These babies were created by a paid Surrogate female — she’s the mother that’s abandoned her own children!
This surrogacy is beyond SIN!
Then the two rich Sodomites misled the priest in charge –
and they admitted they’re Not raising kids as Orthodox …
Another reason it’s disgraceful to baptize them in Orthodox Church!
Why can’t homosexuals respect our Orthodox faith and saunter over to any Episcopalian church and do it?
Because the rich are disrespectful towards Church and God’s laws .
As Jesus said: “It’s easier for a camel to enter eye of needle than a rich man to enter kingdom of heaven “.
exactly!!! why are the bishops and clergy side stepping this and saying they can’t refuse children. Of course you can when the parents and godparents aren’t even orthodox!! mockery
YOU NAILED IT ON THE HEAD Zoey! The problem starts with heterosexual couples engaging in child trafficking through adoption… Note we are not against couples helping a child but that child should NOT be abducted from its parents and even it there are orphans nobody should be allowed to buy these children, change their name and appropriate them. If they are truly philanthropic they will provide the material support for the children without adopting them. Also Heterosexual couples with no children should stop receiving illicit tax benefits which are meant ONLY to help couples which give birth to babies and raise them… they are not meant for roomates (which is what married couples with no children are). So let’s not give all the blame to homosexuals. It’s the transgressions of the heterosexuals that led the homosexuals say… hey!!!! if heterosexual roomates get tax breaks without having children we want tax breaks… Naturally the courts said… if the heterosexuals are allowed to abuse tax law… so should the homosexuals. So let’s resolve the transgression both on the heterosexual and then naturally the transgression will be resolved naturally on the homosexual side.
Forget the petitions, let’s just ‘flush’ Bartholomew and Elpidophoros down the toilet—right now!
Elpidoforos has been put there to create chaos within the church and to break so called “barriers” to the ecumenist agenda of the new world order. He doesn’t care if he’s removed. He knows that he will be removed. His mission is to do as much damage as possible until he’s removed. You will see, mark my words, he will attempt to marry a gay couple next. The patriarch is in on it also, he is just playing dumb and he will probably remove Elpidoforos eventually to look like the “good” guy but don’t be fooled, he’s in on it 100%. What do we expect when we are not in charge of our church? It’s our fault for letting others decide who are leaders are going to be. None of the Orthodox in America had any say as to who we wanted as Archbishop or Patriarch. We are only told, “give us your money” and here’s you new leader-and we just go along with it. It’s total nonsense. Can you imagine if that was the case for who our leaders in government would be? “here’s your new president, and senator, and congressman, etc..” where is our representation? where is our voice? We are in a position now that was no different than the Americans were under British rule, before independence. No, this has to stop and MAJOR changes have to happen in our church. We need to clean house, become independent, and change the church constitution so that WE elect who we want as our leaders. Until then we need to boycott the archbishop and do not donate money to anyone or any institution that goes along. Once the money is gone they will be gone as well. We have to also spread the information to wake up as many as possible. At what point do we say enough is enough? We can’t just go along with this because we will be eventually be led off of a cliff. If we care we have to do something right now!
Elpidoktonos, Tourkoforos
Turkey currently is a country of conservative values… we would wish Elpidoforos was bringing the conservative values of Turkey… please stop connecting it to Turkey… it has nothing to do with Elpidoforos.
Τι μπορώ να πω; Λυπιμενη ειμε γιατί όλα γινοντε μια ρωσική σαλάτα πέτα μέσα διαφορά και ότι βγει. Όταν μια βάπτιση γίνετε διάφορες πληροφορίες πρέπει να δώσουμε στην εκκλησία
Για τους γονείς νονούς το χάρτη Γεννήσεως του μωρού που γεννήθηκε, ημερομηνία Γεννήσεως , όνομα νοσοκομείου όνομα γονείς αν είμαστε παντρεμένοι ορθόδοξα βαπτισμένοι μέλοι εκκλησίας κ η νονοί το ίδιο αν είναι ορθόδοξοι κτλ. Τι εγεινε εδώ ; Μπήκαν μεσα και ελεληατισαν το αγνό ορθόδοξο μυστήριο της βαπτισεως. Αμαρτία αυτά που ξέραμε και μάθαμε στα παιδιά μας και στα εγγονια μας. Η ελληνική ορθόδοξη εκκλησία χάνετε με αυτές της πράξεις.
Δεν είναι έτσι… η Ορθοδοξία δεν είναι 2 -3 επίορκοι και ανάξιοι Ιεράρχες… Εχουμε 2,000 Ιστορία και Παράδοση! Θα στείλουμε τους ανάξιους σπίτια τους!
ΤΌταν μια βάπτιση γίνετε διάφορες πληροφορίες πρέπει να δώσουμε στην εκκλησία
Για τους γονείς νονούς το χάρτI Γεννήσεως του μωρού που γεννήθηκε, ημερομηνία Γεννήσεως , όνομα νοσοκομείου όνομα γονείς αν είμαστε παντρεμένοι ορθόδοξα βαπτισμένοι μέλοι εκκλησίας κ η νονοί το ίδιο αν είναι ορθόδοξοι κτλ. Τι εγεινε εδώ ; Μπήκαν μεσα και ελεληατισαν το αγνό ορθόδοξο μυστήριο της βαπτισεως. Αμαρτία αυτά που ξέραμε και μάθαμε στα παιδιά μας και στα εγγονια μας. Η ελληνική ορθόδοξη εκκλησία χάνετε με αυτές της πράξεις.
EXACTLY! That’s why I am saying the MEtropolitan of Glyfada and his bureaucrats are even MORE guilty than Elpidoforos… Elpidoforos knew what he was doing… he wrote a letter where he KNOWINGLY was not forthcoming and truthful… exactly so that the Metropolitan of Glyfada could claim that he was deceived! WE DONT BUY THAT! Even if the MEtropolitan of Glyfada and his staff pretend ignorance… their incompetence and almost obvious corruption (i doubt none of them noticed the irregularity in the documentation which is strict and stringent has to have Apostilled, has to be translated and certified by the Greek Consular authorities in the USA most likely in Chicago. So this is way more serious and way beyond Elpidoforos… The MEtropolitan of Glyfada is equally if not more guilty! Because if he had done his job maybe he could have saved Elpidoforos from committing this transgression! Resignation from the MEtropolitan of Glyfada IMMEDIATELY
No matter what you say, truth is, those babies were baptized; the Orthodox holy sacrament and mystery has been performed. Let the Holy Spirit do its work, and hopefully they will be guided to greatness….. hope springs eternal, especially through our children. I have faith in them….
1 Timothy 4:12 “Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity.” ☦️
Yes the babies were baptized. The problem is the sacred baptismal service and it’s significance was minimized in the interests of a secular political and social agenda. The emphasis by the attendees on modernizing the Church and accepting same sex relationships
Rather than on the reception of the children into the Church of Christ.
There are many reasons why Orthodox are troubled. Let’s look at the rise of the lgbt movement in the western world. This is an anti Christian movement and children are being exploited by propagandists.
This movement openly desires to teach the children in schools about the gay and trans agenda in defiance of parents wishes. The Archbishops actions are morally reprehensible in letting the Church be used In this way.
Yes….we know. You’re right. Since we can’t fight all the battles especially the ones that are beyond our control, let us celebrate these babies and the Holy Chrismation that has been placed upon them; they have received the seal of the gift of the Holy Spirit. I am happy for this, and I will pray for them. When Orthodox Christians are baptized, through total immersion, we are illuminated…. These babies have been illuminated, and God works in mysterious ways….they hopefully might be the ones to help save their fathers from total damnation.
May we all have God’s mercy, bc we really need it….
Read up on Elder Athanasios Mitilianaios, he writes that we should not fight the heretics and the heresies, for they will consume us. Let God fight those battles. If we focus on heresies, we lose our love for Jesus, and not just a fight against heretics. We cannot limit our faith to the chasing of heretics, focus on how you live, a very special ascent of the loving heart toward God. Just bc I am active in the fight against heretics, I cannot feel content that it is an indication that I am doing well spiritually.
To confess Orthodoxy only, is not yet salvation. Our first love is the worship of Jesus Christ. Hopefully, these babies will learn this from their loving Greek grandparents. 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻
Queen A –
“set an example in conduct and in purity”.., ?
these innocent ones are now held hostage by two extremely Impure deviants and they’ll
eventually witness their abominations!
Wake up –
Jesus said:
“don’t cast your pearls before swine”!
Queen A —
nobody’s denying these babies freedom to be Baptized…
they can take them to any Anglican church etc., the Deviants already stated
they’re Not raising them as Orthodox!
Zoey, I have nothing but contempt for those who disrespect our faith. The babies were not baptized in the Protestant faith, they were baptized in the Orthodox Church by a heretic AB. So now what?
According to Christian teaching, dogs are those so immersed in evil that they show no hope of change, while swine are those who habitually live immoral and impure lives. We need to have hope, hope of change, without it we have nothing.
AB Elpidoforos did very well to baptize the two children. Let me know where in the four Gospels there is a mandate that children who are raised by families or single people or by anyone who cares about them are not to be baptized. Then children raised in orphanages should not be baptized.
Elpidoforos is a crook he misled the Metropolitan of
Glyfada in order to mess up Greek Orthodox Church.
But the tango needs two to be danced and the
other one for sure is Pat. Bartholomew. I am almost sure
without his OK, he was not going to proceed.
Incidentally, for the illiterate who made comments before me. Read and study: Jesus Christ institutes ONLY one Holy Mystery, the Holy Communion. Quiz question: When? The rest were introduced in later years, among them the Baptism. I see so much hatred and criticism here in your comments. I believe the two men were gay, so what? Where is Christian love? I guess it is not for gay men and women. We “love” if we can love anyone at all, those who fit our little world.
Memo: to Emanuel Papadakis
It’s YOU pal that’s an illiterate ignoramus !
It’s transparent what YOU are —
right Snowflake?
“So what they’re gay – “ you say?
Fact: There’s NEVER been any practicing homosexual Elder or Saint who was granted visions of Jesus or Theotokos…
even Tibetan Buddhist Dalai Lama
came out against gay marriage,
calling it “grave sexual misconduct that destroys any chance for Enlightenment!”
These 2 Sodomites can baptize the kids in any mainline secular church or
Anglican Church —
but these spoiled rich deviants look for any excuse to tear down Orthodox!
ANATHEMA to you
Zoey bravo! The Gays already reject & despise Orthodox teachings so why bother Orthodox when they’re welcome elsewhere? Because Elpidophoros chases the lefty rich to please them $$$$$
I think you need to be re-educated on what the scriptures have to say… our audience will oblige…
Elpidophoros MUST GO!!!
Christ instituted all sacraments lol. Have you ever read the Bible? “go and make disciples of the nations baptizing in the Name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit”.
He prefaces baptism with making them disciples, which means those that will be baptized need to be disciples, i.e. followers of the Lord and His Commandments. Babies who are baptized are given that sacrament with the parents making a promise to raise them in the faith and make disciples of them.
– These are not men of God but men of the pagan state. I am referring to Elpidoforos and his gang all the way up to the man in Istanbul.
1 Corinthians 6:9 ESV
“Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, etc.”
I am not going to get dragged into all this. The babies had right to be baptised . The state of parents irrelevant. As to Christ only instituted one sacrament , u have been spending too much time as many American Greek orthodox , with evangelicals . And are protestant’ in mentality .
We are a church of tradition and of the Bible of which the Gospels are one part. And Christ was baptized by John Baptist. And so were from earliest converts , so baptised .
But I want to make a more fundamental point that is being missed but that is key to GOCA . That is money. If these two guys were ordinary Joe’s , doctor or teacher or office worker , do u think elpidophoros would be carrying out the sacrament? Even in Chicago or NY. ?
You all know the answer to that one.
Something fishy is going on here. Somewhere someone is covering something.
How can a baptism be performed and no one knew details only Elpithoforous? Wasn’t there a cantor(perhaps Vissi was the cantor) in the church, anyone that works for the church. who opened the church for instance that day didn’t they see who was going inside and out to notify the metropolitan?
I know elpithoforous is $$$ hungry big time loves the rich and famous and gets $$$ from them not a fair man in my book… closes churches Jeff abd right will live to see him go bye bye like today…
regardless the sacrament been administered it’s a lifelong process to maintain this beautiful orthodox faith and,
I learned the so called designer duo will not raise their kids Greek Orthodox Christians. So I guess this is sort of a publicity stunt for their egos.
To Mrs. Zoey Metaxas
Thank you for your anathema, but you just violated the most Christian value. Μη κρινετε ινα μη κριθειτε. If you just now prosfora and metanoies you are not a true Christian. I am glad I am not in the same church with you.
Dear Emmanuel,
I am sure you are smart enough to understand – as all of our readers do – that it’s a different thing to talk about love to all in Church (we even love our enemies) and a totally different thing to allow anti-christian lifestyles that are not approved by Christianity to become mainstream. We cannot and we WILL NOT allow the so-called “gay marriage” to become mainstream. Why? Because it undermines the most basic foundation of society, the family… We will not allow “identity” groups to redefine – according to each one’s perversions – human institutions that existed for as long as humanity existed.
Some Christians here regard their church as a country club — they serve 2 Masters,
anything from secular world is A-OK…
but remember what Jesus said:
“Do Not Cast Your Pearls Before Swine”.
And let’s remember a Metamorphosis:
Monk Seraphim Rose –
before his becoming a great ascetic,
this Monk Seraphim admitted to living a
homosexual lifestyle, but he Renounced and
had metanoia – he evolved to being
one of greatest ascetics in Orthodoxy.
ΕΝ ΗΜΕΡΑ ΚΡΙΣΕΩΣ ΑΝΕΚΤΟΤΕΡΟΝ ΣΟΔΟΜΟΙΣ Η ΤΩΝ ΣΤΟΜΑΤΩΝ ΤΟΥ ΑΔΗ ΤΩΝ ΑΘΕΩΝ ΑΜΕΡΙΚΑΝΩΝ,ΤΗΣ ΒΑΒΥΛΩΝΟΣ ΘΗΓΑΤΗΡ ΒΑΒΥΛΩΝΟΣ ΜΑΚΑΡΙΟΣ Ο ΚΡΑΤΗΣΕΙ ΚΑΙ ΕΔΑΦΙΕΙ ΤΑ ΝΗΠΙΑ ΣΟΥ ΠΡΟΣ ΤΗΝ ΠΕΤΡΑΝ
To wrap up this nonsense, Mr Stamataki, family is not undermined by gays and their lives. It is undermined by conventions, a conformity that is often meaningless, but overworked parents who don’t have the time to parent their children, and by becoming enslaved by bills, mortgage payments, house improvements, college funds and all those ones can easily list here. ΕΙΡΗΝΗ ΗΜΙΝ.
Mr. Stamataki, I would critique AB Elpidoforos and the church for not promoting Hellenic Culture, History and the issue of Cyprus in the church. At least, you Mr. Stamatakis, you try, you do your part. Let’s talk about Houston sometime.
Ugh!
meanwhile Rome is burning –
let’s get Elpi defrocked!!!
The church baptized two babies used by two sodomites and a surrogate whore (most likely paid well) to produce these babies.
Elpi whores for the devil. Sorry to say this. So sorry.
The babies are trapped. Elpi has trapped these two babies in Sodom land. Two queers using two babies to prove “God is wrong” and they are above God.
Jane thanks for speaking ugly evil truth;
those babies are in devil’s trap & nobody can free them!
Thank you for your thoughts. Yes, these two babies are now trapped a d in the hands of dirty queers listing for soft baby genitalia. Sorry, it’s the damn truth. I cannot bear to think of these evil men changing the babies diapers. OMG!
… that airhead Emanuel P. is prototype of endless STUPID GREEKS –
they know Zero about Orthodoxy …
evil Elpidophoros knows well church is
filled with idiots & it’s why he gets away!
Seems we’ll see what kind of public reception he’ll get this coming weekend at the Memorial Anniversary of the Cypriot Invasion by the Turks– it’s going to be held at the Greek Orthodox Church in Whitestone, Queens!
Like my friend Alex said, we should all show up and throw red tomatoes! A waste of tomatoes….
Please do not give up on these little ones….read the Synaxarion. Our faith is loaded with Saints who had evil heretics as parents in high positions, and against all odds, persevered, and martyred for Christ. Whilst, converting and doing good works; sometimes converting the evil parents!
HOPE springs eternal, although challenging, it’s not all doom and gloom for these babies🙏🏻☦️
Greeks are polite-they do not get disorderly like some alleged crazed groups— they’ll show-especially those of Cypriot extraction-though we all were saddened and stunned to our core that July day 40 plus years ago… let’s hear what he says to the congregants.
I agree larissa. Cyprus has exactly the same situation as Ukraine. The 1974 invasion was also advertised by Turkey as a peacekeeping and liberation operation! Ask the AB why not launch a signature collection effort across the churches he controls to accompany a letter inviting the US government to make a specific remark about the commonalities of the cases of Ukraine and Cyprus.
GO WOKE, GO BROKE!
Bye bye Greek Orthodox Church. The First Church is now NO better or different than the Episcopalian Church which embraced WOKENESS.
Congratulations for stooping to new lows Elpidoktonos and Bart! Your brilliance never ceases to amaze as your heretic actions continue breaking with church law canons almost daily. May you and your cozy bf’s in the closet take it in through the back door and don’t let the door hit you on your way out. RESIGN!
RESIGN is Right!
We Must Demand Elpidophorod get Out!
If we do nothing Diablo wins
Calling all concerned in the GOA ! We Americans have short attention spans and memories. If you don’t act now, forever hold your peace! People need to know what is going on.
Contact everyone in your GOA circle of influence and make them aware of Abp. Elpidophoros’ repeated betrayals of the Faith. For my part, I have sent an email to all colleagues of my recently former GOA parish council. The email contained the links to the apposite articles.
Strike while the iron is hot! If you don’t do it now, people will soon lose interest.
Will do this
You are absolutely correct sir. The “snowball” is gathering speed, is growing rapidly and is rolling down the mountain faster and faster. The Episcopalians/Anglicans destroyed themselves. Let that serve as a “template” of destruction to the Orthodox. If this is not stopped quickly, it will destroy the GOC.
Elpi is a heretic, plain and simple. He is clearly ANAXIOS. He and his lackeys serve the Evil One – Satan. He is their true father. Elpi should be immediately deposed, removed and denied by all faithful Orthodox Christians of all jurisdictions.
I remember being so excited when the Patriarch came to the US. My brother and I waited outside Holy Trinity from the wee hours like teenagers are want to do. I can’t recall when I became aware of cracks in the facade. Certainly by the time he chased out Archbishop Iakovos, split up the Archdiocese and installed his first puppet, Spyridon. That clearly didn’t work out the way he planned. And God in His Holy Wisdom keeps pulling the rug from under him. Now he has sent us the worst culprit of them all, a rabid anticannonical ecumenist Elpie.
May The Holy Wisdom save our sinful souls from the sins we have collectively
committed that have brought us to this precipice to hades yet again!
That being said yes children should be baptized but the accompanying freak show should NOT HAVE BEEN ALLOWED!
A private respectful ceremony with somber parents and Orthodox Godparents who took they’re OATH to raise these babies IN THE FAITH with counseling to determine the sincerity of all the parties should have been the objective. Instead Elpie elected upon a complete farce. Even the ATTIRE OF THE PARENTS AND OTHERS IN THE “CIRCUS” was disrespectful of the sanctity of an Orthodox church. Not that most priest insist men and women dress modestly
anymore (Ekonomia!).
The Bible can be used to justify any position You just need to know where to look. But the church HAS taken clear stances where it needs to. At this point we need to have clarification.
However JANE we do not need to become GROSS,
We do not need to debase ourselves.
We do not need to add to the hate. People like to say they’re CHRISTIANS. But are they?
Despicable behavior is the same whether or not you watch MSNBC or Fox. Whoever mentioned many have become Evangelical Christians which in my opinion is an oxymoron was spot on! I only wish I could give that person credit but I can’t remember who it was.
WE ARE ORTHODOX. IT IS OUR FAULT THAT OUR FAITH HAS BECOME SO WATERED DOWN. WE’VE SPENT WAY TOO MUCH TIME CUTTING CORNERS. I don’t remember where I read it but it said God is looking for spiritual fruit not religious nuts. We need to think about the movies and television programs we watched and supported because they were so funny. That’s how a tiny percentage of the population came into our homes and lives and made us comfortable and blind.
May God have mercy on our souls.